Living Torah

Joseph is now a distant memory, especially for the Pharoah. The Hebrews may have settled in quite nicely, but times they are a changing and yah is about to step forward and begin the process of fulfilling promises. First on the agenda? A man to work through.

The life of Jacob continues in Egypt. Jacob is given a bit of time to pour his life into his family and those who he comes in contact with. Good reminder for us there. At the end of his life he steps into a prophetic anointing and speaks, not only to his generation, but to ours.

The revelation of Joseph to his brothers is one of the most meaningful and significant prophecies in all of Scripture. There are many lessons to be learned here. But now, what does the rest of the account teach us? Maybe the greatest lesson is focus.

The layers of prophetic significance regarding Joseph are without end. The focus turns to grain and to a young man who brings grain and a goblet back together. Who is this young man and what challenge does he bring to us today?

Over 20 percent of the Genesis is devoted to the life of Joseph. His life unveils one of the greatest prophetic pictures of our day. With each passing year the story remains the same, but the levels of revelation continue to be revealed.

Jacob leaves Laban behind, but his fight is not over. He must now deal with his brother, Esau. What happened during that meeting still effects the family of Israel today. Appeasement takes many faces, but none of them bring forth a righteous outcome. Through it all, Yah is faithful beyond our understanding.

Jacob prepares to go to his grandfather’s land of birth. Scripture records that he went to a certain place and there he found a stone. Was it just a rock that he laid his head upon or was it a revelation which would carry his through his time in exile? The same experience and revelation is available to us today!

Pushing through the jet lag! It is one thing to teach the weekly Torah portions and quite another to live life in the midst of them. We have all heard of the faith of Abraham, but what about the faith of Sarah? Who is the real hero of faith here?

We begin again at the beginning. But, where is the beginning? If purpose precedes production, then where do we actually need to begin? Who will be side with in our day, the spirit of Cain or Abel, which today is being revealed through the “kiss” of Esau to Jacob.

It is time for a song. The word preceding is hear, but is not the word shema. Why use a different word? What is in this song that not only speaks to that generation, but also to our generation? Moshe could have just walked away, but instead spoke a blessing. Would we have had such grace?

Moshe is nearing his end. He must climb a mountain and die before the Hebrews can enter in. Is the death of leaders prophetic in our day? Will we see new leaders rising up with a focus, not on exile, but on The Land? Why is Matthew 25 after Mathew 24? The answer is in the picture The Feasts paint for us.

Standing on the edge of entering The Land, the Hebrews must now see themselves for who they are called to be. The same is true of each of us today. In light of recent events in the U.S. allow me to pose a question. Is our relationship with Yah driving our politics or politics driving our relationship?

“When you come in!” Those words should come alive within us today. Before we can go in though, we must engage in the war of His Kingdom coming. Are we engaged or just wanting to slip in by default?  “If you?” How about “As I!” What is our attitude toward His instructions?

At first glance, we can look at the commandments and wonder what how they can possibly speak to our lives today. What if we not only look at the words, but the essence of the words? Opens a door for a whole new life and walk.

What is the difference between justice and righteousness? Which are we to pursue? Just what are we fearful of in this life? In light of eternity, what really matters?

“Consider Your ways!” Those may be the words of the prophet Haggai, but they provide a great backdrop to the teachings of Moshe this week. Are we prepared to be peculiar in the eyes of the world so as to be unique in the eyes of our Creator?

The first few words of “Because” paint a beautiful picture of our lives and our destination. Whose voice are we focused on today? Remember back to the days of record albums and when the needle got stuck in a groove? Kick all a person wants, my needle is not moving from this groove!

Moshe pleaded to go into the land. Why did he plead? Was it just about seeing the sites or a longing for something greater? What should his desire bring forth in our lives? The “Shema”. Why are these words so special?

With the turn of a page, we enter into the final words of Moshe. What insights have we learned regarding this man that may help us in our own lives? Just who is he talking to? What is the purpose of his words to a people who were to young to remember what he was talking about?

The Hebrews stand on the bank of stepping into the promises of Yah. Two tribes will come up short. Yes, they will be living in the “Biblical borders”, but not in the “today borders.”  Why should Yah force a people into a place they don’t want to go? Am I speaking of then or now? Yes!

We take a closer look at the situation that lead to Pinchas coming forward. The meaning of his name gives not only a great insight into his life and calling, but also how we should be leading our own lives. Moshe is given the death sentence. His response is one that challenges me to my core.

The Torah portion of Balam always takes me back to memories of a simpler life. Popsicles orange juice cans and flannel graph were the items of the day. A talking donkey was the star performer. But, what about the battle that was going on then? What about the battle that continues to this day? Yah will prevail through a people who refuse to let their guard down. 

Would we want our lives defined only by our mistakes? Please bear with me as I pay tribute to a man who helped form my life, Jimmie Swaggart. His recent death causes me to look at those in Scripture, like Moshe and David, who failed. The consequences were great for them, but we should not define them by their failures, lest we also be tempted. 

What was Korah actually rebelling against? What is the true sin of Korah? Is his sin being repeated today and if so, how can we keep from entering into it? In the end, we are the ones responsible for our outcome.

A brief report on camp leads us to the Torah portion and current events. Indifference to The Land is the same sin as rejecting of The Land. In the end, did the 10 reject The Land or did The Land reject them?