Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Shalom,
Bonus #7 in a series on Psalm 112. Psalm 112:7 He is not afraid of bad news— his heart is steadfast, trusting in Adonai. This is my verse for today. I’m meditating on it. I’m owning it. “He (me, I) is (am) not afraid!!!!”…”of bad news.” The first Hebrew word in this verse is “Mish’mu’ah,” which is a form of the same Shoresh as “Shema.” What is translated as “news” is actually what you “hear.” The important thing is not to be afraid when you hear bad things because… the rest of the verse tells us.
“His (my) heart is steadfast.” The Hebrew word translated as “steadfast” is “Nachon,” which literally means “correct.” My heart is right (not wrong). If we are afraid of bad news or hearing bad news makes us fear, then our hearts are not right with God.
Thus the verse ends “trusting God.” The Hebrew word translated “trusting” is “Ba’tu’ach” which is the same Shoresh as “Betach,” meaning “you can count on it.” Here, we are told that the way not to fear bad news is to have our hearts right with God, and a further magnification of that understanding is to simply count on God.
Hebrews 12:1b Let us run with endurance the race set before us, 2a focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and perfecter of faith.
____
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue 26-Jan-2021 13th of Sh’vat, 5781
Ex 14:15-25 1 Ki 20 Ps 119:97-120 Jn 4:1-30 (1 Th 4)
For the Aliyah reading today (Exodus 14:15-25), I read and reread these 11 verses of Scripture. Each time I read them, my face lights up with a smile. Mostly, that’s because I’m excited by what God is going to do to His enemies in our day, just like He did to Pharaoh long ago.
Speaking of God’s power in our day, Let’s turn our attention to an end time prophesy. To whom is this verse addressed? Ezekiel 38:4a I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws. It is spoken to Gog. Much research has gone into understanding who Gog is. Whoever they are (and I will talk about that in a minute) they are the adversary who comes against Israel in the last day’s battle.
There is much speculation about who Gog is, but one thing is clear, their power can not stand against the power of God. So then, why is God putting “hooks” into the jaws of Gog? Because Gog might be tempted to avoid their own destruction. Surely the adversaries of God have read in the Bible about their own destruction.
Hey Devil, fighting against Israel is a trap, just like Pharaoh pursuing the children of Israel was a trap. But God says He will put a hook in the jaw of the army of Satan (called Gog here) so they will take the bait, hook, line and sinker to come against Israel.
At least 7 peace deals have been refused by the Palestinian leadership. It’s been said they never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. I have to wonder if God isn’t hardening the hearts of the Palestinian leaders, only to show Himself strong in the last days.
Then consider the “axis of evil” so identified by President George “W” 19 years ago. North Korea, Iran and Iraq at that time were seeking weapons of mass destruction and sponsors of terrorism around the world. I would add Russia and the CCP as those who aid and assist these forces of evil.
Now the United States in just the last few days has cancelled the Keystone XL Pipeline (according to one report, possibly costing 1 million jobs, and why, because the other political party wants it), moved to reenter the (failed) Iran Nuclear Deal, and expressed intent to return to the Paris Agreement on climate change (no longer global warming, because the globe warms and cools in cycles), all measures that will tend to align our national interests with those of our adversaries. I’m tempted to worry, but God. God commands a steadfast heart and trust in Him, not fear. This takes us back to Psalm 112:7 above. Keep the faith.
Week 5
Memory Verse: Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us, 21 to Him be the glory in the community of believers and in Messiah Yeshua throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen.
21 1/25 Monday: Genesis 39-40
* 22 1/26 Tuesday: Genesis 41
23 1/27 Wednesday: Genesis 42-43
24 1/28 Thursday: Genesis 44-45
25 2/29 Friday: Genesis 46-47
Question of the day: Genesis 41 has the story of Joseph being called out of prison to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams and then being appointed as ruler (2nd in command) of Egypt. Which one verse out of the 57 verses in Genesis chapter 41 sticks out today?
Answer: Genesis 41:42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, clothed him with fine linen garments, and put a chain of gold around his neck.
Joseph, himself, had a dream many years earlier. He told his brothers… Genesis 37:7b “All of a sudden, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” And then he dreamed again… Genesis 37:9b Suddenly, there was the sun and the moon and the eleven stars bowing down to me!” These dreams made his brothers hate him (more) and even his father rebuked him over it. Genesis 37:10b Will we really come—your mother and I with your brothers—to bow down to the ground to you?”
Ah yes, the stage is now set. There will be famine in the land (just as Pharaoh’s dream was interpreted) and Joseph’s hungry brothers will come and bow down before him (but not yet). Even better, when (let’s pray it is soon) will Yeshua’s brothers bow before Him because there is “famine” in the land?
Amos 8:11 “Behold, days are coming” —declares my Lord Adonai— “when I will send a famine on the land —not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Adonai.
When there is a famine of bread, Yeshua provides… (as we read before communion on every Shabbat) John 6:35 Yeshua said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.