Torah Insights Genesis 1 &2

 Compulsion or Love?

Torah insights

Genesis 1:1 – 2:25

During our study last week, Susan said something that resonated deeply with me. She said that she keeps Yehovah’s commandments because she loves Him so much and He has done so many wonderful things for her that she didn’t want to ever hurt Him by disobeying Him.

 Many people grow up without a good father in the home. As a result, they sometimes can’t fathom the goodness, mercy, and beauty of Elohim. But He is not a man that He should lie, or change, or abuse His children. He is good, and He loves us so much He sent His only begotten Son.

 As we read the Torah, we learn about Elohim, and as we learn about Him, we have the opportunity to draw closer to Him. After all, the way we become friends is by spending time with each other and sharing our lives, hopes, fears, joy, and pain with each other.

 In the first two chapters of Genesis, we learn that He made all of the creation in such a way it is a balanced system and put humans in charge of the whole creation. We are not to abuse creation, but guard it, and work it, and care for it. We also learn that humans are different, more special to Elohim than any of the rest of creation.

 In Genesis, Elohim provides food for us, in parallel, Yeshua told us to feed the hungry. When Adam and Chava discovered they were naked, Elohim clothed them, so Yeshua told us to clothe the poor. Many of Yeshua’s teachings can be traced back to the book of Genesis.

 We learn that Elohim instituted the Sabbath at the creation, blessed it, and made it holy. Later in the Torah, Elohim expands on the requirements of the Sabbath commandment,

 

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall you labor, and do all your work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of Yehovah your Elohim: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates: For in six days Yehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Yehovah blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” (Exo 20:8-11)

 We don’t use the word hallowed much today, according to the 1828 Webster dictionary, it means, “To make holy; to consecrate; to set apart for holy or religious use.” So Elohim tells us that He made the Sabbath holy, and tells us that we are to keep it holy. If you recall, holy means set apart. What do we set the Sabbath apart from? The other six days that we are commanded to labor and do all our work.

 The Sabbath commandment in Exodus mirrors what we were told in Genesis, where we are provided the very definition of shabbat, rest.

 “And on the seventh (sheve’e) day Elohim ended his work which he had made; and he rested (shabbat) on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed (baruch) the seventh (sheve’e) day, and sanctified (kodesh) it: because that in it he had rested (shabbat) from all his work which God created and made."
(Gen 2:2-3)

 Elohim wants us to obey Him, not out of rote, or compulsion, but because we love Him and love our neighbors. Susan has it right in acknowledging that she obeys His instructions because she doesn’t want to ever hurt Him by disobeying Him

 It is my prayer that this finds you safe, healthy, blessed by Elohim, and with shalom beyond measure.

Portion Ki Tavo, Deuteronomy 26:1-29:9

 Who wouldn’t want that?

 

“And it will be, if you shall listen carefully to the voice of Yehovah your El, to guard and to do all His commandments which I command you today, Yehovah your El will set you on high above all nations of the earth.” (Deu 28:1)

 

It’s a simple instruction; listen to what Elohim instructs us to do, guard His instructions, and actually do what He tells us to do, and an entire list of blessings will follow.

 

“You shall be blessed in the city, and be blessed in the field. The fruit of your body shall be blessed, and the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your cows, and the flocks of your sheep. Your basket and your store shall be blessed. You shall be blessed when you come in, and blessed when you go out. Yehovah shall cause your enemies that rise up against you to be stricken before your face. They shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways. Yehovah shall command the blessing on you in your storehouses, and all that you set your hand to. And He shall bless you in the land which Yehovah your El gives you. Yehovah shall establish you a holy people to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you shall keep the commandments of Yehovah your El and walk in His ways. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of Yehovah, and they shall be afraid of you. And Yehovah shall prosper you in goods, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your ground, in the land which Yehovah swore to your fathers to give you. Yehovah shall open to you His good treasure, the heaven to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. And you shall loan to many nations, and you shall not borrow.” (Deu 28:3-12)

 

Who wouldn’t want those blessings?

 

The first criteria is listen carefully, shema, to what Elohim says. This isn’t the, in one ear and out the other, kind of listening. It’s the kind where dad sits you down and says “LISTEN to me!” It’s the kind where if you “listen” and then don’t do what he tells you to do, you didn’t really listen in the first place, you might have heard, but you didn’t listen.

 

The second criteria is to guard, shomer, the instructions. Notice the root of both shema and shomer are a shin and a mem. In Hebrew, when words have common roots, they have common meanings. To guard the instructions means to keep them from being changed by adding to them or subtracting from them, and from changing their original intent. One example is changing “You shall not incline after the majority to do evil,” to “You shall incline after the majority,” which the rabbis did change.

 

The third criteria is to do, asah, His instructions. This means to actually do what we are told to do. If Elohim says “Keep the Sabbath Day holy,” that’s what he wants us to do. He doesn’t expect us to make up loopholes so we can do what we want on the day He has set apart. We learn in the Torah and the Prophets some of what not to do, buy and sell, work, engage in commerce.

 

Unfortunately, looking at history, too many people who claim to follow the God of the Bible ignore many of His instructions so they can live their lives the way they want to live them. As committed followers of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Yeshua, our calling is to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength, and that includes doing what He says, the way He says to do it, and finding joy in doing so. 

Torah portion Korach for June 27, 2020

May this find you rejoicing in the day Yehovah has made. This week’s portion is Korach, but I am going to go to our haftarah for this week’s insight because it contains one of the greatest messages of hope in the TaNaKh.

The Children of Israel have rebelled time and again by the time of Samuel. They have gone astray after false gods and have turned away from their Elohim, the El of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They have committed spiritual adultery, they have served Baalim and Ashtaroth, they have done just what Yehovah instructed them not to do, committed all the abominations of the former inhabitants of Canaan.

As a final insult,

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,  And said to him, Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto Yehovah. And Yehovah said to Samuel, Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say unto you: for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. (1Sa 8:4-7)

Samuel anoints Saul king

If you have ever felt that Elohim has rejected you, or that you have done something, or many things, that disqualify you from being His, and from coming back to Him, you are not alone. The Children of Israel in the days of Samuel are right there with you

Even after all their sin, the most grievous sins humans can commit, the people repent (somewhat, at least about their most recent affront to Yehovah) and go to Samuel.

And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for your servants to Yehovah your Elohim, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: you have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following Yehovah, but serve Yehovah with all your heart; And turn not aside: for then should you go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. For Yehovah will not forsake His people for His great name's sake: because it has pleased Yehovah to make you His people. (1Sa 12:19-22)

Yeshua said, “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Ruach haKodesh hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:” (Mar 3:28-29)

Lest you think you have committed that blasphemy against the Ruach haKodesh, keep in mind that even Peter denied Yeshua three times and gained forgiveness. Wherever you have come from, heed Samuel’s advice, “Serve Yehovah with all your heart; and turn not aside.”

Shalom and blessing in Messiah Yeshua’s name

Yochan ben Yaakov

Torah Portion Shelach June 20, 2020

Standing at the entrance

In this week’s Torah portion, we travel with Israel to the very entrance of the Promised Land, but they rebel and lose the opportunity to enter.

And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.  (2)  And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said to them, “Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would Elohim we had died in this wilderness!  (3)  And why has Yehovah brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return into Egypt?”  (4)  And they said one to another, “Let us make a captain, and let us return to Egypt.” (Num 14:1-4)

So much happens before and after this point of rebellion that is applicable to us, but I want to focus on these few verses and their message to us.

 Why did the children of Israel weep that night?

It would be one thing if they wept because they reached the Land, and thought they might fail to conquer it because of giants and walled cities. I don’t see that sentiment here. The congregation turns away from Elohim, again. Look what they say, “Let us make a captain, and let us return to Egypt.”

The rabbis say that though the text here in the KJV reads “captain”, the underlying intention was to make another god, like the golden calf, to lead them back to Egypt. Either way, they are turning their backs to Elohim. The Hebrew word behind return is shoov the root word of repentance, teshuva. While teshuva is turning from sin and error to Elohim, here the kahal, congregation, plans to turn from Elohim, and back to Egypt with its idolatry, slavery, and sin.

 It is a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, but also against Elohim.

Followers of Yeshua have had it easy in America for generations. Just as the children of Israel. Need water, here it is. Need food, have some manna, all you have to do is collect it, it will be there every morning. Don’t worry about which way to go, Elohim will guide you with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. Need a spiritual uplift, go to church; the pastor, the worship team, and your fellow worshippers will give you a boost. Need direction, no problem, there are plenty of traditions of men to follow that lay out a clear, though ungodly, path. Need spiritual nourishment, don’t worry about the Bible, go to church and get spoon-fed man’s doctrine.

New Challenges

Today we face new challenges in America. The last word I heard is that the church building may be closed until Labor Day in September. The world is calling good evil, and evil good. We are targeted as part of the problem. What now? Do we respond as Israel did and want to hightail it back to Egypt, or do we take this challenging time as an opportunity to rely more completely on our Elohim?

I say we draw closer to Elohim, seek His direction more earnestly, and follow what He directs us to do. I pray each of you agree it is time to come out of Babylon and enter into ever deeper fellowship with our Father in Heaven.

Torah portion Nasso for June 6, 2020

We have celebrated Shavuot, and are now wending our way toward the fall feasts. We enter a time when there are no moedim for the rest of summer. Our Torah portion this week is Nasso, take and refers to Bamidbar, Numbers 4:22, “Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon...”

Yehovah gives us one of the few revealed prayers in portion Nasso, the Aaronic benediction.

And Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying,  (23)  Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, In this way you shall bless the sons of Israel, saying to them:  (24)  Yehovah bless you and keep you;  (25)  Yehovah cause His face to shine on you, and be gracious to you;  (26)  Yehovah lift up His face to you, and give you peace.  (27)  So they shall put My name on the sons of Israel, and I Myself will bless them. (Num 6:22-27)

Of particular note is the structure and meaning of verse 27. Here it is in Hebrew,

  ושׂמו את־שׁמי על־בני ישׂראל ואני אברכם

The highlighted words translate as my name. The root word for name is שֵׁם, shem. The addition of the small letter, the yod, at the end of shem changes it from ‘name’ to ‘my name’. Remember, we read Hebrew from right to left, so in front of ‘my name’ is an aleph tav.

When we see the aleph tav, we look for shadows of the Messiah because He said in Yochan’s, John’s, Revelation that He is the Aleph and the Tav.

Yochan also wrote, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of Elohim; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (Joh 20:31)

Yeshua said, “I have come in the name of My Father, and you do not receive Me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive that one.” (Joh 5:43), and further, “I and the Father are One!” (Joh 10:30)

Saying that He came in the name of His Father means much more than just a moniker, it entails the authority, character, and power behind that name. In the Aaronic benediction, Yehovah told Moses. “They shall put My name on the sons (children) of Israel.” When His name is put onto us, we have both the opportunity to receive a portion of the power and authority to act in His name, but also the responsibility to not take His name in vain.

We become representatives of the Most High Elohim, and carry His name wherever we go and in whatever we do. It is a heavy (in Hebrew, Kavod, holy) responsibility we have been given, but He has also given us His Ruach haKodesh, the Spirit of the Holy One to help us. With His Spirit, we can overcome the world, without it, we are left on our own and subject to the weaknesses of the flesh.

May we always work to stay close to Him and pray as David prayed, “Do not cast me out from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. (Psa 51:11)

Torah Portion Shavuot

Pentecost, or as it is known biblically, the Feast of Weeks, Shavuot is one of the appointed times (moedim) of Yehovah, it is also one of the pilgrimage moedim. The book of Acts describes that there were Jews from all over the world in Jerusalem,

And suddenly a sound came out of the heaven, as being borne along by a violent wind! And it filled all the house where they were sitting.  (3)  And tongues as of fire appeared to them, being distributed, and it sat on each one of them. Act 2:2-3 

What were they all doing in Jerusalem?

Why were all these Jews from all over the world in Jerusalem on Pentecost? Because at that time, it was Shavuot, a pilgrimage moed, and they were obeying the instruction to go to Jerusalem.

Divorce and reconciliation

Most people today have divorced the biblical moed of Shavuot from the Pentecost occurrences in the Apostolic Writings, but when we reconcile them, we see a beautiful picture of our Elohim who doesn’t change. We learn that what happened in the time of Peter was not new, but a return to what had happened before. That is why the Jews knew it was a sign from Elohim. Here is what Jewish tradition in the Midrash says about the giving of the Torah at Sinai.

"On the occasion of the giving of the Torah, the Children of Israel not only heard the LORD’s Voice, but actually saw the sound waves as they emerged from the LORD’s mouth. They visualized them as a fiery substance. Each commandment that left the LORD’s mouth traveled around the entire camp and then came back to every Jew individually." Weissman, Moshe, The Midrash Says.

"And all the people witnessed the thunderings" (Exodus 20:15). Note that it does not say "the thunder," but "the thunderings"; wherefore R. Johanan said that God’s voice, as it was uttered, split up into seventy voices, in seventy languages, so that all the nations should understand.” Shemot Midrash Rabbah 5:9

The letter and the Spirit

Between the two occurrences, Sinai (the giving of the Torah) and Jerusalem (the Spirit poured out on all flesh); we see the fulfillment of the giving of the letter and the spirit of the Torah. We also see the correction of the error of Israel.

At Peter’s time, Israel had adopted the erroneous belief that only those born Israelites could participate in the covenant with Elohim. That idea persists today within Judaism. The opposite persists in Christianity in the idea that “the church” has inherited the blessings and “the Jews” are left with the curses. Both sides have left the Torah teaching.

Where much is given much is expected

The Torah is clear that those who have the Torah and the covenant are to be a light to others around them who do not. They are to move the unbeliever to jealousy and a desire to come into covenant and begin to obey Father’s instructions. The Torah contains the instructions that the Creator of all things gave to humans on how we are supposed to live.

Those who have the instructions are supposed to share with those who don’t, and we are all supposed to encourage each other to obey out of love for Elohim, and love for our neighbor. For on these two commandments hang all the Torah and the Prophets.

Torah portion Tetzaveh Exodus 27:20-30:10

The order of things matters!

Have you ever become so familiar with something that you forget its order? For so long the picture of the completed Tabernacle has been in my mind that I forgot the order in which it takes place. This year it hit me, the order of the building of the Tabernacle is significant. It was this week’s portion Tetzaveh that illuminated the thought.

The ordering of building the Tabernacle

Here are the steps up to this week’s portion in order. I have not included all of the details for brevity sake.

1.      The ark of the covenant/testimony

2.      The table of the bread of the presence

3.      The menorah

4.      The mishkan/tabernacle

5.      The bronze altar of sacrifice

6.      The court of the Tabernacle/the fence around it

7.      Oil for the menorah

8.      The priest’s garments

a.       Aharon’s and the future High Priest’s

b.      His sons and descendants

9.      Consecration of the priests

10.  The altar of incense

Burning incense is a form of worship

I find it curious how far down the list the altar of incense is. Many times Israel is chastised because they burnt incense to other gods, the hosts of heaven, and the queen of heaven. In the Book of Revelation we read:

“And when He opened the seventh seal, a silence occurred in Heaven, about a half hour. And I saw the seven angels who stood before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood on the altar, having a golden censer. And many incenses were given to him, that he should give them with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incenses went up with the prayers of the saints out of the hand of the angel before God. And the angel has taken the censer, and has filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth; and sounds and thunders and lightnings and earthquakes occurred.” (Rev 8:1-5)

Incense seems to be an important part of our communion with our Father in Heaven and is mentioned as going up with the prayers of the saints. So why is the construction of the altar of incense listed as the last part of the Tabernacle?

Prerequisites to prayer

Perhaps it is because prayers, and the incense that accompanies them, require more preparation and are more weighty than we often give them credit for. Consider this, the ark, the showbread, the menorah, and the mishkan all represent Elohim.

The altar of sacrifice represents us, and the earthly mission of Yeshua.

Then we have the court of the mishkan, the fence around it, and it represents the separation of the holy from the general population and strangers.

Next is the oil for the menorah, the Ruach ha Kodesh given to us to lead us into all truth and be a comforter.

Then comes the garments and consecrations of the Kohen ha Gadol, the High Priest and the priests. We know from the apostolic writings that Yeshua is our High Priest, our Mediator with the Father as was Aharon.

Finally comes the altar of incense. The shadow shows me that in order for our prayers to reach our Father in Heaven, the whole system had to be put into place. We needed a mediator, sacrifice, the light to see Him, His presence, and a kadosh/holy/separated place to meet with Him.

Prayer time is separate time

I have seen a plaque that says “Time spent fishing is not deducted from a man’s life.” Maybe, but prayer time might better qualify for the exemption. With the construction of the Tabernacle in this order we see that prayer time is separate from the world, it comes after all the construction and furnishing. What follows in next week’s portion is the “tax” but literally the kopher neshama l’Yehovah, covering of soul to Yehovah.

The incense from the golden altar appears to do for Israel what the High Priest’s censer does for him when he enters the Holy of Holies. It covers our souls so we don’t perish.

May we ever be consistent in offering up our prayers before our Father that they may be a pleasing aroma to Him and remind Him that we are here and we are faithful.

Shavuah Tov

Torah portion Terumah 2020

Shalom and blessings in Yeshua’s name. Our portion this week is Terumah, offering.

Last week the people tell Moshe that they don’t want Elohim to talk to them anymore because they are afraid. They tell him to go talk with Elohim and then come back and share what He says. So Moshe did, and the people replied “na’asay v’nishma” “we will do and we will hear and understand.”

Moshe, Aharon, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders climbed up onto the mountain, saw El, lunched, and then Moshe left the group behind and climbed higher into the cloud where he waited seven days. It is on the seventh day that this week’s portion begins.

Waiting on Yehovah

After six days of waiting on the top of the mountain, Elohim speaks to Moshe, and over the next several chapters instructs him on how to build the tabernacle and the objects that will be housed there. It starts with:

“And Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering (terumah): of every man that gives it willingly with his heart you shall take my offering.’” (Exo 25:1-2)

All that follows is grounded in this first statement, “of every man that gives it willingly with his heart…”

When Israel left Egypt, they plundered the country. When we hear the amount of silver and gold, gems and precious stones and dyed animal skins that will be required, we get a sense of the amount of riches they possess. The key is giving it willingly for the work of the tabernacle.

Tough decision?

From one perspective, it shouldn’t be a difficult decision. To give all the precious items to honor the Elohim who freed the nation from slavery, who split the sea for safe passage and destroyed the army that pursued them, who did miracles in providing water, manna, and quail, and who just gave them the ten words out of the thunder and lightning atop Mount Sinai.

From another perspective, gold and silver are shiny and worth money. The Israelites hold in their possession more wealth than these former slaves had ever had or likely ever imagined they could have. Besides, look at all that Elohim has done for them for no price. Wouldn’t He continue to take care of them even if they didn’t give all their new found treasure?

Human nature

Of course, I am supposing what they are thinking. But it is based on the observation that human nature has not changed in the intervening years, and people today have similar thoughts.

The instruction given here is echoed in the Apostolic Writings

“But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2Co 9:6-7)

I suspect that Elohim could get by just fine without out gifts, even without a tabernacle on earth. The question is, could we?

We discussed last Shabbat that all the instructions given are for life, for our good. It doesn’t do us any good if we give grudgingly. It doesn’t bring us closer to Elohim, and it doesn’t build us spiritually. But if we give cheerfully, it is usually because we want to bless our Father in heaven through our obedience, and we recognize that it is true what Yeshua said, “Seek first the kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness…”

Where is our real treasure?

We look at our gold and jewels, then we look toward heaven, and we determine that we would rather

“Lay up for (ourselves) treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Mat 6:20)

Although the Israelites get sidetracked while Moshe is on the mount, later on they will contribute so much that Moshe tells them to stop giving.

There is always hope

I find the account encouraging that even though we might lose our way at times, our Father is gracious to forgive when we find our way back, repent, and walk in His path again. May you have a blessed week filled with the joy of our Elohim and His Messiah.

Portion Mishpatim, Judgments

Justice from Judgment

If men strive and strike a pregnant woman, so that her child comes out, and there is no injury, he shall surely be punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him. And he shall pay as the judges say And if any injury occurs, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. (Exo 21:22-25)

What about the eye for and eye thing in this week's portion ?

Equality under the Torah

Take two people. Bob is an employee, Jack is a billionaire.

Bob has a good steady job, works forty hours a week plus some overtime, and is able to pay bills on time and provide food for the family. He has two strong hands, a strong back, and two good eyes. All helpful in his work.

Jack owns an investment company and works eighty hours a week, his health is good because he works out at his gym regularly. He too has two strong hands, a strong back, and two good eyes.

The Torah says Bob's eye and Jack's eye have the same value. They are of equal worth.

Traditional Rabbinic understanding

An eye for and eye, tooth for a tooth, etc was never meant to be understood literally, but rather that a monetary value should be placed on say, an eye. If someone lost an eye, they could essentially sue for the value placed on an eye, but no more. If Jack lost his eye due to Bob's assault, he could sue Bob for the value of an eye, say one million dollars. Vice versa, if Bob lost an eye due to Jack's assault, Bob could sue Jack for the million.

This Torah judgment set a value on loss. It also limited the value of loss. So, Jack couldn't say that because he makes substantially more money than Bob, he should be entitled to substantially more of a settlement for the loss of his eye than Bob would be. An eye is worth a million, regardless of whose eye.

On the other hand, Bob could not claim that because Jack has substantially more money than he does, Jack should be required to pay substantially more should Bob lose his eye.

Considering the argument

On one side of the equation, the payment of an equal monetary equivalent is sound. Any injured party can expect to receive just compensation for the loss of an eye, and the injured party is not allowed to seek exorbitant compensation above the set value of loss. That makes the wealthy and the worker equal.

But, let's look at the other side of the equation.

If Jack loses an eye at Bob's hand, in order for Bob to pay out the million dollars to Jack, he has to sell his house, borrow all the money he can, go into debt for the next thirty years, and eat beans and rice for every meal. He will be ruined financially and left homeless. He would be extremely careful never to cause another person to lose an eye. (I know, that's why we have insurance, but insurance wasn't around when Moses led the Children of Israel out of Egypt)

On the other hand, if Bob loses an eye at Jack's hand, Jack pays out the million from his checking account, chalks it up to the cost of doing business, and goes merrily about his lifestyle with nothing but a slight tic on his balance sheet. When the next Bob comes along, Jack has no more concern over whether he puts the new Bob in the same situation that caused our Bob to lose his eye. Why should Jack care? He could pay out a million per eye for years before he felt any real impact or had cause for changing his eye damaging practices. 

Real equality

Now imagine if the Torah judgment was literal.

Knowing that should he cause an employees to lose an eye, Jack, regardless of his wealth, would face the penalty of losing one of his own eyes, he would be extremely careful about working conditions that might cause the loss of eyes.

On the other hand, Bob would not be ruined financially, but would lose an eye.

Punishment works, if we work it

In Fiddler on the Roof, Tevye says, "very good, that way the whole world would be blind and toothless." I disagree. If each person knew that if they caused the loss of and eye, they would actually lose one of their own eyes, I think we would all be more careful about how we treated each other. Punishment is a deterrent, but only if it is meted out quickly and consistently.

The reason "punishment" is not a very good deterrent today is that we don't apply it consistently or quickly, and what we sentence criminals to isn't really any kind of punishment. Our society has learned that crime does pay, and criminals don't have to pay for committing it.

We need to return to a system where any person who commits a crime, whether causing the loss of an eye as in this judgment, or any of the other Torah instructions, will face quick, balanced, and consistent punishment.

What's up with portion Yitro

Shouldn't this portion be called Esharot ha'devarim?

Going through the portion it's obvious that the highlight is Elohim descending on Mount Sinai and delivering the Ten Words known as the Ten Commandments.

So, what's up with naming the portion after Moses' father-in-law Yitro, Jethro?

Portion naming convention

The standard convention for naming the Torah portion is that the name is found in the first few lines of the portion.

But if the Torah is Elohim's word, why wouldn't He name it something better? The words are from Elohim, the chapters, verses, name of the portion are all done by people. The hope is that those people were inspired who made these insertions into the Scripture, but they are still insertions.

Yitro's Clues

We learn three important aspects about Yitro from the text.

1. And Yitro the priest of Midian, the father-in-law of Moshe, heard all that which Elohim had done for Moshe and for His people Israel, that Yehovah had caused Israel to go out from Egypt. (Exo 18:1)
2. And Jethro rejoiced regarding all the good which Yehovah had done to Israel whom He had delivered from the hand of Egypt. And Yitro said, Blessed be Yehovah who has delivered you from the hand of Egypt, and from the hand of Pharaoh; He who delivered the people from under the hand of Egypt. (Exo 18:9-10)
3. Now I know that Yehovah is greater than all the gods; truly, in the way in which He acted proudly against them. (Exo 18:11)

 1) Yitro was a priest of and in Midian and we know that when El first appeared to Moshe He said,

"When you bring out the people from Egypt: You shall serve God on this mountain." (Exo 3:12)

That mountain was in Midian where Yitro's sheep were kept. Israel was camping in Yitro's backyard. Unlike many other tribal leaders, Yitro allowed them to do so. He showed hospitality to the millions of Israelites.

2) In contrast to other leaders, "Yitro rejoiced regarding all the good Yehovah had done..." Other leaders saw the hordes of Israelites as a threat, and were afraid they would eat up all the food and drink all the water.

Yitro heard what happened, and rejoiced. He greeted his son-in-law, the leader of the Israelites and brought Moshe's wife and children to the camp. Yitro even offers sage advice to Moshe on how to deal with the massive numbers of people seeking rulings to help out.

3) Yitro acknowledges, "Now I know that Yehovah is greater than all the gods." This statement reveals that Yitro knew enough about other gods that recognizing what Yehovah had performed in Egypt and beyond Yitro was convinced Yehovah was greater.

Who is greater?

There has been an ongoing contest for millenia over who is greater. We see it in the plagues in Egypt. Yehovah showed that He was mightier than all of the gods of Egypt one by one. That contest continues today.

There is no question in the minds of followers of Messiah that Yehovah who created all things, and by whom all things continue to exist is Supreme. (see Col 1:16) Not everyone believes that though.

The Creator can make the Rules

If Elohim created all things, and all things are His, then He has every right and the responsibility to set down rules. Just as an earthly father sets house rules, so does our Heavenly Father.

Did you ever hear your father or mother say something like, "As long as you live in my house, you will obey my rules!"? I heard it. A parent has the authority to set rules and expect them to be obeyed.  Our Father sets rules and says the same thing. As long as we are in His household, we need to obey His rules.

What's the alternative?

"If you are unwilling to obey my rules, you need to get out of my house." That's not a bad thing when you turn eighteen or twenty, and it's time to leave the nest, but when it is Father Elohim, and He tells you to get out, you're in trouble.

Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works? And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness! (Mat 7:21-23)

When Paul wrote, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Php 4:13) those all things includes keeping the commandments, instructions, and feast days of Elohim.

Portion Beshalach (sent away) January 19, 2019

Moses leads the children of Israel out of Egypt, bondage, and servitude. They leave rejoicing. They are escaping from under the lash of their Egyptian taskmasters.

Let My People Go

Sometimes we forget there was more to God's instructions to Pharaoh. It wasn't just "Let my people go," but "Let my people go that they may serve me."

In the Apostolic Writings Paul tells the Corinthians,

"You are bought with a price; don't be the servants of men." (1Co 7:23)

Israel was not freed from slavery, they were bought with a price, and that price was the death of all the firstborn of Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his army and chariots. It was a high price.

The price paid by Egypt had to be high, because it foreshadowed the price that would be paid by Yeshua, a price nobody else could pay.

Sweetened Water

The bitter waters of Marah. It's a redundancy. Marah is Hebrew for bitter. The waters were bitter. What made the waters bitter? It could have been a high salt content, a high mineral content, or the water could have contained a concentration of poison such as the metalloid arsenic.

"And he cried to Yehovah, and Yehovah showed him a tree. And he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. He made a statute and an ordinance for them there, and He tested them there. And He said, 'If you carefully listen to the voice of Yehovah your God, and do what is right in His eyes, and you give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will not put on you all the diseases which I have put on Egypt; for I am Yehovah your Healer.'" (Exo 15:25-26)

Drinking bitter water leads to death. That's why sailors can't drink salt water, the salt accumulates in the body and without fresh water to flush it, it becomes toxic. The tree Moses is shown is symbolic of the tree Yeshua was crucified on. That tree took the bitterness of death away from us.

"But now having been set free from sin, and having been enslaved to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord." (Rom 6:22-23)

Hear and Do

Did you notice what Moses told the people?

"If you carefully listen to the voice of Yehovah your God, and do what is right in His eyes, and you give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes..."

They weren't told, "Hey Pharaoh's dead, now you can do whatever you want and live however you want." But that is the message that I hear a lot today. "I don't have to keep those commandments, I'm under grace, not under the law."

That's a deception!

I find it fascinating that the same people who tell me "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," turn around and say "Nobody can keep the law." So, you can do all things, except do what Father tells you to do, through Christ who strengthens you? That doesn't seem right, does it?

It seems to me that if Christ was going to strengthen you to do anything, it would be to do what God our Father tells us to do. After all it was Yeshua who said, "If you love me, keep my commandments," and John,

"By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not heavy." (1Jn 5:2-3)

I encourage you to learn what Father's house rules are as found in the Torah, and keep them. They are not difficult to keep, and He promises blessings for obedience. Just like our earthly dad's often say, "If you live in my house, you obey my rules."

Let’s End the Word of God Famine

I was talking with some fellow searchers after the way of God the other day. We discussed the prophecy that Amos shared that there will come a time when there will be a famine of the word of God. Let’s end it.

“’Behold, the days come,’ says Adonai Yehovah, ‘that I will send a famine in the land. Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Yehovah. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east. They shall run to and fro to seek the word of Yehovah, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, ‘your god, O Dan, lives;’ and, ‘the manner of Beersheba lives;’ even they shall fall, and never rise up again.’” (Amos 8:11-14)

(I’m going to discuss the sin of Samaria and the manner of Beersheba next week. For now, let’s talk about the famine of hearing the words of Yehovah.)

The searchers I talked with visited a number of churches all across the nation. (They were following God’s leading, not searching for the word of God) What they saw and heard was that Christian churches from the east coast to the west all have one thing in common; they don’t teach the word of God.

Church pastors teach psychology, motivation, pop culture, and encouragement; but they aren’t teaching the word of God. They sometimes refer to a verse or two from the Tanakh (Hebrew name for the Torah, Prophets and Writings – the Old Testament – what New Testament writers refer to as Scripture) with an isolated quote, but they don’t teach the word. When they do use Scripture, they take it out of context, turn it on its head, and often say it means the opposite of what it originally meant.

It is not a new problem, but it has gained strength and popularity

If the word is light, and the lack of it is darkness, perhaps we are experiencing what Yeshua was talking about when he said,

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:4-5)

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” What about when He isn’t in the world? Like now? David said, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalms 119:105) The word of God – the actual Scriptures – the Torah – is the light we have today. Yeshua is no longer here to instruct us personally, but the Torah is. Since churches no longer teach the Torah, where will you receive the light? Personal study. If you rely on a church, you will have no light and will sit for years, your whole life, in a pew in darkness.

That’s why I write this blog

So you, who are searching can find at least one place to hear the word of God and receive some light. Please don’t misunderstand me; I don’t think I am the only one teaching the word, there just aren’t many of us.

Christian churches recognize something is wrong

Pastors wonder what is wrong. Some say it is because we don’t have the anointing, others that we don’t have the love, others say we are under attack from the enemy.

The real answer is; we can’t see. “Where there is no vision (sight, revelation, oracle, Torah) the people perish: but he that keeps (guards protects, lives) the Torah, happy (blessed) is he.” (Proverbs 29:18)

Churches have abandoned the word, and the people are perishing

Our nation is filled with churches.

If pastors start teaching the Torah, the word of God, we would see a turn around. Instead of just using a verse from Scripture here and there to support what they’re teaching, they need to start teaching the whole word of God from the Torah, in context.

Pastors need to start instructing people to live God’s Torah. Governments or church programs will not solve the problems we face today. We need to teach the Torah, and allow the Holy Spirit through the washing of the water of the word of God forgive our sins and heal our land.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways (repent of sins – sin is transgression of the Torah (1 John 3:4), how can we know what sins we are committing unless we know what the Torah calls sin?); then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

“And (Moses) said to them, ‘Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which you shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this Torah. For it (the Torah) is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing (teaching and obeying the Torah) you shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.’” (Deuteronomy 32:46-47)

 Pastors, priests and preachers need to recognize that their childish church doctrines are a manmade gospel. They need to leave them behind and return to God’s instructions, the Torah.

Here you will find meat, not milk. The meat of God’s word, not the milk of manmade philosophies, motivational talk and psychology. Please come back and visit again soon.

Torah Portion Pekudei (Exodus 38:41-40:38)

For all my friends who say that God really doesn’t care what we do once we are saved, I refer you to this portion Pekudei (Exodus 38:51-40:38).

Throughout the portion, the instructions on building and assembling the tabernacle, the mishkan, are intricate and explicit. It is only after all of the instructions are followed, and the mishkan is erected exactly as Yehovah described to Moses that the Spirit of the Holy One descends upon it.

Mishkan come from the Hebrew word shakan, to dwell, or dwelling place. It is related to shekinah, the dwelling of Yah, or Yehovah. When the Holy One descended to dwell in the mishkan, it began to fulfill its purpose. But only after Moses and the workers completed the meticulous instructions for its structure and assembly.

Read the portion. See how many times the portion repeats, “As Yehovah commanded Moses.”

God oversees each point and each process. Moses and the workers faithfully follow every instruction. Details. Details.

The end result?

“Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of Yehovah filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of Yehovah filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34-35)

What an awesome blessing for following God’s instructions to the letter.

When I hear people say that they don’t have to do anything except say the sinner’s prayer, and then go live their life however they choose, I think of how specific these instructions are. The New Testament compares the church to the temple. The mishkan is the precursor of the temple, and the intricate building instructions are reflected in the Torah instructions for each person.

God cares how you live, especially if you claim to be in covenant with Him. And He laid out His instructions for living in the Torah.

Your part of the covenant is to keep the Torah. Keep the appointed times that Leviticus chapter 23 says, “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, concerning the feasts of Yehovah, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.” (Leviticus 23:2)

Too many good people have been deceived into thinking the Passover, Sabbath, Day of Atonement and God’s other feasts are Jewish. They aren’t. They are “the feasts of Yehovah.” Anyone who chooses to be in covenant with God should be keeping them, honoring them, and observing them.

Details.

Some I have spoken with tell me all the ‘Old Testament’ laws were done away with. Others say all of them except the Ten Commandments are done away with. Jesus, Yeshua, would disagree.

“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (even all those prophecies concerning His second coming) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:18-19)

When asked what the greatest commandment was, Yeshua said, “You shall love Yehovah your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Both of these two commandments are from the Old Testament, neither of them are from the Ten Commandments. Most people I speak with say these commandments are still in effect. That’s a problem if the laws in the Old Testament were done away with. All of what Yeshua taught came from the Old Testament.

Who is telling you what?

Consider for a moment; between God, and the adversary, which one do you think will tell you to keep God’s instructions? Which one will tell you that you don’t have to? Reminds me of the Garden of Eden.

“And Yehovah Elohim commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shalt not eat of it: for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’” (Genesis 2:16-17)

“Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Yehovah Elohim had made. And he said unto the woman, ‘Has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’ And the woman said unto the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ And the serpent said unto the woman, ‘You shall not surely die: For God knows that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.’” (Genesis 3:1-5)

The adversary lies 

The serpent lied, and he mixed the lie with some truth. The end result, Adam and Chava sinned, and brought death into the world.

“For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23) What is sin?

“Whosoever committs sin transgresses also the law (Torah): for sin is the transgression of the law (Torah).” (1 John 3:4)

So, someone who tells you it is okay to transgress the Torah is convincing you to commit sin, and the wages of sin is death. It’s clear who is going to tell you it’s okay to sin, the adversary, even if he comes disguised as an angel of light.

Know the Truth

It is vital to know what the Scriptures teach, and not trust someone else to tell you what they mean. Read the Scriptures in context, and you will not be deceived easily.

Torah Portion Ki Tisa Does God Care?

Torah portion Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35) is so rich with information, I am going to examine only a few of the insights it provides.

The first is the question, “Does God care what we do?”

When I talk with Christians, they seem to generally believe, no, God does not care what we do. As long as someone says the salvation prayer, they are good to go. After all, didn’t Paul say, “There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Peter warned us about Paul’s epistles. “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to understand, which they that are unlearned and unstable [in the Torah] wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:16)

Portion Ki Tissa has a different lesson.

The children of Israel were definitely in a covenant relationship with Elohim (God): They had a promise Elohim gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants would inherit the land of Judea. Elohim promised them, “I will rescue you, I will take you out… and I will take you to myself…. I will be to you Elohim, and you will be my people.”

And then Moses tarried on Mount Sinai. He was gone for over a month. The people confronted Aaron and told him to make them a golden calf. While Moses was up on the mountain, Elohim said, “The people have corrupted themselves, I will destroy them.” Moses pleaded with Elohim not to destroy them, and gave logical arguments why He should spare them. Elohim agreed not to destroy the people.

Of course, at the time Moses was making his pleas, he had no idea what the people were up to.

When Moses came down the mountain and saw the calf and the people worshiping it, I think he changed his mind. He broke the tablets with the commandments on them, destroyed the calf, sprinkled the gold onto the water and made the people drink it.

Moses showed the people he was really mad. Calf destroyed. The people punished. Good enough?

Not quite.

He called the faithful, “‘Who is on Yehovah’s side? Let him come to me.’ And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. And he said to them, “Thus says the Yehovah Elohim of Israel; ‘Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’” And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.” (Exo 32:25-28)

It wasn’t just a tongue lashing from Moses the people received. About three thousand died.

Why?

The people who were in covenant with Elohim disobeyed Him and worshipped a calf. It seems to me Elohim takes things like that very seriously.

Yet today, people who have made a covenant with God turn their backs on His commandments and instructions. “All we have to do is love our neighbors,” I hear them say. Not quite, I think. Love your neighbor is the second commandment.

The first, and greatest, is “Love Yehovah your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

What did Elohim say in the Torah? “Those who love me and keep my commandments.” How do we know if we love Him? If we keep his commandments.

Yeshua said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” He also said, “Who are my mother and my brothers and sisters? Those who hear the word of God and do it.”

“Yeah, but all those Old Testament commandments were for the Jews,” I hear too many say. I think they have never actually listened to the words of the Torah.

“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, ‘Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: [whose Sabbaths? Israel’s? No, Yehovah’s] for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am Yehovah that sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy to you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever does work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to Yehovah: [holy to whom? Israel? The people? No. To Yehovah] whoever does work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Yehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’” Exo 31:14-17

“Why are we supposed to keep it today? We are not the children of Israel,” I can hear my Christian friends say.

Because those in covenant with Elohim are called the children of Israel.

“And if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, [the children of Israel] and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root you… if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not you. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if [big if] you continue in his goodness: [obedience to His commandments] otherwise you also shall be cut off…” (see Romans 11:17-28)

When anyone comes into covenant with Elohim, such as saying, ‘the sinner’s prayer,’ they are grafted in to the house of Israel.

What then?

If they continue in sin, they will be cut off. What is sin?

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the Torah: for sin is the transgression of the Torah.” (1 John 3:3-4)

Note: John advises every person to purify himself. How? By obedience to the Torah. God still cares what we do, and how we do it. He loves those who are obedient to His instructions.

I’ve talked too long. May your week be filled with the presence of the Spirit of the Holy One.