Messiah in Life

The scheme of Balak: how to destroy the children of Israel? Summon a prophet to curse them! Balaam was a prophet from the nations. The rabbis suggest the Balaam could have revealed the God of Israel to the nations, but he decided to use his prophetic gift for personal gain. What do we learn from Balak's view of Israel? How does this portion speak into our modern lives? We consider this, and m...

The unusual and illogical command of the Red Heifer. Does does this command teach us about messianic faith? And why does so tragic events follow in the text? Is there a connection between the Red Heifer, the death of Miriam, the death of Aaron, and the judgment against Moses? As we will see, this strange command separates one from death into life, but at the expense of another. Give a listen.  Ref...

The troubling episode of Korach's rebellion. What was his motivation? To depose Moses? To replace Aaron as high priest? In this episode of Messiah in Life, we consider a few rabbinic thoughts, and then connect this rebellion to our own attitudes today. What is the heart of this lesson? Give a listen.  References: Numbers 16:1-3, 10; 17:10; Psalms 42, 44–49, 84, 85, 87 and 88. Hebrews 13:20-21...

What happened when the children of Israel stood at the boarder of the Promised Land? They listened to the voices of false witnesses, and by doing so, the exodus generation would slowly die one by one in the wilderness. This is a rather bleak description, but one that encapsulates a devastating moment. There are many parallels that can be made between that generation and our generation; but most im...

Why is Aaron told to "kindle the lights" of the Menorah between the princely dedicatory offering and the dedication of the Levites? Is there a lesson that we can learn from this while we serve the Lord today? Certainly. Give a listen.  References: Numbers 8:1-4; 9:5-13. 

What are some of the many ways the Lord "raises us" up in service to Him? The portion of Nasso, meaning count or lift up, identifies several ways that the Lord lifts us up in the life of faith. From being counted in a census, to being blessed by the High Priest, we are encouraged to consider all the ways the Lord lifts us up as He is doing the work of sanctification in our lives. Give a...

The Lord commands Aaron and Moses to count the children of Israel in the wilderness in a beautiful and profound way. What does this mean for us today? How does the opening of the book of Numbers minister to our life of faith in this era? There is an encouraging and meaningful message from this opening portion of Numbers, give a listen!  References: Numbers 1:1-4; John 15:16; Hosea 2:14-16. 

In this last portion of the Book of Leviticus, we closely consider the blessing of rain. If it is the first of blessings listed for obedience, why does rain fall on the just and the unjust? Is there a lesson here for us in messianic faith to learn? Certainly, give a listen!  References: Leviticus 26:3-13; Matthew 5:43-48; Matthew 5:12; Romans 8:18. 

Before speaking of the Year of Release (Shemittah) and the Year of Jubilee, the Torah records that the Lord spoke these words to him upon Mt. Sinai, why? Is there a connection between the point of revelation and command, and their fulfillment? What can we learn from these two patterns of years in messianic faith? What is the heart of what the Lord is revealing? Give a listen.  References: Leviticu...

"Make every day count!" "I'm counting the days...!" We are all familiar with expressions like these, but why does the Lord command us to count the days? What is happening to us spiritually as we count the days between Passover and Pentecost? The answer is encouraging as we face challenges and trails today. Give a listen. References: Leviticus 23:15-17; John 5:46-47; Acts 2...

In a combined Torah study, we consider the call to living holiness in the Lord. How can we love our neighbor as ourselves, not abuse the blind and the deaf, and walk in forgiveness? So much of our experience and faithful living in Messiah is walked out in the grace of forgiveness. Is this grace impossible? If it is not, then how can we do it? We look closely at substitutionary sacrifice, double im...

When David fled to the cave of Adullam, what did the Lord do? David had a messy life at this point. He was anointed the king of Israel, but a king without land, power, influence, or a throne. With Saul seeking to kill him, David seeks a hiding place and refuge. Yet, the Lord changes David's story when 400 men find David and commit to following him. How does this story interconnect with the st...

As the Passover Seder begins the seminal question of the evening is asked by a child: Why? "Why is this night different from all other nights?" References: Exodus 12:26; 13:8, 14; Matthew 28:18-20. 

We continue to consider the meaning of spiritual leprosy, and how we may find evidence of that today. What is the opposite of the "evil tongue"? Are we expected to just say nice things in order to be nice? Or, does the Lord show us something profound as we "love our neighbor" as ourselves? We consider the words of the Torah, Messiah Yeshua/Jesus, and the apostles of our faith....

How you ever gossiped about someone? How did that gossip make you feel after the other person found out? Or, when your gossip continued to spread, but not exactly how you said it, how then did you feel? Were you able to reconcile? How did the Lord restore lepers in the Bible? How did Yeshua/Jesus restore lepers? In the process we find something beautiful about who we are in Him, and why, when He r...

The 8th day! How do we find holy meaning in everyday life? Can there be importance in the most basic aspects of human life? Absolutely. There is a beautiful connection between the intricate details of the priests beginning their ministry, and how the ordinary person in the camp can experience the same level of holiness. While the portion may seem disconnected, appearing to have two very different...

What's wrong with leftovers? I like leftovers. Do you? Well, there is an issue with leftovers concerning certain sacrifices. What lesson do we learn from the leftovers, or lack thereof? Is there a life lesson for us in this today? Give a listen! References: Leviticus 6:1-2; 7:11-15; Exodus 12:10; 2 Corinthians 9; Colossians 2:6-7. 

This week we begin the Book of Leviticus. Often, people find Leviticus a difficult book to study. With the subject of sacrifice, ritual purity and impurity, clean and unclean foods, leprosy, holy time, and a season of release, what does any of this have to do with faith in Messiah Yeshua/Jesus? This week we consider "calling," as Vayikra means, "And He called." The life of Mose...

The certificate of occupancy of a home, the assurance that the structure has been built to specifications. We, in faith, have an even greater assurance of our acceptance: the Holy Spirit. As the Book of Exodus concludes, Moses assembles and disassembles the Tabernacle during the time of sanctification of the priesthood. The Lord showed His approval of the project by filling the Tabernacle. What ca...

When the Lord gives us sacred work, does the immediacy of the new sacred work set aside His call for us to rest? The children of Israel were deep into the fabrication of the Tabernacle when they receive a reminder: rest. What do we learn from this? What do we learn from a dramatic linguistic parallel to the account of creation and the account of the Tabernacle? What of the language of work and ser...

This week we take a look at a lesson from the sin of the golden calf. What lesson in faith do we learn from this? What does Moses mean when he asks to behold God's glory, or for Him to show Moses His way? Why these questions from this incident? How does this incident inform our walk with Messiah Yeshua/Jesus? Give a listen.  References: Exodus 32:1-14; 32:32; 33:13, 19; Luke 5:36-38; Matthew...

There are times when our personal history distorts how we see and experience the promises of God. In those times we need the Caleb's and the Joshua's to speak His promises to us, to refute the distorted view, and see the fruit of God's faithfulness in our lives. Thank God for those Caleb's and Joshua's in our lives.  References: Numbers 13. 

Is there a theology regarding garments in the Bible? What would a garment theology reveal? The garments of the Levitical high priest are described to be for "glory and beauty." Why? Is there anything that we in Messianic faith can learn from this? Is there a theology regarding garments for those in Christ? Give a listen.  References: Exodus 28:2; Ephesians 4:17-32; John 20:21-23. 

There is a strange shift in the Torah narrative, from the legal matter of Mishpatim (Judgments), to the constructive narrative of the Tabernacle. What is the Lord showing us? Can we understand the nature of "contribution," or terumah, differently when we understand the nature of giving itself? We find a teaching on transformation, not destruction, and a transformation from being selfish...

In this week's Torah portion, the Lord seems to be making a radical departure from a more personal narrative, to one that seems to focus on the legal matters of a nation. Is there a reason for this besides the obvious? Can the Lord be teaching us something important for the life of faith in Messiah Yeshua/Jesus? Yes, and amen. The Lord begins to transform memory. Give a listen.  References: E...