Torah portion Tazriah and Metzorah

This week we have a double portion containing both Tazriah (conceives seed) and Metzorah (leper). I want to deal with an insight into the nature of a plague on a house in the land. Elohim gives the instruction to Moses and Aaron.

Plague on a house

It is interesting the manner in which the whole plague on a house occurs.

Lev 14:33 “And Yehovah spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,  (34)  ‘When you come into the land of Canaan, which I am giving to you for a possession, and I have put a plague of leprosy in the house in the land of your possession;’”

Yehovah says, “and I have put a plague of leprosy in the house…” Elohim puts the plague of leprosy in the house. Not that a plague is discovered in the house, but that He puts it there.

Why would Elohim put a plague on the house of an Israelite? And why is there no instruction for finding a plague in a tent? After all, they were going to be living in tents for the next thirty-eight or so years. And He specifically makes it conditional that this applies, “When you come into the land of Canaan.”

Why delay reporting it?

It would seem that a plague, especially leprosy (tsaraath), would be important enough that it should be immediately reported when detected to prevent its spread into more of the city. But the instruction makes it seem the owner of the house has the option to report it.

Lev. 14:35 “then if he who owns the house shall come in and declare to the priest, saying, ‘I have seen a plague in the house.’”

A rabbinic explanation is that tsaraath is punishment for lashon ha’ra, the evil tongue. We see this in the case of Miriam, sister of Moses who became leprous after saying unkind things about Moses. The person who has spoken evil against another must first recognize their error before anything can be done to remedy the plague.

Recognizing our sin

We still need to recognize when we have spoken against another before we can be free of the plague it causes within us. We don’t see tsaraath on the skin or in the walls of our house today, but we see the damage of the disease in our minds and hearts when we say or do things that are uncomplimentary or damaging to others. Lashon ha’ra is common today. It slips out so easily it’s seldom noticed.

Confessing doesn’t fix the damage

But the damage is done, to the person talked about, the person listening, and the person who speaks. A story about a man who recognized he had spoken evil of another. He went to a rabbi to ask how he can be forgiven. The rabbi told him to take a feather pillow, cut it open, and let the feathers fly on the wind. The man did so, then returned to the rabbi asking, “Am I now forgiven?” “Not quite,” the rabbi said, “now go gather all the feathers.” It is obviously impossible, but that is the message, we cannot undo the effects of unkind or evil words we speak to and about others so we must guard our tongues.

Guard the tongue

Yeshua said, “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment.” (Mat 12:36) John tells us however, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1Jn 1:9) Hence the need of the homeowner to decide to go to the priest and confess the plague. The house in the land is because Father knew that it would be an ongoing problem, more so when the vicissitudes of the wilderness were behind us.

Torah portion Tzav

Torah portion Tzav

Why did Elohim give us these portions on sacrifice considering that for two thousand years we have had no temple, and therefore no sacrifices have been performed?

Why take up valuable space in the Torah to explain them in such detail?

One reason is that we are living in the times of the end. We haven’t needed these instructions on offerings for two thousand years, but when they were given, there were still almost fifteen hundred years during which the sacrifices would be performed, and the people needed to know how they were performed.

But why are we reading about them this week in 2020?

All things come with a price.

The reason is difficult to see in English, but in Hebrew is clearer.

What we read as sin offering is simply sin chatat in Hebrew. Same with guilt, or trespass, offering. In Hebrew, it is guilt, asham. In a clear sense, we bring our guilt and our sin and the priest burns them in the fire on the altar.

While we don’t bring animal offerings, we still have the opportunity and responsibility to bring our sin and guilt to the heavenly altar.

Complete dedication

When a non-priest sins, the priest who offers the person’s sacrifice gets to eat a portion as payment for his service. But when a priest sins, his offering is completely consumed. No part of the offering is eaten.

Yeshua told us we are to be a nation of priests, and as such, we are told to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, completely, just as the priest’s offering in our Torah portion this week.

No part of us is to be held back.

Separation/set apart/holy

Our Torah portion makes a clear separation between priests and everyone else. Priests are consecrated and anointed. They are holy, set apart, to the work of the tabernacle and to the service of Elohim. The work they do is no less physical, precise, or demanding than anyone else, but it is all in service to Elohim.

Even when they return to their homes after their assignment at the tabernacle is completed for that season, they are still the teachers of the Torah to their community.

Do all to Yehovah

So to, we should recognize that regardless of the work we do, our careers, our service, even in our families, even as we are counseled in the Apostolic writings, “And whatever you may do, work from the soul as to the Lord and not to men,” (Col 3:23).

By doing so, we are witnesses to His glory, and as we do, we will “Let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven.” (Mat 5:16).

Torah portion Vayikra 2020

Torah portion Vayikra, and he called, Leviticus 1:1 – 6:7

Be aware of our actions

It could also be said, beware of our actions. We can at times be engaged in actions that seem to be right, but if we are to stop and consider what we are doing, we could well recognize that they are not in accordance with Father’s will or His plans for us.

We see an example of this recognition in our portion this week.

If all the assembly (aydot) of Israel shall err, and the thing has been hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do that which is not to be done to any of all the commands of Yehovah, and are guilty; when the sin shall be known, that which they have sinned against it, then the congregation (kahal) shall bring near a bull, a son of the herd, for a sin offering. And they shall bring it in front of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the elders of the congregation (aydot) shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the face of Yehovah. And they shall slaughter the bull before the face of Yehovah. (Lev 4:13-15)

If All the assembly shall err

“If all the assembly (aydot),” basically all the people, or at least the majority, “shall err,” in other words, they have been doing something wrong in Elohim’s eyes, but they were unaware. When they become aware of their sin, transgression, or iniquity, they are to stop doing it, turn from their violation, and offer sacrifice.

We learn that it is both conceivable and prophesied in this that the entire assembly, each person, could be in violation. When it becomes known, it is the responsibility of the congregation, kahal, translated into the Greek in the Apostolic Writings as church to bring the sacrifice, and the elders, the representatives, of the people, aydot are to sacrifice the bull.

How could all the assembly err?

Why were the people allowed to get into the situation where they as a whole were engaged in a violation of the instructions?

One possible answer is they thought they were doing it right and nobody bothered to check back with the written instructions. Another answer may be that they were led astray, either by one of their own group, or by strangers who came into Israel with a “better” idea. The reason we are shown in the Apostolic Writings is that the leadership was afraid Rome would come and take their places and the nation; they were afraid of the government.

Return to the TaNaKh

Regardless of the reason, our responsibility is to return to the Torah and TaNaKh and find out what Elohim says we are to do, and not do, and change what we are doing to comply with His instructions. In Yeshua’s day, we see a fulfillment of this prophetic instruction given in our portion. Caiaphas the high priest recently said,

‘“You know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.’ And this spoke he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Yeshua should die for that nation;” (Joh 11:49-51)

Then, in violation of the Torah, Caiaphas tears his garment, and the elders proceed prophetically to carry out the Torah instructions for a sin sacrifice for the people.

Then the high priest tore his garments, saying, He blasphemed! Why do we have any more need of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard His blasphemy. What does it seem to you? And answering, they said, He is liable to death. Then they spat in His face, and beat Him with the fist, and some slapped Him, saying, Prophesy to us, Christ. Who is the one striking You? (Mat 26:65-68)

Insurance against error

If even the elders in Yeshua’s day and in the congregation in the wilderness can go astray and lead the people astray, even so it can happen in our day.

We should be mindful to return often to the Scriptures and reflect on our actions and philosophies to see they align with Father’s instructions. In this way, in our day and culture we may be blessed to be, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of Yahweh, make his paths straight.” (Mat 3:3)

Draw near

That is why we study the Torah portion every week, to become conversant with Father’s actual instructions and to draw near to Him. As recorded in James, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. (Jas 4:8)

Have a blessed and healthy week. Shalom.

Torah Portion Vayak'hel 2020

A short side note to begin

Even as our nation, and the world is in the throes of this Coronavirus scare, we do ourselves an injustice by not recognizing Elohim.

There is much talk about what businesses, governments, and healthcare systems can do to stem the pandemic. But what about turning to Elohim? True we had a national day of prayer, but what about a national month of prayer?

Is it so far fetched that we should take more than a single day to appeal to the only one who truly has an answer to the dilemma and panic? May we continue to lift up our world, our nation, our families, and ourselves to our Father, plead for forgiveness for excluding Him from our nation, that this will pass soon, and we will be able to resume normal life with a renewed sense of Yehovah’s hand in the world.

This, as all science and tribulation should cause us to turn to Elohim. May this do so.

Torah portion Vayak’hel

Our portion deals with a time when Israel is in the wilderness. They have no means of increase since they move at a moment’s notice and never know how long they will dwell in any one place. I will deal with one aspect of the building of the tabernacle.

Moshe has come down from the mountain for the second time. His face shines with the close personal encounter he had with Yehovah. His first order of business was to share with the people the commandments he was given in the mount. The second is building the tabernacle. He tells the people,

“Take from among you an offering unto Yehovah: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of Yehovah; gold, and silver, and brass,” (Exo 35:5)

What did the Children of Israel take from Mitzrayim? All the things that would later be needed to build the tabernacle. Gold, silver, and brass, scarlet, purple, and blue cloth. It’s almost as if Elohim had this in mind when he told the people to ask of their neighbors certain items.

A willing heart

Just as Elohim commanded Moshe, he took offerings from all those with a willing heart, any other offering, either by constraint or persuasion would be unacceptable. Even as it is unacceptable today for someone to come to Elohim because they are forced, or feel they need to to please someone else. It is only the willing who come to Him for no other reason than that they want to come to Him. Often that desire is preceded by an external event, such as addiction, introspection, or need, but the decision still needs to be the result of the person being willing to come to Elohim. As David phrased it,

“O Adonai, open my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth your praise. For you don’t desire sacrifice; else would I give it: you delight not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psa 51:15-17)

Forced conversion isn’t really conversion

That is one reason the idea of forced conversion is anathema to biblical teaching. It was practiced during times past, and is still practiced today to some extent. Forced conversion is a major tenet of Mohammedan theology, “convert or die.” It is one more evidence that their theology is deeply flawed. Far from a God of love, their god is one of force and violence at the core.

Father’s key to calm

Be alert to the blessings and instruction Elohim is sharing with us, and to the deceptions rampant in the world. Stay close to His word in the Bible and close to Him in prayer, obedience, and meditations. In this way we will divide truth from error and be able to follow Him through whatever awaits us.

“If you love me, keep my commandments.” (Jn 14:15)

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment.” (1Jn 4:18)

Torah portion Ki Tisa

Messiah Yeshua and the brass laver

This week’s Torah portion includes the instructions for the brass laver for the priests to wash in prior to serving in the tent of meeting, or offering sacrifices. It is instructive where this is placed in the list of instructions as well as when and what the priests were to wash.

“And Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying, ‘And you shall make a bronze laver for washing, and its base bronze. And you shall put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar; and you shall put water there. And Aaron and his sons (the kohanim) shall wash from it, their hands and their feet; as they go into the tabernacle of the congregation they shall wash with water, and shall not die; or as they draw near to the altar to minister, to burn a fire offering to Yehovah. And they shall wash their hands and their feet, and shall not die. And it shall be a never ending statute to them, to him and to his seed for their generations.’” (Exo 30:17-21)

When Yeshua’s final hours approached, he sat with the disciples at the Passover. Notice that it says “Before the feast of the Passover.” If they are eating the Passover, why does it say “before”?

Feast of Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread

In Yeshua’s day, as it continues even today, the terms Feast of Unleavened Bread and Feast of Passover are at times used interchangeably. It is likely the writer is actually recording that this meal, the Passover is before the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which begins the next day, the 15^th of Aviv. That aside, look what happens.

“Now before the feast of the Passover, when Yeshua knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end… He rose from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then he came to Simon Peter: and Peter said unto him, ‘Lord, do you wash my feet?’ Yeshua answered and said, ‘What I do you know not now; but you shall know hereafter.’ Peter said to him, ‘You shalt never wash my feet.’ Yeshua answered him, If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.’ Yeshua said to him, ‘He that is washed only needs to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and you are clean, but not all.’… So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord: and you say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.’” (Joh 13:1-17)

He that is washed

Note that Yeshua says, “He that is washed…” The disciples would have washed their hands in preparation for the meal as required by both sanitation and tradition. Now Yeshua washes their feet. Both washings are required of the priests before a sacrifice or entering the Tabernacle.

Yeshua has named them a kingdom of priests. He is about to go to His own sacrifice, and the curtain of the temple will be rent showing that the way is open into the Holy Place for all  priests, not just the descendants of Aharon.

They didn’t understand yet, but we do

That is why Yeshua said to them, “What I do you know not now; but you shall know hereafter.” They didn’t yet understand that through His death, Yeshua would open the way into the Holy Place for all who covenant with Father so they may “Come boldly before the throne of grace.”

We are blessed to live in a time that we do understand. May we often take the opportunity to come before our Father, and never take the privilege for granted.

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.