Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, November 30, 2020

Shalom,

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)

Mon 30-Nov-2020 14th of Kislev, 5781

Ge 32:14-30 1 Sa 14 Ps 56-57 Mk 10:1-31 (1 Co 7:1-24)

Jacob wrestles with God and wins, but suffers a dislocated hip.  We are all Jacob in many respects.  We struggle with both God and man.  The only victories we every have are according to the grace of God.  All that said, let me ask you a question.  Why didn’t God clear it up and speak clearly His name?

Genesis 32:30 Then Jacob asked and said, “Please tell me Your name.” But He said, “What’s this—you are asking My name?” Then He blessed him there.

If Yeshua had only said right then and there, “My name is Yeshua, the Son of the living God.”  But God is both wise and sovereign.  By not clearly stating His name is Yeshua, there is still faith required to believe.  The first verse of the reading tomorrow is what follows. It gives us some evidence…  Genesis 32:31 So Jacob named the place Peniel, “for I’ve seen God face to face, and my life has been spared.”

Without God’s grace, none of us can keep up with God.  Tell God, “I need you.”  He loves to hear that heart cry.  

Week 49
Memory Verse: Galatians 2:19 For through law I died to law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Messiah; 20 and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me. And the life I now live in the body, I live by trusting in Ben-Elohim—who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

* 241 12/03  Monday:        Hebrews 7

242   12/04  Tuesday:        Hebrews 8-9

243   12/05  Wednesday:   Hebrews 10    

244   12/06  Thursday:       Hebrews 11

245   12/07  Friday:            Hebrews 12

Question of the day:  What do we learn about Melchizedek in Hebrews 7?

Answer:  Abraham met him and paid Him a tithe.  We learn His name means a “righteous king.”  We also learn He is king of Salem (or Shalom).  This is one of the names of Yeshua.  

We also learn Hebrews 7:3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life but made like Ben-Elohim, he remains a kohen for all time. 

The writer of Hebrews (an unnamed Messianic rabbi) uses all this information to point out to his Jewish students that this King of Salem is someone very special.  In fact, this one is made perfect forever.  And that’s the bottom line in this chapter.  

Hebrews 7:28 For the Torah appoints as kohanim g’dolim men who have weakness; but the word of the oath, which came after the Torah, appoints a Son—made perfect forever.

And there it is, the gospel in the book of Hebrews.  Brilliant!