9.5.25 ~ Prepare Well: Turn Back

Good morning!

This 6th month of God's calendar is one of intimacy. Intimacy equates to relationship. Relationships encourage repentance/teshuvah or returning to where one got off track and that must be of their own choosing. Why? Because a man forced against his will, be of the same opinion still :-)

During this season where many are preparing for the High Holy Days of Scripture, Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, and Chag Sukkot, there is a tremendous focus within the communities on repentance/teshuvah, which is essential for intimacy with the body of Messiah and with Yahweh Himself!

Repentance/teshuvah turns us back to where we went astray. It is a term that is used in Scripture for individuals that are in covenant relationship with the Almighty. In order to teshuvah/return one needs to have had that position to start with. It’s impossible to return to something you never had.

For the individual that does not have a Torah understanding they are not going to be able to repent/teshuvah or return back to a path they were not on. Instead, they need to be shown why they should follow Torah/God's instructions in the first place; they need to come to a Mt. Sinai experience.

Long before Yahweh Elohim/The Lord our God introduced the commitment of Torah to His people (Exodus 19-24), He established a relational truth in their lives to foster a willingness to submit and enter into covenant relationship with Him as His wife.

Why was Israel, Yahweh’s future wife, so willing to say, whatever you say, we will do (Ex. 19:8; 24:3; Rom. 10:1-13)? Prior to this moment of confession many realities had been introduced and experienced by the Israelite people who had applied the blood of the Lamb (Ex. 12). Their experience with God left no doubt in their minds that God loved and cared for them through their physical deliverance and provision.

Yahweh chose Israel for reasons much beyond our reasoning. It wasn’t their wealth or their beauty or anything desirable within themselves (Deut. 7:7-9). And long before her commitment to say yes to Him, there was work to be done in her experiences.

First, Yahweh, had to show ‘her’ that He was ‘bigger, stronger, and better’ than any of the other gods in Egypt. He did so with the plagues…this took time!

Second, He had to show that He was able to deliver her from her bondage as Egyptian slaves. Egyptian slavery was 100% manipulation upon the Israelites. In order to get their daily bread they had to perform.

Third, Yahweh had to comfort her when she left behind all she had known (Exodus 13:21-22).

Fourth, Yahweh had to put her into positions that were uncomfortable so she could recognize that He was trustworthy in any situation. He had to show that He was not only able to deliver them out, but destroy the enemy that held them captive for so many years (Ex. 14:13; 14:21-31).

Patiently and progressively, Yahweh had to lovingly work the Egyptian mentality out of their hearts to where they were willing to make the best decision for their future.

Fifth, Yahweh had to be able to provide for them physically the most nutritious food for their journey (Ex. 16) and establish physical health in every person (Psa. 105:36-38). BTW, as we see at the end of this week's Torah portion, Ki Teitze/when you go out, Amalek’s attack was not against the physically weak, but those that were mentally weary (Deut. 25:17-18).

Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God. Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies roundabout, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it. (Deut. 25:17-19)

Sixth, Yahweh had to show them that He could take bitter situations and make them sweet (Ex. 16:22-27). They needed to know that a hostile environment, like the wilderness, would have provision for washing, refreshing and quenching their thirst (Ex. 17) and if anyone threatened that source of living water, He would be able to defeat them with the sword; even Amalek (Ex. 17:8-16).

It was then and only then, that Yahweh was ready to present to them an opportunity to be in covenant with Him through a Torah-based lifestyle (Exodus 18ff). And it was here, through experience, that they knew who they were going to commit to with their statement(s): Whatever you say we will do.

Repentance has to have a place to come back to! For those who don’t have that place to go back to, they need to be shown, through our lifestyle, the six step provision of the Heavenly Father, so that they’ll desire what you have in relationship with the One True God/Elohim (Acts 3:13; 7:32).

Most people on the face of the planet cannot truly teshuvah/repent! They don’t have anything to go back to…instead, what they need is a visible, tangible example to come into relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

For each of us, whether it’s repentance or growing deeper in relationship…at this time of year, during this preparation time for the fall feasts of the Lord, our answer to Him should be…YES! You've proved yourself to be faithful, truthful, trustworthy and dependable. Whatever you say, we'll do it!

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? (Eze. 18:21-23)

Happy Preparation Day and Shabbat shalom!
Alan