Thursday, January 31, 2008

Truth, myths, confusion and yes HaSatan (Part 4)

Welcome back. As promised we will discuss Ezekiel chapter 28 and  then Revelation 12. First I would like to remind you to keep the context before you as you read. Second. In no way shape or form I'm I denying the fact that there are angels. What I stand firm to believe is that no angel regardless of stature can turn from the hand that formed it. From the beginning of time man has sinned in more ways then one. Adam and Eve were the first. The serpent was placed and he to had a job, a job he performed well. We all wish to me intellectuals, agreeing to want understanding over the most complex. God's Word is no exception. You may or may not agree but I believe it was God's intention for Adam and Eve to have eaten of the fruit from the center of the garden. The center of the garden; a place most likely to be visited. Would you not have gone? The garden was the birth place of temptation, it was there that God the Creator of heaven and earth had us where He wanted us. Had Adam not eaten of the tree where would he be today. If we did not have a lack, concerns, worries, poor health, if we had everything in the palm of our hands, where would that leave God. I'm not trying to say that God cares for us to suffer, He does desire though for us to draw closer. By having that barrier before us we are forced to overcome, we are forced to pick ourselves back up and fight to be Holy, pure and sons of the living God.  

Ezekiel chapter 28: 11 - The word of God came to me, saying, "Son of Man, take up a lamentation over the King of Tyre, say to him:
This said the Lord HASHEM /ELOHIM : Are you Adam the culmination of perfection, full of wisdom, perfect in beauty? Were you in Eden, the garden of God; Was your canopy of every precious stone - odem, pitedah, and yahalom, tarshish, shoham, and yashfeh; spir, nophech, and barkas - and gold? The work of your drums and wind instruments was in you; They were established on the day of your creation. You were a great sheltering cherub, and it was I who granted you this; You were upon the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones; Perfect were you in your ways from the day of your creation - until wrongdoing was found in you. Because of your abundant commerce, your midst filled with injustice and you sinned; so I desecrated you from the mountain of God and destroyed you, O sheltering cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor, so I have thrown you to the ground, and I have set you before kings to gaze upon you. By the multitude of your iniquities, by the dishonesty of your commerce, You desecrated your sanctities; so I drew out a fire from within you. It consumed you; thus I made you into ashes upon the earth in the eyes of all who see you. All who knew you among the peoples were astonished over you; You were a terror, but you shall be no more, forever."

Here we see that Ezekiel speaks of Tyre and not an cherub. The land of Tyre was so wealthy that it had as much gold as it had dirt. So God through the mouth of Ezekiel speaks in a poetic manner reminding the King of Tyre where and how and from whom he received his riches and fame. 

*Other references to Tyre: Isaiah 23:1, Ezekiel 26, Joe 4: 4, Amos 1: 9

Now we have cleared up Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28, Matthew 25. 

Lets turn to Revelation 12. 

Not all scripture is to be taken literally. There are times when it is literal such as God speaking to the seven Messianic congregations in the earlier chapters, because after all it's quite obvious that there are things in which God is not happy with. So we must take into consideration the literal, the figurative and the parable. Much of what we SEE in Revelation are metaphors. The dragon, a third of the stars, seven heads and ten horns. The stars, heads and horns are people, kings and nations. The dragon is whom the world (beast) gave its power to and the woman dressed with the sun and moon under her feet is the very one given birth to our deliverer. 

Revelation 12: 1 - Now a great sign was seen in heaven - a woman clothed with the sun, under her feet the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and about to give birth, and she screamed in the agony of labor. Another sign was seen in heaven: there was a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven royal crowns. It's tail swept a third of the stars out of the heaven and threw them down to earth. It stood in front of the woman about to give birth, so that it might devour the child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, the one who will rule all the nations with a staff of iron. But her child was snatched up to God and his throne; and she fled into the desert, where she has a place prepared by god so that she can be taken care of for 1,260 days. Next there was battle in heaven -Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But it was not strong enough to win, so that there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown out, that ancient serpent, also known as the Devil and Satan [the Adversary], the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him. OK lets think about this. As I said previously in part 1 of this serious HaSatan is known by many names which we just read in verse 9. The tail of the dragon verse 4 hurls down a third of the stars, who could that third be? We know that the stars represent people and the dragon represents the world system, so to be thrown down would be to lose ones place. As was the case for the kings of Babylon and Tyre. Could the third be those who don't worship the beast? This was not meant to be a study of Revelation, however we must understand the overall picture. The angels involved in this battle the very ones up against Michael are no other then those who worship the system (beast) I can say this because of the following verse, lets listen. Chapter 12: 10- Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now have come God's victory, power and kingship, and the authority of his Messiah; because the Accuser (Also HaSatan) of our brothers, who accuses them day and night before God, has been thrown out! "They defeated him because of the Lamb's blood and because of the message of their witness. Even when facing death they did not cling to life. "Therefore, rejoice, heaven and you who live there! But woe to you, land and sea, for the Adversary has come down to you, and he is very angry, because he knows his time is very short. 

It's foolish to think that you or I can escape the wrath of God unless we repent and turn  to Him with the fullness of our hearts. Revelation speaks of those who overcome and those who flat out refuse to change their ways. The system, beast, dragon are all apart of Babylon, and through out scripture God pleads with us to come out of her. While HaSatan has his part in trying to deceive us, he can only do so with the consent of the one who created him, God. There are those who look upon HaSatan as a good thing and not a threat, because when you really think about it, its as though you have your own personal trainer. What's more if you understand the concept of Hasatan your faced with no more scape goat, just the image in your vanity mirror. The above reminds me of the period after a thousand years when the beast will be let loose for a short period of time to wreak havoc. Keep in mind context because this book could be difficult to capture, but also clear enough with some prior understanding. While we don't want to treat the Word of God with contempt, lets remember, that the entire bible is after one thing and that is for us to know, fear and desire God. 

I pray that you study and before you do,  ask God to mentor you as He did out father Abraham.  
I hoped you enjoyed this study may God be with you and yours.

Shalom,
Rabbi Lawrence




Truth, myths, confusion and yes HaSatan (Part 3)

Welcome back. In response to a comment concerning HaSatan in the bible I will ahead of time answer two of the several scriptures given to me . For all those following along, please keep in mind Context, Context, Context. When this was first revealed to me I knew that it would be something of a controversy. An understanding in which most bible readers are not familiar with, meaning the original Hebrew, and therefor may or may not understand. It was just three years ago when I first came to be introduced to the original language, yet I still know very little. So lets learn together, shall we? 

The name Lucifer is used only once, and its in the book of Isaiah chapter 14. The name Lucifer is a Latin word meaning light bearer. In other translations he is called O glowing morning star. Please keep in mind that there are many translations and bibles on the shelves of your local book stores. I wonder why? Lets move on. When reading Isaiah and any other book in the bible one must read in its fullness, including the chapter prior to and after. When the Word was first taken down there were no chapter breaks nor were they numbered. Plain and simple. 

Isaiah chapter 13 begins the prophecies regarding the nations beginning with no other then Babylonia and it's current king, Nebuchadnezzar. Chapters 10,11,12 speak of the return concerning Israel's dispersed. 

Let's get to it. Isaiah 14: 3 It shall be on the day when HASHEM grants you relief from your distress and your anxiety and from the hard labor with which you were worked: You will recite this parable about the king of Babylonia:  
How has the oppressor come to an end, the ARROGANCE been ended? HASHEM has broken the staff of the wicked, the rod of rulers who would strike peoples with fury, with relenting blows, who would oppress nations with wrath, [the nations] were pursued [by them] without respite. Those this not remind us of our coming out of Egypt after crossing the Reed Sea and our people singing the song of Moses, and even more importantly how HASHEM delivered us from our oppressors with a strong hand. Verse 7: - 'The entire land is at rest and tranquil,' they broke out in glad song. Even the cypresses rejoice over you, the cedars of Lebanon, [saying,] 'From the time that you were laid low, the woodcutter would not come up against us.' The nether-world from below trembles for you to greet your arrival; (the nether-world, a place where others were brought down, others who oppressed and striked with an iron fist. Many of those who await the king of Babylonia were put there by the king himself, rather it be his doing or the doing of God. This reminds us that we should always have a humble spirit.) it has awakened the giants for you, all the leaders of the world, it has aroused all the kings of the world, out of their thrones, They will all proclaim and say to you, 'You also have been stricken as we were; you are compared to us. Brought down to the nether-world were your PRIDE and the tumult of your stringed instruments; maggots are spread out under you, and worms are your covers. How have you fallen from the heavens, O glowing morning star; (king of Babylon) been cut to the ground, O conqueror of nations. In his Pride and Arrogance the king of Babylonia has been cut down. This king along with all of Babylonia had riches untold just as with Tyre and its inhabitants. Tyre we will talk about later. Regardless of the nation rather it be Israel or America, one must remember that all belongs to God and it is He who blesses, and it is He who takes away. This is why HASHEM takes His Covenant with us very seriously. We as a people were disobedient; the very reason the king of Babylon conquered us in the first place, because the Creator of heaven and earth spoke it. Remember in part one of this serious we read the book of Job chapter 1 and it was and always be God who pulls the strings. Not HaSatan, nor anything else. Believing otherwise would go against the Oneness of HASHEM. God does not have an evil nemesis He does have a tool called the Tempter (HaSatan) Another example concerning Who and what has ability to do anything we will read in Isaiah 54: 15 - 16- Behold, they may indeed gather together, but it is without My CONSENT. Whoever will gather against you will fall because of you. Behold, I created the smith, who fans his charcoal flame and withdraws a tool for his labor, but I have also created the destroyer to demolish. 

Back to Isaiah 14: 13- You had said in your heart, "I will ascend to the heavens; higher than the stars of God I shall raise my throne; I will sit at the mountain of Meeting, on the northern side (Meaning North in Jerusalem) I will ascend over the tops of the clouds; I will liken myself to the most high!" But to the nether-world have you been lowered, to the bottom of the pit!' Those who see you will take note, they will contemplate you carefully; 'Is this the MAN who made the land tremble, who made kingdoms quake; who made the world like a wilderness and torn down its cities; who never released his captives to go home? Yes the above could sound as though it was talking of an angel of some kind, but Isaiah was in a poetic way was comparing  Nebuchadnezzar to an angel who was set on high only to come crashing down. In his words Isaiah reminded Nebuchanezzar of what he had been given from God and how HASHEM put him in power. Lets reflect for a moment and think how we might feel if we heard the voice of God say like Moses and Abraham. What could be finer, what more could we ask for? To have HASHEM communicate with us in such a direct way. it would be as though we dwelt with God in the heavenly places. That is exactly what Israel had with God in the beginning, we also lost it when God removed His presence from the first temple. I leave it up to you to read and finish chapter 14 and then go on and read the remaining chapters. One quick note; Isaiah 14: 22 can be tied into the book of Daniel the early chapters. If you remember Nebuchanezzar had a dream concerning a stately tree being cut down (guess who) and he summons for daniel to interpret. The son and grandson God speaks of here are the descendants of the king himself. 

*Important: The Babylonians of this era gave the name glowing morning star to what we believe to be the planet Venus. When the Babylonians woke early enough in the morning they saw the lone star and hence being that it was alone they had considered it to have been a fallen star. Please don't just take my word for it, do your research.  Also remember the name Lucifer is listed once and means light bearer. 

OK. In the Tanakh (first half or your bible) HaSatan is viewed as a tool used by HASHEM and not one of his own authority. A good example once again is the book of Job chapter 1. From the beginning of time man and man alone, has struggled to break free of himself, rather it be lust, hatred, jealousy, disobedience, war, drugs, sexual immorality etc. etc. Turn to Mark chapter 7: 14 - Then Yeshua called the people to him again and said, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand this! There is nothing outside a person which, by going into him, can make him unclean. Rather, it is the things that come out a person which make a person unclean!" When he had left the people and entered the house, hid talmidim asked him about the parable. He replied to them, "So you too are with out understanding? Don't you see that nothing going into a person from the outside can make him unclean? For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and it passes out into the latrine." (Thus he declared all foods ritually clean.) "It is what comes out of a person," he went on, "that makes him unclean. For from within, out of a person's heart, come forth wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, arrogance, foolishness... All these wicked things come forth from within, and they make a person unclean." I must remind those reading this that verse 19 doesn't mean that shrimp, shell fish or pork are clean, they are not at all considered food for human consumption. They weren't then and they aren't today. We must remember that the main characters in this conversation are Yeshua, his disciples and the temple leaders, they knew what was considered food and what was not. 

When I wake in the morning I dress myself, nobody does it for me. When I was a young boy my parents assisted me I have since grown to take care of myself and make my own decisions. In many of our Jewish homes young boys and girls go through a wonderful ritual called the Bar Mitzvah, or Bat Mitzvah for girls. At the age of 10 or 11 they begin their Hebrew studies to prepare themselves for the actually ceremony, this takes place at the age of thirteen. At the age of thirteen all children should have a good idea of what is expected of them and thus now make the appropriate decisions. The world in itself is to blame. Within this world we have several billion people, the words we speak and the actions we take create an atmosphere, rather good or bad. The clearest scripture backing my understanding is found in the book of Genesis chapter 4, and the book of Revelation chapter 3. In both Genesis and Revelation, God presents us with a choice, He Himself cannot make it for us. Cain in chapter 4 rises up and kills his brother Able directly after being told that sin is crouching at his door. Cain was given the chance to overcome and he failed miserably. Why? His envy. Able gave the very best of his flock while Cain didn't. Killing his brother didn't solve God's decision. Revelation 3: 20 Yeshua presents himself before us as  the way and the life. 

Without a doubt there is scripture we may never the answers to but we shouldn't assume. Earlier in this segment we covered Isaiah chapter 14 and came to the conclusion that its directed to the king of Babylon and not a falling angel  named Lucifer or Glowing star. Isaiah was indeed  using poetic sarcasm in his reference to the king who had exalted himself.

Please turn to Matthew chapter 24: 10 - At that time many will be trapped into betraying and hating each other, many false prophets will appear and fool many people; and many peoples love will grow cold because of increased distance from Torah. But whoever holds out will be delivered.

Another scripture given in question was Matthew 25: 41 but before I continue I would like to comment in saying that verse 41 sums up all of the chapter. Especially the parable concerning the talents. The King being God and the three servants you and I. Yeshua speaks often about how we are known by our fruit, and we bare none we are cast into where..... the fire. 

Matthew 25: 31 - "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, accompanied by all the angels, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people from one another as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. The 'sheep' he will place at his right hand and the 'goats' at his left. "Then the king will say to those on his right, 'com, you whom my Father has blessed, take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you made me your guest, I needed clothes and you provided them, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the people who have done what God wants will reply, 'Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you our guest, or needing clothes and provide them? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' The King will say to them, 'Yes I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me!' "Then he will also speak to those on his left, saying, "Get away from me, you who are cursed! Go off into the fire prepared for the Adversary and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me no food, thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, a stranger and you did welcome me, needing clothes and you did not give to me, sick and in prison and you did visit me.' The they too reply, 'Lord when did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needing clothes, sick or in prison, and not take care of you?' And he will answer them, "Yes! I tell you that whenever you refused to do it for the least important of these people, you refused to do it for me! They will go off to eternal punishment, but those who have done what God wants will go to eternal life."  

Yeshua addresses those who are obedient and then those who are not. As with the parable concerning the King and three servants given the talents those, who did well with what the king gave them (The Word) were rewarded while the third was not. When I make poor decisions I have no one to blame other than myself. HaSatan (The Tempter) can only go so far and that is to tempt me as he did with Yeshua in Matthew chapter 4:1. Just as with HaSatan I too have a job and that is to overcome. We read that Yeshua overcame any temptation and when he did, the Satan left his presence. I don't know how I can make this any clearer but we have a choice. I will also make clear that angels don't have the power to be disobedient. We must remember that God is in charge. Prior to the flood HASHEM decided He was going to do away with mankind aside from Noah and his family. If angels were the problem today God could certainly take care of them. 

In part 4 we will cover Revelation and Ezekiel.

Shalom






Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Truth, myths, confusion and yes HaSatan (Part 2)

Welcome back. Today we will discuss further the misconceptions concerning the overall character of HaSatan (The Tempter). In part 1 several names were given for which most of our bible reading circles are known for. Growing up there was a great steriotype that attached itself to what I knew him to be called, and that was The devil. Although I am Jewish by birth I knew nothing say a kid from an orthodox family would know. The name HaSatan was absent from my vocabulary until I was thirty seven years old as was the same with the name Yeshua. Jesus was the theme and the only name I had known. My limited view of what we called the devil was something of an evil deity parading around in a red suit and pitch fork. What should one expect if he is never taught, and the truth is most have no idea what so ever. As human beings we tend to repeat what we see and hear without consideration for thinking it through, and as parents and adults how could we expect our children to know any better. 

Lets start our spiritual engines, tighten our belts and reason. 

In the Tanakh (First half of your bible) the word Satan is used many times, it means adversary, obstacle, stumbling block and Tempter. In Judaism Satan is known as an agent of HASHEM created for a specific purpose. Life is about overcoming and drawing nearer to the One who placed us here. Unless one is drawn to God and hearkens to His voice, considers Him and as well fears God, what would any of this mean.  Think it through.

Consider the following scripture from Isaiah 45: 7 I, HASHEM am the creator of all things. I make peace and create evil, I am God who does all these. 

First we will turn to 2nd Samuel 24: 1 - The anger of HASHEM again flared against Israel, and He enticed David because of them, to say, "Go count the people of Israel and Judah." 

And now 1st Chronicles 21: 1 - An adversary (Satan) stood against Israel, and enticed David to take a count of the people of Israel.

We read in the first of the two that HASHEM himself entices David to go and count, While the latter reads is was Satan. Refer back to yesterdays study concerning Job and how it was God Himself who gave the go ahead to Satan involving all that he had.  You may or may not be aware of this, but it was against the will of God to take a census of the men. King David should have prostrated himself before HASHEM to seek atonement for Israel and himself. The action of the census through the counting of elegable men fit for war was a mistake beyond counting, seventy thousand men fell because of it. 

There's a parable concerning a king and his son. The king one day decided to put his son to a test, his purpose for it was to question his sons worthiness to become heir to the throne. One day as the King was sending off his son he gave some sound advice, "Son live a life of righteousness and stray from loose women." After the son departed the King hired a harlot and gave these orders, "Go to my son and entice him the best you know how." The moral of this parable is as follows, if the kings son overcomes temptation he is worthy, if not, well that's obvious. 

Matthew 7: 13 - Go through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

HaSatan is nothing but a tool created by God Himself to be a stumbling block. Satan is the Tempter and prosecuting attorney, his job is clear. To think of Satan as a fallen angel would be the same as saying he's got a mind of his own, he doesn't. If there was nothing wrong in your life and everything went just your way, how interesting could that be? What would draw you closer to God? No doubt there are circumstances we rather not deal with, but God promises great reward for those who hold out.

Please take a look now at Genesis chapter 4: 3 - After a period of time, Cain brought an offering to HASHEM of the fruit of the ground; and as for Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and from their choicest. HASHEM turned to Abel and to his offering, but to Cain and to his offering He did not turn. This annoyed Cain exceedingly, and his countenance fell. And HASHEM said to Cain, "Why are you annoyed, and why has your countenance fallen? Surely, if you improve yourself, you will be forgiven. But if you do not improve yourself, sin rests at the door. Its desire is toward you, yet you can conquer it." 

We will compare the above to Revelation 3: 20 - Here, I'm standing at the door, knocking. If someone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me. I will let him who wins the victory sit with me on my throne, just as I myself also won the victory and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Watch out for part 3. We will read and study just who in each of the books are the prophets speaking of. They are men, not angels, so we shall see.

Study to show yourself approved.

Shalom








Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Truth, myths, confusion and yes HaSatan (Part 1)

How very unfortunate it is for me to touch on the subject of Satan better known as to many aka (Adversary, Devil, Lucifer and yes the serpent). Yesha'yahu (Isaiah) 14:12 and Ezekiel 28: 14 believe it or not and you should, is not referring to a falling angel. Isaiah here speaks of the king of Babylon and Ezekiel speaks of the king of Tzor. Before we go on and I share with you the scripture it's important to keep in mind that you can't take a line a scripture and simply build your theology around it. The Word of God is not a video game or doll that you can dress up to your liking or anybody else's for that matter. When reading scripture, especially the prophets, context is crucial. 

The church for some time now has done a fantastic job of twisting the straight forwardness of the Tanakh (Torah, Prophets, writings). There is some truth in the church so please don't think that I'm judging, I'm only pointing at the root. When we sit down to read the Tanakh, with the same hunger and thirst as our for-fathers has maybe then and only then can we start to understand. Not only the words written upon the page, but the message in between the lines. 

There is not one place in which the bible points to any fallen angel regardless of disobedience or for any other reason. Sorry, Genesis speaks of a serpent not an angel. Let us take a look at the book of Job chapter 1:6 - It happened one day that the sons of God came to serve HASHEM and among them came the Adversary [Hebrew: Satan]. HASHEM asked the Adversary, "Where are you coming from?" The Adversary answered HASHEM, from roaming through the earth, wandering here and there." This is a clue is it not that the Adversary could not be a fallen angel, otherwise what would he be doing going before the Creator of the universe? The Creator of all there is. OK let us move on and continue with Job. HASHEM asked the Adversary, "Did you notice My servant Iyov, that there's no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil?" The Adversary answered HASHEM, "Is it for nothing that Iyov fears God? You've put a protective hedge around him, his house and everything he has. You've prospered his work, and his livestock is spread out all over the land. But if you reach out your hand and touch whatever he has, without doubt he'll curse you to your face!" HASHEM said to the Adversary, "Here! Everything he has is in your hands, except that you are not to lay a finger on his person." The Adversary went out from the presence of HASHEM. In Judaism the name HaSatan means The Satan and it means nothing more then the Tempter or as our Jewish people like to call him [prosecuting attorney]. To prove my point about his purpose let us turn to Matthew chapter 4: 1- Then the Spirit led Yeshua up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Adversary (The Tempter). After Yeshua had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The Tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, order these stones to become bread." But he answered, "The Tanakh says, 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of HASHEM [Deuteronomy 8:3]. Then the Adversary took him to the holy city and set him on the highest point of the Temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "Jump! For the Tanakh says. 'He will order his angels to be responsible for you... They will support you with their hands, so that you will not hurt your feet on the stones." [Psalm 91: 11-12] Yeshua replied to him, "But it also says, 'Do not put your God to the test." [Deuteronomy 6:16] Once more, the Adversary took him up to the summit of a very high mountain, showing him all the kingdoms of the world in all their glory, and said to him, "All this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me." "Away with you, Satan!" Yeshua told him, "For the Tanakh says, 'Worship HASHEM your God, and serve only him." [Deuteronomy 6: 13-14] Then the Adversary let him alone, and angels came and took care of him.

By now we should all have a clearer picture of the role in which the Satan plays. Like all other creatures created by God, HaSatan has a purpose but only through the approval of God. Matthew chapter 4 is a fine example of what we can overcome, achieve and it is also a tool [HaSatan] that will if we overcome draw us closer to God. 

Let us now take a look at Matthew 10: 28 - "Do not fear those who kill the body but are powerless to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Gei-Hinnom. Aren't sparrows sold for next to nothing, two for an assarion? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground with out your Father's consent. As for you, every hair on your head has been counted. So do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.

Like the story of Matthew chapter 4, Iyov too strays from wronging God and proves the Tempter wrong and in the end sees the face of God. As this post plays out we will cover many views, angles and insights. God will without a doubt clarify this misunderstanding concerning the Adversary and send you off on your way to a better and healthy life.

Until we meet again,
Shalom

Ten Commandments (The Recording) Ten Words



Blessed be the Name of the Lord who has chosen us from among all nations to carry the Word forward. Although this is no easy task, what can one ask for that could possibly bring greater joy. When the Ten Words were given at Mt. Sinai there was a great shift in the world, a people came forth and the marriage of all marriages then took place. A covenant between The Creator of the universe and His beloved. For this is why marriage should not be taken lightly. When a man comes forth at the very special time in his relationship prior to asking the question he should prepare his heart and in going forth all else stands still. As we shall read below:
When the Holy One, Blessed is He, presented the Torah at Sinai, not a bird chirped, not a fowl flew, not an ox lowed, not an angel ascended, not a seraph proclaimed Holy. The sea did not roll and no creature made a sound. All of the vast universe was silent and mute. It was then that the Voice went forth and proclaimed, I am HASHEM, your God. When God revealed Himself to Israel, the world fell silent, because this moment was pivotal not only to Israel but to all of Creation; had Israel not accepted the Torah, the universe would have come to an end.

The above paragraph is based on commentary, but one can surely see such a once in a lifetime event to have taken place. 
Shalom.

Monday, January 28, 2008

The River Bank

No one man is exempt from spiritual or physical trials, not even one. Yeshua our finest example was led by the Spirit to be tempted. John chapter 4:1 After forty days and nights He was hungry and what better time for the tempter (HaSatan) to do what he does best, and that is to tempt. Although hungry, Yeshua did not give in, nor did He accept any offers concerning testing God or bowing down. Yeshua did what no other man in the flesh can do on his own. When we are faced with uncertainties we tend to come undone, we stray from our spiritual strengths and pathways. How often do I struggle to separate the Holy from the secular. More often then not now a days. HASHEM is the ocean of water while we are small gatherings of water. What separates you and I from that larger body of water (HASHEM) is the river bank. The riverbank that we and not God have erected, the boundaries we have put in place due to our own weakness. We are empty vessels without God, clay pitchers sitting behind close doors. 

If I were to ask you what would need to take place in order for you to wake tomorrow morning having unlearned all your understanding and mans theology, what would you answer me? From the moment we hit the delivery room at that second of our young life, we hit the ground running. Our entire life until we decide to change direction is spinning out of control and in vain only you wouldn't agree to it. This message is not for the man or woman who's not going to take the time to have a relationship with the Almighty. You see, God is everywhere. God is especially in places He's invited, for example Revelation 3: 20. We must ascend to HASHEM  not the other way around, and yes, grace has always been a gift. The gift did start where many believe it to be, rather grace because of love is an age old standing stone. Yeshua being the Word and the Word was in the Beginning. The B'rit Hadashah (New Testament) is purely commentary on the Tanakh (everything from Genesis through the final book leading up to Mathew). So regardless if you're Jewish or Gentile The Tanakh is the root of all. The life form. Our instruction manual, and like all instruction manuals, the Bible is full of trouble shooting guides.

Shalom,
Lawrence

Friday, January 25, 2008

Rahab's wisdom


God appears to those who search for Him. Isaiah 55:6 quotes, "Seek HASHEM when He can be found, call on Him when He is near". Thee are those who believe that HASHEM is no further away then the ear is from the mouth. In Exodus 4:11 Then HASHEM said to him, "Who makes a mouth for man, or who makes one dumb or deaf, or slighted or blind? Is it not I HASHEM? So now, go! I shall be with your mouth and teach you what you should say."

Rehab spoke to the two Jewish spies Caleb and Phinehas, Joshua 2: 11 We heard and our hearts melted - no spirit remained in any man because of you - for HASHEM, your God, He is God in the heavens above and on the earth below. 

Here is a woman that was not a Jew from birth nor lived among them yet she recognized the hand of HASHEM. She feared the God of Israel and saw visions for how could she know the heavenly places. Ezekiel the prophet was a descendent of Rahab and saw even greater visions. 

Blessed be the Name of HASHEM who bestows His mercy upon those who seek Him. If we could only get past ourselves, our motivations and once and for all grasp the beauty that God cares to give.

Shalom,
Rabbi Lawrence

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Parashas Yisro (Jethro/Ten Commandements)



We have traveled far in the last three Torah readings; from packing our bags within Egypt, crossing the Reed Sea and know encamped outside Mt. Sinai. We have heard the last of Jethro (father in-law to Moses) and now we must prepare for the wedding feast. Outside of the first passover and the crossing of the Reed Sea on dry ground, I would call the encounter at Sinai the ultimate climax, the covenant of Creator and create. We are commanded by HASHEM to take three days to prepare ourselves for the ceremony of our lives, the event many didn't attend. This reminds me of the parable Yeshua spoke about concerning the wedding feast. The King ordered His servants to go and gather those whom He wished to have attend, except those originally invited cared not to show up. The King gave another decree concerning others He cared to have attend and they did so. However there was one who did not dress appropriately and this one the King had removed. You nor I were there physically for the given of the Ten Words at Sinai, but we could certainly try to put ourselves in their shoes. Imagine the heartbeats of 1.5 million men, women and children, the anticipation and longing. We read about the dark thick cloud that covered Sinai, the trumpets that rang out and the voice of HASHEM which I have been told for a lack of words sounded like rushing waters. So loud in fact that our ancestors pulled back and left the shorthand to Moses. Exodus 20:15 - 16.

*A note I would like very much to share with you from my Chumash (Torah and commentary). When the Holy One, Blessed is He, presented the Torah at Sinai, not a bird chirped, not a fowl flew, not a ox lowed, not angel ascended, not a sereph proclaimed Holy. The sea did not roll and no creature made a sound. All of the vast universe was silent and mute. It was then that the Voice went forth and proclaimed, I am HASHEM, your God!

To be continued.

Shalom,
Rabbi Lawrence

OK I'm back.

Today we are faced the task if we so desire it, to overcome our physical needs while in this world. Last week we read in Parashas Beshalach Exodus chapter 14 how Moses was faced with the daunting task of having over 1.5 million Jews as well as others consisting of men, women and children to look after. HASHEM knew what He was doing when He chose Moses, after all He is God. I am a husband and a father, a brother and a son, an uncle and a friend and although I don't lead and support in the magnitude as Moses, I can still be challenged. Thank HASHEM that He doesn't give us anything we can't handle.

One man, one soul of both flesh and blood as you and me, yet, Moses was no ordinary man. He was special. He was chosen. He saw the Maker of heaven and earth face to face as no one man ever did. Called into the presence of The Mighty One, the God of all Israel. A man who laid down his life for a people who were stiff necked, a people, a job which no words could explain. Yes he laid down his life spiritually and physically to spare the very people who wanted nothing more then to go back to a land of slavery. if you remember Exodus chapter four, Moses attempted to pursue God to choose someone other then he. Moses went from being a man of heavy tongue to a man who's name is written in the book of life.

Most of us today are envious, jealous and troubled by what we don't have. We are too troubled with wanting what others have. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses to name a few knew God by His Name. HASHEM spoke to them not in dreams but face to face, rather it be He or an angel. That is what I desire! To be a righteous man, a light and a purity. I pray that we can all come together some day and put aside our differences while still being Torah observant and focus on God in unison and then maybe we can see the mightiness of His right arm.
Psalm: 81: 14 - 17
*IF Israel would heed My call,
If Israel would walk My way,
My hand would break the tyrant's might,
My hand would cause their foes to fall.

Their time on earth would then endure,
The godless hosts would yield to them,
A portion rich they would posses,
The finest wheat and honey pure.
________________________________

The Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you,
The Lord lift up His countenance you and give you peace.

Shabbat Shalom.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Lech Lecha Genesis


HASHEM said to Abram, "Go for yourself from your land, from your relatives, and from your father's house to the land I will show you. 

God commands us to heed His voice, yet we have a choice to make. The choice is ours. The end result is His. Abram at this point in Genesis was called by the Father, Abram; not Abraham. The story of Abraham is a delightful one, one of hope and a indication that God pays close attention. As I sit and write this article there's a spirit within that shines forth light, a door has flung open the boundary that once was a hindrance; the river bank holding back, it is now gone. God is Spirit and so are we. God is the source and we are those who receive. Unlike Terah (father of Abraham) the son Abraham was unique. God saw this uniqueness. As a young man Abram began to question that which was around him and perhaps the very action aside from speaking within and without, was the destruction Abram brought upon his fathers Idols. For Abram saw they they could not see, speak, move nor smell. These idols that many had put their hope were nothing more than clay crafted into the likeness of the craftsman and purchaser. During the day Abram would question the sun and at night he would question darkness and to the conclusion he came that there had to be a higher being. A God who creates and puts into affect. A God of mercy. The Creator of Heaven and Earth. God searches our hearts, our thoughts as well as our questions regardless of their magnitude. Prior to to the flood God found no one worthy to live other than one man (Noah). God promised that such an event would never take place again, and it never has. 

We read in Genesis chapter 12 that God calls Abram out of a land he had known all his life, away from his father's house and from his relatives. God saw the man Abram and knew the importance of taking him out and away to a place that he won't be influenced by idolatry. This was the first of ten major tests he was put through. God now had someone He could build upon, someone who would not sway from the path of righteousness and who would become the father of nations. We often think that God doesn't need us to carry out His plan; though in places this stands true, He desires for us His likeness. More often then not we miss the mark, the very reason we exist. More often then not we're to busy quarreling with one another, planning wars, pointing fingers, judging and so on. Not until we focus on God with all out heart, mind, soul and strength will we see the movement of HASHEM in the way He desires to show us. HASHEM is not formed from clay nor should He put in a box while you do what you do. 

In the book of 2nd Kings chapter 1 is the story of Ahaziah a man who fell through from his home. He sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub rather he was going to live or not. At this point an angel of God gave word to Elijah to go towards the messengers and to deliver them a message concerning the Word of God for Ahaziah. God said that he shall surely die! Why? Because as God put it, "Is there not a God in Israel that you had to go and summon Baal-zebub. 

My point to you is this. Abraham desired to know the one true God, the Creator of all things, the very One Who recreates daily. Though the sun may go down today tomorrow it shall rise again. We have been conditioned in a such away that we attempt other resources rather they are people or services then to approach God from the beginning. If and when we acknowledge that God is the rightful owner of all there is, shouldn't we go to Him and Him only? 

Point, this was the importance of sending Abram from his homeland to a new place without influence from man, without influence from society, and away from corruption. Today as Torah students rather we are Jews or Gentiles, rather we are believers or not, we must follow in the foot steps of the Patriarchs. We too must go out from the muck, from our ways of old. We must not be known for our empty words, for talk and no action. Let us not say God knows my heart and yet do what we desire. 

There's much more to write but at a later time.

Shalom,
Rabbi Lawrence

In The Beginning




Good morning and Shalom to all. My name is Rabbi Lawrence Wohl and I am a Messianic Jew. For those who are not familiar with the term Messianic; it simply means believer. I decided to create this blog for all those who have questions, for those who wish to share and for those who care to learn. Please remember that I don't know all there is however I will answer and respond to the best of my understanding. Remember also that those of you who do not share my beliefs are welcome to post your thoughts but only in a manner of not bashing one over the head in hatred. I have never believed nor shall I ever believe that everyone who reads the Word of God is going to agree with me. In fact it would be a sad mistake to do so. I encourage just as God does to study and seek truth and wisdom from the Creaator of all. Friends, it is my desire to reach out to those who have lost their way, to those who have never known and to those who cry for change.

Shalom,
Rabbi Lawrence