Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
1/21/12
Exodus 6:6-8, ‘"Therefore, say to the people of Isra'el: 'I am ADONAI. I will free you from the forced labor of the Egyptians, rescue you from their oppression, and redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am ADONAI your God, who freed you from the forced labor of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov - I will give it to you as your inheritance. I am ADONAI.'"
Traditionally, this passage is remembered during Passover as the four statements or expressions of redemption. When looking more closely at this Scripture, we see there are really seven statements.
He will bring them out ‘yatsa’, deliver them ‘natsal’, redeem them ‘gaal’, and acquire them ‘laqach’ are the four statements and continuing, He says He will be their God ‘haya’, bring them into the land ‘bo’ and give the land as their possession ‘natan’.
Similarly, these statements of redemption signify what God does with those who have put their trust in Messiah! He brings us out of captivity, sin, death and slavery and brings us into Himself.
Colossians 1:13, ‘He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.’ See also Romans 8:15, 17, 29-30.
Before the Israelites were freed from Egypt, the plagues occurred beginning with the Nile being turned to blood and the plague of frogs.
Exodus 8:13-15, ‘ADONAI did as Moshe had asked -the frogs died in the houses, courtyards and fields; 14 they gathered them in heaps till the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that he had been given some relief, he made himself hardhearted and would not listen to them, just as ADONAI had said would happen.’
Can you imagine the smell in Egypt after the Nile had turned to blood and the frogs were gathered in heaps?
Pharaoh promised under duress to allow the Israelites to be freed, but when the plagues were relented, he didn’t follow through.
The same can be true for us. The principle is that making a promise under duress usually results in a promise broken. We need to be careful what we promise so that we do not attempt to make promises under duress or in our flesh.
Ecclesiastes 5:4, ‘If you make a vow to God, don't delay in discharging it. For God takes no pleasure in fools, so discharge your vow!’
How do we get victory over sin? By being made aware of sin or something more?
1 Corinthians 15:56, ‘The sting of death is sin; and sin draws its power from the Torah.’
Romans 7:8, ‘But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, worked in me all kinds of evil desires - for apart from Torah, sin is dead.’
Colossians 2:20-23, ‘If, along with the Messiah, you died to the elemental spirits of the world, then why, as if you still belonged to the world, are you letting yourselves be bothered by its rules? - 21 "Don't touch this!" "Don't eat that!" "Don't handle the other!" 22 Such prohibitions are concerned with things meant to perish by being used [not by being avoided!], and they are based on man-made rules and teachings.b 23 They do indeed have the outward appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed religious observances, false humility and asceticism; but they have no value at all in restraining people from indulging their old nature.’
The power to say ‘no’ to the wrong thing comes from being around the right thing, including the Word of God and fellowship of believers. Doing the right thing can never be accomplished through the power of the flesh. Being told not to do something or what is wrong does not stop you from doing it.
We want to be infused by Life rather than eliciting guilt!
Victory comes through the Power of the Spirit of God and His Grace! Being around pure and holy love will give you the strength to avoid sin. The flesh is not the answer!
Who hardened Pharaoh’s heart? Did God harden Pharaoh’s heart or did Pharaoh harden his own heart?
It was mentioned that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened nineteen times. It is really not clear whether the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart outright or did God respond by hardening his heart based upon Pharaoh’s decision to harden his own heart?
The question really posed here is the question of Predestination versus Free Will. Volumes upon volumes are written on this subject.
Many Scriptures can be cited on this subject including one that should give us great comfort:
Ephesians 1:4-5, ‘In the Messiah he chose us in love before the creation of the universe to be holy and without defect in his presence. 5 He determined in advance that through Yeshua the Messiah we would be his sons - in keeping with his pleasure and purpose.’
Both His choosing us and us choosing to obey are taught in Scripture.
Deuteronomy 30:14-15, ‘"Look! I am presenting you today with, on the one hand, life and good; and on the other, death and evil - 16 in that I am ordering you today to love ADONAI your God, to follow his ways, and to obey his mitzvot, regulations and rulings ; for if you do, you will live and increase your numbers; and ADONAI your God will bless you in the land you are entering in order to take possession of it.’
Revelation 22:17, ‘The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!' Let anyone who hears say, 'Come!' And let anyone who is thirsty come - let anyone who wishes, take the water of life free of charge.’
Both Predestination and Free Will are juxtaposed in Scripture!
2 Thessalonians 2:9-14, ‘When this man who avoids Torah comes, the Adversary will give him the power to work all kinds of false miracles, signs and wonders. 10 He will enable him to deceive, in all kinds of wicked ways, those who are headed for destruction because they would not receive the love of the truth that could have saved them. 11 This is why God is causing them to go astray, so that they will believe the Lie. 12 The result will be that all who have not believed the truth, but have taken their pleasure in wickedness, will be condemned. 13 But we have to keep thanking God for you always, brothers whom the Lord loves, because God chose you as firstfruits for deliverance by giving you the holiness that has its origin in the Spirit and the faithfulness that has its origin in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our Good News, so that you could have the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.’
Free Will and Predestination can be compared to a railroad track. Where we stand now, each track is separate, but in eternity, they are together. Also, we can view this issue as passing through a door. The entrance of the door would say, ‘Whosever will may come’ and then once through the door the backside of the door would say, ‘Chosen before the foundation of the world’. It is a mystery.
In conclusion, did Israel get delivered because of their faith? No!
2 Corinthians 1:8-10, ‘For, brothers, we want you to know about the trials we have undergone in the province of Asia. The burden laid on us was so far beyond what we could bear that we even despaired of living through it. 9 In our hearts we felt we were under sentence of death. However, this was to get us to rely not on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead! 10 He rescued us from such deadly peril, and he will rescue us again! The one in whom we have placed our hope will indeed continue to rescue us.’
God had to teach the Jews that He did not need their faith in Him. God breaks our faith in Him, so that we will know what He does is not based upon our faith in Him but His power and will and Spirit.
The end of us is the beginning of God
Further Reading: Isaiah 42:9, 46:9-10, John 1:12-13, 1Peter 1:2, Ephesians 1:3, 2 Peter 1:3-4, Colossians 1:13, Romans 8:29, John 15:16, Acts 4:29, 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Peter 1:20, Psalm 40:7-8, Exodus 19:4-5, Joshua 24:15, Genesis 2:17, John 1:12-13, 2 Timothy 2:13, Zechariah 4:6
Monday, January 23, 2012
Monday, December 12, 2011
Two Encounters with the Divine
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
12/10/11
Ya’akov had two encounters with the Divine; one at Beit-El and another at P’ni-El. When G-d visits us He transforms us! He wants to be with us. We may be wrestling, troubled or have perpetual struggles with the L-rd, like Ya’akov. But G-d doesn’t give up on us!
Genesis 28:15, “Look, I am with you. I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back into this land, because I won't leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Ya’akov had a dream at Beit-El.
Genesis 28:11-12, ‘He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had set. He took a stone from the place, put it under his head and lay down there to sleep. 12 He dreamt that there before him was a ladder resting on the ground with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of ADONAI were going up and down on it.’
Dreams can be prophetic but they can also be derived from fleshly or even satanic influence. We have an ‘ear gate’ and an ‘eye gate’ both of which should be guarded. If we have allowed negative influences in to our hearts and minds, we can repent and be restored and be free of those influences.
It is interesting that the only time the Hebrew word interpreted as ‘ladder’ is used in the Bible is to describe the method or instrument upon which the angels were ascending and descending Heaven. The Hebrew word is ‘sullam’. This ladder originated in Heaven and demonstrates to us G-d reaching down to us! Our remedy is G-d initiated.
2 Corinthians 5: 18-19, ‘And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation, 19 which is that God in the Messiah was reconciling mankind to himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.’
ADONAI appeared to Ya’akov at Beit-El and gave him a promise!
Genesis 28:13-15, ‘Then suddenly ADONAI was standing there next to him; and he said, "I am ADONAI, the God of Avraham your [grand]father and the God of Yitz'chak. The land on which you are lying I will give to you and to your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the grains of dust on the earth. You will expand to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. By you and your descendants all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15 Look, I am with you. I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back into this land, because I won't leave you until I have done what I have promised you." 16 Ya'akov awoke from his sleep and said, "Truly, ADONAI is in this place - and I didn't know it!"
We need to seek G-d presence while in our congregation as well as personally.
1 Corinthians 5:4, ‘In the name of the Lord Yeshua, when you are assembled, with me present spiritually and the power of our Lord Yeshua among us.’
Five times in the vision at Beit-El, the Hebrew word “hinneh” is used impressing upon the reader the perceptive substance of the promise G-d was making to Ya’akov. When G-d was introducing His promise to Ya’akov he kept using this word as emphasis. It can be translated ‘behold’. Where else do we see this perceptive substance used?
John 1:29, ‘The next day, Yochanan saw Yeshua coming toward him and said, "Look! [Behold] God's lamb! The one who is taking away the sin of the world!’
Even with this dramatic experience, Ya’akov didn’t remember so well. Sometimes we are unaware of G-d’s activity and forget!
Genesis 28:16, ‘Ya'akov awoke from his sleep and said, "Truly, ADONAI is in this place - and I didn't know it!"’
Are we aware when G-d reveals Himself to us and even more, do we always remember?
Albert Einstein described time as the fourth dimension. But there is another dimension; the fifth dimension where G-d lives, and He reveals His activity and Himself to us in our four dimensional world!
Isaiah 57:15, ‘For thus says the High, Exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy: "I live in the high and holy place but also with the broken and humble, in order to revive the spirit of the humble and revive the hearts of the broken ones.’
We all need a revelation or encounter with G-d. Can you remember receiving an encounter with G-d and experiencing the House of G-d and Gate of Heaven?
Ya’akov seemingly forgot the promises of G-d and encounter he experienced as recorded in Genesis 28 and we see in Genesis 32, he prays to G-d. He is struggling over Esav’ and he is afraid!
Genesis 32:9-13, ‘Then Ya'akov said, "God of my father Avraham and God of my father Yitz'chak, ADONAI, who told me, 'Return to your country and your kinsmen, and I will do you good': 10 I'm not worthy of all the love and faithfulness you have shown your servant, since I crossed the Yarden with only my staff. But now I have become two camps. 11 Please! Rescue me from my brother 'Esav! I'm afraid of him, afraid he'll come and attack me, without regard for mothers or children. 12 You said, 'I will certainly do you good and make your descendants as numerous as the grains of sand by the sea, which are so many they can't be counted.'" 13 He stayed there that night; then he chose from among his possessions the following as a present for 'Esav his brother.’
We certainly tend not to trust or remember!
Isaiah 30:15, ‘For this is what Adonai ELOHIM, the Holy One of Isra'el, says: "Returning and resting is what will save you; calmness and confidence will make you strong - but you want none of this!’
But G-d promises, Isaiah 32:18, ‘My people will live in a peaceful place, in secure neighborhoods and tranquil dwellings.’
Ya’akov was operating between the flesh and the spirit. He was in trouble! The Hebrew word is ‘t’sara’ which means narrowed, tight, crisis. What is threatening you right now?
Our answer to t’sara is to pray. The Hebrew word is ‘t’filah’.
1 Timothy 2:1, ‘First of all, then, I counsel that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all human beings.’
Our first response should be to pray, not to talk about our issue or to scheme about solving it!
As Ya’akov felt unworthy, he attempts to solve the problem with Esav’ using three strategies:
He prays, he sends gifts and he plans to either fight Esav’ or to escape him.
Based on the strategies he had, he demonstrated that he wasn’t truly trusting G-d. G-d had already appeared to him at Beit-El and given him promises. But now he was scheming in fear of Esav’s potential aggression.
What he didn’t know was that G-d had already changed Esav’s heart! It wasn’t Ya’akov’s plans that saved him but it was his prayer that worked as recorded in Genesis 33.
Before Ya’akov met Esav, it is recorded in Genesis 32:24, ‘and Ya'akov was left alone. Then some man wrestled with him until daybreak.’
Ya’akov was left to himself and look what happened!
G-d contended with Ya’akov and demonstrated that He was truly going to fulfill His promise to Him.
Genesis 32:25-32, ‘When he saw that he did not defeat Ya'akov, he struck Ya'akov's hip socket, so that his hip was dislocated while wrestling with him. 26 The man said, "Let me go, because it's daybreak." But Ya'akov replied, "I won't let you go unless you bless me." 27 The man asked, "What is your name?" and he answered, "Ya'akov." 28 Then the man said, "From now on, you will no longer be called Ya'akov, but Isra'el; because you have shown your strength to both God and men and have prevailed." 29 Ya'akov asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he answered, "Why are you asking about my name?" and blessed him there. 30 Ya'akov called the place P'ni-El [face of God], "Because I have seen God face to face, yet my life is spared." 31 As the sun rose upon him he went on past P'ni-El, limping at the hip. 32 This is why, to this day, the people of Isra'el do not eat the thigh muscle that passes along the hip socket - because the man struck Ya'akov's hip at its socket.’
Looking closely we see that Ya’akov won the match! But sometimes we have to lose in order to win. Our greatest hindrance can be our own strength!
So, ‘the man’ struck Ya’akov’s hip socket. So, in winning he did not really lose because G-d prevailed in his life.
This is where he met G-d and named the place P’ni-El. He had wrestled with G-d and seen His face. Interestingly, the word for face is plural. So really he had seen the ‘faces’ of G-d. G-d doesn’t always reveal Himself the same way all the time. But praise His Name He does reveal Himself to us!
Further Reading: Hosea 12:4-6, 1 Corinthians 15:46-51, Hebrews 13:5, Job 33:16, Numbers 12:6, Hebrews 10:25, Psalm 27:4-6, Psalm 84, Isaiah 14:24,27, Daniel 6:23, Psalm 91:11, Ephesians 3, Isaiah 32:18, Hosea 24:4,
Sermon Notes Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
12/10/11
Ya’akov had two encounters with the Divine; one at Beit-El and another at P’ni-El. When G-d visits us He transforms us! He wants to be with us. We may be wrestling, troubled or have perpetual struggles with the L-rd, like Ya’akov. But G-d doesn’t give up on us!
Genesis 28:15, “Look, I am with you. I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back into this land, because I won't leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Ya’akov had a dream at Beit-El.
Genesis 28:11-12, ‘He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had set. He took a stone from the place, put it under his head and lay down there to sleep. 12 He dreamt that there before him was a ladder resting on the ground with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of ADONAI were going up and down on it.’
Dreams can be prophetic but they can also be derived from fleshly or even satanic influence. We have an ‘ear gate’ and an ‘eye gate’ both of which should be guarded. If we have allowed negative influences in to our hearts and minds, we can repent and be restored and be free of those influences.
It is interesting that the only time the Hebrew word interpreted as ‘ladder’ is used in the Bible is to describe the method or instrument upon which the angels were ascending and descending Heaven. The Hebrew word is ‘sullam’. This ladder originated in Heaven and demonstrates to us G-d reaching down to us! Our remedy is G-d initiated.
2 Corinthians 5: 18-19, ‘And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation, 19 which is that God in the Messiah was reconciling mankind to himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.’
ADONAI appeared to Ya’akov at Beit-El and gave him a promise!
Genesis 28:13-15, ‘Then suddenly ADONAI was standing there next to him; and he said, "I am ADONAI, the God of Avraham your [grand]father and the God of Yitz'chak. The land on which you are lying I will give to you and to your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the grains of dust on the earth. You will expand to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. By you and your descendants all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15 Look, I am with you. I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back into this land, because I won't leave you until I have done what I have promised you." 16 Ya'akov awoke from his sleep and said, "Truly, ADONAI is in this place - and I didn't know it!"
We need to seek G-d presence while in our congregation as well as personally.
1 Corinthians 5:4, ‘In the name of the Lord Yeshua, when you are assembled, with me present spiritually and the power of our Lord Yeshua among us.’
Five times in the vision at Beit-El, the Hebrew word “hinneh” is used impressing upon the reader the perceptive substance of the promise G-d was making to Ya’akov. When G-d was introducing His promise to Ya’akov he kept using this word as emphasis. It can be translated ‘behold’. Where else do we see this perceptive substance used?
John 1:29, ‘The next day, Yochanan saw Yeshua coming toward him and said, "Look! [Behold] God's lamb! The one who is taking away the sin of the world!’
Even with this dramatic experience, Ya’akov didn’t remember so well. Sometimes we are unaware of G-d’s activity and forget!
Genesis 28:16, ‘Ya'akov awoke from his sleep and said, "Truly, ADONAI is in this place - and I didn't know it!"’
Are we aware when G-d reveals Himself to us and even more, do we always remember?
Albert Einstein described time as the fourth dimension. But there is another dimension; the fifth dimension where G-d lives, and He reveals His activity and Himself to us in our four dimensional world!
Isaiah 57:15, ‘For thus says the High, Exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy: "I live in the high and holy place but also with the broken and humble, in order to revive the spirit of the humble and revive the hearts of the broken ones.’
We all need a revelation or encounter with G-d. Can you remember receiving an encounter with G-d and experiencing the House of G-d and Gate of Heaven?
Ya’akov seemingly forgot the promises of G-d and encounter he experienced as recorded in Genesis 28 and we see in Genesis 32, he prays to G-d. He is struggling over Esav’ and he is afraid!
Genesis 32:9-13, ‘Then Ya'akov said, "God of my father Avraham and God of my father Yitz'chak, ADONAI, who told me, 'Return to your country and your kinsmen, and I will do you good': 10 I'm not worthy of all the love and faithfulness you have shown your servant, since I crossed the Yarden with only my staff. But now I have become two camps. 11 Please! Rescue me from my brother 'Esav! I'm afraid of him, afraid he'll come and attack me, without regard for mothers or children. 12 You said, 'I will certainly do you good and make your descendants as numerous as the grains of sand by the sea, which are so many they can't be counted.'" 13 He stayed there that night; then he chose from among his possessions the following as a present for 'Esav his brother.’
We certainly tend not to trust or remember!
Isaiah 30:15, ‘For this is what Adonai ELOHIM, the Holy One of Isra'el, says: "Returning and resting is what will save you; calmness and confidence will make you strong - but you want none of this!’
But G-d promises, Isaiah 32:18, ‘My people will live in a peaceful place, in secure neighborhoods and tranquil dwellings.’
Ya’akov was operating between the flesh and the spirit. He was in trouble! The Hebrew word is ‘t’sara’ which means narrowed, tight, crisis. What is threatening you right now?
Our answer to t’sara is to pray. The Hebrew word is ‘t’filah’.
1 Timothy 2:1, ‘First of all, then, I counsel that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all human beings.’
Our first response should be to pray, not to talk about our issue or to scheme about solving it!
As Ya’akov felt unworthy, he attempts to solve the problem with Esav’ using three strategies:
He prays, he sends gifts and he plans to either fight Esav’ or to escape him.
Based on the strategies he had, he demonstrated that he wasn’t truly trusting G-d. G-d had already appeared to him at Beit-El and given him promises. But now he was scheming in fear of Esav’s potential aggression.
What he didn’t know was that G-d had already changed Esav’s heart! It wasn’t Ya’akov’s plans that saved him but it was his prayer that worked as recorded in Genesis 33.
Before Ya’akov met Esav, it is recorded in Genesis 32:24, ‘and Ya'akov was left alone. Then some man wrestled with him until daybreak.’
Ya’akov was left to himself and look what happened!
G-d contended with Ya’akov and demonstrated that He was truly going to fulfill His promise to Him.
Genesis 32:25-32, ‘When he saw that he did not defeat Ya'akov, he struck Ya'akov's hip socket, so that his hip was dislocated while wrestling with him. 26 The man said, "Let me go, because it's daybreak." But Ya'akov replied, "I won't let you go unless you bless me." 27 The man asked, "What is your name?" and he answered, "Ya'akov." 28 Then the man said, "From now on, you will no longer be called Ya'akov, but Isra'el; because you have shown your strength to both God and men and have prevailed." 29 Ya'akov asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he answered, "Why are you asking about my name?" and blessed him there. 30 Ya'akov called the place P'ni-El [face of God], "Because I have seen God face to face, yet my life is spared." 31 As the sun rose upon him he went on past P'ni-El, limping at the hip. 32 This is why, to this day, the people of Isra'el do not eat the thigh muscle that passes along the hip socket - because the man struck Ya'akov's hip at its socket.’
Looking closely we see that Ya’akov won the match! But sometimes we have to lose in order to win. Our greatest hindrance can be our own strength!
So, ‘the man’ struck Ya’akov’s hip socket. So, in winning he did not really lose because G-d prevailed in his life.
This is where he met G-d and named the place P’ni-El. He had wrestled with G-d and seen His face. Interestingly, the word for face is plural. So really he had seen the ‘faces’ of G-d. G-d doesn’t always reveal Himself the same way all the time. But praise His Name He does reveal Himself to us!
Further Reading: Hosea 12:4-6, 1 Corinthians 15:46-51, Hebrews 13:5, Job 33:16, Numbers 12:6, Hebrews 10:25, Psalm 27:4-6, Psalm 84, Isaiah 14:24,27, Daniel 6:23, Psalm 91:11, Ephesians 3, Isaiah 32:18, Hosea 24:4,
Monday, September 12, 2011
Obedience of Convenience
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
September 10, 2011
Deuteronomy 21: 1-14, ‘When you go out to war against your enemies, and ADONAI your God hands them over to you, and you take prisoners, 11 and you see among the prisoners a woman who looks good to you, and you feel attracted to her and want her as your wife; 12 you are to bring her home to your house, where she will shave her head, cut her fingernails 13 and remove her prison clothing. She will stay there in your house, mourning her father and mother for a full month; after which you may go in to have sexual relations with her and be her husband, and she will be your wife. 14 In the event that you lose interest in her, you are to let her go wherever she wishes; but you may not sell her for money or treat her like a slave, because you humiliated her.’
It is very interesting that the Scripture allows an Israeli who goes to war, to take for himself a woman from the goyim to be a wife, as well as the stipulations that are given for the process. Notice, he may find her attractive at the time of war, but G-d issues restrictions for her becoming a wife that virtually eliminate any outward signs of beauty. Her hair is shaved off, her nails trimmed, her ‘prison’ clothes removed (usually her best clothes would be worn when taken into captivity) and she is basically put into seclusion for a month to mourn the death of her family. Then her captor is to reassess his desire for her and either marry her or free her in a respectable way.
This passage, although unusual to our modern day behavior, emphasizes G-d’s truth that infatuation is not love and passion or lust is not love and there should not be confusion about this point. Attraction to a mate should be spiritual first and then physical. Physical attraction is still important, but should not be the primary reason for relationship.
Even our L-rd was not especially physically attractive. Our attraction to Him is spiritual first. There is a distinction made to eliminate a natural tendency for physical attraction alone.
Isaiah 53:1-2, ‘Who believes our report? To whom is the arm of ADONAI revealed? 2 For before him he grew up like a young plant, like a root out of dry ground. He was not well-formed or especially handsome; we saw him, but his appearance did not attract us.’
Recognize that Saul did not obey the L-rd but spared the best spoils of war for himself rather than completely obeying the command.
1 Samuel 15:1-4, ‘Sh'mu'el said to Sha'ul, "ADONAI sent me to anoint you king over his people, over Isra'el. Now listen to what ADONAI has to say. 2 Here is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot says: 'I remember what 'Amalek did to Isra'el, how they fought against Isra'el when they were coming up from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack 'Amalek, and completely destroy everything they have. Don't spare them, but kill men and women, children and babies, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"
Did Sha’ul (Saul) obey?
1 Samuel 15:8-10, ‘He took Agag the king of 'Amalek alive; but he completely destroyed the people, putting them to the sword. 9 However, Sha'ul and the people spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, and even the second best, also the lambs, and everything that was good - they weren't inclined to destroy these things. But everything that was worthless or weak they completely destroyed.
Saul spared what he considered the best of everything. He did not obey; he allowed himself to be guided by his senses and the outward attraction of what he saw. Not only did he completely miss a lesson G-d was teaching about the value of inward character but by not obeying G-d to destroy Amalek future generation of Israelites were directly affected through his descendants, namely Haman during the time of Esther.
G-d had made it clear what to remember!
Deuteronomy 25:17-19, ‘"Remember what 'Amalek did to you on the road as you were coming out of Egypt, 18 how he met you by the road, attacked those in the rear, those who were exhausted and straggling behind when you were tired and weary. He did not fear God. 19 Therefore, when ADONAI your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies in the land ADONAI your God is giving you as your inheritance to possess, you are to blot out all memory of 'Amalek from under heaven. Don't forget!”
Note that the instruction is to ‘don’t forget’. However, we are to forget when sins are forgiven!
Hebrews 8:12, ‘because I will be merciful toward their wickednesses and remember their sins no more.’
Isaiah 43:25, ‘I, yes I, am the one who blots out your offenses for my own sake; I will not remember your sins.’
However, when sins are not forgiven and there is no repentance, we are to remember!
It was over 400 years later that Saul was to remember the what Amalek had done!
Saul did not obey completely and made excuses to Samuel about it. Although, G-d’s heart weeps for those who stray, forgiveness isn’t given unless there is repentance.
Exodus 34:7, ‘showing grace to the thousandth generation, forgiving offenses, crimes and sins; yet not exonerating the guilty, but causing the negative effects of the parents' offenses to be experienced by their children and grandchildren, and even by the third and fourth generations.’
But how great is the forgiveness offered!
Isaiah 1:18, ‘"Come now," says ADONAI, "let's talk this over together. Even if your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow; even if they are red as crimson, they will be like wool.’
Colossians 2:13, ‘You were dead because of your sins, that is, because of your "foreskin," your old nature. But God made you alive along with the Messiah by forgiving you all your sins.’
Saul’s heart did not turn toward the L-rd; his obedience was an obedience of convenience! And his disobedience resulted in the kingdom being taken from him. It was then through Samuel that G-d’s vengeance was taken on the Amalekite.
1 Samuel 15:2, ‘Here is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot says: 'I remember what 'Amalek did to Isra'el, how they fought against Isra'el when they were coming up from Egypt.’
Saul was instructed to remember. The Hebrew word used is ‘paqad’ which means to visit or to make a deposit. At Yom HaDin (Judgement Day) the deposit is returned.
So, when we are forgiven, we also are compelled to forgive.
Ephesians 4:32, ‘Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.’
It is a shame that Saul’s heart never turned to the L-rd for forgiveness. However, it is never too late; we are never too old to turn to Him or to obey Him! What happened to Saul does not have to happen to us.
Further Reading: John 1:9-12, Hebrews 13:4-5, 17, John 3:16-17, Revelation 1:5, Hebrews 9:14, 1John 1:7, Ephesians 1:7
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
September 10, 2011
Deuteronomy 21: 1-14, ‘When you go out to war against your enemies, and ADONAI your God hands them over to you, and you take prisoners, 11 and you see among the prisoners a woman who looks good to you, and you feel attracted to her and want her as your wife; 12 you are to bring her home to your house, where she will shave her head, cut her fingernails 13 and remove her prison clothing. She will stay there in your house, mourning her father and mother for a full month; after which you may go in to have sexual relations with her and be her husband, and she will be your wife. 14 In the event that you lose interest in her, you are to let her go wherever she wishes; but you may not sell her for money or treat her like a slave, because you humiliated her.’
It is very interesting that the Scripture allows an Israeli who goes to war, to take for himself a woman from the goyim to be a wife, as well as the stipulations that are given for the process. Notice, he may find her attractive at the time of war, but G-d issues restrictions for her becoming a wife that virtually eliminate any outward signs of beauty. Her hair is shaved off, her nails trimmed, her ‘prison’ clothes removed (usually her best clothes would be worn when taken into captivity) and she is basically put into seclusion for a month to mourn the death of her family. Then her captor is to reassess his desire for her and either marry her or free her in a respectable way.
This passage, although unusual to our modern day behavior, emphasizes G-d’s truth that infatuation is not love and passion or lust is not love and there should not be confusion about this point. Attraction to a mate should be spiritual first and then physical. Physical attraction is still important, but should not be the primary reason for relationship.
Even our L-rd was not especially physically attractive. Our attraction to Him is spiritual first. There is a distinction made to eliminate a natural tendency for physical attraction alone.
Isaiah 53:1-2, ‘Who believes our report? To whom is the arm of ADONAI revealed? 2 For before him he grew up like a young plant, like a root out of dry ground. He was not well-formed or especially handsome; we saw him, but his appearance did not attract us.’
Recognize that Saul did not obey the L-rd but spared the best spoils of war for himself rather than completely obeying the command.
1 Samuel 15:1-4, ‘Sh'mu'el said to Sha'ul, "ADONAI sent me to anoint you king over his people, over Isra'el. Now listen to what ADONAI has to say. 2 Here is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot says: 'I remember what 'Amalek did to Isra'el, how they fought against Isra'el when they were coming up from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack 'Amalek, and completely destroy everything they have. Don't spare them, but kill men and women, children and babies, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"
Did Sha’ul (Saul) obey?
1 Samuel 15:8-10, ‘He took Agag the king of 'Amalek alive; but he completely destroyed the people, putting them to the sword. 9 However, Sha'ul and the people spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, and even the second best, also the lambs, and everything that was good - they weren't inclined to destroy these things. But everything that was worthless or weak they completely destroyed.
Saul spared what he considered the best of everything. He did not obey; he allowed himself to be guided by his senses and the outward attraction of what he saw. Not only did he completely miss a lesson G-d was teaching about the value of inward character but by not obeying G-d to destroy Amalek future generation of Israelites were directly affected through his descendants, namely Haman during the time of Esther.
G-d had made it clear what to remember!
Deuteronomy 25:17-19, ‘"Remember what 'Amalek did to you on the road as you were coming out of Egypt, 18 how he met you by the road, attacked those in the rear, those who were exhausted and straggling behind when you were tired and weary. He did not fear God. 19 Therefore, when ADONAI your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies in the land ADONAI your God is giving you as your inheritance to possess, you are to blot out all memory of 'Amalek from under heaven. Don't forget!”
Note that the instruction is to ‘don’t forget’. However, we are to forget when sins are forgiven!
Hebrews 8:12, ‘because I will be merciful toward their wickednesses and remember their sins no more.’
Isaiah 43:25, ‘I, yes I, am the one who blots out your offenses for my own sake; I will not remember your sins.’
However, when sins are not forgiven and there is no repentance, we are to remember!
It was over 400 years later that Saul was to remember the what Amalek had done!
Saul did not obey completely and made excuses to Samuel about it. Although, G-d’s heart weeps for those who stray, forgiveness isn’t given unless there is repentance.
Exodus 34:7, ‘showing grace to the thousandth generation, forgiving offenses, crimes and sins; yet not exonerating the guilty, but causing the negative effects of the parents' offenses to be experienced by their children and grandchildren, and even by the third and fourth generations.’
But how great is the forgiveness offered!
Isaiah 1:18, ‘"Come now," says ADONAI, "let's talk this over together. Even if your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow; even if they are red as crimson, they will be like wool.’
Colossians 2:13, ‘You were dead because of your sins, that is, because of your "foreskin," your old nature. But God made you alive along with the Messiah by forgiving you all your sins.’
Saul’s heart did not turn toward the L-rd; his obedience was an obedience of convenience! And his disobedience resulted in the kingdom being taken from him. It was then through Samuel that G-d’s vengeance was taken on the Amalekite.
1 Samuel 15:2, ‘Here is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot says: 'I remember what 'Amalek did to Isra'el, how they fought against Isra'el when they were coming up from Egypt.’
Saul was instructed to remember. The Hebrew word used is ‘paqad’ which means to visit or to make a deposit. At Yom HaDin (Judgement Day) the deposit is returned.
So, when we are forgiven, we also are compelled to forgive.
Ephesians 4:32, ‘Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.’
It is a shame that Saul’s heart never turned to the L-rd for forgiveness. However, it is never too late; we are never too old to turn to Him or to obey Him! What happened to Saul does not have to happen to us.
Further Reading: John 1:9-12, Hebrews 13:4-5, 17, John 3:16-17, Revelation 1:5, Hebrews 9:14, 1John 1:7, Ephesians 1:7
Monday, August 29, 2011
Radically First
Sermon Notes
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Notes by: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
Deuteronomy 13:6-8, ‘“If your brother the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or your wife whom you love, or your friend who means as much to you as yourself, secretly tries to entice you to go and serve other gods, which you haven't known, neither you nor your ancestors - 7 gods of the peoples surrounding you, whether near or far away from you, anywhere in the world - 8 you are not to consent, and you are not to listen to him; and you must not pity him or spare him; and you may not conceal him.”’
This portion of Scripture warns us to be aware that you will be enticed away from serving the One True Living G-d. Even our loved ones may entice us away.
Matthew 10:37, ‘Whoever loves his father or mother more than he loves me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than he loves me is not worthy of me.’
Of courser the L-rd wants us to love our families, but this verse emphasizes our radical need to put Him first especially as it relates to our families!
There are several Hebrew words used in the passage of Deuteronomy that are notable in regard to being tempted away from the Truth.
Looking at the Hebrew words in verse 6 of the passage in Deuteronomy, the phrase ‘secretly entice you to serve other gods’, we see “cether’ which means secretly to hide or conceal and ‘suth’ which means to incite, allure, lure or instigate. Literally, this passage cautions us about being secretly allured away or even tricked into serving other gods.
Paul’s writings caution us about the same in 2Corinthians 11:2-3, ‘For I am jealous for you with God's kind of jealousy; since I promised to present you as a pure virgin in marriage to your one husband, the Messiah; 3 and I fear that somehow your minds may be seduced away from simple and pure devotion to the Messiah, just as Havah was deceived by the serpent and his craftiness.’
The reason given in Deuteronomy 13:6 for the caution to be secretly enticed is to go and serve other gods. The Hebrew word for serve is ‘abad’ which means work. What other gods might be be tempted to work for? Money? Success? Power? Influence?
Even John cautions us in 1John 5:21, ‘Children, guard yourselves against false gods!’
Jeremiah 2:5, ‘here is what ADONAI says: "What did your ancestors find wrong with me to make them go so far away from me, to make them go after nothings and become themselves nothings?”’
Independence from G-d was the first sin in the Garden. We want to be like G-d without G-d! There is an allurement to be independent; to fall away from our dependence upon G-d and look for dependence and guidance from other places including ourselves.
We are tempted to serve the gods of others; that is the gods of people that surround us. But the Hebrew in Deuteronomy 13:6 also means ‘after G-d or G-d after’. Our tendency is to serve or worship G-d after He has done something for me or for others. The principle here is to serve and worship Him before He does anything for me! Praise Him and love Him before He answers my prayer or does anything for me or for others!
We need wisdom to be able to put G-d Radically First! Be wary of things that lure us away rather than foster the truth and healthy doctrine. Keeping the L-rd radically first not only entails staying in the truth, but also requires us to letting go or giving things back to Him.
Deuteronomy 15:18, ‘Don't resent it when you set him free, since during his six years of service he has been worth twice as much as a hired employee. Then ADONAI your God will bless you in everything you do.’
The Hebrew word for resent is ‘qasheh’ which means hard, severe, fierce or harsh. Setting things free or giving them back to the L-rd should not be hard for us because when we do, the L-rd will double bless us in all we do.
Three principles can be applied through the process of giving things up to G-d: be grateful for the past, be obedient in the present and be expectant for the future.
Hebrews 12:15, ‘See to it that no one misses out on God's grace, that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble and thus contaminates many,’
We can be grateful for the past regardless of how we have been hurt or mistreated in it; doing so will guard against developing a root of bitterness. Know, like Joseph, that G-d had His purpose through Joseph’s trials to bless others and to bless Joseph.
Genesis 50:20, ‘You meant to do me harm, but God meant it for good -so that it would come about as it is today, with many people's lives being saved.’
G-d can use our brokenness and turn it into compassion for others as we give our brokenness up to Him.
Be obedient in the present! Holding on to people, possessions and places; we need to let them go to G-d will a joyful heart and willingly.
1Chronicles 29:9, ‘The people were filled with joy, because they had given willingly - wholeheartedly they had given willingly to ADONAI; and David the king too was completely filled with joy,’
Abraham let go of Lot, Jonathan let go of his inheritance to David, Hannah let go of Samuel to the L-rd and Miriam let go of Yeshua. We also need to let go of people and things.
Finally, we need to be expectant toward the future. In the passage of Deuteronomy 15:18, we read that G-d will bless us in all we do. Let people, things, past, ourselves and our futures to G-d and He will bless us because we are obedient. He will bless us when we put him radically first in all aspects of our lives!
Further Readings: Luke 18:28-30, Philemon 10-16, 1John 5:21, Jeremiah 2:5, Jeremiah 3:14, 1John 5:16, Hebrews 12:15, Psalm 49, Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 66:1-2, Psalm 139, Romans 5:3-5
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Notes by: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
Deuteronomy 13:6-8, ‘“If your brother the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or your wife whom you love, or your friend who means as much to you as yourself, secretly tries to entice you to go and serve other gods, which you haven't known, neither you nor your ancestors - 7 gods of the peoples surrounding you, whether near or far away from you, anywhere in the world - 8 you are not to consent, and you are not to listen to him; and you must not pity him or spare him; and you may not conceal him.”’
This portion of Scripture warns us to be aware that you will be enticed away from serving the One True Living G-d. Even our loved ones may entice us away.
Matthew 10:37, ‘Whoever loves his father or mother more than he loves me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than he loves me is not worthy of me.’
Of courser the L-rd wants us to love our families, but this verse emphasizes our radical need to put Him first especially as it relates to our families!
There are several Hebrew words used in the passage of Deuteronomy that are notable in regard to being tempted away from the Truth.
Looking at the Hebrew words in verse 6 of the passage in Deuteronomy, the phrase ‘secretly entice you to serve other gods’, we see “cether’ which means secretly to hide or conceal and ‘suth’ which means to incite, allure, lure or instigate. Literally, this passage cautions us about being secretly allured away or even tricked into serving other gods.
Paul’s writings caution us about the same in 2Corinthians 11:2-3, ‘For I am jealous for you with God's kind of jealousy; since I promised to present you as a pure virgin in marriage to your one husband, the Messiah; 3 and I fear that somehow your minds may be seduced away from simple and pure devotion to the Messiah, just as Havah was deceived by the serpent and his craftiness.’
The reason given in Deuteronomy 13:6 for the caution to be secretly enticed is to go and serve other gods. The Hebrew word for serve is ‘abad’ which means work. What other gods might be be tempted to work for? Money? Success? Power? Influence?
Even John cautions us in 1John 5:21, ‘Children, guard yourselves against false gods!’
Jeremiah 2:5, ‘here is what ADONAI says: "What did your ancestors find wrong with me to make them go so far away from me, to make them go after nothings and become themselves nothings?”’
Independence from G-d was the first sin in the Garden. We want to be like G-d without G-d! There is an allurement to be independent; to fall away from our dependence upon G-d and look for dependence and guidance from other places including ourselves.
We are tempted to serve the gods of others; that is the gods of people that surround us. But the Hebrew in Deuteronomy 13:6 also means ‘after G-d or G-d after’. Our tendency is to serve or worship G-d after He has done something for me or for others. The principle here is to serve and worship Him before He does anything for me! Praise Him and love Him before He answers my prayer or does anything for me or for others!
We need wisdom to be able to put G-d Radically First! Be wary of things that lure us away rather than foster the truth and healthy doctrine. Keeping the L-rd radically first not only entails staying in the truth, but also requires us to letting go or giving things back to Him.
Deuteronomy 15:18, ‘Don't resent it when you set him free, since during his six years of service he has been worth twice as much as a hired employee. Then ADONAI your God will bless you in everything you do.’
The Hebrew word for resent is ‘qasheh’ which means hard, severe, fierce or harsh. Setting things free or giving them back to the L-rd should not be hard for us because when we do, the L-rd will double bless us in all we do.
Three principles can be applied through the process of giving things up to G-d: be grateful for the past, be obedient in the present and be expectant for the future.
Hebrews 12:15, ‘See to it that no one misses out on God's grace, that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble and thus contaminates many,’
We can be grateful for the past regardless of how we have been hurt or mistreated in it; doing so will guard against developing a root of bitterness. Know, like Joseph, that G-d had His purpose through Joseph’s trials to bless others and to bless Joseph.
Genesis 50:20, ‘You meant to do me harm, but God meant it for good -so that it would come about as it is today, with many people's lives being saved.’
G-d can use our brokenness and turn it into compassion for others as we give our brokenness up to Him.
Be obedient in the present! Holding on to people, possessions and places; we need to let them go to G-d will a joyful heart and willingly.
1Chronicles 29:9, ‘The people were filled with joy, because they had given willingly - wholeheartedly they had given willingly to ADONAI; and David the king too was completely filled with joy,’
Abraham let go of Lot, Jonathan let go of his inheritance to David, Hannah let go of Samuel to the L-rd and Miriam let go of Yeshua. We also need to let go of people and things.
Finally, we need to be expectant toward the future. In the passage of Deuteronomy 15:18, we read that G-d will bless us in all we do. Let people, things, past, ourselves and our futures to G-d and He will bless us because we are obedient. He will bless us when we put him radically first in all aspects of our lives!
Further Readings: Luke 18:28-30, Philemon 10-16, 1John 5:21, Jeremiah 2:5, Jeremiah 3:14, 1John 5:16, Hebrews 12:15, Psalm 49, Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 66:1-2, Psalm 139, Romans 5:3-5
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Face North!
Rabbi Ken Apren
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
August 6, 2011
D’var is the Hebrew word for the Book of Deuteronomy and means ‘reality or the real thing’ reminding us that G-d’s Word is true and eternal. See Matthew 24:35 and Psalm 119:89. The word deuteronomy is derived from a Greek word which means ‘second law’ and was used to name this book since it is a review of the history of Moses preparing to enter and inherit the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 1:22-23, ‘"You approached me, every one of you, and said, 'Let's send men ahead of us to explore the country for us and bring back word concerning what route we should use in going up and what the cities we will encounter are like.' 23 The idea seemed good to me, so I took twelve of your men, one from each tribe.’
What seemed good in Moses’ eyes certainly was not what G-d saw as right in His eyes. It wasn’t G-d’s plan at all for them to spy out the land prior to taking it. What seems right in our eyes may not be the L-rd’s plan for us.
Proverbs 14:12, ‘There can be a way which seems right to a person, but at its end are the ways of death.’
We are much too quick to act upon what seems right to us without waiting on the L-rd for His guidance and confirmation. We can keep going nowhere or going around in circles like the Israelites did.
Deuteronomy 2:1-3, ‘"Then we turned and began traveling into the desert along the road to the Sea of Suf, as ADONAI had said to me; and we skirted Mount Se'ir for a long time. 2 Finally ADONAI said to me, 3 'You have been going around this mountain long enough! Head north.’
For all practical purposes, the Israelites had been ‘circling the mountain’ for 38 years! Why? Because they had not trusted in the L-rd or believed Him. They made no progress and weren’t succeeding.
Ecclesiastes 1:9, ‘What has been is what will be, what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.’
The Hebrew word used in the passage of Deuteronomy for traveling around the mountain is ‘sov’ which comes from the root word ‘savav’. Savav means going around, vain or futile movement, getting exhausted, going nowhere.
How despairing!
Ecclesiastes 3:15, ‘That which was is here already; and that which will be has already been, but God seeks out what people chase after.’
Through our eyes we are quite limited, but through G-d’s eyes, we are unlimited! Even though there is nothing new under the sun, G-d is over the sun. The circuitous route taken was in the natural realm to avoid the Edomites and in the supernatural realm it was due to rebellion.
Revelation 3:8, ‘"I know what you are doing. Look, I have put in front of you an open door, and no one can shut it.’
When G-d shuts a door, nothing we can do can open it. Many times we try to open a door He has shut and eventually begin to bang our head against the wall so to speak. God is more interested in our heart than to open a door that we are persisting in trying to open. He will keep a door shut so as to affect a change in our hearts and relationship with Him. Similarly, He can open a door when it was not humanly possible to do so. We live a supernatural life as a Child of G-d, not a natural life.
After 38 years of judgement, G-d was still with His people and still imparting their judgement when He said that it had been long enough! Why had they been under judgement for so long? They had not put Him first! They were rebellious, ignoring Him, pursuing their own plans. But G-d wasn’t finished! It wasn’t over yet, nor was it the end of the story.
Finally, after all that time of judgement, circling around in the desert, He said it was time to take the Land!
Philippians 3:13-14, ‘Brothers, I, for my part, do not think of myself as having yet gotten hold of it; but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining forward toward what lies ahead, 14 I keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize offered by God's upward calling in the Messiah Yeshua.’
It was time to move on and turn to Him!
He said, ‘Face north’ or ‘turn north’. In Hebrew, ‘p’noo lachem tsaphon’.
‘Panah’ means to turn, and is related to ‘panim’ which is face or faces of G-d; it means to face Him and turn from the wrong direction.
‘Tsaphon’ means north, or hidden, a treasure and in Scripture, north is a picture of heaven!
Isaiah 14:13, ‘You thought to yourself, 'I will scale the heavens, I will raise my throne above God's stars. I will sit on the Mount of Assembly far away in the north.’
Job 37:22, ‘Out of the north comes a golden glow, fearsome majesty surrounding God.’
In Canaanite mythology, Ba’al reigned in the north. Spiritually, Ba’al and false gods are dethroned and the One true G-d assumes the throne. By facing north, false gods are dethroned, whether they be ourselves, sin, others, things or even our past. There are no answers in these things. Face the L-rd! He is on His Throne! Face Him and He’ll dethrone Ba’al and falsehoods and assume His rightful place in our lives!
It is never too late to face north or turn to Him. He can redeem the years the locusts have eaten and turn us around to His plan and future.
Joel 2:25, ‘"I will restore to you the years that the locusts ate, the grasshoppers, shearer-worms and cutter-worms, my great army that I sent against you.”’
Turn toward that hidden place, that treasure, the L-rd.
Further Reading: Deuteronomy 1:20-27, 2 Samuel 7:1-5, Hebrews 12:1-2, Job 23:12, Col 2:3
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
August 6, 2011
D’var is the Hebrew word for the Book of Deuteronomy and means ‘reality or the real thing’ reminding us that G-d’s Word is true and eternal. See Matthew 24:35 and Psalm 119:89. The word deuteronomy is derived from a Greek word which means ‘second law’ and was used to name this book since it is a review of the history of Moses preparing to enter and inherit the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 1:22-23, ‘"You approached me, every one of you, and said, 'Let's send men ahead of us to explore the country for us and bring back word concerning what route we should use in going up and what the cities we will encounter are like.' 23 The idea seemed good to me, so I took twelve of your men, one from each tribe.’
What seemed good in Moses’ eyes certainly was not what G-d saw as right in His eyes. It wasn’t G-d’s plan at all for them to spy out the land prior to taking it. What seems right in our eyes may not be the L-rd’s plan for us.
Proverbs 14:12, ‘There can be a way which seems right to a person, but at its end are the ways of death.’
We are much too quick to act upon what seems right to us without waiting on the L-rd for His guidance and confirmation. We can keep going nowhere or going around in circles like the Israelites did.
Deuteronomy 2:1-3, ‘"Then we turned and began traveling into the desert along the road to the Sea of Suf, as ADONAI had said to me; and we skirted Mount Se'ir for a long time. 2 Finally ADONAI said to me, 3 'You have been going around this mountain long enough! Head north.’
For all practical purposes, the Israelites had been ‘circling the mountain’ for 38 years! Why? Because they had not trusted in the L-rd or believed Him. They made no progress and weren’t succeeding.
Ecclesiastes 1:9, ‘What has been is what will be, what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.’
The Hebrew word used in the passage of Deuteronomy for traveling around the mountain is ‘sov’ which comes from the root word ‘savav’. Savav means going around, vain or futile movement, getting exhausted, going nowhere.
How despairing!
Ecclesiastes 3:15, ‘That which was is here already; and that which will be has already been, but God seeks out what people chase after.’
Through our eyes we are quite limited, but through G-d’s eyes, we are unlimited! Even though there is nothing new under the sun, G-d is over the sun. The circuitous route taken was in the natural realm to avoid the Edomites and in the supernatural realm it was due to rebellion.
Revelation 3:8, ‘"I know what you are doing. Look, I have put in front of you an open door, and no one can shut it.’
When G-d shuts a door, nothing we can do can open it. Many times we try to open a door He has shut and eventually begin to bang our head against the wall so to speak. God is more interested in our heart than to open a door that we are persisting in trying to open. He will keep a door shut so as to affect a change in our hearts and relationship with Him. Similarly, He can open a door when it was not humanly possible to do so. We live a supernatural life as a Child of G-d, not a natural life.
After 38 years of judgement, G-d was still with His people and still imparting their judgement when He said that it had been long enough! Why had they been under judgement for so long? They had not put Him first! They were rebellious, ignoring Him, pursuing their own plans. But G-d wasn’t finished! It wasn’t over yet, nor was it the end of the story.
Finally, after all that time of judgement, circling around in the desert, He said it was time to take the Land!
Philippians 3:13-14, ‘Brothers, I, for my part, do not think of myself as having yet gotten hold of it; but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining forward toward what lies ahead, 14 I keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize offered by God's upward calling in the Messiah Yeshua.’
It was time to move on and turn to Him!
He said, ‘Face north’ or ‘turn north’. In Hebrew, ‘p’noo lachem tsaphon’.
‘Panah’ means to turn, and is related to ‘panim’ which is face or faces of G-d; it means to face Him and turn from the wrong direction.
‘Tsaphon’ means north, or hidden, a treasure and in Scripture, north is a picture of heaven!
Isaiah 14:13, ‘You thought to yourself, 'I will scale the heavens, I will raise my throne above God's stars. I will sit on the Mount of Assembly far away in the north.’
Job 37:22, ‘Out of the north comes a golden glow, fearsome majesty surrounding God.’
In Canaanite mythology, Ba’al reigned in the north. Spiritually, Ba’al and false gods are dethroned and the One true G-d assumes the throne. By facing north, false gods are dethroned, whether they be ourselves, sin, others, things or even our past. There are no answers in these things. Face the L-rd! He is on His Throne! Face Him and He’ll dethrone Ba’al and falsehoods and assume His rightful place in our lives!
It is never too late to face north or turn to Him. He can redeem the years the locusts have eaten and turn us around to His plan and future.
Joel 2:25, ‘"I will restore to you the years that the locusts ate, the grasshoppers, shearer-worms and cutter-worms, my great army that I sent against you.”’
Turn toward that hidden place, that treasure, the L-rd.
Further Reading: Deuteronomy 1:20-27, 2 Samuel 7:1-5, Hebrews 12:1-2, Job 23:12, Col 2:3
Going Forward
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
July 30, 2011
We all want to know the future! We need guidance and direction not only for our lives, but for our nation and our world.
Scripture records forty-two encampments of the Jewish people in Numbers 33 requiring the people to pull up their tents and then go forth to their next destination.
Numbers 33:1, ‘These are the stages in the journey of the people of Isra'el as they left the land of Egypt divided into groups under the leadership of Moshe and Aharon.’
The Hebrew word used in this passage for leaving the land of Egypt is ‘yatsa’ which means to go out, go forth or forward. And the Hebrew word for pulling out is ‘nasav’.
Numbers 33:2, ‘Moshe recorded each of the stages of their journey by order of ADONAI; here are the starting-points of each stage:’
As with the Israelites, G-d is keeping a record of every start and stop we make along our journey. In this instance He recorded every step from their journey out of Egypt into the Land or Haaretz.
Two important lessons can be drawn from the recorded journey of the Israelites from Egypt to Haaretz. In order to go forward we must pull up or pull out our stakes so to speak and sometimes in order to pull out, we must first just make the effort to go forward. And secondly, the final review of our lives will be recorded by G-d which will include all the steps we took in faith and obedience.
Romans 1:5-8, ‘Through him we received grace and were given the work of being an emissary on his behalf promoting trust-grounded obedience among all the Gentiles, 6 including you, who have been called by Yeshua the Messiah. 7 To: All those in Rome whom God loves, who have been called, who have been set apart for him: Grace to you and shalom from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 8 First, I thank my God through Yeshua the Messiah for all of you, because the report of your trust is spreading throughout the whole world.’
Our sins are not being recorded if we are in Messiah, however, we do experience the consequences of sin and discipline.
Our journey as a country is being recorded as well and it appears we are at a crossroads. Will we, as believers, have an impact on the course of history?
We do have the power to change things, but not in human effort! How then can we affect change? Through prayer and the Word of G-d!
Through prayer we can be in tune with G-d and listen for His Voice. We have power in prayer as the Holy Spirit leads.
G-d answers prayer!
Psalm 30:1-4, ‘A psalm. A song for the dedication of the house. By David: I will exalt you, ADONAI, because you drew me up; you didn't let my enemies rejoice over me. 2 ADONAI my God, I cried out to you, and you provided healing for me. 3 ADONAI, you lifted me up from Sh'ol; you kept me alive when I was sinking into a pit. 4 Sing praise to ADONAI, you faithful of his; and give thanks on recalling his holiness.’
David knew what it was like to have a false sense of security, but then he realized that when the L-rd’s Face was turned from him he was in deep trouble so he cried out to the L-rd and He responded!
Psalm 30:6-12, ‘Once I was prosperous and used to say, that nothing could ever shake me 7 when you showed me favor, ADONAI, I was firm as a mighty mountain. But when you hid your face, I was struck with terror. 8 I called to you, ADONAI; to ADONAI I pleaded for mercy: 9 "What advantage is there in my death, in my going down to the pit? Can the dust praise you? Can it proclaim your truth? 10 Hear me, ADONAI, and show me your favor! ADONAI, be my helper!" 11 You turned my mourning into dancing! You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 so that my well-being can praise you and not be silent; ADONAI my God, I will thank you forever!’
Every detail of the Israelites’ journey was recorded; where they came from and where they went. Most of the journey’s record may seem boring or mundane with occasional interruptions recording significant events as with the death of Aaron. But with G-d the entire record is important because as with us, character was being formed through every seemingly boring or mundane start and stop. They continued their journey and didn’t stop and finally reached Jericho where they were to cross the Yarden to reach Haaretz. As with us, we continue as well until we meet the L-rd!
As with the Israelites, we must be willing to pull out and move forward no matter how inconvenient. In faith, G-d gives the ability and He moves us forward to replant; but first we must be uprooted.
Psalm 1:3, ‘They are like trees planted by streams -they bear their fruit in season, their leaves never wither, everything they do succeeds.’
The Hebrew word ‘shatooll’ for planted in this passage actually means ‘replanted’. Clearly, for a plant to replanted, it must first be uprooted! Wasn’t Abraham uprooted from his home to go to the Promised Land? This principle also applies to us.
Hebrews 11 records from an eternal perspective the faithful ones and their obedience. It does not record their sins, faults or bad days, but rather, where they were obedient.
The final review of our lives, as well, G-d will have recorded our steps of obedience and not our sins. He will have recorded every time we trusted Him, when we pulled out and when we went forward. We put our hand in His, trusting His guidance knowing it is the only place to be kept safe.
Further Reading: Psalm 85, Romans 5:1-5, Isaiah 46:10 and Ephesians 1:3-4
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
July 30, 2011
We all want to know the future! We need guidance and direction not only for our lives, but for our nation and our world.
Scripture records forty-two encampments of the Jewish people in Numbers 33 requiring the people to pull up their tents and then go forth to their next destination.
Numbers 33:1, ‘These are the stages in the journey of the people of Isra'el as they left the land of Egypt divided into groups under the leadership of Moshe and Aharon.’
The Hebrew word used in this passage for leaving the land of Egypt is ‘yatsa’ which means to go out, go forth or forward. And the Hebrew word for pulling out is ‘nasav’.
Numbers 33:2, ‘Moshe recorded each of the stages of their journey by order of ADONAI; here are the starting-points of each stage:’
As with the Israelites, G-d is keeping a record of every start and stop we make along our journey. In this instance He recorded every step from their journey out of Egypt into the Land or Haaretz.
Two important lessons can be drawn from the recorded journey of the Israelites from Egypt to Haaretz. In order to go forward we must pull up or pull out our stakes so to speak and sometimes in order to pull out, we must first just make the effort to go forward. And secondly, the final review of our lives will be recorded by G-d which will include all the steps we took in faith and obedience.
Romans 1:5-8, ‘Through him we received grace and were given the work of being an emissary on his behalf promoting trust-grounded obedience among all the Gentiles, 6 including you, who have been called by Yeshua the Messiah. 7 To: All those in Rome whom God loves, who have been called, who have been set apart for him: Grace to you and shalom from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 8 First, I thank my God through Yeshua the Messiah for all of you, because the report of your trust is spreading throughout the whole world.’
Our sins are not being recorded if we are in Messiah, however, we do experience the consequences of sin and discipline.
Our journey as a country is being recorded as well and it appears we are at a crossroads. Will we, as believers, have an impact on the course of history?
We do have the power to change things, but not in human effort! How then can we affect change? Through prayer and the Word of G-d!
Through prayer we can be in tune with G-d and listen for His Voice. We have power in prayer as the Holy Spirit leads.
G-d answers prayer!
Psalm 30:1-4, ‘A psalm. A song for the dedication of the house. By David: I will exalt you, ADONAI, because you drew me up; you didn't let my enemies rejoice over me. 2 ADONAI my God, I cried out to you, and you provided healing for me. 3 ADONAI, you lifted me up from Sh'ol; you kept me alive when I was sinking into a pit. 4 Sing praise to ADONAI, you faithful of his; and give thanks on recalling his holiness.’
David knew what it was like to have a false sense of security, but then he realized that when the L-rd’s Face was turned from him he was in deep trouble so he cried out to the L-rd and He responded!
Psalm 30:6-12, ‘Once I was prosperous and used to say, that nothing could ever shake me 7 when you showed me favor, ADONAI, I was firm as a mighty mountain. But when you hid your face, I was struck with terror. 8 I called to you, ADONAI; to ADONAI I pleaded for mercy: 9 "What advantage is there in my death, in my going down to the pit? Can the dust praise you? Can it proclaim your truth? 10 Hear me, ADONAI, and show me your favor! ADONAI, be my helper!" 11 You turned my mourning into dancing! You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 so that my well-being can praise you and not be silent; ADONAI my God, I will thank you forever!’
Every detail of the Israelites’ journey was recorded; where they came from and where they went. Most of the journey’s record may seem boring or mundane with occasional interruptions recording significant events as with the death of Aaron. But with G-d the entire record is important because as with us, character was being formed through every seemingly boring or mundane start and stop. They continued their journey and didn’t stop and finally reached Jericho where they were to cross the Yarden to reach Haaretz. As with us, we continue as well until we meet the L-rd!
As with the Israelites, we must be willing to pull out and move forward no matter how inconvenient. In faith, G-d gives the ability and He moves us forward to replant; but first we must be uprooted.
Psalm 1:3, ‘They are like trees planted by streams -they bear their fruit in season, their leaves never wither, everything they do succeeds.’
The Hebrew word ‘shatooll’ for planted in this passage actually means ‘replanted’. Clearly, for a plant to replanted, it must first be uprooted! Wasn’t Abraham uprooted from his home to go to the Promised Land? This principle also applies to us.
Hebrews 11 records from an eternal perspective the faithful ones and their obedience. It does not record their sins, faults or bad days, but rather, where they were obedient.
The final review of our lives, as well, G-d will have recorded our steps of obedience and not our sins. He will have recorded every time we trusted Him, when we pulled out and when we went forward. We put our hand in His, trusting His guidance knowing it is the only place to be kept safe.
Further Reading: Psalm 85, Romans 5:1-5, Isaiah 46:10 and Ephesians 1:3-4
Fully Committed
Sean Bortz
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
July 23, 2007
Numbers 32:1-9, “1 The descendants of Re'uven and the descendants of Gad had vast quantities of livestock. When they saw that the land of Ya'zer and the land of Gil'ad were good for livestock, 2 the descendants of Gad and of Re'uven came and spoke to Moshe, El'azar the cohen and the community leaders. They said, 3 "'Atarot, Divon, Ya'zer, Nimrah, Heshbon, El'aleh, S'vam, N'vo and Be'on, 4 the country that ADONAI conquered before the community of Isra'el, is livestock country; and your servants have livestock. 5 If you regard us favorably," they went on, "let this land be given to your servants as their possession; and don't have us cross the Yarden." 6 Moshe answered the descendants of Gad and of Re'uven: "Are your brothers to go to war while you stay here? 7 Besides, why are you trying to discourage the people of Isra'el from crossing into the land ADONAI gave them? 8 This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-Barnea to see the land. 9 For when they went up to the Eshkol Valley and saw the land, they disheartened the people of Isra'el, so that they wouldn't enter the land ADONAI had given them.”
Gad and Re’uven were tempted to stay in the lush pastures of Gil’ad because they had much livestock. They weren’t considering the effect of staying east of the Yarden (or Jordan River) or what it would do to the moral of the entire Israeli community and they certainly weren’t thinking about how their actions related to the actions of their fathers just forty years prior.
When the spies had returned from the land, the report of the ten resulted in national fear and rebellion.
Numbers 14:1-3, “1 At this all the people of Isra'el cried out in dismay and wept all night long. 2 Moreover, all the people of Isra'el began grumbling against Moshe and Aharon; the whole community told them, "We wish we had died in the land of Egypt! or that we had died here in the desert! 3 Why is ADONAI bringing us to this land, where we will die by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be taken as booty! Wouldn't it be better for us to return to Egypt?"
Fear led to rebellion and the desire to return to slavery than to trust the Living G-d who had just delivered them!
Forty years later, the little children who were spared were now men with families of their own. They had wandered the desert dependent upon G-d for where to go, what to eat and what to drink. But at the very last step, right when they were about to cross the Yarden, the commitment of Gad and Re’uven was beginning to crack!
Can we not be guilty of the same? Given a view of what we think is important to us, couldn’t we also be guilty of thinking “I’ve got mine!” and our self preservation can become more important than obedience or community preservation.
Gad and Re’uven’s behavior could have brought the whole nation back to ‘square one’ so to speak. But this time, Moses intervened. Over the course of forty years leading the people through G-d’s direction, he had learned a few things about leadership! This time he spoke up and persuaded them to participate in the taking of the Promised Land. He didn’t let history repeat and fail to enter the Promised Land thus averting a national crisis!
Numbers 32:14-23, ‘14 Now you, another brood of sinners, have arisen in your fathers' place to increase still more the fierce anger of ADONAI toward Isra'el! 15 For if you turn away from him, he will leave them in the desert again, and thus you will cause the destruction of all these people!" 16 But they came up to him and said, "Here we will build enclosures for our livestock and cities for our little ones, 17 but we ourselves will be armed and ready for action to march at the head of the people of Isra'el, until we have brought them to their place. Our little ones will stay in the fortified cities here because of the people now living in the land. 18 However, we will not return to our own homes until every man in Isra'el has taken possession of his land for inheritance. 19 We will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Yarden, westward; because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Yarden, eastward." 20 Moshe said to them, "If you will do this - if you will arm yourselves to go before ADONAI to the war, 21 and if every one of your soldiers will cross the Yarden before ADONAI, until he has driven out his enemies ahead of him, 22 and if the land has been conquered before ADONAI, and only after that do you return - then you will be clear before ADONAI and before Isra'el, and this land here will be yours to possess before ADONAI. 23 But if you will not do this, then you have sinned against ADONAI, and you must understand that your sin will find you out.
Gad and Re’uven were certainly tempted to stay put in Gil’ad because it was lush and plentiful for all their livestock. When they were confronted by Moses, although tempted to stay in Gil’ad, they chose to be obedient and participate in the taking of the Promised Land.
Temptation is not sin. Yeshua was tempted for in the wilderness after fasting for forty days! The fasting made Him sharp as a razor and when He was tempted he countered the evil one with Scripture. His time of testing made Him sharp and prepared Him for His ministry.
Similarly, we can view temptation as testing without becoming disheartened and decide to be committed to the L-rd!
Psalm 37:5, ‘Commit your way to ADONAI; trust in him, and he will act.’
There are three important facets of commitment; commitment to G-d, commitment to others and G-d’s commitment to each of us.
We cannot be truly committed to Him and others unless we know how committed He is to us!
Luke 14:25-27, ‘Large crowds were traveling along with Yeshua. Turning, he said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, his mother, his wife, his children, his brothers and his sisters, yes, and his own life besides, he cannot be my talmid. 27 Whoever does not carry his own execution-stake and come after me cannot be my talmid.”’
The verses in Luke describe the type of commitment about which the L-rd is fostering in us. Looking closely one may be confused about what the L-rd is saying in regard to ‘hating’ your family. What He means is that because we love Him so much and are committed to Him that it will appear as though we hate our family. Of course we love our family. But the dedication and commitment toward the L-rd in comparison to the type of love we have for our family would make it seem like hating them.
Similarly, testing the commitment of His Talmidim, the L-rd says something outrageous.
John 6:53-58, ‘Then Yeshua said to them, "Yes, indeed! I tell you that unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life -- that is, I will raise him up on the Last Day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I live in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live through the Father, so also who ever eats me will live through me. 58 So this is the bread that has come down from heaven -- it is not like the bread the fathers ate; they're dead, but whoever eats this bread will live forever!"’
The type of commitment He wants from us requires us to put all else aside. He wants us to say, “My answer is yes, L-rd, what is Your bidding?”
What type of commitment do we have? Are we like Paul who on the edge of death and danger because of his commitment to the congregations, put his life in danger and went to help them anyway? See 2 Corinthians 11 and Acts 20.
The L-rd is far more committed to us than we are to Him! He is always thinking about us as described in Psalm 40 and He is the defender of our very lives based upon Psalm 27:1.
We should take commitment seriously and be careful not to over commit either. G-d takes what we say seriously; what we say matters. Nor should we be under committed.
What makes commitment to Him, to others, and His commitment to us possible? The answer is love.
John 17:20-23, ‘"I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in me because of their word, 21 that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with me and I with you, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given to me, I have given to them; so that they may be one, just as we are one -- 23 I united with them and you with me, so that they may be completely one, and the world thus realize that you sent me, and that you have loved them just as you have loved me.”’
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
July 23, 2007
Numbers 32:1-9, “1 The descendants of Re'uven and the descendants of Gad had vast quantities of livestock. When they saw that the land of Ya'zer and the land of Gil'ad were good for livestock, 2 the descendants of Gad and of Re'uven came and spoke to Moshe, El'azar the cohen and the community leaders. They said, 3 "'Atarot, Divon, Ya'zer, Nimrah, Heshbon, El'aleh, S'vam, N'vo and Be'on, 4 the country that ADONAI conquered before the community of Isra'el, is livestock country; and your servants have livestock. 5 If you regard us favorably," they went on, "let this land be given to your servants as their possession; and don't have us cross the Yarden." 6 Moshe answered the descendants of Gad and of Re'uven: "Are your brothers to go to war while you stay here? 7 Besides, why are you trying to discourage the people of Isra'el from crossing into the land ADONAI gave them? 8 This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-Barnea to see the land. 9 For when they went up to the Eshkol Valley and saw the land, they disheartened the people of Isra'el, so that they wouldn't enter the land ADONAI had given them.”
Gad and Re’uven were tempted to stay in the lush pastures of Gil’ad because they had much livestock. They weren’t considering the effect of staying east of the Yarden (or Jordan River) or what it would do to the moral of the entire Israeli community and they certainly weren’t thinking about how their actions related to the actions of their fathers just forty years prior.
When the spies had returned from the land, the report of the ten resulted in national fear and rebellion.
Numbers 14:1-3, “1 At this all the people of Isra'el cried out in dismay and wept all night long. 2 Moreover, all the people of Isra'el began grumbling against Moshe and Aharon; the whole community told them, "We wish we had died in the land of Egypt! or that we had died here in the desert! 3 Why is ADONAI bringing us to this land, where we will die by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be taken as booty! Wouldn't it be better for us to return to Egypt?"
Fear led to rebellion and the desire to return to slavery than to trust the Living G-d who had just delivered them!
Forty years later, the little children who were spared were now men with families of their own. They had wandered the desert dependent upon G-d for where to go, what to eat and what to drink. But at the very last step, right when they were about to cross the Yarden, the commitment of Gad and Re’uven was beginning to crack!
Can we not be guilty of the same? Given a view of what we think is important to us, couldn’t we also be guilty of thinking “I’ve got mine!” and our self preservation can become more important than obedience or community preservation.
Gad and Re’uven’s behavior could have brought the whole nation back to ‘square one’ so to speak. But this time, Moses intervened. Over the course of forty years leading the people through G-d’s direction, he had learned a few things about leadership! This time he spoke up and persuaded them to participate in the taking of the Promised Land. He didn’t let history repeat and fail to enter the Promised Land thus averting a national crisis!
Numbers 32:14-23, ‘14 Now you, another brood of sinners, have arisen in your fathers' place to increase still more the fierce anger of ADONAI toward Isra'el! 15 For if you turn away from him, he will leave them in the desert again, and thus you will cause the destruction of all these people!" 16 But they came up to him and said, "Here we will build enclosures for our livestock and cities for our little ones, 17 but we ourselves will be armed and ready for action to march at the head of the people of Isra'el, until we have brought them to their place. Our little ones will stay in the fortified cities here because of the people now living in the land. 18 However, we will not return to our own homes until every man in Isra'el has taken possession of his land for inheritance. 19 We will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Yarden, westward; because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Yarden, eastward." 20 Moshe said to them, "If you will do this - if you will arm yourselves to go before ADONAI to the war, 21 and if every one of your soldiers will cross the Yarden before ADONAI, until he has driven out his enemies ahead of him, 22 and if the land has been conquered before ADONAI, and only after that do you return - then you will be clear before ADONAI and before Isra'el, and this land here will be yours to possess before ADONAI. 23 But if you will not do this, then you have sinned against ADONAI, and you must understand that your sin will find you out.
Gad and Re’uven were certainly tempted to stay put in Gil’ad because it was lush and plentiful for all their livestock. When they were confronted by Moses, although tempted to stay in Gil’ad, they chose to be obedient and participate in the taking of the Promised Land.
Temptation is not sin. Yeshua was tempted for in the wilderness after fasting for forty days! The fasting made Him sharp as a razor and when He was tempted he countered the evil one with Scripture. His time of testing made Him sharp and prepared Him for His ministry.
Similarly, we can view temptation as testing without becoming disheartened and decide to be committed to the L-rd!
Psalm 37:5, ‘Commit your way to ADONAI; trust in him, and he will act.’
There are three important facets of commitment; commitment to G-d, commitment to others and G-d’s commitment to each of us.
We cannot be truly committed to Him and others unless we know how committed He is to us!
Luke 14:25-27, ‘Large crowds were traveling along with Yeshua. Turning, he said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, his mother, his wife, his children, his brothers and his sisters, yes, and his own life besides, he cannot be my talmid. 27 Whoever does not carry his own execution-stake and come after me cannot be my talmid.”’
The verses in Luke describe the type of commitment about which the L-rd is fostering in us. Looking closely one may be confused about what the L-rd is saying in regard to ‘hating’ your family. What He means is that because we love Him so much and are committed to Him that it will appear as though we hate our family. Of course we love our family. But the dedication and commitment toward the L-rd in comparison to the type of love we have for our family would make it seem like hating them.
Similarly, testing the commitment of His Talmidim, the L-rd says something outrageous.
John 6:53-58, ‘Then Yeshua said to them, "Yes, indeed! I tell you that unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life -- that is, I will raise him up on the Last Day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I live in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live through the Father, so also who ever eats me will live through me. 58 So this is the bread that has come down from heaven -- it is not like the bread the fathers ate; they're dead, but whoever eats this bread will live forever!"’
The type of commitment He wants from us requires us to put all else aside. He wants us to say, “My answer is yes, L-rd, what is Your bidding?”
What type of commitment do we have? Are we like Paul who on the edge of death and danger because of his commitment to the congregations, put his life in danger and went to help them anyway? See 2 Corinthians 11 and Acts 20.
The L-rd is far more committed to us than we are to Him! He is always thinking about us as described in Psalm 40 and He is the defender of our very lives based upon Psalm 27:1.
We should take commitment seriously and be careful not to over commit either. G-d takes what we say seriously; what we say matters. Nor should we be under committed.
What makes commitment to Him, to others, and His commitment to us possible? The answer is love.
John 17:20-23, ‘"I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in me because of their word, 21 that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with me and I with you, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given to me, I have given to them; so that they may be one, just as we are one -- 23 I united with them and you with me, so that they may be completely one, and the world thus realize that you sent me, and that you have loved them just as you have loved me.”’
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