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Romans 11:26-27
“The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins." Moses arrives in Goshen and tells Israel of God’s promises. He tells them that Hashem remembered the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and that intending to make good on them, He now calls on them to be their God and His people. The Israelites understand the message. Israel, who presently belongs to Pharaoh, the God of the world, is now being vied by another lover who says to her, "You are being abused, I will deliver you. You shall be mine now and I will take care of you”. Was Israel ready for the fight between two ‘bucks’ vying for the same female? As far they were concerned, they could be jumping from the frying pan into the fire! The text then tells us that because of their broken spirit and the harsh slavery, the Children of Israel were not enthused at the message (Exodus 6:6-9). I like how the Hebrew text puts it. It speaks of Israel’s spiritual condition using the term, ‘ketser ruach’. The expression is an idiom for ‘despondency’. The literal meaning is ‘shortness of breath or of spirit’. They were spiritually exhausted. Their cruel bondage stole from them all strength for faith (Genesis 6:9). Hashem was going to have to do all the hard work! How much like today. As it happened with Moses, who is also called in Judaism the ‘First Redeemer’ (thus making allusion to Messiah the Second Redeemer), we are watching the fulfillment of the promises God made to the patriarchs and the prophets concerning Israel. We have seen Him resurrect the country where Messiah is supposed to make His landing at the time they will all see Him (Zechariah 14). Just as in the times of the Exodus, Hashem today, spiritually and physically redeems Israel His people. Someone once told me, “If I were Jewish, I’d take the first plane out of exile, I’d be exited; why are they not?” Same problem as with Moses! After 2,000 years of persecution first by the Romans, then the Catholics and the Spanish inquisition, followed by Luther’s Protestants, the Germans, Tsarist and Communist Russia, and now the Muslims who imported anti-Semitism from Europe, the Jewish people again seem spiritually exhausted on the 'Chosen People' idea. They seem to complain with Reb Tevieh (Fiddler on the Roof) “Why, why? I know, I know, because we are the ‘Chosen People … but sometimes couldn’t You chose somebody else?” Nevertheless God again saves His people with a great and mighty hand. It is funny though. There are some who teach that because of their sins God forsook His people of old and replaced them with another: the Church. First, this doesn't add up with God's mathematics of covenant faithfulness, but also, He says that He only remembers the wickedness of fathers for three or four generations. As far I know, Hashem changes not and his covenantal promises are irrevocable (Malachi 3:6; Romans 11:29). The question is: Is our History of disobedience worse than their? And then, why would He forgive their sins but not ours? He either forgives or He doesn’t. If He forgives yours, He also forgave mine. But if he doesn’t forgive our unbelief, neither will He forgive yours! If He replaced us because of our sins, then he is also apt to replace you because of yours! The Hebrew word ‘chesed’ translated as 'grace' means ‘covenant-keeping’. Our God is a gracious God. Unlike mankind, He keeps His covenant and His promises in spite of us. He keeps them for me, and He keeps them for you!
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Hebrews 11: 23-27
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Messiah greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people … (Exodus 2:11). We are not born 'there'. We get 'there' by starting where we are. In essence, like Moses we are all born in exile and we 'grow up' to that divinely ordained place we are meant to occupy, to that perfect destiny Hashem created for us to gravitate to. To get 'there' is the compounding result of many of life's decisions, and sad to say, the reason why many don't get 'there' is because of wrong decisions. It is in old age or on our death bed that that realization suddenly strikes. Moses followed the exact pattern the Father imposed on all the patriarchs. Abraham went through it as well as Isaac, and I like to compare Jacob's 'School of Laban' to the proverbial 'School of hard knocks'. They, and we, all have to experience a time of spiritual, if not physical Diaspora, exiled from the perfect will of God in our lives. It could be Hashem's way to help us appreciate the "Promised Land' of His perfect will when it comes! It takes us a long time before we find that perfect place. We first have to travel in diverse endeavors, programs, ideologies, congregations, groups, and fellowships. Most of the time, we don't 'grow up' and get 'there' until our forties or fifties; Moses got there in his eighties (Proverbs 4:18). In this age and in this world, we are all in Diaspora from the Kingdom of God. We have been away from our spiritual home since Adam and Eve. We get glimpses of 'home', when we study Torah and/or fellowship with one another. We get a glimpse of it when we pray, praise, and exalt the Father of us all (Psalms 22:3). One day as the Children of Israel did, we will all have 'grown up'. At that time, we will enter the Promised Land of the Kingdom of God. Come to think of it, every Friday night as we welcome the Sabbath, we experience a little bit of the Kingdom of God on earth, a foreshadow of the World to Come. After the Sabbath, we all spend the week in 'Diaspora', but oh wonder of wonders, it always comes back, and when it does, what a joy! Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." As Jacob fled his brother's wrath, Hashem comes to our patriarch to reveal His overall plan. The Almighty Planner of the destiny of Israel said, "I am Adonai, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you (Genesis 28:13-15)." Anyone who believes in the Bible has to accept that by Divine Mandate, the Land which is now called 'Israel' (Jacob's future name (Genesis 32:28)), belongs to his descendant. Jacob fled Esau, but also he was following in his father and grand-father's footsteps in getting a wife from within the family clan. Tradition says that as he left Canaan, Hashem protected Jacob from Esau's son who pursued after him, and now Hashem declares to Jacob that He will accomplish through him all the words He previously spoke to Abraham (Genesis 12:3; 28:14). The spreading of the Children of Israel to the four winds is often referred to as the present-day great Exile. This exile may appear as a curse to the Children of Israel, but it is the instrument Hashem uses to bless the nations. The first post-second Temple Jews to go in exile were the Messianic believers who brought the teachings of our Master to all the nations of the Roman Empire. Later, as all Israel went in exile, it filled the rest of the pagan world with the knowledge of the One true God who created the universe. Thanks to the Great Exile, the majority of the world today is monotheistic, lives by a seven-day week, and derives its basic moral notions of right and wrong from the tenets of the Torah. Judaism has therefore become the most influential form of belief in the world. It is also fair to say that the whole world has heard of Messiah, so in that regards, one can also conclude that the whole world has been blessed in the descendants of Jacob, the grand-son f Abraham to whom this prophecy was first given. Jacob receives this Oracle as he himself goes to exile. His exile is a foreshadow of the future Great Exile of his descendants. Hashem assures the patriarch that the Divine Presence goes with him in this exile to also bring him back to the Land Promised to Abraham. In the same manner, Yeshua our Mashiach has been with us all throughout this exile and today brings us back to our Land. Though as in the case of Jacob, God's heavenly purposes do not find their earthly fulfillment without troubles and tribulations, we are thankful to be a part of His great plan of blessing the earth. Hebrews 11: 23-27
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Messiah greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people … (Exodus 2:11). '. We are not born 'there'. We get 'there' by starting where we are. In essence, we all have to 'grow up' in order to get to the divinely ordained place we are meant to occupy, to that perfect place the Father created for us to gravitate to. To get 'there' is the compounding result of many of life's decisions, and sad to say, the reason why many don't get 'there' is wrong decisions. It is in old age or on the death bed that that realization suddenly strike. Moses followed the exact pattern the Father imposed on the patriarchs. Abraham went through it, Isaac also, and I like to compare Jacob's 'School of Laban' to the proverbial 'School of hard knocks'. They, and we, all had to experience a time of spiritual, if not physical Diaspora spending time in a place away from the perfect will of God in our lives. Diaspora probably helps us appreciate the "Promised Land' of His perfect will when it comes! It takes us a long time before we find that perfect place. We spend it in diverse groups and fellowships. Most of the time, we don't grow into it until our 50's (Proverbs 4:18). In this age, in this world, we are all in Diaspora from the Kingdom of God. We have been away from our spiritual home since Adam and Eve. We get glimpses of it when we study Torah, fellowship with brethren, pray, and praise the Father of us all. One day as the Children of Israel did, we will have 'grown up'. We will then enter the Promised Land of the Kingdom of God. Come to think of it, it is Friday today. Tonight we welcome the Sabbath which is a little bit of the Kingdom of God on earth, a foreshadow of the World to Come. We all spend the week in Sabbath Diaspora, but oh wonder of wonders, it always comes back, and when it does, what a joy! John 4:23
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Words are so important. Much of our theology seems to be lost in translation. Call it nit-picking if you may, but the exact meaning of words used to describe our service to God in Hebrew should be reflected in our understanding of the Torah, otherwise, we might be led into error. Sad to say though, translations usually reflect the cultural and ethical understanding of the translator, that is why a preliminary knowledge of Hebrew is essential for biblical understanding. Words describe feelings but they also describe tasks we must do. If as manager of a company I give a man some instructions, I expect him to do exactly what I ask. If he disobeys because to him the words I speak have a different meaning, we are going to have problems. We can imagine what happened at the tower of Babel work site when Adonai came to confuse their languages. English has the word ‘worship’. It is a good word but it is a very subjective. It fails to represent a specific action. It can mean anything from the act of singing and praising to charitable giving. In Hebrew there are words for, ‘to give’; ‘to thank’; ‘ to sing’; to pray; ‘to praise’ or to shine something; to ‘magnify’ or to make something bigger in our eyes; ‘to serve’ which means to practice any of the Torah commands; ‘to cleave’ meaning to be glued to something or someone. The one translated as worship is: ‘shacha’, which is to prostrate. To serve (Deuteronomy 10:20) is the word ‘to work’. To serve God means to do the commandments and since many of the commandments are Temple related, Jewish sages have concluded that the act of praising prayer takes the place of temple offerings thus we are taught about the ‘sacrifice of praise’, ‘the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name ‘(Hebrews 13:15). Moses told the people to ‘fear the LORD your God, he said, You shall serve him and hold fast (cleave) to him (Deuteronomy 10:20). Yeshua gave further instructions on this commandment and said, the hour is coming … when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth (John 4:23). This little vocabulary lesson may give extra meaning and sense to Yeshua’s words that can now be understood as ‘the hour is coming when the true ones who obey His commandments will prostrate in spirit and in truth. This statement follows Yeshua telling the Samaritan woman that Samaritans didn’t know what they were doing cause salvation was of the Jews (John 4:22).Yeshua was not saying, as it is usually taught, that Temple worship would be over (how could that be since Ezekiel speaks of a third temple?) but He was prophesying about the soon coming time of Diaspora when all those who worship Adonai would do it using prayers from the heart or the ‘sacrifice of praise’. Romans 4:13
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. Much is revealed about Hashem’s plan for His people in the Book of Deuteronomy. Whereas He says that the prosperous success of our sojourn in the Land of Promise is contingent to our obedience to the Torah, we do not inherit it because of our personal righteousness (Deuteronomy 7:12; 9:4-6). It is partly because the wickedness of the Canaanites was much worse than that of Israel as well as because of the promises made to our fathers. Hashem always keeps His promises. Whereas the idea of proper retribution for good and evil is biblical, it is a mistake to assume that the success of our endeavors is always a divine personal endorsement or that the lack of it is the sign of a curse because of sin. The Book of Job is the testament to the opposite. This notion particularly leads to error when we apply it to our standing with Hashem. The apostle Paul reiterates this concept in his diatribe about the role of Torah in our lives. When he says, For by works of the law (Torah) no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law (Torah) comes knowledge of sin (Romans 3: 20). Paul is not teaching us about a new way God has initiated with his people since the manifestation of Yeshua’s work on earth, but he is teaching us the actual concept of Torah as was taught by Moses in Deuteronomy. I find ludicrous the teaching that because of their sins and so-called rejecting Messiah, God has rejected and replaced the Jewish people with a nation taken from the gentiles. That would be a God who does not keep His promises. If our standing with the Father is a question of personal righteousness, it seems to me that the gentiles deserve to be rejected as much as they would be. Israel as a political entity may have rejected Messiah, but the church throughout time has rejected the Torah that Yeshua taught saying, If you love me you will keep My commandments (John 14:15). Historical records, including those found in the Bible, tell us that the Jewish people actually received Yeshua gladly, that Jerusalem was filled with the apostles' doctrine, so much that the leaders were scared to touch the disciples. The disciples were all Jewish along with the new believers from Acts 2 who were Diaspora Jews coming to Jerusalem for Pentecost. These are the very people, and Jews at that, who brought the Gospel to the area around the Mediterranean Sea, who led the first congregations of believers and taught those so-called Church Fathers who for the most part later rejected their Torah teachings. I thank Hashem that He is a covenant-keeping God. Proof? As He said He would, He has returned the Jewish people to their land and no matter what people may try in their efforts to undo it, Hashem keeps His Promises that after a long exile in the nations He returns to the Promised Land. Those world politicians who try to defeat this purpose better watch out; they may be poking in the apple of God’s eye! |
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