12.30.24 ~ The Question: Which One?

Good morning!

Yesterday, we looked at a verse in Obadiah. We spoke of the day of the Lord, His judgment and how that justice is carried out (Obad. 1:15). The question that crosses my mind during this Hanukkah season is, I suppose the first thing to ask about this verse is, 'how do I know who or what to trust'?

I've been in Michigan for 9 weeks now. I've been to multiple churches and each one was filled with love, hospitality, similar terminology, and Jesus. With so many different denominations and flavors to Christianity, enquiring minds want to know: 'which one'?

The Prophet Zechariah tells us that the nations/goyim will grab the garment of a Jew and ask them to lead them since they know where they are going (Zech.8:23).

Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the nations/goyim will grasp the garment/kanaph of a Jew/yehudi, saying, “Let us go/yalak with you, for we have heard/shema that God is with you.

When will the nations come to the Jews, grab hold of their garment, and ask to go with them?  Was this fulfilled with Yeshua, the Jew, who was called Emmanuel/God with us? Was it fulfilled when the woman grabbed the corner of his garment and was healed (Matt.9:20; 14:34-36)? In part, yes, but that doesn't fit the prophetic context of Zechariah 8. However, it's happening all over the world.

God tells Zechariah that this will happen, but it’s hard to imagine that reality, especially with all the different opinions out there regarding the Jewish people.  This leaves enquiring minds in a small quandary...Unless, of course, we know something else about this verse.

In Western Christianity we don't know much, experientially, with the garment/kanaph being referenced. The kanaph is associated with the “wings” of a garment (Mal. 4:2), the outer edges or corners of a cover.  But it is also the word for the wings of a bird (Gen.7:14), the wings of cherubim and other heavenly beings (Ex. 25:20), and metaphorically, God’s protective covering (Ruth 2:12).  Perhaps, we have a bit more insight on Yeshua’s comment about gathering Jerusalem under His wings (Matt. 23:37)...but that still doesn't answer our question completely.

Once we realize that there are significant allusions to heavenly protection in the garment/kanaph, we can ask, “What exactly are the ‘wings’ of a garment?”  Our English translations simply glosses the word as “garment,” but kanaph is only about a specific part of the garment – the part that is attached to the corners.  That means kanaph is a reference to the tzitzit, the knotted fringe worn on the edges of the prayer shawl/tallit that represent obedience to the Torah (Num. 15:38-40; Deut. 22:12).

Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders/kanaph of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe/tzitzit of the borders a ribbon of blue. And it shall be unto you for a fringe/tzitzit that you may look upon it, and remember the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that you seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you use to go a whoring: that you remember and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God
(Num. 15:38-40)

Yes, these are the “corners” that the woman grabbed when she desired healing in the “wings” of Yeshua (Matthew 9:20). Zechariah’s word doesn’t say that the men of the nations/goyim (the Gentile nations) will simply rush to the Jews. He says that the day is coming when the nations will grasp obedience to the Torah and desire to according to the commandments given through Moses. Why will they do this? Because they will see that God is with them (Rom. 2:29).

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; who praise is not of men, but of God. (Rom.2:28,29).

I've been walking this tzitzit life for a long time and it is my observation that all over the world, literally from every nation, men and women are experiencing every form of healing as they discover the life of Torah obedience. I do not believe this is an accident, nor do I believe it is being driven by some global movement or organization. I believe that God is gathering (Eze. 37) – and in the process, those who have been acquainted with His word are looking deeper, asking for more, desiring His presence. They are finding these things in the most unlikely of places, as far as the official “Church” is concerned. They are finding themselves attracted to the old paths of the Torah observant Jews, and in particular, to the sense of godliness among those who share an elected history with the Lord.

I also believe that until the “Church” recognizes its tragic and idolatrous rejection of the unwavering and essential relationship between the Lord and Israel, it will remain a part of the problem rather than the solution. The Church in its commitment to replacement theology and its perspective on the abolition of the “Law,” does not realize that it needs, as the seed of Abraham (Gal.3:16, 29), to return to the God of Israel. Instead of advocating conversion of Jews to modern day Christianity, Christians must become truly grafted into the commonwealth of Israel (Rom. 11; Eph. 2:11-22) not the Judaism of the 21st century but the Jewish faith of the 1st century, the faith of Yeshua HaMashiach.

As we close out Hanukkah (feast of dedication, aka feast of lights) and approach 2025, may we be mindful to walk as obedient lights to the nations. (Matt. 5:14-20; Prov. 6:23; Psa. 19:8,9; 43:3; 119:105, 130; Isa. 42:6; 49:6; 60:1,19; Mic. 7:8; Jn. 1:4-5; 8:12; Eph. 5:8; 2 Cor. 4:6; 1 Jn. 1:5; Phil. 2:15; 2 Pet. 1:19). ..take the time to read these references and this study will make more sense to you :-)

I'll be flying to Florida this evening. Prayer appreciated.

Shalom!