To fully understand Scripture and to extract its applicable meaning to us, we must insert ourselves into the scriptural narrative and ask, what can I learn from this and how does it apply to me? With such an inquiring mind and an open heart, the still small voice of the Spirit of Elohim will begin to whisper insights into our spirit and mind.
This is how the Word of Elohim comes alive to us and how we find spiritual direction—light in the darkness—to guide us in the path of life. With this in mind, let us now discover what we can learn from Exodus chapter 19 as the children of Israel prepared to meet YHVH Elohim on the day of Pentecost (or Shavuot—its Hebrew name).
Insights from Exodus 19
Exodus 19:3, Moses. The name Moses/Moshesh literally means “drawing out or rescued.” What was Moses drawn out of or rescued from? From the waters of the Nile River in Egypt. Water can be a biblical metaphor for humanity as in the seas of humanity, and Egypt a metaphor for Satan’s world. That is to say that Moses was drawn out of or rescued from the seas of humanity. YHVH then used Moses to rescue, draw forth or fish the children of Israel out of the same sea of Satan’s world.
Exodus 19:3, Moses went up. Even before Elohim called Moses, he was willing to go up. Elsewhere in the Psalms, we learn that if we incline our hearts toward YHVH, he will incline himself toward us. Yeshua promised that all those who ask, seek and knock will be rewarded accordingly.
Exodus 19:3, YHVH called.YHVH calls us to come up to him—to follow him. Will we answer or ignore his call?
Exodus 19:3, From the mountain. YHVH not only exists, but he exists above the earth on a proverbial mountain far above the human plane. Isaiah declared that YHVH is “high and lifted up.” He is calling us to come up to him. Will we go up to him, or do we love this world too much to answer his call to come up? Twice David the psalmist asks and then answers the question, who will ascend the hill or mountain of YHVH?
YHVH, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; he who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear YHVH; he who swears to his own hurt and does not change; he who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. (Ps 15:1–5)
Who may ascend into the hill of YHVH? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from YHVH, and righteousness from the Elohim of his salvation. (Ps 24:3–5)
Are you a spiritual mountain climber, or one who is content to be a spiritual low-lander preferring to inhabit the basement of life?
Exodus 19:4, Brought you [Israel] to myself. YHVH’s purpose for calling Israel out of Egypt was to bring them to himself. One cannot be of the world and at the same time be in Elohim. Yeshua said that his servants cannot serve two masters—Elohim and this world (or mammon). He also declared that though we are in this world, we are not to be of this world. Though we live in this world physically, we are not to be a part of, loyal to or identify with it spiritually.
Circumcision Was the Sign of the Abrahamic Covenant
Why did YHVH choose the curious ritual of physical circumcision as the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant and as an identifying mark of an Israelite? We will explore the spiritual ramifications and implications of this seemingly archaic ritual that many modernists decry as being barbaric. But aside from the antipathy that some people have toward circumcision, more importantly, how does the Creator view it? Maybe he knows something that we don’t. Moreover, the mores of man’s culture, no matter the time period past or present, seldom align with the heart and mind of YHVH Elohim because, not surprisingly, the ways of sinful humans are always, to one degree or another, incongruent with if not antithetical to those of man’s Creator as the Bible, the word of Elohim, chronicles from beginning to end.
While the Bible teaches that physical circumcision is not a salvation requirement (see Acts chapter 15 and Acts 10:44–48), it is, however, by no means a passé, irrelevant and out-of-date ritual. For example, in the future, this rite will be a requirement for people desiring to be priests in YHVH’s millennial temple (Ezek 44:7, 9). Why? Because circumcision, like baptism for the remission of sins, is an act of obedience that shows one’s willingness “to go all the way with YHVH”, to identify with the Abrahamic Covenant and the physical nation of Israel. If a man, for example, willingly subjects himself to being circumcised, this proves that he is serious about following the God of the Israelites and becoming a part of that nation. What’s more, for the children of Israel, circumcision was like a passport or national identity card in a sea of heathen nations; it was a visible symbol proving that you were a citizen of the nation of Israel and not a pagan Gentile. Therefore, it was requirement that all men who desired to take Passover to be circumcised, and those who did not keep the Passover were to be cut off from Israel (Exod 12:47–48).
Again, in the new covenant era, the Testimony of Yeshua (the New Testament) is clear that circumcision of the heart—a non-gender specific requirement for salvation—and not physical circumcision is what YHVH really cares about, but it still behoves one to study the spiritual symbolism of physical circumcision.
The following bullet points offer some insights as to the spiritual significance behind the interesting and ancient circumcision ritual.
YHVH told Abraham that physical circumcision was to be “a sign” (the Hebrew word oth pronounced owt) meaning “a literally and visible sign of or token” representing the blood covenant between Elohim and Abraham and his descendants (Gen 17:11). In a physical and practical sense, circumcision is a literal, physical sign that goes before or in front of a man anatomically.
Circumcision symbolizes purification of the heart from sinful unrighteousness by cutting away a piece of the flesh, the foreskin, which would otherwise be a carrier of filth and potential disease.
Circumcision is a seal of holiness and righteousness. How? The foreskin that is removed is round like a ring. A ring signifies a bond or union (like a wedding ring) and is worn constantly even as the circular sign that is left after a man is circumcised is worn constantly.
Circumcision occurs on a baby boy at eight days of age. Eight is the biblical number that symbolizes “new beginnings.” Both physical and heart circumcision signify the consecration of a person to YHVH, and the commencement of a covenantal relationship between that person and his Maker (Gen 17:12). The significance of covenant in the Bible as well as in the cultures of the ancient Near East cannot be over-estimated, for, like a treaty, it was a matter of life and death between the various parties, even as the Abrahamic Covenant is the basis of our salvation—a life and death proposition for both the saint the sinner (see Romans chapter four).
The rite of circumcision whether it is physical or of the heart is painful and humiliating. Heart circumcision involves repentance from sin and self denial—a painful process involving self-examination and the putting away of the filth and defilement of sin through repentance and then determining to walk in righteous obedience to YHVH Elohim (Gen 34:20–25 cp. Acts 2:37).
From the penis flows the seed of life. Circumcision is a sign that one’s seed or physical offspring should and could be righteous and consecrated to YHVH.
In Romans 4:11, Paul teaches us that circumcision is a sign, mark or token, and a seal (placed on a man) signifying ownership similar to an impression or stamp made by the signet ring of an ancient king or person of authority . Circumcision spoke of Abraham’s dedication to be righteousness and the faith that he had in YHVH who “owned” Abraham.
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. (Rom 4:11–12)
Circumcision of the Heart
Although the rite of circumcision was the physical and an outward sign on a man’s body to signify in a real way that he associated himself with the Abrahamic Covenant—the covenant of salvation (Romans chapter four), the greater, ultimate and higher sign of the covenant was a circumcised heart. To this day, many Jews circumcise their boy babies in a ceremony called a brit milah or simply a bris for short, but then many of these the boys grow up and live a totally secular life devoid of Elohim and largely ignore his Torah-laws. So in reality, for them, the ritual of circumcision means little or nothing. This is because their hearts have not been circumcised to love and obey YHVH.
Contrary to what many Christians believe, circumcision of the heart is not of New Testament origination, but originated with YHVH in the time of Moses. Physical circumcision pointed to, was the ultimate goal of or prefigured heart circumcision.
Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. (Deut 10:16)
And YHVH your Elohim will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (Deut 30:6)
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of Elohim. (Rom 2:25–29)
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (Rom 4:9–12)
Physical circumcision was to be an outward sign of an inward spiritual, heart reality, not the cause of it. If it were, then women would not be able to come into a faith-based and salvation relationship with YHVH because they have no foreskin. That’s why Paul writes,
Leviticus is one of the least read, most confusing books of the Bible for traditional Christians to understand, yet it is one of the most important books in the Bible. It lays the foundation for the gospel message, the cross of Yeshua/Jesus and reveals the pathway to Elohim in heaven. This book is full of life-changing gems, as this videos points out, and it shows the saint how to stay in the river of life and be blessed in his physical life.
Boy reading from a gevil parchment scroll. This one is written on goat skin.
A New Way of Life
Coming to an understanding of YHVH Elohim’s Torah-laws and then adopting a Torah-compliant lifestyle coupled with viewing the Bible through a Hebraic perspective and context has numerous positive benefits in one’s life. A pro-Torah approach to one’s life is more than just…
Changing which day you go to church on.
Changing your eating habits.
Celebrating different holidays.
And, if you’re really into it, growing a beard and wearing blue fringes or tassels.
Pursuing a Torah-centric lifestyle will not only change some aspects of your lifestyle, but will also change how you view the Bible, how you view Yeshua or Jesus, Elohim or God, yourself, the Jews, the land of Israel as well as your thinking about a lot of other things, and how you view yourself and your fellow Christians. It will also vastly deepen and broaden your understanding of the Bible in ways you could never imagine. Let’s briefly explore a few of these areas.
The Main Lifestyle Changes Include
Observing the seventh day Sabbath
Celebrating the biblical feasts
Adopting a biblically kosher diet
But as we are about to learn, this is only the beginning.
A New Perspective on the Bible
A pro-Torah and Hebraic view of the Bible opens up multiple new vistas in one’s understanding of the Bible. Here a few of them:
A more traditional Greco-Roman, Western, caricaturized view of Jesus gives way to a more accurate Hebraic or Jewish and Middle Eastern view of the real and authentic Yeshua.
One learns that Yeshua in his pre-incarnate state was the God of the Old Testament and the one who interacted with the patriarchs, Moses, the children of Israel and the prophets. As such, he is the One, as the Word of Elohim who would eventually became flesh, who gave the ancient Hebrews his Torah-law.
One learns that the thesis-antithesis paradigm of the Old Testament Torah-law or law of Moses model versus the New Testament grace model is a false and church-invented construct, and that the concepts of law and grace are not antithetical as the mainstream church teaches but are complimentary and indivisible issues, and are, in reality, two sides of the same coin.
One gains a deeper understanding of who and what the church is. The church was neither birthed nor spontaneously combusted on the day of Pentecost. Rather the church is a long term continuation of YHVH’s relationship with his people going back for thousands of years and continues to this day and involves all of the saints.
A new and greater holistic view of the Bible emerges versus only seeing the Scriptures in a seemingly disparate, disjointed and unrelated parts and pieces. The pieces of this vast puzzle finally begin to fall into place and a much more glorious and expansive picture than ever imagined emerges.
A Hebraic or Eastern view of the Bible replaces a limited and somewhat cartoon Greco-Roman and Western Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant view.
One begins to understand the Bible through Hebraic block logic rather than Greek step or syllogistic logic.
One gains a deeper understanding of the rules of biblical interpretation including understanding Scripture in its whole Bible, linguistic, historical and cultural context. One also learns about the four levels of understanding the Bible known as the PaRDeS method (i.e., the simple, hinted at, allegorical and mystical levels). One also gains an understanding of and an appreciation for the concept of exegesis over eisegesis when correctly interpreting or rightly dividing the Word of Elohim.
A better understanding of biblical history and future events including the Hebraic understanding of cycles emerges.
One gains a new understanding of Paul and the real issues facing the New Testament church. The controversial issue that Paul was dealing with was not the law versus grace and whether or not YHVH’s Torah-law was relevant to Christians. Rather, the issue was about a works-based salvation versus salvation by grace through faith. In Paul’s writings, the validity of the Torah-law was never the issue contrary to what mainstream Christianity has falsely taught over the millennia.
One gains a whole new perspective and understanding of Old Testament Bible prophecies as one learns who the ancient players were and who their modern descendants are and how that relates to end times Bible prophecy.
One learns who the two houses of Israel were and who their modern descendants are and how that relates to each of us regarding our future destiny as it relates to the establishment YHVH’s kingdom on earth.
A New Perspective About Yourself
As one embraces the Torah and the Hebrew roots of one’s faith…
A new and fuller perspective on the biblical definition of sin emerges. One learns that YHVH’s Torah-law defines sin, not church traditions and the rules of men. This is both liberating and sets one’s life on a more solid spiritual foundation based on the Truth of the Bible as opposed to the unbiblical traditions of men.
One gains a new and fuller perspective and understanding on who you are as a grafted-in Israelite. You are no longer a Gentile who is without God and without hope, but are part of the commonwealth, nation, citizenship and covenants of Israel. You are a redeemed Israelite and the literal offspring of Abraham and you are part of YHVH’s chosen people along with our Jewish brothers. This is an enormously empowering concept!
One obtains a new and fuller understanding of what holiness is and how to become holy. The Bible defines what people, things, practices or times are holy, not men.
Your physical diet improves. This is because one becomes a label reader and discovers that one has not only been eating biblical non-kosher foods, but a lot of unhealthy junk and chemical ingredients as well. By eliminating these toxic substances from one’s diet, one’s health will improve because one stops eating physical junk food.
One’s spiritual diet will improve. One becomes a spiritual label reader and begins to compare what the mainstream church is teaching or not teaching compared to what the Bible really says. As a result, one stops feeding from the toxic mixture of truth and lies that are emanating from the pulpit, which is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and one starts feeding from the whole Truth of the Bible, which is the tree of life. Thus, one’s spiritual health improves as one stops eating spiritual junk food.
One gains a deeper understanding of what it is to be the temple of the Holy Spirit and what it means to live a sanctified and holy life.
A New Perspective on Some Other Things
One gains…
A new love for the land of Israel.
A new love for the Jewish people.
A new love for YHVH’s lost and scattered sheep of the house of Israel.
An expanded and deeper understanding of the gospel message including Yeshua’s remarriage to his Israelite bride and why he had to die on the cross to pay the sin price for his adulterous wife.
A fuller understanding on what it is to be the bride of Yeshua and how to prepare for and qualify to be his glorious and immortalized bride.
An understanding of the heavenly and temporal rewards that one will receive as a result Torah obedience versus not obeying YHVH’s Torah.
My recent voyage to Antarctica was like a trip to another planet. It was a surreal, unearthly place that because of its pristine beauty and vast stretches of whiteness with the glaciated mountains and icebergs transports one to a different realm physically, emotionally, psychologically and even spiritually. Antarctica is almost a holy, even a godly place because it is largely untouched and untainted by sinful man. The message of this video was birthed in the Antarctic as a result of some transcendent thoughts that came to me while there concerning the higher walk to which Yeshua is calling us. May this message edify, bless and encourage the listener onward and upward!
Psalm 16:7,Reigns/heart/kidneys instruct me. Is this a reference to our “gut feelings” and our need to trust them? Night seasons is a Hebraism or biblical poetic of saying “difficult time of darkness, confusion, indecision, and uncertainty.” This may be one way the Set-Apart Spirit directs us is through our inner or deep conscience. In reference to the Set-Apart Spirit, Yeshua said that out of our bellies will flow living waters (John 7:37–38). The Hebrew word navi often translated as “prophet” can, according to some lexicologists (e.g., Gesenius), mean “to bubble up” in an almost ecstatic sense, presumably under the influence of the Spirit of Elohim. If this is the true meaning of the word, then perhaps there is some connections between the gut instructing one, living waters flowing from one’s belly, and the word of YHVH bubbling up prophetically out of one’s belly.
Psalm 16:8, I have set YHVH always before me. What is before my face? What are the most important things in my life? What gods or idols have I set up before me that have captivated my attention, demand my time, dictate the where I go and what I do ahead of Yehovha Elohim the one and only true God? If we will stop for a moment and listen to it, our heart or conscience will instruct or even convict us of where our true allegiances are, who or what is before us, and who the god of our life really is (v. 7).
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I YHVH search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jer 17:9–10)
Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord YHVH; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I YHVH will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord YHVH; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I YHVH will answer him by myself: And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am YHVH. (Ezek 14:3–8)
Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. (Ezek 20:16)
