Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, March 20, 2020
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
Joseph is speaking to his brothers in Egypt as he reveals himself. Genesis 50:20 Yes, you yourselves planned evil against me. God planned it for good, in order to bring about what it is this day—to preserve the lives of many people. Is there an application of these words for today? Please join me in prayer. Could the Coronavirus have been sent by Satan to wreck every sphere of life (business, social, religious, medical, political, educational) only to be redeemed by God for good?
I will tell you this; readership of the RR is up 30% in the last 10 days. Reminds me of a story. I’ve told it before, so you may already know it. 30 years ago in Northern Virginia, David Chansky invited me to go on Christian television with him. It was a talk show and we brought our Torah as a kind of show-and-tell during the interview.
As we unrolled the Torah, the phone lines lit up. Who was calling in? Jewish people who were upset we had taken the Sefer Torah (the Holy Torah Scroll) out of its proper (holy ark) setting and displayed it in an (ordinary setting) television studio.
Rabbi Trail: Makes me ask, “What were all those Jewish people doing watching Christian television? Gives new meaning to the term “closet believer.” The Hebrew word for ark is the same word as for closet. End RT.
Maybe today, non-believers of all backgrounds are realizing their faithlessness has left them adrift, searching for security and finding none. So they turn on the TV or computer from home (because there is no work) and start searching for answers. In the process, they find out “Yeshua HaMashiach Hu Adonai,” Hebrew for “Yeshua the Messiah He is the Lord.”
Let’s pray… Lord, would You do what You do to make this Coronavirus outbreak a blessing to many. Lord, take what Satan has meant for evil and turn it for the benefit of Your kingdom. In Yeshua’s name, amen.
On another positive note… the abortion industry has also been “negatively” affected by the Coronavirus. This means more lives are being saved than lost due to the threat of contagion.
Summary of the Twelve Pillars message:
Here are the twelve pillars.
1. Understanding the Gospel of the Kingdom
2. The Kingdom is expressed in worship
3. The Kingdom is expressed in community
4. The Kingdom is expressed in Power
5. The Kingdom is expressed in godly character
6. The Kingdom is expressed in apostolic order
7. The Kingdom is expressed in a quest for unity
8. The Kingdom is expressed in Jewish Calling
9. The Kingdom is expressed in the call to the nations
10. The Kingdom is expressed in hope for the coming fullness
11. The Kingdom is expressed in every life sphere
12. The Kingdom is extended by prayer
These are principles upon which every community of Yeshua should be built. The original question to Yeshua in the resurrection was… Acts 1:6 So when they gathered together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” Yeshua didn’t argue with their expectation, He only discussed the timing of the promise.
You might say, wait a minute, Jewish calling is not a principle for every community of Yeshua. And I would answer you, that this pillar doesn’t mean every community must be Jewish, but every community of Yeshua should endorse the idea that Jewish people who follow Yeshua should identify as a Jewish while we all wait for His return. Every community should support the idea that Jewish people need Yeshua.
Yeshua will return for His bride. His bride will be a mixed multitude of every nation, tribe and tongue. Is it conceivable that His own people would be left out? I think not. Bo Yeshua Bo! Come Yeshua Come!
Week 12
Memory Verse: Joshua 1:8 This book of the Torah should not depart from your mouth—you are to meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will make your ways prosperous and then you will be successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Chazak! Be strong! Do not be terrified or dismayed, for Adonai your God is with you wherever you go.”
56 3/16 Monday: Deuteronomy 8-9
57 3/17 Tuesday: Deuteronomy 30-31
58 3/18 Wednesday: Deuteronomy 32:48-52; 34
59 3/19 Thursday: Joshua 1-2
* 60 3/20 Friday: Joshua 3-4
Question of the day: What is the deeper and spiritual meaning of “crossing over the Jordan?”
Answer: “Crossing over the Jordan” is both practically and spiritually entering into the promised land. Entering into the promised land does not mean entering the Garden of Eden. It means being in the world but not of the world. It means entering into grace. There are still giants in the land, but God will fight for you and deliver them into your hands.
Crossing the Jordan is a parallel experience to crossing the Red Sea; the first crossing and the second crossing. Both happened after a 3 days consecration. Both happened on dry ground. Both involved a miraculous separation of waters.
That first experience of crossing the Red Sea is like the meaning of the name of Jacob’s first born, Reuben, behold a son. It is the first step of a follower of Yeshua, leaving behind the task masters and brick making (works) mentality. No-one ever made enough bricks to be free. No-one ever made bricks perfect enough to be set free. The point is we can’t earn or work our way into salvation.
The second crossing is like the meaning of the name of Jacob’s last born, Benyamin, son of the right hand. Our journey with God starts when we see the Son. But we don’t enter the promised land until we learn the lessons of the desert (stop the grumbling and learn to trust God). Only then are we ready for the second crossing. Only then are we ready to own this verse… Ephesians 2:6 And He raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua—
Between the two crossings, we learn to walk with God. We learn to trust Him. We grow and mature in Him until we are ready to do battle in the promised land. While the promised land is promised, it must also be conquered and then possessed. God will keep His promises, but it is His way to work with us and through us to accomplish His purposes.
Prepare for the battle. It’s on.