Humility before the Almighty is the heart of the swan song of Moshe (Moses), recorded in the Torah reading הַאֲזִינוּ Ha’azinu (“listen,” Deuteronomy 32). We learn that the people of God are not righteous in themselves, but they are made righteous by God’s mercy. In this study, we explore how a parallel passage in Micah 7:18–20 points us toward Heaven’s removal of the stain of our pasts and how Hebrews 9–10 reveals the Messiah’s pivotal role in that freedom, annually memorialized on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
Tag: Hebrews 09
In this study on Torah reading חֻקַּת Chukat (“statute of,” Numbers 19:1–22:1), we focus on how the parabolic instructions for the red heifer, serpent on the pole and water from the rock reveal a profound lesson on trust in God. The red heifer’s ashes, both cleansing and toxic, underscore our need for an external source of purification beyond our own efforts. The bronze serpent, healing initially then much later worshipped itself, reminds us not to idolize symbols over the true Source of life — think Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. And the water from the rock, supposed to be accessed through Moses and Aaron’s humble submission, shows that our trust must be in God’s provision, not our own strength. These ancient parables challenge us to abandon self-reliance and surrender fully to Adonai in the modern world.
The biblical offerings of Israel always were intended as shadows of heavenly truth (substance), teaching eternal lessons through rituals subject to the ravages of temporal humanity. As the Temple Institute now aims to resurrect the ancient offerings, starting with the red heifer, this study of Torah reading צו Tzav (“command,” Lev. 6:8–8:36) and of readings for Shabbat Parah (Sabbath of the Red Heifer) explores how only Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) perfectly “fleshes out” — fills full — what these patterns prefigured.
While some view restoring Temple worship as contradicting the gospel, others understand these shadows simply are a continual memorial to Messiah’s ultimate atoning work. When the time comes to reinstitute the prophesied Temple service, the Messiah’s key role in consecrating and offering the pure red heifer may resolve the two-millennia dilemma of who can inaugurate God’s eternal kingdom.
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.
The Torah reading חֻקַּת Chukat (Numbers 19-21) is the prerequisite to understanding Hebrews 9, and the latter’s explanation of how Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Messiah) cleanses our consciences from rebellion against the Creator is essential to understanding the Torah’s life-affirming yet mysterious lessons of the red heifer and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
The Sanctuary of Israel was created as a dwelling place for the LORD among His people. He repeatedly implored Moses to “build it as you saw on the mountain.” This was not a “mere” copy, but a facsimile, a visual representation on earth of what happens in heaven.
The Book of Hebrews makes it abundantly clear that Yeshua is the fullness of what all the elements in the Tabernacle represent. Heaven’s goal is to live among His people. This study of he Torah reading תצוה Tetzaveh (“you shall command,” Exodus 27:20-30:10) emphasizes how see that this close connection between Heaven and humanity is God’s self-expressed desire.
It’s apt that the double Torah reading חֻקַּת Chukat and בָּלָק Balak (Numbers 19:1–25:9) this year includes Shabbat on July 4, when we here in the United States celebrate the Declaration of Independence and what it states about the intent for where this nation was going to go.
Ancient Israel was at a spiritual and literal crossroads. Would it embrace its destiny as the people beyond number (Genesis 15 and 22) and as a nation of priests (Exodus 19), taking the nations closer to the Creator?
Similarly, we in the U.S. can ask ourselves if we’re going to follow the God-led legacy of freedom started at Plymouth in 1620 or the greed-led legacy of bondage started in Jamestown in 1619? The Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights point to the Spirit-led legacy of Abraham through Sinai and Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) to Plymouth, rather than flesh-led legacy of Jamestown.
And we’ll see in this study that we can ask ourselves which kind of legacy are we pursuing in how we walk out our lives today and in the days to come.