Flee to the Mountains

In 66 AD the oppression and tyranny in Judea by the Roman occupiers had reached a climax that resulted in the Jewish Wars of 66 to 70 AD.  After the Jews had slain about 600 Roman soldiers and taken control of Jerusalem, the Roman Commander Cestius Gallus laid siege to Jerusalem.  Historians tell us that Gallus was within hours of taking the city but, for some unknown reason, he withdrew his forces and was even pursued by the Jewish garrison as he retreated.  Gallus’ withdrawal, especially with victory so close at hand, was a highly unusual maneuver for a Roman army.  Before the Romans regrouped under the leadership of Vespasian and his son Titus, the inhabitants of Jerusalem who were followers of Yahshua (Jesus) heeded the words of Yahshua and left the city to “flee to the mountains.”  These were those who would later be called Nazoraeans, a sect whose ringleader was identified in Acts 24:5 as the Apostle Paul (Sha’ul). 

Luke 21:20-22 

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near.  Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are the days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled.” 

Eusebius, a 4^th century Bishop from Caesarea and an early church historian, made the following statement in his work “Ecclesiastical History” (or Church History) about those who left the city before it was besieged by Vespasian in 70 AD:

“The whole body, however, of the church at Jerusalem, having been commanded by a divine revelation, given to men of approved piety there before the war, removed from the city, and dwelt at a certain town beyond the Jordan, called Pella.  Here those that believed in Christ, having removed from Jerusalem, as if holy men had entirely abandoned the royal city itself, and the whole land of Judea.” 

These 1^st century Jewish believers, those who kept the commandments of God and had the faith of Yahshua (Revelation 14:12), fled to this town called Pella located on the other side of the Jordan River.  The ruins of Pella can still be seen in Jordan today.  Jiries and I will leave Jerusalem on the morning of February 11^th to make our own pilgrimage to Pella.  This date, February 11^th, also happens to be the same day that the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has warned that “Iran will deliver a telling blow to the global powers.”  While the warning by Ahmadinejad cannot be taken lightly, I do not expect much to come from this particular threat.  Regardless, Jiries and I will ‘flee to the mountains’ with Pella as our destination. 

If you are a regular reader of this blog, then you know that the primary purpose of this work is to facilitate reconciliation between Jews and Christians.  This reconciliation results in restoration.  The restoration of all things Hebraic is central to the reconciliation.  Restoration is not evolution.  Evolution involves change that displaces if not replaces the old with the new.  The term evolution implies improvement, that is, the latter must exceed or improve upon the former.  Restoration has a cyclical quality that is not found in evolution.  To declare the end out from the beginning is to restore the beginning at the end.  With restoration, the former exceeds the latter.  William Shakespeare alluded to this understanding in The Tempest when he said, “What is Past is Prologue.”  There is nothing new under the sun.  Restoration is an Elohim (God) concept while evolution is a man concept.  To know Elohim in truth we must learn to think cyclically rather than linearly and, not to think upon just any cycle, but only those cycles appointed by Him rather than those established by man.

Ma’ale Efrayim

On an unbelievably foggy afternoon this past Sabbath Day, Jiries and I drove to a settlement in the West Bank where Jimmy, his friend and colleague from the Israel Museum, has lived with his wife and four children for over a decade.  Jiries made arrangement with Jimmy to take us on a short tour of some high places where we could look-out across the tribal land of Efrayim and into a valley where Ma’ale Efrayim is nestled among the mountains.  Jimmy made Aliyah from New Jersey to Israel 19 years ago and has worked with Jiries in the same office at the Israel Museum for the past 17 years.  Their friendship is a wonderful reality of an imaginary peace between the Jewish and Palestinian peoples. 

During his many years of living in the West Bank, Jimmy said he had never seen fog like what we were seeing on this day.  Actually, the fog made one feel like we were in the Scottish Highlands.  Visibility was limited but with binoculars you could see the town of Ma’ale Efrayim in the valley as well as the mountain peaks, but very little in-between these two points.  I was a bit astonished when a tribe of Bedouin sheep herders emerged from the fog not too far away from where we were standing.  Jimmy said that the Bedouins, a nomadic people, were on friendly terms with Israel.  Jiries and I had seen Bedouins roaming the Judean desert the day before on our way to the Dead Sea, but I had never been this close to them.  I’m hoping that one day I will get to meet some Bedouins and spend some time with them. 

Jimmy was very curious why I was interested in seeing Ma’ale Efrayim and even the mountains of Efrayim for that matter.  Jiries had told Jimmy that I was interested in moving to a place where I could face the mountains of Efrayim.  Jimmy couldn’t think of any reason why I would want to move there.  He explained how difficult life is on the West Bank.  In fact, he wants to sell his house and move to Jerusalem but there are no buyers.  Although he is a Zionist, he is hoping for a two-state solution where the Palestinians will have their own country with internationally recognized borders.  He reckons that once the Palestinians have their own state and are an official part of the international community then they will need to behave themselves and, if they don’t, then Israel has every right to go in and take them out. 

Although a clever rationalization, I cautioned him that while this right for a country to defend itself from aggression by another country is the acceptable international norm, to not expect the world to extend this type of acceptance to Israel.  This assumption regarding interactions between the Jewish people and the nations has proven true throughout history.  I’m left wondering if God is allowing Israel to prove, however unaware they might be of their own witness to a world that is opposed to God in every point and particular, the inherently flawed nature of international institutions, laws, and standards.  The irony is that these are the same institutions, laws, and standards that are not only embraced by a majority of the Jewish people but in many instances were developed by them! 

On the drive back to Jimmy’s settlement, he continued to ask why I would want to move to the West Bank.  I told him that my reasons are spiritual and not necessarily rational from a humanistic perspective.  He said that the Israeli government would never allow a Missionary to move to Israel.  I told him that I am not a Missionary.  He then asked what my spiritual reasons were if I wasn’t a Missionary.  I asked him if he was familiar with Ezekiel 37 in the Bible.  He said not really so I shared with him about the two sticks from verses 15-28.  On one stick is written the name of Joseph and on the other stick is written the name of Judah, and the two sticks are made into one stick.  In reality, the two sticks are made into one stick and placed in the hand of Yahshua, but I only shared the part of the two becoming one.  Jimmy had always assumed Joseph to be Jewish and when I asserted that Joseph was not Jewish he became quite disturbed and possibly, I can only hope, provoked. 

This reconciliation between these two houses of Israel is not an easy task.  It is as if neither house wants anything to do with the other.  But by the power of Yahshua HaMoshiac, who died on an execution stake to reconcile Jew to Gentile, all things are indeed possible.  This is His story.  Those who have the privilege of being called to follow Him, not just to believe in Him, but to follow Him, can truly identify with Luke the doctor when he speaks of David serving Elohim’s (God’s) purposes for his own generation in Acts 13:36: 

“For David, after he had served the purpose of Elohim for his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay.” 

This is all any follower of Yahshua can reasonably hope to accomplish during the days that he or she is called into His Majesty’s Service, that is, to serve His purpose for our own generation.  This is the crown that I seek.  To hear those words, “Well done my good and faithful servant” and may I add “You have served my purpose for your own generation.”  It is my hope and prayer that every follower of Yahshua will hear this too.  Amein.

Return to Israel

I can’t believe that one year has already passed since my last trip to Israel and, once again, I’m preparing to return to Israel.  What a year this has been!  What was sown one year ago has taken root and begun to sprout like a green shoot coming forth from a dry and parched perspective.  If you have been reading this blog, then you know that after I returned from Israel in late February of last year I knew that my destiny, even my immediate destiny, was tied to the Land that Yahweh has set apart as His own possession.  I’m returning to Israel as a sojourner whose internal compass has been set upon a direct course that if I were to veer either to the left or to the right would prove unprofitable.  It is one thing to be blown off course like the Pilgrims on the Mayflower and quite another to encounter a fierce storm that results in throwing the “culprit” overboard into the sea.  Oh Jonah, you truly are the only prophet whom Yahshua mentions by name! 

I’m amazed at how much the Eternal One has revealed during the months following last year’s trip to Israel.  While I continue this journey by following the biblical principle of ‘walking in those good works prepared in advance by Him who calls’ (Ephesians 2:10 paraphrased), I’m in awe as Elohim (God) is not only setting up revelations beforehand waiting to be discovered but simultaneously confirming past works that are in and of themselves also revelations (Proverbs 25:2).  This walk is truly cyclical and while our modern perception appears more like a linear plane in actuality the starting place is the same as the ending place.  Elohim goes out of His way to help us understand this foundational truth by giving us His biblically appointed feasts, Sabbaths, and new moons.  Heck, He even fixed the universe to move in cycles! 

Speaking of cycles, this has been the greatest revelation or understanding that I have received this past year or maybe ever.  I’ve also come to understand that when man replaces God’s cycles with man’s cycles then God hands us over to the corruption of our own thinking, that is, we lose the knowledge of God as He truly is and become enslaved to our own mixed messages.  Romans 8:7-8 says, “because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  To replace God’s appointed cycles with our own not only lacks understanding but indicates that our minds are set on the flesh.  Only by His Spirit can the enmity that exists between us and God’s law be transformed into harmony and obedience.  Has Yahshua written His commandments, all of His commandments, on your heart? 

I’m looking forward to re-connecting with many of the people I met during my visit to Israel last year.  My itinerary is much more fluid this time as nothing has been set in stone other than my arrival and departure dates and even those are subject to last minute changes!  I do have many things that I would like to do and places that I would like to go but I am keenly aware that my footsteps are being ordered by the Holy One of Israel.  I will be posting regularly throughout my journey and, if you feel led, I would appreciate any prayers that you can spare on my behalf.  If you are a regular reader of this blog then you also are a partaker in this ministry of reconciliation between these two houses of Israel.  You….my friend, are a Repairer of the Breach! 

Isaiah 58:12 

“And they that shall be from among you shall build the old ruined places, you shall restore the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called, Gadar-Peretz (Restorer of the Breach), the restorer of paths to live in.”

Bricks and Stones

“I’m a stone not a brick!” cried-out Brad Scott of Wildbranch Ministries to a host of Messianic Israelites gathered together for the annual Hanukkah celebration in Lebanon, Tennessee last week-end.  This statement so resonated in my spirit because from the first day of my walk with the Holy One of Israel until this present moment I have felt like a rough, jagged, and even somewhat of a misfit in my new existence.  Despite these seemingly unseemly characteristics my life is more alive today than ever before and, if I am indeed a stone, then I am a living stone!  But Brad’s contrast of a stone with a brick is what really caught my attention, and the Word of Elohim explains why the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) alerts us to this understanding. 

Exodus 20:25  

“And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of cut stone (or bricks): for if you lift up your tool upon it, you have polluted it.”  (emphasis mine) 

This passage is so revealing in that it shows how those things devised by men in the pursuit of worshipping God, no matter how well-meaning our intentions or purposes might be, are an abomination in the eyes of a Holy Elohim!  He is not interested in our altars built of cut stone!  He desires that His people worship Him in the way He has instructed us to worship Him – this is the fulfillment of the Sh’ma or the ‘hear and do’ found in Deuteronomy 6.  Historically, the desire to keep the Sh’ma has been much more of a problem for Ephraim than it has been for Judah.  Oh Ephraim…you silly dove, in Abba’s eyes it is obedience not emotion that indicates our love for Him! 

In Leviticus 23, Israel was given the Sabbath and feast days to observe throughout all of our generations (forever), but somehow man in his own wisdom devised his own days of observance and deemed them as worthy of a God who must surely only be concerned with what man thinks or what those man-ordained days mean to us rather than what they mean to Him!  How did we ever become so self-centered? 

On March 7^th of this year I posted a blog entry called “Coming out of the System.”  I had just returned from spending five weeks in Israel and the Ruach HaKodesh was stirring-up my spirit in a powerful way to express an understanding He had given regarding the world and church systems, that is, the one is barely distinguishable from the other.  This past summer about three months after posting that March blog entry, I learned that Constantine, the first “Christian” emperor of Rome, had decreed that the Sabbath would now be called the Lord’s Day and observed on the first day of the week (Sunday) rather than on the seventh day of the week (Saturday) as specified by Yahweh Himself—Constantine’s decree was established on March 7, 321 AD!  This was an incredible confirmation that my decision to leave the church system was and continues to be led by the Spirit, and that Yahshua is not only calling us out of religious systems (systems devised by men and not on the Word of God) but also out of the world system.  Yes…we are in the world, but definitely not part of the world system! 

Why do I believe that it is time to come out of the system?  “I’m a stone not a brick!”  Both religious systems and the world system are designed, whether intentionally or unintentionally, to produce “dead” bricks.  Un-cut living stones disturb these systems.  They do not properly align with the mission, goals, and cultural values of the system so they must be crushed into conformance.  For instance, this crushing could produce a conformed bureaucrat or an emasculated church boy but the end result in either case is a dead brick.  Sure….those who govern the system might honor and congratulate us on becoming a well conformed individual and now useful to the system, but don’t expect Yahshua (Jesus) to be impressed! 

Luke 19:39  

“Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, ‘Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.’  But Yahshua (Jesus) answered, ‘I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!’” 

An old Jewish saying is ‘Yisimcha Elokim’ (May G-d make you).  This is what it means to be a living stone—made by the Hand of God rather than by a system devised by man.  I’m thankful to a merciful Elohim who rescues living stones before they become dead bricks!

Hanukkah (Festival of Dedication)

Kislev 25/December 11 (sundown) — Hanukkah/Festival of Dedication or Lights 

Daniel 8:9-12 

“Out of one of them came forth a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land.  It grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled them down.  It even magnified itself to be equal with the Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down.  And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper.”

While Hanukkah is not a biblically appointed time of observance (or Moadim), the festival represents a very significant event that is a wonderful reminder of Yah’s faithfulness to His covenant people, Israel.  During the inter-testament period, the Jewish people were living under the oppression of the Syrians/Selucids.  In 333 B.C.E., Alexander the Great conquered Syria and Egypt, and Greek culture began to dominate the region.  After Alexander’s death, Israel was eventually controlled by Antiochus Epiphanes who became ruler of Syria.  Antiochus IV became hostile towards the Jews since many would not convert to Hellenism.  In 168 B.C.E., he desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem (1 Maccabees 1:10). 

Antiochus defiled the Temple by tearing down the altars, utensils, and lampstand (menorah).  According to the Book of Maccabees and other historical records, upon seizing Jerusalem the soldiers of Antiochus entered the Jewish Temple and slaughtered a pig on the holy altar and erected an image of the Greek god Zeus within the Temple.  They then tried to force Jewish men to eat the pig meat which Scripture declares to be unclean.  Some ancient accounts state that the men refused and that the soldiers then cut off the men’s hands, feet, and tongues, then scalped the men and burned them alive on the altar of the Lord.  It was the appalling actions of Antiochus that led to the Maccabean Revolt—a revolt that would eventually free Israel from Selucid dominance. 

An old, godly priest named Mattathias and his five sons revolted with holy indignation against the Syrian soldiers when Mattathias was ordered to lead a pagan ceremony.  One of his sons, Judah, was nicknamed “Maccabee,” which means ‘hammer.’  All of those who joined the revolt were eventually known as the Maccabees.  On Kislev 25, 165 B.C.E., “2,300 evenings and mornings” (Daniel 8:14) after its desecration, the Temple was reclaimed by the Maccabees.  Tradition says that as the Jews purified the Temple, they found only one flask of pure olive oil, enough to keep the eternal lamp (menorah) burning for just one day.  Consecrated olive oil would take eight days to prepare.  But miraculously, the oil in the single flask lasted eight days and nights until additional oil was available. 

The Jewish community begins this eight-day celebration at sundown on Kislev 25 which happens to be December 11 this year.  At the beginning of each day, after sundown, the servant candle (‘Shamash’ in Hebrew) of the hanukkiyah (nine-branch Hanukkah menorah) is lit, which is used in turn to kindle one or more candles in the menorah.  All candles are lit by the eighth night.  Some Jewish scholars see Messianic meaning in Hanukkah as the Artscroll Mesorah Series states: “Then, the light is kindled to give inspiration, for the light of Messiah must burn brightly in our hearts.” 

John 10:22, 25-39 (paraphrased)

Yahshua (Jesus) observed Hanukkah.  At that time, the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem; it was winter, and Yahshua (Jesus) was walking in the Temple in the portico of Solomon.  And He reiterated His claim to and the proofs of being the Messiah of Israel. 

Hanukkah is not only a time to remember Yah’s faithfulness to His people, but it also reminds us of the ongoing spiritual battle between the Hebraic and Greco-Roman mindsets that are competing for the hearts and minds of Yah’s people.  Of course, we know that those who belong to Him know the sound of His voice and respond accordingly but this truth has not stopped the ‘father of lies’ from trying to confuse the issue.  I hope to be sharing more in the weeks to come about the restoration of all things Hebraic.  In the meantime though, I’m excited to observe Hanukkah for the first time this year in the great state of Tennessee!

It is Finished

Yesterday I tendered my resignation to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) ending a 20-year career with the Federal government in Washington D.C.  This last act at BLS wasn’t a decision that was hastily made overnight.  Ever since I entered into an authentic walk with the Holy One of Israel in August, 2000 I’ve had a notion that my days in my current occupation might be numbered, but I never would have guessed that those days would be extended over the course of nearly 10 years!  This past year has been the most trying and challenging because I knew the outcome of the end of the year from out of the beginning of the year.  My witness at BLS is now complete having offered myself as a living sacrifice through a parade of trials, tribulations, as well as many glorious moments.  His glory has been witnessed by many at every rung of the organization, and while many of those witnesses may still not call on the name of Yahshua (Jesus), they at least know that He Is. 

Almost exactly one year ago the U.S. election results indicated a shift on the Master’s throne that has since sent a spiritual tsunami of biblical proportions throughout the heavenly realms.  What is sewn in the spiritual order is reaped in the natural order or, in this case, disorder.  Focusing on the worldly implications from the decision made on November 4, 2008 I immediately intended to change my personal circumstances in response to the change that just took place on the national stage.  My initial reaction was rash and laden with the fuel of the flesh.  I knew that Elohim had moved but I had not given much if any consideration as to the spiritual significance of His movement.  All my options were fleshly responses to the emerging crisis.  But being the Abba (Father) that He is, knowing the exact needs of His children, He altered my focus from my own circumstances to His most pressing concern, namely Israel. 

The months leading up to my trip to Israel through the trip itself taken early this year is documented on this blog.  After returning from Israel in late February, I knew for sure that my future, even my immediate future, was tied to the land promised by the Eternal One to a people whom He has set-apart for His own possession.  My only uncertainty was if I could continue with my employment until the 20-year career marker which just happens to occur on November 4, 2009 (5 days from today!)  This might not seem like much of a hurdle to most people, but when the Creator of every living being completely inverts your priorities the tension is palpable—not to mention the efforts of the enemy who is working night and day to derail Abba’s plans.  And while the retirement benefits accrued at the 20-year marker do not compare favorably to those accrued at the 30-year marker, I am at rest knowing that Elohim has used my career span at BLS for His own purposes. 

Even though this post is titled ‘It is Finished’ the truth is ‘it’ is just beginning.  I’m reminded of Yahshua’s words in Matthew 10:39, “He who finds his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”  If any verse from the Bible describes my walk with the Holy One of Israel this would be that verse.  I’m definitely stepping-out of the “safe” confines of a secure job, a good salary, top-shelf health benefits, and only 10 and possibly just 5 years away from receiving full retirement benefits during a time of economic upheaval, but when Abba whistles His children respond, right?  To do the will of Elohim will always appear irrational to those who are living according to the wisdom of this world.  The Bible continually presents this eternal truth for our consideration.  The patriarch Abraham confronted this same dilemma and he believed Elohim and it was credited to him as righteousness. 

Genesis 11:31-12:2

Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran (Abram’s brother), his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and they settled there.  And Terah died in Haran.  Then Yahweh spoke to Abram saying, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing.” 

The ‘it’ mentioned earlier is the ‘Abraham Call.’  It is my hope and prayer that I can believe as Abraham believed.

The Pharaoh who knew not Joseph

Every Sabbath Messianic Israel congregations read a Torah parsha (portion) with corresponding readings from the Haftarah (Prophets) and Brit Chadasha (renewed covenant).  In Hebraic understanding, this practice is known as ‘stacking’ where the subsequent readings build upon, illuminate, and validate the life-giving principles revealed in Torah rather than replace them.  Yahshua came to fulfill the Torah not abolish it!  The Torah is the foundational text that provides the basis for all understanding—the end is known out from the beginning. 

In the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant), the Torah parshas are given names.  During the week of January 16-23 of this year the Torah parsha Shemot was read.  Shemot includes Scriptures from Exodus 1:1-6:1.  This book begins with the introduction of a new king who had come to power in Egypt. 

(8) Now a new king arose over Egypt, who knew not Joseph. (9) He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we. (10) Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.” (Exodus 1:8-10) 

Yahweh raised up a king over Egypt who had neither recollection nor knowledge of Joseph and the blessings that Joseph’s God had brought to Egypt.  Pharaoh only saw a people who had become so numerous that they were now considered a potential threat to national security.  His “wise” solution for controlling their numbers was to put the Hebrews to hard labor, but Pharaoh forgot to check-in with the Elohim of Yisrael before putting his wicked scheme into action!  What Pharaoh meant for evil Elohim meant for good. 

(11a) So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. (12) But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel. (13) The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor vigorously; (14) and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them. (Exodus 1:11-14)  

This new king imposed taskmasters over the sons of Israel.  The Hebrew translation for ‘taskmasters’ is the word ‘sarim-asim’ where the Hebrew word ‘sar’ is the root of Caesar, Kaiser, or the Russian form Czar.  In essence, Pharaoh appointed Czars to rule over the people and put them under his heel with the intent of keeping them from rising-up and leaving the land.  The adversary has always come to steal, kill, and destroy.  It is interesting to see though that the policies that were implemented to keep the people in the land were the very policies that caused the people to cry-out to leave the land! 

The timing of the Shemot parsha seems appropriate as the Word of Yah increasingly becomes reality in our lives.  If He lives in us then His Word also lives in us and His Word within us leads us to literally walk-out the reality of the Scriptures.  Elohim gave us His Law through Moses written on tablets of stone.  The prophet Jeremiah foretold that Yahweh would make a new covenant with the House of Israel where He would put His Torah (Law) in our inward parts, and write it on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33).  Finally, Sha’ul (Paul) further illuminates on this divine promise in 2 Corinthians 3:3 ‘being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.’  Amein.

The Wilderness

And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says Yahweh, the El of Yisrael, ‘Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”  But Pharaoh said, “Who is Yahweh that I should obey His voice to let Yisrael go?  I do not know Yahweh, and besides, I will not let Yisrael go.”  Then they said, “The Elohim of the Hebrews has met with us.  Please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to Yahweh our Elohim, otherwise He will fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” (Exodus 5:1-3)  

Elohim calls His people out of Egypt and into the wilderness to keep a feast, but the problem was not only with getting Pharaoh’s approval to let them go but also that they themselves were not yet ready to go.  They had been living in Egypt for so long that they didn’t realize just how much Egypt was living in them.  Moses and Aaron, who both obviously had the Fear of Yahweh, rightfully understood that the pestilence and the sword would fall upon them if they didn’t keep the feast in the wilderness.  But I wonder if they understood that these calamities must happen before Israel was ready to go into the wilderness?  I cannot imagine a Holy God receiving His bride while she is absorbed in the idolatry of Egypt.  Therefore the first three of the ten plagues fell upon everyone in the land—both Egyptian and Hebrew.  He knows how to get our attention. 

The Elohim of Yisrael has always despised the mixing of things.  His word is clear when it comes to mixing fabrics, mixing seeds, or mixing faiths.  Mixture is an abomination in His eyes.  He says to come out from them and be separate for you are holy, a people set-apart for My own possession.  It is interesting that the Pilgrims who came over on the Mayflower were also known as Separatists.  They separated from the Church of England as they no longer could take the mixing of the world with the faith once given to the saints.  The more I learn about these remarkable people the more I understand why this country has been so blessed.  Did you know that the Mayflower Compact was based on the Torah, and that the Connecticut state constitution was based on the Mayflower Compact, and that the U.S. Constitution was based on the Connecticut state constitution?  You will know a tree by its fruit and the fruit begins with the root.  If the root is holy then the branches that bear the fruit must be holy too.  But what happens to the fruit if the root is forgotten, ignored or, God forbid, mixed? 

Ezekiel 20:5-10 

(5) and say to them, ‘Thus says Yahweh Elohim, “On the day when I chose Yisrael and swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and Made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am Yahweh your Elohim, (6) on that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands. (7) I said to them, ‘Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt, I am Yahweh your Elohim. (8) But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.  Then I resolved to pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. (9) But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. (10) So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.’ 

Yahweh performs this great mercy for the sake of His name and not because of anything related to the people.  Remember the rich young ruler who approached Yahshua (Jesus) in Matthew 19:16-17 saying, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?”  And Yahshua responded, “Why are you asking Me about what is good?  There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”  Only Yahweh is good.  People are not good but, by His grace, He gives us His Spirit through faith in Yahshua and this makes us good because of Him and not because of anything that we have done.  This same principle is at work as He calls the people of Israel out of Egypt and into the wilderness to restore His good name! 

Ezekiel 20:33-38 

(33) “As I live,” declares Yahweh Elohim, “surely with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I shall be king over you. (34) I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out; (35) and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you panayim-el-panayim (face-to-face). (36) As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness in the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” declares Yahweh Elohim. (37) “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; (38) and I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel.  Thus you will know that I am Yahweh.” 

I want to encourage everyone that before we can enter the land we must first pass through the wilderness.  It is at that time that the same Elohim who spoke to our fathers in the wilderness will again speak to us panayim-el-panayim.  We will receive and honor His statutes, ordinances, and Sabbaths and His good name will be restored.  Please read all of Ezekiel 20 to get the full picture. 

I want to say ‘thank-you’ to Bill Cloud whose message “Wedding in the Wilderness” given at the 10^th Annual Messianic Israel Alliance Conference in Orlando, Florida last month was a significant inspiration for writing this post.  Of course, all things are given by the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to those who are willing to receive them.

Trumpets, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and the Great 8th Day finale

Sukkot (Festival of Tabernacles or Booths) 

Tishri 15/Oct 2 (sundown Full Moon) — Sukkot/Tabernacles-First Day 

Tishri 21/Oct 8 (sundown) — Sukkot/Tabernacles-Last Day 

Leviticus 23:33-36, 39-40, 42-43 

Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the Lord.  On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall not do laborious work of any kind.  For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord.  On the eight day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the Lord; it is an assembly.  You shall do no laborious work…On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord for seven days, with a rest of the first day and a rest on the eighth day.  Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days…You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt.  I am the Lord your God.” 

The purpose of the festival is two-fold and is revealed by its names.  First, the festival serves as a memorial of Israel’s wilderness experience.  For forty years the Israelites lived and ate within easily moveable tabernacles as they wandered in the desert.  In addition, God dwelt within a Tabernacle, a sanctuary in the wilderness and “the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of the house of Israel” (Exodus 40:38).  Second, the festival indicated the time for and thanksgiving associated with the fall (latter) harvest.  It is widely believed that the Puritan colonists, who were well versed in the Hebrew Scriptures, based the first American Thanksgiving on Sukkot. 

The ceremonial elements for observing Sukkot include a tabernacle (Sukkah) that is a temporary hut or shelter.  It is supposed to be built outside, have at least three walls, which may be built of any material (e.g. wood, brick, or tarp).  The most important part of the Sukkah is the roof (sechach).  It can be built from anything that grows from the ground (e.g. branches, bushes, but most commonly palm branches).  The covering should allow the elements through (actually stars can be seen through it on a clear night) since the tabernacles in the desert during Israel’s Exodus would not have been weatherproof.  The tabernacle is decorated with fruit to symbolize the fertile land. 

“The Four Species” – wrapped together in order to be handheld for waving in every direction; symbolize the harvest and God’s omnipresence over his world.  “The Four Species” include: 

• Palm branch (lulav) – symbol of peace; comes from the date palm and has sweetness but no fragrance. 
• Citrus-like fruit (etrog) – sweet with good fragrance; knowledge with good deeds. 
• Myrtle (hadas) – good deeds without true knowledge. 
• Willow (arava) – lacks both taste and aroma; lacks knowledge and good deeds. 

 John 1:14 

The Word became flesh, and dwelt (Greek word skene is derived from ‘tabernacle’) among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father; full of grace and truth.” 

Some scholars believe that Yahshua may have been born on Sukkot.  If so, then Moshiac (Messiah) entered into this world as a human being on that day. 

During Sukkot, the Israelites would thank God, in faith, for upcoming winter rains essential to replenish the land.  According to a Talmudic custom developed during the Second Temple period, during this festival a priest would take water from the Pool of Siloam and dramatically pour it at the altar of the Temple.  Talmudic rabbis considered this act prophetic in illustrating the days of messianic redemption when the water of the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon all Israel.  They based their interpretation on Isaiah 12:3, “Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation” (salvation in Hebrew is the Hebrew name Yahshua or Jesus).  Juxtapose this with John 7:37-39 that refers to the Great Eighth Day. 

Shimeni Atzereth (Great 8^th Day) 

Tishri 22/Oct 9 (sundown) – Shimeni Atzereth/Great 8^th Day 

“Now on the last day, the great day of the feast (booths), Yahshua stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”  But He spoke of the Ruach (Spirit), whom those who believed in Him were to receive.” (John 7:37-39) 

Sukkot is the only festival to have an extra day.  It is as if God is saying to His people at the end of this festival, “Hasn’t this been good?  Let’s spend an extra day together.”  Thus developed the concept of Shemeni Atzereth, or the eighth-day of assembly, which occurs after the last day of Sukkot—a day when God invites His people to “stay” for an extra day of fellowship. 

Sukkot and the Great 8^th Day Scripture references in the Tanach and Brit Chadasha include:  Exodus 23:16b; 34:22b; Leviticus 23:33-36, 39-40, 42-43; Numbers 29:12-39; Deuteronomy 16:13-15; Jeremiah 17:13; Joel 3:14-21; Zechariah 14:16-19; Nehemiah 8:13-18; Matthew 17; John 7:2, 37; 12:12-13; Revelation 21:1-27, 22:1-21.

Trumpets, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and the Great 8th Day cont’

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) 

Tishri 10/Sept 27 (sundown) — Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement 

Leviticus 23:26-28, 31 

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “On exactly the tenth of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord.  You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord your God…Now shall have this as a permanent statute, to make atonement for the sons of Israel for all their sins once every year.” 

Yom Kippur has long been considered the most holy day in the Hebrew calendar and is the culmination of the entire High Holy Day drama—our final opportunity to repent from our sins.  Yom Kippur is called in the Torah the “Sabbath of Sabbaths or Shabbat Shabbaton.”  On this day, the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies, where YHWH Himself dwelt, and offered a blood sacrifice for the remission of all willful and unintentional sins of national Yisrael.  If, at any other time, he entered the “holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark…he (would) die; for (God) appears in a cloud over the mercy seat.” (Leviticus 16:2) 

The ceremonial elements for observing Yom Kippur include (Leviticus 16:1-28): 

• Two rams – for a burnt offering. 
• Bull – a young bull to atone for the sins of the High Priest and his family. 
• Two goats – for a sin offering.  Presented by the High Priest to YHWH at the door of the tabernacle.  The High Priest casts lots upon the two goats; one lot for YHWH and the other lot for the Azazel. 

             -  First goat (Chatat) – receives the lot for YHWH and is presented as the sin offering. 

             -  Second goat, the Azazel, which means the Yom Kippur scapegoat.  Azazel in addition to being the very scapegoat itself, is considered in Hebraic literature the wasteland of spiritual destruction, or even Gehenna/hell.  The symbolism is that YHWH loves Yisrael so much that He annually sent their sins far away to a place called Azazel, far outside the camp, never to return.  This was done yearly to portray YHWH’s forgiveness for all Yisrael, as well as the future redemption through the “fit Man” chosen for Yisrael by YHWH Himself (First Timothy 2:5, Isaiah 59:16).  In Yisrael’s history, only Yahshua was a fit Man forever by reason of His immortality.  In addition to being the fit Man, He was also the Azazel scapegoat Himself (Restoration Scriptures True Name Edition Study Bible). 

“Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness.  The goat shall bear on itself all the iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.” (Leviticus 16:21-22)  

Before 70 C.E. (the year the second Temple was destroyed), Yom Kippur was strictly observed according to Scripture.  However, in the absence of the Temple, rabbis in the first century decided to emphasize prayer (Tefilah), repentance (Teshuva), and charity (Tzedakah) as substitutions for sacrifices. 

Leviticus 23 commands Israelites to “humble (their) souls” on Yom Kippur.  This has been interpreted as requiring fasting in the context of the word for “humble” (Isaiah 58:5).  From sundown on the ninth of Tishri until sundown on the tenth, observant Jews (that are adults and are healthy) abstain from all food and water. 

On the evening of the holy day, modern-day Jews attend Kol Nidre services at the local synagogue, where they ask God to release them from any vows that had been taken inappropriately.  The next day services focus on the need for atonement for sins.  Each individual prays that his name be written in the Book of Life for one more year.  At the Neilah service (the closing of the gates), a final shofar is sounded.  Then comes the cry, “Next year in Jerusalem!” followed by singing, dancing, and a festive after-fast meal.  It is thought that the fate of each individual is sealed at this time for the upcoming year.  

As Yom Kippur is understood as a day of atonement for all sins so also the same “one for all ordinance” is found in Yahshua’s one-time offering of Himself (Hebrews 10:12, 14). 

In the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), the word for “mercy seat” in Leviticus 16 is the same one used of Moshiac (Christ) and is translated “propitiation” in Romans 3:25. 

Hebrews 10:1, 3-4 

“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near…In those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.  For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” 

Many scholars associate Yom Kippur eschatologically with the Jewish people’s recognition of Yahshua HaMoshiac at His second coming.  “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10) 

Yom Kippur Scripture references in the Tanach and Brit Chadasha include:  Leviticus 16; 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7-11; Romans 3:24-26; Hebrews 9:7; 10:3, 19-22. 

I will be posting on Sukkot (Tabernacles) and Shimeni Atzereth (Great 8^th Day) next week.