As we near Thanksgiving, I wanted to share with you a Hebraic perspective on the terms, “gratitude” and “giving thanks.” In Hebrew, the expressions are “hoda’ah” and “hakarat hatov.“
Hoda’ah (הודיה): Thanksgiving & Praise
When the Bible beseeches us to “give thanks to our LORD, for He is good,” the Hebrew term used is most commonly “hoda’ah.” It varies in form due to grammar (commonly, “hodu”), but it comes from the same root “yadah”.
Here is an example of one of many instances where this term is used in the Bible:
Here, hoda’ah is in command form and is pronounced “hodu.”
Hodu, L’ADONAI Ki Tov. Give thanks to the LORD for He is good.
Here, it is to be understood that we must give thanks! It is a command! Give thanks!
Hodu is intertwined with the idea of “praise.”
The Tree of Live Version, which is very true to the original Hebraic intent of the Scriptures, chose not to translate “hodu” as “give thanks,” and instead translated it as “praise.” This illumines the broad meaning of the word and teaches us this truth: our giving of thanks should always include the element of praise!
A Hebraic understanding of this verse is very holistic: we give the LORD our God thanks and praise as we confess our love for Him and acknowledge Him. Our thanks cannot possibly exist apart from our praise.
What’s more, the root term “yadah” literally refers to having “outstretched arms,” a demonstrative act of worship, of “throwing one’s hands” out in thankfulness and in thanksgiving. Biblically, praise includes the outstretching of our arms and the lifting of our hands as a true expression of thanks. “Hodu” is the imperative form: telling us, we must give thanks! We must praise!
Want to learn a bit of Hebrew to impress your friends and families at the Thanksgiving table? 😉
Listen to these two songs based on Psalm 136:1 and you will quickly learn how to say, “Give thanks to the LORD for He is good.”
It is easy to pronounce. Hodu l’Adonai ki tov. הוֹדוּ לַיהוָה כִּי-טוֹב
The song by Barry & Batya Segal is so filled with shalom! I first heard this song on the ADONAI cd when I was very young, and those songs ministered to me in such a way that truly helped lead me to my Messiah Yeshua (Savior Lord Jesus Christ). I hope it blesses you today, too, as you prepare your heart and home for Thanksgiving!
Hodu L’Adonai Ki Tov (Give Thanks to the LORD for He is good) [Psalm 136:1] הוֹדוּ לַיהוָה כִּי-טוֹב
Here is another beautiful song that includes the phrase, “Hodu L’Adonai Ki Tov.” It is called “Give Thanks (Hodu)” by Joshua Aaron:
“Hodu” Live at the Tower of David: Joshua Aaron
HaKarat HaTov (הַכָּרַת הַטּוֹב): “Recognizing the Good”
“HaKarat HaTov” is a Hebrew expression that is often translated as “gratitude,” but more literally means “recognizing the good.”
Though somewhat cliché, having an “attitude of gratitude” is an integral part of the life of faith.
Are you able to list what you are grateful for?
Do you dwell on the negatives in life or do you focus on the things you are thankful for?
“Recognizing the good” is a spiritual practice, if you really think about it.
Rather than focusing on what we don’t have, or what isn’t going right, we are commissioned to be disciples of Messiah Yeshua (our Lord Jesus Christ): followers of the One who is our All in All. We don’t need the world’s goods or gains. We just need Him.
“Recognizing the good” means just that: recognize the good that is already yours.
If you are a child of God, recognize the goodness of this truth!
If you know today that you are saved, recognize the goodness of salvation!
Of course, sometimes things don’t go quite as we would like.
When your car has a flat tire, be grateful you have a car to begin with. Recognize the good. Recognize that you are blessed.
When your family is loud and boisterous when you are just wanting to take a nap, be grateful you have a family. HaKarat haTov: recognize the good. Recognize that you are indeed blessed!
Choosing to live your life in a way in which you are recognizing the good will change your perspective on everything. The spirit of bitterness will have to flee. The spirit of comparison will lose its power. The spirits of envy and all types of negativity will no longer have a place in your life.
So this Thanksgiving, choose true, godly gratitude. Recognize the good and be thankful for it.
HaTov The Good One, Infinite Compassion. This video is subtitled in Spanish, but there is an English translation available at this YouTube link:
HaTov The Good One, Infinite in Compassion subtitled in English. I tried to paste the video here, but it wouldn’t allow it (only the Spanish one if you happen to understand Spanish), so please follow this hyperlink and you will find it in English.
Hodu: Turkey?!
Fun fact: In Hebrew, Hodu is used for both “giving thanks” as well as the word for “turkey!” The accent is changed, so Hodú is “give thanks”, but Hódu is “turkey!” Even more attention-grabbing: Hodu is also the term used to describe the nation of India!
Israelis refer to a “turkey” as an “Indian chicken!” And we know Christopher Columbus thought he had landed in India! The Pilgrims knew better . . . but you decide: Is this all just a coincidence, that the Hebrew word for “thanksgiving” just so happens to be the word for “turkey,” too!?
There are also some interesting parallels between the traditional Thanksgiving feast and the traditions around Sukkot, namely sharing an abundance of food and the command to be thankful and joyous.
Finally, the Jewish people are known as “Yehudi” in Hebrew (also translated in English as Judah): Yehudi is related also to “hodu/hodaya” (thanksgiving), so the very name of the people of God and tribe of Judah is rooted in Gratitude! The Grateful People, the People of Gratitude!
So be filled with thankfulness and gratitude today! The Scriptures are filled with so many linguistic treasures, but we must be diligent in our study and prayerful – that Ruach haKodesh (the Holy Spirit) would reveal more of these wonderful revelations to us to help strengthen our faith and refresh our spirit!
Chag Ha’hodaya! Happy Thanksgiving!
Falling in love: Rivkah’s tumble off a camel, head-over-heels for Yitzhak [Rebekah & Isaac]
When I first met my husband, we didn’t even speak the same language!
We met at church, but I was part of the English-speaking ministry, and he, the Spanish-speaking. I would attend the Spanish language services from time to time to support the work they were doing, but I honestly did not understand much of anything.
I could decipher a few words here and there because I had studied French. (I had traveled to France and become quite fluent. I even minored in French in college.)
Yes, I did all of that work to marry a man who speaks Spanish.
I guess I missed the mark on hearing from God when we were selecting a foreign language to learn in the seventh grade. 😉
A man of God
Some of the sisters and brothers at the church had told me there was a young man in the Spanish congregation who was praying for me. They told me this guy would be my “prince.”
I told them they were crazy. It was sounding like an arranged marriage! I insisted that I didn’t speak Spanish, and that they should tell the poor fellow to find someone else!
Well, little did I know, this very good-looking young man really was praying for me.
He spent 6 months praying and fasting to seek God about whether or not I was to be his wife.
Wife?!
For those 6 months, I didn’t even know who he was! Apparently, he had seen me in a worship service and decided I was the one for him. (aww!)
He and several of the brothers in the church had agreed in prayer that if I was indeed to be his wife, the confirmation would be that I would begin to speak Spanish. I didn’t know about any of these plans about me until many months later.
So one day, these “godly conspirators” introduced me to my now-husband.
Though I could not speak his language, I could see the anointing of the LORD in his eyes, and I knew I was going to marry that handsome man.
Through interpreters, he asked me to go out to eat with him at a local Mexican restaurant.
An interpreter from the church accompanied us on all our first dates!
So we were very well-chaperoned!
I prayed and asked the Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh) to teach me the Spanish language. I had learned French without much difficulty, and I spoke the heavenly language given to me by the Spirit, so I knew I was not asking too much.
Within two weeks, I was forming sentences in Spanish, and by 3 months, I was completely fluent in the language.
Love is a great motivator! 🙂
We were married that year and this year we celebrated 15 years of marriage!
Rivkah & Yitzhak’s Love
Are you married?
When you met your future spouse, was it love at first sight?
Did you have the deer-in-the-headlights look going on?
Did you develop two left feet and trip every time your honey glanced in your direction?
Rivkah (Rebekah) sure did.
When Rivkah (Rebekah) saw Yitzhak (Isaac) for the first time, it was love at first sight.
She fell so head-over-heels in love with him that she fell right off her camel!
In fact, if you are looking for a sweet romantic comedy, you really need look no further than this love story in Genesis 24.
The Bible often gets a bad rap! Antagonistic people falsely characterize believers as uptight and rigid, lacking in humor. Having not read the Bible for themselves, these types of people ignorantly assume that the Bible is boring and irrelevant. But the Bible isn’t boring at all!
Abraham sent his servant to find a young maiden for his precious son, Yitzhak (Isaac) to love and marry. This servant managed Abraham’s wealth and was the oldest of the household, so he would have known Abraham’s preferences very well. Abraham obligated his servant to promise, by oath, that he would not find him a Canaanite woman (Genesis 24:3).
The servant wisely sought the LORD about the matter (Genesis 24:12-14) and requested a sign as confirmation that the young woman was the one for Yitzhak (Isaac): the young woman would draw water and grant a drink to the servant as well as to his camels.
A Sign as Confirmation
Before the servant had even finished his prayer of supplication, Rivkah (Rebekah) appeared with her water jar and proceeded to fulfill that which was proposed as a confirmation.
Long story short, the servant speaks with Rivkah’s (Rebekah’s) family about marrying Yitzhak (Isaac).
It is worth noting (especially because the culture was very patriarchal) that Rivkah’s family told the servant that they wanted to ask Rivkah’s opinion (Genesis 24:57-58). She was not forced into an arranged marriage. She freely elected to go despite her young age. Her family blessed her with their love and also Abraham’s servants before they departed (Genesis 24:60).
The Power of Prayer
Prayer is key in this passage. Abraham had demonstrated great faith, his servant was a praying man, Rivkah’s family prayed and blessed them, and then we find Yitzhak (Isaac) praying in meditation when the caravan arrived (Genesis 24:63).
The Bible says that Yitzhak lifted his eyes and saw the camels coming.
And at the same time, Rivkah lifted up her eyes . . . saw Yitzhak . . . and yes, fell off her camel (Genesis 24:64).
How embarrassing, no?
She scrambled to fix her veil and make herself presentable as Abraham’s servant informed Yitzhak that this young woman was to be his wife (Genesis 24:65c-66)! The Word says that Yitzhak (Isaac) loved Rivkah (Rebekah) and she became his wife (Genesis 24:67).
The Promise to Abraham would be fulfilled, beginning with the love story of Yitzhak and Rivkah
The LORD had promised Abraham that he would make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand by the seashore. (Genesis 22:17) That promise began its fulfillment with the marriage of Yitzhak and Rivkah.
The Bible contains promises that apply to your life, too!
When you seek the LORD and love Him with all your heart, He will speak to you and reveal those promises to you.
Repent, believe in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ our LORD), be baptized, and be filled with the Ruach haKodesh (the Holy Spirit)! As a child of God, by the mercy of our Savior, you are humbly entitled to the richness of His promises:
If you are a parent, you know firsthand the eager anticipation and joy that comes with pregnancy and the birth of a child.
Abraham and Sarah had waited decades hoping for a child and finally reached the conclusion that they were too advanced in years to keep on hoping.
Sarah laughed when she heard the news she would have a son (Genesis 18:12).
She was 90 years old, can you really blame her?
According to Genesis 17:17, centenarian Abraham also laughed.
And the child’s name would be Yitzhak יִצְחָק (Isaac) meaning, “he who laughs.”
After waiting that many years, this son was truly beloved.
Any child is so dearly loved, but can you imagine the depth of love these new elderly parents would have felt toward their precious child Isaac?
Abraham and Sarah had waited, given up, and then, by the grace of the Almighty One, received such an unexpected bundle of joy!
Messiah Yeshua (Jesus): our Heavenly Father’s Beloved Son
Our Father in heaven sent His only begotten, beloved Son to earth.
Yosef and Miryam (Joseph & Mary) were certainly surprised by the news that Mary would be the instrument through which Messiah would be born into this world.
There are many parallels between Abraham’s son Isaac and our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), God’s Son:
The binding up of a beloved son would demonstrate the greatest of all love: one day the Lamb of God Himself would be bound and beaten, sacrificed in our place.
Do you know the Lamb of God today?
Where is the Lamb in your life?
Have you allowed the LORD to rescue you from bondage?
Isaac survived because of the intervention of a divine Messenger (Genesis 22:11).
Abraham’s son would be unbound: Isaac was set free, saved from a horrific death.
The first time the word “love” is found in Scripture
The word “love” is not used in Scripture until Genesis 22:2. The first time “love” is mentioned in the Bible occurs in this verse about Isaac, Abraham’s beloved son. It might surprise you that a word so central to our faith and to the unfolding of salvation history wouldn’t appear right from the outset, such as with Adam and Eve.
God’s Word is truly remarkable. The depth of love that Abraham had for Isaac could be compared to the profound love the Father has for His Son.
Certainly the binding of Isaac prefigures the crucifixion: Abraham had the confidence that the LORD His Provider – YHVH Yireh – would not fail him. The Hebrews text above tells us that Abraham even reasoned that resurrection was possible. ADONAI had promised Abraham that he would be the “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:4), so by having faith in resurrection, Abraham could reconcile killing Isaac if he truly had to follow through with God’s demand. Abraham’s hope was that Isaac would be resurrected and continue the lineage, fathering many nations.
Abraham is a model of faith for every generation. He passed the test by maintaining unwavering trust in the LORD. Isaac’s father knew God and loved God, and knew first-hand nothing is impossible with God (Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37). He had also come to learn that the God of Israel was merciful: Abraham had no reason to doubt God’s provision. Yet even so, it is one thing to have the willingness to forfeit one’s own life; indeed Abraham was even willing to sacrificehis own self – for what parent could kill their child without losing a part of their own self? The emotional pain would have consumed him, but there was nothing Abraham wasn’t willing to do for His LORD. But sacrificing of self is not quite the same as sacrificing one’s life entirely. And it is another thing altogether to have the faith to end one’s own child’s life if so required. Jewish midrash discusses many instances when God’s people have been in situations which required self-sacrifice, or situations in which parents have had to make the difficult decision to encourage their children to give up their lives rather than renounce their faith in the God of Israel.
Is your love for God that intense?
Are you truly willing to sacrifice anything for Him?
Do you live with this type of faith?
Do you have an unwavering confidence that no matter what, the LORD will see you through?
Our children are on loan to us from the Holy One. We must entrust their well-being to the LORD, as He allows us to love and care for them.
Bound together in Love
Abraham loved his son. Surely, the events of the aqedah bound him and Isaac together with an even deeper love. The account of Abraham and Isaac (Yitzhak) should remind us today of the centrality of love. May we learn to reflect the virtue of Messiah’s love to those who are still looking for the Lamb – to those who are bewildered and look all around them, but do not realize the nearness of their salvation.
No matter what, always trust in our Loving Father who is full of compassion. He will provide for your every need, bind up the broken-hearted, and save you when you call upon His Name.
The first portion of the Sh’ma urges us to “bind” the Word of God to our hearts and hands; to walk in His ways at all times and to teach our children to do the same:
I encourage you today to seek the LORD and His Word. He is the God of Abraham and Isaac! Worship Him and praise Him for His all-encompassing love! Here are two worship songs that you may enjoy today. The first one is one of my all-time favorites: LORD God of Abraham by Paul Wilbur:
Shalom!
Please leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts! We love hearing from you, friends!
Led by the One True God: Abram & his father, Terah
Most of us know about Abraham and Sarah, but how much do you know about Abram and Terah?
Abram’s father, Terah
Genesis 11:27-32 gives a genealogy leading up to Abram and Sarai, beginning with Terah, Abram’s father.
Abram had two brothers, Nahor and Charan (often anglicized as “Haran”), but Charan died. Charan was Lot’s father so he lived to be at least a young man, but he died before his own father Terah did.
They lived in a city called Ur, situated in Chaldean Mesopotamia.
Ur was known to be a prosperous place. The exact location is not definitive, but scholars find it reasonable to assume that Chaldea was located in the Fertile Crescent and that Ur was likely situated at the river delta where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers came together to spill into the Persian Gulf.
The city of Ur would’ve provided Terah and his family the benefits of urban life.
They would have had easy access to markets and trade opportunities as well as close proximity to fishing.
Despite all of that, Terah decided to leave it all behind.Genesis 11:31 tells us that the family left Ur with plans to reach Canaan.
Terah took his son, Abram, his daughter-in-law, Sarai, as well as Lot (his grandson) to Canaan. Scripture does not tell us why Nahor stayed behind nor why Terah decided to leave Ur.
Why Canaan?
If Terah had grown tired of the riotous idolatry rampant in the city of Ur, Canaan wouldn’t be a good place for relocation: Canaan was well-known for their plethora of gods.
You will find that sometimes Scripture leaves us with more questions than answers.
Was Terah a spiritual (albeit pagan) person, believing that the Canaanite gods could heal his broken heart after losing his son Charan?
Or similarly, was mourning the death of his son too unbearable – with all the memories associated with life in Ur – that Terah was simply seeking to move away, unconcerned with the Canaanite deities, just content to get away?
I don’t think it is unreasonable to believe that God Himself put it in Terah’s heart to leave Ur, preparing for the day when He would promise blessing to Terah’s son, Abram.
Regardless of the reason, Terah set out for his new life in Canaan.
Terah settled in Charan
Terah reached a place that the Bible calls, “Charan,” and stayed there.
So once again, we have more questions than answers:
Did Terah name this desert place, “Charan,” in honor of his son?
Was this place known as “Charan” before he got there, and therefore felt an affinity to it?
Whatever the reason, Terah stayed there and later died there, never making it to Canaan.
Did grief interfere?
Mourning a loss can be debilitating, and if we are not careful to seek the LORD as we mourn, our grief can begin to interfere with our ability to move forward.
We do not necessarily need to move “on” as though we will forget our loved one.
But we do need to continue taking steps in this life, walking . . . even if just baby steps, to move forward into the plan and calling that God has for us, despite any of our difficult circumstances and sorrows.
I heard a rather harsh interpretation of this passage once. The preacher said Terah stopped at “good enough”: that Terah never got to the Promised Land because he lacked vision.
Some then would argue Terah not only settled in Charan, he settled for Charan.
This could be the case.
We all know people who seemingly cannot conceive of anything more than what they have already seen or experienced; people who are limited in their ambitions and dreams. Proverbs 29:18 rightly warns, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…”
But I am not convinced that Terah was unambitious or lazy.
Sometimes grief can take on that appearance.
Given that Terah was 205 years old when he died, maybe he had some age-related health issues and didn’t feel like journeying all the way to Canaan.
The place called Charan was, in a sense, “good enough” for Terah. It was just that – a good place of solace, far from the bustling noise of Ur. A good place to heal. A good place to emotionally move forward.
Scripture does not record a divine mandate given to Terah. Could it be that God was leading Terah to Canaan, just as He would lead Abram there? We don’t know, but it would seem that if that were the case, Scripture would’ve recorded it.
What we do know is that Terah’s action in leaving Ur paved the way for future generations to live in blessing.
In that quiet, remote place, Terah’s son, Abram, was able to hear the voice of YHVH clearly.
The reason, “LORD” is in all caps there is because in the Hebrew manuscript is found the most Holy Name of God: YHVH.
Why doesn’t the text read, “Now God had said to Abram . . .” ?
Well, Scripture was not put together haphazardly. It was inspired by God Himself (2 Timothy 3:16), so it is orderly and cohesive. Everything you read in Scripture is there purposely. Purposefully.
So we should believe it is significant that YHVH makes Himself known to Abram; and it would seem to make sense that the reason the Divine Name is written in this verse is to make very clear that the God who was speaking to Abram is the One, True God rather than one of the Canaanite gods:
“In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3)
7 is the Biblical number for perfection or completeness. Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) had not yet come to earth, so how can this be a perfect covenant?
Because the Author is Perfect and His Promises are Perfect!
What was required of Abram?
The promises required much of Abram, if you consider it.
He had to leave his country and his clan, and even his father’s house, meaning he was to give up his leadership role as leading the family. Abram would’ve likely wrestled with the feeling that he was abandoning his responsibilities and obligations as the leader of his family’s group now that his father was deceased.
Leaving family behind was really not something that was done in those days!
But when God is going to bless you, He requires that you’re all in.
God required Abram to leave the life he knew.
The Bible records Abram acting in obedience, departing Haran with Sarai and Lot (Genesis 12:4-5).
Interestingly enough, Abram was not required to leave his possessions behind.
Genesis 12:5 tells us Abram, Sarai, and Lot gathered all their possessions (including people they had “acquired.”)
The evangelist in me really hopes those are people they had acquired for the cause of faith. Members of a pilgrim congregation.
But realistically speaking, it is apparent these people served as slaves. When we hear that term, we tend to immediately think of American slavery, which was horrific, violent, and completely unacceptable. We must hope that Abram and Sarai did their best to treat their servants well.
God had promised to prosper Abram, so Abram was permitted to take his possessions along with him on the journey to Canaan.
Have you left your old life behind?
Abram’s calling to leave his old life behind should resonate with you if you follow the LORD.
If you have not yet made the decision to trust the LORD with all your heart for your salvation, let this be an invitation today.
Remember, Abram had grown up in Ur and had gotten married there. He was accustomed to idolatry and the worldly pleasures offered to him by the city. Chaldea was known for astrologers and fortunetellers.
Abram had willingly moved to Charan with his father, Terah. If he was old enough to remember his brother, Abram, too, probably did a lot of mourning. He was an overcomer and a pioneer.
Today’s world is so very similar.
Idolatry and witchcraft have become mainstream.
Even many churches are participating in the devil’s holiday this month.
What you and I are called to do is to be different.
The LORD asks us to bury our old lives.
Leave the past in the past.
Sometimes that does include our griefs. We need to surrender to the LORD and allow Him to heal our broken hearts.
So today, turn away – repent – of your sin, be baptized by immersion, and follow Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ).
The Holy Spirit hovered over the Waters at Creation
In studying Parashat B’reishit, I emphasized how Genesis 1:2 can help you share the Gospel. You may recall that I shared how this particular verse can be especially powerful when interacting with members of the Jehovah’s Witness organization. (Here is that post in case you missed it).
Today we move further into Genesis and we will see the consequences of what happens when people choose not to walk in the way of the LORD, but choose their own ways and their own misguided understandings at Babel.
The Spirit of God (Ruach Elohim) was present at creation. Not some limited “active force.” Not something nebulous, unknown, or impersonal. We are talking about the Spirit of God here!
The very Spirit of the Most High God. The Holy Spirit. The Glorious, Marvelous, Wonderful, Precious Holy Spirt. So very near, so very known to those who seek Him, and so very personal that He indwells those who receive Him. Today, many do not focus on the Holy Spirit’s power and His ongoing work to empower believers. Yet, right away in verse 2 of the entire Bible is the Spirit of God made mention.
The Holy Spirit was hovering over the face of the waters.
In a sense, the earth was flooded – the waters at creation were parted on Day 3 so there could be dry land. The Spirit of God hovered because this implies a closeness, a nearness.
Not quite touching – not yet – but ever so near.
Not yet touching because there was yet darkness on the surface. But:
I imagine this was such a powerful, explosive moment!
The creative power of the Holy Spirit poured forth to bring form to the earth and fill that which Scripture calls a void. All-inspiring, awesome power. And LIGHT.
We so desperately need the Holy Spirit of the LORD and the Light of His Truth!
As we just celebrated during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), He is the Living Water!
It took ten generations from the time of Adam, but divine patience had run out. People repeatedly chose immorality and corruption over righteous living. The earth would be flooded.
Noach and his family survived the Great Flood
Noach נֹחַ (Noah) chose to walk in the Light.
Genesis 6:9 documents for us that Noach “walked with God!”
Surely Noach knew the priceless value of having the Spirit of the LORD guiding him in life.
When God told him to build the ark, Noach recognized God’s voice and followed the instructions given to him.
Genesis 6:8 reveals that Noach found favor in the sight of the LORD.
Why? Because he dared to believe. He dared to trust God!
Noach’s boldness to believe spared him and his family.
After the Great Flood, it didn’t take long for humanity to once again make poor decisions.
Babel’s connection to the Flood
The Hebrew root word for flood, “mabbul” מַבּוּל, is actually related to the term “Babel” בָּבֶל.
You can hear the relatedness in the endings of the words: “ma-bul”. “Ba-bel.”
The Shared Memories of the Babel Community
The Flood was a part of the collective, or shared, memory of the Babel community.
As a group, the people living in that region of Shinar – known today as Babel – knew that they were descendants of flood survivors.
They had grown up hearing stories about great Grandpa Noach!
They knew the Flood had been real.
There was probably evidence in the vegetation and foliage around them. Perhaps downed trees or short shrubs growing back following the aftermath of the Flood.
People grew up in disaster recovery/survivor mode knowing their parents had either seen the days after the Flood firsthand or knew someone who had.
Post-Flood Disaster Recovery: Was the idea of building a tower so bad?
If your closest relatives had survived a major flood, wouldn’t you be interested in building on higher ground?
Wouldn’t you consider building “up” in hopes of avoiding a future deluge?
A watchtower could be incredibly useful. Someone could be assigned the job to check for rising water levels from afar!
Even if a future flood wasn’t the concern, a watchtower to provide advance warning of enemy advances could surely prove useful.
Building a tower wasn’t such a bad idea in and of itself.
And perhaps what happened in that place serves as a reminder to us to not rush quickly to judgment when considering the motives of others. Nonetheless, the Scriptures do indicate that the people did have selfish motives.
The problem was their rebelliousness:
The People Wanted MORE than a Tower
The generations after Noach who lived in Babel did not learn from previous generations’ mistakes. The disaster of the Flood wasn’t enough for them – they brought disaster upon themselves once again:
They wanted to establish a city and make themselves great.
They make no mention of building a city to honor the God who had rescued their families from the Flood.
They feared being scattered, so they united to build a tower whose top was to reach into heaven.
The people at Babel didn’t want to reach the edge of the sky or the edge of heaven, they wanted to reach into heaven: to go beyond the natural, God-ordained boundaries.
Their ambition got the best of them.
At Babel, the people demonstrated that unity can be productive. These people worked together – motivated by fear – to build a high place. They all spoke the same language and were able to communicate with ease.
Whether the purpose of the tower was for idolatrous worship or to create a throne for a primitive communist or totalitarian regime, the unity at Babel was not centered around a common godly purpose.
The city construction project and its tower had to be stopped. Sadly, the people unwittingly predicted their own demise: they certainly would be scattered over the face of the whole land:
The tower may have been tall according to human standards, but it was short enough to God that He chose to come down to get a closer look at it.
Confusion of Languages
Do you enjoy foreign language study? Learning another language wasn’t necessary before that tower was built so if you find foreign languages hard, blame the Babel-onians.
The word “babel” is also closely related to “balal” בָּלַל, a verb that Strong’s Concordance describes as meaning not only “to confuse” or “to confound,”but also “to mix,” “to mingle,” and intriguingly, “to anoint.”
I have studied many languages and I actually enjoy it. What really intrigues me is when there are linguistic similarities between languages on complete opposite sides of the globe. There is so much evidence that what the Bible tells us occurred at Babel truly, historically, did happen. The world’s languages are mixed and mingled and they all came from one source.
So the LORD caused language to become mixed and the people’s communication confounded. But what about the possibility to translate this term “babel” with the kingly concept of “anointing?”
I think of it like this: the tower was anointed for its burial! There is speculation that the ruins of the Tower of Babel are being uncovered in Iraq, so there may be part of the tower still standing to this day, but all of these years . . . it has been dead and buried.
The true King of all kings, the True Anointed One, was showing these people who was still in charge.
How much time and money goes into translation projects!
How difficult it can be to share the Good News that Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) has come with those who do not speak our language!
But thankfully, the LORD God reversed what happened at the Tower of Babel when He sent His Ruach haKodesh, His Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Shavu’ot):
I have witnessed miracles in which people who do not speak the same language have been able to understand each other thanks to the gift of tongues. I have heard testimonies of the Gospel preached in a foreign tongue the speaker does not know, but the congregation does. The power of God is real, and there is restoration and freedom from every curse when we place our trust in Him, and Him alone.
The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, just as He came upon the waters at the time of creation. Seek the LORD and you will surely receive the blessings He has for you.
Rising Above the Waters
The LORD will never flood the whole earth again, but natural disasters will still affect certain places at times. Floods have become so very frequent, and many have suffered great losses due to these catastrophic events.
Have you ever lost your home to a flood?
Have you ever worked or volunteered on a disaster response teamand seen firsthand such widespread destruction?
Has a recent hurricane affected you or your loved ones?
Know this: God is a God of restoration. He will help you to rise above the waters. Just as Yeshua (Jesus) rose from the dead, He can resurrect what has been lost – whether in this life or the life to come. He had mercy on us when He sent His Son and His Spirit to give us a future and a hope after the Flood and after the Tower incident. He is a forgiving and loving Father, and He wants to care for you.
Will you be like Noach and walk with Him today?
Differentiate yourself from those who would take matters into their own hands. Instead, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit when you make decisions and in this way, He will help you get through any situation!
We would love to hear from you. Comment below and share this post with your friends! Also, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter so you can stay updated on our ministry!
The Feast of Tabernacles and Biblical Prophecy
“Sukkot” is the Hebrew term referring to the Feast of Tabernacles (also known as the Feast of Booths in many English Bibles)
Many Christians today do not celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles because they have been taught that it has been done away with. So today, let’s look to the Scriptures to learn more about the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) and realize how relevant it remains today:
The nations along with Israel will celebrate Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles!) and celebrate our King! The Feast of Tabernacles is also known as Chag HaAsif, which means the “Feast of the Ingathering.” One day, we will all be gathered in the New Jerusalem. This is reason to rejoice!
Moshe (Moses) informed the people of the moedim, the “appointed times,” when they were to keep a holy appointment with the LORD. Sukkot is one of the moedim. We have the wonderful opportunity to spend a week in our sukkah (temporary dwellings) to celebrate and to grow closer to the LORD. In His Torah, the LORD specifically commands us to rejoice, or to be joyful, during this time:
When you celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, you are participating in something Biblical. God-honoring.
Don’t get me started on all these churches that host “trunk-or-treat” and whitewash the devil’s feast of halloween.
If you need something to celebrate this autumn, go with the Feast of Tabernacles and leave the pagans to their paganism.
The Feast of Tabernacles and the Birth of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus)
No one can claim to know the exact date when our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) was born.
But I can assure you, it is highly unlikely that he was born on December 25.
You have probably heard that December 25th was chosen as “Christmas” because our Savior is the Light of the World, so it was somehow “fitting” to choose the darkest time of the year to celebrate the coming of our Emmanuel.
The problem is, this pattern of thinking conforms to the world and at worst, it is aligned with Constantine and the rule of Rome.
Let us be free of the cult of paganism and false religion.
We need not conform to the pattern of this world!
Let us always look to the Scriptures.
The Bible says the Word became flesh and dwelt – “tabernacled” with us
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Greek term “dwelt” more literally means “tabernacled,” hence the translation provided by the Tree of Life Version cited above.
This is an awesome picture of what our Savior came to do!
He left His glorious throne above to meet with us.
As I mentioned earlier, we have sacred appointments – the moedim – and He gave us the Feast of Tabernacles as an experience. That we would realize the magnificence of the fact He meets with us in the most humble of abodes.
You see, perhaps you have never built or even seen a sukkah. A sukkah is sort of like a tent. It is a temporary structure built for this occasion.
No Room in the Inn, but room in a . . . sukkah?
When there was no room at the inn . . . could it be that all of the hotels and motels of Bethlehem were taken because a busy pilgrimage feast . . . known as Sukkot . . . was going on?
Many who study the Hebrew Scriptures believe it very possible that the birth of our Messiah coincided with this pilgrimage feast of Sukkot. The shepherds were in the fields and the sheep in the pastures – it couldn’t have been too terribly cold yet . . . Sorry, closet Constantinians, the first Christmas definitely wasn’t in winter.
I don’t mean to offend anyone since I know Christmas is a beloved tradition for a lot of people.
But I do mean to point out Truth versus modern day tradition.
Could it be that the innkeeper had a sukkah, which provided the extra space available for Miriam and Yosef (Mary and Joseph)?
Our Messiah, our Prince of Peace, was born in the most humble of places. If you build a sukkah, you will see it fits that description.
A humble dwelling place.
Need more evidence?
The Hebrew word, sukkah, is translated as “stable” (Genesis 33:17).
Celebrate the Incarnation of our Messiah this Sukkot
Our wonderful Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus) our LORD came to earth in a manner that demonstrated humility and the veracity of the Word. He never has contradicted His Word, and He never will.
On the contrary, the Word proves True every time, against any test.
This Sukkot, realize this amazing Truth. We currently dwell in temporary tabernacles of flesh, but one day, we will put on the eternal resurrected tabernacle because our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh) and He will raise us up incorruptible.
My husband is an immigrant to the United States and didn’t really grow up with Christmas carols. So he is fascinated by our culture in that by the end of November every radio station is playing Christmas songs. He loves the fact that the secular stations even play songs that honor our Savior.
So he wishes that they played these songs all year!
He doesn’t just want Christmas in July, this man would love to play Christmas songs on our stereo all year if I let him.
Do you love those beautiful songs, too?
Well, no need to wait any longer. Get out your Joy to the World playlist because the LORD has come, and will return! Let heaven and nature sing!!
He has come to tabernacle with you, my friend.
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Enjoy the feast, and invite your friends.
Perhaps someone will come to a saving relationship with Yeshua (Jesus) because of your faithful witness.
It was during the Feast of Tabernacles when Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) revealed Himself as the Living Water. If you’d like to study that topic, more in-depth, I invite you to check out my post on the Living Water at the Feast of Tabernacles: Exploring John 7.
Speaking of Living Water, notice that an offering by fire had been required during Sukkot. Now, the Holy Spirit fills those who call upon His Name with Living Water and the Fire of Pentecost. Let your life be that offering to Him, on fire for your Savior, and filled with the precious Holy Ghost. Chag Sameach Sukkot!
Are you celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles this year? We pray you have a wonderful time with your family and friends, celebrating the coming of Emmanuel, the One who gives us Living Water!
We have reached the end of Deuteronomy and Sukkot is upon us. Soon it will be Simchat Torah and the Torah reading cycle will begin again.
I have been very busy these past few weeks with the High Holidays, and admit I simply do not have the time to adequately address all four of these remaining parashot for the year as I would like. My hope is to revisit these in early autumn of next year to give a much more thorough look at these passages.
In the meantime, if you have questions about these passages or would like to study further, please do not hesitate to contact me!
Meanwhile, let me leave you with a few thoughts:
Nitzavim
Nitzavim begins by addressing the profound reality of the entirety of Israel standing before ADONAI their God. They are to cross over into the covenant (Deuteronomy 29:11).
V’Yelech
The necessity to make the faith their own – to genuinely embrace the faith was so very critical because as we learn in V’Yelech, Moshe has reached 120 years old! (Deuteronomy 30:2)
Did you know Moses was a songwriter? He taught the children of Israel a song just before his death. It is actually the final song in Torah. Moshe knew many in Israel would fall away and sin, acting “corruptly,” and the song reflects that view:
Honestly, one would expect a more cheerful ending, but . . . speaking of honesty – Moses was honest. He knew how quickly people can choose to betray and go astray. He lived 120 years, so he had seen the lamentable truth that many would not continue in faith.
Ha’Azinu
This song of Moses is a bit enigmatic. Our natural tendency as believers and followers of Messiah is to “look on the bright side.” Find something positive and hopeful. But this song really never gets there and translators debate the true meaning, especially of the final verses.
The LORD so faithfully kept His promises to Moses that He showed him the Promised Land from afar. Moshe died in Moab, but no one knows where (Deuteronomy 34:6). Yehoshua (Joshua) took over as leader from there. Never again in Israel was there another prophet quite like Moses (Deuteronomy 34:10) but One-Greater-than-Moses would arise and change history for ever: Yeshua haMashiach.
I am thankful that you have studied these passages of Scripture with us. I pray you had a wonderful Yom Teruah, and a prayerful Yom Kippur. As we draw near to Sukkot, may your celebrations be full of joy as commanded, and full of peace as well. Shalom!
The joyful shout of Yom Teruah(Rosh Hashanah)
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Yom Teruah (“Day of the Shout”) is the correct Biblical name for the Holy Day more commonly called Rosh Hashanah, meaning “Head of the Year.” To make things more complicated, Rosh Hashanah is additionally called Yom HaZikkaron, meaning “Day of Remembrance.” This refers to Leviticus 23:24‘s exhortation to have a “memorial:”
Notice, the Day of the Shofar/Shout is considered a Sabbath day. Many Christians today do not realize that there are Sabbaths that fall on days besides Saturday. It is yet another opportunity to have an appointment with the LORD. Consider celebrating the prophetic feast of Yom Teruah and the High Holy Days this year, taking time to rest and rejoice in the God of Israel!
Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah is very much associated with a time of repentance leading up to Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). These days are known as the Days of Awe. Traditional Judaism teaches that on Rosh Hashanah your name may be written in the book of Life and that on Yom Kippur, it may be sealed there. As disciples of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), we know that our name is written in the Book of Life at the moment of salvation, and it is by His Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh) that we are sealed.
What does the Hebrew word “Teruah” mean?
The Hebrew word, “teruah” תְּרוּעָה means “shout!” It is a startling, battlecry type of shout. Think of Jericho and the walls falling down. This is no time for a half-hearted noise. This word expresses a collective shout that is unified, massive, earth-shaking, and awe-inspiring.
Walls will come down, if you will participate.
Walls will come down, if you will believe.
The Israelites had been instructed to circle the city of Jericho 7 times on the 7th day.
Though a battle may be raging, if we truly trust our Mighty Conqueror and Victorious Savior, we will have peace in the face of an enemy. Internally, we will have joy unspeakable. And it might even overflow in such a way that it is apparent externally.
Have you ever worshipped in such a manner? Tambourine in hand, dancing before your King? Arms lifted high in freedom of praise? Perhaps you have used worship flags or banners? Allow your joy to overflow and you will find great liberty, healing, and strength in the LORD’s presence!
Here is a song that may inspire you to praise in such a manner:
You see, once you realize from just how deep a pit you have been rescued, your praise changes. You won’t be ashamed to dance before your Creator. You will overflow with Living Water.
The Coronation of our King
Another very central theme during Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah is that the LORD (ADONAI) is King over all the earth. Traditional Judaism teaches that Rosh Hashanah is the appropriate time for the crowning of a king! Our Messiah Yeshua is King of all kings, the Victorious One and we look forward to His coronation again in Jerusalem!
This joyful verse from Numbers 23:21 uses the word “teruah” in connection to our King! Assuredly, even our King will shout and this prevents misfortune or misery from being among God’s people.
Are you among the people who know the joyful shout?
If your name is indeed written in the Book of Life, then this promise is yours today:
He did not come to abolish the Torah or any of the other Scripture writings of the prophets. He came to fulfill them . . . so Torah remains important and relevant!
Instructions for Life
I know I have mentioned this before, but for those who may be new to the blog, Torah refers to the first five books found in the Bible, sometimes called the Pentateuch.
In most Christian circles, these books are referred to as the Law.
But the Hebrew word, “Torah” means more than “Law.” In fact, we could say it is softened a bit. Torah is the word for “instruction.” God gave us His instructions to follow.
Ah, but I suppose you are thinking “this is impossible! There is no way we could possibly follow everything written in Torah!”
Right you are, my sister or my brother.
It would be completely impossible for any of us to perfectly keep the commandments in Torah.
We are to strive for perfection, knowing we will fall short – but His grace and mercy are there to wash over us and make us holy. Our works will NOT save us. We are saved by His grace:
Disregarding Torah often leads to Replacement Theology
Replacement theology is an erroneous doctrine.
This doctrine has taught that the church has superseded Israel and that the Law has been abolished.
The danger with replacement theology is that the Hebrew Scriptures (including Torah) ultimately get neglected and the continuum through time of the history of salvation and grace becomes broken and misunderstood. Disregarding Torah can be devastating – antiSemitism has flourished in places where Torah is criticized. We need only remember the Holocaust – how many Bible-believing Christians in Europe actually contributed to (whether directly or through apathy) the extermination of their Jewish neighbors? If you’re interested in reading more on this topic, check out my article on “Replacing Replacement Theology” here:
Preaching today must move beyond motivational speaking
I read an article just last week from Answers in Genesis that caught my attention because in it, the author suggests that the number one reason millennials are leaving the church is due to their lack of understanding of the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures).
Have you noticed that so much preaching today has become reduced tospiritual motivational speaking?
When Scripture is sparingly used, young people hearing the Good News do not get the full picture.
They do not understand the powerful continuity between the prophetic nature of the Hebrew Scriptures and the glorious fulfillment shared with us in the New Testament (Brit Chadashah).
If we ignore Torah, we will lose generations to confusion and disinterest.
Torah gives us a solid and balanced foundation for teaching and preaching from the New Testament!
Blessings for Obeying Torah (and the entire Word of God)
D’varim/Deuteronomy 28 assures us that if we “listen obediently to the voice of ADONAI your God, taking care to do all His mitzvot . . .”
We are setting ourselves up for devastation if we refuse to familiarize ourselves with the basic principles found in Torah. The blessings listed above were assured to those who would obey and follow the LORD and His instructions. In like manner, the curses were assured to those who refused to do so. We must acknowledge the seriousness of the issues at stake!
If we determine that Torah is no longer relevant in any way, we are ultimately denying Yeshua (Jesus) as King of Israel! He is One with the LORD, He is God, the God of Israel and we must never deny His divinity and Lordship.
Yeshua, God’s Son, (Jesus) fulfilled Torah because we fall short. But He did not abolish it. There is so much to learn from Torah . . . from the ways of the LORD. His instructions are given so we will know how to live a righteous lifestyle and live in a manner that pleases Him.
Are we free from the curses as followers of Messiah?
If we have genuinely repented, and if we embrace the entirety of His Word, those curses will not fall upon us. We are free from the curse of the law because our Messiah became a curse for us when He died on the cross for our sins:
We are beyond blessed to live in a time when we can connect with other believers so easily and evaluate our posture on positions that the church has taken over the years. More and more followers of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) are learning about the Biblical lifestyle found in the wholeness of God’s Word and it is an exciting time to be a part of as more and more people take Scripture more seriously!
We are nearing the New Year (Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah) and I pray that you will dedicate time, effort, and most importantly prayer, as you more closely walk with the Messiah of Israel!
Prudence and Safety are prioritized in Scripture by the Guardian of Israel
Have you ever driven on a mountainous road that lacks guardrails?
Or looked off the edge of such a road to see a huge drop-off just a few inches or feet below you?
I have traveled to countries where guardrails appear to be optional!
“I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall, when God grabbed and held me.” Psalm 118:13, the Message
Similarly, I have also visited churches where safety does not appear to be a top priority:
Children running wild; old and broken toys, equipment, or safety latches; and poor supervision. The amount of safety and security measures set in place tends to be directly related to the congregational community’s level of affluence and education. I know I am generalizing, but wealthier, more affluent congregations tend to implement stricter safety policies, particularly for the children’s ministry areas while less affluent (and also, typically less-educated) congregations often brush aside safety. Those who take safety less seriously usually have the faith that God will protect the children in the nursery with or without things like functioning baby safety gates.
Yes, the Guardian of Israel can protect us despite our weaknesses, lack of resources, or lack of education.
But, the LORD actually expects us to be prudent.
We should seek to be well-rounded in our education – in that we study Scripture, but we also study and analyze our safety measures!
We should make changes as we become more educated. Just as we ought to study Scripture deeply, we should seek the richness of prudence in the practical aspects of life so we can be an example to the world of what to do versus what not to do!
A “safety-first” posture should be adopted for all children’s ministries (and all ministries in general, of course!)
One of the congregations we pastored was comprised almost entirely of Central American immigrants. Most of these dear brothers and sisters in the LORD spoke different tonal dialects like K’iche’ and Chatino. Because they had grown up in remote villages, many had not mastered the Spanish language – let alone English. Some had been sent into the larger cities as children to learn Spanish and receive education, but others had not received more than about a second grade education. Our brothers and sisters had difficulty with reading the Bible, but they loved the LORD nonetheless.
As the congregation grew, it became necessary to implement a children’s ministry. We expected the people to be joyful that they had reached this important milestone as a congregation. But it was the opposite! There was resistance. Most in this congregation did not want a children’s ministry.
This is why we always say . . . pray for your pastors!
As my husband and I tried to prayerfully discern what the underlying issues were, we came to some realizations:
Worship was the only time during the week when many of these mothers of large families felt they had a break. They did not want to be responsible for a class of more children. The men and women had become so accustomed to the screaming and crying of young children that they must have learned to tune it out. They wouldn’t even attempt to quiet their children during the services, most of the time.
We had to gradually teach the importance of godly discipline and order.
Setting up a standard nursery staffed by the members of the congregation would be a challenge because both the men and the women feared things like background checks due to their immigration status. We realized we would need the partnership of documented individuals, even if they were from another congregation, in order to staff a legitimate nursery/children’s ministry. Thankfully, the LORD sent some young women to fill this role for a time.
It turns out that our situation was not entirely unique. Many ministry leaders of primarily-Hispanic congregations have faced similar issues when it comes to guiding young immigrant parents. Often, the parents are barely entering adulthood themselves and simply need some wise and caring instruction.
Safety had to be a priority. We didn’t want children bumping their heads on hard surfaces or playing with objects that could poke their eyes. And we most certainly didn’t want any infants falling out of an unsecured crib.
We had to be patient, but also firm.
The Guardian of Israel requires Guardrails for safety:
We taught our congregation what the LORD says about safety:
I absolutely love that this provision is in Scripture.
We are to concern ourselves with the well-being of others. We must build into our homes, our lives, and our ministries safety protocols to ensure the safety of everyone.
That said, we must also concern ourselves with the mental health of our people. Those mothers who needed a break needed the reassurance that they wouldn’t be responsible every.single.week for that children’s class. A rotation needed to be implemented to ensure fairness and rest.
The Guardian of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps, but He knows we all need to rest in His presence. Ministry leaders: ensure that your nursery workers are getting time to worship, too.
“Behold, the Guardian of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps.” Psalm 121:4
Don’t slip off the edge
Ministry issues like the one I just described are enough to make pastors feel like they are going bonkers. The children’s ministry issue was just one of so many strange conflicts that we dealt with over the years. The enemy is astute and always seeking to discourage and devour! And sadly, we have heard those reports of ministry leaders who have gone off the edge, either falling into unfathomable sin or taking their own lives.
I am thankful to the LORD for the patient strength of my husband and the persistence and resilience He gave to both of us as we navigated those situations.
See, the world today is about to fall off a cliff.
And the devil wants to run as many people off that cliff as possible.
I heard one colleague describe it so very simply in a recent sermon: “The world has gone insane!”
D’varim/Deuteronomy speaks to the “severely disordered state of mind” of today’s world
Merriam-Webster defines “insane” as “exhibiting a severely disordered state of mind.”
The world has indeed become severely disordered.
Children are growing up being bombarded by all sorts of things we didn’t have to deal with just 30 years ago.
The author of confusion is working hard to mislead and deceive the next generations
Just recently, my two boys were enrolled in a swimming class at the local YMCA.
There was a boy in the class who was wearing boy’s swimwear but with pink goggles and hoop earrings. The child’s mother insisted that the swimming teacher use female pronouns to describe her son, and this young boy (younger than 10) was being called by a girl’s name.
It was a tragedy to witness.
Because my children are homeschooled, we have been somewhat distanced from this very real reality that has become normal outside of our wonderful little homeschool bubble.
The transgender agenda is being pushed upon children and it is a true battle being waged for the souls of the children of our nation. My children expressed great confusion at having a boy in their class who was being called by a girl’s name. Why should children be exposed to all of this nonsense? It really is so sad. I am thankful that my children know the Guardian of Israel, the Guardian of their souls and their eyes are open to what is going on around them.
The world’s agenda is (mal)aligned with the enemy of our souls, and we must be vigilant to detect how and where the enemy is trying to pull our own children toward the depths of confusion.
A few years ago, I was looking for a tie for my husband to go with a new suit. I was in the men’s section of a department store and I kid you not, practically every single tie was floral! Yes, I know some masculine guys can probably pull off a few flowers, but these were mostly all pink. It took me a long time to finally find something suitable (and masculine-looking). The world aims for the feminization of men and the masculinization of women. The reason for this is simple: the devil thrives on disorder.
I read an interesting commentary recently that rightly observed how the women’s section of stores has degraded into selling mostly things like ripped jeans and stringy tops – as though it is a competition to see who can dress the least classy, the least modestly.
I personally choose to wear skirts and it is next to impossible to find nice ones at the stores. The world of today does not want women to embrace femininity. But what does the Bible say?
The Word of God confirms that there are distinct roles intended for men and for women.
But the world chooses to act in defiance to God’s created order.
We see this with the way the LGBTQ+ movement has reappropriated the rainbow for their cause. The rainbow was intended for the LORD’s children – those who are truly His sons and daughters through faith in His Son, who repent of their sins rather than glorify themselves or their pride.
The severely disordered state of mind (what we call “insanity”) that is infecting the world is a mentality that has also quietly seeped into the church.
The fact that Bible-believers are defending claims of stolen elections, fake news, and practically paving the way for a future American dictator demonstrate that even the church itself has gone astray. Politics and the church really don’t mix.
Is it wonderful when we have elected leaders that care about their evangelical constituents?
Of course.
But we have too many elected leaders that use their evangelical constituents. Many don’t actually care a bit about their constituents or their viewpoints so long as they stay in power. Yet too many who claim to follow the LORD have become blinded to this, convinced the politicians actually want to defend their freedoms. Anyone can spout off propaganda that they care about your freedom, but that alone doesn’t make it true. Be discerning.
How many Christians belligerently refused to wear a mask in the beginning of the pandemic, when it was clear lives were at risk and no immunizations were yet available? It had so much more to do with political parties than actual prudence and those who participated in such behavior ought repent.
Belligerence is not a fruit of the Spirit.
Even if we personally don’t see the need for a new crib mattress or larger budget for the children’s ministry, we need to think of the needs of others so we do not act like the reckless, belligerent world.
Regardless of political affiliation and personal preferences, we must demonstrate righteousness judgment, kindness, and compassion.
We must be careful that we do not unwittingly become part of the insanity around us.
We must remain level-headed.
True believers have the mind of Messiah! We must act like it!
En guarde: Are you ready for the battle ahead?
I never had a chance to try fencing, but when I was in about the fifth grade, I got to watch a live presentation on the sport from the local university. I’ve always thought it looks like fun! Now I watch my boys with their toy swords having sword fights and I am convinced they would really love it, too.
No one near us teaches the sport, though, so I guess it is just not for us.
I did study French, though, so I know that a common term in fencing is “en guarde!”
You have to be ready, on guard, so you can win a battle.
Are you “en guarde?” Are you:
Prepared with a strategy?
In the right physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual condition?
Wearing the right armor?
Are you ready to be on the offense when necessary, but able to defend yourself?
Do you have the self-awareness to know when you are too aggressive?
Do you know when to take a step back and guard your tongue?
The world is not going to get any better, in fact, things are only going to take a turn for the worse.
How’s that for uplifting?
I do not intend to get you down today. On the contrary, I want you to be ready.
I want you to be confident and actually quite enthusiastic because the crazier this world gets, the brighter we can shine because we know our redemption is near.
The Guardian of Israel wants to guard you and protect you
Your salvation is near if you have trusted in the Messiah of Israel, Yeshua (Jesus Christ). The Guardian of Israel who neither slumbers nor sleeps is ever so perfectly aware of the world we are living in and He has done all He can so we can be in the world, but not of it. The world will perpetually choose darkness and confusion, but you are placed in this world to show the Light of Messiah, that some perhaps would choose the way of salvation.
The Guardian of Israel will guard you and protect you if you will walk in His ways!
The Word of God is like our safety net:
The world rejects order and discipline.
The world chooses recklessness and darkness.
The world mocks those who would build a guardrail, deriding them by saying they worry too much.
Be a light. Yes, we have faith which triumphs over fear, but we also seek to live prudently so that we will honor the Word of the LORD.
Our homes and houses of worship must be safe places so that everyone may thrive!
Trust in the Guardian of Israel, YHWH, the LORD Most High today!
Is there something from which you particularly need the LORD’s protection today? Have you ever faced a struggle or conflict in ministry? How have you overcome those challenges? Do you have a favorite Bible verse that helps you endure?How can we pray for you or your ministry today? Do you have a testimony that you would like to share about how the LORD has protected you and your family? We’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment/reply below! Also, please consider subscribing to our monthly newsletter so you can keep updated and receive extra resources straight to your inbox! We promise not to overwhelm your inbox.
