Happy HallowWHAT?

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