July 4, 2023

I have often said, “Yahweh gets to make the rules, we only get to make the choices.” I know it can really be hard for some folks (even those claiming to be believers) to let Yahweh be the “rule maker.” Many will get frustrated with a certain Bible verse, mainly one that challenges their opinion or hardened intellectual position, or has dire implications in their circumstances… and they pursue other Bible versions or commentaries, that they hope will “clarify” the verse to their preference… they often will seek a pastor who will side with their position. Basically, the blind spot in their thinking is a common affliction to most of us in some way or another… at some time in our walk in learning our place in truth. Our Torah Portion lesson this past Sabbath included the narrative of Balaam and the talking donkey, which Yahweh used to get the corrupt prophet’s attention. Hopefully, we will not need such dire correction.

Since the time of the Torah’s promulgated origin with mankind, given to Moses on Mt Sinai, men have had both good and bad motives to bend or outright distort the actual meaning of Yahweh’s “rules.” Even if one thinks they are helping explain or better present the Word… it usually goes wrong. This is like Yahweh telling Moses that no “iron tool” can be used in stones building the altar, or brought into the Temple (deut 27:4-6 nkjv; 1kings 6:7 nkjv) Yahweh likes the way He makes things. This is a “pattern,” and many patterns are found, relative to one another, throughout the Bible. It is repetitive conceptual instruction that hopefully breaks through our “stone thinking,” and clarifies our understanding. Confrontational instruction, against our “preferred” bad habits or pet ideas, (that discomfits us), may not be easily embraced, even if the rules are known.

The prophets and sages of old challenged Yahweh's people to repent and “return” to the Torah and things would improve for them. Isiah chapter 61 is a beautiful picture of the advent of the Messiah and Yahweh’s plans for a redeemed people. It was spoken about 700 years before Yeshua stood up in the synagogue in Nazareth, and read it to the congregation… Luke 4:16-30 nkjv, here is part of what He read:

“So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

That did not go over well with the naysayers, the “mind hardened” thinkers, who had had their religious, traditional and doctrinal teachings sequestered in man’s “iron-tool” religion… which traditions Yeshua said had made the Torah [Word of My Father] of no effect. Mat 15:5-7 nkjv

They were so furious with His comments that they rose up against Him… the same process of unbelief and self-rule of men gets the same result today. If we block out the sustaining and confirming faithfulness of the “Spirit of Truth [Holy Spirit], we will be vulnerable to the “sway of the wicked one.”

“We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” 1Jn 5:18-19 nkjv

I think, that in our day, the “sway of the wicked one” is getting more invasive (and persuasive) in men’s thinking and motivation… the battle royal is “who is the rule-maker” and who shall possess Jerusalem, and who shall sit on the throne there. Yahweh has already “ruled” on that issue”

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness [lawlessness -Torahlessness]; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” ps 45:6-7 nkjv

“20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” 1jn 5:20 nkjv

Just as Yahweh forbid any “iron tool” from defiling the altar or the temple… and now that “we are the temple” He chooses to indwell, let us allow the “rule-maker” to build us His way, and preserve us from the “iron-tool fabricators” of false information, Biblical and general… surely orchestrated by the sway of the wicked one.

Shalom, John