Shabbat Shalom Loved One: October 2009

Happy HallowWHAT?

Saturday, October 31, 2009

October 31, 2009

Shabbat Shalom Loved One!

Come out of her my people! Judgment is at the door! October is often the time of the Fall Feasts of YHWH; however it is also a time of conflict among believers. While most understand that stock Halloween celebrations are rooted in the occult, many don't know the history behind this peculiar autumn festival associated with Halloween that can be entries for the occult. Before we get to our Torah study today let’s take a look at a real and present danger and what is really the driving force of Halloween- the occult forces. Many people believe these "games" are just harmless fun, and are unaware of the very real dangers they can face by dabbling in the realm of the demonic. From a Hebraic perspective this is the “celebration” of Noah’s flood we studied last week. YHWH’s judgment left them skeletons (carcasses) and spooks (demon entities with no flesh home remaining to abide in) roaming around the earth searching for a new home. In a nutshell, judgment is again headed for Planet Earth, appropriately, this time with fire. We get to choose who we will obey: (Deu 11:26) Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; (Deu 11:27) A blessing, if you obey the commandments of YHWH your Elohim, which I command you this day: (Deu 11:28) And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of YHWH your Elohim, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which you have not known.

In ancient Britain and Ireland, (Where many of Ephraim, the ten Northern Tribes of Israel settled and then came from around the world) the Celtic festival of Samhain ("Sah-win") was observed on October 31, the end of summer. November 1 was the New Year for both Celtic and Anglo-Saxon calendars and was one of the most important and yet sinister calendar festivals of the Celtic Year. Settling in northern France and the British Isles, the Celtic people engaged in occultic arts and worshiped nature, giving it supernatural, animistic qualities. The ancient Druids were the learned priestly class of the Celtic religion. Many of their beliefs and practices were similar to those of Hinduism, such as reincarnation and the transmigration of the soul, which teaches that people may be reborn as animals. The Druids believed that on October 31, the night before their New Year and the last day of the old year, Samhain, the Lord of Death, gathered the souls of the evil dead who had been condemned to enter the bodies of animals. The Druids also believed that the punishment of the evil dead would be lightened by sacrifices, prayers and gifts to the Lord of Death. (This begins to reveal the strange link between this holiday and the non-Biblical concept of purgatory.) The souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day, and the autumnal festival acquired a sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, black cats, fairies, and demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature. Halloween is, for many, a "crossover" involvement in which innocent games can lead to serious entanglement with real witches, neo-pagans, New Agers, and other occultists. A common pastime is the use of a Ouija board to attempt to contact ghosts or spirits that are believed to be roaming about. This can lead to serious consequences including demon possession. (The case studies underlying William Blatty's The Exorcist indicate that the trouble all began with a child playing with a Ouija board.) Demons have a vested interest in Halloween because it supports the occult, and it also offers novel and unexpected opportunities to control and influence people.

Forms of the occult can include mediums, channelers, clairvoyants, psychics, spiritists, diviners, mystics, gurus, shamans, psychical researchers, Yogis, psychic and holistic healers, astral travel, astrology, mysticism, Ouija boards, Tarot cards, contact with the dead, UFOs, and thousands of other practices which almost defy cataloging - even Harry Potter books and movies can lead innocent children into the occult. Occultism includes Satanism, astrology, Kabbalah, Gnosticism, theosophy, witchcraft and many forms of serious magic. It includes activities seeking the acquisition of "hidden" things - which are expressly forbidden by YHWH in the Bible. Halloween practices can open the door to the occult and can introduce forces into people's lives that they are not equipped to combat. There is genuine power in the occult, but it is demonic power (Mt 24:24; Acts 13:6-11; 16:16-19; 19:18-20; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 6:7-11, 22). Any serious study of Biblical demonology will reveal Satan as the power behind false religion, witchcraft, idolatry and the occult (Deut 32:16, 17; Ps 106:35-40; Acts 16:16-19; 1 Cor 10:19-21; 2 Thess 2:9, 10; 1 Tim 4:1ff). The Word of YHWH makes it clear that these are all to be shunned as dangerous. There were many superstitions and false concepts in ancient Israel about which the Bible is silent. However, occultism, in any form, was punishable by death! Why? The spiritual power and reality behind idols involves demons (1 Cor 10:20; Ps 106:37). The Bible commands us to shun occult practices. Mediums and spiritists are expressly prohibited (Lev 19:31; Deut 18:10, 11, 14 2 Chr 33:6). Nowhere are such practices acceptable. Intellect alone is insufficient. "If it were possible, it would deceive the very elect."Of course, the point is not to terrify people. The ultimate goal is to point them to the source of true protection, of true salvation, of true hope. Yahshua is the victor. He's already won the battle, and he is stronger than anything Satan can throw at us. Even more important, he has triumphed over death for us. He told his disciples long ago, and still tells us today, "...Rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20)

Here remains our choice of real and present danger guaranteed by YHWH who will require Heaven and Earth to witness us and our choices this day! We should not fear him who can kill the body but rather FEAR HIM who can cast us into hell!

(Deu 30:13) “Nor is it beyond the sea, to say, ‘Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’ (Deu 30:14) “For the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart – to do it. (Deu 30:15) “See, I have set before you today life and good, and death and evil, (Deu 30:16) in that I am commanding you today to love יהוה your Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to guard His commands, and His laws, and His right-rulings. And you shall live and increase, and יהוה your Elohim shall bless you in the land which you go to possess. (Deu 30:17) “But if your heart turns away, and you do not obey, and shall be drawn away, and shall bow down to other mighty ones and serve them, (Deu 30:18) “I have declared to you today that you shall certainly perish, you shall not prolong your days in the land which you are passing over the Yardĕn to enter and possess. (Deu 30:19) “I have called the heavens and the earth as witnesses today against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore you shall choose life, so that you live, both you and your seed, (Deu 30:20) to love יהוה your Elohim, to obey His voice, and to cling to Him – for He is your life and the length of your days – to dwell in the land which יהוה swore to your fathers, to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Yaʽaqoḇ, to give them.”

Now let’s get to this week’s Torah (Instructions in Hebrew not Law) Study about being asked to move away from paganism as Abraham was commanded.

Here are this week’s Torah Scriptures: Lehk L ‘kha- “GO OUT”

Genesis 12:1-17:27

Isaiah 40:27-41:16

Joshua Chapters 7, 8, and 9

Note the reason for coming out of the land where paganism reigns is to become a blessing! Note also that verse 12:3 is not just for Judah like so often misquoted- it is from the Father of our faith-Abraham, and therefore ALL ISRAEL (Whosever will)! Some of us think we are too old to ever leave our country…but Abraham was 75 when he left!

(Gen 12:1) And יהוה said to Aḇram, “Go yourself out of your land, from your relatives and from your father’s house, to a land which I show you. (Gen 12:2) “And I shall make you a great nation, and bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing!

(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.”

(Rom 4:16) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (Rom 4:17) (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even YHWH, who quickens the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were. (Rom 4:18) Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall your seed be. (Rom 4:19) And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: (Rom 4:20) He staggered not at the promise of YHWH through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to YHWH; (Gen 12:4) So Aḇram left, as יהוה had commanded him, and Lot went with him. And Aḇram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Ḥaran. (Gen 12:5) And Aḇram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the beings that they had acquired in Ḥaran, and they set out for the land of Kenaʽan. And they came to the land of Kenaʽan. (Gen 12:6) And Aḇram passed through the land to the place of Sheḵem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. At that time the Kenaʽanites were in the land.

If we will walk in Shema O Israel- (HEAR and OBEY) we too will be blessed by His presence and gain an ear to hear YHWH!

(Gen 12:7) And יהוה appeared to Aḇram and said, “To your seed I give this land.” And he built there an altar to יהוה, who had appeared to him. (Gen 12:8) And from there he moved to the mountain east of Bĕyth Ěl, and he pitched his tent, with Bĕyth Ěl on the west and Ai on the east. And he built there an altar to יהוה, and called on the Name of יהוה. (Gen 12:9) And Aḇram set out, continuing toward the South. (Gen 12:10) And a scarcity of food came to be in the land, and Aḇram went down to Mitsrayim (Egypt) to dwell there, for the scarcity of food was severe in the land.

Fear even got Abraham motivated. YHWH does not give us a spirit of fear.

(Gen 12:11) And it came to be, when he was close to entering Mitsrayim, that he said to Sarai his wife, “See, I know that you are a fair woman to look at. (Gen 12:12) “And it shall be, when the Mitsrites see you, that they shall say, ‘This is his wife.’ And they shall kill me, but let you live. (Gen 12:13) “Please say you are my sister, so that it shall be well with me for your sake, and my life be spared because of you.” (Gen 12:14) And it came to be, when Aḇram came into Mitsrayim, that the Mitsrites saw the woman, that she was very fair. (Gen 12:15) And Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her before Pharaoh, and the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house. (Gen 12:16) And he treated Aḇram well for her sake, and he had sheep, and cattle, and male donkeys, and male and female servants, and female donkeys, and camels.

Touch not YHWH’s anointed- (Those who seek Him with all their heart and are “Doers” of His word) YHWH is in charge of blessings- not Pharaoh, the U.N. or the One World Order.

(Gen 12:17) But יהוה plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Aḇram’s wife. (Gen 12:18) And Pharaoh called Aḇram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not inform me that she was your wife? (Gen 12:19) “Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’? And so I was going to take her for my wife. Look, here is your wife, take her and go.” (Gen 12:20) And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him, and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had. (Gen 13:1) And Aḇram went up from Mitsrayim into the South, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him.

(Gen 13:2) And Aḇram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. (Gen 13:3) And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bĕyth Ěl, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bĕyth Ěl and Ai, (Gen 13:4) to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Aḇram called on the Name of יהוה. (Gen 13:5) Now Lot, who went with Aḇram, also had flocks and herds and tents. (Gen 13:6) And the land was not able to bear them that they might dwell together, for their possessions were great, so that they could not dwell together. (Gen 13:7) And there was strife between the herdsmen of Aḇram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. And at that time the Kenaʽanites and the Perizzites dwelt in the land. (Gen 13:8) Then Aḇram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers.

Conventional wisdom is never best! Hear and Obey- Come out of disobedience (Apart from them) and receive your covenant!

(Gen 13:9) “Is not all the land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I go to the left.” (Gen 13:10) And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of the Yardĕn, that it was well watered everywhere – before יהוה destroyed Seḏom and Amorah – like the garden of יהוה, like the land of Mitsrayim as you go toward Tsoʽar. (Gen 13:11) So Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Yardĕn, and Lot moved east. Thus they separated from each other, (Gen 13:12) Aḇram dwelling in the land of Kenaʽan, and Lot dwelling in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent as far as Seḏom. (Gen 13:13) But the men of Seḏom were evil and sinned before יהוה, exceedingly so. (Gen 13:14) And after Lot had separated from him, יהוה said to Aḇram, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, (Gen 13:15) for all the land which you see I shall give to you and your seed forever.

(Gen 13:16) “And I shall make your seed as the dust of the earth, so that, if a man could count the dust of the earth, then your seed also could be counted.

(Gen 13:17) “Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”

(Gen 13:18) So Aḇram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamrĕ, which are in Ḥeḇron, and built an altar there to יהוה. (Gen 14:1) And it came to be in the days of Amraphel sovereign of Shinʽar, Aryoḵ sovereign of Ellasar, Keḏorla’omer sovereign of Ěylam, and Tiḏʽal sovereign of Goyim, (Gen 14:2) that they fought against Bera sovereign of Seḏom, Birsha sovereign of Amorah, Shinaḇ sovereign of Aḏmah, Shem’ĕḇer sovereign of Tseḇoyim, and the sovereign of Bela, that is Tsoʽar.

(Gen 14:3) All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim, which is the Salt Sea.

(Gen 14:4) Twelve years they served Keḏorlaʽomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. (Gen 14:5) And in the fourteenth year Keḏorlaʽomer and the sovereigns that were with him came and smote the Repha’im in Ashteroth Qarnayim, and the Zuzim in Ḥam, and the Ěmites in Shawĕh Qiryathayim, (Gen 14:6) and the Ḥorites in their mountain of Sĕʽir, as far as Ěl Paran, which is by the wilderness. (Gen 14:7) And they turned back and came to Ěn Mishpat that is Qaḏĕsh, and smote all the country of the Amalĕqites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Ḥatsetson Tamar. (Gen 14:8) And the sovereign of Seḏom, and the sovereign of Amorah, and the sovereign of Aḏmah, and the sovereign of Tseḇoyim, and the sovereign of Bela, that is Tsoʽar, went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim, (Gen 14:9) against Keḏorlaʽomer sovereign of Ěylam, and Tiḏʽal sovereign of Goyim, and Amraphel sovereign of Shinʽar, and Aryoḵ sovereign of Ellasar – four sovereigns against five.

Choosing what looks best but filled with SIN (transgression against the Torah) brings destruction and imprisonment and those involved in sin have their courage removed!

(Gen 14:10) And the Valley of Siddim had many tar pits. And the sovereigns of Seḏom and Amorah fled and fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains. (Gen 14:11) And they took all the goods of Seḏom and Amorah, and all their food, and went away.

(Gen 14:12) And they took Lot, Aḇram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Seḏom, and his goods, and left. (Gen 14:13) And one who had escaped came and informed Aḇram the Heḇrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamrĕ the Amorite, brother of Eshkol and brother of Anĕr, and they had a covenant with Aḇram. (Gen 14:14) And when Aḇram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. (Gen 14:15) And he and his servants divided against them by night, and smote them and pursued them as far as Ḥoḇah, which is on the left of Damascus. (Gen 14:16) So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people. (Gen 14:17) And after his return from the defeat of Keḏorlaʽomer and the sovereigns who were with him, the sovereign of Seḏom came out to meet him at the Valley of Shawĕh, that is, the Sovereign’s Valley.

Here is the order of Yahshua’s Kingdom!

(Gen 14:18) And Malkitseḏeq sovereign of Shalĕm brought out bread and wine. Now he was the priest of the Most High Ěl. (Gen 14:19) and he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Aḇram of the Most High Ěl, Possessor of the heavens and earth.

(Gen 14:20) “And blessed be the Most High Ěl who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tenth of all. (Gen 14:21) And the sovereign of Seḏom said to Aḇram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for you.” (Gen 14:22) But Aḇram said to the sovereign of Seḏom, “I have lifted my hand to יהוה, the Most High Ěl, the Possessor of the heavens and earth, (Gen 14:23) not to take a thread or a sandal strap or whatever is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Aḇram rich,’ (Gen 14:24) except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Anĕr, Eshkol, and Mamrĕ. Let them take their portion.”

Obedience brings request time for our lack or needs!

(Gen 15:1) After these events the word of יהוה came to Aḇram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Aḇram. I am your shield; your reward is exceedingly great.” (Gen 15:2) And Aḇram said, “Master יהוה, what would you give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliʽezer of Damascus?”

Covenant Promise Time!

(Gen 15:3) And Aḇram said, “See, You have given me no seed, and see, one born in my house is my heir!” (Gen 15:4) And see, the word of יהוה came to him, saying, “This one is not your heir, but he who comes from your own body is your heir.” (Gen 15:5) And He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward the heavens, and count the stars if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So are your seed.”

Believe and Receive (Faith gives thanks BEFORE you can see the promise as it requires no faith after you can see it)

(Gen 15:6) And he believed in יהוה, and He reckoned it to him for righteousness. (Gen 15:7) And He said to him, “I am יהוה, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.” (Gen 15:8) And he said, “Master יהוה, whereby do I know that I possess it?”

This covenant was guaranteed by YHWH who completed the covenant by Himself in V 17 (No man could now mess it up)

(Gen 15:9) And He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, and a three-year-old female goat, and a three-year-old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” (Gen 15:10) And he took all these to Him and cut them in the middle, and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds. (Gen 15:11) And the birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Aḇram drove them away. (Gen 15:12) And it came to be, when the sun was going down, and a deep sleep fell upon Aḇram, that see, a frightening great darkness fell upon him. (Gen 15:13) And He said to Aḇram, “Know for certain that your seed are to be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict those four hundred years. (Gen 15:14) “But the nation whom they serve I am going to judge, and afterward let them come out with great possessions. (Gen 15:15) “Now as for you, you are to go to your fathers in peace, you are to be buried at a good old age. (Gen 15:16) “Then, in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the crookedness of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

(Gen 15:17) And it came to be, when the sun went down and it was dark that see, a smoking oven and a burning torch passing between those pieces.

(Gen 15:18) On the same day יהוה made a covenant with Aḇram, saying, “I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Mitsrayim to the great river, the River Euphrates, (Gen 15:19) with the Qĕynite, and the Qenizzite, and the Qaḏmonite, (Gen 15:20) and the Ḥittite, and the Perizzite, and the Repha’im, (Gen 15:21) and the Amorite, and the Kenaʽanite, and the Girgashite, and the Yeḇusite.” (Gen 16:1) And Sarai, Aḇram’s wife, had borne him no child. And she had a Mitsrite female servant whose name was Haḡar.

Trouble is always next when we don’t hang on and rest in YHWH’s promises and instead choose to “help Him out some”

(Gen 16:2) And Sarai said to Aḇram, “See, יהוה has kept me from bearing children. Please, go in to my female servant. It might be that I am built up by her.” And Aḇram listened to the voice of Sarai. (Gen 16:3) And Sarai, Aḇram’s wife, took Haḡar her female servant, the Mitsrite, and gave her to her husband Aḇram to be his wife, after Aḇram had dwelt ten years in the land of Kenaʽan. (Gen 16:4) And he went in to Haḡar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. (Gen 16:5) And Sarai said to Aḇram, “My wrong is upon you! I gave my female servant into your bosom. And when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Let יהוה judge between you and me.” (Gen 16:6) And Aḇram said to Sarai, “See, your female servant is in your hand, do to her what is good in your eyes.” And Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence. (Gen 16:7) And the Messenger of יהוה found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur, (Gen 16:8) and He said, “Haḡar, Sarai’s female servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of Sarai, my mistress.” (Gen 16:9) And the Messenger (Angel) of יהוה said to her, “Return to your mistress, and humble yourself under her hand.”

(Gen 16:10) And the Messenger (Angel-Yahshua?) of יהוה said to her, “I am going to increase your seed greatly, too numerous to be counted.” (Gen 16:11) And the Messenger of יהוה said to her, “See, you are conceiving and bearing a son, and shall call his name Yishmaʽĕl, because יהוה has heard your affliction. (Gen 16:12) “And he is to be a wild man, his hand against every one and every one’s hand against him, and dwell over against all his brothers.” (Gen 16:13) And she called the Name of יהוה who spoke to her, “You are the Ěl who sees,” for she said, “Even here have I seen after Him who sees me?” (Gen 16:14) That is why the well was called be’ĕr Laḥai Ro’i, see, it is between Qaḏĕsh and Bereḏ. (Gen 16:15) And Haḡar bore Aḇram a son, and Aḇram called the name of his son, whom Haḡar bore, Yishmaʽĕl. (Gen 16:16) And Aḇram was eighty-six years old when Haḡar bore Yishmaʽĕl to Aḇram.

This means that Ishmael was 15 years old when Isaac was born!

(Gen 17:1) And it came to be when Aḇram was ninety-nine years old, that יהוה appeared to Aḇram and said to him, “I am Ěl Shaddai – walk before me and be perfect1. Footnote: 1Messiah gives the same command in Mt. 5:48. (Gen 17:2) “And I give my covenant between me and you, and shall greatly increase you.” (Gen 17:3) And Aḇram fell on his face, and Elohim spoke with him, saying, (Gen 17:4) “As for Me, look, My covenant is with you, and you shall become a father of many nations.

Notice how important words are and what we speak…YHWH renamed Abram to Father of many nations, that faith might develop since faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of YHWH (Romans 10:17)

(Gen 17:5) “And no longer is your name called Aḇram, but your name shall be Aḇraham, because I shall make you a father of many nations. (Gen 17:6) “And I shall make you bear fruit exceedingly, and make nations of you, and sovereigns shall come from you.

(Gen 17:7) “And I shall establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be Elohim to you and your seed after you. (Gen 17:8) “And I shall give to you and your seed after you the land of your sojourning, all the land of Kenaʽan, as an everlasting possession. And I shall be their Elohim.” (Gen 17:9) And Elohim said to Aḇraham, “As for you, guard my covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. (Gen 17:10) “This is my covenant which you guard between me and you, and your seed after you: Every male child among you is to be circumcised. (Gen 17:11) “And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall become a sign of the covenant between me and you. (Gen 17:12) “And a son of eight days is circumcised by you, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with silver from any foreigner who is not of your seed. (Gen 17:13) “He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your silver, has to be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh, for an everlasting covenant. (Gen 17:14) “And an uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, his life shall be cut off from his people – he has broken my covenant.” (Gen 17:15) And Elohim said to Aḇraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her name Sarai, for Sarah is her name. (Gen 17:16) “And I shall bless her and also give you a son by her. And I shall bless her, and she shall become nations – sovereigns of peoples are to be from her.”

We will always be tested by what we believe…Is anything too hard for YHWH?

(Gen 17:17) And Aḇraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Is a child born to a man who is a hundred years old? Or is Sarah, who is ninety years old, to bear a child?” (Gen 17:18) And Aḇraham said to Elohim, “Oh, let Yishmaʽĕl live before you!” (Gen 17:19) And Elohim said, “No, Sarah your wife is truly bearing a son to you, and you shall call his name Yitsḥaq. And I shall establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant and with his seed after him. (Gen 17:20) “And as for Yishmaʽĕl, I have heard you. See, I shall bless him, and shall make him bear fruit, and greatly increase him. He is to bring forth twelve princes, and I shall make him a great nation. (Gen 17:21) “But My covenant I establish with Yitsḥaq, whom Sarah is to bear to you at this set time next year.” (Gen 17:22) And when He had ended speaking with him, Elohim went up from Aḇraham. (Gen 17:23) And Aḇraham took Yishmaʽĕl his son, and all those born in his house and all those bought with his silver, every male among the men of Aḇraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that same day, as Elohim told him. (Gen 17:24) And Aḇraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. (Gen 17:25) And Yishmaʽĕl his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. (Gen 17:26) Aḇraham and his son Yishmaʽĕl were circumcised that same day. (Gen 17:27) And all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with silver from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

(Isa 40:27) Why do you say, O Yaʽaqoḇ, and speak, O Yisra’ĕl, “My way is hidden from יהוה, and my rights are overlooked by my Elohim”? (Isa 40:28) Did you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting Elohim, יהוה, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. (Isa 40:29) He gives power to the faint, and to those who have no might He increases strength. (Isa 40:30) Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men stumble and fall, (Isa 40:31) but those who wait on יהוה renew their strength, they raise up the wing like eagles, they run and are not weary, they walk and do not faint. (Isa 41:1) “Be silent before me, you coastlands, and let peoples renew their power! Let them come near, and then let them speak. Let us come together for right-ruling. (Isa 41:2) “Who rose up the righteous one from the east, called him to His foot, gave the nations before him, and made sovereigns submit to him? He gave them as the dust to his sword, as driven stubble to his bow. (Isa 41:3) “He pursued them, passed over in safety, by a path that he had not gone with his feet. (Isa 41:4) “Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, יהוה, am the first, and with the last I am He.’ ” (Isa 41:5) Coastlands see it and fear, the ends of the earth are afraid – they draw near and come.

(Isa 41:6) Everyone helps his neighbor, and says to his brother, “Be strong!” (Isa 41:7) And the craftsman encourages the goldsmith. He who smoothes with the hammer inspires him who strikes the anvil, saying of the joining, “It is good.” And he fastens it with nails, so it does not totter.

Our righteousness is by faith as we Abraham’s covenant is ours!

(Isa 41:8) “But you, Yisra’ĕl, are My servant, Yaʽaqoḇ, whom I have chosen, the descendants of Aḇraham My friend, (Isa 41:9) whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest parts, and said to You, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not rejected you. (Isa 41:10) ‘Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not look around, for I am your Elohim. I shall strengthen you, I shall also help you, I shall also uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.’

(Isa 41:11) “See, all those who raged against you are ashamed and blush, they are as non-existent. And the men who strive with you perish. (Isa 41:12) “You seek them but do not find them, those who struggle with you. Those who fight you are as non-existent, as naught.

(Isa 41:13) “For I, יהוה am your Elohim, I am holding your right hand, saying to you, ‘Do not fear, I shall help you.’ (Isa 41:14) “Do not fear, you worm Yaʽaqoḇ, you men of Yisra’ĕl! I shall help you,” declares יהוה and your Redeemer, the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl. (Isa 41:15) “See, I shall make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth, let you thresh mountains and beat them small, and make hills like chaff. (Isa 41:16) “You winnow them, the wind lifts them up, and the whirlwind scatters them; but you, you rejoice in יהוה, and boast in the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl.

(Joshua 7:1) But the children of Yisra’ĕl committed a trespass regarding that which is under the ban, for Aḵan son of Karmi, son of Zaḇdi, son of Zeraḥ, of the tribe of Yehuḏah, took of that which is under the ban. And the displeasure of יהוה burned against the children of Yisra’ĕl. (Joshua 7:2) Now Yehoshua sent men from Yeriḥo to Ai, which is beside Bĕyth Awen, on the east side of Bĕyth Ěl, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the land.” And the men went up and spied out Ai.

(Joshua 7:3) And they returned to Yehoshua and said to him, “Let not all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai. Do not make all the people toil up there, for the people of Ai are few.” (Joshua 7:4) And about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. (Joshua 7:5) And the men of Ai smote about thirty-six men, for they pursued them from before the gate as far as Sheḇarim, and smote them on the descent. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

Fasting AND Prayer with repentance brings YHWH

(Joshua 7:6) And Yehoshua tore his garments, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of יהוה until evening, both he and the elders of Yisra’ĕl, and they put dust on their heads. (Joshua 7:7) And Yehoshua said, “Oh Master יהוה, why have you brought this people over the Yardĕn at all, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay beyond the Yardĕn! (Joshua 7:8) “O יהוה, what do I say when Yisra’ĕl turns its back before its enemies, (Joshua 7:9) and the Kenaʽanites and all the inhabitants of the land hear, and shall surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. What then do you do for your great Name?” (Joshua 7:10) And יהוה said to Yehoshua, “Rise up! Why are you lying on your face?

Here is the answer: sin always brings destruction- REPENT! If we’ll get sin out of our camp- you and I will also be victorious!

(Joshua 7:11) “Yisra’ĕl has sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of that which is under the ban, and have both stolen and deceived, and also put it among their own goods. (Joshua 7:12) “And the sons of Yisra’ĕl shall not be able to stand before their enemies. They are going to turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I am not with you any more, unless you destroy that which is under the ban from your midst. (Joshua 7:13) “Rise up, set the people apart, and you shall say, ‘Set yourselves apart for tomorrow, because thus said יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, “That which is under the ban is in your midst, O Yisra’ĕl. You are not able to stand before your enemies until you put away that which is under the ban out of your midst.” (Joshua 7:14) ‘And you shall be brought near in the morning, according to your tribes. And it shall be, the tribe which יהוה takes comes according to clans. And the clan which יהוה takes comes by households. And the household which יהוה takes comes by men. (Joshua 7:15) ‘And it shall be that he who is taken with that which is under the ban is burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of יהוה, and because he has committed wickedness in Yisra’ĕl.’ ” (Joshua 7:16) So Yehoshua arose early in the morning and brought Yisra’ĕl by their tribes, and the tribe of Yehuḏah was taken, (Joshua 7:17) and he brought the clan of Yehuḏah, and he took the clan of the Zarḥites. And he brought the clan of the Zarḥites by men, and Zaḇdi was taken. (Joshua 7:18) And he brought his household by men, and Aḵan son of Karmi, son of Zaḇdi, son of Zeraḥ, of the tribe of Yehuḏah, was taken. (Joshua 7:19) Then Yehoshua said to Aḵan, “My son, now give esteem to יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, and make confession to Him. And please declare to me what you have done, do not hide it from me.”

The “love” of money brings forth lusting and is still the root of all evil! Judgment is at the door.

(Joshua 7:20) So Aḵan answered Yehoshua and said, “Truly, I have sinned against יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl and this is what I did: (Joshua 7:21) “When I saw among the spoil a lovely garment from Shinʽar, and two hundred sheqels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty sheqels, I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the ground in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.” (Joshua 7:22) And Yehoshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent. And see, it was hidden in his tent, with the silver under it. (Joshua 7:23) And they took them from the midst of the tent, brought them to Yehoshua and to all the children of Yisra’ĕl, and laid them out before יהוה. (Joshua 7:24) Then Yehoshua, and all Yisra’ĕl with him, took Aḵan son of Zeraḥ, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his donkeys, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Aḵor. (Joshua 7:25) And Yehoshua said, “Why have you troubled us? יהוה does trouble you today!” Then all Yisra’ĕl stoned him with stones. And they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. (Joshua 7:26) And they raised over him a great heap of stones, which remains to this day. Then יהוה turned from the fierceness of His displeasure. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Aḵor to this day.

(Joshua 8:1) And יהוה said to Yehoshua, “Do not be afraid, nor be discouraged. Take all the soldiers with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the sovereign of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land. (Joshua 8:2) “So you shall do to Ai and its sovereign as you did to Yeriḥo and its sovereign. Only its spoil and its livestock you take as plunder for yourselves. Set for yourselves an ambush for the city, behind it.” (Joshua 8:3) And Yehoshua and all the soldiers rose up, to go up to Ai. And Yehoshua chose thirty thousand mighty brave men and sent them away by night, (Joshua 8:4) and commanded them, saying, “See, you are going to lie in ambush against the city, behind the city. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you shall be prepared,

(Joshua 8:5) while I and all the people who are with me approach the city. And it shall be, when they come out against us, as formerly, that we shall flee before them, (Joshua 8:6) and they shall come out after us till we have drawn them from the city, as though saying, ‘They are fleeing before us as formerly.’ And we shall flee before them, (Joshua 8:7) then you shall rise from the ambush and seize the city. And יהוה your Elohim shall give it into your hand. (Joshua 8:8) “And it shall be, when you capture the city, that you burn the city with fire. Do according to the word of יהוה. See, I have commanded you.”

(Joshua 8:9) And Yehoshua sent them out. And they went to lie in ambush, and stayed between Bĕyth Ěl and Ai, on the west side of Ai. But Yehoshua stayed that night in the midst of the people. (Joshua 8:10) And Yehoshua rose up early in the morning and inspected the people, and went up, he and the elders of Yisra’ĕl, before the people to Ai.

(Joshua 8:11) And all the soldiers who were with him went up and drew near, and came before the city and camped on the north side of Ai, with the valley between them and Ai.

(Joshua 8:12) And he took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bĕyth Ěl and Ai, on the west side of the city. (Joshua 8:13) So they stationed the people, all the army that was on the north of the city, and its rear guard on the west of the city, and Yehoshua went that night into the midst of the valley. (Joshua 8:14) And it came to be, when the sovereign of Ai saw it, that the men of the city hastened and rose up early and went out against Yisra’ĕl to battle, he and all his people, at an appointed place before the desert plain. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. (Joshua 8:15) And Yehoshua and all Yisra’ĕl let themselves be beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. (Joshua 8:16) And all the people who were in Ai were called together to pursue them. And they pursued Yehoshua and were drawn away from the city. (Joshua 8:17) So there was not a man left in Ai or Bĕyth Ěl who did not go out after Yisra’ĕl, and they left the city open and pursued Yisra’ĕl.

(Joshua 8:18) And יהוה said to Yehoshua, “Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I give it into your hand.” And Yehoshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city, (Joshua 8:19) and the ambush rose up quickly from their place, and they ran at the stretching out of his hand, and entered the city and took it, and hastened to burn the city with fire.

(Joshua 8:20) And the men of Ai looked behind them and saw the smoke of the city rising to the heavens. And there was no power in them to flee this way or that way, for the people who had fled to the wilderness turned back on the pursuers. (Joshua 8:21) For when Yehoshua and all Yisra’ĕl saw that the ambush had captured the city and that the smoke of the city went up, they turned back and smote the men of Ai. (Joshua 8:22) The others also came out of the city against them, so they were in the midst of Yisra’ĕl, some on this side and some on that side. And they smote them until none were left, and none had escaped.

(Joshua 8:23) But the sovereign of Ai they caught alive, and brought him to Yehoshua.

(Joshua 8:24) And it came to be, when Yisra’ĕl ended slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness where they pursued them, and when they all had fallen by the edge of the sword until they were consumed, that all the Yisra’ĕlites returned to Ai and smote it with the edge of the sword. (Joshua 8:25) And it came to be that all who fell that day, both men and women, were twelve thousand – all men of Ai. (Joshua 8:26) And Yehoshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had put all the inhabitants of Ai under the ban. (Joshua 8:27) Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Yisra’ĕl took as booty for themselves, according to the word of יהוה which He had commanded Yehoshua. (Joshua 8:28) And Yehoshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a ruin to this day. (Joshua 8:29) And he hanged the sovereign of Ai on a tree until evening. And at sunset Yehoshua commanded that they should take his corpse down from the tree, and throw it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raise over it a great heap of stones, to this day.

Note below that after the guilty are judged Joshua shows us the remedy for sin in the camp- since the real battlefield is the mind, will, intellect and emotions (The Soul)- RENEW your minds. How? In the Word! Before any warfare (Physical or spiritual) we must strengthen ourselves in the Word!

(Rom 12:1) I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship. (Rom 12:2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove that which good and well-pleasing and the perfect desire (will) of Elohim.

(Joshua 8:30) And Yehoshua built an altar to יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl in Mount Ěyḇal,

(Joshua 8:31) as Mosheh the servant of יהוה had commanded the children of Yisra’ĕl, as it is written in the Book of the Torah of Mosheh, “an altar of unhewn stones over which no man has wielded iron.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to יהוה, and slaughtered peace offerings. (Joshua 8:32) And there, in the presence of the children of Yisra’ĕl, he wrote on the stones a copy of the Torah of Mosheh, which he had written. (Joshua 8:33) And all Yisra’ĕl – the sojourner as well as the native – with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Lĕwites, who bore the ark of the covenant of יהוה. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ěyḇal, as Mosheh the servant of יהוה had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Yisra’ĕl. (Joshua 8:34) And afterward he read all the words of the Torah, the blessings and the cursing, according to all that is written in the Book of the Torah. (Joshua 8:35) There was not a word of all that Mosheh had commanded which Yehoshua did not read before all the assembly of Yisra’ĕl, with the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who accompanied them.

(Joshua 9:1) And it came to be, when all the sovereigns who were beyond the Yardĕn, in the hills and in the low country and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Leḇanon – the Ḥittite and the Amorite, the Kenaʽanite and the Perizzite, the Ḥiwwite and the Yeḇusite – heard, (Joshua 9:2) they gathered together to fight with Yehoshua and Yisra’ĕl with one accord. (Joshua 9:3) And the inhabitants of Giḇʽon heard what Yehoshua had done to Yeriḥo and Ai, (Joshua 9:4) and they acted slyly and went and pretended to be envoys. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, (Joshua 9:5) and old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves. And all the bread of their provision was dry, it was crumbs. (Joshua 9:6) And they went to Yehoshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Yisra’ĕl, “We have come from a far land, and now, make a covenant with us.” (Joshua 9:7) But the men of Yisra’ĕl said to the Ḥiwwites, “It could be that you dwell in our midst, so how would we make a covenant with you?” (Joshua 9:8) And they said to Yehoshua, “We are your servants.” And Yehoshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?” (Joshua 9:9) So they said to him, “From a land very far off your servants have come, because of the Name of יהוה your Elohim. For we have heard the report of Him, and all that He did in Mitsrayim, (Joshua 9:10) and all that He had done to the two sovereigns of the Amorites who were beyond the Yardĕn, to Siḥon sovereign of Ḥeshbon, and Oḡ sovereign of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. (Joshua 9:11) “So our elders and all the inhabitants of our land spoke to us, saying, ‘Take food with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, “We are your servants, and now, make a covenant with us.” ’ (Joshua 9:12) “This bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day that we left to come to you. But now, see, it is dry and it is crumby. (Joshua 9:13) “And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn. And these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.” (Joshua 9:14) And the men of Yisra’ĕl took some of their food, but they did not ask the mouth of יהוה.

(Joshua 9:15) And Yehoshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live, and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. (Joshua 9:16) And it came to be at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. (Joshua 9:17) And the children of Yisra’ĕl set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Giḇʽon, and Kephirah, and be’ĕroth, and Qiryath Yeʽarim. (Joshua 9:18) But the children of Yisra’ĕl did not smite them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl. And the entire congregation grumbled against the rulers. (Joshua 9:19) But all the rulers said to the entire congregation, “We have sworn to them by יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, and we are unable to touch them now.

Want to live? Make peace with the covenant people of YHWH

(Joshua 9:20) “Let us do this to them: We shall keep them alive, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.”

(Joshua 9:21) And the rulers said to them, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and drawers of water for the entire congregation, as the rulers had promised them.”

(Joshua 9:22) Then Yehoshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ yet you are dwelling in our midst?

(Joshua 9:23) “And now you are cursed, and you shall not cease from being slaves, and woodcutters and drawers of water for the House of my Elohim.” (Joshua 9:24) And they answered Yehoshua and said, “Your servants were clearly told that יהוה your Elohim commanded His servant Mosheh to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. So we were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this deed. (Joshua 9:25) “And now, see, we are in your hands. Do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.” (Joshua 9:26) And he did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Yisra’ĕl, and they did not kill them. (Joshua 9:27) And that day Yehoshua made them woodcutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of יהוה, even to this day, at the place that He should choose.

May YHWH bless you Loved Ones. Truth seekers like you are the best brothers and sisters on the Planet Earth! Times of Jacob’s Trouble are approaching so let’s make ourselves ready. Thanks for your heartfelt intercession for us and we know it will be added back to you and your loved ones 30, 60 and one hundred fold! May your seed be taught of YHWH as you obey through the fiery trials we will face as this is guaranteed for obedience! (Just as it was for Abraham) (Gen 22:18) "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." (Isa 54:11) O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. (Isa 54:12) And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. (Isa 54:13) And all thy children shall be taught of YHWH; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

So dear Loved One, FEAR NOT about your children, just be concerned about your own right standing (Come apart from the lies we inherited in pagan traditions) and obey the Father- and rest in Him concerning your children…He is the one who guarantees they’ll be taught of Him and have great peace! I have full confidence He will do His part as He promised!

Shalom to your home,

Thurston

Noah Prepared - What About You & I?

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Shabbat Shalom Loved One!

It’s that time again. You may ask time again for what? It’s time again to remind ourselves who we are. Once again we need to remind ourselves why you are “Loved Ones”! I consider all “Truth Seekers” family and therefore loved ones. Once again, here’s why; (Matthew 12:46) While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood without, desiring to speak with him.(Matthew 12:47) Then one said unto him, Behold, your mother and your brothers stand without, desiring to speak with you. (Matthew 12:48) But he answered and said unto him that told him, who is my mother? And who are my brothers?

(Matthew 12:49) And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, behold my mother and my brothers! (Matthew 12:50) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

There it is in a nutshell once again. Are you one who is doing the will of the Father? His word and His will are the same. Remember we are told by Yahshua (John 17:17) sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 14:6) Yahshua said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me. What or whose will was Yahshua doing? (John 5:30) I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me.

As we die to our own will, we become more like Him, we will walk like He walked and do even greater works because He has gone to the Father. Together, let’s look closely at this thought of walking like He walked. Hebraic thought on this is called Halacha, but Judaism has totally rerouted the meanings. They have added takanot or added rules they say supersede the word of YHWH. In other words they have added to and taken away from the Scriptures which according to Deuteronomy 4:2 is an absolute No, No, No by our Father. (Deu 4:2) "You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of YHWH your Elohim which I command you.

They have created their own religion and would have you obey them much like we in the Christian world have inherited added feasts. This is NOT what the Scriptures command in any way! (1Jn 2:1) My little children, I write this to you, so that you do not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Intercessor with the Father, יהושע Messiah, a righteous One. (1Jn 2:2) And He Himself is an atoning offering for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the entire world. (1Jn 2:3) And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands.1 Footnote: 1See 3:6. (1Jn 2:4) The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1Jn 2:5) But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of Elohim has been perfected1 in him. By this we know that we are in Him.2 Footnotes: 1Gen. 17:1, Ps. 119:1, Mt. 5:48. 2See 3:24. (1Jn 2:6) The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked.

Understand, Loved One that our goal is to learn to walk like He walked. This requires us by our choice to become family! You are family if you are humble enough to be a truth searcher. One who desires truth and obedience to your Creator- more than you want acceptance from men and their traditions. This group would include us who are willing to pick up our burial stake and follow Him. Why do I use burial stake? Because you and I must be willing to decrease as He increases in us. He changes not and that only leaves you and I to do the changing, Yahshua put it like this: (Matthew 16:24) Then said Yahshua to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Matthew 16:25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 16:26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

We must be willing to humble ourselves and accept the engrafted word when we discover truth. This losing our life for Him is not just physical. As we are changed into His image we are losing our old person (ality) and gaining HIM! Remember to the degree we are hungry for Him (desire Him) we will be changed or filled with imHimHim- no more or less. (Matthew 5:6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

James 4:7) So then subject (submit/humble) yourselves to Elohim. Resist the devil1 and he shall flee from you. Footnote: 1Or adversary. (James 4:8) Draw near to Elohim and He shall draw near to you. Cleanse hands, sinners. And cleanse the hearts, you double-minded! (James 4:9) Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to dejection. (James 4:10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Master, and He shall lift you up.

Today we turn our hearts to prepare for trouble coming. This will require a FAST TRACK of humbling ourselves and changing! We learn of NOAH and preparing today!

Here are our Torah Scriptures this week: Noach- Noah

Genesis 6:9-11:32
Isaiah 54:1-55-13
Joshua Chapters 4, 5, and 6

Today we see YHWH’s promise preparing to manifest. This means we, too should take
notice and prepare as we see The Day approaching! These men who laughed and scorned Noah for preparing and ARK; probably like most in the “church” today; were not preparing. They were walking by faith and praying against the rain. It may sound humorous to you and me, but we might as well get ready for the same mocking as we prepare by having seed, water and sustainable surroundings as we move out of cities, move out of varying countries as we are led by the Spirit NOT FEAR! If you are fleeing in fear do not leave. You may be fleeing to a worse place. Be motivated by your peace and inward warning of your heart. The idea is to help others and produce fruit for the Kingdom! In order that we are a help to others, we must prepare as He leads us. When wickedness and violence once again fills the earth, He promises to not destroy the earth again with a flood. This judgment is by FIRE! (2Pe 3:3) knowing this first: that mockers shall come in the last days with mocking, walking according to their own lusts,

(2Pe 3:4) and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? Since the fathers fell asleep, all continues as from the beginning of creation.” (2Pe 3:5) For they choose to have this hidden from them: that the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by the Word of Elohim, 1Footnote: 1Heb. 11:3. (2Pe 3:6) through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. (2Pe 3:7) And the present heavens and the earth are treasured up by the same Word, being kept for fire, to a Day of Judgment and destruction of wicked men. (2Pe 3:8) But, beloved ones let not this one matter be hidden from you: that with יהוה one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2Pe 3:9) יהוה is not slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.1 Footnote: 11 Tim. 2:4. (2Pe 3:10) But the day of יהוה shall come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are in it shall be burned up. (2Pe 3:11) Seeing all these are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be in set-apart behavior and reverence, (2Pe 3:12) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of Elohim, through which the heavens shall be destroyed, being set on fire, and the elements melt with intense heat! (2Pe 3:13) But according to His promise we wait for a renewed heavens and a renewed earth in which righteousness dwells.

Earth is filled with violence- PREPARE

Gen 6:9) This is the genealogy of Noaḥ. Noaḥ was a righteous man, perfect in his generations. Noaḥ walked with Elohim. (Gen 6:10) And Noaḥ brought forth three sons: Shĕm, Ḥam, and Yepheth. (Gen 6:11) And the earth was corrupt before Elohim, and the earth was filled with violence. (Gen 6:12) And Elohim looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt – for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth – (Gen 6:13) and Elohim said to Noaḥ, “The end of all flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them. And see, I am going to destroy them from the earth. (Gen 6:14) “Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with tar. (Gen 6:15) “And this is how you are to make it: The length of the ark is three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. (Gen 6:16) “Make a window for the ark, and complete it to a cubit from above. And set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks.

(Gen 6:17) “And see, I myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life from under the heavens – all that is on the earth is to die.

Note the reason for the judgment is to establish a covenant of righteousness with us

(Gen 6:18) “And I shall establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. (Gen 6:19) “And of all the living creatures of all flesh, two of each, you are to bring into the ark, to keep them alive with you – a male and a female. (Gen 6:20) “Of the birds after their kind, and of the cattle after their kind, and of all creeping creatures of the earth after their kind, two of each are to come to you, to keep them alive. (Gen 6:21) “As for you, take of all food that is eaten and gather it to yourself. And it shall be food for you and for them.”

(Gen 6:22) And Noaḥ did according to all that Elohim commanded him, so he did. (Gen 7:1) And יהוה said to Noaḥ, “Come into the ark, you and your entire household, because I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. (Gen 7:2) “Of all the clean beasts take with you seven pairs, a male and his female; and of the beasts that are unclean two, a male and his female; (Gen 7:3) and of birds of the heavens seven pairs, male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of all the earth. (Gen 7:4) “For after seven more days I am sending rain on the earth, forty days and forty nights, and shall wipe from the face of the earth all that stand that I created.” (Gen 7:5) And Noaḥ did according to all that יהוה commanded him.

(Gen 7:6) Now Noaḥ was six hundred years old when the flood-waters were on the earth. (Gen 7:7) And Noaḥ and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives went into the ark because of the waters of the flood. (Gen 7:8) Of the clean beasts and of the beasts that are unclean, and of birds, and of all that creep on the earth, (Gen 7:9) two by two they went into the ark to Noaḥ, male and female, as Elohim had commanded Noaḥ.

(Gen 7:10) And it came to be after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth. (Gen 7:11) In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of the heavens were opened. (Gen 7:12) And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights. (Gen 7:13) On that same day Noaḥ and Shĕm and Ḥam and Yepheth, the sons of Noaḥ, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, went into the ark, (Gen 7:14) they and every living creature after its kind, and every beast after its kind, and every creeping creature that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort.

(Gen 7:15) And they went into the ark to Noaḥ, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. (Gen 7:16) And those going in, male and female of all flesh, went in as Elohim had commanded him, and יהוה shut him in. (Gen 7:17) And the flood was on the earth forty days, and the waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. (Gen 7:18) And the waters were mighty and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. (Gen 7:19) And the waters were exceedingly mighty on the earth, and all the high mountains under all the heavens were covered. (Gen 7:20) The waters became mighty, fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered.

Destruction of all wickedness!

(Gen 7:21) And all flesh died that moved on the earth – birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping creature that creeps on the earth, and all mankind. (Gen 7:22) All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died.

(Gen 7:23) So He wiped off that entire stand, which was on the face of the ground – both man and beast, creeping creature and bird of the heavens. And they were wiped off from the earth. And only Noaḥ was left and those with him in the ark. (Gen 7:24) And the waters were mighty on the earth, one hundred and fifty days. (Gen 8:1) And Elohim remembered Noaḥ, and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark. And Elohim made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided. (Gen 8:2) And the fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were stopped, and the rain from the heavens was withheld. (Gen 8:3) And the waters receded steadily from the earth, and at the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters diminished.

Ark rested in the mountains-plural right where a petrified boat with the exact dimensions was found. www.wyattmuseum.com

(Gen 8:4) And in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat. (Gen 8:5) And the waters decreased steadily until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains became visible. (Gen 8:6) And it came to be, at the end of forty days, that Noaḥ opened the window of the ark which he had made, (Gen 8:7) and he sent out a raven, which kept going out and turning back until the waters had dried up from the earth. (Gen 8:8) Then he sent out a dove from him, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground. (Gen 8:9) But the dove found no resting place for its feet and returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of all the earth. So he put out his hand and took it, and pulled it into the ark to himself. (Gen 8:10) And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out from the ark. (Gen 8:11) And the dove came to him in the evening, and see, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in its mouth. And Noaḥ knew that the waters had receded from the earth. (Gen 8:12) And he waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove, which did not return to him again.

(Gen 8:13) And it came to be in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth. And Noaḥ removed the covering of the ark and looked, and saw the surface of the ground was dry. (Gen 8:14) And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. (Gen 8:15) And Elohim spoke to Noaḥ, saying, (Gen 8:16) “Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. (Gen 8:17) “Bring out with you every living creature of all flesh that is with you: of birds, of cattle and all creeping creatures that creep on the earth. And let them teem on the earth and bear and increase on the earth.” (Gen 8:18) So Noaḥ went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him, (Gen 8:19) every beast, every creeping creature, and every bird, whatever creeps on the earth, according to their kinds, went out of the ark. (Gen 8:20) And Noaḥ built an altar to יהוה, and took of every clean beast and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Prayer and worship is a sweet incense to YHWH! It spells RELIEF! (Note that as long as there is earth-there is seedtime AND harvest!)

(Gen 8:21) And יהוה smelled a soothing fragrance, and יהוה said in His heart, “Never again shall I curse the ground because of man, although the inclination of man’s heart is evil from his youth, and never again smite all living creatures, as I have done,

(Gen 8:22) as long as the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” (Gen 9:1) And Elohim blessed Noaḥ and his sons, and said to them, “Bear fruit and increase, and fill the earth. (Gen 9:2) “And the fear of you and the dread of you is on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the heavens, on all that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish of the sea – into your hand they have been given.

After the flood YHWH increases our food supply to include certain clean animals and adds that to the green plants or reference to seed bearing plants! But NOT BLOOD!

(Gen 9:3) “Every moving creature that lives is food for you. I have given you all, as I gave the green plants. (Gen 9:4) “But do not eat flesh with its life, its blood. (Gen 9:5) “But only your blood for your lives I require, from the hand of every beast I require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I require the life of man. (Gen 9:6) “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood is shed, for in the image of Elohim has He made man. (Gen 9:7) “As for you, bear fruit and increase, bring forth teemingly in the earth and increase in it.”(Gen 9:8) And Elohim spoke to Noaḥ and to his sons with him, saying, (Gen 9:9) “And I, see, I establish My covenant with you and with your seed after you, (Gen 9:10) and with every living creature that is with you: of the birds, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. (Gen 9:11) “And I shall establish my covenant with you, and never again is all flesh cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again is there a flood to destroy the earth.”

(Gen 9:12) And Elohim said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for all generations to come: (Gen 9:13) “I shall set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. (Gen 9:14) “And it shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud, (Gen 9:15) and I shall remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and never again let the waters become a flood to destroy all flesh. (Gen 9:16) “And the rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I shall see it, to remember the everlasting covenant between Elohim and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” (Gen 9:17) And Elohim said to Noaḥ, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” (Gen 9:18) And the sons of Noaḥ who went out of the ark were Shĕm and Ḥam and Yepheth. And Ḥam was the father of Kenaʽan. (Gen 9:19) these three were the sons of Noaḥ, and all the earth was overspread from them.

Noah was a farmer! Note the cause of curse coming to Ham

(Gen 9:20) And Noaḥ, a man of the soil, began and planted a vineyard. (Gen 9:21) And he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. (Gen 9:22) And Ḥam, the father of Kenaʽan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. (Gen 9:23) So Shĕm and Yepheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father, but their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. (Gen 9:24) And Noaḥ awoke from his wine, and he knew what his younger son had done to him, (Gen 9:25) and he said, “Cursed is Kenaʽan, let him become a servant of servants to his brothers.”

Note that blessings come from doing what is honorable!

(Gen 9:26) And he said, “Blessed be יהוה, the Elohim of Shĕm, and let Kenaʽan become his servant. (Gen 9:27) “Let Elohim enlarge Yepheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shĕm. And let Kenaʽan become his servant.” (Gen 9:28) And Noaḥ lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. (Gen 9:29) So all the days of Noaḥ were nine hundred and fifty years, and he died. (Gen 10:1) And this is the genealogy of the sons of Noaḥ: Shĕm, Ḥam, and Yepheth. And sons were born to them after the flood. (Gen 10:2) The sons of Yepheth: Gomer, and Maḡoḡ, and Maḏai, and Yawan, and Tuḇal, and Mesheḵ, and Tiras. (Gen 10:3) And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Toḡarmah. (Gen 10:4) And the sons of Yawan: Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Doḏanim.

(Gen 10:5) From these the coastland peoples of the nations were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their clans, into their nations. (Gen 10:6) And the sons of Ḥam: Kush, and Mitsrayim, and Put, and Kenaʽan. (Gen 10:7) and the sons of Kush: Seḇa, and Ḥawilah, and Saḇtah, and Raʽmah, and Saḇteḵa. And the sons of Raʽmah: Sheḇa and Deḏan.

Nimrod was the self exalting mighty hunter (self-made-self sufficient) that brought forth the self worship at BABEL

(Note that Nineveh was where Jonah refused to go and offer repentance!)

(Gen 10:8) And Kush brought forth Nimroḏ, he began to be a mighty one on the earth. (Gen 10:9) He was a mighty hunter before יהוה, therefore it is said, “Like Nimroḏ the mighty hunter before יהוה.” (Gen 10:10) And the beginning of his reign was Baḇel, and Ereḵ, and Akkaḏ, and Kalnĕh, in the land of Shinʽar. (Gen 10:11) From that land he went to Ashshur and built Ninewĕh, and Reḥoḇoth Ir, and Kelaḥ, (Gen 10:12) and Resen between Ninewĕh and Kelaḥ, the great city. (Gen 10:13) And Mitsrayim brought forth Luḏim, and Anamim, and Lehaḇim, and Naphtuḥim, (Gen 10:14) and Pathrusim, and Kasluḥim, from whom came the Philistines and Kaphtorim. (Gen 10:15) And Kenaʽan brought forth Tsiḏon his first-born, and Ḥĕth, (Gen 10:16) and the Yeḇusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite, (Gen 10:17) and the Ḥiwwite, and the Arqite, and the Sinite, (Gen 10:18) and the Arwaḏite, and the Tsemarite, and the Ḥamathite. And afterward the clans of the Kenaʽanites were spread abroad. (Gen 10:19) And the border of the Kenaʽanites was from Tsiḏon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Azzah, as you go toward Seḏom, and Amorah, and Aḏmah, and Tseḇoyim, as far as Lasha. (Gen 10:20) These were the sons of Ḥam, according to their clans, according to their languages, in their lands, in their nations.

(Gen 10:21) And also to Shĕm, the father of all the children of Ěḇer, the brother of Yepheth the elder, children were born. (Gen 10:22) The sons of Shĕm: Ěylam, and Asshur, and Arpaḵshaḏ, and Luḏ, and Aram. (Gen 10:23) And the sons of Aram: Uts, and Ḥul, and Gether, and Mash. (Gen 10:24) And Arpaḵshaḏ brought forth Shelaḥ, and Shelaḥ brought forth Ěḇer. (Gen 10:25) And to Ěḇer were born two sons, the name of one was Peleḡ, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother’s name was Yoqtan. (Gen 10:26) And Yoqtan brought forth Almoḏaḏ, and Sheleph, and Ḥatsarmaweth, and Yeraḥ, (Gen 10:27) and Haḏoram, and Uzal, and Diqlah, (Gen 10:28) and Oḇal, and Aḇima’ĕl, and Sheḇa, (Gen 10:29) and Ophir, and Ḥawilah, and Yoḇaḇ. All these were sons of Yoqtan. (Gen 10:30) And their dwelling place was from Mĕysha as you go toward Sephar, a mountain of the east. (Gen 10:31) These were the sons of Shĕm, according to their clans, according to their languages, in their lands, according to their nations. (Gen 10:32) These were the clans of the sons of Noaḥ, according to their generations, in their nations. And from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood. (Gen 11:1) And all the earth had one language1 and one speech. Footnote: 1Hebrew lip (Gen 11:2) And it came to be, as they set out from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinʽar1, and they dwelt there. Footnote: 1Earlier name for Baḇel

Self Exaltation starts at the Tower of Babel-YHWH makes the “babblers” confusing languages- from this time the sun gods all had different names in various parts of the earth but the same calendar dates of birth-December 25th- then the winter solstice.

(Gen 11:3) And they said to each other, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. (Gen 11:4) And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens, and make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered over all the face of the earth.” (Gen 11:5) Then יהוה came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. (Gen 11:6) And יהוה said, “Look, they are one people and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do! And now, they are not going to be withheld from doing whatever they plan to do. (Gen 11:7) “Come, let Us go there and confuse their language, so that they do not understand one another’s speech.” (Gen 11:8) And יהוה scattered them from there, over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. (Gen 11:9) That is why its name was called Baḇel1, because there יהוה confused the language of all the earth, and from there יהוה scattered them over the face of all the earth. Footnote: 1Baḇel is derived from a verb which means “to confuse".

(Gen 11:10) This is the genealogy of Shĕm: Shĕm was a hundred years old and brought forth Arpaḵshaḏ, two years after the flood. (Gen 11:11) And after he brought forth Arpaḵshaḏ, Shĕm lived five hundred years, and brought forth sons and daughters. (Gen 11:12) And Arpaḵshaḏ lived thirty-five years, and brought forth Shelaḥ. (Gen 11:13) And after he brought forth Shelaḥ, Arpaḵshaḏ lived four hundred and three years, and brought forth sons and daughters. (Gen 11:14) And Shelaḥ lived thirty years, and brought forth Ěḇer. (Gen 11:15) And after he brought forth Ěḇer, Shelaḥ lived four hundred and three years, and brought forth sons and daughters. (Gen 11:16) And Ěḇer lived thirty-four years, and brought forth Peleḡ. (Gen 11:17) And after he brought forth Peleḡ, Ěḇer lived four hundred and thirty years, and brought forth sons and daughters. (Gen 11:18) And Peleḡ lived thirty years, and brought forth Reʽu. (Gen 11:19) And after he brought forth Reʽu, Peleḡ lived two hundred and nine years, and brought forth sons and daughters. (Gen 11:20) And Reʽu lived thirty-two years, and brought forth Seruḡ. (Gen 11:21) And after he brought forth Seruḡ, Reʽu lived two hundred and seven years, and brought forth sons and daughters. (Gen 11:22) And Seruḡ lived thirty years, and brought forth Naḥor. (Gen 11:23) And after he brought forth Naḥor, Seruḡ lived two hundred years, and brought forth sons and daughters. (Gen 11:24) And Naḥor lived twenty-nine years, and brought forth Teraḥ. (The father of Abraham the Father of our faith) (Gen 11:25) And after he brought forth Teraḥ, Naḥor lived one hundred and nineteen years, and brought forth sons and daughters. (Gen 11:26) And Teraḥ lived seventy years, and brought forth Aḇram, Naḥor, and Haran. (Gen 11:27) And this is the genealogy of Teraḥ: Teraḥ brought forth Aḇram, Naḥor, and Haran. And Haran brought forth Lot. (Gen 11:28) And Haran died before his father Teraḥ in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans. (Gen 11:29) And Aḇram and Naḥor took wives: the name of Aḇram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Naḥor’s wife, Milkah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milkah and the father of Yiskah. (Gen 11:30) And Sarai was barren, she had no child. (Gen 11:31) And Teraḥ took his son Aḇram and his grandson Lot, son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Aḇram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Kenaʽan. And they came to Ḥaran and dwelt there. (Gen 11:32) And the days of Teraḥ came to be two hundred and five years, and Teraḥ died in Ḥaran.

Since I believe this portion is so important for us living in this day and hour; I have increased the reading of haftorah to include the remainder of Isaiah Chapter 11

(Isa 54:1) “Sing, O barren one, you who did not bear! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the deserted one are more than the children of the married woman,” said יהוה. (Isa 54:2) “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not. Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. (Isa 54:3) “For you shall break forth to the right and to the left, and your seed inherit the nations, and make the deserted cities inhabited.

(Isa 54:4) “Do not fear, for you shall not be put to shame, nor hurt, you shall not be humiliated. For the shame of your youth you shall forget, and not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more. (Isa 54:5) “For your Maker is your husband, יהוה of hosts is His Name, and the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl is your Redeemer. He is called the Elohim of all the earth. (Isa 54:6) “For יהוה has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when you were refused,” declares your Elohim. (Isa 54:7) “For a little while I have forsaken you, but with great compassion I shall gather you. (Isa 54:8) “In an overflow of wrath I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I shall have compassion on you,” said יהוה, your Redeemer. (Isa 54:9) “For this is the waters of Noaḥ to Me, in that I have sworn that the waters of Noaḥ would never again cover the earth, so have I sworn not to be wroth with you, nor to rebuke you.

Are you afflicted? Are you facing fiery trials? REJOICE! Again I say REJOICE! All your children shall be taught of YHWH!

(Isa 54:10) “For though the mountains be removed and the hills be shaken, my kindness is not removed from you, nor is my covenant of peace shaken,” said יהוה, who has compassion on you. (Isa 54:11) “O you afflicted one, tossed with storm, and not comforted, see, I am setting your stones in antimony, and shall lay your foundations with sapphires, (Isa 54:12) and shall make your battlements of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones, (Isa 54:13) and all your children taught by יהוה, and the peace of your children great. (Isa 54:14) “In righteousness you shall be established – far from oppression, for you shall not fear, and far from ruin, for it does not come near you.(Isa 54:15) “See, they shall indeed assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever shall assemble against you falls for your sake! (Isa 54:16) “See, I myself have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work. And I have created the waster to destroy.

About 15 years ago I told Yahshua the verse below was not true!

(Isa 54:17) “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall prove wrong. This is the inheritance of the servants of יהוה, and their righteousness from me,” declares יהוה.

My reason for making such a bold statement was the fiery trial I and many of my believing friends found ourselves in. We were losing wives, jobs, businesses, etc.; from that position I made my statement. Yahshua replied, “I destroyed the works of hell!” I replied, “How can you say that- you destroyed the works of hell when they are working so well against me and my friends who love you?” Again, Yahshua replied sternly this time, “I destroyed the works of hell!” Again I stated, “If you destroyed the works of hell why are they working so well against us?” This brought a quick teaching reply, “I did not destroy your tongues son, hasatan shows you the storm and you agree with the facts with your tongues. Remember my words are spirit and truth. What is seen is temporal (temporary) and subject to change. I am the TRUTH and my word never changes! You report the storm (evil report and facts) and you therefore have prophesied your agreement with hells work. When you disagree with me- you are the liar and I am still the TRUTH!

(Isa 55:1) “Oh everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. And you who have no silver, come, buy and eat. Come; buy wine and milk without silver and without price. (Isa 55:2) “Why do you weigh out silver for what is not bread, and your labor for what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and let your being delight itself in fatness.(Isa 55:3) “Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear me so that your being lives. And let me make an everlasting covenant with you, the trustworthy kindnesses of Dawiḏ. (Isa 55:4) “See, I have given Him as a witness to the people, a Leader and a Commander for the people. (Isa 55:5) “See, a nation you do not know you shall call, and a nation who does not know you run to you, because of יהוה your Elohim, and the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, for He has adorned you.” (Isa 55:6) Seek יהוה while He is to be found, call on Him while He is near. (Isa 55:7) Let the wrong forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to יהוה, who has compassion on him, and to our Elohim, for He pardons much.

We should speak His word in agreement no matter what the facts appear to be- they are not necessarily the TRUTH! His words will always produce the fruit He sent them for!

(Isa 55:8) “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares יהוה. (Isa 55:9) “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa 55:10) “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from the heavens, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, and give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, (Isa 55:11) so is My Word that goes forth from My mouth – it does not return to Me empty, but shall do what I please, and shall certainly accomplish what I sent it for. (Isa 55:12) “For with joy you go out, and with peace you are brought in – the mountains and the hills break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field clap the hands. (Isa 55:13) “Instead of the thorn the cypress comes up, and instead of the nettle the myrtle comes up. And it shall be to יהוה for a name, for an everlasting sign which is not cut off.”

Gather the spies to enter the Promised Land! Beware of what you speak! Whose report will you believe- the facts or TRUTH?

(Joshua 4:1) And it came to be, when the entire nation had completely passed over the Yardĕn, that יהוה spoke to Yehoshua, saying, (Joshua 4:2) “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, (Joshua 4:3) and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Yardĕn, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. And you shall bring them with you and leave them in the camp in which you spend the night.’ ” (Joshua 4:4) And Yehoshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Yisra’ĕl, one man from every tribe, (Joshua 4:5) and Yehoshua said to them, “Pass over before the ark of יהוה your Elohim into the midst of the Yardĕn, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Yisra’ĕl, (Joshua 4:6) so that this shall be a sign in your midst when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ (Joshua 4:7) “Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Yardĕn were cut off before the ark of the covenant of יהוה. When it passed over the Yardĕn, the waters of the Yardĕn were cut off. And these stones shall be for a remembrance to the children of Yisra’ĕl forever.” (Joshua 4:8) And the children of Yisra’ĕl did so, as Yehoshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Yardĕn, as יהוה had spoken to Yehoshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Yisra’ĕl, and took them over with them to their camp, and laid them down there. (Joshua 4:9) Yehoshua also set up twelve stones in the midst of the Yardĕn, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the Ark of the Covenant stood. And they are there to this day. (Joshua 4:10) And the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Yardĕn until every matter was finished that יהוה had commanded Yehoshua to speak to the people, according to all that Mosheh had commanded Yehoshua. And the people hastened and passed over. (Joshua 4:11) And it came to be, when all the people had completely passed over, that the ark of יהוה and the priests passed over in the presence of the people. (Joshua 4:12) And the sons of Re’uḇĕn, and the sons of Gaḏ, and half the tribe of Menashsheh passed over in fives before the children of Yisra’ĕl, as Mosheh had spoken to them. (Joshua 4:13) About forty thousand armed ones of the army passed over before יהוה for battle, to the desert plains of Yeriḥo. (Joshua 4:14) On that day יהוה made Yehoshua great before the eyes of all Yisra’ĕl. And they feared him, as they had feared Mosheh, all the days of his life.

(Joshua 4:15) And יהוה spoke to Yehoshua, saying, (Joshua 4:16) “Command the priests who bear the ark of the Witness, and let them come up from the Yardĕn.” (Joshua 4:17) And Yehoshua commanded the priests, saying, “Come up from the Yardĕn.” (Joshua 4:18) And it came to be, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of יהוה had come from the midst of the Yardĕn, and the soles of the priests’ feet touched the dry land, that the waters of the Yardĕn returned to their place and flowed over all its banks as before. (Joshua 4:19) And the people came up from the Yardĕn on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Yeriḥo. (Joshua 4:20) and those twelve stones which they took out of the Yardĕn, Yehoshua set up in Gilgal.

(Joshua 4:21) And he said to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘what are these stones?’ (Joshua 4:22) then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Yisra’ĕl passed over this Yardĕn on dry land,’

(Joshua 4:23) for יהוה your Elohim dried up the waters of the Yardĕn before you until you had passed over, as יהוה your Elohim did to the Sea of Reeds, which He dried up before us until we had passed over, (Joshua 4:24) so that all the peoples of the earth shall know the hand of יהוה, that it is strong, so that you shall fear יהוה your Elohim forever.” (Joshua 5:1) And it came to be, when all the sovereigns of the Amorites who were beyond the Yardĕn westward, and all the sovereigns of the Kenaʽanites who were by the sea, heard that יהוה had dried up the waters of the Yardĕn from before the children of Yisra’ĕl until we had passed over, that their heart melted. And there was no spirit in them any longer, because of the children of Yisra’ĕl. (Joshua 5:2) At that time יהוה said to Yehoshua, “Make knives of flint for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Yisra’ĕl again the second time.”

Cleaning up for the covenant- Now written on our hearts!

(Joshua 5:3) So Yehoshua made knives of flint for himself, and circumcised the sons of Yisra’ĕl at the Hill of Foreskins. (Joshua 5:4) And this is why Yehoshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Mitsrayim who were males, all the men of battle, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Mitsrayim. (Joshua 5:5) For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness on the way as they came out of Mitsrayim had not been circumcised. (Joshua 5:6) For the children of Yisra’ĕl walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the nation – the men of battle who came out of Mitsrayim – were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of יהוה, to whom יהוה swore not to show them the land which יהוה had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Joshua 5:7) And Yehoshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way. (Joshua 5:8) And it came to be, when they had completed circumcising the entire nation that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed.

(Joshua 5:9) And יהוה said to Yehoshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Mitsrayim from you.” So the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day. (Joshua 5:10) And the children of Yisra’ĕl camped in Gilgal, and performed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening on the desert plains of Yeriḥo. (Joshua 5:11) and they ate of the stored grain of the land on the morrow after the Passover, unleavened bread and roasted grain on this same day. (Joshua 5:12) And the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the stored grain of the land. And the children of Yisra’ĕl no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Kenaʽan that year.

Question is the Captain of the Host of YHWH Yahshua? Most likely- it is Holy Ground!

(Joshua 5:13) And it came to be, when Yehoshua was by Yeriḥo, that he lifted his eyes and looked and saw a Man (Messenger of YHWH- Yahshua?) standing opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Yehoshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” (Joshua 5:14) And He said, “No, for I have now come as Captain of the host of יהוה.” And Yehoshua fell on his face to the earth and did obeisance, and said to Him, “What is my Master saying to His servant?” (Joshua 5:15) And the Captain of the host of יהוה said to Yehoshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is set-apart.” And Yehoshua did so. (Joshua 6:1) And Yeriḥo was shut up tight because of the presence of the sons of Yisra’ĕl – none going out, and none coming in.

YEP. (Yes in Texan) It’s Yahshua giving instructions-(Torah in Hebrew!)

(Joshua 6:2) And יהוה said to Yehoshua, “See! I have given Yeriḥo and its sovereign, mighty brave men, into your hand. (Joshua 6:3) “And you shall go around the city, all the men of battle going around the city once. Do this for six days. (Joshua 6:4) “And let seven priests bear seven rams’ horns before the ark, and on the seventh day go around the city seven times while the priests blow the horns. (Joshua 6:5) “And it shall be, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the horn, that all the people shout with a great shout. And the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up every man straight before him.” (Joshua 6:6) And Yehoshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the Ark of the Covenant, and let seven priests bear seven rams’ horns before the ark of יהוה.” (Joshua 6:7) And he said to the people, “Pass over, and go around the city, and let him who is armed pass over before the ark of יהוה.” (Joshua 6:8) And it came to be, when Yehoshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven rams’ horns before יהוה passed over and blew the horns, and the ark of the covenant of יהוה went after them. (Joshua 6:9) And the armed men went before the priests who blew the horns, and the rear guard came after the ark, going on and blowing the horns. (Joshua 6:10) But Yehoshua had commanded the people, saying, “Do not shout or cause your voice to be heard, nor let any word come out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout.” (Joshua 6:11) And the ark of יהוה went around the city, going around once. And they came into the camp and stayed in the camp. (Joshua 6:12) And Yehoshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of יהוה. (Joshua 6:13) And seven priests bearing seven rams’ horns before the ark of יהוה were walking, going on, and they blew the horns, and the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of יהוה, going on, and blowing the horns. (Joshua 6:14) And the second day they went around the city once and returned to the camp. Thus they did six days. (Joshua 6:15) And it came to be on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and went around the city seven times in this way. Only on that day they went around the city seven times. (Joshua 6:16) And it came to be at the seventh time, when the priests blew the horns that Yehoshua said to the people, “Shout, for יהוה has given you the city! (Joshua 6:17) “And the city shall be put under the ban, it and all that is in it belongs to יהוה. Only Raḥaḇ the whore is to live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

(Joshua 6:18) “And you, by all means guard yourselves from that which is under the ban, lest you come under the ban when you take of that which is under the ban, and make the camp of Yisra’ĕl a curse, and shall trouble it. (Joshua 6:19) “But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are set-apart to יהוה, they go into the treasury of יהוה.”

(Joshua 6:20) And the people shouted when the priests blew the horns. And it came to be when the people heard the sound of the horn (trumpet/shofar), and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. And the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. (Joshua 6:21) And they put under the ban all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword. (Joshua 6:22) And to the two men who had spied out the land Yehoshua said, “Go into the house of the woman, the whore, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her.” (Joshua 6:23) And the young men, the spies, went in and brought out Raḥaḇ, and her father, and her mother, and her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and set them outside the camp of Yisra’ĕl. (Joshua 6:24) And they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the House of יהוה. (Joshua 6:25) However, Yehoshua kept Raḥaḇ the whore alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had. And she dwelt in the midst of Yisra’ĕl to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Yehoshua sent to spy out Yeriḥo. (Joshua 6:26) And Yehoshua warned them at that time, saying, “Cursed is the man before יהוה who rises up and builds this city Yeriḥo – he lays its foundation with his first-born, and with his youngest he sets up its gates.” (Joshua 6:27) And יהוה was with Yehoshua, and a report about him was in all the land.

Rejoice in your fiery trial, YHWH is refining us to make us without spot or blemish! May YHWH bless you and your loved ones: (1Pe 1:6) In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, (1Pe 1:7) so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Messiah Yahshua; (1Pe 1:8) and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, (1Pe 1:9) obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Shalom,
Thurston

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