Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Shalom,
By now you’ve probably heard that Bibi Netanyahu won the Israeli election. Not so fast…. I get a lot of insight from Ron Cantor, CEO of Tikkun Global. Here is a link to his article the day after the election. https://messiahsmandate.org/israel-election-update-god-told-me-to-vote-for-bibi/
From Ron’s analysis, it seems that Bibi and Likud won more Knesset seats and is no longer tied for seats with Benny Gantz and Blue and White, but he still does not have a majority and cannot form a government. Will there be a fourth election? I doubt it, but Ron doesn’t rule it out.
Pillar Nine: The Kingdom is Expressed in Discipling the Nations – part 2
“Discipling the Nations” is what this RR is about. Can the nations be discipled outside of covenant? That thought is ridiculous per se. Our calling is to disciple the nations IN AND THROUGH covenant. We relate well enough to the covenant God made to redeem the world. That promise He fulfilled by sending His Son.
Romans 8:3 For what was impossible for the Torah—since it was weakened on account of the flesh—God has done. Sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as a sin offering, He condemned sin in the flesh—
Rabbi Trail: Interesting place for an RT… but many read this verse and say something to the effect, “See, Yeshua came because it was impossible to be saved by observing the Torah.” That part is correct. But then those same people say this… “Therefore; we no longer need the Torah, so it is now obsolete (or abolished).”
But Yeshua never said that. In fact, here is what He said (part of the sermon on the mount)… Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.” The initial thought is correct, we cannot be saved by keeping the Torah. The conclusion is false, we must still honor God by obeying His commands. End RT.
The next verse of Romans 8 proved my point in the RT above. Romans 8:4 so that the requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Ruach.
I started with God, Who has a commitment to covenant. Up until now this entire RR is an RT. My point is that the ultimate objective of the covenant from God is to deliver the people from sin (the “fall” in the Garden of Eden). So God, is reconciling the world to Himself, and this is consistent with His original covenant.
Yeshua is the fulfillment of every covenant; the Adamic covenant, the Noahide covenant, the Abrahamic covenant, the Mosaic covenant and the Davidic covenant. Therefore; the redemption of the world goes through Abraham and the Abrahamic covenant and the promises God made to Abraham’s descendants (see Genesis 12). The world will not experience redemption without all the promises to Israel being fulfilled in the process. God cannot lie. If you wish to argue that point, don’t bring your argument to me, take it to God.
Week 10
Memory Verse: Leviticus 26:13 I am Adonai your God, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, so that you would not be their slaves, and I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk upright.
46 3/2 Monday: Leviticus 23
47 3/3 Tuesday: Leviticus 26
* 48 3/4 Wednesday: Numbers 11-12
49 3/5 Thursday: Numbers 13-14
50 3/6 Friday: Numbers 16-17
Question of the day: How much rebellion can you put into these two chapters of Numbers?
Answer: Quite a bit. The rebellion is measured by the number of times these two chapters report on the anger of the Lord which “burns hot.” Numbers 11 starts with God’s anger burning when the people complained against God. It seems like God would rather be thanked than cursed. Go figure. Lesson one: don’t murmur against God. (BTW – that’s the same with all the other lessons.)
Then the people complain about mana. The Hebrew word “Mana” means “portion.” No one gathered too much or too little. It was always in proper portion (mana). But another play on words could be made from Mana. There are two Hebrew words “Ma” and “Na.” “Ma” means “what” and “Na” means “please.” So it could be that God named the food “what pleases you” since six days a week the delivery of mana did not please the people.
But God had a solution to the mana complaining. He killed the people with meat. Another lesson: Be careful what you ask for. In this process God says to Moses, Numbers 11: “Is Adonai’s arm too short?”
God promised meat for everyone for a month. Moses thought there is not enough meat in the world to feed millions of people meat for a month. God made quail die until within a day’s journey of the camp there were quail dead on the ground 36 inches deep. The people got sick from their craving of meat, and many died.
Then there was the rebellion of Aaron and Miriam. It started over trouble with the in-laws. Begs the question, do you know why they are called “in-laws?” Because out-laws are wanted. Ba-dum-bum.
And God dealt with that rebellion too. Aaron and Miriam were asking Moses, “Who made you the boss of us?” God answered that it was Him. And He gave Miriam leprosy to prove His point. Next lesson: Don’t argue with God’s appointed anointed.
Stay thirsty my friends (for God).