Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, November 21, 2019
Shalom *|FNAME|*,
Much is on my mind today. I finally located the video links to the 3 sessions of the Jacksonville Tikkun Conference, “Israel and the Coming Worldwide Revival” thanks to Nathan Wilbur (Paul’s son). Here are the links.
https://www.facebook.com/godtv/videos/758675397928113/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
https://www.facebook.com/godtv/videos/1804127363051780/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
https://www.facebook.com/godtv/videos/759042247948215/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
Also, I read an article this morning by Joni Koski. I’m recommending it too. https://tribe.reviveisrael.org/full-circle-time-and-geography-of-gods-salvation-plan/
Today I want to write about the virgin birth. This is a vital part of the “Good News.” The “Good News” begins with the words that Yeshua came to earth, born of a virgin. Why is it important that He was born of a virgin?
Rabbi Trail: Bad time for an RT, but you’ll see; I’ll fix it. Many non-believers struggle with this part of the gospel message. The Hebrew prophet Jeremiah speaks about this. How unfortunate the translation in the TLV. Jeremiah 31:21(22) How long will you waver, O backsliding daughter? For Adonai has created a new thing on earth: a woman surrounds a man.
The virgin birth is the “new thing.” The Hebrew word is “T’sovav” (she, the woman, will go around). This is the same Hebrew shoresh that God used to instruct Joshua to “march around” Jericho. End RT.
The woman (Mary) “goes around” a man (Joseph) because the baby (Yeshua) has to be born without the contaminated blood of Adam. Remember, the life is in the blood; sinless life, sinless blood. God created Adam with blood, but Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in a vain effort to be like God. God had to fix that problem, reconciling the world back to Himself, by sending His Son, born with His blood.
So, I ask you (who still struggle in faith), which is more difficult to believe; the birth of Isaac (to parents in their 90s), or the birth of Yeshua, (born to a beautiful young girl)? Yet we have no trouble believing in the birth of Isaac. Incidentally, that Torah portion is so important that we read it 3 times every year; once during the regular cycle and twice during the holidays.
So go ahead and give in. Believe the virgin birth of Yeshua. It’s very Jewish to believe the Jewish prophet Jeremiah (chapter 31 is full of Messianic prophesies). It’s easy. Don’t make it difficult.
Week 47
Memory Verse: Colossians 2:6 Therefore as you received Messiah Yeshua as Lord, so continue to walk in Him— 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in your faith just as you were taught, overflowing with thankfulness.
231 11/18 Monday: Colossians 1-2
232 11/19 Tuesday: Colossians 3-4
233 11/20 Wednesday: Ephesians 1-2
* 234 11/21 Thursday: Ephesians 3-4
235 11/22 Friday: Ephesians 5-6
Question of the day: Paul does a good job of building suspense in the opening verses of the 2 chapters in the reading for today. What is the big mystery, Paul? Tell us!
Answer: Paul does tell us in Ephesians 3:6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are joint heirs and fellow members of the same body and co-sharers of the promise in Messiah Yeshua through the Good News.
The “Good News” is not the mystery. I’ll write more about the good news in the coming days. The mystery is that non-Jewish people from the nations (Goyim or Gentiles) are included as “joint heirs and fellow members.” Joint heirs and fellow members with whom? That’s right with Jewish people. (Read all of Romans 11 again)
Romans 11:18 do not boast against the (Jewish) branches. But if you do boast, it is not you who support the root but the (Jewish) root supports you.
The bringing together of Jewish and non-Jewish people into one family of God is both a mystery and a marvelous thing.
Psalm 98:1 A psalm. Sing to Adonai a new song, for He has done marvelous things. His right hand and His holy arm have won victory for Him. 2 Adonai has made His salvation known. He has revealed His righteousness before the eyes of the nations. 3 He has remembered His lovingkindness, His faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
God’s “right hand and holy arm” is Yeshua (our savior). He has revealed “Yeshua” to the nations (Gentiles). He has remembered His lovingkindness (grace) to the house of Israel. Give thanks and praise His name with a new song. Go ahead, shout it out, “Hallelujah!!!” Praise the Lord.