Newsletter 2

           Well, we have been working hard on the website. There will be additional articles online soon…..hopefully! Please let us know what you think about the design and content. Any changes that you think ought to be made. We are trying to follow where we feel G-d is leading us.

            This weeks Readings are called “Vayikra”, which means “And He called”. It is the first few words from the beginning of Leviticus. This week’s readings cover Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26 and Isaiah 43:21 – 44:23

            Leviticus is a tough book for a lot of us. We have been trained to call it “The Book of Blood”. I guess it is that, but it is so much more! There are a few things that The Lord impressed upon me to share from my studies of this weeks Readings…..

            First off, I think it is easy for us to fall into the trap of thinking about “sacrifices” and Atonement as being something akin to an appeasement to a vengeful or judgmental God. The picture that we think of, is that when they did something wrong, they came with a bull to sacrifice and “pay a debt”. That this was an offering to appease a bloodthirsty, vengeful God. This is pretty far from what the true picture is, and totally foreign to Jewish belief. That we have somewhat been taught this, in my opinion, is an example of how through “skewed” teachings, we have been led off track through the years. Leaving us with a spiritually unhealthy view of G-d’s Holy Word.

            The root of the Hebrew word “offering” is “COMING NEAR”. An Offering is the means to bring ourselves Closer to G-d. Not to pay him. Throughout the Torah, only the Four Letter Name of G-d  – the Name representing His Attribute of Mercy -  is used in connection with offerings. Never is the Name Elohim, which represents His Attribute of Judgement used in connection with offerings. So bringing an Offering is a way of coming close, not paying off! Since the sacrifice/offering of Jesus, no longer can we, nor can the Jewish, bring offerings to G-d in The Temple. Our offerings are different now, but also the same. They are not a payment of any type, but a means of coming closer to our Heavenly Father of Mercy. Praise His Holy Name!

            The second thing that really caught my attention is Leviticus 5:14-16

            14 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 15 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a     trespass offering:

            King James Version

            14 HASHEM spoke to Moses, saying: 15 If a person commits a trespass and sins unintentionally against HASHEM’s holies, he shall bring his guilt offering to            HASHEM, an unblemished ram from the flock, with a value of silver shekels, according to the sacred shekel, for a guilt offering.

            Davis Edition Chumash

            Let’s look at these verses…..If someone sins unintentionally against the Holy Things of G-d, you must bring an unblemished ram with a value of silver, as an offering. A means of coming closer to G-d. If you look at a ram in the Bible up to this point, the main ram that has to stand out is the ram that was sacrificed/offered in place of Isaac. What was Isaac? Isaac was the Son of Promise! Who is THE SON OF PROMISE?...... JESUS! And then you look at the value of silver that Judas was given for betraying Jesus and have a total picture here.

            The gentiles in Jesus’ time were of course sinning against the Holy Things of G-d. They were pagans! They were not doing it intentionally, they DID NOT KNOW! So, what MUST happen according to The Word of G-d for them to be able to come near to Him? There must be an offering. An offering of an unblemished ram with a value of silver!!!! To me this is a perfect picture of Christ and part of His work done for US. Praise Him! And after Jesus’ work, Paul and the Apostles were free to minister to the Gentiles and invite them into The Kingdom of G-d, or in other words, bring them closer to G-d !!!!

            When Moses spoke with G-d, his face would glow as if on fire. The children of Israel could not stand to look upon it. They asked him to wear a veil. As Paul said, his brothers are veiled. Most of them still are. It is our job to learn enough about all of G-d’s Word to show them Jesus in The Torah. We will never be able to speak to “God’s chosen”, speaking to them of a Gentile G-d. We must speak to them of The One True G-d of Israel.

Blessings in Yeshua - The Promised Son

Tony and Robin