Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Shalom *|FNAME|*,
First Pillar: The Gospel is the Gospel of the Kingdom, Part 3 of 3.
Let’s go beyond personal salvation for a moment.
Rabbi Trail: I just touched on a major difference between Judaism and Christianity. Personal salvation is not outside of traditional Judaism, but it is marginalized. Rather, in Judaism, personal salvation takes a back seat to universal salvation. We are the people of the book, the twelve tribes, the chosen people, not the person of the book or the chosen person.
We have a calling (according to Exodus 19:6) to be a kingdom of priests. The rabbis actually believe that if every Jew would pray at the same time, the Messiah will come. Talk about a works mentality. End RT.
What goes beyond personal salvation is worldwide redemption. In Hebrew we use the term “Tikkun Olam.” Yeshua announced His ministry in Mark 1:15 “Now is the fullness of time,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins, and believe in the Good News!” Was this a message for individuals or for the nation of Israel? You could make both arguments. Some verbs are singular and some are plural.
Is it possible that this discussion is tied to the first and second comings? The first coming was to bring personal redemption, while the second is to bring worldwide revival. I’m just saying it’s a possibility.
We pray, “Thy will be done, Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” How is God’s will done in heaven? Answer: Immediately and without question. For God’s kingdom to come on earth, we need to obey Him immediately and without question. This is an essential part of the gospel message missing from many pulpits in America today.
But this will happen with Jeremiah 31 is our reality. Jeremiah 31:30 “Behold, days are coming” —it is a declaration of Adonai— “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—31 not like the covenant I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they broke My covenant, though I was a husband to them.” it is a declaration of Adonai. 32 “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” —it is a declaration of Adonai— “I will put My Torah within them. Yes, I will write it on their heart. I will be their God and they will be My people.
Week 4
Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 10:12 For we do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding.
16 1/20 Monday: Genesis 27-28
* 17 1/21 Tuesday: Genesis 29-30:24
18 1/22 Wednesday: Genesis 31-32
19 1/23 Thursday: Genesis 33;35
20 1/24 Friday: Genesis 37
Question of the day: How is it that the names of the twelve sons of Jacob (the 12 tribes) tell the story of every believe, the story of salvation?
Answer: These 12 Hebrew names mean something. On the breastplate of the High Priest they are arranged in four rows of three names each. Each row forms a meaningful sentence. The story of every believer is told in these 4 sentences.
Levi Shimon Reuben
Reuben – Gen 29:31b Rachel was barren. 32 So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The LORD has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.” NKJV Behold a son. To see, but also to fear as in respect.
Shimeon – Gen 29:33 Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. NKJV (Listen) Listen.
Levi – Gen 29:34 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. NKJV (My heart) Accompany Holy matters, sacred service.
Behold a son, listen to Him and you will be consecrated to holy matters. (Him and Me.)
John 8:42 Yeshua said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. NKJV. John 8:47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” NKJV
In ancient Israel there was no such thing as passive listening.
Naphtali Dan Yehuda
Judah – Gen 29:35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. NKJV (Praiser) Two names; Yhoo means Adonai. The second name Daled is a prefix for a name. Then hay for Elohim.
Yehuda from Yadah… literally to hold out the hand. Hod means thanks or thanksgiving.
Dan – Gen 30:5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan. NKJV (Judgement)
Naphtali – Gen 30:7 And Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali. NKJV (Wrestle)
You will praise the Lord. You will be a judge and you will wrestle with God and man and prevail.
Ps 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks (Yehuda) at the remembrance of his holiness. KJV
Ps 86:12 I will (Yehuda) praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore. NKJV
1 Cor 6:2 judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? NKJV
James 5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. NKJV
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. NKJV
Gen 32:25 He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said,”I will not let You go unless You bless me!” 27 So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” 28 And He said,”Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” NKJV
Gen 32:30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” NKJV
IsacharAsherGad
Gad – Gen 30:10 And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, “A troop comes!” So she called his name Gad. NKJV (Fortune)
Asher – Gen 30:12 And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 Then Leah said, “I am happy,(or blessed) for the daughters will call me blessed.” So she called his name Asher. NKJV (Happy) Emotional riches.
Issachar – Gen 30:18 Leah said, “God has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar. NKJV (Wages) To already have spiritual riches.
From two words, to lift up or exalt in payment of a contract.
Your fortune will be increased (physically or bodily), you will be happy (which rhymes with Osher with an Ayin “riches”) And you will receive a reward. “spiritual riches.” Body, soul, and spirit will be enriched.
In ancient days, soldiers were always of a mercenary sort. They were after physical riches.
Gen 49:1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gen 49:19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. KJV Gad means being an overcomer.
As we put the Torah back into the Ark, we sing…
Prov 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy (M’ooshar) is every one that retaineth her. KJV
Mal 3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. KJV
Thirty pieces of silver was the price (sakar) paid for Yeshua. (Zech 11:12).
Ps 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. KJV
Isa 62:11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. KJV
BenjaminJosephZebulon
Zebulun – Gen 30:19 Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. 20 And Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun. NKJV (Dwelling)
Joseph – Gen 30:22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” 24 So she called his name Joseph, NKJV (He will add) To add altogether. He gathered all the tribes and added to the riches of Israel.
Benjamin – Gen 35:17 Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.” 18 And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. NKJV (Son of the right hand)
You will dwell with the Lord, you will be increased, and you will be the son of the right hand.
Summary message: (1) Behold a son, listen to Him and you will be consecrated to (me) holy matters. (2) You will praise the Lord. You will be a judge and you will wrestle with God and man and prevail. (3) Your fortune will be increased (physically or bodily), you will be happy (which rhymes with Osher with an Ayin “riches”) And you will receive a reward. “spiritual riches.” Body, soul, and spirit will be enriched. (4) You will dwell with the Lord, you will be increased, and you will be the son of the right hand.