by Rod Thomas | May 19, 2014 | Blog
Today is the 19 day of the 2nd Biblical Month and the 30th day of the counting of the Omer. In my Torah study this morning I came across Numbers 19. This chapter dealt with the issue of cleanliness and uncleanliness; more specifically how must Israel (more so spiritual Israel) deal with corpses. Now I realize that for the vast majority of you, this may never be an issue, but for me, this issue is huge. As some of you may or may not know, my profession is that of a Coroner’s Investigations administrator. I deal with death each work day. Fortunately I am now an administrator, having left field investigations duties some years ago. During that time, I was tasked with investigating the circumstances that caused an individual’s death and from that investigation determine the cause and manner of death. Part of my investigation, more times than not, required that I respond to the death scene and physically examine the corpse in question. The primary reasons for doing this body examination was to rule out or rule in potential trauma that could have contributed to the death and to determine or estimate the time of death. As I mentioned earlier, I am no longer a field investigator but am primarily an administrator. I am, however, often called to the autopsy suite to view unexpected findings (such as bullet wounds, broken this and that, excessive blood in the chest cavity, and other pathology) that could have contributed to the decedent’s death. Additionally, since I am responsible for the crew conducting autopsies and who operate our morgue, I made it a point each day to visit the autopsy suite to see how things were back there. Having studied this passage some time ago, however, I have ceased making my daily trek back to those spaces so as not to intentionally make myself unclean.
Many would say, I presume, that this mitzvah would not apply to me. Some would likely say that this mitzvah was given to the children of Israel to prevent the spread of disease in the camp resultant from coming in to contact with a dead individual. I believe this certainly may be true. Would this directive directly apply to me and my crew today if indeed this mitzvah was health related? Not likely. We employ a number of prophylactic tools and practice sanitary methods to prevent the contraction and spreading of disease and filth that would be common to handling corpses. Although I believe some elements of this mitzvah could be health related, I also believe there are other areas of concern that Father has regarding His children coming in to contact with dead bodies. What those concerns may be, I’m not all that certain. However, given that Father made a directive that His chosen avoid coming into contact with dead bodies, that to me is reason enough for me to have ceased going back to the autopsy suite. Now, if it became absolutely necessary for me to go back to the autopsy suite and or even manipulate a body, I will do so, but with the full knowledge that I will be unclean for a period of seven-days. Fortunately, my having to do this has become a rarity and I will do all that I can to avoid having to go back there.
The primary take-away for me regarding this chapter has more to do with the issue of being clean or unclean than anything else. Father has spoken and relayed to us a requirement that His chosen be holy and steer clear of unclean things. Fortunately for us, Father has provided a means by which we may be made clean again if we are forced to deal with a situation that makes us unclean. At the time this mitzvah was given, Father instituted a perpetual ceremonial purification rite for purposes of addressing this particular situation. With the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 68 C.E., that purification rite is no longer in force. I’m not certain, however, that with the passing of the Temple and thus by default any and all associated ceremonial rites involving the Temple, that those situations that make us unclean before Father have also passed. For me, unless someone can prove to me from the Bible that the things the Father has deemed makes us unclean have ceased being an issue such as coming in to contact with a dead body, I will continue to honor and respect that command. For me, there is nothing more important than my relationship with Father. His Torah stipulates the terms for maintaining that relationship. When it comes to things that cause me to be unclean before the Creator, when within my power to do so, I can make provision to avoid becoming unclean. And by chance if I do find myself in an unclean state, I have the blood of Y’shua HaMashiach to purify me and make me clean once again. As He did in the days of Moshe, so He has done for us today: provide a ready means by which we can be made clean before Him and not hinder our relationship with Him.
Lastly, one of the reasons why we were to remain clean at all times back in the day was to avoid defiling Yah’s temple. Today, the temple of two-millennia ago has become our individual bodies (I Cor. 3:16). In order that we not defile our bodies, these temples of Yehovah, we have been given an understanding of those things that bring defilement. More importantly, we’ve been given the remedy for addressing that defilement—the blood and advocacy of Y’shua HaMashiach. Certainly, a much greater deal than our forefathers, wouldn’t you agree.
Now all that being said, I am a firm believer that one must make up in his or her mind whether or not they will follow this and other related mitzvot. Many will contend that we have no need for concern regarding such things that Father had indicated in Moshe’s day would make one unclean. Many hold to the belief that the work of Y’shua erased any such concern. I am not convinced of this at all. I believe the work of Y’shua permanently eliminated the need to sacrifice animals to atone for our sins and temporarily address our recurring impurities. However, I believe that which Yah has deemed makes us unclean has not and will not change (Mal. 3:6). I believe we, Yah’s anointed, must assume fully the role of Yah’s anointed. We cannot simply ignore what Father has told us to do because our denominations have given us a pass to do so utilizing the perverted grace doctrine as the passkey. It just makes sense that we live our lives a cut above the rest of the world and do that which the Father has asked us to do. Shalom fellow saints in training. Rod.
by Rod Thomas | May 18, 2014 | Blog, Podcasts
Christianity today is in a tremendous flux, and has been so since the last apostle John died in the late first century of the Common Era.
Paganism and heathenism remained strong adversaries of the true Faith and despite common 21st century belief in the overwhelming popularity of first-century Christianity, history strongly suggests that the Faith once delivered was rather small in terms of the number of people actually claiming an affiliation with it. Judaism, after the fall of the Temple in Jerusalem in 68 of the common era (experts have recently adjusted the date of the fall and destruction Jerusalem from 70 to 68 C.E.), Judaism took its side next to Christianity as a persecuted and outlawed faith as Jews scattered and hid themselves throughout the Roman Empire.
A semblance of the original Faith remains today.
Well, it appears pretty evident from the pages of our Bible, specifically in the Renewed Covenant (or the New Testament as popularly titled), that the original Faith delivered to the first-century saints by the Master, Jesus Christ, is not the same Christianity that we find throughout the world today.
Despite some variances in the practice and support issues like circumcision and other less weightier matters of the Law (or Torah) that formed the absolute foundation of the Faith once delivered, the tenets and belief system of the original Faith was homogeneous and true to the original teachings of Jesus and His disciples; and this ran throughout the empire and in every home and synagogue (yes, synagogue) of the general eklessia.
But something changed.
The challenges to the original Faith were more subversive than overt and the resultant changes occurred over the course of many years, decades and ultimately centuries. However, as early as the 60’s of the Common Era, the original Faith was slowly infiltrated by individuals with questionable and even unsavory agendas and dispositions. Jude, the brother of our Master, Jesus Christ, recognized this and announced his concern to the general ekklesia as such: For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jud 1:4 KJV).
The first three to four centuries of the church’s existence is hailed as somewhat of the golden years where millions flooded the pews and understanding of God, the Son, and the faith gradually solidified. Scholars go further to describe the foundational changes our Faith underwent as it morphed and took shape during these first three centuries in terms of a “progressive revelation.” By the tail-end of the third and into the first quarter of the fourth-century, the administration of our faith was overseen and controlled by the Universal Church or the Roman Catholic Church which seized complete interpretative and authoritative control of the faith.
(… it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jud 1:3 KJV)). (I contend that it is high time that this remnant come out of hiding and blow this great commission out of the water as the Master commanded.)
No well knowing scholar or teacher of the Bible can ever truly compare the nascent church heading in to the 2nd century (i.e., the church as it existed before the death of the last apostle) and say (1) that Christianity today is the faith that was taught to and practiced by the first century saints as evident in the content of the apostolic epistles of the renewed covenant; and (2) that Christianity today is how the Master envisioned and intended that it would be just prior to His ascension to heaven from the Mount of Olives. From the death and resurrection of Messiah to the death of the Apostle John, it appears from the book of Acts and apostolic epistle accounts that the faith was uniform in its appeal and doctrinal make-up as evident by Paul’s statement to the Ephesian ekklesia: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph 4:4-6 KJV)”
Today, depending on what source you tap, our faith has fractured into some 20,000 to 30,000 denominations.
Many will contend that the fragmentation was part and parcel of the so-called progressive revelation movement that the universal church contends took hold of the church from the second-century to today. But is this in fact the case? Is or was there a “progressive revelation” that occurred or is occurring; and is this progressive revelation a true movement of the Holy Spirit?
When it comes to such weighty matters as our eternal destiny and our daily walk with the Master, we cannot fall into the trap of “group think.” According to Wikipedia, Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people, in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints, by actively suppressing dissenting viewpoints, and by isolating themselves from outside influences. A true disciple of Jesus Christ must be a “freethinker,” bold and willing to stand up for what he or she knows is of God and against what he or she knows is not of God.
We are compelled to follow the teachings of the Master, not the teachings and doctrines of denominations. And the teachings of the Master are contained in our Bibles.
We are commanded to follow Father and follow Father alone through Jesus our Lord. We are to follow no man. Jesus made it abundantly clear as to whom we must follow: 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. (Joh 12:26 KJV) Thus, when we follow Jesus, and Jesus alone, it is then that the Father honors us in this life and the life to come.
One of the things that I’ve come across in my studies is a change in how we perceived and understood the Law or Torah as believers of the true faith spoken of by Jude. There is sizable evidence that the first century church actually obeyed Torah, despite orthodox christianity’s teachings to the contrary. A simple read of the entire book of Acts is proof enough that the first century, nascent church, observed Torah without exception. The apostles, even Paul, were staunch proponents of Torah keeping by the believer of Christ; again, despite teachings to the contrary. Even gentile congregations were Torah observing.
Why then would the church abruptly discard the Law at some point soon after the death of the last apostle and then teach a faith that anathematizes the law?
As more and more gentiles came in to the Christian Faith, and as persecutions and challenges battered the ekklesia, anti-Semitism slipped in and forced the church to move away from anything having to do with the Hebrew roots of the Faith. As hatred towards the Jews grew and spread throughout the Roman Empire and ultimately within the ekklesia, it stands to reason that those who came in to the church with unsavory intentions were successful in convincing the ekklesia to abandon the Torah/Law.
I submit to you that the post apostolic church (i.e., the ekklesia after the death of the Apostle John) gradually replaced the Hebrew foundations of the original Faith with Greek religious principles (e.g., the introduction of life after death and the believer’s spirit going to heaven and the non-believer going to hell at the time of death; the Trinitarian concept; the belief that Jesus was God come down to earth in the flesh; and other infused teachings and principles). By the fourth-century, the universal church, headed by Roman Emperor Constantine, had all but transitioned Christianity from its original Eastern/Palestinian/Hebraic/Apostolic construct to that of a Western/Paulinized/Greek construct.
When one asks a Christian on the street what role the Law or Torah plays or should play in their Christian life, the often terse reply that one receives is that “the Law was nailed to the cross of Christ” and thus we are no longer under the curse of the law–as if the law was a terrible thing that was placed upon those poor, unsuspecting Israelites.
Indeed, the denominations have done a great job of indoctrinating its people in an anti-Torah doctrine and mindset. I would submit that the denominations haven’t had to do too much convincing of their members of the “grace for law” exchange that has occurred in Christianity over the last 2000-years. Sadly, the problem seems to fall mainly at the Apostle Paul’s feet as this great man’s writings seem to have done a splendid job creating doubt in the minds of the faithful regarding the applicability of the Torah/the Law to the lives of believers.
Indeed, Paul was probably one of the most brilliant minds of his day and of His Judaic culture. Luke records the words of Paul, who summarized his background as follows: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city and trained at the feet of Gamli’el in every detail of the Torah of our forefathers. I was a zealot for God, as all of you are today.” (Act 22:3 CJB)
One of the primary Pauline epistles that seems to have caused the greatest confusion around the relevance and applicability of the Law/Torah in regards to the Believers is found in Colossians 2. Paul writes: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (Col 2:13-14 KJV)
I use two very simple study techniques to get clearer understanding of what certain passages and phrases might mean: (1) after reading the entire chapter or even the chapter before to gain a better understanding of the context in which the passage is being written, I break down the verse and examine the words as they are literally translated from Greek to English–or Hebrew to English; and (2) check out other translation renderings. What I have found is that translators have from time-to-time opted to use certain phraseology and words to explain or define a passage in order to provide the reader with their personal understanding of what the author was trying to get across. One must bear in mind, however, that the translator, in his or her translation efforts, may be leaning to their own denominational understanding and biases of the passage and may be missing the true intent of the author altogether. Sometimes this error is seen (such as clearly seen in such passages as Mark 7:19 where the context of the Master addressing the manmade traditions of Judaism has nothing to do with the parenthetical insertion of (Thus He declared all foods clean.) (Mar 7:19 NAS)
But going back to Paul’s writing to the Colossae ekklesia: In this particular instance, the term ordinances implies some type of written decree. Eh, not really hitting the mark of actually meaning Torah or the Law, but for the sake of argument, let’s assume it could mean law and let’s then proceed. When the phrase “handwritten decree” is then connected to the passage, it now reads something to the effect, “blotting out the handwritten decree that was against us…” From what we know of the Law, the Law was never formulated and given to Israel as an instrument against the nation’s well-being. In fact, it served as a means to protect the Israelites FROM curses. Additionally, the Law/Torah has never been referred to as a decree. Wouldn’t it have been much easier for Paul to have simply written, “blotting out the Law of God that was once against us, He nailed it to the cross?” Now, I’ve heard throughout my Christian life a lot of vehemence against Jews and the Law, and how the Law is a curse. If one were then to hold such vehemence against the Law and the people of the Law, it wouldn’t be too difficult for that person to simply force the term ordinance to mean the Law/Torah. But again, is this truly what this verse and phrase is referring to? Let’s look at another translation of the exact same verse which reads: He wiped away the bill of charges against us. Because of the regulations, it stood as a testimony against us; but he removed it by nailing it to the execution-stake. (Col 2:14 CJB)
Ordinances in this translation mysteriously changes to that of a “bill of charges against us.” Understanding the context in which the passage was written becomes crucial to understanding the phrase “handwritten decree/ordinances against us.” One would learn from a study of the Hebraic roots of our faith that a handwritten ordinance or decree was simply a bill, a document that stipulated a debt that one owed to the holder of the note or decree. The terms of the debt was stipulated in the decree or ordinance and the debtor was expected to uphold the tenets of the ordinance and pay the debt. Obviously, we see this principle displayed today with our mortgages, car notes, and other credit card purchases.
For what one earns from sin is death; but eternal life is what one receives as a free gift from God, in union with the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord. (Rom 6:23 CJB). God requires holiness in order to establish a relationship with man.
Nowhere in Colossians 2:13, 14, can one apply Torah as being the thing that was nailed to the cross.
I believe there is sufficient evidence in the Holy Writ to support the Law/Torah being a necessity in the believer’s life.
Look at seven (7) reasons why the Law is a necessity for believers to follow and observe. I will of course provide in the show notes what I believe to be supportive Biblical passages:
1. The Master Himself proclaimed that the Law would remain till all (heaven and earth) came to pass away—
2. The Master taught His disciples and followers directly from Torah–
- Mat 7:12
- Luk 10:26
- Joh 8:17
- John 10:34
In all His teaching, why didn’t Jesus disavow Torah? Many will confuse the Master’s challenges of the teachings of the Pharisees and Scribes (Judaism) with the Torah/Law. But one has to always remember that the Pharisees adhered to the Talmud and not Torah. The Jewish nation practiced Judaism or Talmud which was designed by the rabbis to be a fence around Torah to prevent one from ever violating Torah. The problem with the Talmud? Although one might think that the rabbis were noble in their quest to make provision on behalf of the Jews so as to not violate Torah through a laundry list of rules and regulations, it became of such a burden to the Jewish people, that it was virtually impossible to keep. Thus, the misconception that Torah is impossible to keep. Secondly, the Father commanded that we not add to or subtract from the Law/Torah (reference Deu 4:2)
3. Torah or the Law was the basis for much of prophecy–
- Mat 11:13
- Luk 24:44
- Joh 15:25
- Heb 10:1
If a believer’s life is devoid of Torah/the Law, how then can he or she truly understand the true Faith once delivered?
4. John believed that Torah is an essential part of the believer’s life–
Seems to me that the Master has provided us with a three fold formula for our life in Messiah: (1) Torah, (2) Grace, and (3) Truth.
- Rom 3:19-31; 4:13-16
- 1Jo 3:4
5. Christianity has been described as Pauline Christianity whereby the doctrines, beliefs, and teachings of most Christian denominations are based almost entirely upon the writings of the Apostle Paul. Denominational Christianity generally teaches that Paul taught a gospel that was anti-Law/Torah. I came across several verses in his body of work where he actually defends the Law/Torah as being relevant to the Faith—
6. The Apostle Paul liked believers of Jesus Christ as spiritual Israel. If this analogy holds true, wouldn’t it be a fair assumption that the Law would apply to Christians?—
In this last passage, we see clearly that the Father fully intended that His Law/His Torah apply to everyone, be it Israeli or Gentile. There isn’t much to debate here.
7. If a hand-picked, anointed Apostle of Jesus Christ revered the Torah, wouldn’t it stand to reason that all believers should equally revere the Law/Torah?–
The Catholic Church early on asserted her authority to change the meaning of and the interpretation of scripture. According to http://www.catholicbasictraining.com/apologetics/coursetexts/6j.htm, “the Church is infallible in her teaching and in its role in interpreting scripture.” The article goes on to relate that the inapplicability of the Law/Torah was passed down to us by “Apostolic Succession over the past 2000-years.”
Following Jesus then requires that we do whatever He says do. Jesus said, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) Everyone of Jesus’ commandments came from the Law with the exception of the one new commandment that He gave to His followers as recorded in John 13:34. If Jesus commands us to keep His commandments and Jesus’ commandments were from the Law, it would stand to reason that the Christian who elects to not keep the Law/Torah is not a true disciple of Jesus Christ. So strict was Jesus in His requirement that His followers obey the Law/Torah, that he posed the following warning: So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Mat 5:19 CJB)
Churchianity, however, teaches that complete obedience to the Law/Torah is impossible. Well, that I have to say is a boldface lie. The Law/Torah requires that we not steal, lie, commit adultery, fornicate, murder, eat that which has been deemed unclean by the Almighty; and that we observe His holy days and love Him and love our neighbor. Granted, there are other commandments, but I think I hit upon the big ones.
So I ask you, what is the difficulty in keeping any of the above commandments? Oh, and if by chance we need assistance in meeting those standards, Father has made available to us a helper, the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16) If we desire to have that special relationship with the Father today, tomorrow, and throughout all eternity, we must conform to His standards and obey His laws and commandments. There are no free lunches in life; yes, even with God there are no free lunches.
by Rod Thomas | May 7, 2014 | Blog
As I read Numbers 15:8-16, any doubt that I had about the applicability of Torah to true Believers in Messiah was quickly erased. vs. 15 reads,
“…there will be the same law for you as for the foreigner living with you; this is a permanent regulation through all your generations; the foreigner is to be treated the same way before Adonai as yourselves.”
The vs. 16 continues,
“The same Torah and standard of judgment will apply to both you and the foreigner living with you.” (CJB)
I was absolutely blessed receiving this passage. Of course I had already come to believe that Torah was applicable to the Believer, but had little to hand my hat on when it came to actually supporting this belief to others who would contend that Torah was nailed to the cross of Christ and that we are no longer under Torah. This passage of Holy Writ certainly reveals the mind of Yehovah. His desire and intent is for Torah to be a universal rule and guide to all His chosen ones. Contrary to some, Torah has not been done away with nor did it only apply to the Jew. Nowhere in the Gospel record did Master say that He’d replaced Torah nor did He insinuate in some saying that, “hey Peter, John, and James, when I am taken from this world, be assured and inform everyone who would be my disciple that my sacrifice will eliminate Torah as a requisite.”
Torah royally stands despite the many attempts by some to twist Shaul’s teachings related to Torah. As hard as scholars and church leaders may try to twist the words and teachings of Shaul related to Torah, Shaul NEVER said Torah had been replaced by grace. If Shaul had recorded these words, his credibility and work would and should be highly suspect and even dismissed. I once believed that Shaul taught this. But thank Yah for revealing the facts. It all comes down to interpreting the teachings of Shaul through the lens of the Hebraic Root of our Faith.
In my ongoing journey and studies related to Church and Christian history, the primary change in attitude against believers embracing Torah as the basis by which they govern their walk with Messiah has been the infiltration of men into the body who’ve taken liberties with the grace of Yehovah through the sacrifice of Yeshua. As gentiles, wh have, through Messiah’s sacrifice and Yehovah’s grand provisiono, been grafted into the body of Israel (spiritual). Thus, we must draw from the same stream of spiritual nutrients the main branch draws from. Bottom line, there is NO special provision made for the gentile believer apart from being included in the eternal promises and inheritance that Father gave to the Children of Israel.
Be Most Blessed Saints. Shalom.
by Rod Thomas | Apr 9, 2014 | Blog
Greetings. Today, according to God’s calendar, is the 9th day of the Month of Aviv. Still a New Year, a new beginning for those of us who love the Lord Yehovah. According to Rood’s Gospel Chronology, in 27 CE, Yeshua, his family, and His newly selected disciples (inner circle) left Capernaum (aka: Kfar Nahum) for Jerusalem to observe Passover and Unleavened Bread (reference Leviticus 23 and John 2:13). According to the passage,
“The Passover was at hand and Yeshua went up to Yerushalayim (aka: Jerusalem).”
This passage may not get much attention to the average Christian (Gentile) Reader simply because it is sort of a commentary bridge between two or more important invents. It doesn’t take a whole lot of scholarly knowledge to understand what this verse is talking about, although possessing an understanding of the context and having a full appreciation of the Feasts of Yehovah catapults this verse to a higher level.
The King James Version’s rendering of this event reads, “And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem…” Notice, if you would, the distant perspective the translator placed upon his rendering–“…and the Jews’ passover…” Oh how we in churchianity have so distanced ourselves from our heritage but will fight to the death to brag about the inheritance. There appears to be some misplaced or partially messed up understanding of the full matter.
No individual understood the reality of both the inheritance and the heritage we gentiles enjoy in Messiah, than the Apostle Paul. According to Paul, “For the Scripture says, no one believing on Him shall be ashamed. For there is no difference of Jew and Greek; for the same Lord (aka: Yehovah) is rich towards all that call upon Him. For every one whosoever, who shall call on the name of Yehovah, shall be saved” (Romans 10:12-Darby Translation). Certainly, there is some under-current of anti-Judaism going on here and sadly, that under-current remains even today. We’ve all but discarded the significance of the Jews to our inheritance and our heritage, and by doing so, we’ve also lost all sight of the big picture. There was something to wearing the badge of Jew, regardless whatever negative spin the satan and him minions have put upon that culture. Again, the expert here is Paul who brilliantly asserts, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither that circumcision which is outward in flesh; but he is a Jew who is so inwardly; and circumcision, of the heart, in spirit, not in letter; whose praise is not of men, but of Yehovah” (Romans 2:28,29-Darby Translation). Indeed, being a True Jew (spiritual) is the desired outcome that the Messianic Torah Observer must aspire. And what constitutes a True Jew? It is the one who desires after the ways of Yehovah, who is obedient to His laws and ways, who is a disciple of Yeshua, and who is filled with the Holy Spirit. So many of us are so focused upon the physical manifestations of a culture of people–i.e., their traditions, habits, and appearance. Our culture, the Torah Observing Messianic Believer of Messiah, by nature has its behavioral uniqueness, but more importantly, we have that spiritual component that pushes us beyond anything that is common to human cultures. So we must not ever distance ourselves from our heritage for the sake of the intheritance. Paul explains: “Now if the first-fruit be holy, the lump also; and if the root be holy, the branches also. Now if some of the branches have been broken out, and thou, being a wild olive tree, hast been grafted in amongst them, and hast become a fellow-partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree, boast not against the branches; but if thou boast, it is not thou bearest the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, the branches have been broken out in order that I might be grafted in. Right: they have been broken out through unbelief, and thou standest through faith. Be not high-minded, but fear; if God indeed has not spared the natural branches; lest it might be he spare not thee either. Behold, then the goodness and severity of God: upon them who have fallen, severity; upon thee goodness of Yehovah, if thou shalt abide in goodness, since otherwise thou also wilt be cut away. And they too, if they abide not in unbelief, shall be grafted in; for Yehovah is able again to graft them in. For if thou hast been cut out of the olive tree wild by nature, and, contrary to nature hast been grafted into the good olive tree, how much rather shall they, who are according to nature be grafted into their own olive tree? For I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, of this m ystery, that ye may not be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the nations be come in; and so all Israel shall be saved…” (Romans 11:16-26-Darby Translation).
Praise Yehovah that we, Yehovah’s redeemed, His chosen, have been grafted into the one True Faith that was once delivered and that is Torah-based. Thus, there is no such thing as “a Jews’ passover.” Passover, like the rest of the Holy Days and observances and appointed days, belong to Yehovah! He instituted these times for a purpose and these days provide us with shadow pictures of good things to come and they prepare us for the Kingdom.
One more thing to take away from this passage: Yeshua, our Redeemer, our Lord, and Savior, was faithful to keep and obey Torah. Why do we feel that we should be any different. Oh, some would contend that Yeshua kept Torah so we don’t have to. Others will foolishly misinterpret Pauline writings and assert that we are not under the Law, and thus we are compelled to not keep Torah but rely upon Grace. Indeed, we are not under the penalty of the Law, but the Law was given by Yehovah as a means of instruction of how we are to live holy and righteous lives. Without Torah, life becomes a crap-shoot, as is typical churchianity today, where everyone lives according to how he or she see fit.
These days of the Spring Feast have such richness and the shadow pictures that are awaiting each True Believer to view are simply precious beyond understanding. May you be richly blessed this Spring Feast season.
by Rod Thomas | Mar 31, 2014 | Blog, Podcasts
For, brothers, I don’t want you to miss the significance of what happened to our fathers. All of them were guided by the pillar of cloud, and they all passed through the sea, 2 and in connection with the cloud and with the sea they all immersed themselves into Moshe, 3 also they all ate the same food from the Spirit, 4 and they all drank the same drink from the Spirit- for they drank from a Spirit-sent Rock which followed them, and that Rock was the Messiah. 5 Yet with the majority of them God was not pleased, so their bodies were strewn across the desert. 6 Now these things took place as prefigurative historical events, warning us not to set our hearts on evil things as they did. (1Co 10:1-6 CJB)
Weeping that Captures the Father’s Attention
The History Books of the Bible document the reign of several Kings of Israel and Judah. Most of the kings of the combined and separated nations were evil in the sight of Yehovah. For instance: Manasseh, came to the throne at 12-years of age, and reigned over Judah from Jerusalem. His story is capture in 2 Chr. 33:1; 2 Kin. 20:21. Manasseh’s reign was saw evil in the land of Judah–2Kin. 16:3. The primary evil was the worship of Molech. Molech worship was left over from the former inhabitants of the land (2 Kin. 16:3). When Manasseh came of age he oversaw the rebuilding of the high places that once destroyed by his father, Hezekiah. Manasseh also oversaw the erecting of alters for Ba’al and the production of groves (or asherah), as Ahab had become famous for. Lastly, the worhsip of the heavenly hosts became a mainstay religion of the nation.
How could this have happened to the nation of Judah. Knowing that their sister nation Israel had suffered irreparable harm as a result of similar worship of pagan gods and observing pagan rites. Judah effectively left Torah observance for worship of molten images and the erecting of groves or asherah. They left the fear of Yehovah for the service of Ba’al and the worship of the host of heaven. Both had erected alters in the Temple of Yehovah to other gods (Jeremiah) and to the host of heaven. This practice provokes Yehovah to anger (Deu. 4:19). The host of heaven included the worship of the sun, moon, and stars and this all took place on the Temple grounds (2 Chr. 33:5; Eze. 8:16).
The Tanakh is clear that Yehovah brings evil upon those who know better but choose to worship Ba’al, the host of heaven, and asherahs. In the sake of Israel and ultimately Judah, Yehovah aimed to forsake His inheritance (His chosen) and deliver them into enemy hands.
Sadly, Manasseh’s son Amon followed in his footsteps. Amon was murdered by his own servants. But praise be to Yehovah, He can and has provided for the raising of a righteous seed and thus Amon’s son, Josiah, succeeded him to the throne at the tender age of 8 (2 Kin. 23). Josiah took the nation of Judah on a 180 degree turn from their decades of practicing evil and brought them back towards the light of Yehovah’s Torah. This inspiring and touching story is documented in 2 Kin. 23.
Essentially, after Amon’s death, Josiah ascended to the throne of Judah at the age of 8. Despite the evil that his father oversaw during his reign, Josiah came to to know Yehovah and follow His ways. At 26-years of age, King Josiah realized that the Temple was in noticeable disrepair. Thus he directed the Temple administrators to assess the Temple and determine what needed to be done to get it in proper order, deserving of the House of the Lord. The administrators were instructed to take the funds from the treasury and hire the professionals to make the needed repairs, this after years of disrepair and neglect of the House of the Lord under the reigns of Mannesseh, Amon and the other evil kings of Judah. While assessing the Temple, a priest by the name of Hilkiah placed into the hands of a scribe by the name of Shaphan the Temple’s Torah. Shaphan the scribe read the Torah to King Josiah (reference 2 Kings 22:9-10). Josiah’s response to hearing the Word of Jehovah? He learned and understood the problems through the content of Torah that was read to him that he and his nation were headed for certain disaster and destruction. Certainly, the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy outline for the peoples of Yehovah the blessings and curses to be had in the event Yehovah’s chosen are obedient to Yehovah’s Laws or they are disobedient to His Laws, respectively. Clearly, after hearing these passages denoting blessings and curses, Josiah must have been horribly alarmed. This likely came atop Josiah coming to understand what Yehovah expected of His chosen people. The years of idolatry and the nation’s persistant wallowing in the filth of the very uncleanness that Yehovah strictly forbade His people to avoid, must have been a glaring realization for the young ruler.
Have you ever had the ocassion whereby you learned that you or someone you loved had been doing something or some things grossly wrong for a long period of time? Recall how it made you feel. Recall how you likely tried to rationalize the wrong doing in hopes that you could dispell the truth of the matter. Recall how it sickened you to your stomach and the desparation that followed as you searched for ways to make proper amends to the one(s) who may have been offended. Not to mention the fear that took center stage in your mind of the pending repercussions for the times of wrongdoing. If, however, we are of pure hearts, we are ultimately thankful for the revealed knowledge that we were doing wrong. It is this revealed knowledge that provides us the opportunities to make amends and get on a proper track of living.
Terrified of the impending doom that was likely overshadowing Judah as a result of her decades of idolatry and adultery (both involving the turning away from the one true God), Josiah sent immisaries to a prophetess, by the name of Huldah, to “inquire of Jehovah for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the wrath of Jehovah that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us. (2Ki 22:13 ASV)” What Josiah’s immissaries learned from Huldah likely confirmed Josiah’s worse fears: “Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read. Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched. (2Ki 22:16,17 ASV)
Indeed, indicting and severe information to receive from the spokesperson of the Almighty. What makes matters worse here, is the addendum from the Eternal that was attached to the edict and that was that Yehovah’s wrath would not be quenched. In other words, there are often consequences associated with disobedience to Torah and no amount of obeience will change that. Sometimes, we find ourselves in situations of disobedience to Torah, yet when we come to terms that we need to repent and change our ways, we are ill-prepared to accept the consequences that must come with the offense.
It became apparent to me as I studied this amazing story, that often, during our periods of disobedience to Torah, our actions of evil against Yehovah and His Law, often sets in to motion a chain of events that we may not be altered despite our genuine desire to make the proper amends with the Father and to turn back to His Law. In these situations, we must be prepared to accept and endure the resulting punishment. The resulting punishment often has nothing to do with the repentance. Shaul (aka: Paul) taught: 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 6:23-1 KJV)
Of course, this was not the end of the story. Our Father is merciful: “but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. (Neh 9:17 KJV)” The love the Father had and continues to have for His chosen ones often leaves in place an enduring ledge of mercy that may not entirely stave off punishment for disobedience to the Father’s Torah, but may provide some form of respite or stay of execution for the pure of heart. In Josiah’s case, he exemplified the weeping that gets the Father’s attention.
The prophetess of the Most High explains: But unto the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Jehovah, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: As touching the words which thou hast heard, because thy heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before Jehovah, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith Jehovah. Therefore, behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again. (2 Kings 22: 18-20 ASV) After receiving the prophecy and the Words of the Almighty from the prophetess, Josiah did not rest upon his brand new insurance policy. He took action, despite the fact that His weeping caused the Father to impose a stay of execution upon the nation. Josiah obviously knew that if he were to save his nation from certain devastation, he had to reimpose the practice of Torah in the land; destroy the idols that had proliferated the land of Judah for decades (2 Kings 23:4, 8); walk after Yehovah (2Ch 15:12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;); and to keep the Eternal’s commandments, His statutes (2 Kings 23:3). And if all this wasn’t enought, Josiah had the priests of Ba’al, Molech, and the heavenly hosts (i.e., the moon, the sun, and the planets) executed to ensure that the worship of the false gods and the worship of Yehovah’s creation would be eliminated. Indeed, Josiah’s heartfelt repentance on behalf of the nation proved to be quite revolutionary and left no doubt in the citizens of Judah’s mind that Judah would henceforth become a Torah adhering, Yehovah fearing, and idolatary hating nation. And what better time than the time of the Passover for this all to have happened? Passover marks the beginning of God’s calendar and the first of Yehovah’s appointed Feasts. A new beginning for Judah. A chance for rededication and purification for a once evil and pagan nation.
What weeping captures the Father’s attention? Weeping that is wholly associated with deep repentance and most importantly, decisive action to correct the wrongs that have been committed against the Almighty and our neighbor. Compared to the Children of Israel’s weeping in the Sinai, one can only conjure up a description of shame on the part of the Sinai-wanderers. The chosen ones wept because of a lack foods they had in Egypt and a misplaced sense of loss of material goods and comforts. They wept out of selfishness and bitter contempt towards Yehovah for placing them in the refiners fire known to us as the Sinai wilderness. Instead of weeping because they were failing Yehovah’s tests and refinements to become God’s special possessions at every turn–which would have been the proper weeping to be done in this particular situation and as was demonstrated by Josiah–they wept as a 2-year old who has been told “no” when they demand something that shouldn’t have.
Sadly, this is the state of our Faith today dear friends. Our focus is upon self and upon an eternity in heaven. The focus is NOT upon our relationship with the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob; the creator of heaven and earth; the Great I AM. This misplaced focus is idolatrous and it sickens the Father. Yet the Father’s patience is unfathomable. We deserve the fate that was due Judah but was stayed by Yehovah because of Josiah’s repentance on behalf of his nation. Ultimately, Yehovah did punish the nation of Judah. I fear that our western nations are heading for a similar if not worse fate. We must not rest upon a false assumption that we will be raptured away from this world prior to the great tribulation. There is nothing in the Holy Writ that states such a thing. Although we may not be the direct cause for the impending punishment that is coming to our respective nations, we, like many of the patriarchs of Judah and Israel who saw their nations destroyed by Babylon and Assyria respectively, will endure and witness the destruction of our nations by the satanic led forces of this world (reference: 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph 6:12 KJV)). It will be required of us to endure to the end (reference: 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Mat 24:13 KJV)).
The Messianic Torah Observer lesson I see here is that we are in positions to be Yehovah’s special possession–the position that the Sinai Wanderers of the Exodus story once contended for but failed and lost because of their stiff neck nature and short-sightedness. Thus, there are tremendous benefits to be had as one of the Eternal’s special possessions. Once we have accepted this aspicious opportunity to be the Eternal’s chosen, we are no longer our own. Every aspect of our being should be and in most cases, must be, ordered by Yehovah. When we fail to acknowledge this or we stumble before the Almighty and the Spirit convicts us of our wrong-doings, then is the time for weeping with deep and honest repentence to emerge from our inner being that cries out to the one true God in such a way that it appeals to His heart and we are reconciled to Him and thus we may be spared serious punishment. When will we learn that complaining to Yehovah about our tirals and tribulations is not the answer to life. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1Th 5:18 KJV)20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Eph 5:20 KJV). Is this an easy thing to do? Heck no! In fact, for me, it has to be the most backward and awkward thing to do. I am a complainer by nature. Thus, I’ve learned to make complaining my outlet for venting my frustrations and hardships. However, this Torah lesson has provided me the wherewithal to correct this behavior and further cement my relationship with the Father. When I fail to do that which the Almighty would have me do or I violate His laws and commandments, I realize now what I must do and not, as the vast majority of self-professing Christians contend, simply utter “forgive me Lord for my sins” and leave it at that. Consider: if you wrong a spouse, would simply saying to him or her, he forgive me for messing up do the trick? In some cases, it might. In most cases, you might need a lot more words and most important, some actions to support your words, to reconcile you back to him or her. If words are not accompanied by actions, what security is there to be found by your spouse that you won’t repeat the same mistakes all over again? Why do we treat Adonai differently? Why do we treat Yehovah differently? Why do we treat Him as some nebulus concept that is immune to hurt feelings and thoughts of being abandoned? He is real and He is like us in some many ways? He loves to be loved and He loves to be first in our lives. It isn’t until we come to that place in our relationship with the Almighty where we acknowledge Him as real and we treat Him as real, then we move our relationship with Yehovah to the next level!
