Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, February 11, 2021
Shalom,
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu 11-Feb-2021 29th of Sh’vat, 5781
Ex 23:6-19 2 Ki 14 Ps 139 Jn 12:20-50 (Titus 1)
There it is, at the very end of the Aliyah for today… Exodus 23:19b “Do not boil a kid in its mother’s milk.” A strange phrase in a strange place. The chapter is flowing nicely through a number of instructions and commandments concerning observance of the feasts of the Lord, when all of a sudden, BOOM! We were not reading about dietary laws at all. We’re reading about holiday sacrifices. It is there we are instructed not to boil a young goat in the milk of its mother.
The rabbis develop from that the idea that milk and meat should be kept separate and never eaten together. They go on to develop an entire structure of separation, separate dishes and silverware, separate cooking utensils, separate refrigeration, and separate so much more.
Yeshua commented on this… Matthew 23:24 O blind guides, straining out a gnat while swallowing a camel! 25 “Woe to you, Torah scholars and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and uncontrolled desire.
Let’s obey the Bible. The Bible says not to boil a kid in its mother’s milk. Don’t do that (if you’re ever tempted to do that). Otherwise, let’s follow the example of Father Abraham who served Yeshua and the angels who accompanied him… Genesis 18:8 Then he took butter and milk and the young ox that he had prepared and set it before them. While he was standing by them under the tree, they ate.
Notwithstanding what I just said, if you hear something different from the Holy Spirit, then obey the Holy Spirit, but we must never add to, nor take away… Deuteronomy 4:2 You must not add to the word that I am commanding you or take away from it—in order to keep the mitzvot of Adonai your God that I am commanding you. Just remember, the Holy Spirit will never tell you to break God’s Law.
Let us pray… Lord, lead us into righteousness and enable us to follow Your holy diet as we obey You in all things. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.
Week 7
Memory Verse: Hebrews 9:22 And nearly everything is purified in blood according to the Torah, and apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
31 2/8 Monday: Exodus 8-9
32 2/9 Tuesday: Exodus 10-11
33 2/10 Wednesday: Exodus 12
* 34 2/11 Thursday: Exodus 13:17-14
35 2/12 Friday: Exodus 16-17
Question of the day: Pharaoh asks the question today… Exodus 14:5b “What is this we have done, that we let Israel go from serving us?” Earlier in this same verse, we read… “Pharaoh had a change of heart.” God is compelling Pharaoh to pursue a situation that will lead to his downfall and the end of all of his chariots including men and horses.
I believe this story is repeating itself before our own eyes. Those who oppose God (and God’s people) are being compelled into situations that will lead to their own destruction. Against all good judgment, they will run headlong into the midst of the divided sea, only to have the walls of water crash in upon them. In all of this, we, the people of God, have a responsibility (or assignment). God is developing a people of character who will stand and fight in the day of battle.
2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but powerful through God for the tearing down of strongholds. We are tearing down false arguments 5 and every high-minded thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Messiah— 6 ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
So today, we fulfill the role of the ancient Hebrews. Listen to the instructions… Exodus 14:13a But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid! Stand still, and see the salvation of Adonai, which He will perform for you today.” But wait, there is one more piece… 14 “Adonai will fight for you, while you hold your peace.”
In these difficult days, we must be the people who display the character that God has been developing in each of us. Above all, there are 3 pieces to a steadfast character, love God, love yourself, and love each other. In all of these things we honor God as we follow Yeshua.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also get rid of every weight and entangling sin. Let us run with endurance the race set before us, 2 focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame; and He has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
We all want to take a seat at His right hand (together with Him), but are we ready to endure the cross (die to self)? Galatians 2:19 For through law I died to law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Messiah; 20a and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me. When Messiah lives in us, we willingly disregard the shame of persecution. Jacob 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.