Hannukah- Feast of Dedicating the Altar

Happy Hannukah! Repenting and Dedicating our lives to Him!

Sometimes Loved One, the road must be repeated. That is why it is a Torah Cycle. (Comment: the cycle is likened to the ancient path we are to return to; a path is often considered “a beaten path” due to returning to it often) We must learn to seek YHWH for His love and compassion to download to us; for others in our lives. Sometimes we only understand after returning many times. We can read the Scriptures over and over and then out of nowhere it seems, YHWH reveals new Truth to us! I can remember telling Yahshua once that the job description of the angelic beings (Seraphim) flying around the Throne Room in Heaven and saying holy, holy is YHWH might get boring after a few thousand years. (Isa 6:1) In the year that Sovereign Uzziyah died, I saw יהוה sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the Hĕḵal. (Temple) (Isa 6:2) Above it stood seraphim. Each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. (Isa 6:3) And one cried to another and said, “Set-apart, set-apart, set-apart is יהוה of hosts; all the earth is filled with His esteem!” (Comment: Many versions declare holy, holy is YHWH) (Isa 6:4) And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. (Isa 6:5) And I said, “Woe to me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips – for my eyes have seen the sovereign, יהוה of hosts.” Then our loving King dropped in my spirit that He reveals more of His glory to them. (Comment: glory according to Moses’ report was a revealing of more of His goodness and mercy) This creates an instant surge of joy and enthusiasm in these angelic beings! In like manner He reveals to us as more of Himself as we seek Him with all our hearts. Why is this so important? Obviously in fiery trials and testing’s we sometimes feel abandoned and at our end. Some even become hope-less. We must join ourselves to Him by getting in His presence and being restored- regularly! (Rom 5:1) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with YHWH through our Master Yahshua Messiah, (Rom 5:2) through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of YHWH. (Rom 5:3) And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; (Rom 5:4) and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; (Rom 5:5) and hope does not disappoint, because the love of YHWH has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Rom 5:6) While we were still helpless, (Hopeless also?) at the right time Messiah died for the ungodly. (Rom 5:7) For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. (Rom 5:8) But YHWH demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet transgressors of Torah (sinners), Messiah died for us. (Rom 5:9) Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of YHWH through Him.

Truth Seekers, we have studied and reviewed much about the coming darkness and fiery trials we can expect in the days ahead. Please do remember the Scriptures declare this Exodus will be a far greater deliverance than even Moses and Israel crossing the Red Sea. Thank you for your prayers and intercession as I am meeting part of our family of loved ones in South Africa and they are delightful people indeed!

Once again we need to remind ourselves why you and I and they are Family and as such you (we) 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. Understand if we are willing to humble ourselves and submit to the will of YHWH and do the Father’s will (His TORAH! /Instructions) we are Yahshua’s (Jesus) family!



We should also realize a truth: Jeremiah prophesied that in the DAY OF AFFLICTION (Comment: Hebrew idiom for Jacob’s Trouble or also known as the Great Tribulation in the last days) we would recognize (YHWH reveals truth) and become aware of the fact that we have added to and subtracted from His FEASTS and commands! These are lies that really don’t please Him because they have pagan roots and are manmade (added and subtracted from the WORD) traditions that make the word of YHWH of none effect! (Jer 16:19) O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.(Deu 4:2) “Do not add to the Word which I command you, and do not take away from it1, so as to guard the commands of יהוה your Elohim which I am commanding you. Footnote: 1See also 12:32, Prov. 30:6, Rev. 22:18-19.



Can we even imagine thinking we were serving YHWH our whole lives’ and hear Him tell us we inherited lies and were workers of lawlessness- that He never knew us and to depart from us; that we actually were disobedient following pagan traditions we inherited? This experience would and will cause many to go screaming in horror, weeping and gnashing of teeth, into the flames of hell! Heaven- Oh Yah- Change us NOW! Reveal your TRUTH to us that we may be pleasing in your sight! Nothing is too hard for you YHWH!



There it is in a nutshell once again. 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! To the degree we are hungry for Him we will be changed- no more or less. (Matthew 5:6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.



How do we hunger and thirst for righteousness?



(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. You and I must change and receive the engrafted word of LIFE, (HUMBLE OURSELVES) turn in repentance and OBEY HIM. We can no longer say we love Him and not do what He says! (Luke 6:46) And why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?



Do we call Him Lord and Master but not obey Him? Are we of those that think His LAW (Commentary: Law was translated that but it is Torah-Instructions in Hebrew) is done away with and ALL fulfilled? Hopefully, we will rethink that position! The Spring Feasts alone are fulfilled. Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Shavuot were fulfilled down to the day and hour! He was the Passover Lamb, 3 days later the High Priest was still in seclusion as was prescribed of the High Priest prior to offering the thanksgiving for the first fruits of the Earth, when He said “Don’t touch me Mary, I have not yet ascended to My Father.” He is and was the High Priest! Seven sevens (weeks) later He sent the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) on Shavuot, the anniversary of giving the Torah (Law) at Mt. Sinai. He came the first time to be Messiah Ben Joseph, the suffering servant to be the Lamb of YHWH (God) sacrifice.



He is coming a second time very soon as Messiah Ben David, the Reigning King! He will rule His Kingdom from Jerusalem! Is He now ruling? NO. It is not all fulfilled! Let’s look at what Yahshua said about the Law being done away with and WHEN this will occur! (Mat 5:17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. (Mat 5:18) For verily I say unto you, until heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, until all be fulfilled. (Mat 5:19) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Even to us casual observers, heaven and earth have not passed! Let’s acknowledge that fact as a truth and return to Him as we study this week’s portion and allow Him to restore ALL things- especially us!



(Jer 30:3) 'For behold, days are coming,' declares YHWH, 'when I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel and Judah.' (Comment: this means you and I who are grafted into Israel by grace by faith in Yahshua and are heirs now of Abraham according to the promise) YHWH says, 'I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.'" (Jer 30:16) 'Therefore all who devour you will be devoured; and all your adversaries, every one of them, will go into captivity; and those who plunder you will be for plunder, And all who prey upon you I will give for prey. (Jer 30:17) 'For I will restore you to health and I will heal you of your wounds,' declares YHWH, 'because they have called you an outcast, saying: "It is Zion; no one cares for her."' (Jer 30:18) "Thus says YHWH, 'Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwelling places; and the city will be rebuilt on its ruin, and the palace will stand on its rightful place. (Jer 30:19) 'From them will proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who celebrate; and I will multiply them and they will not be diminished; I will also honor them and they will not be insignificant. (Jer 30:20) 'Their children also will be as formerly, and their congregation shall be established before me; and I will punish all their oppressors. (Jer 30:21) 'Their leader shall be one of them, and their ruler shall come forth from their midst; and I will bring him near and he shall approach me; for who would dare to risk his life to approach me?' declares YHWH. (Jer 30:22) 'You shall be my people, and I will be your Elohim.'"



Here are the Torah Scriptures this week: Milketz “At the End”

Genesis 41:1-44:17; 1 Kings 3:15-4:1; 1 Kings 7:40-50; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Judges Chapters 4, 5. And 6

Remember Joseph gave the credit to YHWH for interpreting Dreams!

(Gen 40:1) And after these events it came to be that the cupbearer and the baker of the sovereign of Mitsrayim sinned against their master, the sovereign of Mitsrayim. (Gen 40:2) And Pharaoh was wroth with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. (Gen 40:3) So he put them in confinement in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Yosĕph was a prisoner. (Gen 40:4) And the captain of the guard put Yosĕph in charge of them, and he served them. So they were in confinement for some time. (Gen 40:5) Then the cupbearer and the baker of the sovereign of Mitsrayim, who were confined in the prison, dreamed a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. (Gen 40:6) And Yosĕph came in to them in the morning and looked at them and saw that they were sad. (Gen 40:7) And he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in confinement of his master’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?” (Gen 40:8) And they said to him, “We each have dreamed a dream, and there is no one to interpret it.” And Yosĕph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to Elohim? Relate them to me, please.” (Gen 40:9) So the chief cupbearer related his dream to Yosĕph, and said to him, “See, in my dream a vine was before me, (Gen 40:10) and in the vine were three branches, and it was as though it budded – its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. (Gen 40:11) “And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand. So I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” (Gen 40:12) And Yosĕph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days. (Gen 40:13) “Yet, within three days Pharaoh is going to lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you shall put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former ruling, when you were his cupbearer. (Gen 40:14) “But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me. And mention me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. (Gen 40:15) “Truly I was stolen away from the land of the Heḇrews. And also I have done naught that they should put me into the dungeon.” (Gen 40:16) And the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, and he said to Yosĕph, “I also was in my dream and saw three white baskets were on my head, (Gen 40:17) and in the uppermost basket all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.” (Gen 40:18) And Yosĕph answered and said, “This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets are three days. (Gen 40:19) “Yet, within three days Pharaoh is going to lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree. And the birds shall eat your flesh from you.”

(Gen 40:20) And on the third day, Pharaoh’s birthday, it came to be that he made a feast for all his servants. And he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and of the chief baker among his servants, (Gen 40:21) and he restored the chief cupbearer to his post of cupbearer again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand, (Gen 40:22) but he hanged the chief baker, as Yosĕph had interpreted to them. (Gen 40:23) And the chief cupbearer did not remember Yosĕph, but forgot him.



Ten brothers are the Scattered Ten Tribes called Ephraim in: (Eze 37:19) Say unto them, Thus saith YHWH Elohim; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.



(Gen 42:1) And when Yaʽaqoḇ saw that there was grain in Mitsrayim, Yaʽaqoḇ said to his sons, “Why do you look at each other?” (Gen 42:2) And he said, “See, I have heard that there is grain in Mitsrayim. Go down to that place and buy for us there, and let us live and not die.” (Gen 42:3) And Yosĕph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Mitsrayim. (Gen 42:4) But Yaʽaqoḇ did not send Yosĕph’s brother Binyamin with his brothers, for he said, “Lest some harm come to him.” (Gen 42:5) And the sons of Yisra’ĕl went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the scarcity of food was in the land of Kenaʽan. (Gen 42:6) And Yosĕph was the governor over the land, he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Yosĕph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth. (Gen 42:7) And Yosĕph saw his brothers and recognised them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke to them harshly, and said to them, “Where do you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Kenaʽan to buy food.”



When we are dressed up in pagan sun god worship and Easter fertility worship we are not easy to recognize by our brothers of the faith!



(Gen 42:8) So Yosĕph recognised his brothers, but they did not recognize him. (Gen 42:9) And Yosĕph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!” (Gen 42:10) And they said to him, “No, my master, but your servants have come to buy food. (Gen 42:11) “We are all one man’s sons, we are trustworthy, your servants are not spies.” (Gen 42:12) But he said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” (Gen 42:13) And they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Kenaʽan. And see, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.” (Gen 42:14) And Yosĕph said to them, “It is as I spoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies!’ (Gen 42:15) “By this you shall be proven: By the life of Pharaoh, you do not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. (Gen 42:16) “Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you are kept in prison. So let your words be proven to see whether there is any truth in you, or else, by the life of Pharaoh, you are spies!” (Gen 42:17) And he put them all together in prison for three days. (Gen 42:18) Now Yosĕph said to them the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear Elohim: (Gen 42:19) “If you are trustworthy, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house, and you, go, bring grain for the scarcity of food of your houses. (Gen 42:20) “And bring your youngest brother to me, and let your words be confirmed, and you do not die.” And so they did. (Gen 42:21) And they said to each other, “Truly, we are guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the distress of his life when he pleaded with us, yet we did not listen, that is why this distress has come upon us.” (Gen 42:22) And Re’uḇĕn answered them, saying, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy,’ and you would not listen? And see, his blood is now required of us.” (Gen 42:23) And they did not know that Yosĕph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter.

(Gen 42:24) And he turned himself away from them and wept, but came back to them and spoke to them. And he took Shimʽon from them and bound him before their eyes. (Gen 42:25) And Yosĕph commanded and they filled their sacks with grain, also to put back every man’s silver to his sack, and to give them food for the journey. And thus it was done for them. (Gen 42:26) So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and went from there. (Gen 42:27) And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his silver, for there it was in the mouth of his sack! (Gen 42:28) And he said to his brothers, “My silver has been returned, and there it is, in my sack!” And their hearts sank and they were afraid, saying to each other, “What is this that Elohim has done to us?” (Gen 42:29) So they came to Yaʽaqoḇ their father in the land of Kenaʽan and reported to him all that befell them, saying, (Gen 42:30) “The man, the master of the land, spoke to us harshly, and took us for spies of the land. (Gen 42:31) “But we said to him, ‘We are trustworthy, we are not spies. (Gen 42:32) ‘We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more, and the youngest is today with our father in the land of Kenaʽan.’ (Gen 42:33) “And the man, the master of the land, said to us, ‘By this I know that you are trustworthy: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for the scarcity of food of your households, and go. (Gen 42:34) ‘And bring your youngest brother to me, then I know that you are not spies, but that you are trustworthy – I give your brother to you, and you move about in the land.’ ” (Gen 42:35) And it came to be as they emptied their sacks, that look, the bundle of each man’s silver was in his sack! And when they and their father saw the bundles of silver, they were afraid. (Gen 42:36) And Yaʽaqoḇ their father said to them, “You have bereaved me – Yosĕph is no more, and Shimʽon is no more, and you would take Binyamin! All this is against me.” (Gen 42:37) So Re’uḇĕn spoke to his father, saying, “Take the lives of my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I myself bring him back to you.” (Gen 42:38) But he said, “My son is not going down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any harm should come to him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my grey hair with sorrow to the grave.” (Gen 43:1) But the scarcity of food was severe in the land. (Gen 43:2) And it came to be, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Mitsrayim that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.” (Gen 43:3) But Yehuḏah spoke to him, saying, “The man vehemently warned us, saying, ‘You do not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ” (Gen 43:4) “If you let our brother go with us, we go down and buy you food. (Gen 43:5) “But if you do not let him go, we do not go down, because the man said to us, ‘You do not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ” (Gen 43:6) And Yisra’ĕl said, “Why did you do evil to me to inform the man that you still had another brother?” (Gen 43:7) And they said, “The man kept asking about us and our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we informed him according to these words. How could we know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” (Gen 43:8) And Yehuḏah said to Yisra’ĕl his father, “Send the boy with me, and let us arise and go, and live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. (Gen 43:9) “I myself shall stand guaranty for him – from my hand you are to require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. (Gen 43:10) “For if we had not delayed, truly by now we could have returned this second time.” (Gen 43:11) And their father Yisra’ĕl said to them, “If so, then do this: Take some of the best fruit of the land in your vessels and bring a present down for the man, a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds. (Gen 43:12) “And take double silver in your hand, and take back in your hand the silver that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. It could have been a mistake. (Gen 43:13) “And take your brother, and arise, go back to the man.



When we are guilty of transgression we lose all hope (Our hearts condemn us!) before we repent- note how they imagined their own judgment!



(1Jn 3:18) My little children let us not love in word or in tongue alone, but in deed and in truth. (1Jn 3:19) And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall set our hearts at rest before Him, (1Jn 3:20) that if our heart condemns us, Elohim is greater than our heart, and knows all. (1Jn 3:21) Beloved ones, if our heart does not condemn us, we have boldness toward Elohim. (1Jn 3:22) And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we guard His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight.1 Footnote: 1Prov. 28:9, John 9:31, Jm. 5:16. (1Jn 3:23) And this is His command, that we should believe in the Name of His Son יהושע Messiah and love one another, as He gave us command. (1Jn 3:24) And the one guarding His commands stays in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He stays in us, by the Spirit which He gave us.1 Footnote: 1John 14:23-24, Acts 5:32, Rom. 8:7-11, 1 John 2:5, 1 John 4:13.



So let’s look at what our minds do before we repent! I expect here is where we see Jacob’s prayer for them answered in



(Gen 43:14) “And Ěl Shaddai give to you compassion before the man, so that he shall release your other brother and Binyamin. And I, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved!” (Gen 43:15) And the men took that present and Binyamin, and they took double the amount of silver in their hand, and arose and went down to Mitsrayim, and stood before Yosĕph. (Gen 43:16) And Yosĕph saw Binyamin with them, and said to the one over his house, “Bring the men home, and make a great slaughter, and prepare, for these men are to eat with me at noon.” (Gen 43:17) And the man did as Yosĕph said, and the man brought the men into Yosĕph’s house. (Gen 43:18) And the men were afraid because they were brought into Yosĕph’s house. And they said, “It is because of the silver, which was put back into our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, to throw himself upon us and fall upon us, to take us as slaves, our donkeys too.” (Gen 43:19) So they came near to the man over the house of Yosĕph, and spoke to him at the door of the house, (Gen 43:20) and said, “O my master, we indeed came down the first time to buy food, (Gen 43:21) but it came to be, when we came to the lodging place, that we opened our sacks and saw each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack, our silver in its weight. And we have brought it back in our hand. (Gen 43:22) “And we have brought down other silver in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our silver in our sacks.” (Gen 43:23) But he said, “Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your Elohim and the Elohim of your father has given you treasure in your sacks – your silver had come to me!” And he brought Shimʽon out to them. (Gen 43:24) And the man brought the men into Yosĕph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet. And he gave their donkeys fodder. (Gen 43:25) And they made the present ready for Yosĕph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they were to eat there. (Gen 43:26) And when Yosĕph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand, into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth.



Here YHWH is working on Joseph’s heart for forgiveness and compassion!



(Gen 43:27) And he asked them about their welfare, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” (Gen 43:28) And they said, “Your servant our father is in good health, he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads down and did obeisance. (Gen 43:29) And he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Binyamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “Elohim show favor to you, my son.”

(Gen 43:30) And Yosĕph hurried, for his emotions were deeply moved towards his brother, and he looked for a place to weep, and went into his room and wept there. (Gen 43:31) Then he washed his face and came out, and controlled himself, and said, “Serve the food.” (Gen 43:32) And they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Mitsrites who ate with him by themselves, for the Mitsrites could not eat food with the Heḇrews, for that is an abomination to the Mitsrites. (Gen 43:33) And they sat before him, the first-born according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked at each other in astonishment. (Gen 43:34) And he took portions to them from before him, but Binyamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they feasted and they drank with him. (Gen 44:1) And he commanded the one over his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as they are able to bear, and put each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack. (Gen 44:2) “And put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and the silver for his grain.” And he did according to the word of Yosĕph which he spoke. (Gen 44:3) As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. Gen 44:4) And when they had gone out of the city, not having gone far, Yosĕph said to the one over his house, “Rise up, follow the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? (Gen 44:5) ‘Is this not the one from which my master drinks, and with which he indeed divines? You have done evil in what you have done.’ ” (Gen 44:6) So he overtook them and spoke these words to them. (Gen 44:7) And they said to him, “Why does my master say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do according to this word. (Gen 44:8) “See, we brought back to you from the land of Kenaʽan the silver which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then should we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? (Gen 44:9) “With whomever of your servants it is found – he shall die and we shall become my master’s slaves as well.” (Gen 44:10) And he said, “Now also let it be according to your words: he with whom it is found becomes my slave, and you are innocent.” (Gen 44:11) And they hurried, each man let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. (Gen 44:12) And he searched, with the oldest first and with the youngest last, and the cup was found in Binyamin’s sack. (Gen 44:13) And they tore their garments, and each man loaded his donkey and went back to the city. (Gen 44:14) And Yehuḏah and his brothers came to Yosĕph’s house, and he was still there. And they fell before him on the ground. (Gen 44:15) And Yosĕph said to them, “What deed is this you have done? Did you not know that a man like me indeed divines?”



Confessing our sin brings repentance which yields the fruit of deliverance!



(Gen 44:16) And Yehuḏah said, “What do we say to my master? What do we speak? Or how do we clear ourselves? Elohim has found out the crookedness of your servants. See, we are my master’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found.” (Gen 44:17) But he said, “Far be it from me to do this. The man in whose hand the cup was found he becomes my slave. And you go up in peace to your father.”







Easy times always seems to bring disobedience and wickedness

(Judges 4:1) And when Ěhuḏ was dead, the children of Yisra’ĕl again did evil in the eyes of יהוה.

(Judges 4:2) Therefore יהוה sold them into the hand of Yaḇin the sovereign of Kenaʽan, who reigned in Ḥatsor. And the commander of his army was Sisera, who was dwelling in Ḥarosheth Haggoyim. (Judges 4:3) The children of Yisra’ĕl cried out to יהוה because he had nine hundred chariots of iron and for twenty years he harshly oppressed the children of Yisra’ĕl. (Judges 4:4) And Deḇorah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappiḏoth, was ruling Yisra’ĕl at that time. (Judges 4:5) And she was dwelling under the palm tree of Deḇorah between Ramah and Bĕyth Ěl in the mountains of Ephrayim. And the children of Yisra’ĕl came up to her for right-ruling. (Judges 4:6) And she sent and called for Baraq son of Aḇinoʽam from Qeḏesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl commanded, ‘Go, and you shall draw towards Mount Taḇor, and shall take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zeḇulun, (Judges 4:7) and I shall draw unto you Sisera, the commander of Yaḇin’s army, with his chariots and his company at the wadi Qishon, and shall give him into your hand’?” (Judges 4:8) And Baraq said to her, “If you go with me, then I shall go; but if you do not go with me, I do not go.” (Judges 4:9) And she said, “I shall certainly go with you. Only, there shall be no esteem for you in the journey you are taking, for יהוה is going to sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” So Deḇorah arose and went with Baraq to Qeḏesh. (Judges 4:10) And Baraq called Zeḇulun and Naphtali to Qeḏesh. And he went up – ten thousand men under his command – and Deḇorah went up with him. (Judges 4:11) And Ḥeḇer the Qĕynite, of the children of Ḥoḇaḇ the father-in-law of Mosheh, had separated himself from the Qĕynites and pitched his tent near the terebinth tree at Tsaʽanayim, which is beside Qeḏesh. (Judges 4:12) And they reported to Sisera that Baraq son of Aḇinoʽam had gone up to Mount Taḇor. (Judges 4:13) So Sisera called all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him, from Ḥarosheth Haggoyim to the wadi Qishon. (Judges 4:14) And Deḇorah said to Baraq, “Rise up! For this is the day in which יהוה has given Sisera into your hand. Has not יהוה gone out before you?” And Baraq went down from Mount Taḇor with ten thousand men after him. (Judges 4:15) And יהוה destroyed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Baraq. And Sisera leaped from his chariot and fled away on foot. (Judges 4:16) But Baraq pursued the chariots and the army as far as Ḥarosheth Haggoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword, not one was left. (Judges 4:17) Sisera, meanwhile, had fled on foot to the tent of Yaʽĕl, the wife of Ḥeḇer the Qĕynite, for there was peace between Yaḇin sovereign of Ḥatsor and the house of Ḥeḇer the Qĕynite. (Judges 4:18) And Yaʽĕl went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, “Turn aside, my master, turn aside to me, do not fear.” So he turned aside with her into the tent, and she covered him with a blanket. (Judges 4:19) And he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him a drink, and covered him. (Judges 4:20) And he said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent, and it shall be if anyone comes and asks you, and says, ‘Is there a man here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’ ” (Judges 4:21) But Yaʽĕl, Ḥeḇer’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into the side of his head, and it went down into the ground – for he was fast asleep and exhausted – and he died. (Judges 4:22) And see, as Baraq pursued Sisera, Yaʽĕl came out to meet him, and said to him, “Come, let me show you the man whom you are seeking.” And when he went into her tent, there lay Sisera, dead with the peg in the side of his head. (Judges 4:23) And on that day Elohim humbled Yaḇin sovereign of Kenaʽan in the presence of the children of Yisra’ĕl. (Judges 4:24) And the hand of the children of Yisra’ĕl grew stronger and stronger against Yaḇin sovereign of Kenaʽan, until they had cut off Yaḇin sovereign of Kenaʽan.



We can also learn to bless YHWH in our trials ahead!



Judges 5:1) And on that day Deḇorah and Baraq son of Aḇinoʽam sang, saying, (Judges 5:2) “For leaders leading in Yisra’ĕl, for the people volunteering, bless יהוה! (Judges 5:3) “Hear, O sovereigns! Give ear, O princes! I, I do sing to יהוה; I sing praise to יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl. (Judges 5:4) “יהוה, when You went out from Sĕʽir, when You stepped from the field of Eḏom, the earth shook and the heavens poured, the clouds also poured water. (Judges 5:5) “The mountains flowed at the presence of יהוה, this Sinai, at the presence of יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl.

(Judges 5:6) “In the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath, in the days of Yaʽĕl, the highways were deserted, and the travelers went in crooked ways. (Judges 5:7) “Leadership ceased, it ceased in Yisra’ĕl, until I, Deḇorah, arose – a mother in Yisra’ĕl arose. (Judges 5:8) “They chose new mighty ones, then fighting was in the gates! Neither a shield nor spear was seen among forty thousand in Yisra’ĕl. (Judges 5:9) “My heart is towards the lawgivers of Yisra’ĕl, the volunteers among the people. Bless יהוה! (Judges 5:10) “You who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk along the way, declare it! (Judges 5:11) “By the voice of shouters, between the places of drawing water, there they recount the righteous acts of יהוה, the righteous acts of His leadership in Yisra’ĕl; then the people of יהוה shall go down to the gates. (Judges 5:12) “Wake up, wake up, Deḇorah! Wake up, wake up, sing a song! Arise, Baraq, and lead your captives away, O son of Aḇinoʽam! (Judges 5:13) “Then He set the remnant to rule the nobles; יהוה came down for me against the mighty ones. (Judges 5:14) “Out of Ephrayim their root is against Amalĕq. After you, Binyamin, with your peoples, out of Maḵir lawgivers came down, and out of Zeḇulun those who handle the scribe’s reed. (Judges 5:15) “And the heads of Yissasḵar were with Deḇorah. And as Yissasḵar, so was Baraq sent into the valley under his command. Among the divisions of Re’uḇĕn there were great searching’s of heart. (Judges 5:16) “Why did you remain among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleating of the flocks? The divisions of Re’uḇĕn have great searching’s of heart. (Judges 5:17) “Gilʽaḏ remained beyond the Yardĕn, and why did Dan remain on ships? Ashĕr continued at the seashore, and remained by its landing places.

(Judges 5:18) “Zeḇulun is a people who risked their lives to the point of death, Naphtali also, on the heights of the field. (Judges 5:19) “Sovereigns came, they fought, then the sovereigns of Kenaʽan fought in Taʽanaḵ, by the waters of Meḡiddo; they took no spoils of silver. (Judges 5:20) “From the heavens they fought; the stars from their courses fought against Sisera. (Judges 5:21) “The wadi of Qishon swept them away, that age-old wadi, the wadi of Qishon. O my being, you have trampled in strength! (Judges 5:22) “Then stamped hoofs of horses, with the galloping, galloping of his steeds. (Judges 5:23) ‘Curse Mĕroz,’ said a messenger of יהוה, ‘curse, curse its inhabitants, because they did not come to the help of יהוה, to the help of יהוה among the mighty.’



People rejoice when wickedness is removed!



(Judges 5:24) “Blessed above women is Yaʽĕl, the wife of Ḥeḇer the Qĕynite – above women in tents she is blessed. (Judges 5:25) “He asked for water, she gave milk; she brought out curdled milk in a bowl for nobles. (Judges 5:26) “She stretched her hand to the tent peg, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer. Then she pounded Sisera, she smashed his head, she pierced and struck through the side of his head. (Judges 5:27) “Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay still; between her feet he bowed, he fell; where he bowed, there he fell – destroyed.

(Judges 5:28) “Through the window the mother of Sisera looked, and cried out through the lattice, ‘Why does his chariot delay to come? Why have the steps of his chariots tarried?’

(Judges 5:29) “The wise ones of her princesses answered her, indeed, she answered herself,

(Judges 5:30) ‘Do they not find and divide the spoil: a girl or two for each man; a spoil of dyed work for Sisera, a spoil of dyed work embroidered, dyed work richly embroidered for the necks of the looter?’ (Judges 5:31) “So do all your enemies perish O יהוה! But let those who love Him be like the sun rising in its might!” And the land had rest forty years.



Mankind (including Israel- Us) never takes long to fall away from YHWH, do evil once again bringing His judgment! Again we cry out to YHWH!

(Judges 6:1) And the children of Yisra’ĕl did evil in the eyes of יהוה, and יהוה gave them into the hand of Miḏyan for seven years, (Judges 6:2) and the hand of Miḏyan was strong against Yisra’ĕl. And before the faces of the Miḏyanites the children of Yisra’ĕl made for themselves the refuges which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds. (Judges 6:3) And it came to be, whenever Yisra’ĕl had sown, that Miḏyan would come up, and Amalĕq and the people of the East would come up against them, (Judges 6:4) and encamp against them and destroy the increase of the soil as far as Azzah, and leave no food in Yisra’ĕl, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey. (Judges 6:5) For they came up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts. And they and their camels were without number. And they came into the land to destroy it. (Judges 6:6) Thus Yisra’ĕl was brought very low because of Miḏyan, and the children of Yisra’ĕl cried out to יהוה. (Judges 6:7) And it came to be, when the children of Yisra’ĕl cried out to יהוה because of Miḏyan, (Judges 6:8) that יהוה sent a prophet to the children of Yisra’ĕl, who said to them, “Thus said יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, ‘I have brought you up from Mitsrayim and I brought you out of the house of bondage, (Judges 6:9) and I delivered you out of the hand of the Mitsrites and out of the hand of all your oppressors, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. (Judges 6:10) ‘And I said to you, “I am יהוה your Elohim, do not fear the mighty ones of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. And you have not obeyed My voice.” ’ ” (Judges 6:11) And the Messenger of יהוה came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Yo’ash the Aḇiʽezerite, while his son Giḏʽon threshed wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the eyes of the Miḏyanites.

(Judges 6:12) And the Messenger of יהוה appeared to him, and said to him, “יהוה is with you, you mighty brave one!” (Judges 6:13) And Giḏʽon said to Him, “O my master, if יהוה is with us, why has all this come upon us? And where are all His wonders which our fathers related to us, saying, ‘Did not יהוה bring us up from Mitsrayim?’ But now יהוה has left us and given us into the hands of Miḏyan.” (Judges 6:14) And יהוה turned to him and said, “Go in this strength of yours, and you shall save Yisra’ĕl from the hand of the Miḏyanites. Have I not sent you?” (Judges 6:15) And he said to Him, “O יהוה, with what do I save Yisra’ĕl? See, my clan is the weakest in Menashsheh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” (Judges 6:16) And יהוה said to him, “Because I am with you, you shall smite the Miḏyanites as one man.” (Judges 6:17) And he said to Him, “Please, if I have found favor in Your eyes, then show me a sign that it is You who are speaking with me. (Judges 6:18) “Please do not move away from here, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You.” And He said, “I shall stay until you return.” (Judges 6:19) And Giḏʽon went in, and prepared a young goat, and unleavened bread from an ĕphah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot. And he brought them out to Him, under the terebinth tree, and presented it. (Judges 6:20) And the Messenger of Elohim said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And he did so. (Judges 6:21) And the Messenger of יהוה put forth the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. And fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Messenger of יהוה went from his sight. (Judges 6:22) And when Giḏʽon saw that He was a Messenger of יהוה, Giḏʽon said, “Oh Master יהוה! I have seen a Messenger of יהוה face to face.”

(Judges 6:23) And יהוה said to him, “Peace be with you! Do not fear, you do not die.” (Judges 6:24) And Giḏʽon built an altar there to יהוה, and called it: יהוה Shalom. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Aḇiʽezerites. (Judges 6:25) And the same night it came to be that יהוה said to him, “Take the young bull of your father, and the second bull of seven years old, and you shall throw down the altar of Baʽal that your father has, and cut down the Ashĕrah that is beside it. (Judges 6:26) “And you shall build an altar to יהוה your Elohim on top of this rock in an orderly way, and shall take the second bull and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the image which you cut down.” (Judges 6:27) And Giḏʽon took ten men from among his servants and did as יהוה had said to him. And it came to be, because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city too much to do it by day, that he did it by night. (Judges 6:28) And the men of the city arose early in the morning and saw the altar of Baʽal was broken down, and the Ashĕrah that was beside it had been cut down, and the second bull was being offered on the altar which was built. (Judges 6:29) And they said to each other, “Who has done this deed?” And when they had inquired and asked, they said, “Giḏʽon son of Yo’ash has done this deed.” (Judges 6:30) And the men of the city said to Yo’ash, “Bring out your son, so that he dies, for he has broken down the altar of Baʽal, and because he has cut down the Ashĕrah that was beside it.” (Judges 6:31) And Yo’ash said to all who stood against him, “You, would you plead for Baʽal? You, would you save him? Let the one who would plead for him be put to death by morning! If he is a mighty one, let him plead for himself, because his altar has been broken down!” (Judges 6:32) So that day he called him Yerubbaʽal, saying, “Let Baʽal plead against him, because he has broken down his altar.” (Judges 6:33) Now all Miḏyan and Amalĕq and the people of the East, were gathered together. And they passed over and encamped in the Valley of Yizreʽĕl. (Judges 6:34) Then the Spirit of יהוה came upon Giḏʽon, and he blew the ram’s horn, and the Aḇiʽezerites gathered behind him. (Judges 6:35) And he sent messengers throughout all Menashsheh, who also gathered behind him. And he sent messengers to Ashĕr, and to Zeḇulun, and to Naphtali. And they came up to meet them. (Judges 6:36) And Giḏʽon said to Elohim, “If you are saving Yisra’ĕl by my hand as You have said, (Judges 6:37) see, I am placing a fleece of wool on the threshing-floor. If there is dew only on the fleece, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you are saving Yisra’ĕl by my hand, as you have said.” (Judges 6:38) And it was so, and he rose early the next morning and pressed the fleece, and wrung dew out of the fleece, to fill a bowl with water. (Judges 6:39) And Giḏʽon said to Elohim, “Do not be displeased with me, and let me speak only this time: Please let me try only this time with the fleece, please let it be dry only on the fleece, and let there be dew on all the ground.” (Judges 6:40) And Elohim did so that night and it was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.



Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU! You are truly the most dependable and trustworthy brothers and sisters (prayer warriors and intercessors) on the planet. As you have been so faithful to seek YHWH Elohim on our behalf; so YHWH is moving to deliver you and your Loved Ones. “If we ask anything according to the will of the Father and we know He hears us; we KNOW we have the thing we asked for!” (1Jn 5:14) This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1Jn 5:15) And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. I have met so many wonderful brothers and sisters in South Africa. I know you would enjoy them greatly also! May YHWH give back 30, 60 and 100 fold your prayers answered for your loved ones! He always hears heart rendered prayers!


Shalom to your home,
Thurston