Light In Torah

 Good morning! A couple weeks back we studied the Torah portion Ki Tetzei, which translates, "When you go out..." A passage that describes a situation of "going out" to war: When you go out/ki tetzei to battle against your enemies, and the LORD your God delivers them into your hands and you take them away captive and you will see among the captives a beautiful woman/Yefat Toar, and have a desire/chashak for her and would take her as a wife for yourself... (Deut. 21:10-11) This passage may seem outdated to modern readers, but with the fall feast season upon us, these Scriptures are as practical as ever.  A truth that we have learned over the years is that God is a God of war (Ex. 15:3) and He has found you a yefat tofar in you. This passage describes what could be best described as the conversion process.  After a month of mourning in which her hair is shaved, her nails left unmanicured, and her beautiful eyes are red and swollen from weeping, the Israelite may find ...

 Good morning! Commercial: Shabbat morning's study: Be careful, bitterness has a way of rooting in your life easier than we think. But God has a way to help us overcome (Deut. 29:10-30:14) Did you know God desires marriage? Yes! Even though He's the perfect single, lacking nothing, He longs for companionship from someone distinct from Himself; yet longing to be like Him (Rom. 8:29). In this relationship, the bride would experience bliss with the Creator of all things!!! For God and His wife, it's been a roller coaster of romance, affection, but also deep pain, quarrel, and estrangement. In every generation, many counselors advocated a divorce, while others proclaimed the Groom dead. Yet, the relationship has endured, because both the soul is real and God is real. When all layers are removed, each of us yearns for meaning, for union with God, and God craves a relationship with us. The Fall feast season lays out for us five primary milestones of this season that parallel the ...

 Good morning! We are in the time of the Fall Feasts of the Lord (Lev. 23:23-42). This week's Torah portion is Nitzavim/to stand. In our study yesterday, 'I want it all', we learned that God is a God of abundance and He wants us to enjoy all that He's given to us. However, the things He hasn't given to us (Tree of knowledge of good and evil), He wants us to leave alone. As a result of wanting it all, a curse came upon the land and the serpent, as well as difficulties for the man and woman. In last week's Torah portion, Ki Tavo/when you come in, we learned that the curses came as a result of not keeping the commandments of the Lord with a joyful heart (Deut. 28:45-47). These verses aren't talking about positive Pollyanna, they are speaking to those who have everything/kol at our disposal, through God's generosity; we have goodness. But if we don't recognize it, if we aren't happy, then we are doomed to a cursed existence. Ugh! Take a look at what ...

  Good morning! Chag Sameach Yom Hakippurim! May the fall feast of Atonement(s) be filled with happiness and the affliction of your soul cause you to draw nearer to the Most High on the holiest of days. If that sounds like an oxymoron, go back to yesterday's study on why God rejoices/sus in our judgment :-) Commercial: Last night's Zoom: The bridal garments pt. 3: It's not not squared (Matt. 22:11,12) and introducing the first five garments of the bride (Isa. 3:18,19) . On this day of Atonement(s) we can glean some incredible truths from this week's Torah portion, nitzavim/to stand. As Moses winds down his farewell speech he tries to persuade the people to keep to God's path by stating, see that I have placed before you life and good, and death and evil (Deut. 30:15); a statement that should take our minds back to the garden of Eden to the Tree of knowledge story (Gen. 2 & 3). And that's not the only thing that pointed us to Genesis. We also see the words to...

Good morning! In this week's Torah portion, nitzavim/to stand, we have a joyful/sus event. To those who have been scattered, come to recognize their straying and turn from the error of their ways, God will do some amazing things to them (Deut. 30:1-6) while, simultaneously, turning the table on their enemies (Deut. 30:7). Commercial: Last night's zoom call: The bridal garments pt. 2: Connecting the atoning priest's garments to those of the bride (Ex. 28:1-4; Jer. 7; Rev. 19:7,8) . Back to our regularly scheduled program...Once in last week's Torah portion (Deut. 28:63) and once this week (Deut. 30:9), Moses refers to God rejoicing/sus four times amidst the warning of blessings and curses.  Three times the Lord is pictured as the One rejoicing over Israel to bless them for obedience to his Law/Torah, and once as rejoicing over them to destroy them for disobedience! Don't you find it strange that God would rejoice in both scenarios? He loves to rejoice/sus over those ...

 Good morning! Commercial: Last night's zoom call: The bridal garments: the 24 ornaments so we don't appear naked in His presence pt. 1 Prior to the standing/netzavim angelic visitation Abraham received a covenant when the lamp/lapid passed/avar between the pieces (Gen. 15:17). Just as the lamp passed between the pieces, the Israelites are told they are standing/netzavim in order to pass/avar and set into place/natzav the Covenant. It's an active process of putting oneself into that position. Literally, you're standing with intent; standing for something so you don't fall for everything. When one takes a stand under the Tree of Life and leans on the Tree of Life, then he or she begins to avar/cross over to the Garden.  It's as if Abraham was living with one foot in his world and one foot in the garden (Josh 5:15). Hence, he was called the first Hebrew/ivri (Gen. 14:13; Jn. 8:39). Based on Abraham's life we can see that being a Hebrew/ivri, one who crossed ov...

 Good morning! It's been said, 'if you don't stand for something you will fall for everything'. The million dollar question is: what do we, as a community, from the 'captain' all the way down to the lowliest wood cutter and water bearer, stand for (Deut. 29:10,11)? It's supposed to be the painful process of entering/avar into a covenant and choosing life (Deut. 29:12,13). And for each person, today, it's not just a historical event, it's a reality for everyone (Deut. 29:15). Let's begin to look at this process in the Torah portion Netzavim/to stand (Deut. 29:9-30:20). We are familiar with the concept for those who are in Christ, they are officially Abraham's seed (Gal. 3:28,29), part of God's engrafted people (Rom. 11) and no longer strangers and foreigners to the covenants of Israel (Eph. 2:11-22). With Yom HaKippurim/day of atonement(s) a few days away, I want to encourage you to take a  nice swim in living water and enjoy rest...

 Good morning! With Yom HaKippurim coming soon, internal desires to have the most intimate relationship with our Bridegroom King becomes more and more realistic (Lev. 26:26-32).  What's wonderful about this desire is that it fits perfectly with every aspect of our lives, emotionally, physically, relationally and financially . Let me share with you three practical questions that you can ask the Lord, your spouse, your children, a potential boss, or anyone in any realm of your life ... guaranteed 100%, regardless of which venue, to revolutionize your relationship(s). Over the years we have talked about 'confirmation bias' and its negative effects on our ability to transform our lives out of the rut (a coffin with both ends kicked out) to higher grounds. Today, I want to express to you the exact opposite: reverse cognitive bias. Huh? But first, let's get a handle on reverse cognitive bias. Reverse cognitive bias reengineers our stagnant perceptions by seei...

 Good morning! Let me introduce most everyone's least favorite topic: giving money. In yesterday's Torah portion, Ki Tavo, there is an intriguing law known as 'vidui maaser'; the tithing confession (Deut. 26:12-15). When in the Promised Land, tithes must be taken from one's crops, according to a set three-year cycle. During each of the three years, a portion of the produce (around 2 percent) is given to the Kohanim/priests, known as terumah. Why? Because they didn't have any income source of their own outside of their dedicated service in the Temple. Another portion of the produce (around 10 percent), aka maaser rishon, was given to the Levites, who also had no income of their own, as they also served in the Temple and served as teachers. There were other tithes that differed from year to year. This is not a 'sherlock holmes' in depth discovery, but should give you some food for thought (Deut. 26:12-15 pun intended): Year 1—in addition to te...

Good morning!  Shabbat Shalom!!! As we wind down the book of Deuteronomy, heading into the Day of Atonement(s) and the Feast of Tabernacles, my mind continues to reflect on previous Torah portions as my mind moves forward; never forgetting where I've been, taking inventory where I'm at and trying never to forget where I'm going. In last week's Torah portion of Ki Tetzei/when you go out (Deut. 21:10-25:19) we learned that it's a section of Scripture that's all about WAR against YOUR ENEMIES; specifically, the one WITHIN. This week, the Torah portion is Ki Tavo/when you come in after the battle is done (Deut. 26:1ff). Coming in/ki tavo is about JOY and accomplishment. The victory is done. You've left everything on the 'court'. You've played your heart out on the 'field'. The game clock is at 0:00! And it's time to reflect on what has been done (Deut. 26). Even though we've reminded each other about the significance ...

 Good morning! The first morning of work at Faithworks was exactly what I expected. Vision cast. Expectations made known. Teamwork mindset established and making sure you enjoy what you do (Deut. 28:45-47). This week's Torah portion, Ki Tavo/When you come in, concludes with blessings and curses...they are powerful. Will get to those tonight, but for now let's go back to the tail end of Genesis where Jacob gives his prophetic words to Judah/praise and Issachar/reward center around the behavior of a donkey (Gen. 49:11,15)...very strange, isn't it? The two blessings from Jacob are linked together. Both are described as crouching down, Judah as a lion and a royal warrior and Issachar as a donkey between the sheepfolds, a prophet-shepherd. Issachar lies down to guard the two sheepfolds; those sheep that were present and those not there (John 10:14-16) all becoming one (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 37; Rom. 11:14-26). Ironically, asses have a natural affinity to protect othe...

Good morning! The Day of Trumpets/Shofar, the Day of Remembrance/Zikron Teruah, has been completed! And what a marvelous day we had up here in Michigan. By now, we know that this is also known as the hidden day that no man knows (Mk. 13:32), the day of the great shout (1 Thess. 4:16), the day for Coronating the King (1 Kg. 1:38-40). For the past month of Elul, the 6th month on God's prophetic calendar, we've been in a time of soul searching and prioritizing intimacy with the coming King...did you feel it? By that statement, I mean, are you noticing all the distractions coming your way, the fear and the doubt concerning so many issues? It's the month for blotting the remembrance/zeker of Amalek (Deut. 25:19); who is relentless on distracting you and causing doubt. Commercial: Last night's Yom Teruah, and first podcast, study: Does anyone know when the King is coming (Matt. 24; Mk. 13:32)? God's crowning activity of creation was building the female/nekevah; the Ishah...