News Letter 5848-023
14th day of the 5th month 5848 years after the creation of Adam
The 5th Month in the Third year of the third Sabbatical Cycle
The Third Sabbatical Cycle of the 119th Jubilee Cycle
The Sabbatical Cycle of Earthquakes Famines, and Pestilences
This is also the end of the Nineteenth week of this the Third Tithe Year for the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow Deuteronomy 26:12

August 4, 2012

Shabbat Shalom Brethren,

On August 4, 2012 I will be speaking with the Brethren in Hanover Ontario about the Great Enlightenment of Our present day. It is the one teaching that never gets recorded even though we have tried many times to do so. This is the teaching that takes you verse by verse through Daniel 9:24-27 and shows you when the covenant with many was made and by whom and with whom and it will show you exactly where we are in the last week of Daniels 70 weeks.

You can listen to the presentation at http://maranathaourlordcometh.com/2.html once it is posted after Shabbat.
Take the time to make the trip to Hanover on Shabbat August 4 and learn this unbelievable teaching.
Then on Sept 1, 2012, for those of you in the Missouri area. I will be speaking at

The Body of Yeshua Holy Temple
1215 S. Sprigg St.
Cape Girardeau MO 63701
Call: Tracy Zimmermann 573-986-8351 or
Winston Williford 573-382-2248

Again we will be covering the Sabbatical and Jubilee years and the Prophecies of Abraham and the 70 weeks of Daniel. So it will be a very full day. Come and expect to learn a great deal.

Once again I want to remind you all that the Feast of Tabernacles is just 2 1/2 months away from now. I urge each and every one of you to make plans to join a group of brethren and camp out for this commanded Holiday. Yehovah tells you to take a tithe of your income and spend it on you and your family over these 8 days. What an awesome and thoughtful Creator we have.

If you can’t join me and Avi in Israel then make sure you attend some group near you this year. Make a point of doing it and decide that you will do it right now.

If you can join us in Israel then you can view the schedule at http://cominghome.co.il/tours/Sukkot%202012%20Pre-Promo.pdf Once you have experienced the Land of Israel you will never be the same again afterwards. Last time I heard from Avi they were getting close to the full mark. I have not heard from him and Dina as they are on tour around the world and are now in the USA.
Where ever you decide to go, make sure you make time for Yehovah and talk to Him.

Well the 9th of Av has come and gone and all of those who exclaimed the Olympics were to be attacked have once again been proven false. I was greatly upset to read one of these urgent emails which had gathered its information from tarot cards and witchcraft information and combined it with the old conspiracy fallacies. When will you people learn?

2Th 2:9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power and signs and wonders of falsehood, 10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, in order for them to be saved. 11 And for this reason Elohim sends them a working of delusion, for them to believe the falsehood,1 Footnote: 1Eze. 20:25, John 9:39, John 12:40, Acts 7:42, Rom. 1:24-28. 12 in order that all should be judged who did not believe the truth, but have delighted in the unrighteousness.

Those of you who know more about the intricacies of the witch’s caldron and their spells or the secret orders of the illuminate and all the secret orders that only you and some special brother of the high priest which just happened to tell your brother this secret info and all such nonsense do not love the truth of Torah. You love the intrigue instead much more. And because of this fact, Yehovah has given you over to believe the delusions and to believe the false teachings of Satan which come from the tree of good and evil. Yes Satan does quote the scriptures and mixes it with the lies that you are forwarding. And He has done this because you delight in unrighteousness. You get turned on to the mysteries of these secret orders and are not turned on to the dull old boring Torah; Which is not dull or boring if you would only read it and learn.
If on the other hand you are actually in love with the Torah…then stop reading this crap about the secret orders and conspiracy teaching, and stop forwarding it on and return to the true worship of Yehovah and study His Torah; And stop listening to those who putting this false information out there.

Do you not see that your own testimony is destroyed each and every time you send that crap out? Those who are considering keeping the Sabbath and the Holy Days from the Christian circles see that you do keep the Sabbath and Holy Days. But then they see these weird Satanic lies mixed in with the truth and they label you just another wacko. Stop it before you drive all the rest of the potential brethren away. By telling people of chem trails and guillotine camps and mass body bags being ordered up, you do Satan’s work; by condemning each and every President that comes along and labeling them the antichrist you again show those potential brethren just how anti authoritarian you truly are and by association the rest of us. This then convinces the rest of the world not to want to become obedient to Torah which is the exact opposite thing that Yehovah is asking you to do.

But if you insist on sending this crap out then remove me from your list and remove yourself from this News Letter. It is just a waste of your time to read this because you have been given over to the lie and it is now too late for you. Good luck to you as that is all you have is luck.
Way back in the late 70’S I was striving to make it to the Olympics. I was third in Shot Put at the Canada Summer Games one year and the fastest in Southwestern Ontario in the 100 yards. Yes it was yards then and not meters as it now is. In Lacrosse we had won a number of Provincial titles and I was about to turn pro when the Professional Lacrosse League folded up. Now the pro league has many of the kids of the men I used to play with and against in it.

When my son took up sports he worked his way on to the Canadian National Volleyball team playing at an elite level across Canada and USA and Europe. He was voted MVP in a series of games against the powerful USA National team. I also coached my son in Beach Volleyball and hosted a number of tournaments here in Orangeville where we invited the best in Ontario to come out to play. He would later fall in love and that would be the end of sports for him. One of those boys who played with us and against us at times both on the provincial team and at the national level and also in the beach courts has made it to the Olympics in London this summer. He is now called Dr. Josh Binstock and I am quite pleased and proud to know that he has reached this huge milestone. I do get excited to see the athletes in many areas of sports fighting through the pain and working the long hours alone when no one thinks of them or even knows of them. I can feel the pride of the parents in the stands as they watch each and every moment of their Childs efforts to be the best at what they do. Josh would finish third in his pool this week and it does not look like they will make it to the medal round. But hey they did make it to the Olympics; an outstanding achievement. How many of us can claim the same?

You too brethren are running the race of your lives. Strive to be the very best you can be at obeying His commandments. You too do this alone much of the time and only you know how hard you are studying to learn.
Our Father in Heaven gets a huge lump in His throat when we strive for and reach perfection.

Mat 5:48 “Therefore, be perfect, as your Father in the heavens is perfect.

Gen 17:1 And it came to be when Ab?ram was ninety-nine years old, that ???? appeared to Ab?ram and said to him, “I am ?l Shaddai – walk before Me and be perfect.

Psa 119:1 Blessed are the perfect in the way, Who walk in the Torah of ????!

1Jn 2:5 But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of Elohim has been perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

Heb 6:1 Therefore, having left the word of the beginning of the Messiah, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of belief toward Elohim,

1Jn 3:24 And the one guarding His commands stays in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He stays in us, by the Spirit which He gave us.1 Footnote: 1John 14:23-24, Acts 5:32, Rom. 8:7-11, 1 John 2:5, 1 John 4:13.

Each of us is to strive for perfection and we are able to do this as we keep the commandments and guard them and do them and do not mix them with other teachings. If we do not mix them with conspiracy teachings and as I have said in the past if we do not mix them with Pentecostal and spiritualism teachings. These two perversions are the two doing the most damage to the body at this time. I urge you all to resist these subtle suggestions from those who work unknowingly for Satan promoting these deceptive teachings that feel and sound good but when they are examined are proven false each and every time.

Be You Perfect as My Father in Heaven is Perfect. The Angels in Heaven rejoice over each of you as your strive towards that perfection. And if they do then I can just imagine our Father on the side lines yelling at you encouraging you to keep going and not to give up. You brethren are in the Olympics of all time. You have been called from amongst 7 billion people on this earth to run this race and appear before the King at His son’s wedding. Strive with all that is in you for that perfection. And you do this by keeping the Torah, keeping the commandments and not mixing in things from your former religions.

Just imagine if you will; you have been called from amongst the entire population of the earth. And you have been called at this the end of the 6th day, at the end of this 119th Jubilee cycle when the 120th one is about to begin, when the 7th Millennium is about to begin. All of the Saints who have ever lived longed for this time and you get to live it out. You get to witness it and walk through it.

Luk 15:8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she finds it? 9 “And having found it, she calls friends and neighbours together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I lost!’ 10 “I say to you, in the same way there is joy in the presence of the messengers of Elohim over one sinner repenting.”

So put aside all these false teachings and false studies that are leading you away from Torah and return to the Torah and it alone and to studying it in detail. This way we all can be standing in front of the King and receive our rewards for having obeyed and learned His Torah.
A couple of years ago after coming to understand the Prophecies of Abraham and the Sabbatical cycles and what that means for North America, I began to ask you all to join me in raising enough funds to purchase a farm in Israel.

We had a number of you step up to the plate and donate towards this cause. I also at that time prayed for someone to come along in Israel to help us to do this. We met a couple who agreed to work with me and I forwarded them $3000 to repair their car and provide the gas to go and look for properties.

When I got to Israel they took me around. But most of the places we had in mind that could house a number of the brethren and provide food for them cost over 1 Million and as much as 2.5 Million.

From that time until now we have only collected around $40,000.
I made an agreement with this couple that they would be the ones to work the farm once we got this going.
Last year in July I knew we had to raise over 1 Million just to begin to look at some property seriously and so I told you that if we had not raised this amount by July of 2012, I would send it back.

In June of 2012 I again wrote you and advised you to send me your current addresses so I could begin to return the funds to you. But instead a number of you wrote as this person did.

Shalom, Mr. Dumond!

First off, we want you to know that we do *not* want our $ back. We still believe in the farm vision, but more importantly we believe that what you were able to provide for our Brother Boaz and Sister Rinah hit the mark. We are delighted to hear that $5K went to help their farm; perhaps this was the Father’s plan all along. If they need more $, don’t hesitate to send more (you may send our portion). May our Father in heaven’s Name be sanctified; may His kingdom be blessed. His will shall be done in heaven and on earth.

Shalom and continued blessings to you…

Then also in June I received an email from the people I had been working with and they wrote to tell me that they could no longer work with me due to personal things in their lives changing. This then freed me from my promise to them.

And then at this same time I also had come across one farmer in Israel who was asking for help in planting a bunch of essential oil plants. This farmers name was one that came to my attention two years prior but I did not think we could work what I had planned to do so I dismissed them.
But as I began to talk with Boaz and Rinah and in spite of our differences they were willing to work with me.
So in June I sent them $5000 to help plant these essential oil plants.

We continued to talk and I told him what I have just explained to you. He then told me of his plans to build a vineyard and he had the cost all worked out and the time schedule for what had to be done and by when.

I then asked them if I were to help him plant this vineyard would he be willing to set a portion of this land aside during the Sabbatical year of 2016 from Aviv 2016 to Aviv 2017 and not harvest or prune the vines. This led to further talks. He has to remain Kosher in order to be able to sell his produce. If not then no one would buy his produce. I understood this but the only reason for me wanting to do this was to be able to keep the Sabbatical year.

Boaz wrote back and said ‘There is a lot of field evidence in Israel and in our area that supports the current Sabbatical calendar (which is 2014/2015 for them). For instance in the last Sabbatical year some tomato growers chose not to observe the Sabbatical and to continue to grow as usual. That year we had the worst frost in recorded history and the growers that were growing suffered severe losses which were not felt by those observing the Sabbatical. It may have been coincidence but it has convinced a lot of people here to keep the Sabbatical. I think your suggestion of setting a part of the field aside is a good idea as it will be a good indicator particularly for me as I am a visual person.’
Our involvement in this project is going to need Yehovah to act. Not only does He have to prove that we are keeping the correct Sabbatical year and make it visible to all of those who will also be watching, but because He may be rewarding those who are trying to keep a sabbatical year, even though they have the wrong year, Yehovah is going to have to make it so obvious that no one can deny it. So your prayers for this project are needed. Pray that Yehovah blesses that portion that is set aside in both the 6th year with a double portion is expected and in the years to come after the Sabbatical year of rest we give to the land.

After more talking back and forth Boaz and I came to the following agreement.

We, those of us who have donated to this cause and sightedmoon.com will provide the funds to plant about 5 Dunam (each dunam is about ¼ acre) of grape vines. Boaz has about 79 Dunams of farmland. The first years costs are NIS25,000 or (US$6600) per dunam or quarter acre. The Second year costs are around NIS3,000 (US$800) per dunam. This means a cost of US$ 7400 per dunam for two years. With an initial budget of US$40,000 this would mean that we could plant a little over 5 dunam. This would be about 1200 vines – a very noble beginning. In that area we have been recommended to plant Chardonnay and Syrah grapes. The ratio would be about 250 Chardonnay and the rest Syrah.
In return for funding this project, Boaz has agreed to set aside one tenth of the grapes for us. That is they will be harvested during the Jewish Sabbatical year and not during the Sabbatical year as I have explained above. They will be pruned and watered as normal except during the Sabbatical year I have explained above. The rest of the grapes Boaz may do as he sees best.

Also this tenth part is going to produce grapes.

I had thought of having each person who donated to own shares. But this was too costly and too time consuming to monitor. If I made this a loan then in the Sabbatical year it would be released and over with. Also because Judah is our brother we could not charge interest on any loan to him according to Torah. So we agreed to lease the land from this year 2012 up to the Jubilee year in 2045. Boaz will harvest the grapes for us each year and we will in turn pay him 50% for his efforts of looking after the portion of land given to us.

This way we will regain our investment and be able to do similar type of investing with others on this Moshav. A moshav is a collection of farms working together.

On top of this Boaz has said that he will have me explain to the Rabbis, about the Sabbatical years as found in Torah and History. Although they will continue to follow the majority and keep 2014 as their next Sabbatical year, the thought of setting aside a portion and testing Yehovah and allowing him to show us the difference is intriguing to all concerned.

That is it in a nutshell.
Oh yes one other small bit of information that I almost forgot.

I had been looking in the Golan for land and around Mount Herman and around Afula. But Yehovah has led us to Boaz’s farm which is on the Egyptian Sinai border not far from Gaza. The exact opposite end to where I thought we should start. Boaz and the other men take turns on guard duty at night and during the day time. During the Olympics this week there have been rocket attacks from Gaza. These farmers also have to endure the alarms and do not have a fortified bunker to escape to from the attacks.

I wrote you before of the bomb explosion near Boaz farm in which a foreign worker was killed as they constructed the wall along the border. We have invested in the land of Israel and Yehovah has had us invest at the front lines.

At the time of this News letter I have told Boaz to begin to plant. We have sent him the funds we have in order to get started before the fall rains.
I would like to ask you all to consider helping us further in this cause. I do not know where this is going to lead us, but I do know what prophecy does say about Ephraim having a strong hand in the removal of the Philistines in the last days. I also know that Boaz has already asked us to help his neighbour who grows pomegranates to help harvest them in Sept., so you are able to come and work on the land and to stay here for very little. If this is of interest to you then please contact them directly.

Here is a note Boaz sent me;

‘Our neighbor Eitan Cohen needs workers for his pomegranate harvest from mid September until mid October. We wondered if you might be interested to come and help or perhaps you know of someone who might be available. The harvest encompasses Sukkot (30th Sept/1st Oct ? 7th Oct), a wonderful time to be in the Land, busy in the harvest and under the Negev stars at night.

Eitan is offering food and accommodation (nothing fancy he says). Boaz and I would like to make our 2 guest rooms available for the young at heart. Our agricultural land is 5 km from our settlement towards the Egyptian border. The military patrols the fields at night as there are a number of Thai and Vietnamese workers in the fields also. We plan to get a group of up to 20 people, so you will not be alone!’

I also want to sincerely thank each and every one of those who have donated already. May Yehovah continue to bless you and increase you and May His face continue to shine on you in all that you do.

You can learn more about Boaz and Rina at http://www.shefaisrael.com/
After helping Boaz with the Essential Oil plants I asked him to write you the brethren a note of introduction. And this is what he wrote to you.

Shalom to all

We are Boaz and Rinah Dreyer, Israelis of South African heritage and have been in Israel since 1991. We arrived in the middle of the first Gulf War with our four young children. Since then our children have grown and our two eldest have blessed us with three wonderful grandchildren and the fourth is on the way!

Our early years in Israel were spent on a kibbutz bordering the Gaza Strip where we learned valuable skills that equipped us for our later lives here in the Land. We have been on Moshav Be’er Milka – on the Egyptian border since 2007 and have received our ‘nahala’ – inheritance – from the government. Our ‘nahala consists of 20 acres of farmland and a quarter of an acre to build our permanent home on. By law we are due government assistance as a new farm and settlement but as is the case in Israel with so many government departments there are just no funds in the government coffers – and especially not for agriculture! It seems to be a world phenomenon that governments are anti farmers. This is where your generosity has come to bless us here as we hold the Land. If we do not hold the Land and farm and develop it, the Bedouins would take it straight from under our noses.

As we are having to self finance all our development, it is taking time – Rinah and I are both in our fifties and we are not looking to want to tie ourselves into bank loans for the next twenty years. We feel strongly that our calling is a Kingdom project and we have always said that as the Father provides, so we will put it back into the Land.

We have managed to bring electricity and water to our farmland. We now need to bring our pre-built buildings and equipment to the land. We cannot start working there without a secure lockup and electric fencing – This helps to keep all undesirables out – both two and four legged varieties!

Your generosity has enabled us to get a part of our land leveled and compacted in preparation for the move as well as to pay for the move! We give thanks to the Almighty for this wonderful provision!

At present we have another two weeks to finish off prior commitments and then we will be in place to set the wheels in motion. Once the structures are in place work will start in earnest preparing the land for the planting of our herbs which we have been nurturing in our hot and shade house through the summer.

We will be planting Lavender, Rosemary, Geranium and Hyssop as our major essential oil producers but will be investigating the viability of other plants such as Chamomile and Sage on an ongoing basis.

Our vision is not only to grow herbs for the production of essential oils but also to plant a vineyard. This requires a large capital investment and we patiently wait upon the Almighty for His provision.

Our daily average temperatures are around 104 Fahrenheit or 40 Celsius and we will plant in September once the temperatures drop down to a tolerant level. As we are in the desert with an average rainfall of less than 100 mm or 4 inches, irrigation is a very important part of our farming. Water is also our single most expensive investment in our crop.

Attached are pictures of the plants that have been under the watchful eye and caring hands of Rinah.

Love and blessings
Boaz and Rinah

Having now shared with you what we are doing and attempting to do I find it amazing once again to read the Torah Portion we are doing over the 3 ½ year cycle this week, which is doing the entire bible twice in one Sabbatical cycle.

The sending out spies to spy out the land and then how 10 brought back an evil report. We are now doing a similar thing. And many of you have condemned me for doing this in the past. It is a waste of money because there is going to be a war or the State of Israel will not let us stay there so how can this work and you have come up with many other excuses not to get involved. But there have also been the two witnesses of Joshua and Caleb (a non Israelite) who did believe and like them there are a few of you who do believe. I urge the many others of you who have not supported this effort, to now get onboard and not end up like those who were not allowed into the land for their unbelief.
One lady wrote me this week about this current News Letter and said;

Great newsletter! I am excited all over again. There is such a good feeling of hope with this. And by-golly Yehovah has given you the desire of your heart is such a big way — and the desire of many of our hearts but we did not have the gumption to get off our duffs and make something happen. But you did and I am so very very thankful. I really am.

For all those who are always saying “why doesn’t Judah listen, why don’t they hear us, why this, why that” and speak all kinds of negativity against them — well, this is the opportunity. Actions – Judah needs action and proof. They are not as silly and gullible as we (Ephraimites) are and they required proof.

We (and I will be doing this for sure) need to call for daily prayer to heaven on this project. Whether He approves or whether He doesn’t. And if He does to bless and show the whole world in such a way that cannot be denied by our brothers.
Shalom!
Texas

We do not know where this road is going to lead us, but we do know this was the only door that has been open to us and opened to us with such favour.

I also want to add a few more things here. Having collected this money over the past few years I have not charged one nickel for administration cost or running to the bank to make deposits. No Brethren not on penny has been used by me for any personal expenses on my part. The cost of banking and the cost of transferring the funds are the only expenses to be paid from this account that have not already gone into the Farm project in Israel. This is not going to be one of those places where only 10% gets to the selected donation place while 90% is spent on those who run it. No, 100% of the money received has been used to finance this project other than banking fees.

I want to also tell you what happened to me the same day that I made the money transfers to Boaz and Rinah.
While I was out doing the actual transaction my wife took a phone call from someone wanting me to work for them. I had given out a business card over one year before to this guy and then never heard from him. Today he wants me to begin to float his equipment from job to job, which is one of the services I provide. Over the course of the year this is going to be about an additional $40,000 income for me.
About an hour after this my wife comes in the door to tell me she had just come from the car dealership where she had had some work done. They forgot to tighten the screws on the brakes and her brakes were falling off. They gave her a refund and fixed the problem. But she also talked to the service manager and found out she could get a brand new 2012 car same make and model with our trade in and have a monthly bill which is 150 dollars lower than what we are now making for our car which is now 4 years old.
And then while I was still scratching my head over this and the other business deal, the door bell rings and it is a real estate agent. He has a customer who likes our house and wants to know if we would consider selling. I gave him an outrageous price and he said that his clients from the big city were looking in that price range. The house is suffering from drought to the lawns and there are some things that the house needs to upgrade it but the people are coming this next week anyway.

I also said a prayer that we needed to have some rain so the grass might turn green and look good for when they come. No rain was in the forecast but it did rain on Thursday.

So just like that I have blessed Israel through Boaz and when I say me I also mean all of those who have donated to this project, and then in return Yehovah has blessed me in ways I was not expecting or looking for.

Gen 12:3 “And I shall bless those who bless you, and curse him who curses you. And in you all the clans of the earth shall be blessed.”
I do hope each of you can find something to send and be a part of this effort. We would plant a larger vineyard if we had the funds to do so. Your actions will decide how far we are able to go with this. I am asking you to continue to support this effort and for others to begin to support it. If we all do this then we can show our support to Israel and to these farmers who are holding on by a fingernail. We can have a harvest in place so Yehovah can show us how he would bless our crops for keeping the Sabbath and Holy Days and Sabbatical years. And so that this demonstration could also be watched by Judah as well.

The last known Sabbatical year to be kept in Israel was the year 140 C.E. And since then there has not been a Sabbatical year kept in the Land of Israel as far as we know.

No hype, no strong arming you, no con; I have told you just the facts as they have happened. Will you now stand with us as we forge forward. I do not know where the cloud is going but I am following it anyway. As logical as that sounds, that is what I am doing.
You can continue to send any support to
Joseph F Dumond
14 Willow Cres.
Orangeville Ontario
Canada L9V 1A5

Pleas indicate that it is for the farm project. Thank you.

Also I want to share what Boaz and Rinah have sent out in their News Letter this week.
In the heat of the moment, in this case one of the hottest summers I can remember in Israel, the Father has chosen by His Wonder and Grace to fulfill His vision He placed in our hearts so many years ago.

Over the years of praying and wondering whether we were hearing from the Father or not, there were times when I even doubted. I would say to myself ‘if nothing is happening then could it be that I am following my emotions and not hearing?’ In the last few months it has been hard to sit down and be creative with my writing and the progress on my book ‘Who is Mashiach’ had all but come to a standstill.

Little did I realize that He was preparing Rinah and me for the richest of blessings. Over the years I am sure that many of you have heard our hearts and our desire to establish a vineyard in the Land. Some of you may have even grown weary hearing about this from us continually and yet not seeing any progress.

Just as we thought we were going to have to rethink and reorganize our Kingdom understandings, by the miraculous ways of the Almighty, the finances for a modest start to a commercially viable vineyard have been made. As of this moment negotiations are underway for trellising and young vines. We will be planting Chardonnay and Syrah varieties in the quantities that the Father provides.
Blessings Joe

This is the letter we are sending out

Blessings and Shabbat Shalom
Boaz

We wish to thank our Heavenly Father for sending Joseph Dumond from Sighted Moon along with faithful supporters along our way. Although we do not agree entirely with each other on some issues, we are however united in our love for the Father and we are cemented together in our love for the Land and the Word of HASHEM.
This commitment by Ephraim and Judah to work together and trust each other we hope will be a testimony to many others that – yes – it can be done!
As we mentioned the beginning is modest and together we can turn it into a shining pearl in the desert. We are living in the days when prophecies are being fulfilled.
I want to encourage you to ignore those that are telling of death and destruction, Do not let the prophets of doom distract you from what the Father has called us to be. He wants us to be His vessels, instruments in His hands that together we may all bring about our part – no matter how large or small – in restoring the Land of Israel.
Each effort helps the ‘tikkun’ – restoration – and this hastens the coming of Mashiach.
Bless all of you that have stood with us and helped us over the past years. We are humbled to be able to announce that it is happening, not in our timing, but in His.
The project will require ongoing involvement from the Nations. We will continue to offer accommodation to those wanting to come and lay their hands to the Land. The enlargement of the scale of the vision will need your continued prayer and financial support. Those wanting to help can contact us directly by telephone or mail (snail or e).
The Shefa Israel website is being updated with a new vineyard page! It should be up and running in a day or two. We welcome you to visit the site and join in our joy and celebration.
Please continue to pray for us – particularly for strength and energy as we have existing work commitments to honor during this very exciting transitional phase of our lives.

Blessings, Thank you and Shabbat Shalom
Boaz and Rinah

Boaz & Rinah Dreyer
Moshav Be’er Milka
D.N. Halutza 85517
Israel
Tel: +972-54-7749323
Web: www.shefaisrael.com

Triennial Torah Cycle

We continue this weekend with our regular Triennial Torah Reading

Num 13      Job 36-38      Romans 2

While we see God here telling Moses to send men to spy out the land (13:1-2), Deuteronomy 1:21-23 shows that this idea was initially brought to Moses by the people. The idea pleased Moses, who evidently took it to God for approval—which God gave with more details here in Numbers 13. (It is, of course, likely that God intended this plan all along—perhaps inspiring the people to come up with it.) Twelve men, one from each tribe, were chosen to spy out the land. They were to check out the soil, trees, people, cities, everything, and then report back. These 12 men are different leaders of Israel than those we saw in chapters 1 and 7. Only two of these men brought a favorable report, Caleb and Joshua. Caleb said, evidently because of his faith in God, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it” (verse 30).
No doubt God inspired the decision to send these two who He already knew to be faithful—ensuring that there would be at least two faithful witnesses among this generally faithless group to fulfill His requirement that we are to accept something on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Interestingly, in the end time, after the organized work of God is publicly silenced, there will still be two witnesses (Revelation 11:3) who will give a faithful report on the nature of the future promised land, the Kingdom of God. Yet, as before, the vast majority of those reporting on God’s Kingdom will be false witnesses—as is the case even now.

Another important factor to consider is that even if everything the evil witnesses said were actually true, the omnipotent God was easily able to defeat obstacles like giants and massive fortresses—a fact that should already have been evident from the plagues upon Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea. God had, after all, brought low the most powerful kingdom on earth—the Egyptian empire—right before their eyes, and the city-states of Canaan were much weaker in comparison.

Besides not expanding fears about the dangers of the land beyond all proportion, Joshua and Caleb knew—had the faith—that God would deliver on His promise. They were the ones the Israelites should have listened to. Sadly, however, this was not to be.

“Remember to Magnify His Work” (Job 36-37)

Chapters 36 and 37 record Elihu’s last address. He begins by further defending God’s justice and ends by proclaiming God’s majesty. In his defense of God (compare 36:2), Elihu says he obtains his knowledge from afar (verse 3)—that is, apparently, from God Himself and, as the latter part of the discourse illustrates, from the majesty of God’s creation (compare verses 24-25).

The end of verse 4 may sound like the height of conceit on the part of Elihu—that he is claiming to be perfect in knowledge. While some interpret this as meaning eloquent of speech, that seems a needless point to make here—and it is not a literal rendering. Far more likely is that the statement “One who is perfect in knowledge is with you” refers to God. After all, Elihu later in the same speech clearly describes God as “Him who is perfect in knowledge” (37:16). Moreover, the statement at the end of 36:4 parallels the next verse, which says that God is mighty in strength of understanding.

In verses 6-7, Elihu turns again to the idea of retribution and reward. But he is here speaking in an ultimate sense. In contrast to the NKJV translation of verse 6, God does indeed preserve the life of even the wicked for the time being. The word translated “does not preserve” should in context be understood as “does not (or will not) grant,” in contrast to God’s granting justice later in the verse. The tense in verses 6-7 and 9-10 is open, meaning that it can be either present or future (see Expositor’s Bible Commentary, footnote on verse 6). Since the reign of the all the righteous in verse 7 is yet future, a better translation of verses 6-7 would seem to be: “He will not [ultimately] grant life to the wicked, but will give justice to the oppressed. He will not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; but they will be kings on the throne, for He will cause them to sit forever, and they will be exalted.”

Job certainly knows this but it has diminished as his focus. His mind has been consumed with why it is wrong for him to suffer as he now does. Elihu then explains that if people are afflicted, God will reveal why, making known to them their sins (if that is the cause) and what they need to do to get right with Him. If they submit to Him, their lives will be blessed. But if not, they will perish. Again, Elihu seems to be viewing this in an ultimate sense—or at least as a general principle for life. Those who will humble themselves before God in their affliction will be delivered (Job 36:15).

Verse 16-17 in the NKJV seem to contain a very harsh judgment from Elihu—that God would have delivered Job but he is being judged for his wickedness. This would appear to make Elihu have the same basic perspective as Job’s three friends. But verse 16 is better in the New International Version. Elihu tells Job: “He [God] is wooing you [present tense] from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.” That is, Elihu seems to think that his words are God’s way of communicating to Job. And this does appear to be the case, at least to some degree.

Verses 17-20 may appear to make Elihu even more off base, thinking Job wicked and that he has been reliant on wealth and power. But these particular verses, as The Expositor’s Bible Commentary explains, are some of the hardest to translate in the entire Old Testament (note on verses 15-21). The same commentary offers the following variant translation, wherein Elihu seems to be preparing Job for the outlook he should have when the trial is over: “Since you have had your fill of judgment due the wicked, since judgment and justice have taken hold (of you), beware that no one entice you to want riches again. Do not let the great price you are paying mislead you. Of what value was your wealth apart from affliction? And of what value are all your mighty efforts? Do not long for the night, when peoples will vanish from their place [i.e., the time of God’s judgment]. Beware of turning to evil, for that is why you are tested by affliction.” These are some of the lessons Job needs to walk away with. As Elihu says of God in the next verse, “Who teaches like Him?” (verse 22).

Of course, Elihu doesn’t claim to know all the reasons Job is being tried. But he next turns to what is vital in all trials. Rather than accuse God of wrong (see verse 23), Elihu tells Job: “Remember to magnify His work” (verse 24). And Elihu then proceeds to do just that through the remainder of his speech, extolling God’s mighty works in creation. This is the right approach, for it is even what God Himself will present to Job in His speeches (chapters 38-41).

Note that the NKJV translation of Job 36:26 says that we do not know God. Yet the word “Him” is in italics, meaning it has been added to the text. A more appropriate insertion here might be the “it” from the previous verse, referring to God’s work. So verse 26 could be rendered, “Behold, God is great, and we do not know His work.” That is, we can’t know all that He is doing—it is beyond us. Elihu reaffirms this in 37:5: “He does great things which we cannot comprehend.” Job himself actually touched on this theme before, but his point was to show his friends that they were foolish for thinking that they had God all figured out. What Job needed to do was reflect on God’s creation as proof that God is infinitely wise—that He knows exactly what He is doing in all circumstances even when we don’t.

As his first illustration of God’s unfathomable wisdom in creation, Elihu presents the hydrological cycle of evaporation, cloud formation and rain. Expositor’s comments: “Rain in the O[ld] T[estament] world was considered one of the most needed and obvious blessings of God. The phenomenon of condensation (v. 27b) and precipitation (v. 28), while not technically understood, was certainly observable. But evaporation (v. 27) is not. [One commentator] therefore considered this proof that the Elihu speeches came a few centuries later than the divine speeches since such meteorological knowledge would have been obtained from the Greeks…. Elihu did not need a knowledge of physics since God is the one who does this (an idea even we who know the physics can still affirm), but he may have known more about the phenomenon [in his ancient context] than [some commentators are] willing to admit” (note on verses 27-33). Perhaps God inspired him.

In verse 29 Elihu mentions the spreading of clouds and thunder from God’s canopy, paralleling the mention of God’s canopy of dark clouds in Psalm 18:11 in describing the coming of God. Note also the next verse in Job 36: “Look, He scatters His light upon it…” (verse 30). It seems from what follows that Elihu is mostly describing presently observable phenomena. We see here the thunder and lightning of a coming storm (36:29-37:5), the thunder causing Elihu’s heart to pound (37:1). A whirlwind, perhaps a massive tornado, is coming (verse 9). Ice forms, possibly describing hail (verse 10). The clouds are swirling yet there is brightness within them (verses 11, 15, 22). As the next chapter will show, Almighty God will at last answer Job out of this whirlwind.

We can envision the scene. As Elihu points toward the menacing clouds, the thunder is getting louder. The howling wind is growing stronger. Elihu must raise his voice to be heard. He argues that God is in command of the clouds (verse 12). He says that God sends such storms for various reasons—whether to correct people, to nourish the land, or to mercifully provide for people (verse 13). In this he seems to also be making a metaphor out of the storm—referring to the storms of life, which God directs and that are ultimately for people’s own good. Job had used a similar metaphor when he accused God of crushing him with a tempest (9:17). But he was mistaken. He could not fully understand God’s motivations in his trial just as he could not understand the present actual thunderstorm—or any storm for that matter. As the gusts build, sweeping up debris and causing people and structures to sway, thunder booms and the oncoming tornado rages louder still. “Listen to this, O Job!” Elihu cries out. “Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God!” (see verse 14). He then challenges Job to explain how God is doing all this (verses 15-16). The Almighty acts beyond human comprehension. Who are we to instruct Him? Job’s concept of contending with God in court is thereby shown to be absurd (verses 19-20).

Elihu’s conclusion? God is awesome, beyond understanding, omnipotent and perfectly just and righteous (verses 22-23). He is not an oppressor, as Job has implied (verse 23). Rather, the trials He brings are, in His omniscience, intended for good. Therefore men should show God the reverence due Him—and that includes Job. This is appropriate instruction in any trial and throughout life. It is why Jesus instructed us to begin our prayers extolling God’s name and to finish them praising His immortal power and glory (Matthew 6:9, 13). If this remains our focus, we will have greater confidence in the fact that God is working out what is best for us and that, come what may, He will see us through.

“Who Provides Food for the Raven…?” (Job 38:39-40:5)

God next turns to the animal kingdom to illustrate His sovereignty and wisdom as Creator as well as His great care and concern for His creation.
God hunting prey for the lion and providing food for the raven (38:39-41) could signal that God specifically intervenes in the natural realm to make sure animals are nourished. Or it could simply mean that God has set up the world’s ecosystem in such a way to ensure that its creatures are regularly fed—that he has established an important balance in nature between predators and prey. Perhaps it means both—that God has established a self-perpetuating natural order but sometimes directly intervenes to make necessary adjustments due to the impact of other natural or unnatural circumstances. The portrayal of the young ravens crying out to God does not mean that they are consciously calling to Him—simply that they are crying out for relief and He is the One who hears them and can answer them.

Surely we can see that God is not only talking about ravens here. God’s care for His creatures implies something else: that He must also have great care for His highest physical creatures—human beings. Job might as well have been hearing the words of Jesus Christ uttered more than 1,500 years later: “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than birds?” (Luke 12:24).

Romans Chapter 2

Therefore, O man, you are without excuse, everyone who judges, for in which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you who judge practice the same [wrongs]. If we are aware enough, and know enough of right and wrong so much so that we can judge the actions of others, that in and of itself is testimony to our “knowledge” of the truth. Therefore we are judging ourselves.
And we know that the judgment of Elohim is according to truth against those who practice such [wrongs]. Elohim is without wrong and is the author and finisher of not only the Torah, but our entire Faith.

And do you think, O man, you who judge those practicing such [wrongs], and doing the same, that you shall escape the judgment of Elohim?
Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the kindness of Elohim leads you to repentance?
God’s kindness towards us is not to be used as a “pass” to continue in sin as many do. It is to convict us and love us back to Himself. We should never ever abuse the love of God.

But according to your hardness and your unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of Elohim, who “shall render to each one according to his works:”
Everlasting life to those who by persistence in good work seek for esteem, and respect, and incorruptibility; but wrath and displeasure to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness; affliction and distress on every human being working what is evil, of the Yehudite first, and also of the Greek;

It does not matter what you know or what you teach. It is what you DO that is in question here.
But esteem, respect, and peace to everyone working what is good, to the Yehudite first and also to the Greek.
For there is no partiality with Elohim. For as many as sinned without Torah shall also perish without Torah, and as many as sinned in the Torah shall be judged by the Torah.

A person, or nation, who has not known the Torah, will not be held accountable to the Torah… this is what Paul is saying! But if you know the Torah and sin against it, you will be judged by it.

For not the hearers of the Torah are righteous in the sight of Elohim, but the doers of the law shall be declared right.
The doers of the commandments will be declared right. Does not matter how much to teach others, or read the commands. It is – how do you live your life.

For when gentiles, who do not have the Torah, by nature do what is in the Torah, although not having the Torah, they are a Torah to themselves, who show the work of the Torah written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or even excusing, in the day when Elohim shall judge the secrets of men through Yeshua Messiah, according to my Good News.

Paul is speaking of doing what is right by conscience for those who may not even have knowledge of the Torah is equally justified as doing what is right because it is defined in the Torah. The act is the same and the conscience is the same. Would a righteous act be called unrighteous simply because the one doing the righteous act did not know the letter of the Torah?

See, you are called a Yehudite, and rest on the Torah, and make your boast in Elohim, and know the desire [of Elohim], and approve what is superior, being instructed out of the Torah, and are trusting that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
An instructor of foolish ones, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Torah.
These things are all good and commendable. To instruct those who need instruction to help them do right according to the sight of Elohim. The Yehudite was given this above all nations. This is the esteem of Yehovah.

You, then, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who proclaim that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abominate idols, do you rob temples?
You who make your boast in the Torah, through the transgression of the Torah do you disrespect Elohim?
For “The Name of Elohim is blasphemed among the gentiles because of you,” as it has been written.
It was written of Israel, how she profaned the Name of Yehovah among the Gentiles. Yehovah proclaimed this through His prophets unto them. Why now boast of having the Torah while all along disrespecting Elohim by not doing as He instructed by lying, stealing, committing adultery, and idol worship.

For circumcision indeed profits if you practice the Torah, but if you are a transgressor of the Torah, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

So, if an uncircumcised one watches over the righteousnesses of the Torah, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned as circumcision?
If a gentile, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, lives righteousness according the instructions of Elohim in the Torah, this is the definition of circumcision of the heart.

And the uncircumcised by nature, who perfects the Torah, shall judge you who notwithstanding letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the Torah!

For he is not a Yehudite who is so outwardly, neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
But a Yehudite is he who is so inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in Spirit, not literally, whose praise is not from men but from Elohim.