The Crimson Thread - May I Gently Suggest?

We are creatures moving in time. As such, at the time we act, we cannot know the consequences of our actions; nor can we go back and undo our actions if they are unwise or cause damage. Forgiveness is the mechanism that God has provided that allows us to recover from our errors.

Moses, in Deuteronomy, explains the necessity of a functioning justice system to the wellbeing of the nation. There is a difference between 'legal' and 'just.' Courts with either corrupt judges or bad laws can apply a correct judicial process and arrive at a wicked result. The ultimate source of just laws is the Torah. Anything else is simply based on human reason and the application of force.

Malachi, written after the Babylonian exile, addresses a jaded and cynical priesthood. They are just going through the motions to satisfy the crowd and maintain their places in society. In this they are very similar to much of the modern church.

In Deuteronomy Moses is explaining to Israel how to operate in the world. They had all grown up in the wilderness and had no practical experience with the temptations and pressures of the 'civilized' world. He is very clear that they will face strong pressure to adapt and fit in. He gives them tools to defeat that pressure. God's purpose for Israel is for her to change the world into the Kingdom o...

Three vignettes in Genesis show the development of Judah's character. In the first, he is the one who engineers selling his brother into slavery. In the scene with Tamar, we see a change. He is able to acknowledge his error and do what's necessary to make it right. Finally, standing before Joseph, he is able to put his own interests aside and do whatever is necessary to save his brother Benjamin....

Joseph's life revolves around three sets of two dreams which are a continuation of the visions given by God to Abraham. The meaning of the symbols in these dreams depends on the culture of the one doing the interpretation. A discussion of the dreams' interpretation from three different cultural perspectives.

In both Deuteronomy 10 and Micah 6 the prophet asks, what it is that God requires of us. The answers are different in the two passages. That does not mean that God has changed His mind. This talk was inspired by Rabbi Fohrman and Ari Levisohn at AlephBeta.org.

In Acts 19 Paul arrived in Ephesus where he positively dripped with the authority and power of the Spirit, teaching in the synagogue, healing people and casting out demons. When some Jewish exorcists tried to appropriate some of that authority, things did not go well with them. There are many lessons for the church today in these vignettes.

The lure of idols lies in the human desire for works salvation. We think that the busier we become, the holier we get. False gods pander to that desire.

Today the entire world is focused on a virus that has emerged from China and is sweeping the world. The panic caused by this virus has crashed financial markets and disrupted daily life in unprecedented ways. In Hebrews, God has promised times of great shaking that will reveal that which cannot be shaken. This time presents great opportunity for the advancement of His Kingdom.

Using the metaphor of agriculture, the prophet explains that the more physically fruitful Israel was, the more spiritually barren they became.

People like the power that goes with responsibility, but they dislike the responsibility that goes with power. Scripture is full of examples where people try to evade responsibility for their actions. This evasion is generally the first step on the way to slavery.

In their fear, the leadership of Israel cries out to God. God does not listen to their prayers.

Both Pinchas and Elijah acted zealously when they were confronted by flagrant sinfulness and idolatry in Israel. The zealot is akin to a hammer in God's hand, sometimes necessary but not to be used routinely. In Elijah's encounter with God in the mountain cave, it appears that God was checking whether Elijah could tone things down in the future.

A continuation of God's indictment of Israel's leadership. The government is preying on the people.

Slavery can be very attractive and comfortable so long as it is not called 'slavery.' To get the security and reduced responsibility of slavery without the stigma, we (or Satan) invent lies that make our situation palatable. This is the context of Y'shua's statement that the truth would set His disciples free. The Pharisees had created a web of rules that placed a heavy yoke on the Jews, yet they...

The priests and prophets have neglected their charge to teach people the ways of God. Because of this there is no knowledge of God among the people and every sort of sin and perversion prevails.

In the wilderness, Korah bitterly angry after the report of the spies, attempted to rebel against Moses. His fantasy was that replacing the leadership that had gotten into their current predicament would provide a way out. In this, he was denying the reality that God had made the decision, not Moses. This lead to his death and the death of all of his followers.

Hosea prophesying as Israel's northern kingdom was about to go into exile. His message is that Ephraim had broken God's heart by lapsing into idolatry, injustice and violence.

When the generation that left Egypt send spies into Canaan, they probably thought they were being prudent. When the spies returned and discouraged all of the Israelites from proceeding, their report spelled the end of that generation. God decided that His project to make free men from former slaves had gone as far as possible with that generation. That project would continue with the next. Scriptu...

David's reign comes to an end. Bathsheba short circuits Adonijah's attempt to succeed his father and David anoints Solomon. David also alerts his son to a list of people to either watch or execute because they will be a threat to his reign.

Parsha Be'halot'cha marks a turning point for the generation that left Egypt and stood at Sinai. The portion starts well. The Tabernacle is inaugurated and the nation sets out for what should be a short walk to the Land. Then the people began to complain about the food and the rest of the Book of Numbers chronicles the decline and death of an entire generation. They had complained before; what was...

Toward the end of his life David decided to number the men in his kingdom. Joab thought that was a bad idea but was overruled. God was displeased with David's hubris and sent a plague upon Israel. This incident lead to the purchase of a threshing floor that would become the site of the Temple.

During the first forty days that Moses was up on the mountain, all that people needed to do was wait patiently for his return. Patient waiting is not a human strong suit. They quit waiting and fashioned a golden calf to lead them in place of Moses. In this they mixed the worship of God with the liturgy of the pagans. God was not pleased. Today we are also in a time of waiting the return of Messiah...

After putting down the rebellion of his son, David had the task of restoring and reuniting the kingdom. In this process he acted with his usual political skill. He refrained from acting in anger and taking vengeance upon those who sided with Absalom.