Tag: teshuvah

Set the captives free: The Bible’s real message on slavery & redemption (Exodus 21–22; Jeremiah 34)

Post author By Daniel
Post date December 20, 2025
No Comments on Set the captives free: The Bible’s real message on slavery & redemption (Exodus 21–22; Jeremiah 34)

A digital oil painting created by ChatGPT in a bold palette-knife style shows a diverse group of people journeying from darkness into light. On the left, figures emerge from shadow and bondage, symbolizing slavery in Exodus. They move through parted waters toward a radiant, open landscape of freedom and hope. At the center, a luminous, robed figure with outstretched arms represents Messiah Yeshua, welcoming men, women, and children of many backgrounds into redemption and unity. The right side glows with warm golds and blues, intentionally left simple and uncluttered to accommodate a text overlay. In the upper right corner is the text, “Set the captives free: The Bible’s real message on slavery & redemption (Exodus 21–22; Jeremiah 34).” A small Hallel.info watermark appears in the lower right corner.

The Bible’s laws about slavery can be troubling, but they reveal something deeper: Even within ancient realities, God’s instructions are aimed to bring dignity, protection, and a pathway to freedom for everyone — Israelites and outsiders alike. In Exodus 21-22, Jeremiah 34 and similar passages, we see that Scripture moves toward greater justice, mercy and inclusion. Ultimately, all these hopes find their fulfillment in the Messiah, Who opens the door to true freedom for every person and nation, showing God’s heart to set all captives free and welcome all into His family.

Tags 'emuna - faithfulness - Strong's H530, abolition of slavery, chataph - kidnapping, cherut - freedom, chesed - mercy/lovingkindness - Strong's H2617, eved - servant or slave, even - stone, Exodus 21, Exodus 22, goyim - nations - Strong's H1472, Jeremiah 34, kidnapping, mishpat - judgment - Strong's H4941, Parashat Mishpatim, ruach - wind/spirit - Strong's H7307, slavery, teshuvah, Torah reading 060

Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Atonement Discussions Passover Torah

The New Covenant: Forgotten sins, remembered promises (Exodus 4; 1John 1–2)

Post author By Jeff
Post date September 27, 2025
No Comments on The New Covenant: Forgotten sins, remembered promises (Exodus 4; 1John 1–2)

The book of Exodus, Paul’s letter to the Colossians and the first letter from apostle Yokhanan (John) reveal the journey from bondage to freedom. We also see the significance of Israel as God’s firstborn and the ongoing struggle between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. This study explores the teachings on atonement, how confession and transformation keep us anchored in God’s promises. It’s about returning, trusting and living out love and Heaven’s light.

Tags 'avon - iniquity/guilt - Strong's H5771, 1st John 01, 1st John 02, Exodus 04, first born, greater Exodus, khata' - to miss or sin - Strong's H2398, Malkhut Elohim, Malkhut haSatan - Kingdom of the Adversary, Parashat Shemot, Pesach, pesha' - transgression - Strong's H6588, teshuvah, Torah reading 048, Yom Kippur

Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Atonement Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

From guilt to glory: Yom Kippur & the believer’s transformative journey

Post author By Jeff
Post date October 12, 2024
No Comments on From guilt to glory: Yom Kippur & the believer’s transformative journey

"From guilt to glory: Yom Kippur and the believer's transformative journey." Adobe Firefly AI palette knife-style image of men and women walking from left to right from gloom to joy.

This study explores יוֹם הַכִּפֻּרִים Yom Kippurim, the Day of Atonement in the Bible, which stands as a pivotal moment in the redemptive story, bridging the gulf between Heaven and Earth. Rooted in Leviticus 16 and echoed in Hebrews 3–10, this sacred day reveals the Messiah’s eternal work of covering sins, transgressions and iniquities.

From the Passover lamb’s blood on the doorpost to block the LORD’s destroyer to the high priest’s incense-shrouded entrance into the Holy of Holies, the themes of Yom Kippur point to the ultimate sacrifice of Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ), the Melchizedek priest who cleanses our consciences from the stain of a life separated from the presence of the Creator (Heb. 9:14).

Confronting the depths of the human heart, as seen in Genesis 4, Psalm 51, Isaiah 1 and Matthew 5, Yom Kippur calls us to a posture of brokenness and contrition, that we might experience the transformative power of forgiveness and restoration.

Discussions Prophets and Writings

2 steps to repentance: Turn away from what’s bad; turn toward Who’s good

Post author By Jeff
Post date September 11, 2021
No Comments on 2 steps to repentance: Turn away from what’s bad; turn toward Who’s good

The Shabbat (Sabbath) between Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is called the Shabbat Shuvah, or Sabbath of Restoration/Return.

Traditional readings for this day from the prophets Hosea, Micah and Joel warn us that when our spiritual eyes are opened, He will show us where our community, our nation has veered away from Him, just as He will show us where we have turned away from Him on a personal level.

During this time of preparation for God’s judgement, we have an opportunity to see where have we gone off the right path. We should want to turn away from evil and turn back to the good. God has promised us through all the Prophets, the Apostles and through the Messiah Himself that the heart of God is toward His people. Heaven is looking for us to repent and change our hearts towards Him.

Tags Hosea 14, Micah 07, Parashat Vayelech, Shabbat Shuvah - Sabbath of Return, shuva - repentance - Strong's H772, teshuvah

Discussions Torah

Deuteronomy 30-31: Prelude to the Song of Moshe

Post author By Richard
Post date June 16, 2012
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A Prelude to the Song of Moses: "God's love is not co-dependent or enabling. He will not enable His children to sin.

Revelation fortells of a time when those who trust completely in God and aren’t fooled by the beast, his image and the number of his name will sing “the song of Moses” and “the song of the Lamb” (Rev. 15:2–4).

We know of the “song of the Lamb” from Revelation 5. There’s the “song of Moshe” in Exodus 15 just after God saves Israel and destroys the Egyptian army in the Red Sea. There’s also another “song” of Moshe in Deuteronomy 32, and understanding it helps us understand apostle Paul’s terms “under [the] law” and “under grace.”

Tags Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 30, Deuteronomy 31, Parashat Nitzavim, Parashat Vayelech, qalal - Strong's H7043, qelalah - curse - Strong's H7045, Revelation, shuva - repentance - Strong's H772, Song of Moshe/Moses, Song of the Lamb, teshuvah, under the law

Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 7:28-50: Truly understanding repentance and forgiveness

Post author By Jeff
Post date January 14, 2012
No Comments on Luke 7:28-50: Truly understanding repentance and forgiveness

Those baptized by the Messiah’s messenger, Yokhanan (John), and the woman who washed Yeshua’s feet understood repentance — turning back from a life in rebellion against God — and forgiveness — God’s removing the stain of guilt on a person for that rebellion — better than the those supposed to be in charge of teaching Israel about God.