Shut The Door On Seduction!!!!

Numbers 25

We are walking in today:  Shut The Door On Seduction!!!!

Witness seduce  throughout out the Bible:  H5496 cuwth to incite, allure, instigate, entice
Deuteronomy 13:6; Joshua 15:18; 1 Samuel 26:19; 2 Samuel 24:1; Jeremiah 38:22, 43:3; 1 Kings 21:25; 2 Kings 18:32; 2 Chronicles 18:31; Job 2:3

Numbers 25:17-18
17 Vex the Midianites, and smite them:  18 For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.

Seduction Strong's Hebrews #8582: Taah- (1), deceiving (1), err (2), go astray (3), goes astray (1), gone astray (3), lead my astray (1), lead you astray (1), leading them astray (1), leads them astray (1), leads to ruin (1), led my astray (2), led them astray (3), led...astray (2), misled (1), reels (1), seduced (1), stagger (3), staggers (1), stray (3), wander (5), wandered (4), wandering (1), wandering away (1), wanders (1), went astray (5).

se·duc·tion
səˈdəkSH(ə)n/
noun
the action of seducing someone.
"if seduction doesn't work, she can play on his sympathy"
a tempting or attractive thing.
"the seductions of the mainland"

Soothing words, open-ended acts of kindness--we tickle each other's ears. Longing for words to soothe our souls to give favor for whatever secret motives are in our hearts. To manipulate unfavorable situations to benefit favorable towards our cause.

Balaam the false prophet, as the example in this lesson. Entices Israel to commit spiritual and physical fornication against Yahweh. By physically participating in a feast dedicated to the foreign Moabite god's. As well as enticement of sexual intercourse with the Midianite women. This plan concocted by Balaam to secure wealth from the Moabite King, Balak. Who desired to annihilate the invading and foreign nation of Israel, but knew all too well the children of Israel were blessed and protected by Yahweh.

Numbers 22-25

Hence, Balaam was hired to pronounce curses on the children of Israel after failing miserably. He comes up with a plan to seduce Israel since his proclaiming over Israel was blessings and curses on her enemies.  By manipulating Yahweh's laws against the children of Israel, leading them to commit sin against Yahweh's  statutes or 10 Commandments. Mainly by Sleeping with the foreign women and eating food sacrificed to other gods.

The blessings and curses Balaam learned of Deuteronomy 28. Could serve as advice to get Israel to become cursed by their God. Thus, Balak king of Moab could destroy Israel without the protection of Yahweh. Due to the blessing and curses. Wow, such a diabolical plan and all for money!!!!!

How much more in our days are there people pretending to be something they are not? Plotting on you because of the protection and anointing or call on your life? Enticing you to follow the ways of the world. No longer pursuing the life of the children of Yahweh. But of other gods! Rendering us subject to the repercussions of disobedience towards the instructions of Yahweh. Coming with soothing words like honey, yet bitter in the end. With the goal to kill you and your sanctified relationship with Yahweh.

Proverbs 16:24-30
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him. 27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. 28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. 29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good. 30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
The principles that shut the door on seduction are listed below found under the seventh commandment--Thou shall not commit adultery:

433. You shall punish a seducer according to the law --Exodus 22:16-17 16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

 

434. You shall not approach your close relative to uncover nakedness -- Leviticus 18:7 The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

 

435. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father  --Leviticus 18:7

436. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother --Leviticus 18:7

​437. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife  --Leviticus 18:8 The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.

 438. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister --Leviticus 18:9 The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.

439. You shall not uncover the nakedeness of your son's daughter -- Leviticus 18:10 The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness. 

440. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter's daughter -- Leviticus 18:10

441. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter -- Leviticus 18:10

442. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter -- Leviticus 18:11  The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

443. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister  --Leviticus 18:12 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman.

444. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister -- Leviticus 18:13 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.

445. You shall not uncover the nakedness of the wife of your father's brother --Leviticus 18:14  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.

446. You shall not lie carnally with your father's brother -- Leviticus 18:14

447. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's wife -- Leviticus 18:15 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

448. You shall not uncover the nakedness of a your brother's wife --Leviticus 18:16 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.

449. You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter --Leviticus 18:17 
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.

450. You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her son's daughter --Leviticus 18:17

451. You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter's daughter --Leviticus 18:17

452. You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman in addition to her sister, to make them rivals, in her lifetime  --Leviticus 18:18 Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.

453. You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman in her time of separation  -- (Niddah) Leviticus18:19 ‘Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity.

454. You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife  --Leviticus 18:20 Moreover you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, to defile yourself with her. 

455. A man shall not lie carnally with another man, it is a abomination  --Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. 

456. You shall not lie with any animal  --Leviticus 18:23 Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion.

457. A woman shall not stand before an animal for mating, it is a perversion  --Leviticus 18:23

458. A man shall marry the virgin he has seduced and give her father fifty silver shekel --Deuteronomy 22:29 then the man who lay with her shall give to the young woman’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife because he has humbled her; he shall not be permitted to divorce her all his days.

​​459. A man shall not divorce the virgin he has seduced and married --Deuteronomy 22:29​

To hear this teaching again click here.

Shutting The Door On Rebellion

Deuteronomy 18

We are walking in today:  Shutting The Door On Rebellion

Witness rebellion through out the Bible:  H4805 meriy bitterness against the Most High

Deuteronomy 13:6; 1 Samuel 15:23; Job 34:37; Matthew 26:55; Jude 1:11

Rebellion in the Kingdom unthinkable!!! Yet rebellion was in the Kingdom before the earth existed. Lucifer caused a 3rd of heaven to rebel and be cast out of citizenship of the Kingdom forever by Yahweh's mighty army. So how can we as citizens of flesh hope to obtain eternal life in the practice of this type of rebellion? Living mortal lives bound by trusting in our own characteristics, material gains, knowledge, and losing the core principles. Turning from the values, scripturally that could have saved us from the many influences of the fallen.

1 Timothy 6:9
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Luke 9:62

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

The examples of Yeshua submitting Himself, shows us how we too are to the relinquishing the idea of control to Yahweh as well. Walking in obedience, to commit His will to the Father. This exemplifies Yeshua learned, through His testings--to overcome self-will, arrogance and rebellion . Yesm Fiveamprayer these are the tests, that we are talking about! We all must go through them in order to advance in what YHWH has planned for us. Yeshua's perfect life and sacrifice--deemed us called from the foundations of the earth. We are called but not all chosen.

Luke 22:42
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.

Mathew 22:14
For many are called, but few are chosen.

Yahweh's Kingdom is based on statutes and regulations, just like any other kingdom. There are rules implemented and are to be lived by. These consist of 613 principles, extensions of specific scriptures in connection to the 10 Commandments. These principles Yeshua used to teach and implement authority to His Talmidim. To show them the keys of David and how to shut the door on anything that is of darkness. The only requirement is to first, obey His commandments to the letter. As they then and us today walk with Him, continue in the transformation that has to take place.  Returning us to His original intent and plan for our lives! Without this process and in continued rebellion it's bound to seep into one's heart. Just as HaSatan and all who follow his way. Or fall away or be come complacent.

The line is being crossed and judgment is coming to the house of Yahweh first. Shutting the doors on rebellion and every demonic influence, by using the principles under the commandments. This is how the Kingdom operates. Shown in the life of Yeshua, studying the Torah, and His trust in Yahweh to show how to be live--applying principles to defeat principalities.

Principles 26-28 Deuteronomy 18:10

26. You should not practice divination
27. You should not practice astrology
28. You should not read signs or practice witchcraft.

Exodus 20:1-3
1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me

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Weekend Meditation: Shut The Door On Flattery!!!

Deuteronomy 13

We are walking in today:  Weekend Meditation:  Shut The Door On Flattery!!!

Witness flattery throughout the Bible:  H250 kha'lek smoothness of the tongue 

Job 17:5; Romans 16:18

The book of Proverbs is illuminating here: The heart is the seat of wisdom (2:10; etc.); of trust (or confidence) (3:5); diligence (4:23); perverseness (6:14); wicked imaginations (6:18); lust (6:25); subtlety (7:10); understanding (8:5); deceit (12:20); folly (12:23); heaviness (12:25); bitterness (14:10); sorrow (14:13); backsliding (14:14); cheerfulness (15:13); knowledge (15:14); joy (15:30); pride (16:5); haughtiness (18:12); prudence (18:15); fretfulness (19:3); envy (23:17).
This arrangement of the 613 principles, the law of our Lord God Almighty, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is from the book by Rabbi Ralph Messer, Torah: Law Or Grace? Kingdom Principles For Kingdom Living. This book can be ordered online here or in the store if you are in the Denver area here.


The Fourth Commandment Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the Sabbath day, to sanctify it . Six days you shall work and accomplish all your work; the seventh day is Sabbath to the Lord , your God; you shall not do any work--you, your son, your daughter, your slave, your maidservant, your animal, and your convert within your gates--for in six day the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and He rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it.

341. You shall not sow your field during the seventh year-- (Shemittah) Leviticus 25:4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.

342. You shall not prune your vineyard during the seventh year-- Leviticus 25:4

343. You shall not reap the aftergrowth of your harvest in the seventh year-- Leviticus 25:5 That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land.

344. You shall not pick grapes set aside for yourself in the seventh year-- Leviticus 25:5

345. You shall count seven cycles of Sabbatical years; 49 years-- Leviticus 25:8 And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.

346. You shall sound the Shofar on Yom Kippur for the Jubiliee year-- (Yovel) Leviticus 25:9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.

347.  You shall sanctify the 50th year and proclaim freedom throughout the Land --Leviticus 25:10And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. 

348. You shall not sow in the Julilee year --Leviticus 25:11 A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed. 

349. You shall not harvest the aftergrowth in the Jubilee year --Leviticus 25:11
350. You shall not pick what was set aside for yourself in the Jubilee year --Leviticus 25:11
351. You shall not sell the Land in perpetuity --Leviticus 25:23 The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine, for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.
352. You shall provide redemption for the Land in the Jubilee year --Leviticus 25:24 And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land.
353. You shall allow the redemption of a house until the end of one year of its sale --Leviticus 25:24
Deuteronomy 13:1-6
“Everything I am commanding you, you are to take care to do. Do not add to it or subtract from it.
2 (1) “If a prophet or someone who gets messages while dreaming arises among you and he gives you a sign or wonder, 3 (2) and the sign or wonder comes about as he predicted when he said, ‘Let’s follow other gods, which you have not known; and let us serve them,’ 4 (3) you are not to listen to what that prophet or dreamer says. For Adonai your God is testing you, in order to find out whether you really do love Adonai your God with all your heart and being. 5 (4) You are to follow Adonai your God, fear him, obey his mitzvot, listen to what he says, serve him and cling to him; 6 (5) and that prophet or dreamer is to be put to death; because he urged rebellion against Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from a life of slavery; in order to seduce you away from the path Adonai your God ordered you to follow. This is how you are to rid your community of this wickedness.

2514. chalaqqah ►
Strong's Concordance
chalaqqah: smoothness, flattery
Original Word: חֲלַקּוֹת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: chalaqqah
Phonetic Spelling: (khal-ak-kaw')
Short Definition: smooth

You have heard the cliché, “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” You might never have viewed yourself as someone’s enemy, but you are.

Is flattery a sin? Yes! Citizens should not flatter others it might seem harmless, but it can be very dangerous. Citizens are to always remain humble, but flattery can turn people corrupt especially pastors.

Flattery boosts egos, pride, and it can also put pressure on the person who is being flattered. Flattery is mostly to seek favor from someone or it might be a complete lie and it’s a tool that false teachers use. They flatter and at the same time they water down the gospel.

They compromise with the Word of Yahweh and never preach on repentance and turning away from sin. They tell someone who is lost and living in rebellion to the Word of Yahweh, don’t worry you’re good.

This is a huge reason why there are many churches filled with false worshipers and many professing citizens will not enter into Heaven. Complementing is sincere and unselfish, but enemies flatters with their lips, but have ill intentions in their heart.

I just love warm words of encouragement! When someone thoughtfully lifts my spirit with a word of sincere encouragement, I can feel the effect for days! This may not come around often, but when it shows up, we connect to it with all of our hearts, don’t we? Proverbs puts it this way, “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” Proverbs 25:11, beautiful. How refreshing are the wholesome words that give grace to their hearers Ephesians 4:29.

In a fallen world, however, not all apparent encouragement benefits us. Some of it is corrupt, tainted and coming from an enemy. The Bible offers a good word for encouraging words that poison—flattery.

The Hebrew word for flattery means “smoothness.” Like tiny stones that have been smoothed by ocean waves, the flatterer’s words have been smoothed by his own pride. The flatterer is the person who will use his smooth tongue to take advantage of you!

So, how can we tell if one or more of our friends are actually enemies?

1. What does the Bible say?

A person who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for him to step into. To an evil person sin is bait in a trap, but a righteous person runs away from it and is glad.

Proverbs 29:5-6
5 A person who flatters his neighbor
spreads a net for his own steps.
6 In an evil person’s crime is a trap,
but the righteous sing and rejoice.

2. Rid yourself of all lying

A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 26:28
A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

3. Honest criticism is better

An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

4. Beware of false teachers.

Romans 16:17-19
17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put snares alongside the teaching in which you have been trained — keep away from them. 18 For men like these are not serving our Lord the Messiah but their own belly; by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the innocent. 19 For everyone has heard about your obedience; therefore I rejoice over you. However, I want you to be wise concerning good, but innocent concerning evil.

Scriptures on flattery:

Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Psalm 78:36-37 Nevertheless they flattered him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

Psalm 5:8-9 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction;their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.

Psalm 12:2-3 Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts. May the LORD cut off their flattering lips and silence their boastful tongues.

Psalm 62:4 They plan to topple me from my high position. They delight in telling lies about me. They praise me to my face but curse me in their hearts.

Psalm 55:21 His speech is smoother than butter, but there is war in his heart. His words are more soothing than oil, but they are like swords ready to attack.

Proverbs 27:5-6 An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Proverbs 28:23 In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery.

Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

Romans 16:17-19 Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause dissensions and obstacles contrary to the doctrine you have learned. Avoid them, for such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.

Galatians 1:10 For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

Here are four ways that you can avoid the flatterers (enemies) in your life:

1. Beware of those who praise you excessively.

Luke 20:20
So they kept a close watch on the situation. They sent spies who hypocritically represented themselves as righteous, so that they might seize hold of something Yeshua said, as an excuse to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor.

2. Beware of those who constantly tear others down to make you look better.

Proverbs 26:28
A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

3. Don’t underestimate your love for the enemy-flattering praise.

Proverbs 26:25
when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
for there are seven abominations in his heart;

4. Repent of your own flattery and cut it out of your life.

Jude 1:16
These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

Let me urge you to examine yourself the next time you speak to a brother so that you can be the judge over your own heart

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

What am I hoping to gain by what I am about to say?
What am I more preoccupied with, this person’s good or my own?
Is what I am saying 100% truthful?
Would I repeat what I am saying to someone else when this person is no longer present?
Would I say this in the presence of Yeshua?

The Hebrew explains the word flattery pretty much the same as Greek but with a few more colorful illustrations. It's a primitive root; "usually figuratively (in a mental or moral sense) to be (causatively, make) simple or (in a sinister way) delude: allure, deceive, enlarge, entice, persuade."

The intent of flattery is to make a person simple, or just delude and deceive them. To make someone simple is an attempt to strip them of their astuteness and discernment. There is great power in flattery and freewheeling compliments. That power is just about always used to control or manipulate in some way.

Psalm 78:35 tells of Israel flattering the Lord with their mouths, and that was for the purpose of deluding, alluring or trying to make simple the King of kings: "And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant."


Shutting the door on flattery using the principles:
171. You shall not accede to one who entices you secretly--Deuteronomy 13:9 But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.

172. You shall not harken to one who entices you secretly --Deuteronomy 13:9

173. You shall not take pity on one who entices you secretly --Deuteronomy 13:9

174. You shall not be compassionate to one who entices you secretly --Deuteronomy 13:9

175. You shall not conceal one who entices you secretly --Deuteronomy 13:9

176. You shall not allow one who entices to do such an evil thing again in your midst --Deuteronomy 13:12 “If you hear someone in one of your cities, which the Lord your God gives you to dwell in, saying,

It's one thing to try to control another man or a leader using a flattering tongue, but it's quite another to try that trick on Yahweh. We all use words to control others on a very regular basis, and flattery is the worst of these weapons. But when it comes to Adonai, the Most High, there can be no false pretense, or over-used platitudes that will bring Him under our control.

He is not like man, who thinks he's worthy of the compliments he's been getting. He is worthy of every word of praise or adoration that can be conceived of, but don't speak it because you believe He needs to hear it, speak it because you believe it's true!  To hear this again click here.

Shut The Door On Manipulation

Exodus 32

We are walking in today: Shut The Door On Manipulation

Witness influence throughout the Bible: Strong's H4575 ma'adannah dubious, to delicately propose an idea to another
Jeremiah 26:23-24; Acts 19:19-20

Exodus 32:21
And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?

Manipulation Strong's Hebrews 8610 תָּפַשׂ taphas {taw-fas'}

1) to catch, handle, lay hold, take hold of, seize, wield
 to lay hold of, seize, arrest, catch
 to grasp (in order to) wield, wield, use skilfully
 (Niphal) to be seized, be arrested, be caught, be taken, captured
 (Piel) to catch, grasp (with the hands)

"Psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the behavior or perception of others through abusive, deceptive or underhanded tactics."

The children of Israel and their journey through the wilderness witnessed this in their midst. The text is an example to us today. The journey of Israel from physical slavery and the process of developing  a trust-based relationship with Yahweh--simply learning to obey rules given through Moses. The children of Israel erred time and time again. This particular instance by manipulating Aaron into making an idol as a symbol of Yahweh in their own idle minds. For four hundred years of captivity and the pagan influence picked up throughout the years in bondage is inevitable. The people fell back on picking up some form of worship from the surrounding nations. The children of Israel manipulated Aaron into creating a golden calf to remind them of the physical representation of Yahweh and as a symbol of Moses as their physical leader. For the people didn't want an up front in your face relationship with Yahweh per se. Yet they needed to see their leader, in his apparent absence--who was fasting 40 days to receive instructions on how build the Tabernacle. They presumed something had happened to Moses because of his extended leave from them.
Here is when the people started in on demands and worked on manipulating Aaron to create a god to go before them. The sin of manipulation was so deep that the golden calf was more than an idol as we have previously understood.  The purpose of having idols was to be a means to connect or manipulate the 'god' for the needs of the people.  This is the root of the golden calf and resulting sin that Aaron fashioned. This symbol was often worshiped during that time frame and was a popular fertility and life symbol of other nations gods. So the bull was to just be a symbol of Yahweh/Moses, God and leader.

Bottom line Israel wanted to replace the presence of Moses as a symbol of connection to Yahweh...an idol. Thinking the symbol would somehow harness Yahweh and manipulate His power. Therefore, the 2nd commandment was broken.

Exodus 20:1-6
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

No images or likeness or symbols of Yahweh like the pagan beliefs, charms or symbols are to believe to harness the power of its deity. So the children of Israel tried to reduce Yahweh and to a symbol of power through the golden calf worship. As we do today with Yahweh in each other.

Manipulating religion as a symbol or sign of Yahweh. When in fact is for selfish gain. We shut the door on manipulation in any format--that does not line up with the principle set forth. Golden calf forms of concepts. Yahweh is omnipresent. A day is as a thousand years to Him and His timing is perfect. We will wait on Yahweh who renews our strength and learn from the examples in the Torah. How to use the keys of David and shut the doors that need to be shut. So that the abundance of life can truly begin. Counting up through the wilderness.  To hear this again click here.

O Lord, open our eyes to our reductive ways. Show us the things in us that cause your nose to burn. And have mercy upon us we pray, for we are indeed a stiff necked people bent on getting where we want to go. Change us, that we might walk tenderly forth in your Presence. Amen.

Men Of Torah Day--Men Of Torah Applying The Principles, Will Bring Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge

Exodus 31

We are walking in today:  Men Of Torah Day--Men Of Torah Applying The Principles, Will Bring Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge

Witness how to live throughout the Bible:  H8141 sha'neh year as division of time, as measure of time, as indication of age, a lifetime (of years of life)

Exodus 18:20; 1 Kings 2:3-4; Psalm 81:14, 119:1; Ephesians 5:15

Exodus 31:3-4
3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

As examples, some of my favorite characters in the Torah contained, knowledge, wisdom and understanding. David feared the Lord and learned wisdom. Trusting Yahweh, taught David wisdom waiting for the Lord Yahweh brought him understanding and knowledge.  This waiting on Yahweh enacted David to fulfill Yahweh's plans.

Psalms 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Joseph as well showed theses three traits in himself as well. Joseph handled the affairs of his master, living in the traditions of his fathers. Joseph interprets dreams for Pharoah and the two he was jailed with.

Throughout the Scriptures we find that there are three key words that are often linked together. Those words are wisdom, understanding and knowledge. They are necessary words for us to understand if we are going to faithfully serve the Lord here on earth. Please note that there is a natural wisdom, understanding and knowledge, and there is a spiritual wisdom, understanding and knowledge. This message is focusing on the spiritual application of the words, for it is the spiritual aspect of these words that will make all the difference in our lives!

We shall start with the spiritual definition of wisdom:

The word wisdom is translated from the Hebrew word “chokmah,” meaning “wisdom, skill” (Young’s Analytical Concordance); “wisdom (in a good sense):- skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance); “to be or become wise. The word denotes the acquisition of the habit of wisdom . . . by experience . . . the receiving of instruction, and the exercising of correct judgment; wise-hearted” (Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies).

Wisdom is also given as meaning “to discern, to perceive; to discern mentally, to understand; to have understanding, to be intelligent, wise; discreet” (Wilson’s). “1. the ability or result of an ability to think and act utilizing knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight. 2. accumulated knowledge, erudition, or enlightenment 4. soundness of mind” (Collins Dictionary). (“erudition” is “showing extensive scholarship learning”

The word understanding is translated from the Hebrew word “tebunah,” meaning “to separate, to distinguish; hence, to discern, to mark, to understand, all which depend on the power of separating, distinguishing, discriminating; specially, to discern, perceive; to discern mentally, to understand; insight, understanding” (Wilson’s); “discretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom” (Strong’s).

The word knowledge is translated from the Hebrew word “daath,” meaning “cunning knowledge” (Strong’s); “to perceive, to be sensible of, by sight, by touch, but chiefly in the mind; hence, to understand, observe; to consider; to mark and observe with a purpose . . .” (Wilson’s)

There is a clear difference between natural and spiritual wisdom:

“Who is a wise (“sophos” = “skill” – Young’s) man and endued with knowledge (“epistemon” = “understanding, intelligent” – Young’s; “to fix one’s mind upon, i.e. to understand, to know how to do anything, to know well, to have knowledge” – Bullinger’s) among you?

What a challenge these three words present to us ~ wisdom, understanding and knowledge! May we be found seeking to know and walk in the true meaning of these words, so others will see and know the handiwork of Yahweh in our lives! May we be a perceptive and discerning people in these times when many are losing their way. Let the truth of Yahweh's Word fill you with faith, courage and revelation as you seek to know the outworking of these words more and more in your life. May Yahweh bless you as you seek Him in all things! To hear this again click here.

Shut The Door On Being Judgmental!!! Other People's Shoes...

Leviticus 19

We are walking in today:  Shut The Door On Being Judgmental!!! Other People's Shoes...

Witness judgement throughout the Bible:  H4941 misphat act of deciding a case, place, court, seat of judgment, process, procedure, litigation (before judges), case, cause (presented for judgment), sentence, decision (of judgment), execution (of judgment), decision that grants deliverance
Leviticus 24:22; Isaiah 26:8; Proverbs 24:23

Leviticus 19:15
And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.

The Torah teaches us to accurately apply a principle and it will prosper you financially, spiritually, emotionally and mentally when applied to your life. There are 613 principles to apply to one's life--for situation. That Yahweh gave His children to use in order to permit or forbid (bind or loose) situations in a Hebrews life. The Law of protection is seen in the text when Yeshua was asleep in the belly of a ship during a storm. While His 12 Talmidim feared for their lives above deck--they awoke Yeshua only to find that He was at peace with the surrounding danger. At total ease He spoke to the storm and calmed both storm and Talmidim. The Law of protection.

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

That is a quick example of applying the principles for the law of protection, but the topic at hand is judging. The scriptures are opened to many of us just as Paul mentioned--looking through a glass dimly, but the definition is distorted till our understanding of passages are revealed. Contrary to our understanding.

1 Corinthians 13:11-12
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Judging others in the Hebraic understanding is far from modern interpretations of this meaning. This makes perfect sense in the light as we expel inaccurate beliefs about judging our neighbors, thus freeing ourselves in the process of inaccurately judging others.

An old Hebrew saying goes. "Don't judge your friend until you've walked a mile in his moccasins."

Other People's Shoes: Strategies for judging favorably.

by Sara Yoheved Rigler

Before I left for my college year in India in 1968, my friends warned me not to act like a Western imperialist and impose my lifestyle on the Indians. "Don't worry," I joked. "I won't buy shoes for the natives."

But four months later, I found myself doing precisely that.

Twelve-year-old Mundju was the daughter of the family of servants who attended on the International Ladies' Hostel, where I lived. While the rest of the women and girls in her family were congenial and beautiful, Mundju was morose and homely. She rarely spoke and never smiled.

Like everyone else in her family, she went barefoot. Unlike everyone else, she had deep cracks in her feet. One day she came to my room limping. When I asked her what was wrong, she silently showed me a deep gash in her left foot.

I whisked her off to a doctor in the nearby clinic. He pronounced her foot infected. He prescribed some antiseptic cream, and a pair of shoes. "If she doesn't wear shoes to protect her feet," he warned, "the infection will never heal. She'll be crippled."

"Do you want shoes?" I asked in simple Hindi.

Mundju's eyes lit up and she grinned.

I hailed a bicycle rickshaw and took Mundju to the Bata shoe store in the center of the city.

She happily picked out a pair of patent leather Mary Janes, which cost twice what I had expected to spend. Remembering my mother's dictum, "No use buying you something you don't like, because you won't wear it," I forked out the price of the Mary Janes from my meager student allowance, and handed the shoebox to Mundju. "Wash your feet when you get home, and put them on," I instructed her. "I never want to see you without them."

The next day, she came to my room barefoot. I was exasperated. How could she be so heedless?! "Why aren't you wearing your new shoes?!"

She lifted up her heel and showed me a huge blister. It had not occurred to me that a girl who has no shoes has no socks. I dropped what I was doing, found a rickshaw, and took Mundju back into the center of town. I bought her two pairs of white socks. Now we were "all systems go."

I didn't see Mundju for the next few days. Then, riding home one day, I saw her in the distance. She was walking barefoot.

I felt indignant. Here I had spent time, money, and energy trying to help her, and she was flaunting the doctor's orders and not wearing her shoes. How ungrateful! How reckless!

I went straight to the servants' quarters and accosted Mundju's mother. She looked at me sadly and said, "Don't you understand? These are the only pair of shoes Mundju will ever own. She's saving them for special occasions."

BEFORE WE CONDEMN

A couple decades later I learned about one of the Torah's most intriguing mitzvot, the obligation to judge other people favorably. The Torah enjoins us: "Judge your fellowman justly." [Lev. 19:15] The classic commentators explain this to mean "judge your fellowman favorably and interpret his actions and words only to the good." [Sefer HaChinuch 235]

Three thousand years before the advent of Cognitive Psychology, the Torah recognized that our attitudes (and consequently our words and actions) are formed not by what the other person said or did, but rather by our interpretation of what the other person said or did. Therefore, the Torah obligates us, whenever possible, to find or devise a favorable interpretation.

This mitzvah pulls the rug out from under the critical, condemning attitude that characterizes much of our interpersonal relations. In practice it looks like this:

Instead of faulting a friend for not calling you back when she said she would, you could think: "She may have tried to call me back, but my line was busy," or "She may have received an important call just when she was about to dial my number."
Instead of faulting your spouse for being late (again!), you could think: "I'm not time-challenged like s/he is, but how much have I really changed my own ingrained bad habits?"
Instead of faulting a repairman for not coming when he said he would (leaving you sitting at home all afternoon waiting), you could think: "His previous client may have had a more complicated job than expected," or "When he went to phone me that he'd be late, he couldn't find my number or his cellphone battery was low."

Finding the favorable outcome in others actions. Causes us not to be a judge in the other sense and cause us to misunderstand the commands to judge favorable and you will be judged favorable.

Matthew 7:1-2
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Strategy For Judging Favorably

In the book, The Other Side of the Story, by Yehudit Samet, offers strategies for judging others favorably. Here is a sampling:

Stop applying a double standard--many of us judge others severely while we have a host of excuses for our own reprehensible behavior. For example, we grumble about other drivers who double-park their cars and thus block a whole lane, but when we double-park it's okay because our son is just jumping out of the car for one minute to pick up the dry cleaning and we didn't know there'd be a line...
"Don't judge your friend until you reach his place." [Ethics of the Fathers 2:5] This is the Jewish version, dating back 1800 years, of "Don't judge your friend until you've walked a mile in his moccasins." This means that even when another person has done something culpable, consider the possibility that you would have done likewise if you had been in the same situation. Your employee or co-worker quits and takes a better paying job, showing no loyalty to the company that gave him his start. Before you say, "I wouldn't do that!" think: "But would I do that if I had his mortgage, his debts, his size family?"
Admit that you don't know the whole story. No court would render a judgment based on insufficient evidence, but we do it all the time. We see someone do something reprehensible, and we immediately decide, "Guilty!" What do we know of the background of the situation or that person's circumstances or challenges? Conjuring up the humility to admit, "I don't know," can save us from judgments that are severe--and wrong.

Total different outlook on judging others and ourselves. No longer looking through a dim glass window but clearly and knowing as we are known. How to shut the door on being judgmental towards life, looking for the favorable outcome in ourselves and others. If Yeshua can look at us in favorable outcome. Why can't we? Made in His image and likeness!!!  To hear this again click here.

Shut The Door On Betrayal!!!

Leviticus 19

We are walking in today:  Shut The Door On Betrayal!!!

Witness betray  throughout the Bible:  H7411 ramah beguile, deceive, mislead and right deal treacherously
Isaiah 33:1; Jeremiah 3:20; 1 Chronicles 12:18; John 6:64

Leviticus 19:16-18
16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am the LORD. 17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him. 18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD.

Betrayal, the sting of trust. We have all been on the stinging side of trust. Someone close to you who you trusted--lied, stole, or disclosed something.

Have you ever been betrayed? It takes many shapes and forms:

A man or woman leaving their spouse and children, either for someone else or just to “find themselves”;

An employer retracting a promise to an employee a promised promotion and/or raise;

A “friend” exposing a close friend’s deepest secrets;

An employee stealing a co-worker’s idea or otherwise takes credit for their hard work, and then reaping the benefits due to the victim of their crime;

Someone knowingly slandering a friend for their own personal gain.

But on the flip side what of the small or forgotten betrayals, we have committed to each other? Secrets exposed that was told in trust. You know those little things we righteously justify?

The law of imputation seen in the betrayal of man towards Yahweh. With the sin of disobedience, Adam opens up the door of death and betrayal to all men. Due to eating the fruit of the knowledge of Good and Evil. This law means - to credit something to someone else's account. By Adams rebellion sin was passed down to all men.

Romans 15 speaks of the one man sin affecting all mankind.

Romans 5:12-17
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification. 17 For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Still we have a great witness of examples by our teacher and Messiah. Who shows us not only will betrayal come, but is necessary and a part of the spiritual process of growth to the power of forgiveness.

Judas betrayed Yeshua though he walked with the 11 disciples, saw miracles, heard the teachings instructions from the Master and Creator of the universe. Yet betrayal was in his heart. Even Peter saw some of the most profound and intimate scenarios with Yeshua. Even though Yeshua asks Peter three times "Do you love me" and told him at the end to feed his sheep. Yeshua knew very well that Peter and Judas would betray him. But that did that stop Yeshya from still sacrificing His life? Or forgiving them? No, He shows the ultimate example of forgiving others. Judas had no repentance while Peter showed repentance as the difference between the two.

John 21:15-19
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkest whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

John 13:21-30 CJB
21 After saying this, Yeshua, in deep anguish of spirit, declared, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that one of you will betray me.” 22 The talmidim stared at one another, totally mystified — whom could he mean? 23 One of his talmidim, the one Yeshua particularly loved, was reclining close beside him. 24 So Shim‘on Kefa motioned to him and said, “Ask which one he’s talking about.” 25 Leaning against Yeshua’s chest, he asked Yeshua, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Yeshua answered, “It’s the one to whom I give this piece of matzah after I dip it in the dish.” So he dipped the piece of matzah and gave it to Y’hudah Ben-Shim‘on from K’riot. 27 As soon as Y’hudah took the piece of matzah, the Adversary went into him. “What you are doing, do quickly!” Yeshua said to him. 28 But no one at the table understood why he had said this to him. 29 Some thought that since Y’hudah was in charge of the common purse, Yeshua was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or telling him to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as he had taken the piece of matzah, Y’hudah went out, and it was night.

As we too should truly see the model of Our Lord, Yahweh. Have we lied? Have we stolen? Have we caused slander? Yes, we have. Yet is this not considered the same sins Adam committed to God? So quick to remember the wrong that was done but forget the forgiveness of Yahweh for our betrayal and the sins to Him, by trampling his Teachings and Instructions and not practicing His precepts.

SAME BETRAYAL NO DIFFERENCE

The Principle of Imputation.
Closes the door on betrayal by applying one man's disobedience that brought sin and death. While through a righteous man's death brought life and instructions. Forgive as you are forgiven, Yeshua walked in forgiveness as an example to us, what the Father is like. He showed us an example of Himself and what His image is like. Knowing full well that we too like Peter and Judas have betrayed. Not only one another but Yahweh in one form or another. The keys of David are given to shut the door on anything that is not of kingdom of heaven!! So we apply the examples of our Lord, Yeshua on how to shut the door on betrayal. Using The Power Of Yahweh..forgiveness to close the door forever on self. To discover while we count up to Shavuot In Great Expectation!!!!! New beginnings in closing the door that is shut by His mighty, holy hand that we ourselves can never reopen!  Praise His holy name, thank You Yahweh!!  To hear this again click here.

Weekend Meditation--Shut The Door On Resentment

Genesis 44

We are walking in today:  Weekend Meditation--Shut The Door On Resentment

Witness bitterness throughout the Bible:  H4725 mar chafed , angry discontented , heavy, resentment , resentful
Proverbs 14:10; Job 10:1; Ephesians 4:31

Genesis 44:33-34
33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. 34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.

"Resentment is an acid that damages its container."

"Resentment presents an incredible opportunity for growth."

Vayigash elav Yehudah, also a Hebrew word said by sages has a most profound mystery and meaning. Other than the surface pronunciation, "Judah drew near to him", this referring to Genesis 44 the story of Jacob testing his resentful brothers who sold him into slavery.


Jacob sends his 10 sons to Egypt for food due to a famine in the land--unaware that his eleventh son was the viceroy of Pharaoh in the land of Egypt. Joseph as second-in-command of Egypt has been positioned for his brothers to seek his assistance in this famine.  Jacob immeditatley recognized his brothers and sends them on a task to bring back their younger brother Benjamin. He tests his brothers to search their hearts. Whether resentment still lingered. By the test, the younger brother Benjamin is framed as a thief and it's forced to become Joseph slave. While Judah pleaded to commit himself as well as the remaining brothers to slavery instead of the younger brother Benjamin.

Popular belief is that the "Judah drew near him" was the pleading of Judah to Joseph for his release of Benjamin. There are several issues with that.

1. That the mysteries of the alephbet will reveal.

2. The Hebraic definition "Judah Drawing Near To Him" will forever change your view on the sons of Jacob's resentment and Judah's repentance (teshuva). Hidden in the Torah.

There are a number of problems with this story. Let us consider four questions:

1. Why would Judah think that Joseph would accept him as a slave in place of Benjamin when Joseph had already rejected the offer of all of the brothers to become his slaves?

2. Why is Joseph moved to tears by Judah, whereas he showed no such emotion in response to the brothers' collective offer?

3. Why does our Torah use Judah's approaching Joseph as the start of a new "Parshah" (Torah reading), when we appear to be in the middle of a story? In fact, Vayigash begins in the middle of a chapter.10 The structure of the chapter seems to make more sense than the division of weekly readings. (Chapter 44 begins with Joseph framing Benjamin and continues through the end of Judah's plea.)

4. Why did our sages choose to break the story in the middle and start a reading at the word Vayigash, giving such major emphasis to that word that it becomes the name of the reading? The Rebbe noted many times that the name of a reading holds within it powerful, mystical messages that go beyond the simple meaning of the word. What is the special meaning of the word Vayigash?

How was Judah allowed to approach Joseph? Judah was a commoner, previously suspected of being a spy, and the brother of a Hebrew criminal. Even an Egyptian would not have been allowed to draw near to the viceroy.  Yet the text here says that he did draw near.  What is this we need to see?  Judah drew near to him, was a type of forgiveness and remorse for causing his father any further pain. By knowing his younger brother had been taken into the same slavery--Judah and his other siblings sold Joseph in years ago. It is that pain caused Jacob to be so protective over Benjamin going back to Egypt with his older brothers. Judah knew his father would surely die of hurt,if his brothers did not return with Benjamin. He knew Jacob still loved his younger son from Rachel as he loved Joseph, Benjamin's older brother.

Genesis 44:22
And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.

Judah forgave himself for his sin against his father. Resenting the fact that Jacob loved Joseph more than himself, Genesis 37:3.  He acted selfless and loving, Jacob his father more than himself by presenting himself as the substitute slave for Benjamin. Joseph moved in tears so that out of all the brothers--Judah truly was remorseful and repented of everything that had happened. Judah unlike the rest of the brothers. Who did not act out of guilt when presenting themselves for the freedom of Benjamin. Yet here we see that Judah truly cared for his father, Jacob. So he did not draw near to Joseph as in drawing near to him physically--Judah drew near to Jacob his father.

"Judah approached him," the "him" may be referring primarily to Jacob. The major point of the narrative seems to be that, at that moment, Judah was able to draw close to Jacob. In fact, the last words in the sentence immediately prior to Vayigash are "el avichem" – "to your father," referring to Jacob. So grammatically, the logical referent for "him" is Jacob. And, in fact, Judah is following the symbolic meaning of Joseph's immediately preceding words: "return in peace to your father."

Judah shut the door on resenting his brother. As well as shutting the door on the root of his resentment which was his father Jacob. Judah closes this door by sacrificing himself to become a slave because of the love for his father Jacob and forgiveness.

A man sacrificing or submitting himself is not allowing himself to walk in resentment--that would cause anger and bitterness eventually towards your brother. The ninth commandment is based on the principles of loving your neighbor as yourself. Also, the 9th alephbet is Tet.

Tet represents the two possibilities of man. The parts of Tet consist of two  letters of the alphabet vav and zayen. The vav represents man in rebellion or in surrendering to the Lord.

When a vav, man is bowed down before the crown man, zayin takes it upon himself his yoke, chet--then his soul is subject to the discipline of the Lord, and the nine-fold fruit of the spirit will grow in his life. This man will die to himself and all that is outside the Yoke of Yeshua.

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Luke 9:23
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

On the other hand, if the soul refuses to bow down and instead rebels, the inner life will take on the characteristics of the serpent (nacash), satan. If that man chooses to live for himself, relying on his own inner sense of autonomy, he will share the fate of Satan and eat dust of the earth.

This principle can be seen in the story of Moses and his staff. The staff represents the scepter of Moses' human authority which Yahweh ask to be thrown down in obedience to Him. When he did so the carnal staff was transformed to become the spiritual staff of the Lord. Even though it still contains the principle of the serpent within it. Later Moses' sin by using the staff in a carnal way by striking the rock twice. Indicating that he attempted to retake his own autonomy instead of yielding to the will of the Lord and shows how the Tet will be represented depends on our personal decision to give our lives to the Messiah and be yoked together with him. Will we choose to surrender our lives, offering ourselves as living sacrifices, or will we inwardly rebel and live in the selfish pride that marks evil?

Judah committed himself to Joseph, the crowned man both representing the alephbet Tet. Therefore, Judah was elevated to carry the King David and the Messiah in his bloodline. Due to following the law of forgiveness. Breaking and closing the door on resentment and opening the door of divine blessing and healing. That is why Joseph finds in Judah humility to be at peace with their father and shed tears. We must shut the door on resentment and humble ourselves in forgiveness towards on another.

We have been looking at ourselves in the mirror for quite some time now and we still have an occasional emotional flair up or rather melt down. While common place for many of us these days--would be totally out of place in the Hebraic culture and mindset of the Hebrews. We have learned that Hebrew is verb based and concrete that what you see is what you get initially. With more study and review we find in what was considered simple, a more complex understanding of what the fathers of the nation of Israel lived on a daily basis. There would be few motivations for being led solely by emotion while in the Greek mindset that is the primary method of motion in our lives! What is the common greeting?  'How are you?' Which is frequently answered with an emotionally driven response. Take a look around--on television, in magazines there is some kind of pull or draw on your emotions to do something, go some where. The danger that we have seen in previous studies is that emotions are often tied to reactions and can vary wildly at each occurrence. While some have come to desire the high ups and low downs of the emotional roller coaster--was this ever in the plan? The one set forth from the beginning by the Creator of the universe?
Would Abraham, Moses or Joshua react the way we would in our time and age? Was there room for disobedience based on feelings? Hebraically there was only striving for being in and remaining in the instructions given for the protection and benefit of their lives. These people of great renown from the text of the Bible had various responses to the directions of Yahweh, some were fully committed and unwavering while others were seeking to be realigned to His purpose and plan.​ Is there a time when 'I don't feel like it,' would be an appropriate response? This is how we can see that we must master our emotions, why Yahweh has begun to shut the door on these emotions that are often tied to a whole litany of other emotions that seek out--how to wreak havoc in our lives and those around us. We must stand on scripture when our old habits attempt to kick in so that we are not permitting that which has already been forbidden.
In Genesis 44 we have the sons of Israel seeking food and assistance from their long believed dead brother Joseph, the viceroy of Egypt. While the focus is on the dialogue of Judah and Joseph as there is a plea for Benjamin not to also be taken from their elderly father. This plea shows the growth of Judah who when Joseph was to be killed suggested to sell him into slavery instead. When our emotions are allowed to run out of control we have poor decisions that are made effecting not only ourselves. It is only with maturity and understanding that we can seek to not be ruled by our emotions--that is a danger to all of us! In this instance Judah's plea to Joseph shows that whether he allows the favoritism shown by his father, that he would no longer participate in causing him such great pain as before. It is showing this great love and concern for his father that stirs Joseph. We have taken the meaning of love in our current time and age to be applied to anything. "Oh, I just love that color! Don't you just love that movie?" While we can use this word to show how much we like mere objects, can we say the same for the people of great import in our lives?
How does our Hebraic mind see love? Spelled with an aleph hey beit hey--ahabah or the root word would be ahava spelled aleph hey beit which can be broken down to hey beit which means give. In adding the aleph to the beginning of the word makes it 'I give' it is the giving that is seen hebraically as love. This giving makes a connection to the other person. That instead of keeping what was given to better ourselves, it is released to another--a gift. This is what could have caused Joseph to weep with such emotion to see the care that Judah had for their father to admit freely that he would 'give' in the pleading and admission of the past, to keep him from the suffering of losing another favored son. While the characters of the Bible are not without flaws, we can see that there are choices that can be made when the situation is presented again. This is why we are to study, to do the Torah--the principles, precepts, statutes and instructions of Yahweh. These commands are to lead and direct our lives, that we would cease with aimless wandering in pain and confusion! When and if, we miss the mark--the Torah is our measuring stick we study and seek to accurately apply the principles for not only the betterment of ourselves but the community as a whole!
While Joseph is going through this process to find where his brothers really stand. Would they allow another favored son of their father to be taken from him? While all the brothers initially offer to stay, Joseph refuses the offer. They do not make any other plea or suggestions. Here we find Judah steps into this situation, like a second chance to get it right. For if he would not or did not halt the slavery of Benjamin, would cause deep sorrow falling upon his father--this time sending him to his grave. While we see the text of the scripture we have to remember the upbringing of these sons in this family. The beloved wife of Israel is Rachel who only bore two children: Joseph and Benjamin. The remaining sons from Leah and the handmaidens knew that their father had a high regard for Joseph and then later Benjamin. This favored treatment did not endear Joseph to his brothers and it became worse with the telling of his dream.s  While their anger waxed hot against Joseph for thinking that, they the older brothers would bow to the younger--was out of the question! As time goes on and there is an opportunity to rid themselves of the 'golden boy' of the family, they all jumped at the chance to do so. While in varied degrees seen in the attempt of Ruben to come back later to free Joseph, to Judah saving his life but selling him instead, in the years that pass both the brothers and Joseph have some growing to do. How angry and hurt he must have been!  Being sold to the passing by slave traders and growing to adulthood under accusations and prison. Upon seeing his brothers as viceroy he could have treated them very harshly and even refused  them all assistance. Fiveamprayer we have to determine when our actions are our own or a reaction of our emotions!  To hear this again click here.

Shut The Door On Envy

Exodus 20

We are walking in today:  Shut The Door On Envy

Witness envy throughout the Bible:  H7068 qin'ah Jealousy, zeal, ardour, envy, for my sake:

ardour of zeal
jealousy, jealous disposition (of husband)
sexual passion
ardour of zeal (of religious zeal)
of men for God
of men for the house of God
of God for his people
ardour of anger
of men against adversaries
of God against men
envy (of man)
jealousy (resulting in the wrath of God)
Isaiah 11:13; Ezekiel 35:10-12; Proverbs 3:31, 14:30; Ecclesiastes 4:4; Galatians 5:26; 1 Peter 2:1; James 4:4-6

574. You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor --Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.​
Exodus 20:3,5-6
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Definition: Jealousy is the uneasiness felt due to suspicion, resentment or fear of rivalry, especially in regards to love or affection. Envy is the feeling of resentment, discontentment or jealousy of another's position or success.

When a door is open anything is pretty much invited to come in. As this in the natural is, so in the spiritual realm. Doors of our souls open up, when we are not walking in the true fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

When emotions are left uncheck and allowed to run wild--opens doors to more evil influences. That by allowing one leeway in your life that when cast down and the door still open will return with renforcements. Why? All because there was a root that still remained! We hold onto envy and jealousy and other damaging emotions, which could lead to our undoing if allowed to permeate our lives and those around us.

Job 14:7-9
7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

When we hold onto envy and jealousy and other damaging emotions, causes us to be tormented due to unforgiveness and the resulting distorted vision.

Matthew 18:31-35
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Therefore, the legions of unchecked spirits or dysfunctional influences infest an individual operating in envy and jealousy, they could become full of complaint and murmurs

1 Samuel 18:7-9
7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? 9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward

Acts 31:44-45
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

So time to check on what you are bearing, Fiveamprayer--is it good or bad fruit? For we are the branches connected to Yeshua the root.  Funny how root keeps coming up. What root are you connected to? As in the curse of the fig tree, was never to bear fruit due to not producing fruit yet showing it had nutrition with the leaves showing full from a distance and should had fruit on the limbs. This tree was cursed and no longer able to falsely advertise of bearing fruit by the lush leaves from the distance yet up close lacking any fruit.

Matthew 21:18-22
18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

Envy and jealousy cause selfishness--due to hoarding over what has been given freely and not practicing the law of return.

Mark 4:25
25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

We also see how envy and jealousy cause disunion and rivalry. Whether it be in our homes, jobs, community and yes family members, 'our loved ones'  Being jealous of one another, over one getting more attention or outshining the other. Throughout the scripture we can see this evil inclination snake throughout: Cain murdered Abel; Mariam spoke against Moses; Joseph siblings plotted to kill him and sold him into slavery. All stemming from envy and jealousy!!

Genesis 4:3-5,8
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Numbers 12:1
And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

Yahweh is even spoken of in the scriptures as a being jealous for us, when we put the love of material things, others, or even ourselves or our services to Him.

Exodus 34:14
For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God

Deuteronomy 4:24

For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

1 John 2:15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

These open doors can be shut and by every right should be. If ever we are freed from envy, jealousy or any other rotten fruit. Only by looking to the one who sets free and sets free indeed! By asking for love most of all in applying the principles of the scriptures. Can we shut the doors? Yes certainly!  With the keys that have been inherited given to us by Yahweh, only to those to whom follow His teachings and instructions.

Matthew 16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Revelation 3:7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth

Fiveamprayer, take time today as has been said on this line for the past several months to look at yourself in the mirror.  Review the condition of your heart.  Know that only the Word of Yahweh has the power and promise to deliver, heal, and restore us to His handiwork crafted in Eden.  Upholding His original intention for His image and likeness--no longer allow your emotions free reign--put scripture on those wayward thoughts that would invite other emotions to swarm and smother you.  The evil intention is to cause misunderstandings and move us out of position.  Don't forget that we are in a season of testing while counting up the omer, numbering the days until Shavout where He wrote the Torah on the hearts of the people that He tested to see if they would obey Him or no.  What will your answer be?  Will you allow the Word to wash and prepare you for His use and purpose?  While we did not make ourselves, will your mind return to the hebraic mindset to see accurately and not emotionally? Emotions are often triggered as a reaction but Yahweh is not emotional!! The words of the King are binding to the kingdom and His citizens.  Steady, constant and true that is who He is and we are to be in His image and likeness--where is your steadiness?  Are you consistent?  Unwavering and true--all characters of the Most High, Yahweh, but where are you?  Untie from your emotions and no longer allow the evil inclination to have free reign in your life!  Cease from tolerating this attempt to place you out of position that you would miss what was in store from the beginning of the world for you!  To hear this again click here.