Messiah

The Azazel Goat, End Times & Atonement of All Things

Posted on September 29, 2023 by My House Ministries in Biblical Feasts

In Leviticus 16, we see the outline from יהוה [the LORD] to the priesthood for the Day of Atonement. Throughout the preparation of this day and the cleansing that takes place, we see a peculiar instruction.

“Then he shall take the two goats and set them before יהוה [the LORD] at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for יהוה and the other lot for Azazel.”

“And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for יהוה and use it as a sin offering, but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before יהוה to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.” – {Leviticus‬ ‭16:7-10}

Who or what is Azazel? The Hebrew is obscure, but many have tried to give their scholarly opinion over the years. The HCSB Study Bible says the following,

“Three different interpretations have been proposed for the meaning azazel, a word that occurs only in chapter 16. The LXX translates it as ‘the one carrying away evil’ from which we get the term ‘scapegoat’. The second view was developed later by rabbis who suggested that azazel means ‘a rough and difficult place’ and that it represented the goats destination. The third view suggests that the word is the name of a demon that inhabited the desert.”

Is it possible that all three interpretations are correct?

In the non-canonical book of Enoch, which is amongst the most fragments found in the Qumran Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, we get some more insight into what or better yet, who Azazel is.

You have seen what Aza’zel has done, how he has taught every species of iniquity upon earth, and has disclosed to the world all the secret things which are done in the heavens. – {Enoch 9:5}

Here we see that the fallen angel Azazel taught the human race all sin. Interesting, but Enoch details more.

“Again יהוה [the LORD] said to Rapha’el, Bind Aza’zel hand and foot; cast him into darkness; and opening the 👉desert👈 which is in Duda’el, cast him in there. Throw upon him hurled and 👉pointed stones👈, covering him with darkness; There shall he remain forever; cover his face, that he may not see the light. And in the great day of judgment let him be cast into the fire.” – {10:6-9}

Amazingly, Enoch describes two of the three interpretations of this word in one passage. 1.) A rough and difficult place is where Azazel, the fallen angel, is cast out into, where he is covered with pointed stones. 2.) Azazel, a demonic being due to his fallen state, is sentenced to the desert.

Two of three is close, but what about the first interpretation of carrying away sin, the scapegoat? Enoch continues;

“All the earth has been corrupted by the effects of the teaching of Aza’zel. To him therefore ascribe all sin.” – {Enoch 10:12}

All sin is ascribed to Azazel as he is cast out into the desert. Enoch describes exactly what takes place on the Day of Atonement, how prophetic.

If you’ve been studying the biblical holy days, you’ve come to realize they are all about Jesus, his Hebrew name being יהושע. So, how does this fit in with him?

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.” – {Revelation‬ ‭20:1-3‬}

“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” – {Revelation‬ ‭20:7-10‬}

Could it be, the reason the goat cast for Azazel is not sacrificed because it is prophetic of what we see in revelation? If nothing is new under the sun, is it possible that on a future atonement, our King and High Priest יהושע will ascribe all sin to the ultimate scapegoat as he is sent out into the wilderness, the lake of fire, to be permanently cutoff from the perfect creation?

What do you think? Leave your comments below! 👇👇👇

Baal-Peor and the Sexual Sin of Balaam

Posted on July 21, 2019July 21, 2019 by My House Ministries in Weekly Scripture Reading

The Scriptures speak very STRONGLY of sexual sin and the defilement of the body.

“Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” – {1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:18-20‬}

In reading the Weekly Scripture Reading this week, the portion concludes with some of the Israelite men defiling themselves by yoking with Moabite women and their gods.

“While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women. These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab.” ‭- {Numbers‬ ‭25:1‬-2}

This specific event and the sexual immorality associated with it, was so severe that a plague broke out among the Israelites, killing 23,000 {Numbers 25:9}, which is how the portion ends.

It was also an event that remained in the memory of God’s people, as it was spoken of time and time again, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, throughout the Scriptures.

“Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal-peor, for the Lord your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Baal of Peor.” -{Deuteronomy‬ ‭4:3‬}

“Have we not had enough of the sin at Peor from which even yet we have not cleansed ourselves, and for which there came a plague upon the congregation of the LORD.” – {Joshua‬ ‭22:17‬}

“Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree in its first season, I saw your fathers. But they came to Baal-peor and consecrated themselves to the thing of shame, and became detestable like the thing they loved.” – {Hosea‬ ‭9:10‬}

“Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;” – {Psalms‬ ‭106:28‬}

And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. – {1 Corinthians 10:8}

As with all sin, there is always an origin. For the Moabite lineage, it surrounds that of sexual sin, literally having been conceived in the midst of it.

“One day the older daughter said to her sister, “There are no men left anywhere in this entire area, so we can’t get married like everyone else. And our father will soon be too old to have children. Come, let’s get him drunk with wine, and then we will have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father.” As a result, both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their own father. When the older daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Moab. He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Moabites.” – {Genesis‬ ‭19:31-32, 36-37‬}

While there is a prohibition against marrying a Moabite, found in Deuteronomy 33:3, the second chapter of Revelation seems to imply a deeper sin taking place.

“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” – {Revelation‬ ‭2:14-16‬}

So what was so vile about the Moabites and their worship of Baal-Peor that Balaam taught and caused John and many other biblical authors to write of it?

⚠️ the following may not be suitable for all due to the nature of the topic ⚠️

Historically, this god was worshipped and associated with disregarding any and all sexual restraints, extreme sexual practices and orgies. Baal-Peor, like many, was worshipped in the form of a phallus.

To go one step further, the Hebrew word peor [פְעוֹר] comes from the root word pa’ar [פָּעַר] meaning open, gap, wide, or hole.

Scholars have suggested that Baal of Peor, could then be translated as lord of the openings, lord of the gap or lord of the holes.

This translational meaning and root association leads to a traditional understanding and very possibly the source of Talmudic traditions associating Baal of Peor with exposure and excrement.

(the Talmudic texts cited here are used ONLY for historical references)

The tractate Sanhedrin 64a, through Rabbi Judah, tells the story of a sick gentile woman who promised to worship every idol in the known world if she became well enough to follow through. Upon recovering from this illness, she journeyed to make well of this promise. Upon reaching Peor, she could not bring herself to follow through on her vow, as the worship was absolutely disgusting: as they were eating beets, drinking strong drink, and then uncovering oneself in front of the idol.

Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, known as Rashi, comments on Numbers 25:3 stating that because the people would uncover before it, the end of the rectum, and bring forth excrement; this is its worship – therefore the place was called Peor.

These disgusting acts were then associated with and used in sexual practices.

•

To bring this idea and topic full circle, the Septuagint translation renders Baal of Peor, Beel-phegor, which is a known demon and one of the seven princes of hell in demonology.

In the Merriam-Webster’s Encyclopedia of World Religions, the photograph associated with this post is found for Belphegot, [Beel-phegor], seating this demon god on a toilet.

Coincidence? You be the judge, testing ALL things to the Word of God.

If true, this shows us the serious depravity of the people that the Israelite nations encountered and the severity of yoking with them and following the despicable ways of worship that revolves around their gods.

The Return of Messiah

Posted on May 25, 2019 by My House Ministries in Sabbath Snippets

• Sabbath Snippets •

This blog post might be a little long winded, but will certainly be worth the read!

THE RETURN OF MESSIAH – Trumpets or Atonement?

Continue reading “The Return of Messiah” →

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Posted on May 25, 2019May 25, 2019 by theellerfamily in Weekly Scripture Blog

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING
WEEK 32 | Behar | בהר | “On the Mountain”

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
1 John 4:7-8

Love. It is undeniably more than just a feeling…

In this weeks portion, we find Mosheh on the Mount talking with God and immediately we are met with God’s love, in that He is even willing to talk to us! Love of us and for us continues as a theme throughout the entire portion as we see it poured out upon the land and all the creatures He created. Leviticus 25:2 “When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall observe a Sabbath to YHWH.” Not only did Yah give a Shabbat (Sabbath) to us, but also to the land and all the livestock in the land every seventh year. This land Shabbat is observed to YHWH. By keeping it, it is not only our way of being obedient to Him, but also to show we love and trust in Him to provide in the sixth year all that we will need for that year and then the next two years as well. By trusting in Him, the land will provide three years worth of crops, our daily bread, His love poured out for us.

Yah then gives instructions for His Jubilee year. This year will be a year of release in which each person could return to their original land possession. Yah knew that some would not manage the land well, or they might perhaps decide to sell off a birthright. He provided a way for the children of Israel to regain the lost land that was portioned out to each family every 50 years. We are reminded not to exploit each other, charge interest to one another, or oppress one another, but to fear Yah and love each other.

“And you shall do My laws and guard My right-rulings, and shall do them. And you shall dwell in the land in safety, and the land shall yield its fruit, and you shall eat to satisfaction, and shall dwell there in safety.”
Leviticus 25:18-19

If we obey, he will provide for our every need!

We have a Father who loves us abundantly and cares about us so much. He reminds us through His Son that since he even cares for the grass, how much more will He provide for us, His children created in His image. We can rest and trust that during a Sabbath year and Jubilee year, all of our needs will be met.

“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious , saying, “What shall we eat?” Or “What shall we drink?” Or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Matthew 6:28-33

We’re reminded in Exodus 23:4-5, “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.” If we are to care this much for the animal of our enemy, how much more so ought we to care and love for not only the animals of our brother’s, but also for the brother himself? We are to redeem our brothers, take them in as hired servants instead of slaves, care for them by providing provisions without seeking profit, send our brothers out in the Jubilee with their children, and treat them with kindness. We are to love them like Yah loves us! Our brothers were “bought with a price” by Yah out of Egypt, just as we were, and as such, we are all servants of the Most High. “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:20-21

Adding to our understanding of Yah’s love, our reading in Isaiah is about our Redeemer. Isaiah 49: 26, “All flesh shall know that I, YHWH, am your Saviour, and your Redeemer, the Elohim of Jacob.” Yah loved us so much, that He sent his only Son, Yeshua, to be our Kinsman Redeemer, just as we are called to be kinsman redeemers for our brothers. He will come as a covenant of the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the ruined inheritances, to set the captives free, Isaiah 49:8-9. We have been bought with a price, let us never forget that (1 Cor 6:20, 7:23). We are now servants of our Messiah. He loved us to the point of death, even death on a cross, bearing our iniquity and shame. Never forget the high price He paid to ransom us from the wages of sin (DEATH). This debt can never be repaid, praised enough, thanked enough, or worked out enough with fear and trembling. However, we can choose every day to die to ourselves, pick up our cross and bear it, working for Him as a servant, counting it all joy, performing each task with thanksgiving, bearing one another’s burdens, giving a hand up and not just a hand out. Matthew 25:37-40, “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Remember to always have the HEART of a servant! Yeshua asked Peter three times in John, Chapter 21, “Do you love Me?” He tells Peter to “Feed My lambs,” “Shepherd My sheep,” and “Feed My sheep.” We need to ask ourselves this same question, “Do we love Him?” Are we truly loving our brothers? All who believe are the sheep of Yeshua, and as servants we are called as Peter was, to feed them, not only physically, but also spiritually. Who may receive their portion of the promised daily bread from your hand today? Be as those in Colosse who in Colossians 1:4 Paul says show love for the set-apart ones, namely other believers, other brothers and sisters. Be as they are in verse 10, walking worthily of the Master, pleasing all, bearing fruit in every good work.

We move onto the portion reading from 1 Samuel. In Chapter 14, Jonathan purposed to go up to the Philistines to attack them. He apparently wasn’t happy with waiting and took it upon himself to get something done. The Philistines held the high ground, the position of power in battles of this time. Jonathan tells his armor bearer a crazy plan, “See, we are passing over to the men – and show ourselves to them. If they say this to us, “Wait until we come to you,” then we shall stand still in our place and not go up to them. But if they say this, “Come up to us,” then we shall go up. For YHWH has given them into our hand, and this is the sign to us.” Why is this plan so crazy? As a small force attacking a larger force who holds the high ground, you would normally want to try to sneak up and attack with stealth and surprise. Jonathan throws out our conventional wisdom and relies instead upon Yah to fight the battle for him. He simply stands up and declares himself to the Philistines and lets Yah work. What does the armor bearer say to this: Jonathan you’re crazy!, I’m going back to the tent!, You’ll get yourself killed!, I’m not having any part of that!, Have you spoken with your father the king about this?, Why can’t we take some more men with us?. The armor bearer doesn’t say any of that. As a servant with a true heart for his master he says in verse 7, “Do all that is in your heart, incline yourself. See, I am with you, according to your heart.” The armor bearer trusted Jonathan and ultimately Yah. The odds didn’t matter. The possibility of death didn’t matter. He chose to serve! He chose to stand tall in the midst of the enemy and proudly be seen for who he was!

When our Master calls you, are you going to give excuses or are you going to stand tall, be seen, shout His name, and do the work He has called you to do? Will you care for your brothers, loving them as yourself? Loving them more than just with your feelings? …..even to the point of death?

“Choose this day whom you will serve…But as for me and My House, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15

Be sure to join us again next week, Week 33, for the Weekly Scripture Reading.

GOOD NEWS

Posted on April 12, 2019May 25, 2019 by theellerfamily in Weekly Scripture Blog

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING:
WEEK 28 | METZORA | מצורע | “LEPER”

From Genesis to Revelation, beginning to end, we see a full picture of the plan set forth by Abba Father, from Creation to Death & Resurrection to Eternity. In all settings and in all books, the Word points forward to the Messiah or looks back, pointing to the Messiah. The Good News.

2098. euaggélion – the Gospel – literally, “God’s good news.”
The Gospel (2098 /euaggélion) includes the entire Bible, i.e. it is not limited to how a person becomes a Christian.
Bible Hub: Strong’s Concordance

From a prison cell, Paul speaks of this Good News, a message that isn’t limited to just a few chapters in the Scriptures. He’s experienced the Word come alive in him and he’s willing to stand fast in the face of adversity and trial. He’s being held in chains for being a follower of Jesus (Y’shua), counting it all joy and considering it an advancement of the Word. His witness is incredible! He has people trusting his Master and being BOLD to speak fearlessly and spread the message out in the world… all due to his witness and his willingness to walk out the Good News.

This week’s Torah portion is from Leviticus 14-15, laws or instructions about the leper and how to handle a bodily discharge. The readings continues the discussion of being set-apart as holy before the Almighty God. Here we see specific guidelines for the safety and health of a leprous person and also a woman dealing with any discharge of blood. This includes her niddah (monthly menstruation) or an abnormal discharge. Also we see Yah give instructions for male emissions of bodily fluids. In any of these situations, we are to be mindful of any surface our bodily fluids touch. Surfaces are unclean & flesh is unclean when in contact with leprosy, blood or semen. We are instructed to wash ourselves and are unclean until evening. Some instances and situations call for a longer span of uncleanness. What we see here is a part of the Good News, which includes being washed by water and being made clean. “Let us draw near with a true heart in completeness of belief, having our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience and our bodies washed with clean water.”

“Let us draw near with a true heart in completeness of belief, having our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience and our bodies washed with clean water.”

HEBREWS 10:22

Yeshua came and made a way for us to come boldy to the throne of grace, receiving his mercy and his finding his grace (Heb 4:16). He was prophesied in Isaiah to lead the blind, to make darkness light and to make crooked places straight. Does this mean we won’t experience “chains” like Paul? Does it mean bad things won’t befall us? Absolutely not! But those things will hopefully, if we allow it by dying to our flesh, advance the Good News!

If our Creator is who He says He is and He can do what He says He can do, we should take seriously the need to be set apart and clean, having eyes to see and ears to hear, washing ourselves in the water of His Word and the blood of the sacrifice of the Lamb. To be prepared for when the hard times come so that we aren’t caught off-guard and unable to stand fast through the trials and temptations.

“When you pass through the waters, I am with you; and through rivers, they do not overflow you. When you walk through fire, you are not scorched, and a flame does not burn you. For I am יהוה your Elohim, the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, your Saviour.”
Isaiah 43:2

We have witnesses to this truth! Daniel in the lions den. The Israelites fleeing Egypt. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fire. There are many more but two or three are really all we need! We can trust Him at His word that He cares for us, is making a way for us in the “wilderness” of this world.

This portion is a timely reminder to humble ourselves and with all trembling to FEAR & OBEY YAH! To sanctify ourselves so that we bear fruit of the Spirit that is righteous, being defenders of the whole Word of Elohim our Father and Yeshua our Savior so that love might be extended more in knowledge and discernment. For the Good News to be spread unto all the earth.

Euaggelion. The Gospel of Yeshua, for Elohim’s glory! HalleluYAH!

Be sure to join us again next week for the Weekly Scripture Reading.

THAT YOU MIGHT BELIEVE

Posted on April 4, 2019May 25, 2019 by theellerfamily in Weekly Scripture Blog, Weekly Scripture Reading

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING:
WEEK 27 | Tazria | “She Will Conceive” | תזריע

Childbirth.
Leprosy.
Sin.
Unclean.
Idolatry.
Fear.
Faithlessness.
Corruption.
Death.
Atonement.
Well-doing.

All these words come to mind in a summarization of this week’s readings. It is a hard stretch to go from childbirth purification to battles with the Philistines to Yeshua’s death to rejoicing! But amazingly we, again, get to see that happen. It’s a beautiful picture of the Gospel, from beginning to end. Life to Death. Yah’s promises and His plan being fulfilled.

In the Portion, Leviticus 12 and 13 are paired together and we see childbirth and leprosy together, which seems rather odd. After digging into the Word and seeking out the purpose of them together, we see a clear idea that Yah means for us to be clean in body and in mind, for all generations; holding fast to what is good. Childbirth is to be followed by a purification and “sin offering”. We had to search out to understand why childbirth would be considered a sin when we know that procreating was Yah’s original plan.

“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.”
Genesis 1:29(a)

What we found is very simple really… to enter the Tabernacle, one must be completely clean, inside and out. A bodily discharge of fluid and/or blood made one unclean. The act of childbirth in and of itself was not a sin. Just like with leprosy, the body was unclean, impure; therefore, the person needed purification (and a sin offering) because it would be a trespass against Yah to enter His holy place. There is a longer period of time for women who bear female babies than males and some believe this is because the female child is born with the eggs that her body will need to bear life for future generations. Is this true? We aren’t sure but it is a beautiful thought! Yah is never lacking in details and surely there is a perfect reason for this doubling in length of uncleanliness.

Uncleanliness is not only a matter of the body being in an unclean state. It’s a matter of the heart. Can you imagine what it felt like to have to walk around the outside of the camp shouting “Unclean! Unclean!”? It surely would be a process of humbling yourself and purifying your heart. One could choose to turn away from Yah, who allows such “uncleanliness” and hard times, or he can turn to Abba and trust His will and His plans! As believers, we have the ability to draw near to the Father and repent, to trust in Him and endure through the suffering and hardships as our bodies and minds heal – being reborn and preparing us for Eternal Life!

In the the reading from Isaiah, we hear a loud warning against not trusting Yah and heeding His direction. Yah gives a challenge to the idolatrous people to show their power – “Let them!” “Present your case!” He says. His challenge is obviously rhetorical and he’s encouraging Israel that He alone is sovereign and in control. “See all of them are useless!” He says, “I shall also uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.” He makes a mockery of the idolatrous people and confirms His promise and reveals His glory! His challenge to them is an admonition to us to keep ourselves from impure, idolatrous ways and to trust in Him and He will take care of our enemies.

“The scope of these verses is to silence the fears, and encourage the faith, of the servants of God in their distresses. Perhaps it is intended, in the first place, for the support of God’s Israel, in captivity; but all that faithfully serve God through patience and comfort of this scripture may have hope.”
Matthew Henry commentary

What do we see happen next in 1 Samuel? FAITHLESSNESS & IDOLATRY.

How fast they fall.

*Depiction of Dagon next to the Ark of the Covenant*

In short, the Philistines kill 4,000+ Israelites. They capture the Ark of the Covenant. Eli dies hearing of the Ark being captured and the death of his sons. Phineas’ wife dies after childbirth from the same. The Philistines are very proud people, hoping to worship the Ark by putting it beside their idol god, Dagon. Dagon falls at the hand of Yah. The Philistines profane the Ark and are plagued with tumors (the piles/hemorrhoids). They die by the thousands. They send the Ark back to Israel but not without much fear. The Israelites do nothing it seems!

So much death and destruction all due to the lack of fear of the Most High. They chose idolatry over eternity. Evil over good. They turned their ears from prophecy that foretold that this day would come and their impure hearts became their demise. As we see prophecy being fulfilled and the world worshipping false gods, do we recognize how quickly hearts turn from Truth to chase after their own vain ways? Yah will not be mocked and what pleasure is there in this world if there is no communion with Him? What glory is there if “The esteem has departed from Israel…” (vs. 22)? There is nothing new under the sun!

This week, for those who follow the Zadok Calendar, we celebrate Pesach (Passover) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Seems fitting the Torah Portion aligns with the reading from John of the crucifixion of Yeshua. Where there was sin, there needed to be atonement. Where there was uncleanliness, there needed to be purification. It was the Day of Preparation for the Passover, Yeshua (Jesus), is brought to Pilate – who found no guilt in Him! He was dressed in a purple robe and a crown of thorns placed on His head. “Crucify him!” “Impale him!” they cried. And Yeshua submits to the authority given to Pilate from Yah. What a humble picture of what it looks like to submit and believe in the promise that is going to be fulfilled. To trust Abba Father in all His ways. It was prophesied, Yeshua submitted and became the Passover Lamb that would fulfill the need to offer a sin sacrifice any longer.

Can you imagine? I don’t think we can. We are so far removed in society, much like the Israelites with the Philistines, turning from Yah and seeking after our own passions and pleasures and many have fallen asleep. But praise Elohim we have the Holy Spirit (Ruach) poured out in us, those who believe & obey, and satan WILL fall before Yeshua. He has no power in our lives! Much like the challenge given to the idolatrous people by Yah, we can boldly challenge this world: “Show us your power and we will show you our ELOHIM!”.

Praise YAH! He is no longer on the cross/stake. His body was removed.

It is finished! HE IS RISEN!

“And he who has seen has witnessed, and his witness is true. And he knows that he is speaking the truth, in order that you might believe. “
John 19:35

“I have no greater joy than to hear
of my children walking in truth.”

3 John 1:4

A NEW BEGINNING

Posted on March 27, 2019May 25, 2019 by theellerfamily in Weekly Scripture Blog

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING:
WEEK 26 | Sh’mini | “Eighth”| שמיני

THE EIGHTH DAY

Throughout scripture, there is a mention of an “eighth day”. How is this since we know that a biblical week is seven days? We know that Creation was seven days and that the seventh day represents completion and rest, as in the Sabbath! So what’s this eighth day we see mentioned? Let’s look into a few of the references to the eighth day in scripture:

CIRCUMCISION – Unclean due to birth and then made holy by circumcision – “On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised.” – Leviticus 12:3
PURIFICATION – Beasts, persons with leprosy, priests, the tabernacle, Nazarites – certain circumstances and instances we see uncleanness until the eighth day whereby then they were made clean and able to rejoin/fellowship/sacrifice(d) – Leviticus 14:8-10; Leviticus 15:13, 14; Leviticus 22:6; Numbers 6:9, 10; Ezekiel 43:26, 27;
SUKKOT – “Shemini Atzeret” – the eighth day of Sukkot, a holy convocation (assembly) – Leviticus 23:36 – “It is a separate—yet connected—holy day devoted to the spiritual aspects of the festival of Sukkot. Part of its duality as a holy day is that it is simultaneously considered to be both connected to Sukkot and also a separate festival in its own right.” [1]

While the biblical calendar does not have an “eighth day”, we know that the eighth day is a counting of eight days after a beginning of an event (ie. birth, festival/feast, cleansing from a sickness, etc.). The eighth day represents cleanliness and/or holiness; or a new beginning. Many have used the eighth day as a “sign” that we can change Yah’s commands and the Sabbath day, His specific order of all things. But we know that Yahuah does not change and He is steadfast, forever!

“God is not human, that he should lie,
not a human being, that he should change his mind.”
Numbers 23:19

SET APART

This week’s Torah Portion and weekly reading, again, has a recurring theme. (Isn’t that always the case? and doesn’t it show us how amazingly Yah’s Word flows from beginning to end in perfect harmony revealing Abba’s fingerprint on everything?) Moses and his people are commanded to make their offerings on the eighth day and to follow His instructions (laws) exactly as he described to Moses on the mountain. If we haven’t already, we start to see the importance of not forgetting his commands in this chapter of Leviticus. The sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, give a “strange fire” unto Adonai, which he says is unauthorized and contrary to the commands given and they are consumed by Adonai right then and there! The Father MUST be honored. He MUST be set apart and our offerings to Him MUST be set-apart. We MUST not change what He has ordained. His specific ways are for our good and for His glory! Which leads us to the food laws…

Creeping things, split hooves, chewing cud, fins and scales: all things that set apart clean and unclean foods. Scripture specifically names many animals and insects, reptiles and fish that are NOT food for us to consume. They are an abomination. Unclean. Once again He is specific in His instructions. In this instance, like the process we learned about with the sacrificial system, He’s speaking to us in what we can and cannot put into our bodies, our temple. Remember, we “must be holy because He is holy” (Lev 11:44). More information about food laws can be found here andhere [2], it can be a lengthy subject in and of itself so for time sake, we are going to focus on one animal in particular: THE EAGLE.

In this portion of scripture, including Isaiah, the reference of the eagle stood out due to the Bald Eagle being the national bird for the USA. It’s a very majestic bird and one of the largest predatory birds. They can fly higher than all other birds of prey in order to take in the “big picture” of the land below so that they may go after what they are seeking. Isn’t that beautiful imagery of what it can be like to be a follower of The Way? He mounts us on wings like eagles, equips us that we may not grow weary or faint, and He makes us able to see the “big picture” from beginning to end, that we may have eternal HOPE now and for a future “eighth day”! HalleluYAH!

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? That ELOHAI, YAHUAH (God) is the everlasting YHWH (God), the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall utterly fall: But they who wait upon ADONAI shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
– Isaiah (Yeshua’Yahu) 40:28-31

REAL LIFE

The flesh must die when life is breathed into a believer by the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). Isaiah said “Make straight in the desert a highway for Elohim!”. Our flesh, like grass, must die, and like the flower, fade away, to make way for the Father to do his glorious work in us. And the promise we have is that the Word of God stands forever! We cannot be scared or worried to look set apart, to act differently than the rest of the world, and to fly high above all circumstances so that we can see the bigger picture… all so that we can have that final rest. The shalom of our Creator on the eighth day. Like Hannah says in the reading of 1 Samuel: “There is no one set apart like Elohim”… her heart rejoices that Yah is in control and that He is sovereign and just.

Peter had an opportunity. Pilate had an opportunity. We have an opportunity. Will we take it? Will we offer strange fire to him? Will we consume abominations making ourselves unclean? Will we deny him? or will we mount up on wings like eagles and die to our flesh?

Everyone who is seeking after Truth will find Truth and will walk in the commands of the Father. Everyone who is of Truth, hears the voice of Yah and the Truth will be with you FOREVER! Don’t lose the reward you worked for. Aspire for things not of this world and train like the priests, preparing for the eighth day: a complete reward of eternal life through Yeshua Ha’Mashiach! The esteem of Yah WILL be revealed and ALL will see it! Every knee SHALL bow! Praise Adonai!

Our prayer is that as the Body we would respond like Samuel: “Speak Adonai, your servant hears!”

References:
[1] Shemini Atzeret; Wikipedia – the free encyclopedia
[2] “Are All Things Clean? (Mark 7:19)” – 119 Ministries YouTube