Category Archives: Children of Israel/Israelites

From Leviticus to Hebrews—The Fuller Revelation of the Steps From the Old to the New Covenant

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A word from J. Nathan Lawrence, the author

It is highly doubtful that you have before you a clearer and more succinct explanation of how the Old Testament Levitical priesthood and sacrificial systems prophetically pointed the way forward to Yeshua the Messiah and were fulfilled by him, or why the Old Covenant failed and why the new covenant was necessary for man’s ultimate redemption. Although this is a long article (about 12 pages), it is still a short and comprehensive look and this often confusing and difficult subject and includes a complete overview of the Epistle to the Hebrews, which from its beginning to its end is a step-by-step overview of the biblical message of redemption and salvation. Please read on…

The journey from the Old Testament Book of Leviticus to the New Testament’s Epistle to the Hebrews is an epic one spanning several thousand years. The spiritual trek of the Christian church started, not on the day of Pentecost in chapter two of the Book of Acts as is commonly taught, but with the children of Israel leaving Egypt, and then their building of the Tabernacle of Moses with its Levitical priesthood and sacrificial system. This is the saga of a people—the children of Abraham—in search of their God (Yehovah Elohim), their struggles to draw near to him by obeying him, and then their failure to do so with the ensuing cataclysmic and horrific consequences as a result thereof. The Old Testament, which is the story of that ensuring struggle, will, however, have a glorious ending where the King and his children will live happily ever after—and this is no mythical fairy tale! This is the way, the truth and the life, and life more abundantly, to boot, where each recipient is more than a conqueror having defeated death itself as they pass through that thin veil between life and death into something much better in the world beyond. 

But there is a larger and deeper backstory to this ancient historical chronicle that has astounding ramifications for the present time, since the roots of the world’s greatest religion that has touched more lives than any other are anchored deeply in the soils of the land of Israel where our story begins. To understand this and its present day implications is to understand one’s own personal, spiritual journey in knowing oneself and, more importantly, in knowing one’s Creator. 

Under the lens of our present microscope is the leg of this journey that starts in the Book of Leviticus with the children of Israel building a sanctuary so that Yehovah (YHVH) might dwell among them (Exod 25:8). This journey then ends with the utter destruction of the third iteration of that same sanctuary some 1,500 years later. This seemingly left YHVH’s chosen people high and dry spiritually and without a locus around which to orbit their spiritual quest for the Creator. What then? Enter the Epistle to the Hebrews, written either just before are slightly after the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in a.d. 70. In this book of the Bible, the author lays out line-by-line how the Creator’s had not been caught unawares vis-à-vis his people by this calamitous event. Rather, all along he had been orchestrating a grand and elaborate plan to redeem his people from the spiritual sin pit into which man initially fell in the Garden of Eden. From then until now, every descendent of Adam and Eve has fallen into that same pit, trapped and unable to extricate himself. What was the initial step in heaven’s multi-millennial plan to redeem man from the wages of his sin? We discover it in the Book of Leviticus. 

The Old Testament Book of Leviticus with its sacrificial system as administered by the Levitical priests illustratively explains the divinely inspired progressive step-by-step plan to teach sinful man the gravity and high cost of sin, and then to show man the way back to his Creator. The first step in this supernatural process involved teaching man about the destructive, calamitous and eventual lethal consequences of sin. The next step involved transforming man’s heart away from being inclined toward sinful rebellion against YHVH’s commandments resulting in disobedience (Jer 17:9; Rom 8:6–7; 1 John 3:4), and becoming willingly inclined to obeying heaven’s laws of life, love and happiness. It was the failure to achieve heaven’s ultimate aim of transforming the human heart into compliance with the Creator’s commandments where this covenantal agreement (commonly referred to as the old or Mosaic covenant) with the chosen people—the children of Israel—missed the mark. The weakness of the old covenant was not with the terms of the covenant itself that required the people’s obedience to YHVH’s Torah-law resulting in divine favor and blessing, but with the people themselves who promised to obey YHVH, but then failed to do so. This is the message of the writer of the Book of Hebrews as he echoes the same complaint against YHVH’s hapless and rebellious people as had many of his biblical antecedents. It is this failure on the part of the YHVH’s people onto which the author assiduously shines the light of truth (Heb 8:7–13). This is why a new covenant between YHVH and his people was necessary. Why? Because the ancient Israelites had violated the terms of the first or former covenant thus nullifying the agreement between man and Elohim.

Eventually, the larger lesson of the sacrificial system that YHVH Elohim imposed on his children of Israel after their rebellion in the wilderness of Sinai was that man cannot achieve a spiritual transformation from sinner to saint sans outside help from above. Ultimately, this is where Yeshua the Messiah enters the picture. To be reconciled to the Creator—our Father in heaven—each of us needs a transformation of our heart (or a spiritual heart transplant) through the sin atoning and cleansing blood of Yeshua, the Lamb of Elohim, coupled with the subsequent help of the Holy Spirit to give each of person a new heart that willingly complies with YHVH’s will as expressed through his Written Torah. This is what the new covenant is all about.

But until YHVH actuated a new covenant with man through Yeshua the Messiah, man had a few lessons to learn to solidify in the collective conscience of his people the fact that the human heart is so defiled and bent toward sin that nothing can rectify the situation save the intervention of heaven’s mercy and grace itself. Because of man’s pride, arrogance and failure to recognize his own fallen and sinful state, the Levitical sacrificial system was a step-by-step process for YHVH’s people to become collectively aware of this reality. Like a loving father teaching his children how to walk, talk, read and to live life, YHVH began by teaching the children of Israel the ABCs of sin and redemption through the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial system. Shortly thereafter, it became clear to the more spiritually enlightened Israelites like Moses, David the psalmist and the Old Testament prophets that these systems were insufficient to accomplish in man what was necessary for him to come into a right relationship with his Creator. In reality and according to heaven’s ultimate plan, these systems were merely prophetic stepping stones pointing humans toward a permanent fix to the problem, and were part of a larger plan that the Almighty, the Holy One of Israel, was working out among his people including us as example and for our admonition and learning upon whom the ends of the earth are come (1 Cor 10:11; Rom 15:4).

Let’s now explore the transitional steps from Leviticus to Hebrews that paved the way for the formation of a new and better covenantal agreement between YHVH and his people that would achieve the desired results of reconciling man to his Creator and ensuring that he would have a forever family—glorified and immortalized children created in his own image. 

Overview of the Sacrificial System?

All the animals slaughtered in the old covenant or Mosaic sacrificial system were similar, in modern terms, to the minimum amount due on a credit card bill that is so huge that one cannot possible pay the balance; therefore, one can only afford to pay the minimum amount due until somehow, miraculously, someone will step in to pay the full amount. Yeshua the Messiah came to man’s rescue and paid that monstrously huge sin debt for each of us at the cross. All of the sacrifices in the Tabernacle of Moses were merely tiny down payments on the vast sin bill that each sinner owed for his sins, and which would ultimately be paid by Yeshua’s death on the cross. The penalty for sin is death, and this debt can only be paid by the death of the sinner. However, once he is dead, then what? This is why Yeshua had to pay the price for man, so that humans might live forever and not die forever. How could Yeshua’s death pay for all of humanity? After all he was only one man. This is possible only because the Bible reveals in numerous places that Yeshua was the Creator of man (John 1:3, 10; Heb 1:2, 10; Col 1:16) thus making his death life more valuable than all that he ever created, even as the builder of the house is more valuable than the house he constructs (Heb 3:6).

The following points give us a quick overview of the Levitical sacrificial system.

  • The laws pertaining to the sacrificial system were added to the rest of YHVH’s Torah because of sin, and were in force until the time of Yeshua the promised Seed (Gal 3:19; Heb 9:10). When and why did YHVH add the sacrifices making this system incumbent upon the Israelites? This occurred after and because of Israel’s sin of idolatry when they built the golden calf. It was then that YHVH established the Levitical priesthood and subsequently gave Israel the sacrificial system not only to impress upon them the seriousness and grave consequences of sin, but to point them toward the One who would come to offer ultimate redemption and salvation from sin.
  • The Levitical system foreshadowed and pointed to the Messiah’s ultimate sacrifice (Heb 9:11–12).
  • The tabernacle offerings were specifically designed to draw the offerer near to Elohim through the sacrifice of a prescribed animal (Ps 51:16–17; 50:12–15 cp. 1 Pet 2:21).
  • Elohim commanded offerings to assist the offerer to understand himself better; his attitude, and his personal relationship with Elohim (e.g., Gen 3:21; 4:3–5; 8:20; 22:1–2 cp. 1 Cor 11:28).
  • As a historical precursor to the Levitical sacrificial system, the patriarchs erected altars in order to honor Elohim through sacrifice after having had direct contact with him (Gen 12:6–8; 13:18; 26:24–25; 35:1; 35:2–4; Exod 17:13–16; cp. Exod 20:12). This presaged the purpose of the Levitical sacrifices.
  • Proper and regular sacrificial offerings kept the children of Israel in direct contact with the Elohim of the patriarchs (Exod 5:3; 10:25; cp. 1 Tim 2:5).
  • To make the offerer holy (set-apart) so that he would be allowed to approach and commune with the Set-Apart Elohim of Israel (Isa 43:15; 57:15; Lev 19:2 cp. 2 Cor 6:16–18).
  • The blood of the animal sacrifices served to cover the offerer’s sins, thereby allowing him to draw near to the holy Elohim of Israel. However, the offerer could only be forgiven for specific sins through full repentance and by returning to Elohim’s way of life as outlined in the Torah (Lev 1:4; 4:35; 23:27–28; Heb 10:3–4; cp. Rom 4:7–8).
  • Under certain circumstances, blood, as used in the Levitical system, could serve as a sin purification agent for both people and objects (Heb 9:18–23 cp. Luke 2:22–24).
  • The purpose of the animals sacrificially offered by the Levitical priesthood served as a prophetic shadow picture and antetype of the blood of Messiah, which covers or atones for the sins of the person who accepts Yeshua’s free gift of atonement for one’s sins (Heb 9:11–12, 24–28; 1 Pet 1:18–19; Eph 5:25–27; Lev 25:47–49; Rom 5:11; John 1:29 cp. Heb 13:10–13).

The Higher or Ultimate Sacrifice of Yeshua Messiah Prophesied

The Scriptures clearly teach that the sacrificial system that YHVH imposed upon Israel was temporary—it was never intended to be a permanent fixture in the spiritual economy of the people of Israel. Unlike the ten commandments that formed the cornerstone of the rest of YHVH’s Torah-law and from which the rest of the Torah emanates, the sacrificial system was temporary and was to last until “the time of reformation,” that is, until the time of Yeshua the Messiah (Heb 9:9–10).

The Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Messiah being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building. (Heb 9:8–11)

Moreover, these verses reveal another truth that the mainstream Christian church system from the time of the early church fathers until now has overlooked. The church’s teaching that the Sabbath along with YHVH’s feasts were a subset of these rites and ceremonies is based on a false reading of Hebrew 9:10, for the former predates the latter—an inconvenient truth that church leaders prefer to overlook and, therefore, fail to teach. The Sabbath and feasts were never part of the Levitical priesthood or sacrificial systems! The context of these verses is clearly speaking of the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial systems, and YHVH’s entire Torah is not even remotely in view in the author’s mind. Again, this is because both the Sabbath and biblical feasts long predate YHVH’s commands to Israel concerning the Levitical and sacrificial systems (Gen 1:14; 2:1–3; Exod chapters 12 and 13; 16:23–30 and YHVH’s giving of his Torah-law on the Feast of Shavuot or Pentecost (Exod 19:1ff). Jeremiah confirms this fact:

For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: but this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your Elohim, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers. (Jer 7:22–26)

Jeremiah informs us that YHVH had (and still does) little interest in animal sacrifices, and that his real interest was in the condition of the heart of his people toward him. Isaiah echoes this truth as well:

Thus saith YHVH, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith YHVH: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. (Isa 66:1–4)

Again, the eyes of YHVH are on those whose hearts are inclined toward him, and who possess a contrite heart and tremble at his word, rather than on outward hypocritical religiosity and heartless performance. Hollywood is full of many excellent actors who can play a scripted role, but such acting is no indication of who the person really is in his or her heart 

Thus, we see that YHVH added the sacrificial and Levitical systems to the rest of his Torah law for a limited time until the arrival of the Messiah to which this added system pointed like a highway milage sign or map points a traveler to their final destination. After the advent of Yeshua, what need was there now of this system since the destination to which pointed had been reached? Paul understood this.

Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. (Gal 3:19)

But long before Paul arrived on the scene, and longer still before the advent of the Messiah, many Old Testament writers realized the ineffectiveness of the Levitical and sacrificial systems to transform the human heart. They had come to the realization that these systems never were the ultimate intent of YHVH, for they were temporary and only pointed to the higher form of worship that was most pleasing to the Father.

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in YHVH. (Ps 4:5)

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto YHVH. (Ps 27:6)

I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto Elohim thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Ps 50:8–15)

The sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O Elohim, thou wilt not despise. (Ps 51:17)

I will praise the name of Elohim with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please YHVH better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek Elohim. (Ps 69:30–32)

And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. (Ps 107:22)

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same YHVH’s name is to be praised. (Ps 113:3)

I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of YHVH. (Ps 116:17)

Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O YHVH, and teach me thy judgments. (Ps 119:108)

Ps 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Prov 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to YHVH: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to YHVH than sacrifice. (Prov 21:3)

And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of YHVH. (Jer 17:26)

The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise YHVH of hosts: for YHVH is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of YHVH. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith YHVH. (Jer 33:11)

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of Elohim more than burnt offerings. (Hos 6:6)

Take with you words, and turn to YHVH: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. (Hos 14:2)

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of YHVH. (Jon 2:9)

For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith YHVH of hosts. (Mal 1:11)

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matt 9:13)

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. (Matt 12:7)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of Elohim, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Elohim, which is your reasonable service. (Rom 12:1)

And walk in love, as Messiah also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to Elohim for a sweetsmelling savour. (Eph 5:2)

But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to Elohim. (Phil 4:18)

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Heb 9:26)

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to Elohim continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Heb 13:15)

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to Elohim by Yeshua the Messiah. (1 Pet 2:5)

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. (Rev 5:8)

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. (Rev 8:3)

The Epistle to the Hebrews and the New Covenant

The Israelite’s failure to live up to the terms of the covenant that YHVH made with them at the foot of Mount Sinai necessitated a solution to this human sin problem if YHVH was ever to have a nation that would be a spiritual light to the world. In their present condition, how could he use this rebellious and sin-bent people to bring the message of redemption to the rest of the world and in the process create an everlasting spiritual family? This necessitated a permanent solution to the age-old problem of sinful inclination of the human heart. YHVH began to reveal to his prophets the necessity of a new covenant that would address the stubborn, rebellious, disobedient faithless, sin-bent and hard heart of man. Perhaps no other scripture passage expresses this idea more than one found in the ancient writings of Jeremiah the prophet.

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From Leviticus to Hebrews—A Pro-Torah, Heart Transforming Upward Journey

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This is the truth of why the old (Mosaic) covenant failed to achieve its aims and why the new covenant had to replace it with better promises and results. It is not what you have been told in church, and it has nothing to do with either the validity or annulment of YHVH’s Torah! This is a sad story with a glorious ending that affects each of person in a positive way who put their trusting and obedient faith in Yeshua the Messiah. In the process, the lies that our church fathers have told us are exposed and refuted, and the YHVH’s pure truth is revealed from the pages of Scripture.

 

The Levitical Priesthood & Sacrificial Systems, Yeshua & YOU (part 1)

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Why and when did YHVH institute the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial systems and for how long? What was their purpose? Were they permanent or temporary? As time went on, did they accomplish what they were supposed to or did they fail? How did YHVH feel about this and what did he have to say about it? If they were for a temporary time and failed to achieve their intended purpose, then what replaced them? Like a road sign or a mileage marker, did they prophetically point to a spiritual destination that was further out and at a higher level? What of the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial systems today? Are they still in effect?

The answers to some of these questions may surprise you, and will definitely enlighten you as we cruise through more than 1,500 years of biblical history starting in Leviticus, then trek through the Psalms and Prophets and then end up in the Gospels.

In part two of this series, go through the Epistle to the Hebrews line-by-line and discuss why the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial systems failed to change the hearts of the people, atone for sin and ultimately reconcile man to Elohim, and why a new or renewed covenant was necessary, and how these two systems are, in reality, still in effect today but at a higher level through the Person of Yeshua the Messiah. This was YHVH’s Elohim’s plan all along.

We will also discuss that in Yeshua’s fulfillment of the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial systems and his instituting the (re)new(ed) covenant , that this in no way invalidated YHVH’s Torah-law/instructions in righteousness. The Book of Hebrews is clear on this, even though false teachers in the mainstream church, to their shame, teach otherwise as they twist Scripture to line up with the anti-Torah and anti-Semitic biases of the so called early church and proto-Roman Catholic church fathers. It is time that these lies be exposed and the light of truth shine forth out of the darkness of men’s false teachings and traditions that make of none effect the Word of Elohim as Yeshua warned us against in Matthew 15:6, 9 and Mark 7:9, 13.

Over the years, many people have asked me to give a teaching on this subject, and so here it finally is!

 

Exiting Golden Calf Worship in Preparing to Meet Yeshua the Messiah

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The children of Israel fell into golden calf worship or the sin of idolatry while waiting for Moses to come down from Mount Sinai. The New Testament warns Christians against falling into the same sin while waiting for the return of Jesus/Yeshua the Messiah. What is golden calf worship, what are its manifestations within Sunday Christianity as well as in pro-Torah/Hebraic/Messianic believers? This video reveals some of the areas of golden calf idolatry that followers of Yeshua will need to recognize and flee from in order to be the virgin bride for which their the soon coming Heavenly Bridegroom is returning.


 

The Golden Calf Incident: A Prophetic Picture of the Christian Church

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On Shavuot (that is, the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost), at Mount Sinai, YHVH entered into a marriage covenant with the children of Israel, but they were not ready to live up to the terms of that covenant. Those terms, simply stated, involved the Israelites being faithful and obedient only to YHVH, Israel’s Elohim (or God) and spiritual husband, and to follow his instruction in righteousness, the Torah. This Israel quickly demonstrated they were not willing to do, and the subsequent golden calf incident is proof of this.

The proverbial ink was barely dry on the marriage certificate between YHVH and the children of Israel, or otherwise state, the children of Israel had hardly said “I do” to their marriage vows (Exod 24:3, 7) when they turned their hearts away from YHVH and began worshipping the golden calf—a pagan deity from Egypt. After the golden calf incident and up until Yom Teruah (or the Day of Trumpets or Shofar Blasts) when Moses received the second tablets of stone from YHVH containing the Ten Commandments, the children of Israel, the bride of YHVH, prepared herself not only to receive YHVH’s instructions again, but this time to be faithful to her marriage vows. This Israel did. She remained faithful to YHVH for approximately 38 years while trekking through the wilderness of Sinai, after which she entered the Promised Land and “stayed the course” until after the death of Joshua. What can we as Bible believers learn from ancient Israel that applies to us today?

Sadly, the cycles of history often repeat themselves. This time, it involved the descendants of the spiritual children of Israel who were at Mount Sinai. In the early first century a.d., the redeemed Israelite followers of Yeshua received the Torah written on the fleshly tablets of their hearts by the finger of the Spirit of Elohim on the Day of Pentecost (Shavuot) as recorded in Acts chapter two. But starting in about a.d. 70 with the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and continuing up through the Second Jewish Revolt of a.d. 135 until the time of Emperor Constantine (in the fourth century), the first-century spiritual bride of Messiah had, to a large extent, abandoned YHVH’s Torah-commandments and turned, to one degree or another, to a mixed form of worship (of which ancient Israel’s worship at the golden calif was a prophetic foreshadow) where some pagan practices were assimilated into the early churches’ belief system (most notably, Sunday replaced the Sabbath, and Christmas, Easter and other paganesque holidays replaced the biblical feasts). 

Moses’ descent of Mount Sinai on Yom Teruah with the second set of tablets containing the Torah prophetically foreshadows Yeshua’s second coming. As Moses renewed YHVH’s covenant with the repentant Israelites after the golden calf incident and the Israelites remained faithful for a long time afterwards, even so, Yeshua, at his second coming, will establish a renewed covenant with his faithful end time saints who have come out of golden calf-type religious systems.

In our day, YHVH is calling out a remnant of people from the church who are leaving behind the pagan traditions of golden calf worship and who are returning to the ancient blessed paths of YHVH’s Torah-instructions in righteousness. The Book of Revelation speaks of a group of end-time saints who will say “I do” to YHVH (Rev 14:4), and whose identifying mark is their faith in Yeshua the Messiah (i.e., the gospel message) and yet who faithfully keep YHVH’s Torah-commandments (Rev 12:17 and 14:12). 

When Yeshua returns on or near Yom Teruah at the end of this age, he will be ready to marry a bride that is without spot and wrinkle and who has come out of the end-times Babylonian religious whore system (Rev 18:4). This bride who will be wearing the robes of righteousness of Torah-obedience (Rev 12:17; 14:12; 19:7–9) will be ready to enter into a new covenantal agreement—a wedding contract or ketubah—with Yeshua (Heb 8:7–13), the Bridegroom, ever to remain faithful to him and never again to return to Baal or golden calf worship. He will lead his wife into the Messianic Age or Millennium, even as Joshua, a prophetic foreshadow of Yeshua, led the younger generation of wilderness Israelites into the Promised Land.

Golden Calf Worship Among YHVH’s People Today

The Bible warns YHVH’s people against failing to learn the lessons of the children of Israel and their falling into golden calf worship.

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Messiah. But with most of them Elohim was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO PLAY.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Messiah, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Cor 11:1–12, emphasis added)

Let’s look at the series of events that occurred as the children of Israel were leaving Egypt, which have major relevance to what is occurring in mainstream Christianity in our day. If we fail to learn the lessons of history, we will likely repeat the mistakes of history. 

The following is a brief historical review of how Israel fell into golden calf worship.

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Nathan’s Commentary on Parashat D’varim (Deuteronomy 1:1–3:22)

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Deuteronomy 1

Deuteronomy 1:1, Words.The Hebrew word is devarim, which is the plural of the generic Hebrew word for word, which is devar/debar,and is the Hebrew name for the last book of the Torah. Devar is related to several other well-known Hebrew words such as midbar/wilderness (Exod 7:16; Num 1:1; 14:33; Deut 1:1,31; 2:7; 8:2,16), b’midbar/in the wilderness (Num 1:1),and deveer/oracle, sanctuary, holy of holies (1 Kgs 6:16; 2 Chr 5:7,9; Ps 28:2). Look up these words in your Bible to see how they are used. How are they related to each other with respect to hearing or being led by the Word of Elohim?

Deuteronomy 1:1, Wilderness…plain…Red Sea…Paran…Tophel and Laban…Hazeroth…Dizahab. Seven names are mentioned here, which are code words for major sins that Israel committed against YHVH while wandering in the wilderness. The younger generation may have been too young to remember what happened at those places, but Moses was giving them a history lesson, so they wouldn’t repeat the mistakes of their forefathers as they were about to enter the Promised Land. (See below for a discussion of the sin that each of these names represents.) If one were to quickly read over these words and fail to realize that they are code words or Hebraisms representing historical events, one would pass over some rich Torah treasure. For Americans, words like 911, Ground Zero, Katrina, Pearl Harbor, Christmas, D-Day, JFK and FDR conjure up all sorts of images and emotions. This was true of the Israelites when they heard the names in verse one.

The Seven Main Sins of Israel In the Wilderness That Kept Them From Their Spiritual Inheritance

A Study Of Deuteronomy 1:1-11

The Book of Deuteronomy (Devarim) is a commentary on the first four books of Torah. Deuteronomy is not just a repetition of the Torah Law as the name Deuteronomy (meaning “second law”) suggests, for of Deuteronomy’s 100 mitzvot (commandments) 70 are new, having not been previously mentioned in the other books of the Torah. Therefore, the Jewish sages suggest that the added mitzvot (commandments) found in Deuteronomy help to clarify and explain the rest of the Torah, hence the alternate name for Deuteronomy: Mishneh Torah or explanation of Torah or a commentary on Torah.

Deuteronomy is largely for the benefit of the younger generation of Israelites who did not have a clear recollection of what went on in Egypt or in the wilderness either because they were too young or because they had not been born yet. It was a recitation or synopsis of the Torah commands to prepare the younger generation for entering the Promised Land.

Verse 1, These words that Moses spoke. Here Moses delivers a sermon containing strong words of rebuke against Israel. Deuteronomy is Moses’ last words before his death—a sort of last will and testament. Also in verse one, we find a list of place names that various Jewish sages take as code words for the main sins, which Israel had committed during its time in the wilderness. (See The ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash, p. 939, notes on verse 1.) These are the seven most egregious sins, which resulted in Israel being condemned to wander the wilderness for 40 years.

What spiritual lesson can we learn from verse one? We need to be reminded of our sins and challenged to grow and overcome them or else we will wander in a spiritual wilderness never entering into our spiritual inheritance. Let us not become like the Laodiceans of Revelation 3. We are told that they were rich and increased with goods, yet poor, blind, miserable, naked and lukewarm.

One of the main purposes of Torah community (the local congregation) is to provoke one another to good works (Heb 10:24–25).

We must be constantly overcoming and striving against sin. There is no place for complacency, apathy, lukewarmness or indifference. That is why many of us are searching out the Hebrew roots of our spiritual faith. This is in part due to the fact that the status quo in the Christian church has not been acceptable. We are called to be overcomers and more than conquerors through Yeshua. There is nothing in Scripture to justify simply being a “pew warmer.” (See John 16:33; 1 John 5:4; Rev 2:7, 11, 26; 3:5, 12.)

Moses Recounts the Seven Main Sins Israel Committed

In Deuteronomy 1:1, Moses lists seven place names. The meanings of the names and what happened there is significant since they give us clues to Israel’s spiritually stumblings in the wilderness en route to the Promised Land. We can learn some valuable lessons from the journeyings of ancient Israel, since we as modern redeemed Israelites will encounter some of the same difficulties in our spiritual walk en route to the Promised Land of YHVH’s eternal kingdom.

1— Wilderness of Sin (Sin means “thorns” and was located near Mount Sinai.)

Here Israel complained about lack of food (Exod 16:1–3). Food for the belly is a huge thing for humans, and raising, preserving and preparing food, or working to earn the money to purchases it consumes much time and effort. Food can become a thorn that snares us and takes us away from YHVH.

The Israelites Lacked Trust or Faith in YHVH

Their perspective was skewed by their carnality. If YHVH had wanted to kill them he could have easily done so at the Red Sea, but rather he miraculously preserved them there. How much more so now? They did not trust the consistency of the character of YHVH.

They encountered their first spiritual “pothole” in the wilderness road and their faith melted.

They accused Moses of planning to starve them. If often happens that a faithless and carnal people will turn the good intents of selfless and self-sacrificing leadership into evil and malicious intent against them.

They undervalued their deliverance and wished they had died in Egypt. Where would we be if YHVH had not delivered us from our past? Think about it! A praiseworthy and thankful heart-attitude will carry us safely through to the other side of many of life’s trials and adversities. Never take your eyes off of the goodness of YHVH and focus them on the complaints of the flesh.

2— The Plain or Arabah (Arabah means “desert plain, sterility, wilderness.”)

This was a steppe or narrow plain or valley near the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee extending to the Gulf of Aqaba and to the highlands of the east). Here Israel was seduced by Midianite women (Num 36:13). YHVH led the Israelites into the clean and sterile environment of the wilderness, which was devoid of worldly influences, in order to teach his people to hear his voice and to walk in his ways without the distractions of outside influences. It wasn’t long, however, before Israel began lusting after the carnal pleasures of the outside world. Soon they yielded to temptations of their lustful appetites and fell into fornicating with the world whose sinful ways they brought into the clean place of the wilderness, which represents the place of spiritual relationship with their Creator.

Spiritual and Physical Whoredoms

Israel was enticed by the lusts and appetites of the flesh. Up to this point, Israel had resisted many frontal military attacks and would have done so again had King Balak tried this means to overcome Israel. But the enemies of Israel attacked her (with help from Balaam, the false prophet) through subtlety and seduction. If the enemy can’t destroy us one way, he’ll try another! The lusts of the flesh can be a real snare, especially sexual enticements for men. Remember how Solomon’s many wives led him astray spiritually, how Delilah seduced and then betrayed Samson, or how Eve misled Adam and caused him to sin?

3— Opposite the Red Sea

Here Israel complains that they’re going to die. They manifest sarcasm and cynicism against Elohim in their statement against Moses when they said “… because there were no graves in Egypt….” (Exod 14:11). Often when we find ourselves between the proverbial “devil and the deep blue sea” instead of praying and seeking YHVH and then waiting on him, we start playing the blame game. We start pointing fingers and resort to attacking or accusing those around on whom we can pin the blame for our predicament.

Fear, Faithlessness, False Accusation and Discontentment

The straits of their physical circumstances propelled them into fear and accusation (i.e. faithlessness) against Elohim and Moses. The comforts of slavery, servitude and bondage in Egypt seemed good to them now, though a short time earlier while suffering in Egypt they had cried out to Elohim for deliverance from the very thing to which they now wanted to return. O the fickleness and vicissitudes of human nature! The grass is always greener on the other side; man is never content with his circumstances.

4— Between Paran (Paran means “beauty.”)

This is the incident where the twelve went in to spy out the Promised Land (Num 13–14). The Promised Land was a beautiful land and YHVH’s gift to Israel. Yet because of the fear and faithless unbelief of the ten evil spies, the Israelites turned what YHVH meant for their good into evil. Often we decry the circumstances in which we find ourselves, and instead of praising YHVH in all things and going forward in faith trusting him to work out the details, we give in to doubt, unbelief and accusation. 

Again, Walking By Sight and Not By Faith

Though Moses had charged the Israelites “to be of good courage,” they gave in to fear and doubt. Courage springs from strong faith, which Caleb and Joshua alone possessed. They distrusted Elohim’s power and promises. Unbelief overlooks the greatness, goodness and power of Elohim and focuses on the human plane. Fear, faithlessness and unbelief magnifies every danger and difficulty and fills the heart with discouragement and hopelessness. We must resist the temptation within ourselves to yield to these carnal tendencies when the going gets rough.

5— Tophel (Tophel means “calumny” and is a reference to the false charges or misrepresentation maliciously calculated to damage another’s reputation) and Laban (meaning “white,” a reference to the color of manna [Exod 16:14]).

Scripture does not record any geographical locations by these names where Israel camped. To answer this dilemma, the Jewish sages teach us that these names are references to Israel complaining twice about manna (Num 10:12; 21:5; 11:6). Again, the Israelites complain about food. Before they complained for lack of food. Now they complained because they didn’t like the food that YHVH miraculously was giving them. There’s never any pleasing an ungrateful and discontented heart of the carnal man. 

Lust, Ungratefulness and False Accusation

Manna, Elohim’s supernatural answer to one of Israel’s first complaints, itself becomes a source of complaint and contempt. There is no pleasing a lustful, carnal, faithless and ungrateful heart!

6— Hazeroth (Hazeroth means “enclosures.”)

This is a reference to Miriam’s and Korah’s rebellion (Num 12:1–16 and 16:1–50). The rebellious sin nature of man resists the restrictions of God-ordained authority, leadership and rules. To man’s squirrelly carnal nature, the enclosures of YHVH’s Torah are viewed as a hinderance rather than a protective fence.

Rebellion Against Elohim-Ordained Authority

Men don’t want to be told what to do by others. Yet Elohim places man under leaders not to hurt man, but to protect men from each other — from chaos and anarcy.

7— Di-zahab (Di-zahab means “gold.”)

YHVH blessed Israel with an abundance of gold when they left Egypt and they used his gracious gifts (their wages for servitude in Egypt) to make the golden calf.

Riches Can Lead to Idolatry

Elohim’s overabundant blessings can become a snare. We become “rich and increased with goods having need of nothing” including YHVH. This was the case with the Laodicean believers in Revelation 3

Conclusion

Moses reminded the Israelites of how, because of their shortcomings (sin, pride, rebellion, murmuring, faithlessness, idolatry fornication and greed), an 11-day journey from Sinai to Canaan resulted in a 40-year trek just on the outskirts of the Promised Land (Deut 1:2). That journey took Israel from Sinai to across the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

Israel went from Horeb (meaning “waste”; another name for Mount Sinai) to Kadesh Barnea (meaning “set-apart fruitful fields”)—a reference to the Promised Land. To enter their promised inheritance they had to cross the Jordan River, which is a spiritual metaphor for the river of life from YHVH’s throne containing his perfect, good and acceptable will. (See Rom 12:2.) Sin and disobedience keep us out of his perfect will and the anointed place of the fast, clear and deep current of YHVH’s spiritual river.

Deuteronomy 1:2, Eleven days. Horeb (Mount Sinai in the land of Midian or modern Saudi Arabia, (Gal 4:25) and not the purported, traditional Christian site in the Sinai Peninsula) was only an 11 days’ journey to the edge of the Promised Land (Kadesh Barnea), yet because of Israel’s bad conduct (disobedience to YHVH’s commands, lack of trust and faith in YHVH’s Word evidenced by complaining, murmuring and even outright rebellion) they were made to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. What is holding you back from going forward in your spiritual walk? What sin, what fear, what wrong beliefs or false religious concepts are you refusing to let go that are hindering you? If you are serious about serving YHVH, it is time to repent and go onward and upward in Yeshua!

Deuteronomy 1:5, Moses began to declare this law (KJV). This is a poor translation of the Hebrew. A better translation would be: “Moses began to explain this law [Torah]…” (NKJV), or “Moses undertook to expound this law [Torah] … “ (NAS), or “Moses began explaining the Torah …” (ASET). To whom was Moses explaining the Torah? (Read verse 39 and cp. with Deut 6:7). Moses was the dutiful parent faithfully teaching Torah to the younger generation about to enter the Promised Land. How are you preparing the young people in your life to enter into the Promised Land of YHVH’s eternal kingdom?

Deuteronomy 1:11, Add to you a thousand times yourselves. If the children of Israel numbered between several million (there were approximately 600,000 men of fighting age numbered among the Israelites), then when was this prophetic promise of YHVH ever fulfilled in Israel’s history? Where are the several billion Israelites (1000 times two to three million) today? (See Gen 26:4; 32:12; Exod 32:13 cp. Hos 7:8; 8:8; Eph 2:11–19.)

Deuteronomy 1:12–13, Choose…men. Choosing leaders to help govern Israel and to maintain the peace was of first priority because the people were prone to strife and complaining. Without a dispute and conflict resolution plan in place, the nation of Israel would have been one of total anarchy, strife and confusion.

Deuteronomy 1:13 and 15, Provide for yourselves distinguished men, who are wise, understanding, and well known…so I took…of your tribes distinguished men, who were wise and well known.Compare the two lists. What character trait is not listed in the second list? Why? The word understanding (biyn, Strong’s H995/TWOT 239) means “discerning, perceptive, discreet, intelligent, observant and prudent.” Why did Moses have such a difficult time finding understanding men to be leaders in Israel? Are people any different today? Only two men out of hundreds of thousands had understanding: Caleb and Joshua.

Deuteronomy 1:26–28, Moving forward in the face of obstacles. Many times in our spiritual walk we are just at the point of spiritual breakthrough, but we receive an evil report about some spiritual giants that is blocking our forward movement and our resolve to advance melts. It seems sometimes that if we could just see what the future holds for us that it would be much easier for us to go forward! Yet Yeshua said, Blessed are those who haven’t seen, yet still believe in YHVH’s promises (John 20:29). Do you have what it takes to go on without being deterred by the world, the flesh and the devil? How can one go forward in faith if one cannot see where one is going? It gets down to personal and intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father, through Yeshua. He directs us through his Spirit. Can you hear his voice with your spirit when he tells you, “This is the way, walk you in it,” (Isa 30:21)?

Deuteronomy 1:29, He will fight for you. How does Elohim fight for us? Let’s look at the example of the children of Israel. We can learn a lot from them (1 Cor 10:11). How many examples are there of the Israelites sitting down and doing nothing while YHVH fought for them? Few if any. What then does YHVH require? 

We must do our part, and he will do the rest. What is the part we are to do? That depends. Sometimes it depends on what we we’re capable of doing. Often he requires us to come to the end of our resources and abilities, and then he will step in and finish the fight on our behalf to the victorious end. We also have to fight only the battles he has told us to fight. 

Sometimes we choose to fight battles he has not instructed us to fight. This was the case with the Israelites who chose to go up and take the Promised Land when YHVH had told them not to do so. As a result of their disobedience, they were defeated (Deut 1:42–45). YHVH will not support his people in a battle he has not sanctioned. 

When YHVH tells us to go to battle, we must fight how he tells us to fight, who he tells us to fight, and when he tells us to fight. For example, if the Israelites had gone up against Jericho using conventional warfare tactics, they would have been defeated because that’s not how YHVH instructed them to defeat that city. The same is true of Gideon’s unconventional method of defeating the vast Midianite army with only three hundred soldiers armed with candles in clay jars and shofars. 

YHVH will only fight for us when we submit to his battle plans and fight the enemy his way. For example, the Israelites defeated the Amalakites when Moses stood on a hill with his arms outstretched in a cross-like formation. Likewise, they overcame Jericho by marching around it blowing shofars. Gideon used lamps and shofars to defeat the enemy. David used a slingshot and a pebble. Once the Israel defeated their enemy with the help of the ark of covenant, through prayer and praise. 

The biblical list of unconventional methods of YHVH’s people defeating their enemies is a long and inspiring one! What can we learn from all of this? For YHVH to fight for us, we must first do things his way so that he’ll fight for us. This means knowing when and who to fight and how to fight. Often we have to wait on YHVH for the answers to these questions even as a military officer has to wait for headquarters to give him his marching orders. Headquarters won’t back or support the soldier who takes matters into his own hands. Conversely, headquarters won’t tolerate a solider who refuses to obey orders. The same is true of YHVH.

Deuteronomy 1:36, Because he has wholly followed YHVH. What does this statement say about the heart of Caleb? If you check most Hebrew lexicons, you will find that the name Caleb (or Calev/cKF) means “dog.” But this is not the whole story. Hebrew is a very flexible language, and one word can have multiple definitions. The Hebrew word kal/KF and lev/cKliterally mean “all heart.” When you think of a dog, what comes to mind? Always happy to see its master, unconditional love, a faithful companion, guarding and protecting its family no matter the cost. How does Calev’s name fit his spiritual characteristics? What can we learn from Calev about what is pleasing to YHVH. (For more on Calev, read Num 13:30; 14:6, 24, 30; 32:12; Josh 14:6–14.) Be inspired by this mighty man of faith.

Deuteronomy 1:39, Little ones…knowledge of good and evil. The“little ones” were those under the age of 20 (see Num 14:29; 32:11). Certainly, children under the age of 20 should have by then, if they were raised properly, have a sense of the difference between good and evil. However, YHVH is extremely gracious. He gives children ample time choose to follow him. By age 20, children will have had enough time to learn the difference between good and evil, and have had enough experience to have made an informed and intelligent choice whether to follow the path of good or evil. Those who reject YHVH at this age can no longer plead ignorance of his ways or inexperience in coming to an understanding the consequences of their actions. If they choose to go against YHVH it’s because they have stiff-necks, and hard and rebellious hearts.

Deuteronomy 2

Deuteronomy chapters 2 to 3, Overcoming the Canaanites. YHVH instructed the Israelites to make war with and to destroy some of the Canaanites who were not relatives of Israel. The believer’s battle to enter into the Promised Land is a spiritual one (2 Cor 10:3–5 and Eph 6:10–18). Who and what are enemies with whom we must constantly do battle and by the power of the Spirit of Elohim utterly destroy their influence in our lives? (See 1 John 2:15–17; 1 Pet 5:8; Jas 5:7 to name a few.)

Deuteronomy 2:2–9, Edom. Edom (another name for Esau, brother of Jacob) and Moab and Ammon (sons of Lot) were blood relatives of the Israelites. Often those of our own family will stand in our way as we go in to possess our ­spiritual, Elohim-given inheritance and destiny. 

What is the lesson from this passage of scripture on how to deal with less-than-cooperative family members who don’t acknowledge Elohim much less his spiritual calling on your life? Are we to make war with them? Are we in any way to be beholden to or dependent on them for our physical needs? If we became dependent upon them could this help or hinder our chances of entering our own spiritual destiny or “Promised Land” that YHVH has for us? Does YHVH desire our families to be saved? (See Acts 16:31; 2 Pet 3:9.) How can we be a light to our families if we are fighting and attempting to destroy those who would spiritually stand in our way? These aren’t easy questions to answer. One thing is certain though. We must put serving and obeying YHVH Yeshua above allegiance to our families. Yeshua had some pretty hard words in this regard (see Matt 10:34–39).

This passage also teaches us to avoid conflicts with family members at all costs. No good can come from such confrontations. How does verse 5 start out? Now go on to read verse 6. YHVH instructed the Israelites to treat their cousins with respect and civility—almost in a business-like manner. Nowhere does Scripture tell us that we have to like our heathen family members. But neither are we to act offensively toward them. Like the Israelites when forced to encounter long lost relative, sometimes it is best to smile, be nice, but keep moving on! 

Another lesson to be learned from these verses is this: Choose your battles carefully. Avoid conflicts with others if possible. Go to battle only when YHVH tells you to. Only then will you come out victoriously, for then he will be fighting on your side and not against you. Latter in this chapter, we see that YHVH instructed the Israelites to engage certain nations and defeat them. When Israel obeyed him and fought only his battles, what was the outcome? (Read 2:24–3:11 cp. 3:22.)

Deuteronomy 2:5, I have given…to Esau. Even though Esau was a profane man who despised the things of YHVH, brought grief to his parents, and wanted to murder his brother, YHVH still showed mercy to him and his descendants by giving them an inheritance just outside the Promised Land. The speaks volumes about the grace of YHVH.

Deuteronomy 2:7, Lacked nothing. A major lesson the Israelites had to learn while trekking across the wilderness for forty years en route to the Promised Land was to trust YHVH for their physical provision (food, clothing and water). Similarly, today redeemed believers or “the Israel of Elohim’ (Gal 6:16) are on a similar journey (although a spiritual one) through the wilderness of life en route to the Promised Land of their spiritual inheritance, which is eternal life in YHVH’s everlasting kingdom in the New Jerusalem, which will be on the new earth. What are some similarities between the journey of the physical Israelites our our spiritual one?

For forty years, YHVH instructed the Israelites in the laws of cause and effect. When they loved, obeyed and trusted him, they automatically received the blessings of his physical provision. When they were rebellious and stiffnecked and refused to love and obey him they received curses and judgment and suffered great lack. The same principles work for us today except that YHVH has added a spiritual dimension to this paradigm. To the degree that we love, serve and obey YHVH-Yeshua and keep his commandments we not only will be blessed and provided for in this physical life as were the children of Israel, but we have the blessing, through faith in Messiah Yeshua, of obtaining eternal life and becoming literal sons of Elohim (John 1:11; Rom 8:14–15, 23; 9:4; 2 Cor 6:18; Gal 4:5–6; Eph 1:5; 1 John 3:1–2; Rev 2:13–16). 

The saint becoming a son (and daughter) of Elohim is something the apostles taught about a lot, but a concept the Western church hardly mentions. It’s time this truth be rediscovered and taught again, for this is the ultimate spiritual blessing that comes from serving and obeying YHVH. 

Lack leads to death. Provision leads to life—and for the saint, this ultimately means eternal life.

Deuteronomy 2:31, Begin to possess [the Promised Land]. 

Salvation Is a Journey, Not a One Time Event

Possession of the Promised Land was a process—a journey, at times a difficult one. This concept is as true for us as much as it was for the children of Israel. The idea in mainstream Christianity that when you receive salvation at the beginning of your spiritual walk and that’s all there is to possessing or entering the kingdom of Elohim is a seriously incomplete one. It doesn’t fit the biblical models or the teachings of Yeshua and the apostolic writers about the need for the believer to persevere and overcome to the end to receive his ultimate eternal inheritance.

When this verse states that Israel“began to possess [the Promised Land],” what does this mean? Why didn’t YHVH give the Promised Land to Israel all at once? What did Israel have to do to “possess” the land? What do we have to do to possess our spiritual inheritance? Does YHVH just hand it to us, or do we have to persevere, overcome and fight for it? 

Leaving Egypt is a picture of a believer’s initial salvation, while entering the Promised Land is a picture of a believer’s ultimate or complete salvation involving his glorification or the redemption of his physical body and being granted eternal inheritance at the resurrection. It’s also a picture of rewards for obedience. Between the time of leaving Egypt and entering the Promised Land, there was a 40 year-long journey, which is a picture of our time as physical humans on this earth with all of its ups and downs, trials, victories and so on.

Much more could be said on this subject as the apostolic writers show us. Suffice it so say, the idea that the mainstream church propagates that receiving salvation is a one time event like getting your ticket punched to a movie theatre, amusement park ride or at train station falls woefully short of the biblical truth about walking out a righteous and sanctified life. The failure to understand this has led many people to become discouraged, deceived and to fall away spiritually. 

Yes, the initial steps in the process of salvation are relatively easy, but then there’s repenting of sin, learning how to live a sanctified life, becoming obedient to the commands and lordship of Yeshua, overcoming one’s sin nature, and using one’s spiritual talents to help advance the kingdom of Elohim. All of these are aspects of the redeemed believer’s journey through the wilderness of life en route the Promised Land of our spiritual inheritance, and how we do during this spiritual trek will help to determine the levels of one’s eternal rewards (Matt 5:19). All of these things are precursors and steps in the process to actually receiving eternal life and a resurrected glorified body.

The children of Israel’s exodus from Egypt and their subsequent 40 years journey to the Promised Land is a picture of this salvation process and all the steps in between that we all must go through.

The idea that the saint can have it all here and now is not a biblical one, but an ear-tickling message promoted by hireling gospel peddlers and corporate church merchandizers who have something to sell you. Beware of these false and misguided teachers who refuse to tell you the whole truth as presented in the Bible! Caveat emptor! Let the buyer beware!

Deuteronomy 3

Deuteronomy 3:1–11, On the offensive against the enemy. YHVH gave victory to the Israelites over King Og and the 60 cities of his kingdom. When YHVH gives us a mandate to encounter the spiritual forces of this world and the devil, nothing will stand in our way. 

What are the weapons of our warfare? (See 2 Cor 10:3–5; Eph 6:10–18; 1 John 5:4; Luke 9:1; 10:19.) Israel fought with swords and spears to possess a physical kingdom. We are taking possession of a spiritual kingdom. Our spiritual warfare is just as intense as the physical one that Israel faced, but our weapons are spiritual. 

Have you experienced spiritual victories in your life? Are you engaging the enemy, or are you in retreat? Those who are not moving forward spiritually will not encounter the enemy. Are you moving forward, or are you complacent and lukewarm and not growing spiritually? 

At the very least, one should be overcoming the flesh with its lusts, temptations and inclinations to sin by walking in accordance with the commandments of Elohim, which is called walking in the Spirit (Gal 5:16–25). This is the greatest battle of all—to put on the mind of Messiah and to be conformed into his image (Rom 8:28–29; 12:2). 

The final question is this: Are you just playing at “religion” or are you seriously engaged in possessing the promised land of your spiritual inheritance which is eternal life in Elohim’s kingdom and overcoming those forces that would hinder you from doing so?

Deuteronomy 3:8, Hermon. Heb. chermôn “derives from its root charam mrx meaning “to seclude or ban, to devote, to (lay under a) curse, to destroy. “Charam is a religious word of great importance representing the devotion of some object to destruction or to sacred use, not for the gratification of any selfish purpose” (Strong’s Expanded Concordance). Charam refers to “the exclusion of an object from the use or abuse of man and its irrevocable surrender to God…the Arabic word harem meaning ‘the special quarters for Muslim wives’ derives from this word” (The TWOT). In light of the antediluvian angelic incursion into the human species that, according to the First Book of Enoch, occurred at that mountain resulting in the nephilim demigods of Genesis 6:4–6—a mountain that historically was known as “the gates of hell” and to which makes reference in an offensive warfare tone (Matt 16:18)—it is no wonder that Mount Hermon was so named.

Deuteronomy 3:22, Must fear them. Know Elohim, No Fear; No Elohim, Know Fear. The Scriptures reveal an interesting, and counter-intuitive spiritual principle that humans have a hard time wrapping their heads and hearts around. It is this: When we fear Elohim, we will not fear our enemies, and we will be blessed by Elohim. When we do not fear Elohim, we will fear and be tormented by our enemies and we will not be blessed by Elohim (Ps 34:9; Acts 9:31). 

What is it to fear Elohim? It is to walk in the wisdom of his commandments or his loving instructions in righteousness (Deut 10:12). Rebellious humans have a hard time doing this, since their sin nature is opposed to submitting to YHVH legal instructions (Jer 17:9; Rom 8:7). 

Once, however, one gets their sin nature under control with the help of Yeshua, and one begins to love and fear Elohim by keeping his commandments, suddenly the physical things they once feared no longer have any hold on their hearts and minds. 

Having defeated the greatest enemy of all—one’s sin nature—with Elohim’s help effectively empowers and emboldens the saint. He no longer fears what other people think about him because, in the long run, all that matters is what Elohim thinks. He no longer is concerned about his future physical needs and well-being because Elohim promises to take care of us when we trust and obey him. He no longer fears those who attack and persecute him, because he knows that with Elohim’s help, he can overcome any enemy. 

So now what is there left to fear? Death, which is the mother of all fears? No, for at the end of one’s life, the overcoming saint has the ultimate victory in his possession—victory over death, which is eternal life!

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HVH’s 2 Marriages—The Hidden Truth Behind the Gospel Message

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This video continues the discussion of the amazing parallels between YHVH’s “marriage” to Israel at Mount Sinai and Yeshua’s marriage to those saints who qualify to be his bride. These two marriages relate to each other in a most curious way and are ingeniously connected legally. This message will give you a fuller, broader and deeper understanding for of Yeshua had to die on the cross.There is so much more to the glorious gospel message than merely John 3:16! You will come away with a deeper love for your Lord and Savior, as well as a realization of your spiritual connectedness to your Israelite ancestors and your Torah roots as a grafted in Israelite and child of Abraham!

This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”

If this message has been a blessing to you, please consider showing your appreciation by making a donation to Hoshana Rabbah at https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=Y…. Thank you!