Thoughts on the Torah (Acharei Mot and K'doshim) ... by Hannah

It was my turn to write last week ... but it was so busy that I didn't really get a chance to study and write. Sorry about that! I don't think this week was any less busy, but there was one thing that jumped out at me in this portion and I just wanted to share it. I think that it can revolutionize the way that we live our lives.


"Then YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'I am YHWH your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am YHWH your God. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am YHWH." Leviticus 18:1-5

"And you shall be holy to Me, for I YHWH am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine." Leviticus 20:26

I think the question that each of us needs to ask is ... "why am I doing what I am doing?" This can apply in numerous situations, from something "important" like a major life-changing decision, to something "small" like a choice of clothing or entertainment. Are we taking our cues from those around us, or from the judgments and ordinances that YHWH has given us?

I am reminded of Jeremiah 10:2, which says, "Thus saith YHWH, Learn not the way of the heathen ..." Are we being influenced by the traditions and standards of the heathen culture that surrounds us, or are we patterning our lives on His instructions and commandments?

I know this is a short post, but I want to challenge each of you to ask yourself that question. In the end, it is His standards that are going to matter and that is what we are going to be judged by. Most (if not all) of us have access to His Word and we can learn how He wants us to live our lives, even though that may look so different from the rest of the world sometimes! I pray that He gives us each the strength and boldness to walk in His commandments that we may live ... 

"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love YHWH your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which YHWH swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Thoughts on the Torah Portion ... by Sarah

Shalom Y'all,

This is Sarah.  I hope that you all had good Passover and week of Unleavened Bread.  Our week was wonderful and we were truly blessed.  OK, now lets get on with this week's portion.

Torah: Exodus 33:12 - 34:26
Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Brit Chadasha: Acts 10:1-48

In Exodus Chapter 33:12-23, it is talking about Moses praying for YHWH's presence. As I was reading though it I was thinking, "This is a prayer we all should pray".

 

"... Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people ..."  Exodus 33:13

And then, what did YHWH say? 

 

"... And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest ..."

May it be so with us as well.  May we walk and talk with Him and listen to Him and grow in Him.  May He be our life and our strength and may we never ever walk away from Him.

In chapter 34, verses 1 though 9, it is talking about YHWH re-writing the 10 commandments of the tablets. Anyway, that has always been interesting to me how He wrote them with His finger.  I watched a movie one time of Him writing the 10 commandments and even though that may not have been the exact way it happened ... it was really neat to think about.  I wonder what Moses thought when it was happening?!?

The last part of chapter 34 (verses 18 though 26) are talking about the feast that we just went through.

Now, the Haftarah is the portion about the dry bones.  My father has said that he is thinking about writing a song on that portion and calling it "Shake, Rattle and Roll" :)  Seriously, I think one of the most important verses for me and my family (and hopefully for you) is in verse 11 where it says that these are the bones for the whole house of Israel  ... not for the Jewsih people only, but for those of us who have been brought in to the Commonwelath of Israel, as it says in Ephesians 2:11-13.  We no longer refer to ourselves as "gentiles" because the Scriptures say we were "once gentiles" ... meaning that in the past we were gentiles, but now we are no longer gentiles.  Now, through the blood of the Messiah, we are part of the "Whole House of Israel".  Halleluyah!

 

The passage in Acts, gives us an example of this when we see Cornelius, a gentile, being filled with the Spirit.  In light of all these Scriptures, I have to see him ... and us ... as being one is is "from the gentiles", but he, and we are gentiles no longer.

 

I hope you all seek to find things for yourself in these portions and let YHWH show you His wonders.

Shabbat Shalom, ~Sarah

Chag Pesach Sameach!

With busy weekend ahead of us, I don't know that Sarah will have time to share about the Torah portion tomorrow, so I just wanted to wish all of you a wonderful and very blessed feast of Passover, Firstfruits and Unleavened Bread! And I wanted to share this little video that made its rounds last year (just in case you haven't seen it) ...