Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, January 6, 2019
Shalom *|FNAME|*,
Monday is the last day to receive the member discount for the Restore Family Conference. See the RR dated January 3, 2020 for details, or email me (just click “reply”) your questions.
Today we conclude our 7 part series on the 7 Spirits of God found in Isaiah 11:2. We’ve been working the list backward, so the first is now last. This last/first Spirit of God is called in Hebrew, “Ruach Yud-Hay-Vav-Hay.” This is the name revealed to Moses in Exodus 6:3.
Rabbi Trail: The “Yud-Hay-Vav-Hay” is believed by the rabbis to be the ineffable name of God. Look up the meaning of ineffable if you must. It is God’s name pronounced in 3 syllables, Ye-Ho-Vah. You may have heard people say “Yahweh.” That is a made up name, made up by people who claim not to know how to say Ye-Ho-Vah. It does not exist in Hebrew, which not-so-coincidentally is the language of most of the Hebrew Scriptures. I plan to write more on this later in the week. End RT.
To start this discussion (yes, I’m talking to myself, but you get to read my self-talk) let’s go to Luke 4. Yeshua is in the synagogue on the Shabbat in Nazareth, His customary practice. He rose up to read from the scroll of Isaiah. Although it wasn’t marked by chapter and verse at the time, Yeshua turned to the place we now know as Isaiah 61:1 where He speaks one of the most beautiful verses in the Bible.
Isaiah 61:1 The Ruach Adonai Elohim is on me, because Adonai has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, 2a to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor….
Yeshua then informs those in attendance, Luke 4:21 Then He began to tell them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your ears.” This “good news” is from the Hebrew word “Besorah,” or “message,” which we would later know as the gospel. I have good news, Yeshua is anointed (Mashiach) and sent (Shileach) to us and for our benefit. Please take a moment and thank God for His love in sending His anointed Son.
Week 2
Memory Verse: Hebrews 11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
* 6 1/6 Monday: Job 38-39
7 1/7 Tuesday: Job 40-42
8 1/8 Wednesday: Genesis 11-12
9 1/9 Thursday: Genesis 15
10 1/10 Friday: Genesis 16-17
Question of the day: Both chapters of the reading today are filled with questions, and God is asking all of them. The second question is now the question of the day. Job 38:4a Where were you when I laid the foundations of earth?
Answer: Apparently, God doesn’t want us to question His sovereignty. Who are we to tell the sovereign God, “You’re doing it wrong.” Or worse than that, “You don’t understand.” Unlike us, God has never learned anything. He has never grown, and because He cannot increase, He cannot decrease.
I want you to imagine me railing against agnostics for a moment. I’m not going to rant, just an imaginary rant. How dare you say, “I don’t know if there is a god.” (I debated to capitalize god or not. Who knows?) The ability to ask the question demands we answer in the affirmative.
Oh agnostic, how did you get a mind to think of asking the question? The wind blew and the dust flew and suddenly (okay, after a long time) you appeared? I’ll close with one question. Do you have faith to believe that a tornado in a junkyard could leave after whipping up the junk to form a functioning jetliner? News flash… your brain is more complex than a jetliner. Think about that and then thank God (the One I should capitalize) for being able to think.
End of rant, end of RR, end of doubt, game, set, match.
In honor of the sanctity of human life month of January, I close with this… Psalm 139:13 For You have created my conscience. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise You, for I am awesomely, wonderfully made! Wonderful are Your works— and my soul knows that very well.