-Minister Where You Are-
-"For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my Torah." Proverbs 4:2-
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Movie Review: Patterns of Evidence - Exodus
I hope you made the effort to go and watch the one night release of this amazing documentary. If you did you undoubtedly have many thoughts going on inside your mind. If you did not I highly recommend you go to and pre-order a copy of the documentary.
The webs site below has the trailer for the documentary by the Director, Timothy P. Mahoney.
My Review:
Have you ever had your faith challenged in this world which constantly bombards us with "so-called" experts and scientists that claim no evidence exists that the Scriptures are true? Were you taught the Scriptures were true by a sweet little old lady Sunday School teacher only to enter the public educational system and academia of universities and had those Scripture stories scoffed at and heard discussions that would make out those who believed them to be "crack pots" who have a blind faith.
Be honest! Remember that honesty with yourself on this matter doesn't make YHVH (Heavenly Father)agree, He already knows your heart and desires that you approach Him honestly, trusting that He understands. This is my testimony as well. I have am an environmental scientist by education and experience (27 years in my field). I was raised in a Methodist Church in MD, but left my faith behind (or rather faith of my mother) when I became "educated". The truth was that I believed God existed but because I never had anyone refute the "educated experts" my faith in the Scriptures validity was challenged to say the least. I even tried to see the Scriptures as "a story" or fable with a meaning behind it, rather than true as written, by the only One that was there through all of history. Like many, I dare say, I tried to fit the Scriptures into the truth of academia rather than first believing YHVH's written word as truth and looking at "scientific evidence" through the truths already provide us by YHVH's word.
So this movie "Patterns of Evidence - Exodus" starts off looking for actual evidence of the Exodus account from Scripture, to see if there is actual evidence of not. This is the Director's story of what he found, and because it is his testimony of this quest it is really amazing. The journey takes him from scholar to scholar in his quest, providing what he found, whether from those who proclaimed no evidence existed, to others who saw evidence, but not in the timeline of history that was "traditionally" believed to have been accepted. The movie does go into much detail in this thought, but if I may simply share; it is traditionally believed that Egypt had three major periods in its history, and that the last period of Ramses was the period that believed scholars tried to match with "the Exodus story". Therefore, when evidence was not found during that period, they merely dismiss the narrative of Scripture as a fable rather that examining data from other time frames to "check" on their own believed and established timelines.
The documentary then provides astounding evidence of a Semitic people that were in Goshen during the second great Egyptian period, which included cities, evidence that these ay have once had a "favored status' in Egypt, a period of slavery, and evidence of quick departure and much much more. There was even a statue of a non-Egyptian that was in 12 burial areas, where one seems to represent a figure like the Joseph of Israel. If that doesn't whet your appetite to see this I don't know what will.
Anyway, as the documentary continues, we see patterns (ie the title) of evidence that support the various time periods of the arrival, living in freedom, a change to slavery, plagues, and a final exodus out of Egypt. The major problem? The time period of this evidence appears to much earlier (that is before) in history than it had been looked for. This raises the questions as to whether the established time line is correct or not. The evidence of cultures with so called "gaps" in their own timelines is then shown in a graphic with an in depth discussion of how others timelines have been "pinned" in time against this Egyptian Timeline, which in fact resulted in these other countries having "gaps" in the first place. Don't worry if you aren't following my attempt to explain this because the movie's graphics make this easy to visualize and understand.
So I believe this documentary is a must see for all believers and any that seek for truth. My prayer is that as the discussion expands and more scientist see this, that it may lead to more break through evidence in support of the validity of the Scriptures.
Lastly, the documentary is followed by a panel discussion which lacked only a "Hebrew Roots" believer. Dennis Prager represented Judaism; Ann Graham Lott as well as two others represented the Christian perspective, but it would have been interesting to have had a representative who both believed that Jesus (Yeshua) was the Messiah and who also had a love and desire to obey the Torah (first five books of Scripture) as was represented by Mr. Prager.
Just as YHVH is revealing Himself in Scripture, we all know and believe He changes not! So we who believe in Yeshua as Messiah an who desire to obey Him, also desire to obey all His words, believing His words start in Genesis 1:1 and go through all of Scripture, not once contradicting Himself. We believe that the Torah was given to Moses by Him, therefore believe they were meant for all men, in all time periods, and will be the basis of righteous living standards forever more. We believe they never went away, as evidence that He will bring them back, just read Ezekiel chapters 40 - 48 and read it for yourself.
Could it be that scientists aren't the only ones holding too tight to traditions and doctrine of men to first accept the whole of Scripture as true? Could we find that the gentiles are not the only ones to find in the last days that they have inherited the lies of their fathers, vanity, and this that do not profit? (see Jeremiah 16:18).
Maybe His definition of good doctrine should be "good enough" for those that say they have faith! (see Proverbs 4:2)
Did you see the movie? What are your thoughts?
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Reflections of His Love - James 1:19-25
Reflections of His Love – James 1:19-25
Jack Jackson – Bondservant of Yeshua
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear (shema),
slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not righteousness of
God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness
and abundance of nautiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which
is able to save your souls. And be ye
doers (shamar asah) of the word, and not hearers (shema) only, deceiving
your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word (shema), and not a doer
(shamer asah), he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass
(mirror): For he beholdeth himself, and goes his way (not God’s way), and
straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whosoever looketh into the perfect Law of
Liberty
(Torah’s freedom from bondage to sin), and continueth therein (conforms his
lifestyle to Torah in love), he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the
work (keeping the commandments and instructions), this man shall be blessed in
his deed.
Have you considered that our Heavenly Father does not want
us guessing if we are walking properly with Him? These verses from James and others we will
look at in this article should help us to know that we are a reflection of His
love. Not just His love towards us; but
our reflection of the love we are to have towards Him. James is saying “look into the mirror” to
honestly see who you are. I believe
these verses were speaking loud and clear to the ones that were trying to keep
the instructions (Torah) of God in James day, and should also still speak to us
today. James is saying it is not enough
to say “I heard what Father said”, that is to “shema” (Hebrew word for hear);
but that we are to be doers of the word.
Remember that believers entering into faith do not “make void” the
Torah, but rather establish it. In entering
into true faith (like a marriage commitment) we vow to obey Him, thus establishing
the Torah (His truth) as “the way” that we are to walk out that faith. We are to be conformed to, the “life” of our
bride groom Yeshua; as we walk that faith out (shamar asah – which in Hebrew is
to hear to do).
Do we then make void the law (instructions - torah) through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish it. Romans
3:31
Faith must come first!
But afterwards one’s evidence of faith can be measured by one’s love
towards God. We become a reflection of
the presence or absence of that love.
If you love me (Yeshua), keep my commandments. John 14:15
He also defines in
John 15:14 who His friends really are:
Ye be my friends, if you do all
that I command you. John 15:14
He also tests them in this in Luke when He asks:
Why call ye me Lord, Lord and do not the things I say? Luke 6:46
It is clear that Yeshua measures us by our reflective
love. The degree that we really love Him
can be measured by Him, and us, in the zeal of love we have in keeping His
instruction found in His Torah. Just as
a reminder, the first 5 books of the Bible are collectively known as the Torah
of God, His instructions in righteousness.
Now before you continue reading please consider praying
about “why you obey the instruction that you know about and are keeping”, as
well consider praying about “why you are not obeying instructions you are aware
of but for some reason have yet to apply in your walk”.
Your answers should help you understand the verses in James
above. We are to continue to judge
ourselves, so He will not have too. Paul
teaches with a question when he asks:
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own
selves. Know ye not your own selves, how
that Yeshua Hamishiach is in you, except you be reprobate? 2 Cor. 13:5
Faith is being defined in these passages and is to manifest
itself in a loving response from us towards Him reflected in our pouring out of
loving obedience towards His ways and instructions for His bride (Torah).
Have you prayed about why you are obeying the instructions
you do? Did you find that it was about
reflecting love or did you just “not have problems with the ones you
keep”? Likewise could it be that you are
not obeying other instructions because you feel you don’t yet “feel convicted”;
or are not sure if you “have too keep them”; or maybe you actually just don’t like
the instruction(s). May I suggest “true obedience” needs no explanations, that a heart
truly yielded to “doing all that He commands us” is at the ready to obey, and
doesn’t need to consider whether to obey or not? Agreeing to obey a commandment may not be
obedience; it may just be finding “common ground”. In contrast, true love responds in obedience
even before it necessarily agrees with the instruction. Therefore
a more accurate reflection of your love (agape – that is unconditional love)
towards Him should not be measured in the instructions that you are following,
but rather in the ones you are not yet following.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but
they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to
be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to
the law (instructions in torah), neither can it be. So then they that are of the flesh cannot
please God. But ye are not in the flesh,
but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Yeshua,
he is none of his. Romans 8:5-9
If you’re minding the spirit, according to the word, your
life will begin to change and become more and more conformed to Yeshua’s
image. As you begin in discipleship
in His word, your heart will not be at enmity with His instructions you read in
His Torah. Your desire to be
“obedient” should be there right from the start of a true conversion; that is
entering into proper faith. Unwillingness
to obey all His commandments we find in His word should cause us to be
concerned about our heart to God. We may
need to pray further and ask Him to place the love of His Torah on our hearts
so we have the proper desire to keep it.
Just as in the “parable of the soils” you choose which soil you shall
be. If you are the good soil, the word
takes root and grows and brings forth much fruit. In other cases, we might be hindered in that
growth by the cares of this world; by fading away during heat of trials because
of roots that did not go deep; or maybe we have even allowed others to be like thorns
hindering our growth. Maybe we find we were
being taught the lies of our fathers as truth (Jer. 16:19), and therefore rejected
the old paths (Jer 6:16-19) in our ignorance.
Yeshua knew some would be hindered by family that didn’t understand or
that would not submit themselves total to God.
You might be in a family that is asking you to decide whether to “honor
God” or honor them (“honor our mothers and fathers”).
Remember Yeshua’s words when his own mother and brother
wanted Him to “come out” to them “Who are
my mother and who is my brother but he that does the will of my Father in
heaven”. Likewise Yeshua told another “He who chooses to love father and mother
more than me is not worthy of Me.” He
never said coming to the knowledge of the truth would be easy or bring unity,
but the opposite. Yeshua tells what his
teaching will result in: Suppose ye that
Would Yeshua even today be called divisive because He preached
repentance from sin? Was He a “legalist”
because He told us to be Holy as He was Holy?
Yeshua fulfill the prophesy in Isaiah 42:21 (but consider reading
all of Isaiah 42 as a warning)
Yehovah is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify
the Torah and make it honorable. Isaiah
42:21
We know Yeshua taught that looking with lust was already
adultery in the heart, and that hating a brother without cause was murder; thus
magnifying Torah to include our thoughts as well as actions as evil. But
how and why did he make it honorable?
They had dishonored the Torah by adding to it, blurring lines between
that “which is written” and “that which was said” making it a heavy yolk, harder
to obey by adding many “oral laws” that were not in Scripture. The lawyers had twisted the law so much that
like a key it could no longer do what a key was to do, unlock the captives and
set them free. But the most obvious way
he made it honorable was to clarify the proper motive we should have in keeping
it, love. Just as Yeshua said He kept them
because He loved the Father, we are to do likewise. Imagine that, it is the 1st of the
10 Commandments.
Remember from Romans 8 verses above that Paul tells us how
to judge ourselves rightly, so God will not have to. Paul teaches us truth in love when he tells
us that if we have a problem with God’s instructions, it should warn us that it
reflects, or is a symptom of, an actual problem we have with God. He tells us that is a “life threatening
problem”. I do not believe he is
referring to the life of our flesh, but the eternal destination of our
soul. Paul makes it clear that this
response “cannot please God”. Note that
outward appearance of obedience by the “will of the flesh” or just being in
agreement in “common ground” would likewise not likely please God.
If you find yourself currently in a situation where you are
struggling in your loving obedience towards one or more of His instructions
that you have been shown in His word, seek after Him in prayer and ask Him to
place His torah on your heart, so you can be freed from the bondage to sin.
But God be thanked, that ye were a servant of sin, but ye have obeyed
from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered. Being then made free from sin, ye became the
servants of righteous. Romans 6:17-18
When we get delivered from sin (the enmity towards His
instructions and Him) we are able to see His instructions in a different light.
Remember that God’s “good doctrine” is
to not forsake the Torah (Proverbs 4:2)
Object Lesson:
Imagine if a few of us traveled to work every day by
crossing a deep gorge over a rope bridge:
It does the job, but it has no railings on it. One morning we arrive to walk over and we
find someone added rope railings. Now
consider what you might think if I said “How dare someone add these restrictive
pieces of rope on our bridge!” Maybe you
would say “Well Jack, you could see these pieces of rope as harsh and rigid
restrictions, constricting your space; or perhaps you could consider that
someone lovingly added these as railings to help guard us from falling to our
death”. Both of us saw the same pieces
of rope, though one chose to see themselves “under the restrictions of the
rope”, and one saw them as “loving barriers they were happy to have restricting
them from falling to their death”.
We all have “free will” and how we view the instructions of
God (all His Torah) reflects whether we feel we are “under the law” that is
under the weight of Torah, feeling we “have too” keep them, or “under the
shadow of His wings” looking now at the Torah as protection and loving
instructions of a Father to His children, so He could pour out blessings upon
us for obedience.
Before our conversion, the law judges us as transgressors
(sinners) of the law, and is designed to cause us to identify what sin is (sin
is the transgression of Torah 1 John 3:4).
The Torah can be viewed as “restrictions” to those at enmity to them
(and to Him). However, once we are truly
converted, we become able to see them as the loving covering and protection
from our Father. If we don’t see His
Torah that way, it should cause us to realize we have enmity still with God (Romans
8) and seek Him for deliverance and to save us.
Once converted, we should begin to see that our willingness to lovingly
obey all the instructions in Torah is an actual reflection of the completion of
the converting of our soul.
The Torah of Yehovah is perfect, converting the soul: the
testimony of Yehovah is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of Yehovah is right, rejoicing
the heart, the commandments of Yehovah are pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Yehovah is clean, enduring
forever, the judgments of Yehovah are true and righteous altogether. More to be
desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey
and the honeycomb. Moreover by them are
my servants warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous
sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall
be innocent from the great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable
in thy sight. Yehovah, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:7-14
Amazing!
Haleluyah! Did you notice the
issue in that passage is “presumptuous sin”?
How many have heard the presumption that Jesus did away with the law, nailing
it to the cross? That is presumption,
based on doctrines of men; when scripture does not ever suggest that anything
other than “man’s way” (dogmas in Greek) was ever nailed to the cross. The doctrine’s of men which twisted His ways,
and made them appear too much of a burden to carry is what He took out of the
way.
David, in contrast, a man after God’s own heart loved the
Torah. He prayed that Yehovah would “Open
mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy torah (law). Psalm 119:18. Is Yeshua not the word made
flesh? Isn’t He the Torah made
flesh? Is he not worthy to be
praised? Is He not to be loved with all
our heart, soul, and strength? Are we to look for loophole and find excuses to
exclude obedience to all His word? Are
we to have Him be configured to our ways?
Is it OK with Him for us to loosen even the least of these
commandments? Are there no consequences
to giving the devil even a foothold by loosening even the least of these
commandments? Who among you seek to be
teachers? Do you not know who will have
the greater condemnation?
We all find ourselves teaching someone. Mothers teach children. Fathers teach wives and children. We may also be teachers to some level within
a holy convocation; so does Yeshua have anything to say to us regarding the
teachers that we should follow?
This people drawth nigh unto me with their mouths, and honoreth me with
their lips; but their hearts is far from me.
And in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments
of men. Matthew 15:8-9
Here yea children the instructions of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not
my law (Torah). Proverbs 4:1-2
Give me understanding, and I shall keep the torah (law); yea I
shall observe it with my whole heart.
Psalm 119:14
Behold I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as Yehovah my God
commanded me, that ye should do so in the land wither ye go to possess it. Keep (shamar) therefore and do (asah) them; for
this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations,
which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation
is a wise and understanding people.
For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as
Yehovah our God is in all these things that we call upon for? And what nation is there so great, that hath
statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law (torah), which I set
before you this day? Only take heed to
thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which
thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the
days of thy life: but teach them thy sons and thy sons’ sons Deut. 4:4-9
Wow! The Torah is our
wisdom and understanding! Shouldn’t
we desire to have that dwelling richly in us so others could literally see such
a difference they could see the wisdom and the understanding which comes with
obeying all His Torah? That is who we
should look like from the outside (nations) looking in, and what we see in the
mirror. So we find ourselves right back
in James 1:22-25, looking
at what James was speaking of in the passages of scripture we began with. It
seems James had Deut. 4 in mind when he wrote that passage.
Does it matter how we
define words?
Whosever continues to commit sin transgresses also the law (torah): for
sin is the transgression of the torah. 1
John 3:4
Is this your definition of sin: transgression of the
Torah? Is that the definition of sin of
those you assemble with? Have you asked
them? Does it matter?
If we are to seek out and save that which is lost, as Yeshua
commands us, and then disciple them, it matters greatly!
From that time Yeshua began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand” Matthew 4:17
What did He mean by “repent”? Did He not come for the lost sheep of Israel? Was He therefore not calling them to repent
from transgression of His Torah? You do
know that Yeshua, the word of God, was the One that gave the Torah to
Moses. I certainly believe that is what
He meant.
So if He was calling them to stop “transgressing the Torah”;
what do you think He wanted them to “turn to”?
Is it too much of a stretch to believe He was calling them back to Torah
observance in love? Did He not assure
them (us) that He did not come to destroy either the Torah or the prophets?
Think not that I am come to destroy the law (torah), or the prophets: I
am come not to destroy, but to “preach fully” (lift up, fill full). For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and
earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the torah, till all be
fulfilled. Matthew 5:17-18
He went on to warn us about what we are to teach and not
teach: if, we are concerned with being declared “least in the kingdom” verses
“great in the kingdom”. These verses
should help us know which teacher Yeshua wants us to be taught by and which
type we should not be taught by (which types we should join ourselves with or
withdraw ourselves from).
Least in the Kingdom
Whosoever therefore shall break (loosen) one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the
kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:19a
Teachers of God are not to teach anyone that breaking (or
even loosening) even the least (smallest) of the commandments in Torah is fine
with God. They should not make anyone
feel “safe” in their sin. They should
recognize and teach sin as breaking any of His commandments. These teachers should be striving to keep all
His commands he is able to keep.
Great in the Kingdom
But whosoever shall do and teach them (even the least), the same shall
be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 5:19b
These teachers both keep all His commandments they can, and
teach others to do likewise. This
reminds me of Paul who said “Follow me as I follow Messiah”. Paul only wanted us to follow Him, if he was
walking like Yeshua.
Did Yeshua break any commandments? No, because if He had we would be looking for
another Messiah. If He broke any of
Torah, He could not be the prophet like unto Moses (Deut 18:15).
When I was in various “Christian” churches from 2001 – 2006 I was always
told that Jesus did away with the law. A
proper understanding of Deut. 18:15 proves that this wrong thinking, for if it
was true that He took away the law it would invalidates Jesus (Yeshua) as the
prophet like unto Moses, or the Messiah.
Were the scribes and
Pharisee’s keeping torah in righteousness?
Or following doctrines of men?
For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the
kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:20
Were these really “keeping torah in love” or going through
the motions, dead on the inside? Yeshua
calls them white washed tombs with dead men’s bone inside. On the surface they appear to be doers of the
word, but not so in Yeshua’s eyes because He saw through their lack of love towards
Him. If they had love for Him, they
would have known him, and followed Him.
Conclusion: Danger
on the left and right! Beware to stay on
the narrow path!
Satan does not care if you stop short of keeping YHVH’s
instructions in the Torah, or whether you keep them for the wrong reason. The torah is lawful, if it is used lawfully.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteous……Romans 1:18 professing
themselves wise, they became fools…1:22 without understanding,
covenant breakers….1:31
When Torah is not your wisdom and understanding before the
Nations, you find yourself breaking the covenant in which you agreed to love
and obey your Bride groom Yeshua. You
may even fall prey to teachings that will seem right regarding even loosening
of the least of the commandments. God
forbid we find ourselves teaching that the Torah is void since we have grace
and are now people of faith. If we find that
is our thought or discover ourselves in teaching ministries that have that
thought, know it is devoid of His wisdom and understanding.
Are you still teaching, or being taught, that the problems
lies in the instructions of Yehovah (His Torah)? Are excuses offered up that try and excuse us
from obedience or loopholes; rather than trying to find ways to keep the
Torah? Hopefully we realize that the
real problem is always in the evil heart of man?
Remember his word does not lie:
If you love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:15
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we continue in keeping his
commandments. He that saith, I know him,
and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. And whosoever keepeth his word, in him verily
is the love of God perfected; hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought also so
to walk (walk out in faith as a doer) even as he walked. 1 John 2:3-6
Be honest with yourself and use “His word the Torah” as a
mirror. We are all at different stages
of coming to the understanding that His Torah was not made void; is for all men;
and that a truly converted faith begins with that journey into being conformed
by all His instructions found in Scripture.
Beware your journey does not get hindered and you stop growing, or even
die a spiritual death.
Do you have to first be keeping all His law before you get
converted and can come into fellowship?
No! That was the false premise of
Acts 15. Peter and John knew the Holy
Spirit would enter a person who recognized themselves a sinner and who called
out to be saved from the sin. The four prerequisites
listed in Acts 15 therefore, are the minimum 4 categories one must be willing
to immediately turn from to show forth a conversion was in progress. That new faith was measured in the love one
had to establish Torah as a way of life to learn and conform to
(discipleship). Discipleship void of the
instructions in Torah is not true Biblical discipleship as Paul teaches in
addition to warning about those who leave it out:
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and
being deceived. But continue thou in the
things that thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou
hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures
which are able to make the wise unto salvation through faith which is in
Yeshua Hamashiach. All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instructions in righteousness: That the man of God
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim 3:13-17
At the time of Timothy’s youth, there was only the “Old
Testament” (Torah and Prophets and some writings). Even at the time of the Apostles their epistle
(letters) were not yet considered “Scripture” on par with the Torah or Prophets. Do you see in this writing how I am emphasizing
as underlined all the references to words like wise, wisdom, heart, and understanding;
and how they all are related to having a heart towards Yehovah’s instructions
in His Torah? Don’t be deceived! Test all things! Please verify all that I have written in this
paper by Scripture and help me see if I have made errors in this article. David was not a legalist; he was a man after
Yehovah’s own heart. The opening
scriptures in this article from James 1 ends with, this man shall be blessed in his
deed.
I will therefore close this paper as I began, in Scripture. May Yehovah bless you and keep you as you
love Him and obey His instructions in Torah.
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor
standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the Torah of Yehovah;
and in his Torah doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the
rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also
shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like chaff
which the wind driveth away. Therefore
the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of
the righteous. For Yehovah knoweth the
way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Is the Passover Lamb an Offering? Or a Gift from God?
Is the Passover Lamb an
Offering? Or a Gift from God?
By: Jack
Jackson
How we end up answering the questions posed in this title has
ramifications on whether we can subsequently, and properly, apply or not apply
the commandment to bring our offerings to the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation, given in Leviticus 17.
This matter has come up for debate and discussion due to a difference of
understanding of whether or not a lamb should still be killed at Passover. In addition, the question following is
whether it’s blood should, or should not, be applied to the lintels and doorpost
as it was in the first Passover.
To address this matter, and attempt to support my
understanding of this most critical question, I would like us to go into His
word and discuss primarily the passages of Exodus 12:1 – 28 and Leviticus
17:1-16. Before you go any further,
please pray and then grab your
Scriptures and follow along so you are seeing the Scriptures with your very
eyes.
Turn now to Exodus 12 and read along as I highlight some
points to consider. In verse 3 we find
that YHVH (Elohiem’s name, written in some Bibles as LORD, Yehovah, Yahweh - for
this paper I will use YHVH) is giving instructions to Moses which are to be passed
along to Israel. They concern selecting
a lamb or kid of the first year (less than a year old) without blemish. It is to be selected out of the flock on the
10th of Nissan. The size of
the family determines the size of the animal because this lamb is for their Pasach
meal only, not to be “shared” with a Levite as is done for a Peace (Shelem) Offering. Please make a note here that this selection
is to be done by the family, for the family, and was not to be shared with
anyone else outside the house. The
allowable exception would be the inviting of another family where the family is
too small to consume it.
At even of the 14th of Nissan they (the whole
congregation) were commanded to kill (Strong’s 7819 shachat - or slaughter) the
lambs at the same time. Note that they
were not commanded to bring them to a priest to have the priest slaughter the
animal. In fact, check you Scriptures
from Leviticus chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and please read for yourselves that
even though the “offerings” were brought to the priests, the man bringing his
offering was required to kill his animal he was offering. The priests would then
do the rest of the processing as instructed.
The priest’s only actual killing was their own offerings or the
corporate offerings. How many of us,
removed from not only the land of Israel but also agricultural practices, have
had to kill our animals for food? Not
many! As one who has, I can testify that
it never gets easy. It is hard to kill
an animal which did nothing wrong. Yet,
how many just avoid that by going to the grocery store and letting someone else
“deal with their killing”? That reminds
me that even the Pharisees and Sadducees had the Romans do their killing for
them. But let us not get on a new
subject.
In verse 7, they are commanded to take some of the blood of
the lamb and place it on the lintels and two door posts, “wherein they would
eat it”. Please note the command was not
only specific to “what to do”, but also, “where it was to be placed.” Specifically, it was to go on the lintels and
door posts of the place where they planned on eating the lamb. Verse 8 describes the cooking process and
that the second course was to include bitter herbs. Verses 9 and 10 describe eating all of the
lamb, and that that which remains unto the morning was to be burned by
fire. Again, note, the lamb was for the family, like a gift for
them. It was not shared with the priest
or Levites like the offerings we shall describe later in Leviticus 17.
Verse 11 says the lamb is to be eaten in haste. It is called “YHVH’s Pesach (Passover)”. I believe by now we should be seeing that this
Pesach is very different indeed from an offering brought to and offered to YHVH. It is, rather, clearly a gift (His gift) to
us.
Why is this distinction critically important? Because a gift to us is a pursuing of our
hearts from the One giving it; while, when we make an offering, we are the ones
approaching Him. Remember we love Him
because He first loved us, and gave Himself for us. Abraham was all prepared to go through with
his “offering” of his son Isaac. When
the melak of YHVH calls out to stop him, He tells him that He now knows that
Abraham is willing to love and obey him. He, instead of taking Abraham’s
offering, reverses the situation and provides Himself a sacrifice (Genesis 22:9-19). Wow! Because
Abraham did not withhold his son, YHVH did not withhold His only begotten
Son. In John 1:29 be are blessed to hear John say the
following as he saw Yeshua (Jesus) approach “Behold the Lamb of God, which
taketh away the sin of the world”. It
was Emmanuel, God with us. What is more
critical to our faith than understanding that Yeshua is the Lamb of God, creator
of everything that was made, that can take away our sin? How much the devil must hate it when we
understand that, and attempt to spread that “good news”?
Our precious lamb, slaughtered before the foundations
of the world, was nailed to a wooden post, and His precious blood flowed out
and stained that wood. I can imagine how
similar that wood must have looked to lintels and a door post that have had the
blood of the lamb applied to them. How
much the devil must hate anyone remembering the precious blood of the Lamb of
God on the wood; and how much that devil must hate anyone placing the blood on
the lintels or doorposts for fear a child might spontaneously ask why? Why Daddy, do we have to kill this precious
innocent lamb? It didn’t do anyone any
harm Daddy? Daddy why does its blood
have to be lifted up….and placed on the wooden beams around our door? Daddy can’t the blood just be placed somewhere
where I don’t have to look upon it? How
much the devil must hate when that Daddy describes the comparison of the slaughtering
of Yeshua and teaches his children how YHVH’s plan from the beginning was that
His Son Yeshua was going to be slain for us all. How that devil hates the talk about Yeshua’s precious
blood willingly being shed “as a gift” for us.
Remember He said He was laying down His own life, which was His gift
offer for us.
I hope some dots in Scripture are coming together and we can
at least consider that the Pasach is not “our offering to YHVH”; but “YHVH’s
gift for us”. That is why I believe we
will shortly see that those who believe that Leviticus 17 somehow changes the
Passover service today and eliminates the killing of the Pesach and the
applying of the blood to the lintels and door posts, may actually find
themselves trying to stop the very thing that Satan has also successfully
worked to stop. But let us return to Exodus
12 and read more of God’s instructions before looking at Leviticus 17. Then we can make a decision of whether it
changes the instructions in Exodus 12 or not.
Remember, at this time that many of us have discovered that
the 10 Commandments. Although many of us
were taught were really only 9, there are, in fact, still 10. The Sabbath was never done away with or
cancelled out by some new command. And remember,
many of us have come to realize that Yeshua did not change “one jot or tittle”
of the Law (Torah). This would include
Exodus 12, wouldn’t it? Maybe the
removal of the service of the slain lamb and its blood applied to the lintels
and doorpost is just another lie we have inherited.
We left off describing Exodus 12 at verse 11, so let us now
look at the powerful reasons for the application of the blood: to have death pass over the first born and to bring
judgment on the false gods of Egypt. In
verse 13, He says He was going to look for the blood as a “token” (Strong’s 226
– owth) defined as an appearing, a signal, flag, or mark. It is the same word used to describe Sabbath as
a “sign” between Him and us. So this
blood on the lintel and door posts was a token or sign between Him and the one
who applied it. It lets Him know who had
been faithful and obedient to do just as He commanded. It also identifies those who had not
obeyed. The blood itself did not save
them from death, but obedience to what YHVH had commanded was attributed as
faith, and therefore complied and allowed death to Passover. Similarly, looking at a serpent on a pole
never healed anyone from the bite of a viper.
Instead, it was YHVH that healed those who were obedient to His
command.
In verse 14, just after describing the process and reason
for the blood, He then declares this day
shall be a memorial, and that Israel (His people) are to keep it as a feast to
YHVH throughout their generations, by an ordinance forever. That seems clearly an annual thing that was
to be done forevermore. The word
memorial (Strong’s 2146 - zikrown) has the root zakar (Strong’s 2142) which is
the word we find as “remember” used in “Remember the Sabbath say to keep it
holy”. That certainly means that it
should be scheduled in our appointment books every year.
Verses 15 through 20 all refer to the days of unleavened
bread, and lead us to the verses where Moses will now tell the elders of Israel
what YHVH’s instructions are. Please
make sure you read these passages for what Moses says, and doesn’t say. Look for what Moses emphasizes and doesn’t
mention at all. Look for what Moses
describes as the “service” and what he doesn’t mention at all to them regarding
the “service”.
In verses 21 and 22 Moses only mentions three things to the
elders of Israel regarding the things YHVH commanded him to tell them. In these verses Moses tells them “Draw out
and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the Pasach” “And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip
in blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts
with blood that is in the basin, and none of you shall go out at the door of
his house until morning.” Clearly Moses
gives to them the three most critical commands they must do. Kill the lamb; apply the blood to door frame,
and stay inside until morning. Although
we know Moses eventually told them about the bitter herbs, eating in haste with
sandals on, how to cook it, and to burn what ever is left until morning, but
clearly, the most critically important instructions which Moses gives them are
the slaughtering of the lamb by each family, application of the blood to the
lintels and door posts, and staying inside.
Note that neither Moses nor YHVH make any mention of any involvement by a
priest or Levite at all.
In verse 23 Moses relates the “why” in regard to the
importance that the blood plays in Pasach.
The blood is critical in the Pesach and our faith. In verse 24, Moses, after only mentioning
killing a lamb, applying blood and staying inside says “And ye shall observe this thing. These are the words “shamar zeh dabar”, which
could better be translated as observe this word of YHVH. What could “observe this thing” have meant to
elders that only heard about three things; killing a lamb, applying blood, and
staying inside, except to mean that “observe this thing” was in fact “at minimum”
the killing of a lamb and the application of its blood on the lintels and door
posts. But Moses describes how long “observing
this thing” was to be kept by them: it was to be an ordinance to them and their
sons…..forever. How long is forever,
that “this thing” was supposed to be observed?
Forever! Ok, let’s continue as
long as we can see that “this thing” including a lamb slain and its blood
applied to the lintels and the door posts as “a forever thing” in the lives of Israel.
Now Moses describes “the why”. They were to “observe this
thing” in verses 24 and 25, and these are also critical to this matter because
he describes why “this thing” will be important when they “enter the land YHVH
promised them”. As we know now, the
coming into the land and his driving others out doesn’t actually happen for 40
years. But, they were supposed to have
entered and move right into the dwelling those driven off had left behind
(their new homes). So it appears that
YHVH realizes He needs “this thing” to bring this first Pasach to memory and
stimulate questions.
Verse 25 describes the doing of the ordinance of “this
thing” as a service. Moses says “that ye
shall keep this service”. The word
service (Strong’s 5656 - abadah) is defined as an enactment. The term we might better understand today is
“re-enactment”. Who in the USA has not
been to, or seen, a Civil War re-enactment.
If you didn’t know better it looks as though they are really having a
battle. The more accurately they
re-enact it, the more it looks exactly as it did then. The more real it appears, the more we feel we
are living it again, just as they did. This
I believe is exactly what YHVH had in mind when He says they needed to keep the
“service”.
And why do I believe this so strongly? Read verse 26! “And it shall come to pass, when your children
shall say unto you, “What mean ye by this service?” Please note that the service is meant to
prompt the children to ask questions concerning the service, so it would appear
that the more accurately we re-enact the first Passover, the more they should feel
like they are right in the midst of the first one; don’t you agree?. But now remember, the three main components,
or “this thing” that Moses brought first and foremost to the elders, namely the
slaughtering of the lamb, application of blood of that lamb on the lintels and
door posts, and the entering in until morning.
Does anyone not think these were foremost in Moses eyes? Could the elders not understand their
significant place in Pasach? No!
Then look at verse 27 find out the answer to the expected
question from the children. Note, the purpose
of the service is to prompt a question, which can be answered as verse 27
confirms; “That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of YHVH’s Pasach”…… What is the sacrifice of YHVH’s Pasach? Obviously the lamb and its blood! So why then do we, in a “traditional”
Passover Haggadah, write the questions out so the children will ask them? Maybe because they never actually see the
“service” that YHVH has intended them to see.
If a child today would spend four days loving on an innocent lamb, then
have to watch it being slaughtered and having its blood placed on their
doorposts, the child will undoubtedly spontaneous ask the “right” question
without having anyone write down the questions in advance. I imagine they would no longer be concerned
with “Why on other nights do we sit in chairs, but on this night we recline on
couches?” That’s a nice question, but
pales in importance to the questions in the mind of a child that has just
watched their “precious lamby” bleed out its life blood which is now still
present on their doorpost. They probably
wouldn’t care much, either, why we dip parsley in salt water….eat
horseradish……..and any other fabricated questions we have had to supply
them. Why do we have to manufacture
questions? Simple! We have majored in the minors and minored in
the majors. We have done everything except re-enact the first Pesach. We
have not graphically performed the re-enactment: the slaughter of the innocent
lamb and then placing its blood on the lintels and door posts and staining a
piece of wood in the process.
I repented because I hadn’t seen this all so clearly
before. I repented for my fathers and
brothers that forgot the most critical parts of the service: the slaying of the
lamb and the blood of innocence lifted upon the wood. Why?
Because when doing the service correctly, it puts our eye clearly upon
Yeshua and undoubtedly makes the devil tremble to think of this thing being
done each year in the homes of all who call themselves “children of God”. The ruckus created by such a return to the actual
commands for Pesach would send ripples throughout the world. It would so place the focus back where it
should be, on Yeshua as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world;
not on the merchandising of a holiday.
Did you know Yeshua turned over the money changers table at Passover,
because they had turned Passover into a money making event? Maybe some tables need turning over
again. It would be amazing to even
consider how the media would be “a buzz” about it. I could imagine laws and ordinances quickly
be passed world wide to try and stop “this thing” from being a most memorable
feast that so obviously points to our Messiah Yeshua being the gift of God.
But, enough preaching for a moment, now allow the word of
God to clearly define itself and show that Leviticus 17 is not speaking at all about
the Pesach. Because, if I am able to
show you that Pasach, as a gift from God, is not the same as an offering
towards God, then Leviticus 17 no more impedes the proper keeping of the Pesach
service in the way it was intended. I
believe most readers, by this time, are likely already realizing this is
true. However, there are a few more
points regarding Leviticus 17 we must consider.
Please read through Leviticus 17, and while you do so,
consider what we have already learned in His word in the verses which have come
before Leviticus: namely those in Exodus 12.
Now it is true that the word used in Leviticus 17:3 for kill is the same
used word for kill in Exodus 12 describing the death of the Pesach. So does that mean that automatically theses
two chapters are linked? No! If the only provision for Leviticus 17 was a
killing of an animal, it would, but that is not the emphasis of the chapter at
all.
What really starts to define the parameters of this chapter is
found in verse 4. It also distinguishes
itself from Exodus 12 as these descriptions are “never” used in Exodus 12
related to the Pasach. What are these
critical words? In Leviticus 17:4 we find
what was prohibited was not to “offer your offering” except at the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation. Offer (Strong’s
7126 - qarab) is to approach or cause to bring near. As an example, if a person is looking for
favor from someone, they may offer them a gift in an attempt to get
closer. We see this in business when a salesman
brings “free” giveaways to hope to get inside the door and speak to someone who
can make a decision. The Pasach is never
brought anywhere to give to anyone. It
is never called, nor should ever be confused as something which is
offered. It fits into none of the
categories of Levitical “offerings in Leviticus Chapters 1-5.
The second word is offering (Strong’s 7133 - qorbon) which
is defined further as something brought near the “altar”. The commands to slay the Pesach never discuss
slaying it on an “altar”. In conclusion,
a Pesach is not brought near, nor killed on an alter; therefore is not that
type of a qorbon (offering). Therefore,
Pesach is not what is being discussed in Leviticus 17. Deuteronomy 16:5-6 is also used to suggest we
are no longer to sacrifice a Pesach because some say it means a prohibition on
sacrificing within our gates; when a closer read suggest that we should
sacrifice, but not do it just anywhere without thought within our gates. Does YHVH place His name (authority) at your
land? Is His name upon you? Paul says we are the temple of YHVH in 2
Corinthians 6:16, doesn’t he?
To a believer, unfamiliar with the meaning of the service of
Pesach described in Exodus 12, and watching from afar off, when seeing people
gathered around a lamb which has had its throat slashed, it may look to them as
a group of people doing some sort of occult sacrifice to some devil. And, if they then saw those people take its blood
and apply it the door posts, they may be ready to call the Police. But if they heard these same people praying
and comparing the innocent lamb to their sinless Messiah Jesus (Yeshua), and giving
thanks for His gift of His life to cover our sins, and comparing the blood
stained doorpost to the blood stain cross, I would imagine their whole thought
process about what was actually going on would change. They might realize there was no devil worship
going on at all, only the lifting up of
Yeshua as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
Many in Christianity, Messianic/Hebrew Roots, and even many
Jews today have only limited (non-hands on) knowledge of the Levitical
Sacrificial System described in Chapters 1 – 5 of Leviticus, and for good
reason. Today, sadly, and in
disobedience, neither the Temple
nor the Tabernacle of the Congregation are performing the services of worship
that God commanded to be everlasting.
That might soon change if He returns quickly. Ezekiel Chapters 40 – 48 outline all of the
things which had been done and will be reinstated when Yeshua comes back. Many aspects of Torah though can, and are,
still being conformed to in lives of many who believe. The reasons given for not observing all of
Torah, by those who believe we should, often involves the explanation “there is
not a Temple,
nor Levites, so we just can’t do it without it becoming sin”.
That answer may be valid occasionally, but sometimes is merely
an excuse for laziness. It didn’t stop
Daniel when Israel
was in captivity; he merely offered the prayers of his lips at the appointed
times. But what, then, can be said about
the excuse that we cannot kill our lambs for Pasach and apply their blood to
our lintels and door posts because there are no Levites or Temple to bring them
to? Yes, all the men are supposed to
come three times per year to “appear before YHVH” in the place where He places
His name (Deuteronomy 16:16); but, where is that today? Also note that this request is for: feast of
unleavened bread, feast of weeks, and feast of tabernacle (Passover itself is
not actually stated). I would love it if
Israel would become a nation using the Torah as its law, build a Temple, and
reinstate the Levites….. Then we could all do exactly as all the Torah
commands. But, in various times
including now, YHVH has had His name in various places.
In Moses day YHVH was in the Tabernacle as it traveled all
over the desert of the Middle East. By the time Benjamin sinned and almost got
wiped out (Judges 20:27), the Ark of the Covenant was in Bethel, not
Jerusalem. YHVH accepted a burnt
offering from Sampson’s parents in Judges 13.
He took up the sacrifices and whole altar Elijah set up at Mount Carmel.
Both of these were times when the
sacrificial system was not in operation, just as it is not today. It didn’t stop these from offering and
certainly didn’t stop YHVH from receiving them. But, let us not open another matter. The point being made is simply that not all
killing of animals was subject to being brought to the Levitites, only offerings. Leviticus 17: 13 gives a very practical
example: hunting. The “clean” animal is
killed, but not offered (a qarab), nor brought as an offering (qorbon). It was just meat for the family. The only provision for its blood was that it
was covered by dust/dirt. The hunter
didn’t have to take some blood and have the priest sprinkle it on the
altar. Why? Because it was not and offering.
And so, the ordinance about the “blood” was only to be
imputed upon a man that was making an offering.
That is, making a gift to YHVH.
That was to be an offering at the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation.
Verse 7 has more to do with the history and prior practices
of Baal worship among the Israelites.
The statement that they “shall no more offer their sacrifices unto
devils” is there because there were still those who were still knowingly
offering up offerings to Baal and other gods of Egypt. I do not believe this verse was to be used to
call believers calling on YHVH “devil” worshippers. If that were so, an on-looker to Manoa and
his wife, in Judges 13, could have accused them of worshipping devils because
they were offering a burnt offering which was not at the door of the
tabernacle. But the judgmental critic would
have soon been embarrassed when YHVH received the offering as the melak of YHVH
went up in the flame. Or can you imagine
someone standing at Mount Carmel and “calling out” Elijah as a devil worshipper
and idolater, just because he wasn’t offering those burnt offerings at the door
of the tabernacle of congregation?
So, why then in our day, would anyone twist Leviticus 17:7 and
call a brother or sister a worshipper of devils and an idolater just because
they killed the Pasach lamb and applied the blood to their doorpost as Moses
and YHVH command it to be done? I know
this has happened first hand because I and others stand so accused by someone
who calls themselves a teacher. That
person was not even at our Pesach, never heard our prayers of praise to YHVH
and glorifying of His gift of His only begotten Son Yeshua our Messiah. They were not there to hear our children ask
why we had to slay the lamb and apply the blood either. They were not there to see that our service
lifted up our Savior Yeshua, not Baal; yet were still willing to condemn us as
devil worshippers and idolaters. It
matters little what that type of person thinks when YHVH knows we loved Him
enough to obey His commands.
Note that some argue that everything changed at the cross;
but since Yeshua was the “lamb slain before the foundation of the worlds”
Revelation 13:8; all Passover’s are always looking backwards. Remember YHVH is “not bound by time”.
I believe I will conclude my paper with a closing word from
Paul. I give thanks to a heads-up from a
dear brother for these verses below because they came from Paul’s heart, and
therefore I conclude with them from my own heart. My hope and prayer is that my efforts may be
blessed by YHVH as they lift up Yeshua His Son as the Lamb of YHVH that takes
away the sin of the world. I will
continue to lift Him up, as long as I can, and hope you consider doing the
same, to anyone that will receive Him.
“True, some are proclaiming the Messiah out of jealousy and rivalry,
but others are doing it in good will.
The latter act from love, aware that I am put where I am for defending
the Good News: while the former announce the Messiah out of selfish ambition,
with impure motives, supposing they can stir up trouble for me in prison. But so what?
All that matters is that in every way, whether honestly or in pretense,
the Messiah is being proclaimed; and in that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will
continue to rejoice, for I know that this will work out for my deliverance,
because your prayers and the support I get from the Spirit of Yeshua the
Messiah. It all accords with my earnest expectation and hope that I will have
my body, whether it is alive or dead.
For to me, life is the Messiah, and death is gain.” Philippians 1:15-21 (Complete Jewish Bible)
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