Light In Torah

Good morning! Earlier this week I introduced you to two groups of individuals, though not related, they were similar in their arrogance; Both groups despised leadership and the Promised Land, but one repented. The first group we looked at was Korah/Dathan/Abiram + 250 nobility (Num. 16) and the 2nd was Naaman (2 Kgs. 5). The ground opened up and swallowed our Numbers 16 boys and leprosy struck Naaman. But through humility and a change of attitude towards leadership and the Land of Israel his skin became like a baby's bottom. The stories in Scripture reveal, in a limited fashion, that leprosy really only broke out on people for their arrogance and slanderous tongues. Yet, in real life, there were huge leper colonies outside God's camp.  There's something to think about: aren't we glad that the biblical type of leprosy isn't active today :-/. However, when the plagues of Revelation activate the tormenting boils, there might be a general media and social media collapse...

Good morning! Each of us has a domain in our life that needs to be conquered, a terrain that needs to be transformed into a "holy land", so we can be a 'set apart people'. Some of us need to confront fear of what others think, numbness to the indifferences with this world, insecurity in our own skin, temptation to find satisfaction outside of Godly relationships, guilt from past failures, self-loathing, and/or shame. We must confront challenges within our own minds, our marriages, and our families. Since the challenges that lay in the restoration path are at times frightening, we are naturally tempted to believe that we are incapable of overcoming our darkness and we surrender to the obstacles; aka the giants in our land. The feeling is understandable, but if you surrender to it, it will rob you of the opportunity to liberate your life and arrive at your personal "Promised Land." The option of resignation compels you to remain stuck in a barren desert made u...

Good morning! What do you think Dathan, Abiram and Korah missed out on? With their unwillingness to 'come up' into the Promised Land (Num. 16: ), a picture of the future bride, we can make the assumption clearly that they had acknowledged their salvation from Egypt, but, and that's a very large BUT...but, they lost focus on the purpose for their salvation (Deut. 6:23-25) and didn't work out their salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12,13; 1 Pet. 1:3-9; Heb. 10:36-39).  Scripture teaches in an incognito way, and the Jewish tradition in an overt way, an individual can only enter the Kingdom of the Lower Garden as a little child. For Naaman, this happened when he came out of the river Jordan. His flesh was restored as a child's.  The resurrection is a transformation from a temporary body to one which is squeaky clean, like a baby's tender skin. There's definitely more to becoming like a little child, beyond a cute phraseology of endearment. And they were...

Good morning! Korach's new rebellion is not new, but a continuation of the evil report against the Land, its Covenant, and its People, especially its leaders.  Because the discontent resides in the generation, not in the contrived "problem," the rebellions will continue to arise in the wilderness.  When will we ever learn? This phenomenon is present in every generation.  Among us are those who, no matter how soundly and thoroughly they are proven wrong, persist in wrong thinking, and therefore, wrong arguments and continue to try to influence others in the negative. They may be "saved," yet chained to old ways of thinking.  It is a matter of time until they rebel against the righteous.  Seeing the holy within the natural world requires spiritual, not physical vision.  Faith, not logic. This week, in our Torah portion, Korach, we find rebellion, jealousy, insolence, and the need to make a choice - who's side are you on? Then Moses sent a summons to Dathan an...

Good morning! It's tough when people won't believe you! Could you imagine being the Creator of all and not being believed (Jn. 1:11; Num. 14:11)? The Apostolic letters of Paul tell us that everything that happened to Israel on their journey was a pattern/tupos for our journey (1 Cor. 10:6, 11; Rom. 15:4). Today, contrary to Paul's instructions, there are thousands of differing beliefs on God and how to live believing in Him. The event of traveling in the wilderness (Ex. 12-Deut. 34:12) is crucial for understanding God’s view of belief/aman.  In fact, the Scriptures refer back to this event time and again as a demonstration of what it means to not believe.  As we move into the 21st day of counting towards the first fruit of the wine, we can do ourselves a big favor by recognizing exactly what God says and what God expects in our belief/aman towards Him; which is the only way to please Him (Heb. 11:6). Travel back with me to yesterday's Torah portion , where we dissected ...

Good morning! One of the favorite verses here at the Faith Works Clinic is Matthew 7:13,14. Enter at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matt. 7:13,14) There is a straight gate and there is a narrow path and there is a broad gate and an easy path (Matt. 7:13,14). Thanks Mr. Obvious :-) The practical question for the morning is, What binds/tzarot you?  What hems/tzarot you in?  Is it the fringes/Tzitzit on the hem of your garment (Num. 15:38, 39; Matt. 14:36)? Is it His yoke that's a burden, but it's light (Matt. 11:28,29; Jer. 6:16)? What makes you feel as if you have no options, no choices?  What propels you into the narrow straits/tzarot?  All of these things are tszarot/narrow or confined.  BTW, for those who have been bought with a price, they don't belong...