Category: Discussions

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions

John 14:25-31: Comforting is a Team effort

One of the main jobs of a friend or a BFF is to give comfort. Comfort is consolation, interceding, being an advocate. We have a limited understanding of this, in the concept of the best friend. When Yeshua was preparing for Golgatha, He repeatedly encouraged and admonished His disciples to comfort each other. Yeshua said we are no longer servants, but friends. A master cares little about his servant’s groanings but a friend deeply cares about our sufferings and comes along side and shares them. He also promised to send the Holy Spirit, as the ultimate Comforter. The Holy Spirit’s job isn’t just there to give us a hug but to advocate for us, to speak up for us to the Father. He is also there to help us comfort and support each other.

Categories
Discussions Torah

Numbers 3: The Levites, the Tabernacle, and Our Place in God’s Dwelling

Studies in Torah

Even if you aren’t a literal descendant of Aaron this chapter is about you. If you are joined to the High Priest Messiah Yeshua, you are joined, in a spiritual sense to the priestly Levites. Numbers 3 tells you how.

Categories
Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Discussions Passover

Symbols of Passover: Original, Messianic, today and Day of the LORD

The freedom the world gives is fleeting but the freedom God gives is eternal. (Photo by Freeimages.com/ David Simmonds via Creative Commons License)

The “Law of liberty” mentioned by the Apostle Ya’akob (James 1:25; 2:12) is connected to entering into God’s “rest” (Hebrews 3-4) and “walking in liberty” (Psa. 119:45). And the symbols of Pesakh (Passover) show how God planned for this to work originally, at the time of Yeshua Mashiakh (Jesus Christ), today and at the future Day of the LORD.

Categories
Discussions Torah

Numbers 2: How the army of Israel surrounds the Tabernacle and prepares for war

Aerial view of an ancient Israelite wilderness camp arranged in a perfect square formation, with twelve tribal banners divided into four groups of three. On the east side are three banners, with the Lion of Judah banner prominently displayed. On the south side are three banners, with the tribe of Reuben represented by a rooster banner prominently displayed. On the west side are three banners, with the tribe of Ephraim represented by a bull-calf banner prominently displayed. On the north side are three banners, with the tribe of Dan represented by a serpent banner prominently displayed. All twelve banners and their surrounding tents encircle a glowing central Tabernacle sanctuary. Tents are arranged in precise ranks, with shafts of dawn light streaming from the east. Desert landscape at golden hour, epic scale, cinematic matte painting, highly detailed, 4K, symmetrical composition.

Numbers 1 told us the names of the leaders of the tribes of Israel and the numbers of their fighting men. Numbers 2 places them in rank and shows us how they were strategically camped around the Tabernacle and in what order they are to move in case of danger or battle. The names of these men not only shows us how the Messiah fights His own battle but how God’s army is going to fight His battle.

Categories
Appointments With God Atonement Discussions Prophets and Writings

Jonah 4: God does not desire the death of the wicked

The primary lesson of the book of Jonah is this: God is willing to hear to remove sin, even for people you don’t like. God doesn’t want to kill anyone: Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, whatever. God wants all these groups to be saved. When Yeshua (Jesus) said that the sign of His being the Messiah was the “sign of Jonah” (Matt. 12:39; 16:4; Luke 11:29), it was not only about the three days in the fish representing his three days in the grave. The entire book of Jonah is the “sign of Jonah” Yeshua references.

Categories
Discussions Torah

From freedom to war (Numbers 1:17-54)

Created by ChatGPT, this intricate paper-relief illustration shows the tribes of Israel organized for battle around the Tabernacle in the wilderness, with spear-bearing men and tribal banners surrounding distinct Levites serving near the sanctuary. Layered kirigami and origami textures create depth and a solemn, sacred atmosphere. Text overlay: “From freedom to war (Numbers 1:17-54).”

The lists of numbers in the book of Numbers can be somewhat overwhelming. The first chapters are talking about how they are to count and assemble an army, not the entire community. We don’t pay attention to Numbers 1 because it is “just a bunch of names and a bunch of numbers,” but these were real men who had to be ready to fight in a real war (Num. 1:17-54).

Categories
Discussions Torah

The Hidden Message in Numbers 1:1-16: How the Names of Israel Point to Yeshua

Numbers 1 foretells Yeshua’s burden, the burden He tried to give up three times in the garden before His crucifixion (Matt. 26:39–44). That message is embedded in the meanings of the names of the tribes and clans, and that message becomes clear when the meanings are read together.