The High Expectations for God’s People to Fulfill His Will and Purpose — Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 122

by | Mar 2, 2024 | Blog, Podcasts

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

Shabbat Shalom beloved of Yeshua Messiah.

 

This week’s Torah Reading is the 122nd reading of our 3-year Torah Portion reading cycle. Our reading is found in Numbers 32:1-42.

 

I’ve entitled this teaching: The High Expectations for God’s People to Fulfill His Will and Purpose — Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 122.

____________________________________________

A Quick Overview of the Transjordan Region

 

Gilead is east of the Jordan River. Our reading records that Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh would ultimately occupy this region. Many centuries prior to the timeframe of our reading, Scripture records that Ya’achov fled here when he covertly left with his family and belongings from Laban, his father-in-law (Gen 31). It is here that scripture records that Yosef was sold to an Ishmaelite caravan by his brothers (Gen 37).

 

Beyond these patriarchs, more contemporaneously with our present reading, it is here that we seized this land from Sihon as recorded in Numbers 21:2-32. Recall that he was the Amorite king who refused to allow us to short-cut through his territory (i.e. Num 21:21-23; Deu 2:26-37; Jug 11:19-16). Scripture reveals Yah hardened Sihon’s heart such that he would not agree to our request, somewhat like He did to Pharoah in the hardening of his heart. And, of course, it turns out that his hardened heart, again like Pharaoh before him, would not bode well for him as we would destroy him and seize his kingdom (Num 21:24-25). (Don’t mess with Yah’s chosen ones, especially when they are walking according to His Ways, Will, and Purpose.)

From there Yah instructed us to destroy Og of Bashan and seize his kingdom (Num 21:33-35; Neh 9:22; Psa 135.10-12). And as we will discuss here today, these lands would be given to our tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh at their request and upon completion of their obligation to assist their other tribal brethren in conquering Canaan proper.

 

Overall, we of this 2nd generation coming out of Egypt were preparing to go in and conquer Canaan and this request by our Gadite, Reubenite, and Manasseh brethren, we will see, came as a surprise to Moshe. It was not part of the originally known plan that we, as Yah’s chosen nation, would go into Canaan proper, conquer it, and take possession of it.

 

Our Gadite, Reubenite Brethren State Their Case for Wanting to Possess Gilead

 

So, our Gadite and Reubenite brethren, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh, approached Moshe with the petition that they would settle in the region of Gilead which included the lands formerly ruled by Sihon (i.e. of the Amorites), Og of Bashan, and Balak of Moab.

 

Our Gadite, Reubenite, and Manasseh brethren stated their case to Moshe with seemingly warm cooperation and peaceful intent. Turns out that these three tribes were, at this time, in possession of vast numbers of livestock (i.e. Hebrew “miqneh”) and the lands they had their hearts set on to the east of the Jordan (aka the Transjordan) seemed to them perfect for raising and maintaining their vast animal stocks (32:1).

 

Moshe’s Concern — Considering the Hebrew Terms “Heni” and “Tenu’ah”

 

Consequently, Moshe was concerned that if the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh were given the green light to settle in the lands they expressed interest in possessing that we might have another incident akin to the “Spies Incident” of Numbers 13 on our hands. If you recall beloved, a significant portion of our nation refused to go in and take possession of the Land as Yah instructed us to do. Our nation’s refusal was based on the negative report of the spies that Moshe sent to reconnoiter the Land. Of those 12-spies, only Caleb and Joshua gave us a positive report and strongly encouraged us to obey Yah and go in and take the Land. Most of us refused to listen to Caleb’s and Joshua’s words and we as a nation rebelled against Yehovah and Moshe. This historic incident falls within the Hebrew concepts of “Heni” and “Tenu’ah.”

 

In his initial presumption that the petitioning tribes of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh were up to some “monkey-business” (i.e. that their intentions for not going in to possess the Land with their other tribal brethren was somehow similar to the intentions we had as a nation in response to the 10 spies’ negative report). So, Moshe being the astute and discerning leader that He was says to these Gadite and Reubenite leaders:

 

“Why would you turn (i.e. “heni” — nullify or retract as well as turning the thoughts and will of another from their intended will) the will of the Yisra’elites?” Baruch A. Levine addresses this Hebrew term “heni” as used here by Moshe within the general context of annulling vows, oaths, and obligations. Mr. Levine also introduces us to the term “tenu’ ah, which is a situation where an individual or a people denies and treats the Will (and Plan) of Yehovah as though it was nothing or something to be scoffed at or dismissed. Clearly, Moshe didn’t want any repeat of any such foolishness as we experienced in response to the spy caper many years prior. (AB-Numbers 21-36 — A New Translation with Introduction and Translation — AYB4A)

 

Thus, Moshe brings up that spy incident and the ensuing punishment we endured for adhering to the negative voice of the 10-spies. Our “tenu’ah” condemned us to wander in the wilderness until the first Exodus generation died out, except for Caleb and Joshua (reference Num 14.29). Levine suggests that with our previous “tenu’ah” in the forefront of Moshe’s memory that maybe that same “tenu’ah” might be behind Reuben’s and Gad’s desire to remain in the lands east of the Jordan; that they viewed Yah’s promises and plans for our nation as “illegitimate.” For “to remain east of the Jordan was, in effect, to remain outside the Promised Land, to refuse to undertake its conquest.” (Baruch A. Levine, Numbers 21–36: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, vol. 4A, Anchor Yale Bible (New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 2008), 487.)

 

Why is this such a big deal? you may ask. When we disregard Yah’s promises and instructions, which are connected to His commands to obey Him and to go and do what will bring about the fulfillment of those covenantal promises, we symbolically communicate to Him and the world that we are not committed to Him. When we do not commit ourselves to Him as His covenant people, we displease and upset Him (vss 10 and 11). Again, this is related to our reneging on our promises and commitments (i.e. our vows, oaths, and obligations as we discussed in Torah Reading 121).

 

So, as a follow-up to our previous reading, the importance of keeping our vows, oaths, and obligations is once more reiterated in this story. To tenu’ah and heni the vows, oaths, and obligations that we make to Yehovah and to others is a transgression of Yah’s Torah (i.e. it is a sin). Dare I say that to nullify our promises is a showstopper as it relates to our making it into the kingdom? I say, beloved, that it is imperative that we repent of any such acts in our lives and seek Yah’s forgiveness. And from there, we need to correct the denials and nullifications (i.e. the tenu’ah’s and heni’s) in our lives to the best of our abilities and not repeat those sins again.

 

 

The Hearts of the Gadites and Reubenites Regarding This Matter

 

On the surface, it seems that the hearts and loyalties of our Gadite, Reubenite, and Manasseh brethren were in the right place, at least as far as the text suggests. I’ll get into some perspectives of Jewish Thinkers who thought otherwise later in our discussion.

 

After some slightly contentious back and forth dialogue with Moshe on the matter, our Gadite, Reubenite, and Manasseh brethren agreed to fight alongside their other tribal brethren until Canaan was under our complete control and possession (32:16-19). These tribes’ willingness to obey Yehovah led Moshe to agree to their terms for taking possession of the lands east of the Jordan, outside Canaan proper (32:20-24).

 

Nevertheless, Moshe warned these tribes that if they failed to keep their word to assist their fellow Israelites in conquering Canaan, they would have to answer to Yehovah as it would be a transgression of Yah’s instructions (32:23). Indeed, these tribes would fulfill their obligation to Yehovah and the entire nation of Yisra’el when they will fight alongside their tribal brethren to conquer and take possession of Canaan as recorded in Joshua 4 and 22.

 

Thus, Moshe agreed to the Gadites’ and Reubenites’ proposal that they would fight alongside their brethren when they deployed to conquer Canaan (32:17). In the interim, the Gadites, Reubenites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh began to make a life for themselves in Sihon’s and Og’s former lands (32.16). More so, these three tribes vowed to deploy ahead of their brethren who would settle in Canaan under the leadership of Joshua. They vowed to unite in armed force with their brethren in the conquest of Canaan. And once Canaan was fully conquered and their brethren were received their inheritance of land (i.e. “nahalah”) to the satisfaction of Yehovah, then the Reubenites, Gadites, and Manasseh tribes would return to their homes in the lands east of the Jordan (32:18). These would also not lay any claim to any of the lands west of the Jordan (32:19).

 

Jewish Thinkers Weigh in on This Subject

 

I was surprised to learn just how much thought the ancient Jewish Thinkers put into this story. I want to share some of their thoughts with you for purposes of expanding our perspective on how our ancient and modern Jewish brethren see the merits of this story.

 

We find that towards the conclusion of the back and forth that occurred between Moshe and the Gadites and Reubenites, before Moshe agreed to these tribes’ petition and to ensure that the record on the matter was firmly established, that these tribes would face serious consequences if they did not keep their vow or obligation to fight alongside their other tribal brethren in the conquest of Canaan. Moshe warned these tribes:

 

But if you do not do so (i.e. you do not keep you word to fight alongside and help secure the promised Land for your brethren), behold, you have sinned against Yahweh, and know that your sin will find you. (W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Nu 32:23.)

 

The Talmudist Thinkers labeled this conditional formulation “tena’ i kapul.” “Tena’ i kapul” is a provision that is incorporated in most binding Hebrew contracts and written obligations. Such provisions “spell out both the positive and negative outcomes” of the contract or obligation (Baruch A. Levine, Numbers 21–36: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, vol. 4A, Anchor Yale Bible (New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 2008), 491.) In other words, if you do such-and-such a thing as you promised, then such-and-such a thing will happen. However, if you don’t do such-and-such a thing (i.e. you fail to keep your word), then a certain bad thing will happen.

 

Consider this Mishnaic commentary on “tena’ i kapul” in relation to our reading:

 

  1. Meir says, “Any condition which is not stated as is the condition of the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben [that is, in both negative and positive formulations], is no condition, “since it says, ‘And Moses said to them, “If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass over” (Num. 32:29). And it is written, “And if they will not pass over armed” (Num. 32:20).’ ” R. Hananiah b. Gamaliel says, “The matter had to be stated in just that way, for if not, it would have been implied that even in the Land of Canaan they would not inherit land.” (Qiddusin 3:4; Jacob Neusner, The Babylonian Talmud: A Translation and Commentary, vol. 12 (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2011), 295.)

 

Thus, in our reading, Moshe stipulates that if our Gadite, Reubenite, and Manasseh brethren keep their obligation to Yehovah and their brethren by arming themselves and fighting alongside their other tribal brethren on the west side of the Jordan until all military operations have been successfully completed, then they would be free to return to those lands that they’d chosen for their home. If these stated conditions were met, then the land they desire to dwell in the Transjordan would be granted unto them as their homeland. (32:20-22) However, if our Gadite, Reubenite, and Manasseh brethren reneged on their obligation to take part in the conquering of Canaan alongside their other tribal brethren, then they would have committed a serious sin and their sin would most certainly find them. (32:23) And thus, the leaders of Gad and Reuben officially agreed to fulfill their responsibilities in the Land, and most importantly, obey Yehovah’s instructions regarding the taking of Canaan. (32:25-27)

 

Verses 33-38 entail the official land grant to Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

 

Now all of this was well and good in my mind until I recently came upon Torah Resources Tim Hegg’s Commentary on our reading (“Studies in the Torah — Numbers; Tacoma, Washington; 2016).

 

Mr. Hegg, who I greatly respect and who’s many written Torah resources I routinely reference in most, if not all, of my Torah studies and postings, introduces to his readers a rather negative perspective on the actions of the Gadites, Reubenites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh here in our reading and he shows in his commentary what some of the ancient Jewish Thinkers thought about their land petition. Turns out that the opinion of some ancient Jewish Thinkers towards the Gadites, Reubenites, and Manasseh was that their hearts were evil. According to these ancient thinkers, these tribes eventually suffered loss because they selfishly sought to separate themselves from their other brethren in response to their greed and sense of self-worth that was not in keeping with the will and purpose of Elohim.

 

Hegg illustrates this shocking perspective by recording the following Midrash commentary:

 

“Three gifts exist in the world: wisdom, valor and wealth. Whoever has merited one, can attain all the world’s delights. When is this so? When these gifts come from heaven by a means in keeping with Torah. (In other words, when one walks in Torah as they should, they will be appropriately blessed and receive their heart’s desires. Continuing.) Otherwise, they are worthless (i.e. getting worldly blessings is worthless if they are not obtained through the provisions that Yehovah spells out in His Torah. Continuing). There are two wealthy men in the world (i.e. two types of unsavory wealthy souls in the world), one of Israel — Korach — and the other of the nations (i.e. the goyim) — Haman (i.e. infamous in the Esther story) — and both were destroyed. Why? Because their gift was not from Hashem, but something they grabbed for themselves. (And here’s the kicker) It is just so with Gad and Reuven. Rich, blessed with much flocks (i.e. our forefathers measured wealth at times according to how much livestock one owned), they loved their wealth and dwelt outside the Land of Israel. Therefore they were the first tribes to be exiled…What caused this if not their isolating themselves from their brethren for material gain” (Mid. Rab. Num 22.7)?

 

Turns out that according to scripture, it was the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali that were the first tribes to suffer exile at the hands of the Assyrian onslaught (2 Kin 15:29). Some Jewish thinkers give this oversight a pass by taking a position that these tribes’ (i.e. Gad’s and Reuben’s) exile was their living outside the Land of Promise (i.e. a self-imposed exile if you will). (But why quibble over scriptural facts when you are a renowned Jewish sage, right?) But clearly, this thinker held a rather nasty, biased view of our Gadite and Reubenite brethren because these established their homes in the Transjordanian region as opposed to joining their other tribal brethren in Canaan, west of the Jordan.

 

Interestingly, these ancient Jewish thinkers didn’t stop in their criticism of these tribes’ perceived greed-driven actions. Some thinkers criticized them for their lack of faith/belief in Yah. They note that the leaders of these tribes failed to mention Yehovah in their petition to Moshe, this in contrast with Moshe’s mention of Yehovah some five times in his discourse with them over this land-grant issue (Num 32:20-22). The thinkers argue that these leaders were solely focused on their wealth and did not see any true need for Yah or any relationship with their other tribal brethren.

 

And not to be done with their criticism of Gad and Reuben in relationship to their perceived faithlessness and materialism, other thinkers saw these as having an inaccurate understanding of Yah’s Plan for Israel and their conquering of the Land. These, the thinkers contended, believed that Yehovah was going to miraculously eliminate the inhabitants of Canaan and simply hand the land over to their other tribal brethren. Thus, Reuben and Gad saw no need to get involved in that which Yehovah clearly had under control and within His sovereign purview. Hegg, in response to this criticism asserts: “The conquest of the Land would be done through Yehovah’s mighty hand, but it would require warfare: ‘I will deliver the inhabitants of the Land into the hand…’ To enjoy Yah’s covenant promises requires obedient participation” (ibid., p. 201). Amein to that, I say.

 

Hegg gives wide credence to the criticisms of the Jewish Thinkers but stops short of fully committing himself to their perspectives. His major criticism of the Reubenites, Gadites, and Manasseh is centered on their perceived self-centeredness and initial lack of concern for the wellbeing of their Israelite brethren. I understand his well-worded position and I, to a lesser or greater extent, somewhat agree with him. However, I do not go so far as to suggest that these three tribes were sinful in their petition to settle in the Transjordan as opposed to Canaan proper. Seems to me that if Yehovah was truly upset with Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, He would not have permitted the arrangement to go through as recorded in our reading. If these tribes were about some monkey-business and were willing to sell out their other tribal brethren in order to settle on land that was more conducive to their present livestock situation, Moshe certainly addressed and put a stop to such concerns. I believe what happened in our reading regarding these three tribes and the land they wanted for their homes was within Yah’s permissive will.

 

What I mean by Yah’s permissive will is that, although the actions of an individual or a group of individuals may not fall within Yah’s original plans, He makes allowances for certain actions of these individuals or group of people to take place. Unfortunately, some of those actions may have far-reaching, generational consequences. A prime example of such consequences coming out of those things Yah allows through His permissive will is realized in the practice of polygamy that so many of the ancients committed themselves to. I think with these three tribes, their desire to settle in lands just outside the Land of Promise was not in Yah’s original plan, but these tribes’ actions were not contentious to Yah’s plan and will. At the very least, this is not mentioned in our text. These three tribes agreed to fulfill their obligations, and that seems to have satisfied Moshe, and more importantly, Yehovah in this matter.

 

The take-aways from this week’s reading are many:

 

  • Yah requires us to fulfill the vows, promises, oaths, and obligations that we make to Him and to our fellowman. This is a carryover, of course, from last week’s reading.

 

  • Despite the many promises that Yah has made to us, His chosen ones, we are still required/obligated to act when He says act and do whatever He directs us to do at the time He says move. There are no free lunches in Yah’s great work of redemption, restoration, and salvation. So, we are going to have to obey His Words and listen to His still small voice, and follow His lead as He so provides and directs.

 

  • Despite my disagreements with the ancient Jewish Thinkers as it relates to their criticisms of the Gadites and Reubenites’ perceived sinful behavior, I will concede that they provide us with food for thought. It behooves us, as Yah’s set apart people, to always keep Yah and His will in front of our own desires, plans, and will. In fact, Yah’s will and purpose should always be our purpose; our will; our desire. Furthermore, we should always obey Yah’s Torah of loving Him with our whole being and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves such that we place Yah and the wellbeing of our brothers and sisters ahead of our own interests. Last, our material possessions must be made fully subject to the will, purpose, and plans of Yah. Greed and selfishness have no place in the hearts, minds, and souls of Yah’s people. If left unchecked, greed and selfishness will adversely impact our intimate covenant relationship with the Creator of the Universe. In fact, in opposition to greed and selfishness potentially overtaking His disciples at any time in their walk, Master Yeshua directed us to store up our treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust corrupts and where thieves do not break through nor steal (Mat 6:20). And if our wealth gets in the way of our relationship with our Master Yeshua and in the way of our commission as His emissaries, He instructs us to sell that which we possess and give the proceeds to the poor, and follow Him (Mat 19:21; Mar 10:21; Luk 18:22).

 

 

A Serious Warning Against Continuing Deliberate Sin

 

As citizens of heaven and sons of the coming Malchut Elohim, we know how we are supposed to behave, and those of us who know better are always expected to do better. Yah holds us accountable for always doing the right and just thing. Sin must be given NO place in our lives as our apostolic reading this week so poignantly declares through the teachings of the writer of Hebrews:

 

26 For if* we keep on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that is about to consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think the person will be considered worthy of who treats with disdain the Son of God and who considers ordinary the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy and who insults the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Heb 10:26–31.)

 

Have a blessed and overcoming week in Yeshua Messiah, beloved. Shabbat Shalom, shavu’atov, take care.

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Shabbat Shalom Beloved. Our Torah and Haftorah Reading in Light of Where we are on the Calendar This is a special Shabbat, for it is the Shabbat that immediately precedes the Jewish holiday of Purim. According to our observational calendar, Purim will occur at sundown...

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What God Expects From Us When We Make Vows — Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 121

by | Feb 23, 2024 | Blog, Podcasts

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

Shabbat Shalom beloved of Yeshua Messiah.

 

This week’s Torah Reading is the 121th portion of the 3-year Torah Portion reading cycle. Num 30:1-31:54 contains this week’s Torah Reading.

 

I’ve entitled this teaching: What God Expects from us When We Make Vows — Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 121

 

(30:1-16) — The Torah Regarding the Making of Vows and Oaths

 

The Torah regarding the making and keeping of vows, oaths, and obligations is a carryover from the instructions Yah gave us regarding the required sacrifices and offerings we are to render on various set-apart/feast days (i.e. Torah Reading 120):

 

39‘These you prepare to יהוה at your appointed times, besides your vowed offerings and your voluntary offerings (some English translations render as votive offerings), as your ascending offerings and your grain offerings, as your drink offerings and your peace offerings.’ (The Scriptures, 3rd edition. (Northriding: Institute for Scripture Research, 2009), Nu 29:39.)

 

 

The Expectations for the Vows – Oaths – Obligations That Men Make

 

We cannot revoke or nullify the vows, oaths, and obligations that we, as men, make unto Yehovah. They are binding, especially upon men. To swear a vow or oath is no small matter, but is done on one’s life, whether male or female (vv. 4, 6). (John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Nu 30:2.)

 

The making of vows and oaths is serious business and is never to be taken lightly by us. In fact, it behooves us as we examine the binding potential of vows and oaths to always be careful to guard that which comes out of our mouths as commitments.

 

 

The Expectations for the Vows – Oaths – Obligations That Women Make

 

However, Yehovah delineated the following exceptions for women.

 

Any female living in her father’s house (the LXX stipulates this applies to a female in her youth) who makes a vow that her father hears about, but he says nothing to her about it, her vow or oath will stand. However, if her father hears about it but disagrees with the vows or oaths she’s made, he may invalidate them, and she will not bear any responsibility for it. “Any vow and any sworn oath or a pledge to inflict on herself, her husband can confirm it or her husband can nullify it. But if her husband is completely silent from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or all her pledges that are on her; he confirms them because he was silent to her on the day he heard them. But if he indeed nullifies them after he hears them (i.e. days after hearing them), then he will bear her guilt” (30:13-15 LEB).

 

The same principle applies today, whereby children cannot enter nor be bound to contractual agreements for obvious reasons. They are young and they are often unaware of the consequences of their life decisions. We have total responsibility for our children until the day they are emancipated or get married. Yah has given them to us to oversee.

 

The same provision applies to a married woman as applies to a young female living in her father’s house. A married woman who has made a vow that her husband disagrees with has the authority to nullify such vows. Why is this so? Yah placed the man ahead of the woman in terms of the family unit. He makes the decisions for the home. It is the order that Yehovah established for the family unit. Any vows or oaths that his wife makes will have a direct effect on the family, and since the husband is responsible for the wellbeing of his family, he must ensure that his wife hasn’t involved herself into something that will adversely affect the shalom of the home.

 

Vows, oaths, and obligations made by a widow or a divorced woman will remain valid as they would for a man.

 

The provision in Torah, whereby husbands and fathers may annul their wives’ and daughters’ vows, oaths, and obligations, respectively, protected the women in a man’s life from the legal ramifications of commitments that they may have made in error or because of naivete. This provision also aims to protect the integrity and security of the family.

 

Why were special, restricting provisions made by Yah regarding women making vows and oaths? Females who were married or underaged living in her parents’ home lived under the authority of their husband and father, respectively. However, any husband or father that nullifies their woman’s vow or oath is subject to the consequences that may come from his nullification.

 

Let us not forget that in ancient times, and to a greater and lesser extent today, the wife in a family cares after her husband and raising the family’s children. Daughters focus on becoming good wives and partners to their future husbands. If a wife or underaged daughter get caught-up in an obligation, she is incapable of fulfilling; she risks bringing financial harm to the family or being enslaved for failure to meet the terms of her obligation.

 

Widows and divorced women followed the same standards as men, as they didn’t have any domestic male authority governing their lives.

 

 

Biblically Defining Vows and Oaths and Obligations

 

Oaths (aka shevu’ah) are formal, binding promises we make to another individual or entity, such as Yehovah. Oaths then are a fulfilling of a sacred duty or responsibility without a condition precipitating the oath. We can find an example of an oath in the Psalms.

 

132 O יהוה, remember Dawiḏ,

All his afflictions;

2How he swore to יהוה,

Vowed to the Mighty One of Ya‛aqoḇ:

3“Not to enter into my dwelling-house,

Not to get into my bed,

4“Not to give sleep to my eyes,

Or slumber to my eyelids,

5“Until I find a place for יהוה,

A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Ya‛aqoḇ.” (The Scriptures, 3rd edition. (Northriding: Institute for Scripture Research, 2009), Ps 132.)

 

Vows (aka neder) are expressions of devotion or piety that we make towards Yehovah, such as offerings, pledges of abstinence (e.g. Nazarite Vow), and other forms of spiritual or physical actions (e.g. praying, committing to serve the Body, etc.). We pledge to do something in response to something the other party (namely Yehovah) promises to do for us. Vows that involve financial commitments would be a direct concern for the head of household, since more times than not, he was the bread-winner for the family. Unfortunately, because we may get caught-up in our piety and zeal towards Yah from time-to-time, we may make vows in haste and later on find that we’ve over-committed ourselves or simply forget to fulfill the vow.

 

Often, vows involve our dedicating something or someone to the service of the sanctuary, as in the case Abshalom (ref. 2 Sam 15.7-8), Hannah and Elkanah (ref. 1 Sam 1:19-27), and in the case of those who took on the Nazarite vow (Num 6:2-21).

 

 

Our reading also addresses general contractual and dedicatory commitments or obligations (aka ‘issar/’esar) which is any binding agreement that is executed in writing or by official proclamation.

 

When Yah delivers an edict, for instance, we must carry out and obey that edict, such as fulfilling our obligation to present the firstfruits of our increase on its appointed day (Num 18:12-13) and presenting our tithes unto Yehovah (Lev 27:30-33). When Yah prohibited us from taking the spoils of war and devoting to destruction, the inhabitants of the various nations and cities Yah directed us to war against. Then there are financial, contractual obligations that we enter into that we are required to fulfill.

 

We must mention that certain vows, oaths, and obligations overlap from time to time. That to break any of these commitments is tantamount to profaning Yehovah. Why? It is tantamount to profaning Yehovah because He is a direct witness to the vows, oaths, and obligations we attach ourselves to.

 

Recall that our reading addressed exemptions or reversals to the vows, oaths, and obligation rules, which applied only to those commitments that a father or husband overrules. But were you aware that the Rabbis took it upon themselves to provide an escape from obligations that we commit ourselves to by assuming religious authority to nullify certain vows, oaths, and obligations? When petitioned to do so, these treaded lightly, knowing that they really had no wiggle room to nullify vows, oaths, and commitments. Thus, these took advantage of word-plays to circumvent the validity of certain commitments, which, of course, violated Yah’s prohibition against adding to and subtracting from His Torah commands (Deu 4:2; 12:32; e.g. m. Nedarim 1.1-3).

 

Master Yahoshua pushed back on this profane practice of the Rabbis when He directly addressed this issue of making vows and oaths and obligations in His Sermon on the Mount, which also is our apostolic reading for this week:

 

33“Again, you heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to יהוה.’ Way. 19:12; Bem. 30:2; Deḇ. 23:21

34“But I say to you, do not swear [vainly] at all, neither by the heaven, because it is Elohim’s throne;

35nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; Yesh. 66:1 nor by Yerushalayim, for it is the city of the great Sovereign; Teh. 48:2

36nor swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.

37“But let your word ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ And what goes beyond these is from the wicked one. (The Scriptures, 3rd edition. (Northriding: Institute for Scripture Research, 2009), Mt 5:33–37.)

 

Here we see the Master’s corrective instructions are quite simple: Avoid making commitments we know we are incapable or have no intention of keeping. Rather, ensure that our yeses are yes, and our no’s be no.

 

 

(31:1-12) — We War Against the Midianites

 

Yah left instructions with Moshe that we were to seek vengeance against the Midianites just before he dies. Men were to assemble themselves before Yehovah, arrayed for battle, to execute vengeance from Yehovah against Midian. We were to muster 1,000 men from each tribe to go up against Midian, totaling 12,000 soldiers. Phinehas the Priest, upon whom Yah conferred His covenant of peace, led us into battle along with the holy elements of the sanctuary. Shofars were used to communicate our maneuvers against Midian (LXX).

 

(31:13-24) — The Outcome of our War with Midian

 

We killed every Midian male, along with their leaders and princes. Balaam of Peor we also killed. (I guess Balaam either did not make it back to Peor or he had returned to Moab by that time.) No Israelite warrior died in the battle (31:49).

 

We took captive the Midianite women along with their children and took unto ourselves all their domesticated animals and articles of wealth. We burned all their cities and encampments. We brought all that we’d taken from the Midianites and presented them before Moshe and Eleazar the Cohen Gadol just outside our encampment on the desert-plateau of Moab at Araboth.

 

Moshe was outraged that we had taken captive the Midianite women. He reminded us it was these women who were instrumental in our apostacy with Ba’al of Peor. (Reference Num 25:1-9) We learned that Balaam of Beor was the mastermind behind the plan to lead us into apostacy with Ba’al of Peor. That apostacy resulted in the deaths of 24,000 souls.

 

Thus, Moshe instructed us to execute every woman who has ever engaged in a sexual relationship with a man. Those women who had not engaged in a sexual relationship with men, we were to spare them and we could take them as wives.

 

Because we had become ritually defiled in our war against Moab, we were required to remain outside the encampment for 7-days and undergo the purification ritual along with the captives and the confiscated booty. (Reference Num 19:11-22) We must return to a state of ritual purity and anything that we brought into the camp had to be purified according to the Yah’s Torah.

 

(31:25-54) — Divi’ing Up the Spoils of War

 

In obedience to Yehovah’s instructions, we took inventory of all that we took possession of in our war against the Midianites and divided those items between those of us who fought and the rest of our community. From the spoils of war we provided Tribute (Me-kes, meaning a tax on spoil to be rendered unto Yehovah; religious dues or taxes in support of the priestly servants of Yehovah) to Yehovah through our High Priest Eleazar. (Yah must always receive first portion of our increase.) Still, quite a bit of the war-booty remained after we gave Tribute of it to Yah and our warriors received their portions. That which remained included thousands of sheep, heads of cattle, donkeys, and virgin females.

 

Still yet, our warriors rendered unto Yehovah all the valuables they’d collected as booty from the Midianites a memorial and to make atonement for them before Yehovah (31:50). Our hearts, for once, were in the right place. Yah came first in our hearts, minds, and souls. We were ready to go in and receive the Land.

 

Yah instructed us to eradicate the men, male children, and sexually active women of the Midianite confederacy. Let us not forget that it was Balak, through the instigation of Balaam, used the Midianite women to seduce our men into apostacy. These women brought a curse upon us that resulted in 24,000 members of our nation perishing. His retribution against the Midianite confederacy through our warriors was a fulfillment of His promise to Avraham that He would curse those that curse him, and by extension, his seed (Gen 12 and 27). Yah has always been clear that vengeance is His to be had (Isa 63:4; Rom 12:19), and Yah does not forget.

 

You may agree that one of the biggest complaints the uninitiated members of society and the Christian religion have against Yehovah is that He is a mean, vengeful, hateful, always-angry, unforgiving God. Some go as far as saying that they want nothing to do with such a God and that they much prefer to deal with the loving God who they identify as Jesus Christ.

 

 

But these individuals are sorely lacking in their understanding of the wholeness of Yah’s sovereignty, His holiness, and His righteousness. You see, Yehovah doesn’t operate on the same scale and with the same convictions and mindset that many of us do.

 

Of Himself, through the Prophet Isaiah, Yah stated:

 

6Seek יהוה while He is to be found, call on Him while He is near.

7Let the wrong forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to יהוה, who has compassion on him, and to our Elohim, for He pardons much.

8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares יהוה.

9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. (The Scriptures, 3rd edition. (Northriding: Institute for Scripture Research, 2009), Is 55:6–9.)

 

We try to hold Yah to our personal standards and sense of righteousness. But we must not overlook the fact that “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags” (Isa 64.6; KJV). For our Elohim is irresistibly holy and righteous beyond compare. Thus, because of his unrestricted sovereignty and holiness and righteousness, He deals with people and nations under these immutable character traits.

 

Indeed, there are certain sins and transgression of the creative order (such as the defilement of all flesh that took place when the Watchers descended to earth and disrupted Yah’s creative order) that prompt Yah to act in ways that may offend our delicate western sensibilities. But our sensibilities and our opinions don’t amount to a hill of beans when it comes to Yah exercising His sovereign will and purpose.

 

 

The purification that our warriors underwent before being permitted back into the encampment was demonstrative of Yah’s character. Our God is a God of life and holiness. He does not take pleasure in the deaths of any human soul. However, to propagate His pro-life agenda, He occasionally spills blood in accordance with His divine will and purpose. And in order for Him to dwell in our midst, we must be in a state of ritual purity. Death, the precipitate of sin, is impure. Any contact that we have with human remains requires that we be purified in order to dwell in His midst and be of service to Him.

 

 

If you have not established and are not walking in a true and substantive covenant relationship with the Creator of the Universe through Yeshua Messiah, I invite you to do so today, for today is the day of salvation. Simply turn to Yah, repent of the sins of life, and ask Him to forgive you of those sins. Then seek Abba Yah for opportunities for you to be water-immersed (aka baptized) and receive Yah’s indwelling, Set-apart Spirit. Become a disciple of Yeshua and begin walking in His and His Father’s ways. Seek out opportunities for fellowship with likeminded believers and engage yourself in growing and learning how to walk this narrow path that leads to the Kingdom and to salvation.

 

Please, don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or need guidance in the True Faith once delivered. (perceptionwp@gmail.com) But don’t let another day go by without acting on you convictions. The time for coming to faith in this dispensation is coming to a close and you need to be on the right side of life that only Yeshua can provide.

 

It is my heartfelt hope, trust, and prayer that you have a blessed day of rest in Yeshua Messiah.

 

Faithfully,

 

Rod

 

Shabbat Zachor 2023-Our Sabbath of Remembrance

by | Mar 4, 2023 |

Shabbat Shalom Beloved. Our Torah and Haftorah Reading in Light of Where we are on the Calendar This is a special Shabbat, for it is the Shabbat that immediately precedes the Jewish holiday of Purim. According to our observational calendar, Purim will occur at sundown...

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Learning to Fear God and Receive His Peace — Israel’s Inextricable Link to Our Salvation Part 4

by | Feb 9, 2024 | Blog, Podcasts

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

After Paul’s conversion to the Way Faith, the Nazarene assemblies that were strewn throughout the Judean region, including the Galilee and Samaria, enjoyed a season of relative peace and unity. (Act 9:31) Those coming into the Way Movement, a movement that many scholars believe the orthodox Jewish communities in the region treated as simply another Jewish sect (like the Pharisees, Sadducees, the Essenes), were being instructed in (1) the fear of Yehovah (i.e. learning to fear Yehovah through witnessing the movement of the Holy Spirit and by walking in Yeshua-centric Torah) and (2) the comfort of the Holy Spirit (aka the Ruach Kodesh). The King James Version describes members of the Nazarene or Way Movement operating within the broader Jewish Community as “walking” in the fear of Yehovah and in the “comfort” of the Holy Spirit. The Faith at that time was experiencing tremendous growth. It was truly a wonderful time to be a part of such a great move of the Holy Spirit, under the leadership of the Apostles. (Eph 2:20) In so many ways, the Kingdom of God (aka the Malchut Elohim) had once again intervened in the affairs of man and had established itself amid a set-apart people who were truly living the life abundant. (Joh 10:10)

 

Andrew Gabriel Roth’s commentary on this verse (i.e. Acts 9:31) points out an interesting contrast in what the Netsarim (aka the Jerusalem Messianics) were experiencing during this quiet but spiritually dynamic period in our Faith’s history: When the redeemed of Messiah fear Abba Yah they receive comfort. (Aramaic English New Testament) As Roth sees it, these extreme opposite emotional states are really one of cause and effect: fear God and receive God’s peace.

 

This historic situation established a Netsari/Messianic character trait that every subsequent generation of Yeshua disciples must adopt if they are going to be successful in their quest for the Kingdom of God/the Malchut Elohim. That essential character trait is having a true fear of Yehovah Elohim.

 

God Fearers

 

Those that truly “fear YHVH” such that they are obedient only to His voice and His ways — such that these take to heart the fundamental maxim that the whole duty of man is to fear Yah and keep His commandments (Ecc 12:13) — possess the Father’s Set-Apart Spirit (aka the Ruach Kodesh/Holy Spirit). The Spirit that operates in them creates in them an “I want to obey heart” (to borrow a phrase frequently used by Torah Teacher Gary Steven Simons of Triumph in Truth Ministries). And this is what the first-century Jerusalem brethren described in Acts 9 were doing: They were fearing Yehovah and living a Yeshua-centric Torah lifestyle. Because of this unique, Kingdom-driven way of life, these believers received God’s peace (aka the Shalom of Yehovah).

 

The Shalom of Yehovah

 

We frequently use the Hebrew term shalom when greeting and bidding goodbyes to one another. When our assembly leaders recite and confer Yehovah’s blessing upon God’s people with the Aaronic Blessing, there is an expectation by Yah’s people that Abba Yah will always have His face turned towards them and bestow His shalom upon them. (Num 6:26) I go into some detail about the Aaronic Blessing in my teaching entitled “The Deep Abiding Mysteries of the Aaronic Blessing.” (I will place the link to that discussion in this teaching’s transcript for your convenience.) But the shalom that flows from an obedient covenant relationship with Yehovah is not just about one having freedom from disturbances, but more so, it’s about one being whole in every aspect of their being.

 

Shaul (aka the Apostle Paul) describes this form of peace as a mystery (i.e. it surpasses human understanding). Yehovah’s shalom guards the Child of Yah’s heart and mind. (Phi 4:7) So, what is Yah’s shalom guarding the Child of Yah’s heart and mind from? It’s guarding their heart and mind against the wiles, slings, and arrows of the enemy (i.e. the enemy’s tactics, deception, and ploys). And don’t you know, beloved, that the enemy’s attacks are not always against our bodies, relationships, and material possessions? The enemy’s attacks are more times than not against our hearts and minds. (Eph 6:10-12, 15) And so, as the apostle wrote to his Philippian readers, it behooves them to receive Abba Yah’s shalom. It was, and remains even today, the only defensive weapon against the enemy’s attacks against their hearts and minds.

 

And if there is anything that we, as a people of the Malchut Elohim, need during these perilous times, both collectively and individually, is the Shalom of Yehovah.

 

Roth describes those first-century members of the Way Movement in Jerusalem as having found “peace and contentment of being.” (AENT; p. 331) And this biblical principle of Yehovah-fearers/God fearers possessing a peace that surpasses all understanding is just as applicable today as it was back then.

 

Sadly beloved, there is a drought of true God-fearers in this world, especially today. I’ll get into some reasons this is so later on in this teaching. But one of the main reasons the world today experiences a drought of true God-fearers is because of biblical illiteracy and the conditioning of believers to not fear the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

 

Biblically Defining What it Means to Fear God

 

What does it mean to fear YHVH?

 

The traditional (let’s say Christian) teaching holds that to fear God is to revere or reverence Him; to adore Him; to be loyal and faithful to Him; to trust Him; and to obey the tenets of whatever church one is a member of. Some would call this being religious or being a person of faith.

 

Most teachers reject the idea that to fear God is to possess concern or dread towards God, or to be terrified of Yah. But to a lesser or greater extent, this is what true biblical fear of God looks like.

 

When we talk about fearing Elohim, we’re not talking so much about being terrified or frightened of Yah such that we run away and hide from Him because we fear for our lives. Indeed, Yehovah does not want that type of relationship for His chosen ones.

 

Abba Yah did not intend for us to pull away in terror of Him at the display of His irresistible power on the day that He revealed Himself to us on Mount Sinai and spoke to us His ten-commandments. But as Moshe explained, it was Abba Yah’s intent “that His fear may be in you, so that you do not sin. (Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society, Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2015), Ex 20:20.) Yah wanted there to be implanted into our psyche such a mind of, what I will call here, fearful respect of Him that we would not transgress His Torah.

 

What Abba wants from His chosen ones is obedience, trust, love, and a substantive intimate relationship such that they are quite aware of Who He is and the great things that He can and will do for us if we remain true to Him, and what will happen to us when we cross and transgress Him and His ways.

 

Yes, Abba Yah wants His chosen ones to revere, be loyal, impressed by, faithful towards Him, and the like. But He wants us to truly fear Him because there is great benefit to be had by us when we have trepidation, apprehension, an uneasiness, and disquietude toward Him.

 

The Psalmist wrote that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: A good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth forever” (111:10; KJV; cf. Pro 1:7; 9:10).

 

We desperately need a measure of Godly wisdom in order to make it into the Kingdom. Our Master Yeshua came to impart His Father’s wisdom to us in a way that only He, as the Son of Yehovah, could deliver. That’s why it is imperative that we develop an intense hunger and thirst for Him and His Father’s righteousness such that we grow in Godly wisdom.

 

I believe when we turn a blind eye to what it truly means to fear Elohim, such as having trepidation, apprehension, an uneasiness, or disquietude toward Him, and we substitute the biblical meaning of “the fear of God” with milk-toast terms such as awe, reverence, loyalty, and the like, we leave open the door to making God into whatever image or likeness that we want Him to be.

 

Consider the practices of some of our Denominationalist brethren who place the entirety of their eternal security upon their warped understanding of “grace.” Their perverted grace doctrine has conditioned many of them to not fear Yehovah, as scripture teaches. To these, grace covers every fault they had in the past, that they have in the present, and that they will have in the future. Therefore, they erroneously rationalize that there’s no need to truly fear the Holy Creator of the Universe. And because there’s no need to truly fear the Holy Creator of the Universe, there is no need to obey His instructions in righteousness nor walk in our Master Yeshua’s footsteps. All one need do is to possess a cognitive understanding (i.e. believe) that Jesus died for his/her sins and ask Him to take up residence in their heart. To these, Yah has no expectation whatsoever of them. They’ve arrived and nothing Yehovah or Yeshua may say contrary to their erroneous beliefs will change the fact that they are guaranteed eternal life and a place in the Kingdom.

 

 Again, for the nominal Christian, there is no need to fear Yehovah. Sadly, this rejection of Biblically fearing Yehovah, I believe, has led to the gulf that exists between our Faith Community and Denominational Christianity. When we came into this beloved faith of ours and the scales of spiritual blindness fell from our eyes and the deafness of truly hearing Yah’s voice in our lives was unstopped in our ears, we gained an immediate fear of Yehovah. If you were like me, upon learning that we’d inherited lies, we feared the consequences of what our years of ignorant disobedience and rebelliousness would bring us if we didn’t straighten up and fly right. Our hearts were broken at the thought that we’d let our beloved Creator down because of our previous life of disobedience and rebelliousness. And it was that fear of Elohim that was finally ignited within us that led to us truly taking up our execution stake and following Yahoshua HaMashiyach for the rest of our lives (Mat 16:24; Mar 8:34; 10:21; Luk 9:23). We received, through Yah’s indwelling, Set-Apart Spirit, an “I want to obey” heart, mind, and soul. And we became fearfully sin-conscious, constantly searching for — asking Yehovah to reveal to us — those sinful elements in our lives that “doth so easily beset us” (Heb 12:1). Our greatest fear is that we will disappoint Yehovah and damage our loving, covenant relationship with Him because of some unreconciled sin. We always want to make things right with our God. So yes, we develop an perpetual, genuine fear of Yehovah.

 

True Biblical fear of Elohim affords those that would be His to come into His presence unimpeded (i.e. unimpeded by unreconciled sin) and commune with Him. The one who truly fears Yehovah knows that Abba Yah can see right through them as He is a discerner of the heart, the thoughts and intents of the human soul (Heb 4:12). Thus, he/she is careful when they come into Yah’s presence that they not be found by Him to be in an unclean state (i.e. an impure heart, mind, and body). We cringe at the thought that we may have crossed Him, disappointed Him, or worse, offended Him and transgressed His Torah. We take nothing for granted when it comes to our covenant relationship with the Creator of the Universe. So we go the extra-mile by seeking His forgiveness for unreconciled sin and petitioning that we once again be permitted to enter His divine presence. We petition Him to reveal to us those things in our being that displease Him and we ask His help to overcome those obstacles to our relationship with Him.

 

 

Yah’s greatness causes those that come into His presence to not just respect and revere Him, but to tremble at His presence (Exo 14:30-31; Deu 7:21; Psa 99:3).

 

We fear certain things that if not handled properly by us, may result in our harm: Fire, electricity, water/flood, structural integrity of our homes, the integrity of our relationships, the government, nature, and so forth. The fear of such things typically don’t cause us to avoid them outright because we know there is great benefit to be had if we are obedient to their proper use; that is, if we possess a healthy fear of them.

 

If we were children who were raised by moral and loving parents, we learned to fear them. Yes, we may have revered them, but we also feared them. We feared the consequences of what might happen to us if we crossed them or transgressed their house rules.

 

Those of us who are married and we love our spouses are careful to not cause upset to our relationship (e.g. do something that our spouse won’t approve of or will be injured by such as our cheating on them and so forth). We fear the consequences of what may happen if we wrong our spouses and transgress Yah’s Torah.

 

These same principles apply to our relationship with Yehovah. It’s one thing to reverence, respect, and adore Yehovah which we are compelled to do anyway. But we enter an entirely different level of relationship with Yah when we truly fear Him as He demands of us to do.

 

We are called to be “God-fearers,” not in the classic, orthodox Jewish sense that the title once served as a bone to Gentiles who simply wanted to serve and worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but were led to take a pass on becoming a religious Jew. But a God-fearer from God’s perspective. Where we wake-up every morning and with firm resolve “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phi 2:12; 2 Cor 2:3). Where we serve Yehovah with fear and rejoice with trembling because we know Who He truly is: that He is sovereign and all powerful (Psa 2:11). We start to learn that we are not to fear people that can only kill our physical bodies, but we fear the Creator of the Universe that can completely destroy all traces of our being in the Lake of Fire (Mat 10:28; Heb 13:6). We tremble and fear Yehovah because we know the mighty and awesome work He has done in our lives and in the lives of His set apart people throughout the ages. As disciples of Yeshua Messiah, we recognize that our whole duty is to fear Yehovah and keep His commandments, and His commandments are our Master’s commandments (Deu 8:6; Ecc 12:13; Joh 14:15). We know that when we fear our Elohim, He will deliver us from our enemies (2 Kin 17:39). In fact, our fear of Yehovah becomes our confidence (Job 4:6).

 

We humans transgress our Creator’s ways and instructions when we lose (although most of us never had it in the first place) any and all fear of Yehovah. And how do we lose fear of Yehovah? We lose our fear of Yehovah when we stop believing Him and we instead start believing people over Yah. Genuine faith and belief in Yehovah and in His Son Yeshua induce genuine fear of Yehovah. When we believe Yehovah is Who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do, then we are compelled to fear Him. It’s just that simple.

 

_____________________________________________

Cornelius — The God-Fearer

 

Luke records Cornelius being the first “named” Gentile converted to the Netsarim (aka Nazarene) Faith. He is described as being a Caesarean native and a captain of a Roman army regiment. Spiritually, he was righteous, and he feared God, along with his entire household (Act 10:2). Cornelius “beseeched” or earnestly prayed to Yehovah throughout each day of his life. (Some have suggested that he was actually reciting Jewish liturgies as part of his daily routine.) Furthermore, Cornelius rendered many alms before the people (that is, he was a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7) to the local synagogue he attended and to the poor of his community). Indeed, given this character sketch, it is likely that Cornelius not only feared Yehovah in his person, but was a qualified “God-fearer” according to orthodox Jewish custom.

 

Many of us focus on the religious classification that the title “God-fearer” places on this man and his household, which I will not attempt to marginalize here. I do think that him being a God-fearer in the eyes of orthodox Judaism, that is a Gentile who takes up Judaism as a way of life but who chooses not to convert to Judaism (aka become proselytized which leads to physical circumcision and total conformity to the Jewish religion) for whatever reason, is a relevant factor in the storyline. But let us not be fooled into understanding the realities of the title God-fearer that Rabbinic Jews conferred upon certain classes of Gentiles. It was a porous barrier that permitted certain well-to-do Gentiles to take part in restricted worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob while maintaining “the middle wall of partition” between Jew and Gentile. The Apostle Paul (aka Shaul) recognized that Yehovah never intended for Gentiles to be excluded from worshiping and walking out a life of Torah. Yehovah used the Person and ministry of Yeshua, Israel’s Messiah, to break down the middle wall of partition that separated the Jew from the Gentile believer, bringing them together as one man. (Eph 2:14)

 

 

Denominationalists have feloniously failed to understand the meaning of the vision that led Peter (aka Kefa) to Cornelius’ home and to Cornelius and his family coming into a covenant relationship with Yehovah through Yeshua Messiah. The true meaning of the vision of the sheet knitted at its four corners holding several unclean animals descending to the apostle with a voice instructing Kefa to “rise, kill, and eat” has been feloniously misinterpreted by denominationalists for centuries, despite Kefa himself declaring the vision’s true meaning to any who has eyes to see and ears to hear. The denominationalists, as most of you know, have used Kefa’s vision of the sheet holding unclean animals to promote their anti-Torah agenda, this time focusing on Yehovah’s dietary Torah. (Lev 11:1-47; Deu 14:3-21) The truth of the matter is that Kefa’s vision was not about the free consumption of meat by God’s people, be those creatures clean or unclean. The Holy Spirit revealed to Kefa the true meaning of the vision:

 

(25) And it came to be that when Kefa entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and bowed before him. (26) But Kefa raised him up, saying, “Stand up, I myself am also a man.” (27) And talking with him, he went in and found many who had come together. (28) And he said to them, “You know that a Yehudi (aka a Jewish) man is not allowed to associate with, or go to one of another race. But Elohim has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. (29) That is why I came without hesitation when I was sent for…(34) Truly I see that Elohim shows no partiality, (35) but in every nation, he who FEARS HIM AND WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ACCEPTED BY HIM.” (Act 10; The Scriptures ISR).

 

And of course, as the story goes, Kefa delivers unto Cornelius and his household the unadulterated Gospel message. Amid Kefa’s sermon, “the Set-apart Spirit fell upon all those hearing the world. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Kefa, because the gift of the Set-apart Spirit had been poured out on the nations also for they were hearing them speaking with tongues and extolling Elohim” (Act 10:45-46; The Scriptures ISR).

 

This historic event was followed up by Cornelius and his household being water-immersed by Kefa and his evangelistic team. (Act 10:48)

 

Let us not fall for Denominationalists’ false narrative that Cornelius and all non-Jews that followed him into the Nazarene Faith began living a lawless/Torahless life upon their conversion. Let us not overlook the reality that before Cornelius and his household officially transitioned to the Nazarene Faith, they feared God, which means they walked in Yehovah’s ways to the best of their knowledge and ability. They kept Torah to the best of their knowledge and ability. And although the Gospel record of Luke is silent on Cornelius’ life after his conversion, history bears out non-Jewish converts to the Way worshiped the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and walked in His ways right alongside their Messianic Jewish brethren in their local synagogue and in fellow-believers’ homes. (Act 2:42, 46)

 

This is a primer for our upcoming discussion on the Jerusalem Council’s Edict and its bearing on our salvation and inextricable link to Israel.

 

It is my hope, trust, and prayer, beloved, that we all learn to fear Yehovah in such a way that we walk blameless before our Elohim and receive His shalom over our lives.

Shabbat Zachor 2023-Our Sabbath of Remembrance

by | Mar 4, 2023 |

Shabbat Shalom Beloved. Our Torah and Haftorah Reading in Light of Where we are on the Calendar This is a special Shabbat, for it is the Shabbat that immediately precedes the Jewish holiday of Purim. According to our observational calendar, Purim will occur at sundown...

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The Call For God’s People to be Jealous with His Jealousy — Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 118

by | Feb 2, 2024 | Blog, Podcasts

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

 

And greetings elect of the Most High. Welcome back to the Messianic Torah Observer. I’m Rod Thomas, coming to you on Preparation Day, the 21st day of the 11th month of Yah’s biblical calendar year. That translates into 2/2/2024 on the pagan Roman Calendar.

 

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to fellowship with me as we prepare to enter Yah’s Sabbath. And as always, beloved, it is my hope, trust, and prayer that this installment of TMTO finds you, your families, and your fellowships well and blessed.

 

This is “The Call For God’s People to be Jealous with His Jealousy.” This will be my thoughts and reflections on the 118th Reading in our 3-year Torah Reading cycle.”

_________________________________________

 

As has been my custom for the past year or so, I posted my thoughts and reflections on Torah Reading 117 in written format on themessianictorahobserver.org. 

 

As it turns out, this week’s Reading is a direct carryover from last week’s Reading. That reading included the story of Phinehas, son of Eleazar the High Priest at that time, executing a couple he witnessed engaged in the heinous and abominable act of Ba’al of Peor worship. (We’ll get a little into what Ba’al of Peor worship involved in just a moment.)

 

Yehovah, our Elohim, reacted favorably to Phinehas’ righteous act, describing Phinehas as being “jealous with His jealousy.” (We will talk about what that means.)

 

As a reward, Yehovah conferred upon Phinehas and his seed His “Covenant of Peace,” which we will also discuss a little later in this post.

 

 

Before we can discuss Yehovah’s reaction to and actions toward Phinehas, I want to return to last week’s Reading (i.e. 117) and look at Phinehas’ actions from a couple of perspectives. This will help establish some context for our discussion this week as well as possibly answer some questions that may crop in your mind as it relates to the story’s details.

 

I will read the last four verses of last week’s reading, which should set the table for our discussion today.

 

 

6 And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family (i.e. Zimri, the Ba’al of Peor worshiping Israelite), in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand 8 and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly (their names being later given in our text today as Zimri and Kosbi). Thus, the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. 9 Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand. (The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Nu 25:6–9.)

 

What is the background to this tragic event?

 

As mentioned in Reading 117, while we were encamped in Shittim, along the border of Moab, we had devolved as a people into unimaginable apostacy. Specifically, we had given ourselves over to Ba’al of Peor worship.

 

This form of Ba’al worship was especially heinous and offensive. Without getting too graphic, it incorporated open sex acts as a feature of worship. Recall in 25:1 that besides our rendering sacrifices and bowing down to Ba’al, we began to “whore with the daughters of Moab.” (ESV)

 

So, our apostacy wasn’t only about us committing fornication and adultery with the woman of Moab; it was more about us engaging in adultery and fornication as part of our worship of Ba’al of Peor. Moshe described us as having “yoked” ourselves to Ba’al of Peor.

 

Now, the Septuagint offers a slightly different optic and logistic to this story that differs slightly from the way the ESV and other Masoretic-based texts render this story. These two differences add a little more texture to the story that I believe we need to consider before going further into our study.

 

6 And behold, a man of the sons of Israel (i.e. a native-born Israeli) went and brought his brother (aka “adelphos” or a son of the same mother) to a Midianite woman in front of Moses and before the entire congregation of the sons of Israel, and they were weeping at the entrance of the tent of testimony. 7 And seeing this, Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, the priest, rose up out of the midst of the congregation and took a barbed lance in his hand. 8 He went in after the Israelite man into the furnace (i.e. “kaminos” or kiln for smelting, baking, burning earthenware and bricks) and pierced both of them, both the Israelite man and the woman, through her womb. Then the plague was ceased from the sons of Israel. 9 Now those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand. (Rick Brannan, Ken M. Penner et al., The Lexham English Septuagint, Second Edition. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020), Nu 25:6–9.)

 

So, the Septuagint records that an (unnamed) Israeli man brought his brother to a Midianite woman in clear view of Moshe and the entire congregation of Yisrael. Remember, as this incident is playing out, because of our apostacy, Yah’s wrath manifested throughout our encampment as a deadly plague (25:8). As a result, Moshe and the congregation of Yisra’el (presumably those who had not yoked themselves to Ba’al of Peor worship) had assembled at the entrance of the Tent of Testimony to weep and petition Yehovah for mercy. (25:6) The text described Yah as being “incensed with wrath” against us.

 

The JPS rendering, a Masoretic-based text, describes the situation where “one of the Israelites came and brought a Midianite woman over to his companions, in the sight of Moses and of the whole Israelite community who were weeping at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.” (Michael Carasik, ed., Numbers: NJPS English Translation, trans. Michael Carasik, First edition., The Commentators’ Bible (Philadelphia, PA: The Jewish Publication Society, 2011), Nu 25:6.)

 

This nuance to the storyline suggests that there was at least one member of our congregation (possibly more, we don’t know) that was actively promoting Ba’al of Peor sex-worship to us. This individual ends up pairing Zimri with this Midianite prostitute whose name we later learn is Kosbi. In other words, this unnamed man was acting in the capacity of a “pimp” and he was engaging in such heinous and disgusting activity amid a raging, deadly plague and in plain view of Moshe and the righteous remnant of Yisra’el. This shows that there are no limits to the wicked intent of the human heart, such that, even amid Yah’s wrath, man will pursue evil. (Can you imagine what the Great Tribulation is going to be like?) Yehovah describes the human heart as being “desperately wicked.” (Jer 17:9)

 

The second nuance I need to point out to you is that the Septuagint rendering records that outraged and impassioned Phinehas (Son of Eleazar the High Priest at this time) followed the couple “into the furnace” and ran them both through with a “barbed lance” (i.e. a spear or javelin).

 

Interestingly, the JPS records Phinehas followed the couple “into the chamber and stabbed both of them, the Israelite and the woman, through the belly.” (Michael Carasik, ed., Numbers: NJPS English Translation, trans. Michael Carasik, First edition., The Commentators’ Bible (Philadelphia, PA: The Jewish Publication Society, 2011), Nu 25:8.)

 

I don’t know about you, but the various teachings I’ve listened to in this story have always led me to believe that Phinehas executed this couple inside Zimri’s personal tent or dwelling. However, these two texts make me question this thinking. We know the assembled congregation at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting saw this couple go into a “chamber” (JPS which J. H. Hertz in his Torah-Haftarah defines as “the inner division of the large vaulted tents that were used as the apartment of the women,” pg. 679) and or a place that housed a “furnace” (LXX); possibly a tent that members of our congregation erected for the expressed purpose of Ba’al of Peor worship that may have also housed an altar of some sort by which worshipers would render sacrifices unto Ba’al of Peor in conjunction with their abominable sex acts. Regardless, this is the place that Phinehas does them both in and it doesn’t appear to be Zimri’s personal dwelling.

 

In his “Studies in the Torah — Numbers,” Tim Hegg puts forth the theory Zimri (or a fellow Israeli) accompanies Cozbi (the Midianite sex-cult prostitute) into the Tent of Meeting to engage in their abominable act of Ba’al of Peor worship. (p. 176) Mr. Hegg supports this theory by citing that this event took place “in the sight of Moses and all Israel, who were weeping at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting” … and “that Phinehas went into the tent when he struck them through.” He further writes they (i.e. the couple) were engaging in this fertility ritual within the Holy Place and the sin of Ba’al Peor had entered into the very Sanctuary of HaShem.” (pg. 176)

 

Hegg further supports his theory by mentioning a little background information on Torah’s stance on capital punishment. He supports his theory by citing that our congregation cannot administer capital punishment without first having the alleged criminal face a court of judges who would render a capital punishment verdict based upon the testimony of two or three witnesses. Once the court renders a guilty verdict, it falls to the witnesses to cast the first stones in that individual’s public execution. (Deu 17:6-11)

We see, however, in the case of Zimri and Kosbi, that Phinehas did not adhere to this judicial process. Instead, Phinehas summarily executes the couple without deference to the Law.

 

So, we must answer the question of why Yah openly favored Phinehas for carrying out this summary execution outside of these Torah provisions. Did Yah make an exception for Phinehas because he acted with Yah’s jealousy or zeal or passion? And in my mind’s eye, this is where the theory that the couple engaged in their abominable act within the confines of the Sanctuary makes some sense.

 

For all intents and purposes, the Tabernacle was sort of its own country within the congregation of Israel. Consequently, there is a separate set of rules governing Tabernacle operations. The Levites alone were responsible for overseeing all aspects of Tabernacle operations, including enforcing the maintenance of its utter sanctity.

 

53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony. (The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Nu 1:53.)

 

This being the case, and if the offense did in fact take place within the confines of the Tabernacle proper, then Phinehas fulfilled his duty as a Levitical Priest. He would have upheld the sanctity of the Tabernacle as Yah tasked the Levites with doing.

 

I, however, have a hard time believing that the couple engaged in their abominable act within the Tabernacle proper. Given all that we’ve discussed up to this point, I will concede that the traditional story of the couple engaging in Ba’al of Peor sex worship took place in Zimri’s tent is not accurate. It seems to me that the couple did what they did, and Phinehas did what he did, in a tent that members of our congregation set-up for Ba’al of Peor worship that was proximal (aka close) to the Sanctuary; maybe within the confines of the Sanctuary courtyard even. I can’t image that Moshe and the attending Levites would have permitted anyone other than a qualified Aaronic Priest to enter the Tent of Meeting in the first place. But if we had erected a tent for Ba’al worship somewhere near the Sanctuary grounds, Phinehas would have been legally justified in dispatching the couple the way he did.

 

But that’s just my thoughts and reflections on this matter. What do you think? How do you read and understand these passages? What spiritual applications can you draw from this part of our story that will enhance your walk in Messiah?

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Now that we have this background established before us, we can delve into this week’s Reading, which is contained in Numbers 25:10-26:51.

 

For our time together here today, we will only discuss Numbers 25:10-15, which reads:

 

 

10And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,

11“Pineḥas, son of El‛azar, son of Aharon the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Yisra’ěl, because he was ardent with My ardour in their midst (i.e. Phinehas was jealous/passionate/zealous with My jealousy/passion/zeal), so that I did not consume the children of Yisra’ěl in My ardour. 12“Therefore say, ‘See, I am giving him My covenant of peace, 13and it shall be to him and to his seed after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was ardent for his Elohim, and made atonement for the children of Yisra’ěl.’ ” 14And the name of the man of Yisra’ěl who was struck, who was struck with the Miḏyanite woman, was Zimri, son of Salu, a leader of a father’s house among the Shim‛onites. 15And the name of the Miḏyanite woman who was struck was Kozbi the daughter of Tsur. He was head of the people of a father’s house in Miḏyan. (The Scriptures, 3rd edition. (Northriding: Institute for Scripture Research, 2009), Nu 25:10–15.)

 

 

Yah tells Moshe that Phinehas’ righteous actions turned His righteous anger/wrath away from us. Yah described Phinehas’ actions as that of being “jealous with His jealousy.” Phinehas’ jealousy prevented our destruction.

 

Who was Phinehas? He was the son of the current High Priest, Eleazar. (1 Chr 6:4-15) So, he was an Aaronic Priest serving under His high priestly father, Eleazar.

 

 

 

Let’s talk about what Yehovah meant by describing Phinehas as being “jealous with His jealousy.”

Phinehas remained in solidarity with Yehovah amid great apostasy. R. Dennis Cole describes this as “the likemindedness of Phinehas with that of Yahweh.” (R. Dennis Cole, Numbers, vol. 3B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 443.)

The Hebrew term for “jealous/jealousy” as used in our text is “qana’”. “Qana” means to express “qin’ah” (i.e. zeal or passion) against something or against the offensive actions of another. Here in our reading, “Phinehas expressed God’s own zeal; he acted on his behalf.” (Baruch A. Levine, Numbers 21–36: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, vol. 4A, Anchor Yale Bible (New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 2008), 289.) It can also be described as “to become deeply impassioned” or “to become furiously jealous.” (R. Dennis Cole, Numbers, vol. 3B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 443.) The word, from this idiomatic sense, would carry the same emotion as that of a husband who believes or knows that his wife has been cheating on him (i.e. Num 5:11-31). Such a one is sorely jealous towards his wife. Thus, in like manner, Yehovah demands faithfulness from His bride (e.g. Exo 20:4-5). Any such transgression by Yah’s set apart people to the contrary (i.e. whoring after false gods as in the case of Ba’al of Peor) is subject to Yehovah’s holy and righteous wrath, which we’ve seen manifested in the form of plagues and summary executions of members of our community throughout our story line in recent weeks.

 

Qanna/jealous/passion/zeal for the things of Yehovah as expressed in our reading is not unique to our reading passage. Eliyahu (aka Elijah) declares to Yehovah when asked why he was hiding out in a cave: “I have been very zealous (aka “qana’”) for Yahweh the God of hosts (note, the LXX records Eliyahu as answering Yah: “Being zealous (aka qana’), I am zealous (aka qin’ah’) for Yehovah because…”), for the ⌊Israelites⌋ have forsaken your covenant. They have demolished your altars, and they have killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left over, and they seek to take my life. (W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), 1 Ki 19:10.)

 

Then over in Zechariah, Yehovah declares His zealousness (aka jealousy/qana’) over Yerushalayim and Zion: “Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘⌊I am exceedingly jealous (aka “qana’” for Zion⌋; I am jealous (aka “qin’ah”) for it with great wrath.’ (W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Zec 8:2.) Here, Yah declares out of His zeal/jealousy/passion – His “qana’” for Jerusalem and Zion, that He will destroy (aka “killah“) those who have destroyed her.

 

Because of Phinehas’ zealous act, Yah established with him and his seed a new covenant. This new covenant Yah referred to as His Covenant of Peace (i.e. “beriti shalom”). The covenant of peace was to be an everlasting priesthood built upon Phinehas’ zealousness for His Elohim and the atonement he made on our behalf that day. Yah reckoned Phinehas as righteous because of this one righteous act (Psa 106:28-31) – his “qana’”.

 

Mattathias of the Maccabees fame, upon his deathbed, called his sons to the same level of zealousness for Torah and the Covenant that Phinehas possessed:

 

50 Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers. (The Apocrypha: King James Version (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995), 1 Mac 2:50.) 54 Phinehas our father in being zealous and fervent obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood. (The Apocrypha: King James Version (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995), 1 Mac 2:54.)

 

It was this zealousness that propelled the Maccabees to defeating the great Macedonian military.

 

“The Rule of the Blessings” liturgical scroll from Qumran calls for a renewal of the Covenant of Peace to be placed over the Essene Community (1QSb 3:26).

 

By virtue of his Aaronic lineage, Phinehas was already assured the priestly privileges. His righteous act and the ensuing eternal covenant of peace confirmed his divinely appointed priestly destiny.

 

Phinehas’ priesthood would later be referred to as the Zadokite Priesthood. (Eze 44:15-16) Phinehas’ priestly dynasty was chosen by Yehovah to serve Him in His House of Prayer forever:

 

15 But the Levitical priests, the descendants of Zadok, who cared for the responsibility of my sanctuary ⌊when the Israelites went astray⌋ from me, they will approach me to serve me, and they will stand ⌊before me⌋ to offer to me fat and blood,” ⌊declares⌋ the Lord Yahweh. 16 “They shall come to my sanctuary, and they shall approach my table to serve me, and they will observe my requirement. (W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Eze 44:15–16.)

 

Beyond this talk of being zealous or passionate for those things that Yehovah is zealous or passionate about, the covenant of peace that emerged from Phinehas’ act is really about an everlasting priesthood (i.e. Berit kehunnat ‘olam”). This everlasting priesthood was to be headed and inspired by the zealous spirit of Phinehas.

 

It should be noted that Yah placed no stipulations upon Phinehas nor his seed in order for this covenant to remain in force. Some would label this as a unilateral or non-conditional covenant, although in reality, Yah did not cut a truly conditional covenant with us. All of Yah’s covenant promises are irrevocable and permanent, despite what we do to infringe upon or transgress the tenets of those covenants.

 

The permanence of this covenant was reiterated by Yehovah when we went into Babylonian Captivity:

 

10 For the mountains may depart, and the hills may sway, but my faithfulness shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not sway,” says Yahweh, who has compassion on you… (W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Is 54:10.)

 

That same covenant of peace will continue into the Millennial Kingdom:

 

24 And I, Yahweh, I will be for them ⌊as God⌋, and my servant David will be a leader in the midst of them. I, Yahweh, I have spoken. 25 And I will make them a covenant of peace, and I will put an end to wild animals from the land, and they will dwell in the desert ⌊safely⌋, and they will sleep in the forest. (W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Eze 34:24–25.)

 

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The direct descendants of Phinehas who are privileged of Yehovah to render priestly services unto Him in the Millennial Kingdom were the sons of Zadok. Zadok means “righteous”. Zadok is derived from the Hebrew noun “the Lord is righteous.”

 

Who was Zadok? He was a Levitical Priest who was loyal to King David. (2 Sam 8:17; 1 Chr 6:3-8) Zadok continued to serve as a Cohen (aka priest) into Solomon’s reign. During David’s reign as king, Ithamar’s descendants served as High Priests. The scriptures show Zadok anointed Solomon and took on the role of High Priest (1 Kin 1:39-45). However, Ithamar’s corrupted descendants, coupled with Zadok’s abiding loyalty to kings David and Solomon, led to the high priesthood being passed on to Zadok’s descendants. This change in the high priesthood was not a knee-jerk reaction to the corruption that had crept into the priestly ranks. In response to the corruption of Eli’s priestly line, Yah declared He would raise up for Himself a reliable priest (1 Sam 2:35). Thus, the Zadokite high priestly dynasty emerged. We often refer to these righteous descendants of Zadok as Zadokim or the Zadokites.

 

Despite several texts certifying Zadok descended from Aaron and Eleazar, other texts seem to suggest otherwise. Some scholars allege that Zadok was not of Aaron’s and Eleazar’s lineage and that he descended from an unknown line that certain scribes have gone to great lengths to erase. I personally doubt Zadok descended from any priestly line other than Eleazar’s and Phinehas’. We see in our reading this week that Yehovah promised Phinehas an everlasting priesthood of peace. Zadok and his priestly dynasty matches to a tee the zeal (i.e. “qana’”) for the priestly office as originated by Phinehas. Furthermore, Yehovah, through His Prophet Ezekiel certified Zadok descended from Aaron and Eleazar. (Eze 4:46)

 

The steadfast loyalty of Zadok’s sons to the exacting ways of Yehovah and their priestly responsibilities caught Yehovah’s attention. Through His prophet Ezekiel, Yah appointed the sons of Zadok to be His select priestly line to serve Him in His Son’s millennial kingdom.

 

And the chamber ⌊with its face to the north⌋ is for the priests who are taking care of the responsibility of the altar. They are the descendants of Zadok, the ones who approach from among the descendants of Levi to Yahweh to serve him. (W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Eze 40:46.)

 

And you must give to the Levitical priests who are from the offspring of Zadok, the ones coming near me,” ⌊declares⌋ the Lord Yahweh, “to serve me, a bull, ⌊a calf⌋ as a sin offering. (W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Eze 43:19.)

 

15 But the Levitical priests, the descendants of Zadok, who cared for the responsibility of my sanctuary ⌊when the Israelites went astray⌋ from me, they will approach me to serve me, and they will stand ⌊before me⌋ to offer to me fat and blood,” ⌊declares⌋ the Lord Yahweh. 16 “They shall come to my sanctuary, and they shall approach my table to serve me, and they will observe my requirement. (W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Eze 44:15–16.)

 

11 To the priests, the ones being consecrated from the descendants of Zadok, who took care of my service and who ⌊did not go astray⌋ ⌊when the Israelites went astray⌋, ⌊just as⌋ the Levites went astray. 12 And it will be for them a special gift from the contribution of the land ⌊as a most holy object⌋ next to the territory of the Levites. (W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Eze 48:11–12.)

 

What we see playing out here is evidence that Yah will surely keep His covenant promise to Phinehas of an eternal covenant of peace.

 

Loyal and zealous Zadok didn’t just serve as a priest during David’s rule. He also served as a fierce warrior in David’s army. Yehovah had taken Saul’s rule over Israel away from him and gave it over to David. (1 Chr 12) We find in 1 Chronicles and Josephus (Ant. VII. ii. 2) record of Zadok serving David as a military commander in battles against Israel’s enemies (i.e. against the Jebusites and Philistines).

 

The priests, Joshua son of Jehozadak and Ezra, that accompanied us in our return to the Land from Babylonian captivity were Zadok descendants (Ezr 7:1-7). Even during the time of our captivity, these sons of Zadok remained true to their priestly calling. As a result, Yah’s hand was upon Ezra (7:6). The zeal of the Zadokite priests remained through the time of the Maccabees, after which political intrigue all but forced them underground and out of service. Some believe, as I, that the priestly descendants of Zadok abandoned the second Temple in Jerusalem and took up residence in Qumran. The Essenes of Qumran, as evident in some of their sacred texts (aka the Dead Sea Scrolls), extolled the legitimacy and virtue of the Zadokite priesthood. Some scholars speculate that the Qumran Essenes included members of the Zadokite priesthood. I find this theory to be plausible, given the zeal we know the Essenes held for Yehovah and His Ways. These believed that the Jerusalem Temple establishment was irreparably corrupt. Thus, these Zadokim uprooted themselves from the politics and corruption of the Jerusalem temple establishment and resettled in Qumran where they safeguarded the oracles of Yehovah (aka the Dead Sea Scrolls). 

 

Interestingly, some have linked the first century Jewish sect of the Sadducees with the Zadokite priestly line. Certain scholars have declared that the title Sadducee is derived from Zadok. (Reference: Mark Allan Powel, Harper Collins Bible Dictionary) Michael Rood in his Gospel Chronology is a firm advocate of this thinking. We know from the Gospel record that the first century priestly line (i.e. the Sadducees) was indeed irreparably corrupt. To think that the Sadducees were of the same timber as the righteous sons of Zadok is suspect to me. I tend to side with the righteous Zadok line, finding her last recorded location in Qumran to be more in line with the zealous character of Phinehas to be the most plausible theory of the two.

 

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Baruch A. Levine, in his commentary on the Book of Numbers, made the bold move of renaming the Covenant of Peace to that of a Covenant of Fellowship:

 

“Behold, I am granting him my covenant, fellowship.” That is to say, my covenant will consist of fellowship. (Baruch A. Levine, Numbers 21–36: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, vol. 4A, Anchor Yale Bible (New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 2008), 289.)

 

When I first came across Levine’s statement, I rejected it outright, but then I reflected upon it. It later became clear to me that indeed one of Yehovah’s deepest desires and goals is to establish a relationship and be in loving and peaceful fellowship with His chosen ones. Yet, when we are in a rebellious state of being, as we were during our time of apostacy in Shittim, there can be no such fellowship with Him.

 

When we choose Yehovah and His ways over that of the world and its ways, we have the privilege of partaking of this covenant of peace, aka, this covenant of fellowship. Yehovah is zealous (aka “qana’”) about His standards and about His people remaining true to Him and His ways. He described Himself to us as being a jealous (aka “qana’”) God; a consuming fire (Exo 34:14; Deu 4:24). He commanded and informed us that:

 

9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them (i.e. false gods): for I the LORD thy God am a jealous (aka “qana’”) God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me…(The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Dt 5:9–6:15.)

 

We cannot truly walk in covenant with Yehovah unless we are zealous/passionate/jealous – “qana’” about the things that He is zealous/passionate/jealous about. There must be a singleness of heart and mind between us and our Elohim for there to be true fellowship. The prophet asked a key question of us as Yah prepared to punish us for our iniquities:

 

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Am 3:3.) And of course, the answer to this critical question is no. We cannot be in fellowship with the Creator of the Universe when we are at odds with Him and His ways. That’s why He brought a devastating plague upon us in response to our disgusting apostacy with Ba’al of Peor. We had broken fellowship with Him because we sought after and worshiped Ba’al. It wasn’t until Phinehas displayed such burning zeal (aka “qana’”) for Yehovah and His ways and stood against our apostacy that Yehovah stayed the plague and restored fellowship or “shalom” between us and Him.

 

Master Yahoshua possessed such passion/zeal/jealousy/”qana’” for Yehovah and His House (aka the Temple) that He cleanse the Temple Mount of the merchants and money changers (Joh 2:14-17). Such “qana’” was prophesied to be an established character trait of the Messiah:

 

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,

9 because the zeal for your house (i.e. your Temple) has consumed me, and the reproaches of those reproaching you have fallen on me. (W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Ps 69:8–9.)

 

If our consuming aim is to make it into the Kingdom, we must imitate our Master Yeshua in every way possible. This includes being “qana’” or zealous for the things of Yehovah. Our “qana’” for the things of Yehovah must consume us, as it did Yahoshua and Phinehas. And if we find ourselves with such burning passion/jealousy/zeal/”qana’” for the things and ways of Yehovah, He will honor us by cutting and maintaining a covenant of peace or fellowship with us.

 

How do we get to the place in our walk with Messiah that we possess such a consuming, burning passion for the things and ways of Yehovah? Well, we must seek — pursue Yehovah’s righteousness and His kingdom. And the easiest way of accomplishing this is to believe Master Yeshua and commit to walking only in His ways. And the only way we can accomplish this is to devour Yah’s Word, pray without ceasing, obey His instructions in righteousness, and listen to His voice, because Yah’s Ways are our Master’s Ways.

 

In so doing, we begin to develop a deep and abiding relationship with Master Yahoshua and His Father. Over time, we will become jealous/”qana’” with Yehovah’s jealousy/”qin’ah” because we are being transformed into the image of Master Yeshua. (Rom 8:29; Col 3:10) Consequently, Yeshua is the splitting image of His Father. (Heb 10:1)

 

Now, more than at any other time in history, Yehovah’s elect must be “qana’” with Yehovah’s “qana’” (Num 25:11). The world has devolved to such a state that that which is good is considered by the world as evil and that which is evil the world now sees as good. (Isa 5:20) Yah declares His fierce anger upon those who embrace such foolishness. It thus falls to us, Yah’s chosen ones, to jealously walk in His righteous ways and teach the world to do so as well. Yah is counting on us to image Him in this fallen, corrupt world. He’s given us all we need to accomplish this: He’s given us His Holy Spirit and His Word. And if we are willing to hold the line, using the resources He’s placed at our disposal, we can’t help but be victorious and forever in peaceful/fellowship covenant with our Creator.

 

The apostle wrote to the Messianic Roman Assembly:

 

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Ro 8:35–39.)

 

Have a blessed Sabbath and an overcoming week in Yeshua Messiah, beloved of Yehovah.

 

Take care.

 

Shabbat Zachor 2023-Our Sabbath of Remembrance

by | Mar 4, 2023 |

Shabbat Shalom Beloved. Our Torah and Haftorah Reading in Light of Where we are on the Calendar This is a special Shabbat, for it is the Shabbat that immediately precedes the Jewish holiday of Purim. According to our observational calendar, Purim will occur at sundown...

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The Inherited Lie of Replacement Theology-Part 3 of Israel’s Inextricable Link to our Salvation Series

by | Jan 5, 2024 | Blog, Podcasts

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

Greetings

This is “Exposing the Lie that is Replacement Theology-Part 3 of Israel’s Inextricable Link to our Salvation.”

 

Recap and Purpose of Post

 

In part one we interpreted Master Yehoshua’s statement to the woman at Jacob’s well that salvation is of the Jew. In Part 2, we interpreted Paul’s statement there is neither Jew nor Greek/Gentile in Messiah. In this third installment in our series, I will respond to a commenter’s statements refuting Israel’s connection to our salvation. Turns out that the commenter’s rejection of Israel is quite common among denominationalists, and dare I say, certain Messianic and Quasi-Hebrew Roots sects.

And if you are a true member of Nazarene Israel, or you are earnestly seeking truth that only comes from the God of Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya’achov, you’re going to want to listen to what I have to share with you in this installment of our series.

The commenter’s rejection of Israel and the role she plays in our salvation is based on popularly held, anti-Semitic, anti Torah, dare I say, anti God false doctrine. Sadly, the prevalence, dominance of this false doctrine, is leading countless souls down the path of destruction. How and why? It not only perpetuates Anti Torah, anti-god, and anti-Torah sentiments, it promotes and justifies in the minds of their unwitting members, their perverted hyper-grace and super secret, pre-tribulation rapture doctrines. 

Yeshua warned His disciples that many will come to Him in that day, seeking to enter the kingdom. And these will declare that they were born again Christians doing the Lord’s work. But the Master will send them to outer darkness, declaring that He never knew them. He will call them workers of lawlessness as they exit the gate heading to God knows where. (Mat 7:22-24) 

Beloved, we don’t want any part of that. We should be desperately desiring to receive and enter the Kingdom and hear our Master declare to us before the Court of Heaven: Well done, my good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful over a few things. Come on in “ye blessed of Yehovah and inherit the Kingdom that has been prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Mat 25:34)

So, by the time we are done here today, beloved, we will be in the best position to discern truth from error as it relates to Israel’s inseparable link to our salvation.  

I’ve taken the commenter’s remarks and broken them down into five points of contention, all of which we will explore in this teaching.

 

  1. Matthew records Yeshua stating He was going to take the Kingdom of God from “you” and give it to a nation that will bring forth fruit. (21:43) The challenger identifies the “you” as Israel.

 

  1. Yeshua will never give the Kingdom (i.e. the covenant) back to Israel.

 

  1. The blessing that Yah promised Avraham would bring to the world is Christ Jesus, not Israel, as no blessing can ever come from unregenerated man. This, despite the fundamental fact that, without Israel, there would be no Yahoshua. He was and remains Yisra’el’s Messiah!

 

  1. The covenant that Yehovah made with Avraham was exclusive to his seed, not his physical descendants. And oh, by the way, Christians are Avraham’s true seed.

 

  1. Israel has been “broken off.” Broken off from what? Broken off from the covenant and its promises, which include their receiving and inhabiting the Land and the Kingdom and salvation, because they sinned and broke covenant with Yehovah. So, they misapply Paul’s teaching of the olive tree in Romans 11 by insisting that Jesus broke the branches of Israel off from the root of the commonwealth of Israel in order to make room for the Church Triumphant. 

 

The Kingdom is not the Same as the Covenant

 The Kingdom of God (aka the Malchut Elohim) and the covenant (be it the original or renewed covenant) are not the same, although they are inseparably linked one to the other. 

The Kingdom of Yah is every true believer’s desired, ultimate destination. It is the focal point of Yeshua and John the Immerser’s Gospel message. It is the declaration—the Good News—that the Malchut Elohim is near and that God’s people (at the time John and Yeshua preached this message; it was Israeli Jews) needed to teshuvah and be baptized (i.e. be purified) to receive it (Mat. 3:2; 4:17; Mar. 1:15). 

Yeshua Sent to the Lost Sheep of Israel by His Father 

The Gospel was first preached exclusively, with few exceptions, to first-century Israeli Jews by John the Immerser and Yahoshua and His anointed disciples. Yeshua described His mission in that regard and at that time as being restricted to the Lost Sheep of Israel (Mat. 10:6; 15:24). 

So, riddle me this Batman. Why were Yeshua’s and John’s preaching and teaching of the Gospel restricted to the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel? Because the covenant that exists between Yehovah and Israel required that the commonwealth that is Yisra’el be the first to receive it. The Plan of Salvation, Redemption, and Restoration was to be implemented by the Person and Ministries of Yeshua Messiah, but it would be born out of the covenant relationship Yah cut and possessed with Yisra’el. Again, Yehovah never-ever cut or established a covenant relationship with any other human entities or nations on this planet. To say otherwise is to add to and take away from Father’s Word, which is a transgression/violation of Torah (Deu. 4:21; 12:32; Pro. 30:6; Rev. 22:18-19). 

 

Yeshua is Yisra’el’s Messiah

 

The other thing we must keep in mind, beloved, is that Yeshua was and continues to be Yisra’el’s Messiah! Moshe declared:

 

“Yehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken…” (Deu.18.15; ASV; cf. Act. 3:22; 7:37)

 

Was it the Kingdom or the Covenant That was Being Stripped from the Religious Leaders?

 

The challenger cites Matthew 21:43 as a support for his anti-covenant doctrine:

 

43“Because of this I say to you: the reign of Elohim (aka the Kingdom of God) shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits of it. Scriptures[1].

 

This statement of the “kingdom being given to another people” was given within the context of Yeshua being challenged by the Chief Priest and Scribes (aka the elders) as to His authority to teach, preach, heal the blind and lame, and cleanse the Temple Mount of the money changers (Mat. 21:12-14, 23). And because of these Jewish leaders’ stubborn rejection of Yeshua’s Messiahship, He declared to them, not national Israel or to Jews in general mind you that the Kingdom would be given first to those who were considered least in Israel, such as prostitutes and tax collectors. He declared to His challengers that these would enter the Kingdom ahead of you. (Now, keep this phrase about these will enter the Kingdom ahead of you in mind as it will have significance in terms of the everlasting covenant Yah established and manifests among national and remnant Israel.)

 

The Problematic Pharisaic Mindset

 

Yeshua was specific in His rebuttal to these Jewish religious leaders’ challenge of His authority as Israel’s Messiah. Let us not overlook the first century Pharisaic mindset. That mindset placed the Pharisee on equal footing with Moshe: greater than Moshe even. These gave themselves the authority to make laws and rulings equal to, and many times, exceeding, that of Torah. Pharisaic rulings and laws, which they sold to the nation like that of a fence around Torah, are called TAKANOT. 

 

As an example, according to Rood’s excellent Gospel Chronology, the Pharisees (aka Prushim) enacted some 500 takanot Governing the keeping of Sabbath (Talmud, Shabbat). They insisted to the nation that they alone sat in the seat of Moshe, and that “when they make takanot, even the almighty must obey their verdict” (Rood; The Chronological Gospels; p. 18). Their rulings are often referred to as the “Oral Law” (i.e. the Talmud), which they contend are superior to the “Written Law” (i.e. the Torah).

 

As it relates to the Kingdom being taken from them as the recognized, orthodox religious leaders of their day, the Kingdom would be given to remnant Israel—Nazarene Israel—true Israel instead.

 

Who is “remnant or true Israel” then? Biblically—Hebraically—and from a covenant perspective — “remnant Israel” comprises Israelis who are in a trusting and obedient covenant relationship with the God of Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya’achov (Zep. 3.13; Ezr. 9.15; Isa. 10.20; Eze. 9.8). Remnant Yisra’el forms the root of the commonwealth of Yisra’el that we who are of Mashiyach are grafted into (Rom. 11). The purest of the remnant are, of course, Messianic Jews or Messianic Israelites, Hebrew followers and disciples of Yahoshua Messiah.

 

Let us not conflate possession of the Kingdom with possession of Yah’s covenant and covenant promises. Yeshua did not say that the covenant was being stripped from Israel or the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles. Not in the least. To say that this is what Yeshua was saying to these Jewish leaders in this passage is a lie from the pit of hell and a promotion of the false doctrine of “Replacement Theology”.

The Scourge and Lie that is Replacement Theology

 

A mainstay doctrine of denominationalism is that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ ushered in what many of their pastors, teachers, and preachers refer to as the Church Age. The Church Triumphant has henceforth and forevermore replaced the Jew or the Hebrew or Yisra’el as God’s chosen or favored or covenant people. This is called replacement theology.

 

Within the guise of replacement theology the Church Triumphant sees herself as having replaced Yisra’el as God’s favored covenant people. A sort of “spiritual Israel” if you will. She has become the sole entity to receive all the covenant promises that were once promised exclusively to Yisra’el. This, according to replacement theology proponents, was God’s plan from the very beginning. Yisra’el choked and couldn’t hang as she repeatedly broke covenant with the Almighty, rebelled, and sinned. 

 

Some Christian academics prefer to call replacement theology “supersessionism” or “fulfillment” theology (ref. What is replacement theology / supersessionism / fulfillment theology? | GotQuestions.org). Regardless how they attempt to market it, replacement theology, supersessionism, fulfillment theology, etc., is spurious and even anti-semitic. It is a lie from the Pit.

 

The other thing the “Got Questions” article got right in refuting replacement theology’s claims that God abandoned Yisra’el for the Church Triumphant is the inexplicable reality and existence of the Jewish nation of Yisra’el today. The writer penned:

 

 “If Israel has been condemned by God and there is no future for the Jewish nation, how do we explain the supernatural survival of the Jewish people over the past 2,000 years despite the many attempts to destroy them? How do we explain why and how Israel reappeared as a nation in the 20th century after not existing for 1,900 years?” (ibid.)

 

Oh, but the “replacers” have a rebuttal to this. These contend that the people who presently live in the Land of Israel are not true descendants of Jacob, but are, in fact, impostors. Kazars. Squatters, and so forth, which a series of DNA tests have proved otherwise (reference www.youtube.com/watch?v=OShfQbxXdol). However, these replacement proponents do not realize the foolish game they’re playing when they go out of their way to justify the lie that is replacement theology. Among several things, they are either wittingly or unwittingly calling Yehovah Elohim a liar to His face.

 

Yah, through His prophet, declared:

 

40‘And I shall make an everlasting covenant with them (i.e. Yisrael), that I do not turn back from doing good to them. And I shall put My fear in their hearts so as not to turn aside from Me. 41‘And I shall rejoice over them to do good to them, and shall plant them in this land in truth, with all My heart and with all My being.’ 42“For thus said יהוה, ‘As I have brought all this great evil on this people, so I am bringing on them all the good that I am speaking to them. 43‘And fields shall be bought in this land of which you are saying, “It is a wasteland, without man or beast. It has been given into the hand of the Kasdim.” 44‘Fields shall be bought for silver, and deeds signed and sealed, and witnesses be called, in the land of Binyamin, and in the places around Yerushalayim, and in the cities of Yehuḏah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the low country, and in the cities of the South. For I shall turn back their captivity,’ declares יהוה.” Scriptures[2], Jer.32

 

Dispensationalism—Replacement Theology’s Wicked Sister Theology

 

Sadly, this article takes an abrupt and fatal turn by offering to the reader the false oasis of another theological understanding that is related to replacement theology. It is called “Dispensationalism”. Dispensationalists, according to this article, contend that “the church is distinct from Israel” and “the terms church and Israel are never to be confused or used interchangeably.” The article lambaste Israel. It contends—and I’m paraphrasing—the Church is separate and superior to Israel in several ways. The least of which has to do with Israel being subject to curses and blessings—i.e. the Mosaic Covenant or the Law (we’ve all heard this before, that the Law or Torah is bad, even a curse)—which have sidelined her in terms of God’s plan of salvation. The church, according to dispensationalists, began on Pentecost and has—although they won’t come out and say so—replaced Israel; at least until after the rapture of the Church. Then and only then will God throw Israel a bone and “restore Israel as the primary focus of His plan.”

 

Sadly, this article is mixed with truths, half-truths, and outright lies. Unfortunately, millions of otherwise well-meaning, but sorely mistaken souls have bought into these doctrines. And this happens when generations of would be believers in denominationalism’s Jesus Christ train their members to reject the God of Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya’achov, and His Torah; to replace the bible’s Hebrew Messiah with their Greek Christ; to deny the reality that the events of the Pentecost just days after the Master’s ascension involved almost entirely and exclusively Roman Empire Jews; to ignore the reality that there were no so-called Christian Churches in the first-century Roman Empire, but synagogues comprising both believing Jews and Gentiles. And that it wasn’t until well into the second century, most notably the third century, that nascent Roman Catholicism forced a schism/separation between Messianic Jews and non-Jewish believers in a Greco-Roman Jesus, which resulted in the Nazarene Israelites (i.e. the Messianics) being driven underground for centuries. The proponents of “replacement” and “dispensationalism” theologies are a continuation of that Greco-Roman church that has persisted for 2,000+ years. They are the children of Roman Catholicism.

 

The replacers and dispensationalists have no true biblical basis upon which to support their claims that Israel has been kicked to the curb while they have crept in, replaced her as Yehovah’s chosen people, and absconded with God’s favor (i.e. the covenant) that once belonged to true or remnant Israel. Both of these satanically inspired doctrines were created by the enemy to foil the Creator’s Plan of Salvation, Redemption, and Restoration.

 

 

The Antisemitic Tenor of Replacement Theology

 

Let us not forget that the first converts to the true faith, overwhelmingly so, were Israeli Jews. Our Heavenly Father sent our Master Yahoshua to these individuals, not to the Gentile nations. Upon their coming into a trusting faith in Master Yahoshua, these remained Jews or Hebrew. However, these became true Israelites. Nazarene Israelis. Inheritors of the Kingdom and the Land, as Yeshua promised (Mat. 5). We, non-Jews (aka Gentiles), who’ve come into a trusting faith with the God of Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya’achov, having become engrafted into this commonwealth which is Yisra’el (Rom. 11), and have every right to be called Nazarene Israel. Remnant Israel. Messianic Hebrews. And because of our engrafted state, we walk in obedient covenant with Yehovah because our Master walked in the Way and He has commanded us to do likewise.

 

 

 

Why is this important to Messianic/Nazarene Israelites?

 

Beloved, I know that some of you who have listened to or read the previous two installments in this series are probably rolling your eyes and are frustrated by my persistence on this subject. Why am I so passionate about this controversial topic of Israel being inextricably linked to our salvation?

 

I’m passionate about this subject because I am passionate about you and I making it into the kingdom. The renewed mission of this ministry is firstly to promote the Gospel of the Kingdom and second, teaching and promoting the Yeshua-focused-Torah-life principles that will get us into the Kingdom.

 

What we see going on around us today in a united worldwide show of hatred and rejection of Israel is only the tip of the iceberg. Master warned His disciples that they would face persecution and martyrdom for aligning themselves with the true Mashiyach of Yisra’el. Furthermore, people who they trusted with their lives would betray them to the persecutors as their love waxed cold.

 

Despite this prophecy being contemporaneous with His disciples (i.e., they all except for John the Revelator would suffer martyrdom), that which happened to them will inevitably happen to many of us in the dark days ahead. And no doubt, some of those foretold betrayers will probably be our denominationalist cousins who have already turned away from the true faith and the Gospel and view us with the same antisemitic disdain they have for national and religious Israel. So, buckle up, beloved, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

 

The failure of the Church Triumphant leadership to groom her people to receive and enter the Kingdom is impeachable at best. I dare say felonious. They, like their first-century Pharisaic brethren before them, think they have a say as to who will receive and enter the Kingdom. They believe they control when, how, and who as it relates to the Kingdom through their anti-Torah, Greco-Roman doctrine. Their rejection of remnant Israel and Yah’s instructions in righteousness for their perverted grace theology will cause untold millions to be turned away at the gates to the Kingdom by our Master Yeshua. Yeshua will tell them He has no relationship with them (i.e., I never knew you), He has no relationship with them because these affiliated themselves with a gutted out version of the true faith once delivered which rejects Yah’s instructions and that discourages any of their members in establishing and maintaining a true and substantive covenant relationship with Yehovah through Yeshua Messiah.

 

 

The Permanence of Israel’s Covenant with Yehovah

 

No matter what foolishness our replacement-dispensationalist cousins come up with in their rejection of Yehovah and his plan for his elect ones, scripture undeniably proves the permanence of Israel’s covenant relationship with the almighty.

 

37 Look, I am going to gather them from all the lands to which I driven them in my anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath, and I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell ⌊in safety⌋. 38 And they will be for me a people, and I will be for them God. 39 And I will give to them one heart and one way, to revere me ⌊forever⌋, for good to them, and to their children after them. 40 And I will ⌊make⌋ with them ⌊an everlasting covenant⌋ that I will not turn away from them, my doing good to them, and my reverence I will put in their hearts so that they will not turn aside from me. 41 And I will rejoice over them to do good to them, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness with all my heart, and with all my inner self.” (Jer.32; LEB)

 

         And I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

The enduring loyalty promised to David. (Isa.55; Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

 

 

And I shall give their reward in truth, and make an everlasting covenant with them. 9“And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring in the midst of the peoples. All who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed יהוה has blessed.” (Isa.61; The Scriptures ISR)

 

 

60“But I shall remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I shall establish an everlasting covenant with you. (Eze.16; The Scriptures ISR)

 

 

26“And I shall make a covenant of peace with them—an everlasting covenant it is with them. And I shall place them and increase them, and shall place My set-apart place in their midst, forever.

27“And My Dwelling Place shall be over them. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.

28“And the nations shall know that I, יהוה, am setting Yisra’ěl apart, when My set-apart place is in their midst—forever.” ’ ” (Eze.37; The Scriptures ISR)

 

And so we find in these riveting verses promise after promise made Yehovah to Israel that He is going to remember the covenant He has with them, and from that covenant He’s going to create an expansive addition to the covenant He originally cut with them. This renewed covenant will be exclusive to Israel. It will be a covenant of peace. It will be an everlasting covenant. This everlasting covenant of peace (i.e., shalom) is none other than the well known and recited renewed covenant.

 

31“See, the days are coming,” declares יהוה, “when I shall make a renewed covenant with the house of Yisra’ěl and with the house of Yehuḏah,

32not like the covenant I made with their fathers in the day when I strengthened their hand to bring them out of the land of Mitsrayim, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares יהוה.

33“For this is the covenant I shall make with the house of Yisra’ěl after those days, declares יהוה: I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.

34“And no longer shall they teach, each one his neighbour, and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know יהוה,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares יהוה. “For I shall forgive their crookedness, and remember their sin no more.” (Jer.31; The Scriptures ISR; cf. Heb.8)

 

 

This renewed covenant forms the basis of the Kingdom of Yah that exists within us today, as well as the eschatological or soon coming kingdom that will crush and eliminate all earthly kingdoms in its wake!

 

The God of Heaven will establish a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, a kingdom that shall not be transferred to another people. It will crush and wipe out all these kingdoms, but shall itself last forever…(Dan.2.44; Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

 

The other thing that we see here in terms of this renewed covenant—which by the way does not void or annul the original covenant Yah cut with Yisrael—is that it will be a “unilateral covenant”. A unilateral covenant (aka an unconditional covenant) is one where Yah alone promises to act on Yisra’el’s behalf without Yisra’el being obligated to do anything in return. It’s a one-sided covenant, if you will. And this unconditional covenant comprises Yehovah gathering the two-divided Houses of Yisra’el into one and implanting in the minds and inscribing upon the hearts (i.e. the newly circumcised hearts) of the people of both houses His Torah. This sovereign act will eliminate the rebelliousness (aka the stiffneckedness) that Yisra’el had become universally known for. In so doing, Yehovah Elohim will be forever Yisra’el’s God and Yisra’el will forever be Yehovah’s set-apart people. Before the renewal of this everlasting covenant, Yisra’el was required to walk according to the tenets of the original covenant, which we know they failed miserably at. Now, Yah will fix it within every biological descendant of Jacob (yes, even the stiffnecked orthodox Jew), not just the engrafted of the commonwealth of Jacob, where they will walk in Yah’s ways without fail or error. Yah will reprogram every Israeli and remove all impediments to their covenant relationship with Him. Each Israeli will have a personal relationship with Yehovah. The same personal covenant relationship many of us possess even today. And last, Yah will forgive Yisra’el all her sins.

 

Talk about grace!

 

Yeshua Backs up the Permanence of Israel’s Covenant

 

Yehovah restricted Yeshua’s one-year ministry to the lost sheep of Israel, with just a handful of exceptions (Mat. 10.6; 15:24). This restriction applied to Yeshua’s one year mission as well and to His disciple’s initial ministry work. All this meant was that the Gospel was not to be shared with the “ethnos” or people of the nations (aka the Gentiles) at that early stage.

 

Why? Isn’t the Gospel for all of humanity?

 

Yes indeed, the Gospel is meant to reach all of humanity. However, the replacers and dispensationalists of denominationalism sadly reject the framework upon which the Gospel would rest and then go forth to all the world under the auspices of Yeshua’s Great Commission.

 

Let’s face it, beloved: Replacement theology is ignorant wishful thinking. It’s wishful thinking as if someone knows they owe the IRS a ton of money and they ignore the monthly demand letters and delude themselves into thinking that the IRS is eventually going to forget that they owe the money and slip away forever quietly in the night. Crazy! It ain’t going to happen. That’s just crazy talk. The truth of the matter is that the IRS is ruthless and they will come for and eventually get the money they claim they owe unless the one who owes faces the reality and deals amicably with the IRS to resolve their tax problem.

 

Speaking of problems: false doctrines such as replacement theology and dispensationalism and such take hold when so-called believers (1) choose to not believe Yehovah and His Son Yeshua but choose to believe their pastors, teachers, ministers, friends, the internet, and so forth; and (2) when so-called believers pick which portions of Yah’s Word they will accept and walk in (e.g. eliminating the Torah or the entire Tanakh because it doesn’t work for them). And so, when we eliminate half of Yah’s instructions in righteousness and choose to believe that Yah doesn’t mean what He says, we set ourselves up for failure and an eventual “I’ll pass on you coming into the Kingdom because I don’t have a relationship with you. So don’t let the gates of the Kingdom hit you on the way out.”

 

 Of the 16-mentions of covenant in the Brit Hadashah (aka the New Testament), not one of those mentions has anything to do with Yehovah establishing a covenant with anyone other than Yisra’el.

 

 

  1. Action

 

 

So then, beloved, where does this leave the replacers and dispensationalists and denominationalists in terms of Yisra’el and her inextricable link to our salvation? Well, simply this: they, like each of us, must shake-off the lies they’ve inherited from their fathers and get on-board Yah’s covenant train; the train that He commissioned only with Yisra’el.

 

And here’s the most exceptional news: If we enter into and walk in that essential covenant relationship with the Almighty through the Person and Ministries of Yeshua today, along with true Israel (i.e. become a Nazarene Israelite), we can begin enjoying and benefiting from the fatness that comes from the root that is the commonwealth of Yisra’el (i.e. the benefits and favor of being Yah’s chosen one with all the privileges that are associated therein; a partaker of the covenant promises; blessed of Yah and His grace-even His salvation) before the general redemption of Yisra’el that is soon to come.

 

 

Please understand me beloved.

 

I’m not advocating or promoting a forced or even an unreasonable love for the modern state of Israel. We all know that there are many shortcomings when it comes to the modern state of Israel. What I am advocating and promoting, however, is respect and hope and prayer for Israel, especially remnant Israel; true Israel. And I’m sorry: our western society has over the last several decades conditioned their subjects to reject any and everything related to Israel because of the very topic I discussed with you in this teaching: replacement theology. Many of us simply can’t get over ourselves and the deeply ingrained rejection of all things Israel.

 

Replacers and dispensationalists would have us all reject the concept of a covenant and faith that is built around Yah’s people and that the rest of us have been invited to be a part of that a covenant relationship through the Person and Ministries of Yeshua. To these it feels more appropriate to point out the shortcomings of Jews and past and present modern Israel and declare that they are so much better than Israel; that God has chosen them as the Church to be His favored ones. And they do this not seeing the horrendous shortcomings of the so-called Church that has terribly failed to do that which they claim she was commissioned to do.

 

We who’ve chosen to walk in Covenant with the God of Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya’achov have become one with remnant Israel through the Person and Ministries of Yeshua Messiah. This is the only game in town beloved and we should rejoice and be glad in this amazing Plan of Yah to reunite humanity unto Himself for the rest of eternity.

 

If Jehovah has an exclusive plan for Yisra’el such that all Yisra’el will be saved (Rom. 11:26), how do we non-Jewish believers in Yeshua factor into that plan? Well, Paul and the prophets of old reveal how this is going to all play out. And Abba willing, we will explore this plan in the next and final installment to this series.

 

So, let us pray for the peace of Yerushalayim; for the nation state of Israel that is home to remnant Israel (although many are still in exile throughout the world); that unbelieving Yisra’el will have those scales removed from their eyes and that they will recognize Yahoshua whom they pierced, teshuvah and be reunited with Yehovah forever (Zec. 12.10; Joh. 19:37).

 

And lastly beloved, I would be remiss if I didn’t invite those of you who may be listening or reading this post, who have not entered and are not walking in a true and substantive covenant relationship with the Creator of the Universe, to do so today. Simply believe that Yeshua, Yehovah’s Son, bore your sins on His execution stake and His blood can atone for those sins. Repent, ask Yehovah to forgive you of your sins, and sin no more. And because you believe Yeshua, you are compelled to act. And that act is to be water immersed and then begin walking uprightly before your Creator. Walk steadfastly in a covenant relationship with Him. Turn your life entirely over to Him. Seek His Kingdom and His righteousness. Today is the day of salvation beloved. Don’t let another day go by without getting right with Yehovah.

Shabbat Zachor 2023-Our Sabbath of Remembrance

by | Mar 4, 2023 |

Shabbat Shalom Beloved. Our Torah and Haftorah Reading in Light of Where we are on the Calendar This is a special Shabbat, for it is the Shabbat that immediately precedes the Jewish holiday of Purim. According to our observational calendar, Purim will occur at sundown...

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