Author: Jeff

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Discussions Tabernacles Torah

Sukkot: A reminder of Heaven’s extreme makeover of our lives

Sukkot: A reminder of Heaven's extreme makeover of our lives

In the First Commandment, God says, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Ex. 20:2). As ancient Israel fled from Egypt and travelled to the Promised Land, they lived in booths, or סֻכֹּת sukkot in Hebrew. They weren’t supposed to live in these temporary shelters for 40 years in the wilderness. It was only because of their disobedience that they had to live that way for so long.

This study explores a key lesson of Sukkot (Festival of Tabernacles): We should be orienting ourselves towards God, not expecting Him to orient Himself toward us. 

It’s crucial for us to understand God’s character, to submit to His timing and molding us into His image — revealed through Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) — so that we will be a suitable people for God to dwell with for all time.

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Atonement Discussions

A memorial of Messiah: Heaven’s conscience cleaner (Leviticus 16; Hebrews 1–10)

Yom Kippur: A memorial of Messiah, Heaven's conscience cleaner (Leviticus 16; Hebrews 1-10). A robed figure in a white robe carries away a red robe over his left shoulder.

The prophet Yokhanan (John the Baptizer) said of Yeshua (Jesus), “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”(John 1:29 NASB 1995). This study explores Hebrews 1–10, a thorough explanation of what Heaven is teaching and reminding us about in יוֹם הַכִּפֻּרִים Yom haKippurim (Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement), that it is an annual memorial of Yeshua as the ultimate high priest of Heaven to take away our guilt and allow us to go confidently to God.

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Discussions Torah

Moses and the Lamb sing of God’s justice and compassion (Deuteronomy 32)

Moses and the Lamb sing of God’s justice and compassion (Deuteronomy 32). A hand holds a palm branch against a blue sky.

Whom do we trust when we’re backed into a situation where there’s no escape and no way to overcome our pursuer? That’s what happened when the God of Israel led the newly freed nation to the sea, only to be pursued by the army of a superpower that had enslaved them. After Heaven opened the sea and redeemed Israel, a song of gratefulness arose on the opposite shore (Exodus 15). 

In the Torah reading הַאֲזִינוּ Ha’azinu (“listen,” Deuteronomy 32), Moshe (Moses) reminded Israel in verse of the folly in crying out to God for deliverance when times are bad then running away from God to every other way of life when things are good.

Later in the book of Revelation, those who are redeemed by Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) sing about the great works of redemption in the Song of the Lamb. In this study, we explore how our song of gratefulness and trust (faith) can rise to Heaven like those who have gone before us.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

‘Living water’ from God slakes the spiritual thirst that destroys people and nations (Deuteronomy 29–31; John 4, 7)

'Living water' from God slakes the spiritual thirst that destroys peope and nations (Deuteronomy 29-31; John 4, 7)

In the dual Torah readings נִצָּבִים Nitzavim and וַיֵּלֶךְ Vayelech (“standing” and “he went,” Deut. 29:9–31:30), Moses warns the second post-Egypt generation Israel in Deuteronomy 29:14-21 that if they reject the LORD as their God and King their rejection will cause not only a physical drought in the land, but a spiritual drought too. 

In this study, we explore John 4, where the apostle John records Yeshua’s meeting with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well near Shechem. Although the conversation starts with a conversation about the water in Jacob’s well, it ends with Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) offering her “living water” to satiate her deepest spiritual longings. She is also blessed to be the first person, besides His mother, who receives the knowledge of Yeshua’s messiahship straight from Him.  

Then in John 7, Yeshua brings a similar message to those gathered in the Temple for the last day of Sukkot, offering them living, spiritual water. The difference is that the “living water” the Samaritan woman accepted, Israel’s leadership in Jerusalem violently rejected, bringing on themselves the curse Moses warned about.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

How Heaven’s gardening lessons help us avoid cursed results (Deuteronomy 27–28; Matthew 13)

How Heaven's gardening lessons help us avoid cursed results (Deuteronomy 27-28; Matthew 13)

The Parable of the Sower is one of the most memorable of the Gospel teachings of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus). The personal lessons of the four types of soil seem far removed from the sobering blessings and warnings for ancient Israel in Torah reading כִּי־תָבוֹא Ki Tavo (“when you come in,” Deut. 26:1–29:8). This study unearths the powerful insights just below the surface in both passages.

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Discussions Torah

What ‘men’s clothing’ and mamma birds can teach us about the Golden Rule (Deuteronomy 22:1–7)

What 'men's clothing' and mamma birds can teach us about the Golden Rule (Deut. 22:5-7)

“Treat people the same way you want them to treat you” (Matt. 7:12 NASB) is the Golden Rule of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus). But in the Torah reading כִּי־תֵצֵא Ki Tetze (“when you go forth,” Deut. 21:10–25:19) we’re reminded that Heaven sent this instruction much earlier. In this study, we explore the big role the Golden Rule plays in helping today’s society answer today’s vexing questions about gender and parent roles.

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

How to know whether it’s the Word of the LORD or fake news (Deuteronomy 11–13)

Word of the LORD or fake news? A woman lit by the screen of a laptop in a dark room, looks at the screen skeptically. (Deuteronomy 11-13)

A sober warning amid the three tests for a prophet of God in Torah reading רְאֵה Re’eh (“see,” Deut. 11:26–16:17) is that a false one may foretell something that actually happens. This helps us understand an equally jarring admonition from Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ): “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” (Matt. 7:21 NASB95).

In this study, we’ll look into Moshe’s explanations of three of the Ten Commandments: Follow no other gods, make no idols and respect the Name. A thread that runs through them is respect for the LORD’s reputation. Respect is earned, and the LORD has delivered mightily.