Idolatry-False Prophets and Teachers-and Clinging to Father
Deuteronomy 12:28-13:19
Picking up where we left off in parashah 47, we come upon this portion that addresses three key issues: (1) the consequences associated with inquiring after the gods of those nations we were positioned to destroy; (2) dealing with false prophets and those who would influence us to pursue false gods and stray from Father and Torah; and (3) maintaining a sound and healthy relationship with Father. Each of these key issues are of such importance as it relates to our relationship and walk with Father and they are individually substantive in their scope and practicality.
When I study Torah, the first thing I do is to step back and try to gain as much of an understanding of the global situation at play–at the time that portion was written–as I possibly can, using the best resources that I have available to me at the time. I am a huge proponent of context. In conjunction with this contextual approach, I rely fully upon the leading of the Ruach Kodesh. This bi-fold approach to Torah study, as well as Bible study in general, has never failed me. I may not receive the answers to my questions at that moment, but the answer ultimately comes. And if there’s anything I can say to you to encourage you in your Torah journeys, it would be, to utilize a contextual approach in conjunction with the leading of the Holy Spirit. I do no crack open my Bible—actually fire-up my BibleWorks software—first thing in the morning, until I commune with Father and press Him to reveal His Word to me—His will—His truths, utilizing whatever means He sees fit to do so.
Since coming into the true Faith once delivered, I do not rely upon a church pastor, teacher, preacher, or even denomination to instruct me on how my walk with the Creator should work. Been there, done that. Instead, I’ve learned to rely exclusively upon Yah’s Word and His Ruach haKodesh to learn of His ways. That’s not to say that I am not a student of Torah under the instruction of Yahovah’s Torah teachers. Certainly Father can reveal His truths to me and you through His anointed teachers. But I’ve evolved to realize that in order for each of us to gain the fullest understanding of Torah Yshua-style, we must be as the Bereans were during the time of Rav Shaul (ref. Acts 17:10-15). Essentially, Shaul and Silas had been run out of Thessalonica as a result of their evangelistic work. Shaul and Silas then shuffle into Berea, located southwest of Thessalonica near the Olympian Mountain range in Macedonia. Berea had a thriving Jewish population. These Jews were described of noble demeanor and disposition. These continued in the study of the Scriptures each day and when Shaul delivered the gospel to them they naturally “searched the Scritpures” to verify all that Shaul was teaching was indeed true. As a result of Shaul’s ministry in Berea, many a Berean became a follower of Y’shua Messiah via Shaul. Unfortunately, those troublesome Thessalonicans took it upon themselves, upon learning that Shaul was operating in Berea, to high-tale over to Berea and attempt to put a stop to Shaul’s evangelical operations.
So I’ve come to learn—painfully so I might add—that proper study, prayer, meditation are essential to gaining a firm grasp of the Torah life abundant.
So that brings us to the crux of this portion: that being three key issues of concern Father had regarding us as His people. And quite frankly, as I read through the Deuteronomic portions, I am so taken by the obvious concern Father has regarding how we would fare in the land of promise. Over and over, throughout this book, Father tells us—don’t stray from me! Don’t even think about the lifestyles of the soon-to-be disposed inhabitants of Canaan. Obey my Torah without exception. I am you everlasting portion. I am your focus. I am your all-in-all. You will be my priests of light to a dark world.
I wondered as I read through this portion—what did Yahovah know about the people in the land of promise that we didn’t know? What was so bad about those people? What did they worship that would present such a threat to our relationship with the Creator of the Universe? Well, I found it with relative ease that indeed there were some pretty bad folks residing/inhabiting the land of promise. Canaan was a subregion of The Levant which also included the subregions of Ugarit, Ebla and Mitanni (reference Wikipedia.com—Religions of the Ancient Near East). The gods, or as scholars refer to them as deities, were many: Adonis, Anat, Asherah, Asima, Astarte, Atargatis, Attar, Baal, Berith, Chemosh, Dagon, El, Elhyon, Eshmun, Hadad, Kothar-wa-Khasis, Melqart, Moloch, Mot, Nikkal, Qetesh, Resheph, Shahar, Shalim, Shapash, Yam and Yarikh. Human sacrifices and disgusting sexual practices were common to the worship of many if not most of these false gods. So powerful were was the draw that these gods and their associated worship had on those who would adopt these gods as their own, that Father had no other choice than to put lay the Law down to us—over and over. And as harsh and inhuman as the penalty for falling for or pursuing after these religions and their gods may appear to our “enlightened” and civilized world of today, the threat that these nations and their idolatrous ways and their pagan gods posed to mankind’s salvation could not be left up to the hopeful good will of us as a people. Yah had to insist and had to get our attention.
As it would relate to our potential interest in learning about the people whom we’d dispose in the land of promise, nothing holds true more than the old adage that “curiosity killed the cat.” Verse 30 in certain translations suggests that showing or adopting an interest in the prior nation’s practices, culture and religion would naturally lead to our entrapment. The most popular translations utilize strong terms to describe this threat such as ensnare, snare, fall into a trap. The LXX versions do not employ such strong terms of admonishment but simply to take heed not to follow after their ways.The term used in Hebrew is “piel” which translates into English as “to set a trap”
The Babylonian Talmud has an interesting take on this passage of Torah. According to the opinions of the so-called sages and rabbis, one is guilty of seeking after the ways and gods of the disposesd nations if they “say I will worship” or “I will go and worship,” or “we will go and worship.” On the surface and to a Y’shua rejecting Jew, such a stance would be most acceptable. But to a Torah Observing Believer in Y’shua Messiah, there are some inherent problems with this talmudic ruling. As much as it may appear that the rabbis and sages were protecting us from overstepping the boundaries of Torah but insinuating that commission of a violation of Torah comes from utterance of the desire to pursue after false gods. But our Master clearly taught us that our allegiance to Father and rejection of paganism and false religion falls within the category of the “heart.” If we desire after or are consumed within ourselves to adopt the ways of the pagan; if we are taken by the ways of the pagan; if we are not disgusted by the ways of the pagan, then “we have a problem Houston.” Rabbi and sage, it’s not an action that brings about guilt and violation of Torah—it’s the inherent desire, the heart, the mind to commit a violation of Torah that becomes the violation of Torah. And this is the biggest challenge facing the would-be disciple of Y’shua: that being able to discern when and where sin starts and that being in our hearts and mind. As admirable as many might think—that being the sages and the rabbis created the Talmud to put a fence around Torah for us so that we would not violate Torah—their actions were in and of themselves a full-on violation of Torah. Father told us: “Everything I am commanding you, you are to take care to do. Do not add to it or subtract from it.” (Deu. 12:32—CJB) “In order to obey the mitzvot of Yahovah your Elohim which I am giving you, do not add to what I am saying, and o not subtract from it.” (Deu. 4:2) Joshua admonished in the land of promise: “Only be strong and very bold in taking care to follow all the Torah which Moshe my servant ordered you to follow; do not turn from it either to the right or to the left; then you will succeed wherever you go.” (Jos.1:7-CJB)
The talmudic actions of the rabbis and sages did not rescue us from violations of Torah. On the contrary, their actions imprisoned us. These created a religion, that being Judaism. This is what Y’shua came to deliver us from–the thoughts, beliefs and traditions of the so-called elders, sages and rabbis. To the spiritless rabbi and sage, to state one’s desire is the start of the violation of this mitzvah. However, Y’shua came and taught us that by simply “thinking” or entertaining in our hearts to do wrong is violation of Torah.
Verse 31 is interesting for the various extant English translations provide slightly differing takes on pagan worship in comparison to worship of the true God, Yahovah/Yahweh/Yahuwah. Most English translations simply state that we were “not to do this” nor were we to “behave thus toward Yahovah.” My question upon reading this verse was: what exactly were we not to do toward Yahovah? The NLT and the NET actually expounds upon this passage by stating that we were not to worship Yahovah the way the other nations worship their gods. It came to me to consider how churchianity has over the centuries fused pagan practices into the worship of the true God to the point that knowledge of the origins of many of the traditions, practices and beliefs of churchianity have been lost to antiquity. The celebration and observance of pagan holidays, the wearing of crosses and Sunday worship are prime examples of this.
Of particular disgust to Yah was the worship of Molech:
Lev 18:21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
Jer 7:31 And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.
Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Jer 19:5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:
The religion that surrounded Molech worship appears to have been one of the more heinous religions to come our way in the Ancient Near East. Molech worship entailed human sacrifices and gross sexual immorality. Some scholars have even contended that the tradition of coloring easter eggs has it basis in Molech worship where the blood of the babies sacrificed to Molech were used to color eggs for the associated religious festivities. ( Rev. Alexander Hislop’s “The Two Babylons” and Michael Rood’s “The Chronological Gospels”) And even today, we train our children to practice this heinous tradition as the centuries have all but eliminated the repulsive foundation upon which this seemingly innocent children’s tradition was based. Does forgetting the origin of certain traditions make the practice today okay or acceptable? Some would answer in the affirmative. But I hope that those of us who have been freed by Master from the scourge of religion know better and behave better.
Verse 32(13:1)–provides the prescription that will inoculate us from falling into the snare of following after other gods. That prescription quite simply is to carefully keep every Word of Yahovah and not add to or diminish the Father’s Torah. But we’ve the redeemed of the Most High know that we’ve been called to a much higher state of being. Master says that it is not enough to simply avoid physical violations of Torah. We are required to internalize Torah and worship Father in Spirit and Truth. Master taught:
27 ¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.1
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31 ¶ It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. (Mat 5:27-32 KJV)
Verses 1-4 I found very interesting. Here Yah is insinuating (to me He seems to be insinuating) that some of the things that false prophets proclaim may very well come to light. Just because the prophecy of an individual comes to light doesn’t mean that that prophet is of Yah. In fact, Torah is the only means by which we are to gauge truth and to gauge whether that prophet is of Yah. Prophetic manifestations are not guarantors of truth. I use to be of the mind that the only way to tell a false prophet is if his/her prophecies fail to come true. Certainly these verses helped change my mind and heart on this subject. If a would-be prophet teaches that something is going to happen and it happens as he/she promised, but that prophet also directs or teaches us to abandon Torah and Yahovah, he is a full-on false teacher and preacher. We see this today. We’ve had countless incidents of people who have prophecied about this thing or that thing, and those things have come to light. Many have clung to these individuals despite those individuals teaching a doctrine that is contrary to that of the true Faith once delivered. These individuals, despite their prophecies coming to light, are still false prophets and teachers. These must reject and even avoid. Since we no longer live under a theocracy, we can not nor should we not execute these false ones. Their lot will then be decided by the Master on the last day. All indications are that in the end times, prophetic manifestations will be the undoing of many a believer as the great serpent and his chosen one will perform many lying signs and wonders and trick the world into following his human proxy. That is why we must meticulously study Yahovah’s Word so as to not be bamboozled by the works of the enemy, not only today, but in the future. In this passage, these were to be executed and eliminated from our community because they served no purpose but to incite rebellion against Yahovah and according to the LXX “thrust us out of the way which Yahovah our Elohim commanded us to walk in (verse 6). It gets very personal–even those whom we love, honor and respect in our lives, if they attempt to draw us over to paganism, it became a mandate that we be the first at putting that individual to death along with the rest of the community found to be in violation of Torah. Father instructed that we not have pity or remorse for those whom we have to destroy and who have meant so much to us. (verses 7-12) Thus, it becomes our personal “skin in the game,” so to speak, that we must head the punishment that comes as a result of our accusing the loved offender(s). Heading the execution of the loved offenders would serve to preclude us from making false accusations and then hiding behind the executioners and escape having blood on our hands. This would be done via stoning.
Furthermore, those individuals of the community that Father refers to as “worthless men” (belial) who take it upon themselves to sway our community to “inquire” after false gods and these are found successful in swaying the citizens of that community into a life of idolatry and paganism, the entire town including their livestock was to be destroyed by the sword and all the remains burned in an open space. The resulting ruin would remain as a heap forever (verses 13). Again, the present day westerner is appalled by such a passage. I recall recently watching a television program on Netflix—I believe it was “West Wing.” A discussion broke out between characters of the show on things concerning the Bible and living a Christian life. The lead character of the show, in utter indignation, spoke out against Torah and whom He described as the “God of the Old Testament,” whom He could not tolerate. He could not tolerate the so-called God of the Old Testament because of passage such as this one. That God was barbaric and uncaring. The other character, trying to stick to his steadfast position on Christianity and living in accordance with the things recorded in the Bible ultimately was talked over and his position on the Bible, in particular the Old Testament was demeaned. The lead character quoted numerous Bible verses that supported his position that the so-called God of the New Testament was a much better choice, whose values and proposed religion aptly fit the beliefs and values of the American republic and democracy. Certainly the writers of this show were expressing their true and personal positions on Scripture and Yahovah and I would say, given the popularity of the show at the time, many Americans and members of the Hollywood elite. I recall thinking that such thinking that I could be one of those who felt that way about Yahovah if not but for the grace of Father to free me from my westernized—pagan-based—godless worldview. Sure, from a western perspective, passages like this are hard to swallow—hard to accept. Yah says to those who would balk and be appalled by such commandments and teachings:
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says ADONAI.
9 “As high as the sky is above the earth are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For just as rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return there, but water the earth, causing it to bud and produce, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth – it will not return to me unfulfilled; but it will accomplish what I intend, and cause to succeed what I sent it to do.” (Isa 55:8-11 CJB)
Despite our erroneous belief that we are civilized and the life we live is virtuous, Isaiah reveals the truth about us as a race of beings: 6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isa 64:6 KJV) What do we know about compassion? Righteousness? Holiness? What is and isn’t true? None of this comes without revelation from Yahovah and that revelation comes through obedience and study of His Torah and through His Ruach haKodesh. We are a sad lot who think that our righteousness exceeds that of Father. We only delude ourselves and with such ideals and beliefs launch ourselves on a course of certain destruction.
Verses 5 tells us that we are to (1) fear Yah; (2) obey His Torah; (3) listen to what Father says; (4) serve Him; (5) cling or as the LXX reads–attach ourselves to Him (my personal favorite rendering) and (6) follow Him. As I read this I wondered: what does it truly mean to fear Yahovah. I could certainly come up with an explanation that would be based upon my western mindset of what fear of God means and entails. But given that our ways are not His ways and that our ways are often influenced by our own petty desires, hopes and fears, my understanding of what fear of Yahovah looks like would probably be off. Furthermore, what does it mean to keep His Torah; to obey His voice; to serve Him; to cleave to Him and to walk with Him? What does all this look like? What are the practical applications that we as disciples of Y’shua haMaschiyach should apply to our day-to-day lives? Does popular churchianty hold the key to understanding what all that looks like? I seek to examine and arrive at an answer to these crucial questions my next continuation on this parashah and Torah Living Daily Challenge. May you walk in the power and might of His Ruach haKodesh. Until next time—Shalom dear Saint.