EMISSIONS

“Such is the law for the person who has a discharge; for the man who has a seminal emission that makes him unclean; for the woman in niddah during her menstrual period; for the person, man or woman, with a discharge; for the man who has sexual relations with a woman who is unclean.”
Leviticus 15:32-33

I will be honest and note that this section is hard for me to respond to. According to the Torah, a seminal emission from a man makes him unclean. This I can probably understand. But then having sexual relations with a woman, even involving bathing, still leaves both unclean till evening. If Adonai’s command was to populate the earth, and that involves having children, and that involves having sexual relations to do so, then I am confused as to how the process Adonai ordained that to happen through is unclean.
A great deal of the passage that remains discusses a woman on her monthly cycle. This again is easier to understand in that a period is the releasing and filtering of the waste that has been stored up within the woman’s body. The monthly flow of blood produces the avenue of cleansing needed by her body to remove the waste, disease, and unclean attributes that have been stored up. Not touching this again makes plenty of sense. Why would one want to purposefully dirty themselves?
The only truth I can offer for this section comes as so. First, I do not know everything. I wish I understood this deeper and will continue to study this because I know it will make sense when I do. But secondly, I have to trust Adonai’s Word. As I have been reading the book of Leviticus, I have found many areas that I have not withheld His position on. Whether for lack of knowledge, lack of care, or our current society, the truth is I have not obeyed His commands. With that in mind, I know I must make changes. As with other things written with His Word, the excuse of I didn’t know, or I thought that was for back then only, won’t last. I am accountable to Adonai’s Word, and I must start living every piece of it.

15:16-33

MILDEW

“If the mildew reappears in the house after the stones have been torn out and the house scraped and plastered, the priest is to go and examine it and, if the mildew has spread in the house, it is destructive mildew; the house is unclean. It must be torn down – its stones, timbers and all the plaster – and taken out of the town to an unclean place.”
Leviticus 14:43-45

I know that mildew isn’t a topic you may have thought would ever make it into a devotional, and I assure you the topic was not thought of as I was taking a shower this morning and looking at the walls of my tub. No, this devotional is actually inspired by a lesson God showed me while taking the time to study the book of Zechariah. In fact, although the text I want to share with you comes from Leviticus, I will be going back and forth between the two books, much the same way God brought this to light for me. With that said, allow me to introduce the key point of today’s thoughts. God will not tolerate sin in His land.
In Leviticus 14:33-57, God speaks with Moses and Aaron concerning the topic of mildew. Once the people enter into the Promise Land, and if they spotted mildew in their homes, they were to follow these guidelines. First, the priest was to order the house be emptied before he would enter the house to examine it. If in the examination he found a mildew of greenish or reddish depressions appearing to be deeper than the surface, the priest was to exit and leave the house untouched for seven days. Seven days later on his return, if the inspection of the mildew showed the mass had spread, the infected area was to be removed and the pieces thrown into a place deemed unclean. All the inside walls of the house were then to be scraped off and also dumped into the unclean place. The vacant place caused by this action was then rebuilt, re-patching the spot where mildew once was with new clay and plaster. Now if the mildew reappeared again, the priest was to once more look at the area. Seeing a spread of mildew once more, the priest was then to declare the house unclean. The end result if this was the case was to have the entire house, all the stones, timbers, and plaster, taken out of the town to the unclean place.
Now with this understanding, we jump over to Zechariah 5:1-4. It is in this section that Zechariah has a vision of a flying scroll. This scroll is the curse that is going out over the whole land declaring that every thief be banished, as well as any who swear falsely. The Almighty One then states, “’I will send [the scroll] out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in his house and destroy it, both its timbers and its stones.’” Basically what is being said here is that there is a curse on the one who steals and this sin causes the thief banishment. But forgiveness is available. If the thief owned up to his sin and repented, forgiveness could be found. However, if instead of honesty the thief lied about his actions, the sin committed would reside in his house and eventually be his downfall, destroying everything including the timbers and stones of his being.
Now let us look at the two together because the end result for both is the total destruction of the home, including the timbers and stones as named in both passages. Sin is like mildew. Sin has the chance to be forgiven of or to increase in size based on the effects of the sin-snowball. The same is true of mildew. The priest came to inspect and witness if the size of the blotch on the wall grew or not. If not, then there was no danger. This is the case of forgiveness. In forgiveness God cleanses us and we are able to go forward. But if the priest found the size of the mildew to grow or to reoccur after the cleansing, much like un-confessed sin, then the end result was more than banishment. The end result was total destruction.
As I said before, and as I see in grander scale each time I really study God’s Word as opposed to skimming it, God does not play games when it comes to sin. He simply will not tolerate it. Why then do we continue to assume we are held to a different standard than God’s Word? Why do we continue to assume the rules and words of the Old Testament were overridden with the writings of the New Testament? Why do we believe that just because we have the ability to ask God for forgiveness that we are able to sin still? God does not tolerate it! Sin results in banishment, or death as said in Romans. So then, would it not be the wiser action to learn what pleases God and do it? I do not want to have my spiritual eyes opened only to see that I have caused total destruction of my home because of my sin.

Leviticus 14:21-32
Leviticus 14:33 – 15:15

TZARA’AT ON GARMENTS

“This is the law concerning infections of tzara’at in a garment of wool or linen, or in the threads or the woven-in parts, or in any leather item – when to declare it clean and when to declare it unclean.”
Leviticus 13:59

As we continue moving through Leviticus, we find that the same impurities concerning people with tzara’at are also possible for objects. It is in this section we begin to read of discolorations and growths that appear on clothing, fabrics, and leather. With this in mind, we must remember that the point of Leviticus is concerning the clean and unclean, the holy verses unholy according to Adonai. This incompatibility between holy and unholy translates easily into the mixture of clothes of wool and cotton, worship of Adonai and worship of other gods, dairy with meat, and even the marriage of believers with unbelievers. It simply is not to happen; the two shall not touch.
For the item with tzara’at, something still had to be done. The item in question was to be brought before the priest who again would review it and determine if it indeed was infected. If tzara’at was suspected, then for seven days the item would remain in isolation to see if the infection would spread. If it did, the item was to be burned as it was then considered ritually impure. If no spreading was found, then a simple washing of the article would suffice, in addition to another seven days of isolation. If after those seven days the infection reoccurred, the article would be burned. If no return, then the original infected area would be cut off and the remaining piece of the garment considered clean.
In closing today, consider the words of Paul in II Corinthians 6:17. “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you.” Let us rid ourselves of the unclean; come away from it and cease touching it, so as to be welcomed.

13:55 – 14:20

CLEAN

“Everyone who has tzara’at sores is to wear torn clothes and unbound hair, cover his lip and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!”
Leviticus 13:45

I recently read that to those who grew up in the church as opposed to in the Jewish tradition, the book of Leviticus sounds almost like a different Bible altogether. I can honestly say this has been the case for me. Growing up Baptist in my early years, and then attending a Non-Denominational Church and college, it wasn’t until about three years ago that I embraced my roots. For me, trying to understand all the details of Leviticus has taken time, and it is still an ongoing discipline for me. With that said, I have been looking over the Torah portion this week in hopes of understanding just what Moshe relayed to the people of Adonai.
In order for us to understand better this portion of the Torah, let us start by explaining that the Hebrew term TZARA’AT simply means a serious skin disease which causes one to be ritually unclean. Looking at Leviticus 13:18-46, we learn of different types of skin diseases that possibly would be found on Adonai’s people. It could be that their tzara’at was a result of a burn that never healed correctly, therefore now infected. It could also be a result of another infections issue altogether. Regardless, Adonai had set rules concerning these blemishes. The end result boils down to the priest examining the area and making a declaration of clean verses unclean. For example, if a tzara’at was in a place on the scalp or so, the priest would examine the loss of hair to determine if it was a natural occurrence or a result of the infection. The result of his finding would determine the end result of his declaration, clean or unclean.
It is in verse 42 that we are introduced to the term METSORA. Metsora was the name given to a person who was diagnosed with tzara’at. The true definition would be the title of one who is unclean or impure. In verse 45 we see the instruction for those who fall under metsora. First, the person’s clothing was to be torn, normally torn apart at the seam so as to be re-stitched should the person later be title clean again. More so a sign of mourning than of an unclean person, this simple tearing gave warning to others. The second step was the baring of the head. Again, the bare head in this case was not fully an outward sign of the skin disease, but rather of shame because of the disease. Bare here does not mean bald either, but rather that the man would forsake the typical Jewish head wear, as would the lady her scarf. The third instruction was that the diseased would cover his upper-lip with his hand whenever anyone approached. This, in addition to his own pronouncement of ‘unclean’, was the single indicator that others understood as related to the skin disease. Add these three instructions, as well as the removal of the infected to outside the camp, and having a skin disease wasn’t too fun.
Yet here is where the instruction relates to us today. This diseased person suffered on many occasions for a disease not even his own fault. He suffered excommunication from his family, people, tribe, and from any relationship with Adonai. Only when the priest deemed him clean again was he allowed back into the camp. But this diseased person is us. True, while we may not be suffering from a physical infection of the skin, we too have had the effects of sin mark us as unclean. Because of sin we have been excommunicated from Adonai. It is only because of Yeshua’s sacrifice that we have been made clean again and can re-enter the camp. Isaiah said it well when he spoke that our righteousness is as filthy rags. There is nothing we can do, no medication we can ingest, and no act we can perform to bring cleansing, just as there was none for the diseased. But because of Yeshua’s sacrifice, Adonai as our Priest comes to look us over once again and declares us clean. Oh my friend, how I pray that you have asked Him to be the Savior of your life, so that when you come to Him in your diseased state, He forgives you of your sin and once again calls you, “Clean!”

Leviticus 13:24-37
Leviticus 13:38-54

THE EIGHTH DAY

“On the eighth day, the baby’s foreskin is to be circumcised.”
Leviticus 12:3

As we have studied over the past twenty-six weeks, we have seen this word ‘circumcised’ or ‘circumcision’ quite a few times. The term itself is nothing new, nor the command behind it. Going back to Genesis 17, we see Abram’s son, Ishmael, was born not only of Hagar as opposed to Sarai, but also born when Abraham was not yet circumcised. It wasn’t until later when Abraham was 99 that he and Ishmael, as well as all the other males within the camp, were circumcised. It was also at this time that God spoke that another son would be born to Abraham. This time the son would be birthed by Sarah, and his name would be Isaac.
The next mention of circumcision that comes to my mind was the instance concerning the men of Shechem. In Genesis 34, it was Shechem whose heart was full of lust for Jacob’s daughter, Dinah. His lust for her burned so deep in him that he defiled her (Gen 34:5). Jacob wanted to keep it quiet, but when this truth became known to her brothers, they devised a plan to have all the men in the city circumcised. While still in their pain, the band of brothers attacked Shechem and his men. For Shechem, his lust betrayed his people.
Recently I wrote on circumcision and its relationship to chametz. If you recall, I wrote in relation to Y’hoshua (Joshua) 5, that the Isra’elites had crossed the Jordan and were about to attack Jericho. Yet before doing so, a command was given to Y’hoshua while in Gilgal to circumcise the men again. Again? Yes again, because while traveling in the desert for forty years the older circumcised generation had died off and the new younger generation had not yet been circumcised.
The question remains as to why the cutting of the foreskin carried so much weight. According to the Jewish law, circumcision was the proof that the person was God’s. So in following the command given to him, Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the men of Isra’el, rolling away the reproach of Egypt. It is still to this day that male babies are circumcised. It may not be on the eighth day this is done in our culture, as I know for a fact my son had this done of his second day of life, yet it is widely done in America. Is this something we do simply out of forced habit? Possibly. But having grown up and wanting this for my son, I say that we need to allow this. Please note that I am not talking of a physical circumcision now, but more a circumcision from sin. As I shared recently, so I leave you to consider now. There are health issues that are related to not being circumcised, which may be one reason why God required this of His people. So then there are spiritual health issues such as sins of pride, selfishness, arrogance, and so many other spiritual ‘diseases’, related to us not being circumcised. I doubt this is something we really want.

Leviticus 12:1 – 13:23

JEHOVAH TSIDKENU

"For I am Adonai your God; therefore, consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am holy; and do not defile yourselves with any kind of swarming creature that moves along the ground."
Leviticus 11:44

When Adonai made Adam and Eve, He gave them a simple instruction to not eat of a certain tree within the Garden of Eden. Through trickery and doubt, and a little word play, the serpent had convinced Eve who then convinced Adam that this instruction was a hoax and punishment would not come. But punishment did come, in the way of sin. It was this sin that separated man from the Creator due to the loss of righteousness within His sight. Simply put, because man did not keep Adonai’s commands, man could no longer be within Adonai's perfect presence.
In Leviticus 11:44a, we read the words of Adonai as given to Moshe. " For I am Adonai your God; therefore, consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am holy… " But as man had made a separation and Yeshua had not yet come to die in our place, how could this happen? In reading the scriptures we see where Adonai had stepped into covenant with His people.
First in the Adamic covenant (Gen 3:21), we see where He fashioned clothes for Adam and Eve. This action could not have been done unless Adonai also shared with them the importance of forgiveness and the offerings for sin that He desired. The Noahic covenant would follow where Adonai placed a rainbow in the sky following Noah's sacrifice, promising at that time that never again would He allow a flood to cover the entire earth (Gen 9:12-15). In the Avrahamic covenant Adonai promised the descendants of Avraham the Promised Land (Gen 15:18-21). Within the Mosaic covenant He had the Israelites consecrate themselves as His chosen people and gave them the Ten Commandments. Finally, in the Davidic covenant, Adonai vowed to give David a son who would succeed him and build the Temple, as well as have a kingdom that would be established forever (II Sam 7:4-17). This covenant was fulfilled as we see in Matthew 1 the ancestry from Adam to Yosef, the earthly father of Yeshua.
But how does all this fit in with righteousness and the words penned in Leviticus 11? The righteous branch that Jeremiah spoke of in his book through the line of David was Yeshua. Up until Yeshua's death on the cross all sins were covered by sacrifices and scapegoats. But Yeshua did an awesome thing in giving up His life in that He, knowing NO sin, became sin for us. We were unrighteous, and our deeds were soiled as dirty rags. Even in our sacrifices we were not able to be fully whole. Then Yeshua, the spotless lamb, took our sin and erased it. It is when we confess our sin that we are made righteous again.
Romans 7:14-24 reminds us that there is nothing good or righteous in us. Does that mean we should not even try? By no means. If we were to not even try then why would Adonai urge us to be holy as He Himself is? I do thank God, however, that I have been made righteous through His Son. I am able to declare Adonai as my Jehovah Tsidkenu - my God of Righteousness.

Leviticus 11:33-47

TEMPLE BODIES

“…while the pig is unclean for you, because, although it has a separate and completely divided hoof, it doesn’t chew the cud.”
Leviticus 11:7

As we have been reading through Leviticus, we have read the details of the offerings that should be brought to Adonai. These details concern purification after birth or illness, the punishments of broken Laws, and the outlines for the ceremonies and High Holy Days. Our focus today, however, rests on the allowed eatable animals.
In reading Leviticus 11:3, we find that God gave instructions for which animals should be eaten. “You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.” As one who has been embracing his Jewish roots more so over the past few years, I have been more attentive to the foods I eat. Now I am not saying that I eat turkey without the cheese on a sandwich, or eat only veggie pizza, but one meat I have worked hard to stray from over the past years is pork. The problem is pork is everywhere. When I go to McDonald’s with my kids for breakfast, almost every item has either sausage or bacon in it. But the pig is not kosher. “And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you” (Lev 11:7). Recent studies have shown that even when cooking the pig into burnt bacon it does not kill all the bacteria. Pork is also thought by some to be the second leading cause in cancer. There is a reason why Adonai told us to stay away from it.
Now while my purpose in the above information is not to guilt or scare you into eating kosher, I do want to explain another significant detail. This detail maybe more so is thought of around Chanukah, so let us take a trip back in time to the year 167BCE. The Syrian army, led by Antiochus Epiphanes, invaded Jewish communities with the intent of stripping them of the Laws and cultures that made them unique. It was his law that he felt should override Adonai’s, and the customs of circumcision, observing the Sabbath, and keeping kosher should no longer be obeyed. It was in this rampage that the temple was invaded and turned into a shine for Zeus. Knowing that a pig was not kosher, he order a pig be sacrificed in the temple, its blood be smeared on the walls, and its broth poured on the holy Torah scrolls.
Our bodies are the temple of Adonai and should be used to bring Him glory, though. This truth was tested by one of the rabbis in the ‘silent years’ between the Old and New Testament. In the company of many Jews, they placed a feast of pork before him with the instruction to eat. The rabbi denied. It was then suggested by the Syrians to fake that he was eating the pork by placing it next to his lips for all to see. But again he denied. The rabbi chose not to forsake his faith and not to save his life from death while his people sinned in their diet. Angered, the Syrians killed him in front of all those watching.
There are two points that we can walk away with from this story. The first point is the word dedication. Who are you dedicated to? The rabbi was dedicated to Adonai. He probably knew, based on the history of what was happening to his fellow people that death was to be the end result if he denied the pork. Yet still he honored Adonai by saying no. The second point is that our bodies indeed are the temple of Adonai. How are you honoring Him with your body? I am not talking only about your physical kosher diet now, but your spiritual diet as well. Are you living spiritually kosher in choosing not to partake in the food of immorality, gossip, or deceit? And when these sins are served before you on a platter for you to feast on, are you willing to risk your life and pass? If you feel as though I am pointing a finger at you, know that I have four more pointing back at me. I will admit that I do not always pass this plate, but as I continue to learn to pass on pork physically, so I am challenged to pass on sin as well. Let us go forth together with the desire to take a stand against sin and say no, whatever the end result.

Leviticus 11:1-32

CHECKLIST REMINDERS

"Moshe said to Aharon and to El'azar and Itamar, his remaining sons, 'Take the grain offering left from the offerings for Adonai made by fire, and eat it without leaven next to the altar, because it is especially holy.'"
Leviticus 10:12

Starting in Leviticus 10:12, we read of Moshe in essence going over what reads like a checklist of the priest’s duties. As this comes on the heels of Navad and Avihu’s death, it is no wonder it is given here to remind the priests of what Adonai requires. Moshe re-advises in relation to the grain offering which was supposed to include unleavened dough and eaten by the priests in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. This recollection is aiding in two ways. First, it serves to help the remaining priests to understand that the death of Navad and Avihu has not changed what is required of Adonai. Secondly, it aids the other in knowing that Adonai’s calling on the Levities as priests has not been taken from them.
In Leviticus 10:16-20, we find Moshe beginning to grow angry in how the purification offering is being handled. Because of the carelessness of the two offered the unauthorized fire, Moshe is on alert as he witnesses the actions of Aharon’s remaining sons, El’azar and Itamar. Theses sons ate the meat of the offering in an improper manner. Instead of eating only inside the sacred zone, the courtyard of the Tabernacle, they consumed in a different location. While we cannot question Adonai’s mercy on one and wrath on another, we can take delight in knowing that, as Paul says in Romans 9:15, Adonai shows mercy and compassion as He sees fit.

Leviticus 10:12-15
Leviticus 10:16-20

UNAUTHORIZED FIRE

“At this, fire came forth from the presence of Adonai and consumed [Navad and Avihu], so that they died in the presence of Adonai.”
Leviticus 10:2

It is in this account of Navad and Avihu that we begin to see once again the seriousness of obeying Adonai. The rule was that no unauthorized fire would be offered unto Adonai. The fault was that Aharon’s sons took it upon themselves to offer what was wrong. In the end, fire from Adonai’s presence overtook the two men.
If we skip ahead to the book of Acts, we see Adonai once more proving Himself, in that He will not accept anything less that obedience. Truth be told, we can see this in many accounts. But I am speaking specifically concerning Ananias and Sapphira. These two also lost their lives because when a vow was made it was not acted in full upon. This was the disobedience that caused them their lives.
Let us look a little deeper, however, at the mistake of these priests. The nature of the issue rests in the fact that these two men were priests. Their position was a privilege, and with all the rules and regulations that had been laid out by Adonai via Moshe, they simply should have known better. If we review certain words in this account, perhaps we will see even more concerning their offense. The word for ‘fire’ is esh, meaning hot coals. It was hot coals that the men placed in their censors. Looking still, the true term is esh zarah, translating into hot coals of incense. This was the unauthorized fire – the alien incense offering.
Adonai does not desire that we do anything against His will, be it offering false fire or going back on a vow. The problem is that even though we know this, we still test Him. The priests knew the rules, yet they chose not to obey. Let us not be so simple-minded that we too ignore the rules of Adonai and offer our own unauthorized fire.

Leviticus 9:24 – 10:11

THE PRESENCE OF ADONAI

“Moshe and Aharon entered the tent of meeting, came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of Adonai appeared to all the people.”
Leviticus 9:23

It is within Leviticus 9 that we begin to see a shift. It is safe to say that up until this time Moshe had been the main guy. He had led the people out of Egypt, struck the Red Sea with his staff, dealt with the golden calf, and received instructions from Adonai pertaining to the offerings that Adonai required. But as we enter into chapter 9, we begin to see Moshe fade into the background and the priests assume their duties concerning the rites and rituals according to Adonai. Opening the chapter we see the words, “On the eighth day.” Some suggest that this phrase means that for eight days straight Moshe was completing the ordination process as he was advised in chapter 8. This very much so could be true, and I am not about to refute this idea. Yet instead I want to focus on one key point found near the end of chapter 9. It was only after Moshe had completed the required sacrifices that Adonai did appear.
It was spoken of, promised even, in Leviticus 9:4 that Adonai would indeed come. But it is here in verse 23 of the same chapter that we see Adonai now coming. “Moshe and Aharon entered the tent of meeting, came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of Adonai appeared to all the people.” Only after all was done did He finally come. Here is why I feel this is important. So many times we want the glory to fall, the answers to come, and the deliverance to remove us from our pain, but we fail to do what He requires. The glory, the answers, and the deliverance have all been promised, but where is Adonai? Simply put, He is waiting for us to do what He has asked. He is waiting for us to be like Moshe, and complete each task He has asked of us. It is only after we have finished this first step that we can move to the next, and see His appearance.

Leviticus 9:17-23

ADONAI IS GOING TO APPEAR

“…because today Adonai is going to appear to you.”

It was on the eighth day that Moshe called to Aharon, his sons, and the leaders of Is’rael and requested a male calf, a ram, and an ox. The requested animals had significance. They were to be used in the sacrifices that Moshe was about to lead the people in. The male calf would be used for a sin offering while the ram would be used for a burnt offering. The ox would follow in being used for the peace offering, all sacrifices before Adonai, and all because Adonai was going to appear.
In reading over this passage, one thing sticks out. Well maybe more than one. Obviously one can see the degree of obedience Moshe had to the request of Adonai on the eighth day. But the piece that sticks out the most to me is that when Moshe learned that Adonai was going to appear, he held nothing back. He didn’t get animals that would just cut it, but he got the best ones. The command of Adonai and the command for the sacrifice is unblemished animals. I bring this up and am awestruck by it because as I think about what I have offered to Adonai in my sacrifices in the past has not been unblemished. In fact, I can easily think of times when I have given just the bare minimum, or just the borderline amount.
If I am unwilling to first of all obey Adonai, why would He come? But then just as well, if I am unwilling to give Him what He desires and requires, why would He come? Does He not deserve more? Does He not deserve my obedience to His requests? Adonai is going to appear – what are we going to offer Him?

Leviticus 9:1-16

SFIRAT HAOMER

“From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD.”
Leviticus 23:15-16

There is a significant piece to the puzzle that takes place between Passover and Bikkurim known as Sfirat HaOmer. It is this season we are in now. In short the occasion is the actual counting of days between the two events, but in depth there is so much more that takes place within these fifty days. Counting as the Pharisees did which begins the exact day after the great Sabbath or Passover as opposed to the Sadducees understanding of counting following the next standard Sabbath, the date is understood not so much as a countdown but rather as a counting up. With anticipation for the Feast of Weeks the Omer in counted and prayed about daily. But perhaps I am getting ahead of myself. Let me slow down and work to explain this concept better.
Within the Torah it is understood via Moses’ writings that during this time a special offering of barley grain is brought to the Holy Temple. This offering is called an Omer. The counting is done aloud at night with a blessing spoken over the grain. Roughly, it takes about five pounds of flour to equal an Omer. This, mixed with oil and a handful of levona spice make the sacred Omer which is then placed into a pan waved in all directions by the priests. Then a handful of the mixture is burned on the altar and the rest divided upon the priests for consumption. Beyond just being a fancy timeframe of forty-nine days to count, however, the forty-nine days also has another, greater significance and double meaning. These days represent the forty-nine days of preparation from the exodus from Egypt till the time when Egypt was delivered out of the people. To quote the musical artist David Baroni, “Lord, you took me out of Egypt, now take Egypt out of me.” Within this time God is looking for hearts dedicated to Him.
Earlier in Exodus 3:12 we read of Moses receiving instructions from God out of the burning bush. God spoke, “When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” This mountain was Sinai. Once the Israelites left Egypt it took forty-nine days to reach the mountain and have a time of consecration. Departing on the 15th of Nisan, the first day of Passover, they arrived at this point before Sinai on the 6th of Sivan which is where they received the Torah from God. But in addition to the journey taking seven weeks, we also need to look separately at the numbers of 40 and 10. In forty days the Israelites were at a place where they were far enough removed physically from Egypt that God was able to see their hearts. Israel then was called to a time of consecration before the law was to be given (Ex 19:10). On the fiftieth day, the law was given. Now look at Acts 1:3 and we see Jesus appeared for forty days following His crucifixion before going to heaven. However, His last command to the disciples was not to leave but rather wait. This was the disciples’ version of consecration. This was a time of praying, fasting, and getting right with God. On the fiftieth day the Spirit was given.
Tonight at sundown will be day seven in the counting of Omer. In relation to this, I encourage you to spend some time today in consecration before God. During this time the people were encouraged to check their spiritual growth and character. It may do us well to do the same. Perhaps we find ourselves asking God the same thing as David Baroni sang. We have come out of Egypt, but has Egypt come out of us? In order for us to receive the fullness of this season of jubilee, we must check ourselves for all areas of waste that need to be removed from our lives. In saying that we give God our all we must truly give Him our all. Let us stop wandering in the desert and allowing the desert to live in us and instead come before God broken and ready for His infilling of the Spirit.

THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD

“He said, ‘Listen, all Judah, you who live in Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: here is what Adonai is saying to you: “Don’t be afraid or distressed by this great horde; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”’”
II Chronicles 20:15

How have you been this week? I know, it seems strange for me to open a devotional asking how you are doing, but I really am concerned. This has been a humbling week for me personally. In coming to the realization of how much chametz I still have in my own life, and that I have a mountain before me that I physically do not have the strength to move, I have been humbled. But I have also become determined this week. With both these obstacles staring at me, I have decided that I will look to Adonai for my help. Only He can take His feather and flashlight and dust out all the remnants of chametz in my life, much like the game Jewish children play as they help remove the physical chametz in their home this season. And only He can move this mountain that I spoke of two days back. So then, I have become determined this week in understanding that no matter what I am facing, whether the removal of pride or of a problem, the battle belongs to the LORD.
King Jehoshaphat ran into this same issue as I understand it. In reading II Chronicles 20, the king was facing his own band of opposition of which he too had to make a determined stand. The vast collective army of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites had all joined forces to oppose King Jehoshaphat. The king’s first reaction to this news was prayer and fasting (II Chr 20:3). People all throughout Judah came together as the king had requested, and sought their next steps of the LORD’s leading through prayer and fasting. It was following this time that the Spirit of the LORD fell upon Jahaziel the Levite, who stood before the assembly gathered together and spoke, “Listen, all Judah, you who live in Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: here is what Adonai is saying to you: ‘Don’t be afraid or distressed by this great horde; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.’” The instruction given as the Spirit continued to speak through this man was that the next day, Judah would go down and meet the vast army. It was there that Judah would not have to fight, but rather stand. In their stance they would find victory.
Early the next morning, as instructed by Adonai through His Spirit, the men of Judah left for the Desert of Tekoa. On the way, the king continued to remind his men to have faith in the LORD as He would be the one to uphold them. He then appointed worshippers to sing unto the LORD, praising Adonai for His splendor of holiness, singing the words of Psalm 136, “Give thanks to the LORD, for His love endures forever.” As they sang, Adonai set ambushes against the enemy armies. The forces turned on one another, with the men of Ammon and Moab fighting against the Meunites. Then, once the Meunites were finished off, they turned on each other, with the Ammonites waging war against the Moabites, until finally not a man was left alive. As Jehoshaphat and the men of Judah stood their ground, lifting their voices unto Adonai instead of a finger against their enemy, Adonai opposed the enemy. Judah then retrieved the plunder of the three armies, taking four days to collect the wealth. The promise given by Adonai to stand their ground and see the deliverance of the LORD was true.
It is with this thought that I want to challenge us all today. I know in my life I have enemies that even now are opposing me. I would imagine you do as well. We may not both be battling issues of pride or mountains related to personal issues, but I guarantee that there is some form of an army that has your demise in its view. To you and I, I say, the battle belongs to the LORD. There will be times when Adonai requires that we fight, and in those times He will give us the strategy and the power to overcome. But there will be other times when He will require of us that we stand our ground and watch as He places ambushes in the paths of those opposing us. It is in those times that we wage war in the Spirit, worshiping our Father for His splendor. “Give thanks to the LORD, for His love endures forever!”

LAID LOW

“See how Adonai Elohim-Tzva'ot lops off the branches with terrible violence! The ones standing highest are chopped down, the lofty are laid low. He will hack down the forest underbrush with an axe, and the L'vanon in its splendor falls.”
Isaiah 10:33-34

Keeping in step still with the thoughts of this season which is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and with the deflating of chametz that the Lord is doing personally in my life, I want us to camp out for the day in Isaiah 10:33-34. I guarantee this is a passage that we are unaware of, and if we have read it we have more than likely read over its meaning. I know I have. But in studying the scripture this morning for verses that have to do with the removal of pride, humility of any kind, and dependence upon Adonai, I was drawn to this passage. I found myself beginning to wonder not necessarily if I am one of those standing high, but more so when will I be laid low.
Looking back at the verses prior we read of the remnant of Israel and their return to the Mighty God (Isa 10:21). As destruction has been decreed over the land, and would be carried out by the LORD, still a remnant would return. It is then in Isaiah 10:24 and following that the prophet spoke further the words of Adonai. In essence the prophet spoke, “Do not be afraid, for very soon the anger of Adonai will end against His people and be directed to the ones abusing His people.” The destruction would be lashed out and finally halted on Nob where the enemies had run for cover. It is here in Nob that they would shake their fists, but here also that Adonai Elohim-Tzva'ot, the LORD Almighty, would lop off the branches. While this seems mean of Adonai, it may only be because we do not understand the meaning of Nob. Nob was a priestly city within the area of the tribe of Benjamin, situated in the north near Jerusalem. Nob also is defined as a “high place”. It was in this high place that pride grew.
Adonai is not a fan of pride, as we saw a few days back when learning of chametz. It is in this season that our homes are to be void of this leavening agent physically and our lives spiritually. So then it makes sense to read this passage and self-inspect further, working again to make sure and verify that the chametz of our lives is gone. To the people who possessed pride, Adonai spoke that He would lop off their boughs with great power, chop down lofty trees, thin thickets with His axe, and reduce those standing in pride against Him. As He brought His destruction to Nob, so too can He bring His destruction against us who stand in pride before Him.
So again, I find myself beginning to wonder not necessarily if I am one of those standing high, but more so when will I be laid low. I do not want this destruction to fall upon me; I do not want to taken out because of the pride in me that raises itself against Adonai. That said, my prayer once again is, Adonai, have mercy on me and help me to remove this chametz. I want to be humbled, but I do not want to be taken out. I want to be void of the pride I know I have, but I do not want to be destroyed because of it. If I do not place myself in a position where I allow Him to humble me and remove the leaven, then the only other alternative is His bringing me down by force as He did Nob.
Adonai, have mercy on me and help me to remove this chametz.

HE WILL ACCOMPLISH

“’Adonai will do battle for you. Just calm yourselves down!’”
Exodus 14:14

I am standing before a huge mountain. Well let me rephrase that. I am standing before what seems to me is a huge mountain. Some of you who know me well may know what this mountain is. The truth of the matter is that I feel like the Israelites who, after leaving Egypt, were chased by Pharaoh’s army to the banks of the Red Sea. I now find myself with a force encroaching in the rear and a massive sea of an issue blocking my path. So what am I supposed to do? If I turn back I am defeated by the army. If I try to swim I will not make it all the way across. I lack additional choices. But I refuse to give up faith that deliverance will come.
When the Hebrews who lived this experience in the physical saw the army of Pharaoh coming after them, they began to fear. Fear can cause us to say and do some pretty stupid things. For the Israelites this was the case. Because of fear they blamed Moses (Ex 14:11). They questioned why he brought them out, why they couldn’t have just remained slaves, and why they should die here as opposed to in Egypt. But what they did not know is what we also fail to see in our moments of fear. Freedom was knocking on their door, and Adonai was about to fight for them. Adonai was their man of war, their ISYH MILCHAMAH (Ex 15:3), and He was about to prove Himself. It was following this that the word of the LORD came to Moses who then told the people the same words He is now telling me.
“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still’” (Ex 14:13-14). Without going into great depth at this time as to what I am facing, I feel in my spirit that God is telling me to stand firm in Him. Instead of running around in fear, I am being told to stand still. Instead of looking back behind me or out in front of me, I am being told to look to Him. This encroaching army that wants to have its revenge on me has to go first through God, but God is promising me deliverance. Just as Moses worked to calm the people’s fears by announcing that this would be the last day the Egyptians would ever be seen, so God is telling me the same concerning my foe. God once again is about to roll up His sleeves and do battle on my behalf. And this same truth is true for you in your hard place.
We read the remainder of Exodus 14 and we find that God parted the Red Sea for His chosen people. When Pharaoh’s army pursued Israel, the waters were released and swallowed the army up. Adonai’s word was true; the Egyptians were never seen again. Will He not do the same for us?
In closing I want to share with you another, maybe more exact translation of these verses found in Exodus 14:13-14. You know me; I love to look at the words in Hebrew and Greek when I study the Bible. This passage is no exception. I encourage you to look these words up for yourself, but here are the meanings from the Hebrew that I have found. “And Moses said unto the people, ‘Be afraid not, no more, but stand set in your station, and have vision for the victory and deliverance of Adonai, which He will accomplish for you in this period; for the inhabitants of Egypt whom you have had vision of in this period, you shall have vision of them in increase no more for a long duration of time. Adonai will do battle for you. Just calm yourselves down!’”

CHAMETZ AND GILGAL

“At that time the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.’ So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.”
Joshua 5:2-3

I thought for awhile on how to start today’s thought, and honestly knowing what I want to say and trying to ease into it, I just couldn’t find an avenue. So allow me to be blunt and risk sounding scattered as I share with you what I know for a fact Adonai is currently telling me. Currently we are in the days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread on the Jewish calendar. It is for seven days following Pesach that many observers find themselves eating matzah as opposed to products containing wheat, oats, spelt, barley, and rye. These five grains are known also as chametz in Hebrew. The basic definition for chametz is any type of leavening product. For any who have cooked breads or cakes before, they will know that ingredients such as baking soda, baking powder, flour, or yeast all cause things to rise, therefore making them a form of chametz. In memory of the children of Israel leaving Egypt so quickly, we forsake for this timeframe the leaved items and eat the unleavened bread.
Move with me away from the Exodus out of Egypt and go to the entering of the Promise Land in Joshua 5. Already the people had crossed the Jordan and were about to attack Jericho. Yet before doing so, a command was given to Joshua while in Gilgal to circumcise the men again. Again? Yes again, because while traveling in the desert for forty years the older circumcised generation had died off and the new younger generation had not yet been circumcised. According to Jewish law, circumcision was the proof that the person was God’s. So in following the command given to him, Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the men of Israel, rolling away the reproach of Egypt.
Now with the background hopefully set, I want to share with you the challenge Adonai placed in my lap while visiting family in Texas for Pesach, and continues to challenge me with as I partake of the matzah this week. The chametz needs to be removed. The foreskin needs to be cut. Allow me to explain. Physical chametz is the five grains listed above. However, even though I have removed these grains from my home during this time, I also need to remove them from my life. I think of self-rising flour. It is self-rising. This chametz is easy to see. But what about the self-rising chametz in my life? Pride, selfishness, arrogance, these are the chametz in my life that also need to be removed. Yet it is the same as the foreskins. There are health issues that are related to not being circumcised, which may be one reason why Adonai required this of His people. So then there are spiritual health issues related to me not being circumcised. The sins of pride, selfishness, arrogance, and so many other spiritual ‘diseases’ is a real thing.
Adonai is not asking us to refrain from chametz, nor is He asking us to be circumcised. He is commanding us. He is commanding His people to remove the pride of life, to remove the selfish attitude of ‘me’, and to remove the arrogant manner we so easily slip into when concerned only with ourselves. We need to leave the reproach of Egypt behind. We need to stop serving the idols of ‘us’ and find ourselves embracing the humility that in essence is found in the chametz. We need to cut away the foreskin which holds the disease of sin, and allow ourselves to be cleansed.
Oh Adonai, I pray that you would take me to Gilgal, circumcise my heart, and reduce my pride until it no longer exists.

ALL THE LAWS AND RULINGS

“And you are to take care to follow all the laws and rulings I am setting before you today.”
Deuteronomy 11:32 CJB

Allow me to first confess that in no way am I a learned Jewish scholar. I am far from it to be honest. I say this only because what I feel inclined to share today has some Jewish background, but incase I say something off base or seem to have any facts out of order it is only because Adonai is still working to open my eyes. With that said, I want to share a lesson I remember from reading the Torah portion, spanning from Deuteronomy 11:26 thru 16:17, titled RE’EH, or ‘see’. As I have been studying this section, Adonai has indeed been helping me to ‘see' in light of the readings following Pesach.
Deuteronomy 11:26 begins by stating, “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse.” Reading on we learn that the blessing Moshe was speaking of would come from listening and heeding the commands, or mitzvot, of Adonai. The curse would come from doing the opposite and turning aside from Adonai to follow other gods. Haven’t we read this before? As part of the Ten Commandments, Adonai commanded His people not to bow down or serve other gods, but rather to serve Him only. And Adonai also gave both throughout the forty year journey and here again right before their entry, His commands concerning their practices and behaviors. So off hand, this choice seems pretty black or white. And while I would suggest that many, if not all of us, would declare that we would choose the way of blessing, I would question if we have.
The command continues, however, and we read that when Isra'el was to have entered the Promised Land they were to place the blessing on Mount G’rizim (Gerizim) and the curse of Mount ‘Eival (Ebal). In my own study I questioned the significance of these two Mounts? In researching this I found that Mount G’rizim means “cuttings off”. Now please notice, I did not make a typo by writing “cuttings”. This term alludes to pruning. In order for a tree to flourish and grow fruit, it goes through times of pruning, cutting off the dead so that the living can continue. It was on this Mount that the pruning of Adonai’s people would happen so that the living and fruit bearing would continue. And it was the opposite on Mount ‘Eival. Mount ‘Eival was known as barren, bald, and bare. No tree flourished on this mount, and therefore no fruit either. Whether due to climate issues or simply just a curse on this mount prior to the Israelites, the fact remained that nothing flourished physically on this mount.
This chapter of Deuteronomy ends with a final command for both the Israelites and all those who will follow. “And you are to take care to follow all the laws and rulings I am setting before you today.” As we know, there will come a time when each of us will be judged. Our actions will determine whether we are found on Mount G’rizim or Mount ‘Eival. I pray that it is the Mount of blessing. But the end decision in where we are found rests in the decisions we make now. Do we follow all the laws and rulings? Do we follow enough to get by? Do we follow any at all? Hebrews 10:26-31 states that if we continue to sin after we know the truth of our sin, we should not be surprised when Adonai judges us. Mount ‘Eival is not the place I want to find myself in the end, so I must begin to make better choices now. Life and death has been set before us all. Let us choose life. Let us stand on the blessed Mount G’rizim.

GLORIOUS SUNDAY

“’He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay’”
Matthew 28:6

Saturday left the women and the disciples hopeless, while leaving the chief priests and Pharisees fearful. The Savior, the one who had come as a baby, the one who had healed so many, the one who had raised others from the dead, now lay dead and in His own tomb. Hope was gone. But was it? Didn’t Yeshua say to His disciples that His death would result in resurrection? In Luke 18:31-33 the Messiah spoke of His death. “Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.’” Did the disciples forget all this? They had seen the mocking, heard the insults, watched the crowd spit on Him and flog Him. And just three days ago they watched their hope die on a cross. Was the belief that He would rise again gone as well?
The fullness of the events had not yet played out. As the dawn broke on the third day, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb (Mt 28:1). They were carrying their spices and questioning who would roll the stone away so that they could anoint Jesus (Mk 16:3). But as they were walking toward the tomb, a violent earthquake shook the ground. When the ladies approached the tomb, they found the stone already rolled away and an angel sitting upon it (Mt 28:2). They peered inside but found no one, living or dead. And then the angel spoke, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay” (Mt 28:6). The women hurried away, and in Matthew’s account, were suddenly met by Jesus and fell in worship of Him, clasping His feet. At that moment, the One who had overcome death spoke to them, telling them to announce His return to the others.
He was alive! Though He suffered a violent death of hanging on a cross, a death worthy of only a cursed man (Deut 21:22-23), He now was alive and well. And His death paid our price. Galatians 3:13-14 reads, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” His death paid for my sin, and His rebirthing, His resurrection paved the way for my coming into His family and receiving the promised blessings.
I am no one special, for what Christ did for me He has also done for you. By hanging on the cross, He also paved the way for your redemption, buying you back from the enemy. And while hope seemed lost, He was completing his plan of salvation for your life. When the time was right, when the three days had passed, Christ raised from the dead victorious over the devil. Death could not hold Him down. But now, as with those who have gone before you, you must make a choice. Christ has paid the price, but have you made the decision to accept Him as your Lord and Savior? Romans 10:9-10 tells us that if we confess with our mouth that Yeshua is Lord, and believe in our heart that Adonai raised Him from the dead, then we will be saved. For in doing this we are justified and cleansed. No one can do this for you, but I urge you to do it if you have not. The time is getting shorter each day, and soon there will be no more chances. Let today be the day that you enter into a real relationship with Christ. It is not enough to know of Him, you must know Him.

SATURDAY

“Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”
Luke 23:56

Saturday is considered the first full day of the weekend here in America, yet considered the official day of rest in Israel and within Jewish communities. Knowing this, and knowing that the Jewish day starts at dusk the night before, it is perhaps easier to understand why very little is recorded about Yeshua’s final days when it came to Saturday. After His death on the cross, Joseph, a member of the Council from the Judean town of Arimathea, asked Pilate for Yeshua’s body. His request was granted. The Messiah’s body was taken down, wrapped in linen cloth and placed in the tomb Joseph had cut in a rock. But as this was Preparation Day, and Shabbat was about to begin, not much more is recorded until Sunday. In fact, Luke’s only record of any event happening on Saturday is in Luke 23:56, which reads, “Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”
In Matthew’s account of the Saturday activities in Matthew 27:62-66, he records that the chief priests and the Pharisees went before Pilate requesting his permission for yet another reason. Remembering that Yeshua had said He would rise again after three days, and perhaps having a better understanding of the events now, they requested the tomb be made secure. Their concern was that the disciples may come and steal His body but then work to convince the people that Christ had indeed been raised from the dead. This deception, in their eyes, would be worse than anything else thus far. Because of this, Pilate agreed to have the tomb secured by putting a seal on the stone, in addition to posting guards.
Now knowing that the women were preparing spices according to Luke, and that the tomb was being secured according to Matthew, one may wonder what was going on with the disciples. There is nothing said about the disciples in any of the gospels. In his book, Plan B, Pete Wilson shares his opinion of the disciples’ Saturday events, and in many ways they can reflect our own lives. “For more than a day, from sundown on Friday to until early Sunday morning, [Yeshua’s] followers waited, feeling more powerless, more hopeless, than they ever had felt in their lives. For all that time, hope is dead.”
I’m sure you have been there; I know I have. Those times in life when we feel helpless and hopeless visit us more than we desire. We are left wondering if things will ever get better. We find ourselves paralyzed. It is in these times that we ask the same question that the disciples may have. Did Adonai forget the promises He made us? Did He abandon us? Does He still have the power to work this out, or is it truly hopeless now? In our situations we find the same bleakness as the disciples found.
Fortunately the story is not finished. In this moment of Shabbat, though, while we wait for the holy day to come to an end, we are in this time of simply waiting. As with the ladies in Luke’s account, we can do nothing. As with those ordered by Pilate in Matthew’s account, we can do nothing to prevent the guarding. And as with the thoughts of Pete Wilson, we can only assume that the promises have been forgotten. Will tomorrow prove that hope is fully lost, or that hope has been restored? Today, all we can do is wait.

GOOD FRIDAY

“When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
John 19:30

In looking further at the final days of Christ’s life, we now find ourselves on what has since been termed Good Friday. May I ask? What is so good about it? While I do not claim to have all the answers, I do want to take a moment to point out one event that would have made this Friday good. To understand it, though, I want to start in looking at the trials. Yeshua had questioned the angry mob that met Him in the garden as to why they had not sought to take Him before if they felt He was the leader of a revolt. But now, standing before Annas, He asked them again. “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me?” Here Yeshua openly answered a question concerning His teaching, but following His response He received a strike in His face (John 18:20-22). For answering a question He received a punch in the face? That doesn’t sound good.
Leaving Annas, Yeshua was transferred to Caiaphas, the high priest, where again He was questioned. However, it is here that we read the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Yeshua in order to put Him away (Mk 14:55). Finding no one, or maybe few, many false witnesses spoke against the Christ, and their stories did not match. The decision of the high priest was already made up, and nothing Yeshua could say would change it. Caiaphas ended his interrogation calling the Christ a blasphemer, upon which Yeshua was struck again and mocked to prophesy who hit Him. This still doesn’t sound very good.
Lastly, Yeshua stood before Pilate. He was innocent yet given over to Pilate with the pretense of being a criminal (Jn 18:30). Hearing that they were bringing Yeshua before him as not only a criminal, but as one who faced the death penalty, Pilate took the Messiah aside for his own questioning. Pilate found no reason that Yeshua should die or have these strong accusations placed on Him (Jn 18:38). Nevertheless, when Pilate announced one criminal was free to go, giving the crowd the choice of Yeshua or Barabbas, the crowds chose Barabbas, a known and feared murderer. With the chanting of the crowd in unison demanding Christ be crucified, Pilate washed his hands of their decision. Now the Messiah faced death. This sure doesn’t sound good.
Soldiers led Him away to the Praetorium where a whole band of soldiers were called on to abuse the Christ. They put a purple robe on Him and a crown of weaved thorn branches, then mocked His majesty. Over and over they beat Him with their fists, spit on Him, and forced Him to His knees in surrender. And if that wasn’t enough, the Christ was forced to carry His own cross before collapsing on the road to Golgotha. It was here that more torture was endured as they nailed Him to the cross in His feet and wrists, leaving Him to hang and die. I will admit, I have had many bad days at the office, but nothing like this. This still sounds nowhere close to good.
But wait a minute because the good is coming to this Friday in history. It is hard to see, but if we look at John 19:30 it can be found. “When He had received the drink, Yeshua said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” TETELESTAI. It, at that moment, was finished. These same words were spoken by the priests who would perform sacrifices. Because on Passover the priest would sacrifice the one lamb selected on the 10th of Nisan, many people would come to the ceremony. But with so many, only the people in the front would know when the action was done. Those in the front would then yell back to the crowd that the event was finished. And here, Christ declared once and for all, it is finished. With this, He surrendered His life.
I don’t know about you, but this final portion, although still sad and unjust, seems to bring balance to Good Friday. It was because of all these actions that took place that I am free. My bondage is finished. My chains are finished. My addictions are finished. My sin, my negative confessions, my stupid moments of flesh, they are all finished. Yeshua took upon Himself our junk, finishing off the hold it had on us. That makes for a Good Friday. His sacrifice purchased my freedom.

THURSDAY

“’Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’”
Luke 22:42

Following from where we left off yesterday, and with the knowledge of how the Jewish days are counted, we find Yeshua and his disciples on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane following their meal. Mark records that either as they were walking to the garden or upon arrival, Yeshua told the disciples that they would all fall away. Peter, the same one who had taken a few steps on the water toward Yeshua, boldly announced that even if the others fell, he would not. But the Messiah knew he would also, for He knows all things. Therefore, He announced to Peter that before the rooster crowed twice Peter would deny Yeshua three times (Mk 14:26-30).
It is in Mark 14:32-41, and Luke 22:39-46, that we find some of the most quoted passages concerning Yeshua’s prayer. Within these verses we find the disciples charged with the task of praying. Once they arrived, the Messiah took Peter, James, and John with Him deeper in the garden and asked that they might keep watch. “Pray that you will not fall into temptation,” He said (Lk 22:40). Oh that we would be ones that pray that prayer even today. Temptation is all around us, desiring to take us under its control and prevent us from staying alert to the ways of Adonai. I am challenged right now as I read this passage again. Adonai, please help me not to fall into temptation.
Then, stepping a few more paces within the garden, Yeshua prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Lk 22:42). Yeshua knew His task; He knew the purpose for which He had come to earth. Now standing on the verge of this purpose He was asking His Father for strength. The Father responded by sending an angel to Him (Lk 22:43), yet His prayer only continued, and in more anguish, until He began to sweat what appeared to be drops of blood. Knowing the events that were still to play out during that night were close, He arose to gather His disciples. But where were they? They had fallen asleep and escaped to dreamland. In the moment when Christ asked them to be strong and alert, sleep had overpowered them.
While Yeshua was awaking His disciples, and speaking to them, a crowd began to approach led by the wayward disciple, Judas. Judas had already worked out a secret code with the band of men he was leading, that the one who he kissed would be the one they were to arrest. Judas then kissed the Messiah. Taking note of the officers and temple officials, the now betrayed Messiah questioned them if He was being charged of leading a revolt as they approached Him with swords and clubs. Daily He had been in their presence and they did not lay a hand on Him, and now they approached with weapons. Matthew records an event following this that I question of myself. “Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled” (Mt 26:56).
Yeshua had told the disciples just an hour or so before that they would all fall away. And even with Peter’s announcement that he would not, Peter still did. But if I were in Peter’s shoes, would I have done the same? Would I have fallen asleep first of all in the garden, but would I also have stood boldly with the Lord or fallen away. If I were to answer I would probably have said as Peter did, “not I”. But the truth is I probably would have, also for fear of being arrested for being with Christ. I hate that this is my answer, but I am also glad. I am glad I can see where I falter so that I can also know where I need His strength. In my own way I daily have this choice. Will I stand up for Christ, or will I fall back when trouble is looking at me? I urge you to see yourself in the disciples as you read this story, and be honest with yourself as well. Would you stand there and hold firm in the presence of all that is happening, or would you fall away? His strength is there for us who struggle, and as we will later see of Peter, His forgiveness is there for us also when we fall away.

WEDNESDAY

“When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, ‘I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.’”
Matthew 26:20-21

For the remainder of this week I want to focus on the events of Yeshua HaMashiac’s last week. Now technically we know that Christ was resurrected and made appearances to the disciples and others following His death before ascending into heaven, but still, this week is known by many as the final week. There is one important factor we must keep in mind, however, as we look at the events that took place. To understand these events we must remember that a Jewish day starts as sundown. In order for the Messiah to have been sacrificed on the 14th of Nisan, when the lambs were also sacrificed in relation with Pesach (Passover), and be raised after three days, we have to count backwards. That means that on the Wednesday evening of the week our Messiah was crucified, the disciples and He were celebrating the Last Supper.
As I was doing my personal study regarding these last week events, my eyes were opened. I long had thought that the Messiah was crucified on a Friday, therefore the reason we have the holiday of Good Friday. This then would allow for Christ to resurrect on Easter morning. But that is Western thought. I too was taught incorrectly. With the evenings beginning at night and the Jewish week beginning on Saturday night following Shabbat, it all began to make more sense. Once I counted backward this way then I was able to understand that in order for Christ to be crucified on Pesach, the Last Supper would have been had a night early. When others were having Pesach on the day Yeshua was sacrificed, making Him also the lamb, the Messiah had already had His Supper on Wednesday night.
It is on this night that Yeshua and the Twelve sat around the table and ate their meal. It was on this night that Yeshua would be betrayed. And it was on this night that Yeshua would give the disciples an image to remember in the breaking of the bread and drinking of the cup. The stage had been set, the price already agreed upon. Yeshua knew it. Yet still He did not name names. He made a remark that one would betray Him, but never did He spill out a name. Instead, when the moment was right during their meal, while they were washing their hands as is done twice during the Pesach meal, Yeshua said, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me” (Matt 26:23). I wonder if the other disciples caught that, or if Yeshua may have spoken it quietly.
As the meal continued, it came time for Christ to break the bread. In the Pesach meal there are three matzahs placed on the plate. Rabbi’s have fought over the reason for three and cannot come to a joint understanding. Some say they represent Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the early pillars of the faith, while others claim it represents the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While I do not claim to know, I do think the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit makes the most sense. And here is why. The tradition of the Seder is to take the middle matzah and break it in half. If the Son, Yeshua, is represented by the middle matzah, and the Bible records Yeshua breaking the unleavened bread and referring to His body (Mk 14:22), then would it not make sense that He was in essence the middle matzah? The Messiah is also seen in the cup. The four cups of Pesach have meaning. But there was one cup of the four that Yeshua said He would not drink of yet (Mk 14:25). This forth cup, the cup of Praise, was not consumed by Christ, nor will it be until the wedding feast of the Lamb (Rev 19:9).
I encourage you tonight, with Pesach approaching, that as you are sitting around with your family at the table you take a moment and reflect on this night in history. This night was no ordinary night, but rather was the beginning of the events that paid our ransom. The arrest that followed just hours after the dinner placed the Messiah in the hands of those who would crucify Him. But without this Last Supper, we too may have missed the parallels between Yeshua HaMashiach and the lamb. Let tonight be a time of reflection. Read this night in your personal study time or with your children this account, and never forget that His body was broken for you and His final cup untouched until we all join Him at the great wedding feast.

DAYENU – IT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT

“You will bring them in and plant them, on the mountain of your inheritance- the place, O LORD, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O LORD, your hands established”
Exodus 15:17

As a part of the Jewish holiday of Passover, the song “Dayenu” is sung. Dayenu ( דַּיֵּנוּ) is translated as “it would have been sufficient”, and is normally a traditional upbeat song that reflects on the awesome hand of Adonai and the way He worked in the exodus of His people. Additionally, the song is about being grateful of Adonai for all the gifts He gave the Jewish people which include the Torah and Shabbat. If Adonai had only brought the people out of slavery, that would have been enough. If Adonai had only given the Torah, that would have been enough. Although this song reflects on the times then, it has just as much significance now as we reflect on the Passover Lamb we know as Yeshua HaMashiach. Let us look at the words of this song as we too stand grateful for the Lamb.

“If [Adonai] had brought us forth from Egypt, and had not inflicted judgement upon the Egyptians, it would have been sufficient.
“If He had inflicted justice on them, and had not executed judgment upon their gods, it would have been sufficient.
“If He had executed judgment upon their gods, and had not slain their first-born, it would have been sufficient.
“If He had slain their first-born, and had not bestowed their wealth on us, it would have been sufficient.
“If He had given us their wealth and had not divided the sea for us, it would have been sufficient.
“If He had divided the sea for us, and had not made us pass through on dry land, it would have been sufficient.
“If He had made us pass through its midst on dry land, and had not drowned our oppressors in the sea, it would have been sufficient.
“If He had drowned our oppressors in it, and had not supplied our necessities in the wilderness during forty years, it would have been sufficient.
“If He had supplied our necessities in the wilderness during forty years and had not fed us with manna, it would have been sufficient.
“If He had fed us with manna, and had not given us the Sabbath, it would have been sufficient.
“If He had given us the Sabbath, and had not brought us to Mount Sinai, it would have been sufficient.
“If He had brought us near to Mount Sinai, and had not given us the Law, it would have been sufficient.
“If He had given us the Law, and had not led us into the land of Israel, it would have been sufficient.
“If He had led us into the land of Israel and had not built the Temple, it would have been sufficient.

How much we are indebted to Adonai for what He has done for his people. And how many more verses of this song we could still sing. Adonai preserved His people in the time of Esther. Adonai preserved and cared for His people during the captivities, during the time of the Maccabees, and even more recently in the 1940s during the days of Hitler. To save even once in these times, it would have been sufficient. Yet He continues to preserve His people. We are indebted.

SHABBAT HAGADOL

“Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.”
Exodus 12:3

This past Saturday on the Hebrew calendar was the 10th of Nisan. This day is a landmark day in Jewish history. While many major events have happened on the 10th of Nisan, today I would like to focus on two specifically so that we can prepare for what is ahead. According to the Talmud, the flight from Egypt took place on the 15th of Nisan, making the 14th the day the Passover lamb was sacrificed. As we will see, the lamb was to be cared for a total of four days, placing the selection of the Passover lamb, the Korban Pesach, on the 10th of Nisan. It was on this day that not only were the events set in motion for the Isra'elites’ freedom, but were also set in place for ours.
First, I would like us to focus on a passage found in Exodus 12. According to this chapter, it was on the tenth day of this month that each man was to take a lamb for the Passover feast. There were restrictions for the selection of this lamb. “The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats” (Ex 12:5). I want us to take a moment to look at the word ‘defect’. In Hebrew the word is TAMIYM, referring to the lamb as having to be entire, complete, whole, healthful, or innocent. Not only were these words to be the description of the physical lamb chosen, but as we will later see, they were descriptions of the Lord Himself, our Passover Lamb.
Exodus 12:6 continues on in the description of the lamb. “Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Isra'el must slaughter them at twilight.” It is here that we read that the lamb had to stay with the family for a short period of time. The reason for this was so that the lamb would no longer be simply a ‘lamb’, but rather their lamb. By feeding it, caring for it, and being sure to keep it pure, they were investing themselves into this lamb. On the twilight of the 14th of Nisan the lambs were then publicly sacrificed by the assembly and the blood of that person’s lamb was then applied to the doorpost as a sign of the family’s faith.
Now then, let us skip ahead a few hundred years to the time of Yeshua. Yeshua’s last Passover week began as He entered Jerusalem. On the 10th of Nisan, He rode into town and a donkey to announce His Messiahship. But look at the words of the people’s shouting in John 12:13, which were first recorded in Psalm 118:25-26. “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Isra'el!” Hosanna is actually the phrase HOSHIAH NA, meaning please save or save now. The people’s shouts were a plea for salvation. Knowing the sacrifice of the lamb would only save them till the next Passover, they were now pleading for the salvation of their lives. For if only but a moment, the proper praise was given to Christ, their Mashiach, Messiah.
This same date of when Yeshua entered the city was the same date in which the lamb was selected. It was also four days from the entry till the Messiah became our sacrifice. As He stood before His accusers, they could find no wrong in Him (Luke 23:13-14), proving He was spotless. The Messiah was falsely accused, beaten, and sentenced to die. If He had failed even once while on earth, He would not have been worthy to be our Lamb. But He did not. He was tempted in every way, yet never fell. It is because of this day in history that we are and can be saved. The lamb, the perfect Lamb, has been inspected and found blameless, and His sacrifice has brought our salvation.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!