Categories
Discussions Prophets and Writings

Can a nation be born in a day? Exploring Zion’s sudden birth in Scripture (Isaiah 66; Leviticus 12)

Many point to or dismiss the prophecy “a land can be born in a day” as having anything to do with the modern state of Israel. We explore how the book of Isaiah’s structure points to the real message of Zion, a people who know the difference between empty religion and trembling at God’s word. That message is wrapped in the mysterious prophecy that birth pangs follow this birth rather than precede it. Learn how God transforms corrupt worship, redefines Israel’s priesthood, and gathers the nations to Zion in a redemption that arrives like a “thief in the night.”

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

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.

Categories
Discussions Torah

How we learn to walk by faith into God’s Promised Land (Numbers 13)

Was the LORD setting up ancient Israel to fail by bringing the people to the border of the Promised Land, telling them to send in 12 spies then condemning that generation from being too scared of the opposition to go in? The Torah reading שְׁלַח Shelakh (“send,” Numbers 13–15) underscores the teaching of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) that God’s salvation must be faith-based.

We’ll find out that what was true at the time of the Exodus is true for each of us today when we leave our “house of bondage” and go to God’s kingdom of “rest,” i.e., freedom.