Extra Note: This came from a friend of a friend…
The official lockdown started March 23 (the same day Rabbi and Jan eloped) and will likely end May 1st. That is EXACTLY 40 days.
The Latin root of the word “quarantine” is “forty”.
So what does the Bible say about 40?
The flood lasted 40 days.
40 years Moses fled Egypt.
40 days Moses stayed on Mount Sinai to receive the Commandments.
Exodus lasted 40 years.
Yeshua fasted for 40 days.
40 days for a woman to rest after giving birth.
Optimum number of weeks for human gestation is 40.
A group of theologians thinks the number 40 represents “change”. It is the time of preparing a person, or people, to make a fundamental change.
Something will happen after these 40 days. Just believe and pray. Remember, whenever the number 40 appears in the Bible, there is a “change”.
Please know that during this “quarantine” rivers are cleaning up, vegetation is growing, the air is becoming cleaner because of less pollution, there is less theft and murder, clubs and bars have closed down along with most entertainment venues, healing is happening, and most importantly, people are turning to Messiah. The Earth is at rest for the first time modern history and certainly in many years and hearts are truly transforming.
Remember we are in the year 2020, and 20 + 20 = 40.
Also, 2020 is the year of the United States Census. Yeshua HaMashiach, the savior of the world, was born during a census.
Lastly, 2020 is perfect vision. May our sight focus on the Lord and living according to His perfect vision for us knowing He holds us in the palm of His hand.
May these days of “quarantine” bring spiritual liberation to our souls, our nation, and our world. Love and blessings!
Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, April 25, 2020
Shabbat Shalom *|FNAME|*,
Counting the Omer – Day 14
Here is the proper blessing to be said each day. This is how Jewish people fulfill the command to count.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר
Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-Olam, Asher Kid’shanu B’mitzvotav, Vitzivanu Al Sefirat Ha-Omer.
Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by his commandments and commanded us about the counting of the Omer. Today is two weeks and no days of the counting of the Omer.
This is the final installment on the longing to be fascinated. As we have discussed, this longing (and all the others) are designed by God to be fulfilled in a relationship with God. Would you like to argue about if that is Father, Son or Holy Spirit? Well I wouldn’t. I would say, “Yes both,” but to be accurate I would have to say “Yes, all 3.”
Our reality is reflected in this verse. Colossians 2:9 For all the fullness of Deity lives bodily in Him (Messiah Yeshua). Yeshua is God! And in Him we see God in human form. Our fascination with God reaches its high point in the book of Revelation when Yeshua takes His throne as our Bridegroom King.
Rabbi’s Note: Raymond Finney has written a 2 part RR on ancient Jewish wedding customs that focus on the Bridegroom and the Bride and how they picture our reality in Messiah Yeshua. It is excellent. I highly recommend it. Part 1 was published last Sunday and part 2 will be published tomorrow. Raymond’s (and God’s) timing is perfect. End RN.
Revelation 19:9 Then the angel tells me, “Write: How fortunate are those who have been invited to the wedding banquet of the Lamb!” He also tells me, “These are the true words of God.”
When Yeshua appears, we will all be in awe… Isaiah 45:22 Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God—there is no other. 23 By Myself I have sworn— the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness, and is irrevocable: that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear. 24 They will say of Me, ‘Only in Adonai is righteousness and strength.’ All who have raged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.
God is going to bless our fascination with Him by showering us with His perfect love. The Bible speaks of God’s love in 4 dimensions, but we live in a 3 dimensional world… Ephesians 3:16 I pray that from His glorious riches He would grant you to be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Ruach, 17 so that Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to grasp with all the kedoshim what is the width and length and height and depth.
What is that 4th dimension? It is the dimension of the Spirit of God. God’s love breaks through the spirit dimension (which is the greater reality) into this physical world through the love of His Son, Yeshua, who loves us with a perfect love. John 15:13 No one has greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends. Then Yeshua calls us His friends if we obey Him.
But now, let’s return to Ephesians for one more piece in understanding God’s love. Ephesians 3:19 to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge. How does God’s love “surpass” knowledge? His love in the Spirit goes around and beyond what we know. It goes all the way to our hearts. We will never know His love (sorry, all you intellectuals out there) as much as we will experience, feel, even rest, in His love.
Let’s challenge ourselves to be in awe of God. Every day God wants us to be overcome with amazement at the wonder of our God. Stay fascinated my friends. Shabbat Shalom (again).