News Letter 5850-019
5th day of the 5th month 5850 years after the creation of Adam
The 5th Month in the Fifth year of the Third Sabbatical Cycle
The Third Sabbatical Cycle of the 119th Jubilee Cycle
The Sabbatical Cycle of Earthquakes, Famines and Pestilence

August 2, 2014

Shabbat Shalom Family,

The new moon of the fifth Biblical month was sighted in Ma’ale Adumim by Roy Hoffman and by his daughter Lina at 7:41 pm on Monday, July 28, 2014.
I would ask for your prayers this weekend that I am able to share the teachings on the 70 Shabu, the 2300 Days of Hell and the 6 Blood moons with those in Columbus, Ohio. We hope we are able to record this teaching and ask you to pray we are successful.

I also want to share something with you. Because Carolyn and Jerry have decided to host me and allow others to hear the things I am teaching, the Pastor of the Church of God group they have been attending has kicked them out of that group. Neither Carolyn nor Jerry was found guilty of sin or evil behaviour. What they are guilty of is seeking to understand Yehovah on a deeper level; That level is by understanding the Sabbatical and Jubilee years, which none of the Churches of God teach properly.

The Churches of God all forget that when we joined them, we had also left our former churches and were looking for more truths. Ironic, isn’t it? Now the Churches of God are the same as the Churches of this world, trying to control the people instead of just teaching the people. Far too many pastors think the people belong to them. They belong to Yehovah and they should never forget that.

1Co 5:1  On the whole it is reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even named among the nations, so as one to have his father’s wife. 2  And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, so that he who has done this deed may be taken from your midst. 3  For as being absent in body but present in spirit, I indeed have judged already as though I were present concerning him who worked out this thing; 4  in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, with my spirit; also, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ; 5  to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6  Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7  Therefore purge out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For also Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. 8  Therefore let us keep the feast; not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9  I wrote to you in the letter not to associate intimately with fornicators; 10  yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then you must go out of the world. 11  But now I have written to you not to associate intimately, if any man called a brother and is either a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one not to eat. 12  For what is it to me to also judge those who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13  But God judges those who are outside. Therefore put out from you the evil one.

I was asked to leave the United Church of God group because I was talking about the Bible with brethren at the back of the hall after services. Paul says to dis-fellowship them when they are sinning.

Carolyn wrote to me, asking me not to get upset at the Church of God because these are her friends. So, I will stop there and share her letter with you all by permission. But I will say this: Had it not been for the church putting me out, I would never have gone on to create this website and begin to teach about the Sabbatical and Jubilee years. It was a blessing in disguise and it would not be until years later before I knew it. But even so, too many pastors abuse the power they have and abuse the brethren.

During this week I have been doing a lot of thinking on this situation of being evicted from the local COG last Thursday, after posting the ad for our meeting you so kindly made on Monday. Trust me, my thinking was NOT, “Wah-waah, I’m so sad”. I was sad for a day and snapped out of it. To get everyone up to speed on this situation if they didn’t know…I posted an ad on FB that Joseph created for our meeting in August and was told that people were complaining about it.

Nobody seemed to complain about your book ads I posted.  I very much doubt there was anyone complaining.
Sounds like a total fabrication and is the lamest excuse I’ve heard in a long time.

God LOVED me that evening through two friends and your encouraging email. Also a couple scriptures that ended up jumbled together while I was doing dishes….’count it all joy when they persecute you and cast you out’…. that kept rolling around in my head.
Then the scriptures of the spiritual armor is what I went to sleep on. I had an excellent nights sleep and woke up feeling joyful.
I had been wrestling for weeks about leaving that group (not the brethren-they are the reason I kept going because of the love and acceptance they offer. They are not the problem, we are not the problem…not when brethren tell me they would like me to be able to come more often…not when they ask me to bring my husband so they can fellowship with him too, who by the way doesn’t even attend except rarely and was evicted). My choice was to live under the curtain of fear by intimidation and having to restrict myself to empty chit-chat just to spend time with the brethren, or leave. Those restrictions defeat the purpose of fellowship.

All I have lost from being ‘put-out’ of the local corp cog is the fellowship of some really fine folks. I love them, and pray for them to be wakened up. I have not cut myself off the living vine of my Savior. What has been terminated is the yoke of the modern Pharisees, traded completely for the yoke of my Savior. A blessed transition.

Today I feel that we have been yanked out as much as being pushed out. Puts a much different spin on the situation for me.  Having God touch me with His love in the manner He sent it the other evening showed me that He is very much involved here and that I am to be absolutely confident of that fact.
When I first was called by God to live this way (Sabbath & Holy Days and laws of God), and baptized into the COG, life became very difficult and I had to learn to trust God very quickly. God saved us through some very serious situations.

Our society has become too jaded because of the fantasy of movies and tv. Society gets a ‘high’ from the adventure films because they are so bored with real life. I guarantee that if you have had to live a real life terrifying experience it will give you an adrenaline rush (fight or flight -the tiger after you) you will never want to experience again. Maybe that’s why it may be difficult for some non-believers to believe the miracles and mighty acts of God in the Bible. They sound somewhat tame compared to the fantasy they are fed from the entertainment media, though they were not. I rather think that when God says “GO” and mighty and incredible things start to happen, as expressed in the scriptures, those people who thrive on the fantasy and adventure films will be speechless and terrified because they will know it is the real deal and they can’t just get up and walk out of the theater.
At any rate, that (serious life challenging situations) was my introduction to the trials and tribulations Jesus said we would have if we follow Him. He proved beyond any shadow of doubt that He was watching my back, and has never failed me yet, as it has been with all the rest of us – His promise is if we are faithful to Him, He is ever faithful to keep His promises. We are in covenant with Him and He has already paid the blood sacrifice and will never go back on His word.

He must allow us to be tested to strengthen our faith, trust, and reliance on His ability to save us from every danger that is coming. At that time, when I was new in the church and all the tribulations I was living through, He did not want me to cave in to the fear placed before me and leave the church when I was just beginning this journey, leaving what He has waiting for me in His Kingdom. I realize through these current challenges that God is using this experience to re-exercise my sagging spiritual muscles. It’s time to get back into shape like never before.

We are covered by the blood of our Savior, saved by faith in His promises witnessed by His resurrection and our belief that the words in the Bible are true. We are not and cannot be saved by a corporate business entity, by a ministry of men, or by any man, nor by our friends. Only our Savior will be there to protect us when the very difficult days ahead come, if we are faithful to our God’s rules for life – the baptismal covenant we agreed to. I learned that lesson 42 years ago.

He is healing us with spiritual eye-salve so we can see these end-time messages that the 7th day groups have rejected and refused to teach. These teachings about the calendar, the land sabbath, warnings regarding the curses, and the correction of prophecies not fully understood previously…these are all for our good, the missing pieces we need to understand to see the whole picture – the warnings are because He loves us and wants to protect us. None of it changes our core doctrine and beliefs.  We must pray fervently for our spiritually blind brethren so they can see, so He will touch them to begin to question, especially when more and more people in their fellowships turn up missing for also being quietly put out.

In the past 20 years many members of the cog’s have gone from one corporate cog to another (called church-hopping) trying to find where God is…They really want to settle in a place that is safe spiritually and where they will be fed spiritual meat and know they are safe in God’s care and company on the Sabbath day. Have we finally come to a point where there is NOWHERE else to go but just stay at home with no human fellowship save our own families? Very, very sad state of affairs. Maybe we are not the problem. If the church-hopping is part of the sifting…that is God sifting to find out “Do you love ME?” Eventually He will bring us together so we can all fellowship together with Him. I take hope in that thought.

I would like your readers to understand that if they will stand up for the truth, God will cover their back even if they have to suffer a bit. You might have to endure false accusations and rumors, which then lead to embarrassment and humiliation. You will get over it. These tactics are used to stir your carnal weakness of fear. Satan knows how we function..it’s his nature, his to stimulate in us. Flip the switch and make God’s Spirit your auto-pilot. Keep at it till His nature becomes your nature….that’s His goal for us.

We are called to a once in a lifetime offer…the Bride of Christ. Our Savior needs to strengthen our faith, trust, and reliance on Him for the long-haul. If we cave in to those who want to intimidate us into submission to them and away from loving submission to our only Savior, how will we fare when the real persecution comes?  If you have never been chased and had to run for your life and trust God to hide you from possible death upon capture, you have no idea what’s coming and why you need to build the spiritual muscle NOW while you still have time to do so.

It is interesting to ponder, that if the ministry were doing their job right all these years, they would now be teaching the whole truth, they would be teaching us to live by the law of God in love to the Father, and our Savior, and they would have taught people how to have strong faith, and we wouldn’t be broken into 800 pieces with no strength. That strength is Christ as head of the body-the church. Not 800 churches/corporate bodies – One spiritual church. And we wouldn’t be here struggling for the right to read these lost truths (land sabbath), talk about it among ourselves, and do it.
The COG would have been the light showing the reflection of our Savior to all people. It makes me so sad to see what we have lost through the fragmentation of our church.

Every time you come through a test/trial of your faith…it is to strengthen you for the next level of testing, and it will continue till you have the spiritual tensile strength we will all need to face and endure the challenges ahead of us. We need to get a better perspective of what we are dealing with.
I have learned that everything is about Gods timing… God has a master timepiece – the land sabbaths being the big hands and the jubilees being the little hands (for those who remember circular clocks). Tic toc, how close are we… How much time do we have to really strengthen our spiritual muscles? The next time you are faced with a challenge in your church arena – the minister or disapproving brethren who ridicule or threaten you, do not shirk. Stand up straight. Ask God to fight your battle, He wants to, Realize that we are vessels for His works through us and go forward. Of ourselves we cannot do anything, but don’t be fearful because of that…We are the vessel and He dwells within by His Spirit. Granted we need to pick our battles,…use wisdom and don’t be IN people’s faces over the issues… but sometimes those battles are forced upon us. Stay close to God in prayer, study, and fasting.  When the test/trial is over, the law of God, the righteous character of our Savior we are to be growing in that others want to rob us of, will be more secure within you. We are not to be faint-hearted… put on your battle gear and get on with it.

I am not looking back longingly to the corporate COG’s. Just think of Lot’s wife – same thing. I will miss the lovely people at that fellowship, but I am going forward. I hope some of them eventually will reach out and seek my friendship once again. I have not cast them off.
Read Eph 6:10-20 until you remember it and apply it all the time. Faith is your shield. Use it. Put on all the armor every day.
The light at the end of the trials and tests of this life is the resurrection and the Kingdom…and I’m hanging on for my gold crown, my new name, my white clothing., and that great wedding…

Get the picture folks. It’s not about the land sabbath. The land sabbath is one of those activities we are required to participate in during our sojourn on this earth. The earth belongs to God, and the land sabbath is one of His rules regarding it, with a penalty for ignoring it. What a loving God to restore this understanding.  The goal is the Kingdom of God.  Keep your focus on that Kingdom, and your spiritual armor on and you can make it. Never give up, never quit. And remember to hold out a lifeline to your fellow brethren as God is waking them up. They will be encouraged by the strength you have developed…just like we are encouraged by the strength Joseph has developed through the years he has been sharing this message.
With all sincerity to all your readers,
Carolyn Singer

Let it be known that sightedmoon.com accepts and encourages all former church of God members to subscribe to the Newsletter, all people from all the other churches who were kicked out, and all those still attending any church and also those struggling with sin to also subscribe to the Newsletter and read and learn and share and disagree and discuss the things we talk about. You are all welcome.

In The Mail

Here are a couple of emails I got this week from people who have recently come to learn about those things I am teaching here. The first is copy of the letter sent to Sid Ross.

Dear Sid,

Over the past few years I have contributed hundreds of dollars toward your ministry because I felt it was a great ministry. Yesterday I cancelled my monthly donations and I want to explain why.

I have learned that the law is not done away with (which I didn’t believe anyway) and that the fourth commandment, to keep the Sabbath Holy really does mean to keep the Sabbath Holy! The Sabbath is Saturday, not Sunday. The holy days in Leviticus 23 are YHVH’s holy days; these feasts are not just for the Jews. We are to keep them and not add to them or take away from them.

That means no more Christmas, no more Easter, no Hanukkah, nor Purim.  That also means that we do not go to church on Sunday but we meet on the Sabbath and do not do any servile work on that day either.

Another thing I have learned thanks to Jim Staley’s teachings is that Israel isn’t just the tiny nation in the middle east. Israel is Canada, the USA, the Commonwealth nations. That means that the prophecies in Isaiah, Daniel, and Jeremiah among others are for us. Those warnings are for us. We need the Christian community to understand this.

I have started following Joseph Dumond, a ditch digger from Canada, who has had some incredible revelation from YHVH since he started to keep the Feasts and the Sabbatical Years.

I would like to direct you to his website and would hope that you could have him as a guest on your program. www.sightedmoon.com

Because most of your guests are Sunday worshipers and I would assume that most of your viewers are as well, I cannot support your ministry any longer. If you come into the Truth and start walking it out I will be happy to support your ministry once again.

Shalom brother, Laura Clarke

And another email:

Joseph Dumond keep at what you are doing for it is truly YHVH’s work. When I realized after serving Him for 40 years that I wasn’t keeping the sabbath and eating unclean animals etc…I was like why oh why did I not see what is written right there and that “the church” teaches ohhhh but that’s the Old Testament, well I felt physically sick and repentant. I have spent a lot of time listening to and reading from different people teaching now and most of them start out good and then dive into craziness and I’m like man why did they have to go there, ugh false prophet false teaching….. but there is you and I didn’t have that moment and I so greatly appreciate the time and effort you have put forth with your research and sharing it with others. For truly people are so wicked it would have been much easier to just walk away and not share this message. Your message, HIS message to keep those commands, the sabbath, the sabbatical years, the feasts, it is changing lives.

I connected my ipad to the tv and my family had a big screen marathon of all your videos at the beginning of the year. And some I have gone back and reviewed multiple times. We can’t wait for more videos!
Marie Jones

The 9th of Av

This coming week The 9th of AV, the 9th day of the 5th month is on Wednesday August 6, 2014.  Why do we mention this? We have many new readers to our Newsletter and we want to educate them on our history. With the current fighting going on in Gaza, it is always something to keep in mind and to watch. Especially because of those things I wrote about in The Prophecies of Abraham, which we will talk more about next week. The following is taken from Chabad.org with editing on the dates because they use those dates from Rabbi Jose of the Seder OLam which we have written to you about in our book Remembering the Sabbatical year of 2016.

The 9th of Av, Tisha b’Av, commemorates a list of catastrophes so severe it’s clearly a day specially cursed by G?d.
Picture this: The year is 1377 BCE. The Israelites are in the desert, recently having experienced the miraculous Exodus, and are now poised to enter the Promised Land. But first they dispatch a reconnaissance mission to assist in formulating a prudent battle strategy. The spies return on the eighth day of Av and report that the land is unconquerable. That night, the 9th of Av, the people cry. They insist that they’d rather go back to Egypt than be slaughtered by the Canaanites. G?d is highly displeased by this public demonstration of distrust in His power, and consequently that generation of Israelites never enters the Holy Land. Only their children have that privilege, after wandering in the desert for another 40 years.
The First Temple was also destroyed on the 9th of Av (586 BCE). Five centuries later (in 70 CE), as the Romans drew closer to the Second Temple, ready to torch it, the Jews were shocked to realize that their Second Temple was destroyed the same day as the first.
When the Jews rebelled against Roman rule they believed that their leader, Simon bar Kochba, would fulfill their messianic longings. But their hopes were cruelly dashed in 133 CE as the Jewish rebels were brutally butchered in the final battle at Betar. The date of the massacre? Of course—the 9th of Av!
One year after their conquest of Betar, the Romans plowed over the Temple Mount, our nation’s holiest site.
The Jews were expelled from England in 1290 CE on, you guessed it, Tisha b’Av. In 1492, the Golden Age of Spain came to a close when Queen Isabella and her husband Ferdinand ordered that the Jews be banished from the land. The edict of expulsion was signed on March 31, 1492, and the Jews were given exactly four months to put their affairs in order and leave the country. The Hebrew date on which no Jew was allowed any longer to remain in the land where he had enjoyed welcome and prosperity? Oh, by now you know it—the 9th of Av.
Ready for just one more? World War II and the Holocaust, historians conclude, was actually the long drawn-out conclusion of World War I that began in 1914. And yes, amazingly enough, Germany declared war on Russia, effectively catapulting the First World War into motion on the 9th of Av, Tisha b’Av. What do you make of all this? Jews see this as another confirmation of the deeply held conviction that history isn’t haphazard; events – even terrible ones – are part of a Divine plan and have spiritual meaning. The message of time is that everything has a rational purpose, even though we don’t understand it.

I have wanted to share the following article since Shavuot but have had too many other things come up to write about. So now we would like to share this teaching which our Brother David Sloss presented at the Feast of Pentecost here in Hanover, Ontario, Canada.

The Original Internet

Dr. David Sloss, BSc., MA, PhD. Baraka International Ministries
Today we take for granted the ability to be in touch with others virtually instantaneously! Technology provides increasingly faster ways to communicate and to share our views with others.
But there was a time when such instant communication did not exist yet like the internet.
I am speaking of the many connections which exist within the text of the Bible and the Torah in particular. Yes, behind many of the well known stories with which many of us have grown up, there are connections which provide added depth and perspective on the various stories with which we are so familiar.
Let’s begin our journey with that well known love story which is recorded for us in the Book of Ruth. Short, concise, detailed in a minimalist way, yet full of that which draws us into the romance and intrigue of a story from the time of the Judges in Israel’s history. Yet, we have become accustomed to reading this story on one of the annual Feast days, Pentecost or Shavuot. We read and enjoy but do we ever ask why this is chosen for our reading or what the purpose is behind the story with which we are so familiar?
Let’s begin with a verse from Ruth:

“Bo‘az answered her, “I’ve heard the whole story, everything you’ve done for your mother-in-law since your husband died, including how you left your father and mother and the land you were born in to come to a people about whom you knew nothing beforehand.”(2:11; CJB)

A brief summary of what has gone on in the life of Ruth and which has been conveyed to Bo’az. Before we read on, as we so often do, let’s stop and ask ourselves a question, “Doesn’t this sound like something we have read before?”…It is here that we are looking for those, behind–the–scenes connections which we overlook so frequently! Is there something there? Have we traded a story for a much broader account?
The answer lies in Genesis:

“ Now ADONAI said to Avram, “Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you.”(12:1; CJB)

Leave your tribal background, leave your family, leave your country, leave your heritage and all with which you are familiar and go …to an unfamiliar land. Are these just coincidental commonalities or is there a connection here into which we need to look more deeply?
It seems on the surface that the story of Ruth is in some way, connected to the story of Abram. We need to explore whether there are more associations which will confirm our initial suspicion.

Genesis 17:3–6 “And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.”
Ruth 4:13  So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.…and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Here we see another subtle connection between the stories: God told Abram that kings would come from his lineage and we see that this became a reality in the life of Ruth with the birth of Obed who was the grandfather of King David. More internet Scriptural connections!
But, before we examine further connections we need to explore more deeply the story of Abram and ask some penetrating questions. He is the Patriarch of the Jewish faith and the beginning of the exclusive choosing of a people called God’s firstborn. So, why did God choose this man from Mesopotamia to be the progenitor of His chosen people? The text seems to be matter–of–fact in stating, without reason, “Get yourself out of your country …and go …”
Is this the real beginning of the story of Abram or is there something hidden in those often overlooked genealogical transition lists which is pertinent to our pursuit? It turns out that there may be and it is to that which we turn in our search!

Genesis 11:24–32: “Nachor lived twenty-nine years and fathered Terah. 25 After Terach was born, Nachor lived another 119 years and had sons and daughters. Terach lived seventy years and fathered Avram, Nachor and Haran. 27 Here is the genealogy of Terach. Terach fathered Avram, Nachor and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot. 28 Haran died before his father Terach in the land where he was born, in Ur of the Kasdim. Then Avram and Nachor took wives for themselves. The name of Avram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nachor’s wife was Milkah the daughter of Haran. He was the father of Milkah and of Yiskah. 30 Sarai was barren —she had no child. 31 Terach took his son Avram, his son Haran’s son Lot, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Avram’s wife; and they left Ur of the Kasdim to go to the land of Kena‘an. But when they came to Haran, they stayed there. 32 Terach lived 205 years, and he died in Haran.”

Wow! Names we can hardly pronounce and who really cares about the generations which are millennia ago in some historical record? Do we really need to know who married who and the children they had? Let’s not rush to dismiss what may appear to be something of limited value and greater frustration! But therein lies the connection – the search is going to be rewarding if we do not give up! Let’s summarize this:

• Terah has three sons –Abram, Nachor and Haran
• One of the sons –Haran had two daughters, Milkah and Iscah and a son Lot
• Haran dies before his father while still living in Ur in Mesopotamia
  • Now things get interesting if you are still reading!
    • After Haran dies, brothers Abram and Nachor marry Milkah and Sarai.
    • But what does Sarai mean in Hebrew? Princess
    • What does Iscah mean in Hebrew? Princess
    • And, what about this bald statement, seemingly without a context that Sarai was barren? This does not become an issue in the Abram story until some ten years later!
    • Is it possible that the two brothers Abram and Nachor married two sisters, Milkah and Iscah?

That is a real possibility since the name of Abram’s wife means the same as the second sister Iscah.
Let’s step back here and see what is going on. A brother dies and other brothers marry his daughters. What are we to see in this? Could it be a form of early levirate marriage which became practice years later in the Torah?
Good question and I’m glad you asked because the Scriptural internet has some other fascinating connects to examine and tie together for us!
When we scrutinize the Hebrew wording of Genesis 11, we see a word which appears twice in this chapter and on further examination, no other place in the Torah. Hint: This is a worthy connection to consider.

Genesis 11:30 “…they dwelt/settled there.”
Genesis 11:2 “…and they dwelt/settled there.”

Only twice in the Torah and both here in the same chapter in what we would consider two different stories. But, here we see another internet Scriptural connection.
What commonality is there between the stories of Abram and Tower of Babel? Keep asking such questions because from the questions come answers in our search.

Genesis 11:4 “And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, …”

Could this be a clue in our search? The Tower of Babel was all about unified activity towards the goal of “making a name for ourselves.”But how does that tie into the Abram story?
We have two brothers marring two sisters in the hope of carrying on the name of the deceased brother. There it is. Both stories are connected on the level of making a name – in the one case for ourselves in the other through self-sacrificing action, for another.
This raises more questions although it does seem to give us some answers in our search. Is Abram going to be seeking a name for himself through this marriage or is he going to be seeking to promote the name of his deceased brother?
Let’s summarize so far in our search:

• Both stories of Ruth and Abram contain similar language drawing us to consider them together;
• In examining the Abram story through its genealogy we see what could be an early example of levirate marriage which would become normal practice in the Torah;
• Through the unique use of a verb appearing only twice in the Torah and both in the same chatter in two different stories, we can connect the Abram story with the Tower of Babel; and,
• This connection seems to be about either promoting our own name or living in such a way that we promote the name of others.
• Which path will Abram take? 

Up until the time of the Tower of Babel, during the era of Adam and Eve and even up to the time of Noah, there was a need for only one world spokesman for YHVH. Now after the dispersion from the Tower, YHVH needed to choose one man, one family, to live in such a godly way that the nations of the world would see a definite difference. The Tower incident provided both the need for an Abram and the means by which such a plan might indeed fail!
Will Abram following the path of the Builders of the Tower and seek a name for himself, or, will he follow the instructions of YHVH demonstrating that his name would become great as a result of his obedience?

As Abram roams the land not yet his, he builds altars or at least sacrifices on altars to YHVH, altars build of field stone, uncut in contrast to the Tower builders who fashioned bricks for their enterprise. Such seemingly simple differences are profound because inherent in them is the issue of obedience to the commands of YHVH.
Let’s look once again at the Generation of Terah and summarize the important issues:

• He had three sons –Abram, Nachor and Charan
• Charan dies
• Brothers act to maintain his progeny and name
  • Hebrew word meaning to take a wife: ????
  • Death of the Father
  • Headed to the land of Canaan

10 Generations previous, we see a similar situation which is worthy of consideration: Noah, particularly in the scene after drinking the wine:

• He had three sons –Shem, Ham, Japheth
• Ham is ostracized and alienated
• Brothers act to maintain the dignity of their Father
• Genesis 9:23 the same Hebrew word appears, ????
• Death of the Father
• Canaan, the grandson is cursed.

Gen 9:23  ????  ???  ???? ????????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ???? 

Are these similarities mere coincidence or is there a connection which we are being directed to observe?
Consider something that is only in the Hebrew text:

Gen 11:28  ???? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? 
Gen 11:29  ???? ???? ????? ??? ????? ??? ????????? ???? ???? ????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ????? 

If we look carefully for the word shem embedded in these verses, we notice something strange about this word which means name in English. In this verse, each successive mention of the word shem, is placing the letters further and further apart as to tell us that in the incident of Noah, the name of YHVH is become less and less significant.

This takes on added import when we see a similar arrangement in the life of Abram: As this verse progresses, the exact opposite to what was observed in the previous passage is noted. With each occurrence, the letters shin and mem are coming closer together! Is this trying to tell us that the Name of YHVH will become more significant because of the life which Abram lives? An interesting conjecture!
10 Generations prior to Noah we have Adam and Eve. Let’s see what there is here of similar nature:

• He had three sons –Cain, Abel and Seth
• One son dies
• Brother Cain does NOT act but merely responds with the famous line: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”In the process a whole line of humanity is snuffed out and he seems ambivalent about the whole matter!
• Genesis 4:25, 26 –Adam and Eve take steps to replace the lost brother.
• Is this the first act of yibum not by brothers but by parents on behalf of a child?

Let’s summarize these three accounts to this point:

1. Ist Generation –Adam and Eve
   1. One brother, Cain stands idly by after having killed Abel
   2. Parents act in a form of levirate marriage to have another son so that the name of the deceased may continue in the line of Seth
2. 10 Generations later –Noah
   1. Tragedy strikes
   2. Cham cursed
   3. Brothers act to maintain the dignity of the Father
3. 10 Generations later –Abram and Nachor
   1. Brothers helping brothers after the death of Charan
   2. Brothers take wives to raise up progeny and keep the brothers name alive
   3. Emphasis in the life of Israel: Brother helping brother –Love your neighbour as yourself!

We observe a progression in these three scenarios:

• Parent helping children
• Children helping parents
• Brothers helping brothers

Now we naturally have to ask the question, What about 10 generations later –Who was there that lived and does the pattern continue?
Again, genealogies to the rescue!

Abraham: Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Peretz, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nashon, Salmon, Boaz.
There you have it –10 generations after Abraham, we have Boaz in the story of Ruth where our search began. Now we have some additional question to ask of our story in Ruth to see if our findings continue or come to an end.

1. Elimelech – left Judah and went to Moab due to a famine.
   1. Two sons – Machlon (sickness) and Kilyon (destruction) –Jewish
   2. Tragedy strikes and Elimelech dies
   3. Brothers go into action taking wives –Orpah and Ruth (Moabitesses)
   4. Both sons die in Moab
   5. Son’s action was not protecting the heritage of their father – children would have been result of inter-breeding.
   6. Question: What has happened to the legacy of Elimelech?

The story in Ruth takes an interesting turn with the statement of blessing to Ruth by Boaz becoming the very statement which is used to propose his acting as her kinsmen-redeemer – her go’el. In 2:12 we read, ““Let YHVH shelter you beneath His wings …”but that statement of blessing becomes the very words used by Ruth to Boaz to move into action. In 3:9, Ruth, in essence says, “Marry me …its not about me but your dead brother …spread your wings over me because you are a redeemer.”Or, putting it in indisputable terms, If YHVH can spread His wings over me, than so can you!

We are familiar with the events of the story and so they are not covered here other than to state, that what was prophesied in Genesis 17:6 about the coming of kings from the lineage of Abraham, was about to become reality through the actions of Ruth and Boaz. With the birth of Obed, we have the grandfather of King David.

Abram’s selfless act for his brother Charan now comes around so that his descendants along with Ruth are doing the same thing for Abraham’s children.
Ruth is connected to Pentecost through the fact that she exemplifies the core issue of the codified mission statement of Israel – “Love the Lord your God and your neighbour as yourself.”This brotherly love, putting aside our own legacy (towers) for the sake of others, allows “YHVH’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven!”

In summary, then in answer to the question why do we read the Book of Ruth at Shavuot, as believers in Messiah, we can state the following, in point form for your further contemplation:

1. It brings unity to the Biblical Promise (mission statement) and Eternal covenant.
2. It shows the development of the understanding of yibum Deuteronomy 24:5f–???
   1. Parent for child –Adam and Eve
   2. Child for parent –Noah and sons
   3. Brothers for brother – Abraham and Nachor
   4. Believers for Gentiles –Boaz
3. It points us to the future kingly dynasty of David/Solomon.
4. It points us to the future Messiah.
5. It recalls Yeshua’s emphasis on the codification of the mission statement to Israel:
   1. Love the YHVH with all you heart, soul, mind and resources;
   2. Loving your neighbour as yourself as one means of fulfilling (A); and,
   3. Further, the statement of John 13:35 brings clarity to these commands as the basis of our witness to the world.
6. It points to the eternal nature of the promise/covenant as the only means of access to the tree of life through which we have entry into the city –Revelation 22:14.
7. It demonstrates God’s faithfulness in periods of historic darkness when His plans seem so far from being fulfilled.

Looking behind the details of a story provide us with interlinks in Scripture which give us insights into the intricacies of the total revelation which we have been given.
Perhaps you will never again read the Book of Ruth merely as a simple story of love and redemption!

Triennial Torah reading

We continue this weekend with our regular Triennial Torah reading

Gen 49         1 Kings 1         Ps 99-102        Luke 12

Death and Burial (Genesis 49:29—50:26)

After his father’s death, Joseph fulfilled Jacob’s request to be buried in the same cave in which Abraham and Isaac had been entombed at the time of their deaths. Joseph, who had sworn to take care of this, did as his father had asked, along with his brothers and even the Egyptian elders and the servants of Pharaoh. Mourning the death of Jacob with Joseph as they would for Egyptian royalty illustrates the great respect the Egyptians had for Joseph, the man whom God had used to save them from famine and by whom their nation was greatly enriched.

Joseph also wished to eventually be buried in the land of his fathers. Knowing that God would later bring the children of Israel out of Egypt and back to Canaan, he made them swear to “carry up my bones from here” (verse 25). However, as a national figure in Egypt, he was first put in a coffin in Egypt rather than being buried in his homeland right away. That Joseph anticipated his burial in Egypt and the Exodus as well is clear from the obligation he bound on the descendants of Israel. Moses would make good on the oath more than 200 years later by taking Joseph’s bones out of Egypt during the Exodus (Exodus 13:19). The bones remained with the children of Israel until they entered the Promised Land and were eventually buried in Shechem (Joshua 24:32).
The bones of the patriarchs being buried in the land of Canaan may well have symbolized their future inheritance of the Promised Land, itself representative of God’s coming Kingdom—and indeed that is where they will awaken at the inauguration of God’s Kingdom when Yeshua Messiah returns. Of course, regardless of where our bones might be buried, the saints of God will all be awakened at Christ’s return to establish the true Promised Land, God’s Kingdom, over all the earth.

Adonijah Presumes Himself the Next King (1 Kings 1:1-27)

Undoubtedly, all of David’s existing wives were too old themselves to provide the type of ’round-the-clock nursing care that Abishag was able to provide as David lay suffering from lack of body heat. “Using a healthy person’s body warmth to care for a sick person is a medical procedure noted by the second-century Greek physician Galen and the Jewish historian Josephus” (Nelson Study Bible, note on verses 1-3). Abishag was a Shunammite, making her from the town of Shunem—probably the same town, in the territory of Issachar (Joshua 19:18), at which the Philistines gathered before they attacked and killed Saul (1 Samuel 28:4). That would also be the town of the family the prophet Elisha later stayed with frequently during his ministry (2 Kings 4:8).
Seizing on this time of old-age weakness, David’s son Adonijah tries to put himself forward as the next king. Adonijah was David’s fourth son (see 2 Samuel 3:2-5), but his first, Amnon, and third, Absalom, were already dead. (Most commentators believe that David’s second son, Chileab, died young as he is not mentioned since birth and is evidently not a factor when Absalom sets himself up as heir-apparent.)

Yet it is clear that the oldest son was not to be king in this case anyway. God through David had already chosen David’s younger son Solomon as successor to the throne (1 Kings 1:13, 17, 30; 2:15; 1 Chronicles 22:9-10). And Adonijah was apparently aware of this since he deliberately avoided inviting to his sacrifice those who would support the king’s designate (1 Kings 1:8, 10). Thus, Adonijah is exalting himself against God’s will. But even now, late in his life, David has a hard time exercising proper discipline when it comes to his children (verse 6). As with his older half-brother Absalom (compare 2 Samuel 14:25), who was now long dead, Adonijah was very good-looking, and he used some of Absalom’s tactics to gain the kingdom (15:1). It should be noted that a casual reading of verse 6 of 1 Kings 1 might lead one to believe that the two men had the same mother, but Absalom’s mother was Maacah, and Adonijah’s mother was Haggith (verse 5; 2 Samuel 3:3-4).

It is probably no coincidence that Abiathar sided with Adonijah, as a way for God to work out His plan to bring to an end the priestly succession of the family of Eli (compare 1 Samuel 2:27-36). Joab, too, may have been influenced in some way by God to make this choice—to set him up for the punishment his life’s record demanded

Psalm 99 is the last of the set of royal psalms beginning with Psalm 93. It appears to form a couplet with Psalm 98, as Psalm 97 does with 96. Psalms 97 and 99 both open with the same key phrase, “The LORD reigns,” and they both mention the special benefits of this reign to Zion. This can refer to the physical city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants or to God’s spiritual people. “Jacob” in 99:4 refers to the physical nation of Israel, wherein God has previously executed just and righteous rule and will do so again in His Kingdom—as a preview of how He will then extend His rule to all nations.

A running theme through Psalm 98 is God’s holiness. Note the similar refrain at the end of verses 3, 5 and 9: “He is holy…He is holy…the LORD our God is holy.” As The Nelson Study Bible explains: “Holy means to be ‘distant’ or ‘distinct from.’ This is the principle word used to describe the transcendence of God (113:4-6)” (note on Psalm 99:3). In line with this, verse 2 states that God is “high above all the peoples.” Another commentator says: “The word ‘holy’ means ‘separate, set apart, totally different.’ God’s nature is ‘wholly other,’ yet He was willing to dwell with His people and meet their needs” (Wiersbe, Be Exultant, noteonverses 1-3). Indeed, despite how high above us God is (compare Isaiah 55:8-9), we are also told that “He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27).
In response to the majesty and power of God’s reign, people on earth should tremble and shake with awe (Psalm 99:1, NIV). God dwelling “between the cherubim” (same verse) may refer to God’s exalted throne in heaven—yet the significance here may be that of God coming down to the earthly model of His heavenly throne in the tabernacle or temple. Recall the two golden cherubim fashioned to cover the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18-20). During the time of Israel’s wilderness years, God met with Moses at the mercy seat: “And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony” (Exodus 25:22). This would seem to parallel the later statement in Psalm 99 regarding God speaking to Moses, Aaron and Samuel “in the cloudy pillar” (verse 7), which came down into the tabernacle, evidently still in Samuel’s day as it later did in Solomon’s temple (see 1 Kings 8:10-11). Even so, when Christ comes in power to rule the nations, He will rule from the earthly temple in Jerusalem and the pillar of cloud and fire will be restored (Isaiah 4:5).

Worshiping at God’s “footstool” in Psalm 99:5 connotes a feeling of humility. From His throne in heaven, God looks on the earth as His footstool (Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:35). Yet more specifically, He refers to the place of His tabernacle or temple as His footstool (Psalm 132:7; Isaiah 60:13)—and that is evidently what is meant here, given the parallel mention of God’s “holy hill” (Psalm 99:9). “When the Israelites came to the temple in Jerusalem to worship, they pictured themselves as being at the feet of the Creator” (Nelson Study Bible, note on verse 5).

In verse 6, Moses is classed with Aaron as a priest in the sense of an intercessor between God and man. Indeed, all of the spiritually converted people of God are considered to form a priesthood (1 Peter 2:5, 9). The psalmist remembers that God answered the faithful men of old—Moses, Aaron and Samuel serving as examples of this (there having been many others). Although God punished their sins, He still answered them with forgiveness: “You were to them God-Who-Forgives” (verse 8).

The psalmist infers that, “since God answered the prayers of our ancestors, surely He will continue to answer the prayers of those who call upon Him” (Nelson Study Bible, note on verse 6). Indeed, He does so today and will do so even more dramatically when His coming reign over the earth is established. All of this again demonstrates that despite God’s high and holy transcendence above our lowly earthly existence, He is intimately concerned with His people and faithfully responds to their worship and prayers.

Psalm 100 is an unattributed psalm of public thanksgiving to God that follows the set of royal psalms from 93 to 99. “Perhaps the ancient editors felt that the royal psalms demanded the response of worship provided by this psalm” (Nelson Study Bible, note on Psalm 100). The psalm also closes the entire section of psalms beginning with Psalm 90. Psalm 100 is related to Psalm 95:1-2 and, as we will see, to 95:6-7. And its opening words in 100:1 are the same in Hebrew as the first line of Psalm 98:4, there translated, “Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.”

The full response to this call will later come when Yeshua Messiah establishes the Kingdom of God on the earth. Under His rule, everyone will experience the gladness (verse 2) of living in harmony with God. At that time singing with joy to the Lord will be natural and spontaneous. In the meantime, worshipers come before Him anticipating the future with joy—in spite of circumstances of the world.
The basis for giving thanks is that God, as our Creator, has made us. We did not make ourselves (verse 3). “For in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Moreover, God guides us, cares for us and provides for us as a shepherd does his sheep (see Psalm 100:3b). The same basis for praise is laid out in Psalm 95:6-7.

We are commanded to enter into God’s presence and worship Him because He is eternally good, loving and merciful (verses 4-5). The gates and courts here picture the temple where people come through the gates into the courts to praise God as a congregation. It also symbolizes the fellowship and worship of God’s spiritual temple today, His people, as well as the great throngs of worship in the coming Kingdom.

A Royal Oath of Office; A Testimony for the Future (Psalms 101-102)

As the Zondervan NIV Study Bible points out, Psalms 101-110 appear to form “a collection of ten psalms located between two other groups (…Ps 90-100; 111-119) and framed by two psalms that pertain to the king (the first, the king’s vow to pattern his reign after God’s righteous rule; the last, God’s commitment to maintain the king—his anointed—and give him victories over all his enemies. This little psalter-within-the-Psalter is concentrically arranged. Inside the frame [of 101 and 110], Ps 102 and 109 are prayers of individuals in times of intense distress; [within these] Ps 103 and 108 praise the Lord for his ‘great…love’ that reaches to the heavens (103:11; 108:4); [within these] Ps 104 and 107 are complements, with 104 celebrating God’s many wise and benevolent acts in creation and 107 celebrating God’s ‘wonderful deeds’ (vv. 8, 15, 21, 24, 31) for people through his lordship over creation; and [finally within these] the remaining two are also complements, with Ps 105 reciting the history of Israel’s redemption and 106 reciting the same history as a history of Israel’s rebellion. This little psalter includes most of the forms and themes found in the rest of the psalter. Its outer frame is devoted to royal psalms and its center pair to recitals of Israel’s history with God…. As a collection it bears a distinctly redemption-history stamp and evokes recollection of all the salient elements of the O[ld] T[estament] message” (note on Psalms 101-110).

Given this apparent collection, there is the obvious problem of the book division occurring within it at Psalm 107. Recall, however, from the Bible Reading Program’s introduction to Psalms that the division between Books IV and V of the Psalter appears to be an artificial late change—seemingly made primarily to create a fivefold division of the Psalms to correspond with the five books of the Law, likely to have the temple songs follow along with the Scripture reading cycle. We will note more about this matter when we come to Psalm 107 in our reading.

Psalm 101 is a royal psalm of David composed in the form a commitment. As is the case with most psalms, it is not clear whether he originally intended this as a solely personal expression or planned from the beginning for it to be used by others. In any event, when included in the Psalter its words of commitment were certainly to be proclaimed by others—these being successor rulers (as only they had the power to administer justice in the fashion proclaimed in the psalm). Thus, the psalm could have become a sort of oath of office.

David is determined to “behave wisely in a perfect way” or, as the New International Version renders this, to “be careful to lead a blameless life” (verse 2). He begins by praising God, because God’s mercy (or lovingkindness) and justice motivate David to rule Israel with the same gracious care and upright fairness.

God had made known His expectations for the kings of Israel (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). The king was to write his own copy of the law and study it “all the days of his life” so that he would properly fear God, administer God’s laws and treat his subjects with respect. David vows that in his “house”—his royal office and administration—he will be scrupulous in matters of justice, love and mercy (Psalm 101:2b). By leading a “blameless” life, David meant that he would live with integrity and integrate his life with God’s purpose. He was not implying that he would never sin (though he would of course strive not to).
The question “Oh, when will you come to me?” (verse 2) may refer to David’s need for special help from God, or it may relate to the Ark of the Covenant. As one commentator explains regarding this verse: “Once David was established on the throne in Jerusalem, he had a consuming desire to bring the ark of God back to the sanctuary so that God’s throne might be near his throne. His question in verse 2, ‘When will you come to me?’ reflects this desire. The ark had been in the house of Abinidab for many years (1 Sam. 6:1-7:2) and then in the house of Obed-Edom after David’s aborted attempt to relocate it (2 Sam. 6:1-11)” (Wiersbe, Be Exultant, introductory note on Psalm 101). There was a great lesson in the latter episode. For God’s law, which David as king was to read and write his own copy of, clearly states how the ark was to be transported. God does want to “come to” us—but only on His terms.
David states that his administration will be different from how other kings in the region ruled. He says he will set “nothing wicked” or “no vile thing” (NIV)—literally, no thing of Belial (this word connoting utter worthlessness and later used as a name for Satan)—before his eyes. He may be referring to an idol or an evil practice or person—with setting this thing or person before the eyes meaning looking to it or such a person for guidance or affording it or him a place of honor and privilege in his presence. This would not happen in David’s reign.

By “the deeds of faithless men” (verse 3, NIV) or “the work of those who fall away” (NKJV), David may be referring to Saul’s administration—that he will have no part with that kind of leadership. David had a consuming desire to clean things up when he took office. “When David became king, first in Hebron and then at Jerusalem, he inherited a divided land and a discouraged people whose spiritual life was at low ebb. Asaph described the situation in 78:56-72 and named David as God’s answer to Israel’s problems. Everything rises and falls with leadership, but many of King Saul’s officers were fawning flattering ‘toadies’ who were unable to work with a man like David” (same note).

In support of David’s desire for a righteous administration, he states that no one in his employ will lie, practice deceit, slander, or demonstrate a lack of respect for others—rather, going to the heart of good leadership, he will look for the faithful of the land to serve with him (verses 4-7). The Expositor’s Bible Commentary states: “The king invites only people of integrity to ‘dwell’ with him and to serve in his presence as appointed courtiers. Only by surrounding himself with the best and most capable men who will advance the interest of God can the king rest assured that the kingdom of God is strengthened” (note on verse 6).

David closes the psalm with a vow that it would be part of his daily routine to rout evil and wickedness from the land, especially in Jerusalem—the standard would be set there in his capital city first (verse 8).

Of course, as a fallible human being, David did not always live up to his intentions. Consider that such a despicable person as his nephew Joab was high in David’s administration for the length of its duration. The commitments of this psalm will be perfectly fulfilled during the administration of David’s descendant Yeshua Messiah—which will include David himself, then resurrected and perfect, as well as all believers who remain faithful to Yeshua, who will then serve as divine kings under Him.

Psalm 102 is a lamenting prayer by an unnamed individual in severe affliction and distress—apparently during a time of national distress: “The title…in accordance with vv. 1-11, 23-24…designates the prayer as that of an individual. But vv. 12-22, 28 clearly indicate national involvement in the calamity. It may be that the distress suffered by the individual, while its description suggests physical illness, is the result of his sharing in a national disaster such as the exile—a suggestion supported by references to the restoration of Zion” (Zondervan NIV Study Bible, note on Psalm 102 title). Indeed, beyond the lament, the psalm also looks forward with hope and faith to the restoration of God’s people—in an ultimate sense at the establishment of His Kingdom—making this a fitting psalm for its placement in Book IV of the Psalter, which points to the time of the coming messianic reign.

The prayer opens with a plea that God would hear the psalmist’s cry and quickly come to his aid (verses 1-2). In these two short verses he makes five requests for God’s attention: hear me; let my cry come to you; don’t hide from me; turn your ear to me; answer me quickly. The situation is simply awful. Life, its delights gone, is ebbing away. In his constant grief and despair the psalmist forgets about and doesn’t feel like eating—leading to malnutrition and emaciation (verses 3-5, 9, 11). He feels forsaken, isolated, alone, vulnerable and unable to sleep—like some lonely bird eking out a tentative existence on its own (verses 6-7). His torment is magnified by the ranting reproach of enemies (verse 8)—perhaps referring to foreigners who have captured him and his countrymen. Where the NKJV says these enemies “swear an oath against me” (same verse), the NIV says that they “use my name as a curse.” That is, “they say, ‘May you become like that one (the one named) is'” (Zondervan, note on verse 8).

He sees his circumstance as God’s judgment (verse 10). And, as already noted, it seems that this refers to calamity that God has brought on the whole nation—not just this representative individual.

But things are not left in despondency and hopelessness. For there is confidence in God’s coming deliverance of His people. The ancient restoration of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile is but a small foretaste of what is pictured here in this psalm. For the “set time” spoken of (verse 13) is the day yet future in which all nations and kings will fear God’s name and His glory (verse 15)—when God in the person of Yeshua Messiah will actually “appear in His glory” (verse 16) and all nations and kingdoms will gather to serve Him (verse 22). The building up of Zion (verse 16) refers to the coming restoration of Israel in the Kingdom of God—as well as the building up of spiritual Zion, God’s people to serve as the holy and perfect administration of that Kingdom. All God’s people who have suffered during all ages will have their prayers fully answered in an ultimate sense (see verse 17).

This wonderful message, the psalmist declares, would be written down for a future generation—a people yet to be created (verse 18). Given the whole context, and the verse that follows, it appears that this coming generation would also face terrible trials just as the psalmist. But given this good news—the gospel of the Kingdom—they would be able to look forward with hope in the midst of suffering and declare God’s praises (verse 18), just as in this psalm.
In verses 23-24, the psalmist remembers his immediate plight and pleas again with God to intervene and not cut his life off early—contrasting his brief existence with God’s eternal life and perspective. Yet it is in God’s eternal existence (verses 24-27) that there is hope for the future. For come what may, He and His purpose will endure. Because God continues, so would His people continue generation after generation (verse 28). This will allow the great restoration looked for in the psalm. And it will also bring, in God’s set time, the perfect restoration of the psalmist himself and of all who have placed their hope and trust throughout the ages in the Eternal God.

Luke 12

Yeshua just completed having it out with the Scribes and Pharisees of the day and chapter 12 opens with Yeshua advising and admonishing His taught ones about the leaven of the Pharisees and that all secret things will be revealed. He tells them not to fear those who can kill the body but then can do no more at all. But to fear the One who has the power to cast into Gehenna. Also because mankind is so much more precious to Elohim than all of creation, we need not fear any man and as we profess Yeshua Messiah before men, He also professes us before Elohim.

As someone from the crowd brought up the issue of inheritance of possessions, Yeshua began teaching concerning earthly possessions and greed for material things. Therefore, He teaches us not to worry about what we shall eat, wear, have for shelter, etc. Our Father, who loves us, knows what we need and He will provide it even before we ask. We should concern ourselves with treasures that are heavenly and prepare and always watch for the Son of Adam and be ready, as a bride awaits a returning groom.

And the ones who have been chosen to shepherd the flock are to always care for them and feed them during the absence of the Master. If the Master delays, the manager is to remain faithful and not become cynical and begin misbehaving toward the flock. Then is seems Yeshua becomes disquieted over what He had to do – His Immersion.