Category Archives: Teaching
Releasing the Rope: Be in the world but not of the world
Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to fellowship with fellow Hebrews and learn from fellow Torah researchers, Zack Bauer & Rob Skiba, at the Declaring the End from the Beginning Conference in Beaumont, Texas. It was a nice visit and Zach premiered the third installment of the Greater Exodus series. (Part 1, Part 2).
While there were many key takeaways from the conference, I’d like to share an insight that Zach shared while we had lunch. He shared a dream that another gentleman had, a vision, if you will. His vision was of him holding onto a rope, much like you would for a tug-of-war game. The harder this man held on to the rope the more it burned his hands, the more pain he felt. Of course, as soon as he let go, the pain, while not immediately gone, stopped. He released his grasp on the rope and it no longer burned him.
The Rope & The World
If you haven’t guessed, the rope was a picture of the world or the current state of his world. The Father was leading him, like many of us, to let go of what holds us to this world: material possessions, jobs, city-life convenience, and even family and friends.
The harder we hold on to those things, the more resistance and pain can be felt.
In my personal experience, I’ve had many encounters with holding onto ropes that I should have let get much earlier. Whether it was working at a sports bar as a DJ or even an unhealthy relationship – holding on those things often leads to more pain than was ever needed. If you simply let go, the pain felt would stop much sooner.
“It’s easier said than done”, some might say. Part of me even agrees with that sentiment. Yet, when we make the effort and choice to let go, while not always immediate, the blessings come. I know a lot of Hebrews who struggle with their professional careers that force them to work on the Sabbath. Leaving that job would or could bring a lot of burden on their families. That’s understandable. But where is our faith in this situation? Does is it lie in our secular paychecks or in the rewards / blessing our Creator provides for us.
We need only look at how the Ancient Hebrews were provided for in the Exodus account – Exodus 16:14-27
When the dew had evaporated, there on the surface of the desert was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the people of Isra’el saw it, they asked each other, “Man hu? [What is it?]” because they didn’t know what it was. Moshe answered them, “It is the bread which Adonai has given you to eat. Here is what Adonai has ordered: each man is to gather according to his appetite — each is to take an ‘omer [two quarts] per person for everyone in his tent.” The people of Isra’el did this. Some gathered more, some less; but when they put it in an ‘omer-measure, whoever had gathered much had no excess; and whoever had gathered little had no shortage; nevertheless each person had gathered according to his appetite.
Moshe told them, “No one is to leave any of it till morning.” But they didn’t pay attention to Moshe, and some kept the leftovers until morning. It bred worms and rotted, which made Moshe angry at them. So they gathered it morning after morning, each person according to his appetite; but as the sun grew hot, it melted.
On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two ‘omers per person; and all the community leaders came and reported to Moshe. He told them, “This is what Adonai has said: ‘Tomorrow is a holy Shabbat for Adonai. Bake what you want to bake; boil what you want to boil; and whatever is left over, set aside and keep for the morning.’” They set it aside till morning, as Moshe had ordered; and it didn’t rot or have worms. Moshe said, “Today, eat that; because today is a Shabbat for Adonai — today you won’t find it in the field. Gather it six days, but the seventh day is the Shabbat — on that day there won’t be any.” However, on the seventh day, some of the people went out to gather and found none.
Releasing the rope helps heal the pain. We pray this will bless you in your walk.
Hanukkah for believers in Messiah Yeshua [Guest Post]
The following is a guest post by Jamin Taylor with Just A Bondservant.
Hanukkah is not one of the seven Feasts of YHVH found in Leviticus 23. It is an 8 day celebration honoring the rededication of the temple following the victory of the Maccabbees over the Seleucid Empire ruled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes in the 2nd century BCE.
The story about the oil lasting eight days is an example of Jewish legend being added hundreds of years afterwards. Hannukah is eight days long because in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes, the Temple was defiled during Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), which is an eight day Feast, so when they rededicated and cleansed the Temple later that winter, the people of Israel celebrated the eight days of Sukkot at that time. Now it is a celebration and national remembrance of God’s miraculous victory during the war.
Weightier Matters of Torah: Justice, Mercy, and Trust
Matthew 23 is a powerful chapter where we see Y’shua rebuking the Torah-teachers and P’rushim (scribes and Pharisees) for their hypocrisy. Searching Scriptures and the B’rit Hadasha – Renewed Covenant – we find the Prophets rebuking Israel many times. Often times it’s their willful sin and violation of YHVH’s Torah (instructions). Y’shua did the same in Matthew 23. One particular verse is used in many communities; Christian or Messianic/Hebrew Roots, to essentially do the same to modern-day, would-be Torah-teachers or the like.
Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P’rushim! You pay your tithes of mint, dill and cumin; but you have neglected the weightier matters of the Torah — justice, mercy, trust. These are the things you should have attended to — without neglecting the others!
Keeping & Doing the Commandments of God
“And you shall guard My commands and do them. I am יהוה. ~ Leviticus 22:31 (ISR98)
Most bible translations do not use the word “guard” in this verse. Instead, it is often translated as “to keep”. If we look up the Hebrew in this passage we see the word, “shamar” (שָׁמַר). The overall translation in the Hebrew lexicon for H8104 is – to keep, guard, observe, give heed. Further investigation illustrates an even better picture of what it means to keep, or to guard something; a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to.
Hebrew Origins of the Aaronic Blessing
Most are familiar with the Aaronic blessing (also known as the Aaron Benediction):
May YHVH bless you and keep you.
May YHVH make his face shine on you and show you his favor.
May YHVH lift up his face toward you and give you peace.(Numbers 6:24).
We often read or say these words without really knowing what they mean. As is often the case with the whole Bible, unfortunately. Investing one-on-one time with our Creator’s Word is the only way to break from being spoon-fed when we come out of a system of religion. Recognizing the Greek mindset is vastly different from a Hebrew mind set; where concepts are less abstract and more literal and picturesque.
The Daniel 9 Debate: The 3rd Temple, Tribulation & Anti-Christ (Part 1)
Several months ago I spent some time reading Daniel in its entirety. While reading Daniel 9, I had a revelation into 2 verses that contain a lot of controversy in the world of prophecy interpretation. The traditional christian view built entire theological doctrines around it, but I can see where the interpretation comes when reading the NIV. With many “messianic” teachers still teaching the same thing, I felt it was time to dispel the myth. The KJV, although not without error, was produced long before man’s past century doctrines played a role in manipulating the verses in question. So, we will use it to study from. There are however, several other translations that get this translation correct as well.
Before we get started, read Daniel 9 in complete context… the entire chapter. It will only take a few minutes but will greatly increase your discernment in these matters. For bonus points, read it once in NIV and then again in KJV. You should notice stark differences in 9:24 and 9:27 especially.
Kindle a Fire on the Sabbath Day
We’ll preface this study with a disclaimer: Our goal is to share our studies on this topic so that it edifies and unites the body of Messiah. Our intention is lifting any perceived burdens one might put on themselves by following previous understandings and/or traditions. We pray that this teaching will bless you and your family.
Exodus 35:3
“Do not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”
לֹא־תְבַעֲרוּ אֵשׁ בְּכֹל מֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶם בְּיֹום הַשַּׁבָּֽת – Lo t’va’aru esh b’khol moshvotekhem b’yom hashabbat.
Literal: Not you burn fire in all of ones being seated (assembly) of you on day of the sabbath.
