Deuteronomy 7

Deuteronomy 7:12, Because you listen. This verse shows the conditional nature of the Mosaic or Sinaitic Covenant. Blessings from heaven are conditional upon obedience to YHVH’s Torah instructions in righteousness. YHVH has given each person the free choice to obey him or not. Regardless of whether a person chooses to obey or not the law of cause and effect will automatically come into play; that is, blessings will occur for obedience and curses for disobedience. The same is true with the New Covenant. If we place our faith in Yeshua the Messiah, who is the Living Torah, and love him by keeping his commandments (John 14:15, 21), then we will not only be blessed physically blessed here and now, but we will be blessed with eternal life in the future (Matt 5:19). Those who refuse to place their faith in Yeshua and obey his commandments will receive the fruit of their disobedience now, and will also perish in the lake of fire (Rev 20:11–15). The law of cause and effect still applies to both the Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant, and humans will reap the consequence of their actions based on the choices they make whether good or bad. The Bible from cover to cover reveals that this law is immutable and irrevocable. It’s that simple.

Deuteronomy 7:17–18, Dispossess them…not be afraid. Do we walk by faith or by sight (i.e., relying strictly on our human logic or intellect to figure things out instead having faith in the Word and Truth of Elohim to lead, guide and inform us)? Was it logical to think that Israel could dispossess a fortified land full of people mightier and greater in number than themselves? Fear and logic are often the enemies of faith in YHVH’s Word and promises. Without faith it is impossible to please YHVH (Heb 11:6), and the just shall walk by faith (Heb 10:38). What is faith? (See Heb 11:1.) Proverbs tells us, “Trust in YHVH with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths,” (Prov 3:5–6).

By faith the physical creation came into existence (Heb 11:3); therefore, faith preceded the physical creation and is the “mother” of it. From the “womb” of faith, if you will, came forth all that we see and know. That “womb” is the very heart, character and mind of YHVH Elohim. Faith is a powerful spiritual force! 

We live in a physical dimension—a time space capsule called planet Earth. The new heavens and new earth, and the Jerusalem from above which is coming and for which, in faith, we look, will be of a spiritual nature and dimension. Our physical lives on the earth are a classroom, training ground for a life in the spirit realm in the future. Those who plan on living forever in that dimension after their physical lives have ended are learning to walk by faith with hearts and minds focused on the kingdom of Elohim in the next (spiritual) dimension by trusting in the Word and promises of YHVH for all of their needs. Yeshua said that his followers, although in this world, they are not of this world (John 17:11, 15). The saints are merely strangers and pilgrims who are passing through this life in faith en route to a better place (Heb 11:13; 1 Pet 1:17; 2:11). So what lessons can we learn from the Israelites in this regard? What mistakes did they make that prevented most of them from inheriting the Promised Land—a biblical metaphor the kingdom of Elohim? (Check out Heb 3:7–4:10.)

Deuteronomy 7:18; 8:2, 11, Remember… forget not. An essential element of a strong faith in the promises of YHVH (e.g., ­prosperity, verse 13; fruitfulness of the womb, verse 14; healing, verse 15; victory over enemies, verse 16; etc.) is to remember YHVH’s past accomplishments in your life: how he has healed you, prospered you, answered your prayers, transformed your life, delivered you from your enemies and troubles, and given you meaning, hope and purpose to your life. In the last days, many people are becoming lukewarm in their faith, are turning away from Yeshua the Messiah (who is also YHVH of the Old Testament or Tanakh, see Acts 7:36–38; 1 Cor 10:4, 9; and compare John 14:15 with Deut 11:1 and Exod 20:6). Some people are not only becoming lukewarm in their faith, but are turning to idolatry, doubt and unbelief, secularism, materialism, hedonism, and false religions because they have forgotten what YHVH-Yeshua did for them. Have you forgotten? To forget is a slippery slope that can lead to spiritual oblivion. Take a moment to recall the wonderful things he has done for you. Write them down. Remember them. Thank and praise him for them. Humans tend to be forgetful. How many times does YHVH tell his people “to forget not” and “remember” certain things? Here are a few examples:

Beware that thou forget not YHVH thy Elohim, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day. (Deut 8:11)

Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst YHVH thy Elohim to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against YHVH. (Deut 9:7)

Bless YHVH, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (Prov 3:1)

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices Elohim is well pleased. (Heb 13:16)

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Exod 20:8)

And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of YHVH, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring. (Num 15:39)

And thou shalt remember all the way which YHVH thy Elohim led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. (Deut 8:2)

But thou shalt remember YHVH thy Elohim: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. (Deut 8:18)

And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and YHVH thy Elohim redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day. (Deut 15:15)

Rememberthe days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee. (Deut 32:7)

Remember the word which Moses the servant of YHVH commanded you, saying, YHVH your Elohim hath given you rest, and hath given you this land. (Josh 1:13)

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of YHVH our Elohim. (Ps 20:7)

I will remember the works of YHVH: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. (Ps 77:11)

To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. (Ps 103:18)

Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth. (Ps 105:5)

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. (Ps 143:5)

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. (Eccl 12:1)

Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. (Mal 4:4)

Remember Lot’s wife. (Luke 17:32)

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands. (Eph 2:11)

Remember that Yeshua the Messiah of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel. (2 Tim 2:8)

But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. (Jude 1:17, emphasis added on all)

Deuteronomy 7:20–24, YHVH will drive out. Do you really believe that YHVH is leading you into your own spiritual Promised Land? What is your mission, calling, destiny and purpose in life vis-à-vis helping to advance the kingdom of Elohim on this earth and beyond? As he promised to be with the Israelites and to go before them (Deut 7:20–24), so his promise commandments and faithfulness are for a thousand generations (Deut 7:9), which means they are for you! If you do not have a mission, goal or purpose (the Israelites’ goal and mission was to enter and to possess the Promised Land) then you may well wander aimlessly in the wilderness indefinitely.

Deuteronomy 7:22, Beasts of the field. This is a Hebraism for the godless, demonic inspired and led heathen nations who act more like animals rather than humans who were made in the image of Elohim. They are the enemies of YHVH, the worst of these beasts rule the nations, and YHVH is calling his people out of this spiritual Babylonian system.

Deuteronomy 7:25, Carved images of their gods. This shows the link between the two commands contained in the ten statements or commandments relating to idolatry (Exod 20:3–4). The prohibition against the worshipping of false gods and making graven or carved images is actually one command with two parts. Men tend to worship idolize what they can see or make, or they worship themselves.

Deuteronomy 8

Deuteronomy 8:2–3, 6ff, YHVH afflicted/humbled [or abase, chasten, deal hardly with] you. 

The Higher Purpose of Trials and Afflictions in Our Lives

Does the concept of YHVH afflicting his people bother you? Is it possible that he could afflict, chasten or humble us if and when we need it. The word afflict/anah literally means “to become low, depressed, put down or stoop.” (Note some other places where anah is used: Pss 55:19; 88:7; 90:15; 119:71, 75.) Scripture says that Israel exited Egypt with “a high hand/upraised arm” (Exod 14:8 and Num 33:3). The word high/upraised can connote haughtiness or arrogance, or it can mean that the children left Egypt triumphantly and in jubilation waving banners (The ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash, p. 369). Which was it? One or the other or both? Did they leave Egypt in a spirit of contrition or arrogance? If the latter, then perhaps, in YHVH’s eyes, they need some humbling. 

In many ways, it seems that we are not unlike the ancient Israelites! Do we need not need to be humbled from time to time? Down through the ages, YHVH has allowed his servants to suffer, but it was for their spiritual growth and benefit. What did Paul say about his thorn in the flesh? (See 2 Cor 12:7.) Why did Job experience what he did? (Read Job 42.) The process of humbling us, so that we might have a higher view of YHVH and a lower view of ourselves, is not a bad thing!When we become contrite and humble before YHVH and more dependent on him, the blessings, power, anointing and provision of YHVH are able to flow into our lives more readily without hindrances and blockages of sin and pride.

How has YHVH been trying to humble your flesh that he might bring you to a deeper level spiritually and into a more intimate relationship with him? The ArtScroll Chumash comments, “It is true that Elohim subjected the people to some hardships in the wilderness, but even that was for their good; just as a father may chastise his child to prepare him for the future” (p. 983 cp. Heb 12:3–11). Consider this issue in light of the sufferings of YHVH’s servants while they were faithfully awaiting their spiritual inheritance as we read about in Hebrews 11—the so-called biblical Faith Chapter. (Compare this with Jas 1:12–17 and 1 Cor 3:13.) Also consider the two types of judgments of YHVH as recorded in Scripture: his judgments unto repentance and his judgments unto death. What are some examples of each? If YHVH’s saints stay close to him spiritually, they won’t have to go through the latter type of judgment. (Examples include Noah and the flood; Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah; the Israelites in the plagues on Egypt; the saints and the tribulation, the great tribulation versus the wrath of Elohim periods at the end of the age [these are three separate time periods or events]; also see Heb 12:3–11). 

Why did YHVH have to afflict the children of Israel? This is because the Scriptures tell us that Israel left Egypt with “an high hand.”

And YHVH hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. (Eoxd 14:8)

And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. (Num 33:3)

“An high hand” in Hebrew is the word ruhm meaning “to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.” Human pride is anathema and an abomination to YHVH Elohim:

These six things doth YHVH hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood… (Prov 6:16–17)

On the other hand, we read elsewhere,

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, Elohim resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (Jas 4:6)

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. (Isa 66:2)

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Deuteronomy 8:2–3, Humbled you…tested you…allowed you to hunger. This verse reveals that YHVH tested, humbled and even allowed the children of Israel to suffer privation on their long trek through the wilderness. This has led some people to wonder what kind of a Being the Israelites were serving such that he would do this to his people. Was YHVH Elohim cruel or loving God?

This and other similar verses, if cherry picked out of the Bible, may lead some people to the conclusion that YHVH Elohim is a harsh, mean, cruel, punishing and angry Being—that he allows evil to come upon people for no good reason. After all, haven’t we all heard he question raised, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” This question implies that (a) people are good, and (b) that somehow the Creator had the power to stop the evil, but didn’t, thus suggesting that, in some way, he is the malevolent author of evil, and, therefore, why should we trust him? So is YHVH Elohim the Source, the Creator of evil?

Did Elohim Create Evil?

What or who is the source of evil on the earth? Is it God (YHVH Elohim), the devil or something else? This is a legitimate and honest question since so much evil exists all around us. If YHVH Elohim is the Creator of everything, then does this mean that he also created evil? If so, then how can this be, since the Bible reveals that YHVH is all good, loving, holy, righteous and sinless and perfect? If not, then who or what is the source of evil? It is important to understand the source and origin of evil, for the answer reflects either positively or negatively on the innate character of Elohim and the validity of the Bible, which promotes itself as the inspired Word of Elohim.

The answers to the question of who created evil seem like an unanswerable conundrums to many people. In attempt to resolve this issue, too many people have thrown up their hands in frustration only to become agnostics or even atheists. In reality, the answer is quite simple, and no one’s faith needs to be shaken much less obliterated as we will discover below. Frankly, to answer this seeming perplexing question, it is necessary to stop thinking like finite humans, start thinking outside the paradigmatic box of our physical earthly existence and understand the concept of evil from a biblical, heavenly and logical perspective. It is then that the answer as to the source and origin of evil neatly reveals itself as we are about to discover below. 

The belief that YHVH Elohim created evil is often based on a single passage in the Bible. In Isaiah 45:7 we read, 

“I [YHVH speaking] form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I, YHVH, do all these things.” (KJV, emphasis added)

Based on this verse, some people believe that all the evil that occurs in the world is YHVH’s fault. The stickler, however, is this: If he is the creator of evil, how can everything about him and all that he does also be good?  Because of the belief that YHVH created everything including evil, some people have refused to serve and obey YHVH and questioned or even rejected his Truth as found in the Bible. After all, they reason, how can we believe much less serve a God who claims to be good, yet who is also the creator and purveyor of evil? These are valid considerations that need addressing.

In addressing this issue, let’s first ask a simple question. What does the Bible mean when YHVH says, “I create evil,”? For a better understanding of this seeming enigmatic phrase in Isaiah, let us look at how some other English Bibles translate this same verse. As we are about to discover, there is not a unanimous consensus among Bible translators as to the exact meaning of the biblical Hebrew word for evil. We will soon see that the biblical definition of evil is perhaps broader than at first thought. This alone can change one’s perspective dramatically regarding one’s understanding of the concept of evil. Perhaps our perspective is limited resulting in our coming to wrong conclusions.

I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity [Heb. ra]; I, the LORD, do all these things.’ (NKJV, emphasis added)

I form the light and create the darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster [Heb. ra]; I the LORD, do all these things. (NIV, emphasis added)

I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity [Heb. ra], I am the LORD, who does all these things. (ESV, emphasis added)

I form light, I create darkness; I make well-being, I create woe [Heb. ra]; I, ADONAI, do all these things. (CJB, emphasis added)

Based on how other Bibles translate the Hebrew word for evil, this begs an important question. What is the biblical Hebrew word for evil and what is its definition in light of the fact that different Bibles translate the Hebrew word for evil so differently? The Hebrew word in question is ra or ra’ah/[r. It is the generic Hebrew word meaning “evil”, but, as we see below, it can mean much more than “evil” (as quoted from the Online Bible Deluxe Software Program): 

•  1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant
•  1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)
•  1c) evil, displeasing
•  1d) bad (of its kind – land, water, etc)
•  1e) bad (of value)
•  1f) worse than, worst (comparison)
•  1g) sad, unhappy
•  1h) evil (hurtful)
•  1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)
•  1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)
•  1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts
•  1j2) deeds, actions n m
• 2) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity
•  2a) evil, distress, adversity
•  2b) evil, injury, wrong
•  2c) evil (ethical) nf
• 3) evil, misery, distress, injury
•  3a) evil, misery, distress
•  3b) evil, injury, wrong
•  3c) evil (ethical)

As we can see, “evil”is only one of the many and varied definitions of the Hebrew word ra, which can also mean “distress, adversity, unhappiness and sadness” among other things. 

Now in light of the broader meaning of the word ra, let us ask a couple of questions and briefly explore the concept of evil. For example, can “bad” things happen to people that end up being good for the person in the end? Similarly, are there things that on the surface appear to be bad, injurious and hurtful, but in reality are for our own safety and protection? Absolutely yes to both questions. Perhaps you have never thought of bad or “evil” in this way, but it, nevertheless, is within the definition of biblical word for evil. Keep these points in mind as we proceed in our discussion and expand our understanding of the concept of bad and evil .

Let’s continue to broaden our understanding of the Hebrew word ra. According to The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, the primary definition of Hebrew word ra is “the lack of quality or inferior quality of something or someone and is thus unable to meet standards of value or function beneficially.” The word can connote “moral deficiencies” and is contrasted to the Hebrew word tov which is the generic word meaning “good”. The TWOT goes on to note that Elohim [as the Just Judge of the universe] acts with painful punishment against evil or ra against people who refuse to repent of their wicked, evil or sinful actions. If he failed to take such action against evil, then evil would take over the earth and universe. Do you think this is impossible or that this has never happened before? If so, go read what Scripture says about Satan and the angelic rebellion that occurred before the creation of humans (see Isa 14:12–17; Ezek 28). It happened once and it can happen again.

Let’s now explore another ramification concerning the concept of evil and its source and origin. Is YHVH the creator of evil in a direct sense, or is he merely the creator of the spiritual machinery that set up the laws of cause-and-effect such that evil consequences are the result of wrong choices that people make? That is, when people break YHVH’s laws, evil (in the sense of punishment) befalls them as a result of their actions and the resulting consequences that they bring on themselves. I believe that the answer to this question is yes. Even as blessings and goodness are reaped by those who follow his laws, so curses come upon those who disobey YHVH. You reap what you sow. One is the cause of either the evil or the blessings that comes upon them per the choices they make. As we go along in this study, we shall see that the Bible reveals that people bring evil upon themselves by their wrong choices. So yes,  YHVH created the laws and along with consequences, good or bad, that will fall on people based on their obedience or disobedience to his laws. In this sense, his Torah-laws that, in reality, or neutral. What humans do vis-à-vis these laws based on the choices they make and their subsequent actions will determine the consequences they will experience whether good or evil, blessings or curses, life or death, rewards or punishment, victory or calamity. This is akin, on the physical level to the law of gravity, which is in itself neutral. It is a blessing in that it keeps people from floating into outer space and to their ultimate death. However, at the same gravity becomes a curse if one jumps off a cliff or a tall building. Whether the law of gravity is a blessing or a curse is based on the choices that one makes.

The case could even be made that the consequences of one’s disobedience to YHVH’s laws are actually a blessing and not a curse. How is this? Let’s illustrate the point this way: When a parent disciplines their child for doing something morally wrong or harmful to their well-being, does this make the parent the purveyor of evil or the discipline itself evil? Actually, the consequences of the child’s wrong action is what is evil and the parent’s correction is actually an act of love to bring the wayward child back into a right path of blessing, so they will not further harm themselves. The same can be said for a court judge who pronounces a sentence upon a person for a crime that they committed. The judge is society’s agent to correct bad behavior for the betterment of everyone. Similarly, when we read in Isaiah 45:7 that YHVH created evil or more correctly woe and calamity, it could be said that the calamity that befalls a person for breaking his laws neither makes YHVH the creator nor the purveyor of evil. Rather, the calamity that a person reaps because of their wrong action is an act of love on the part of our Father in heaven to bring his wayward children back to him. If a wayward sinner chooses to ignore the Father’s loving disciplinary action and fails repent of their sin, they are then are wilfully cutting themselves off from YHVH and choosing to move into deeper spiritual darkness and away from the spiritual light. Eventually they will cut themselves off completely from YHVH and the evil darkness will consume them, for they have chosen to live in a place where YHVH chooses not to exist because he is pure light and perfect and will not dwell in which places. It impossible  to imagine that YHVH is the creator of this kind of evil that encompasses a totally reprobate and unrepentant sinner.

Moreover, and to expand on the idea of blessings and curses based on the choices that we make, when humans choose to obey YHVH, they will experience good or blessings because they are in right relationship with him by obeying his laws. However and conversely, when humans choose to go against YHVH’s laws or commandments, they will suffer the consequences. This is called sin, and when humans sin, they cut themselves off from the Creator, who is sinless and perfect. They choose to walk away from him, to walk away from the light of his Truth and to walk into spiritual darkness. When they walk into this spiritual vacuum that is devoid of light, Truth, goodness and love, darkness and evil rush in to fill the vacuum where YHVH does not exist. Again, does this make YHVH the Creator of evil? Not at all. Rather, people have chosen a spiritual path that leads to a place where YHVH, who is total goodness, does not and cannot exist. This is because YHVH Elohim is pure light, total love and goodness, is the quintessential definition of holiness and righteousness, which are the total opposite of evil. To say that YHVH is the Creator of evil is to imply that there is a component of his character that is evil. This pure blasphemy against a perfect and sinless Elohim!

Moses Maimon known as Maimonides or the Rambam, a medieval Jewish sage and Torah scholar, discusses this issue in his classic book, The Guide to the Perplexed. He starts from the premise that all that YHVH created was good or tov as stated several times in the creation account of Genesis chapter one. If all Scripture is true and cannot be broken, then Elohim is not the creator of evil or wickedness in that sense of the meaning of the Hebrew word ra. But as we have seen, this is not the only definition of this word.

To the western mindset, Rambam points out, darkness and evil are negative existence, but existence none the less, like two sides of the same coin. By contrast, to the Hebrew mind, evil is not even a part of the coin. Since no part of YHVH Elohim is evil, it is impossible for him to be the source or origin of evil, for Scripture declares in Genesis chapter one that all that he created was good. Yet at the same time, there are things that YHVH does that to the human mind appear to be “evil”. How is this possible if all that he created was good? And what  about those things that are truly evil that were not part of his creation? What is their source and origin? Obviously this evil exists outside of his creation. This, then begs more questions. What is the “evil” that is part of his creation, and what is the evil that is outside his creation? 

In reality, and as we have touched on above, there are two kinds of evil: ultimate evil which is the total negation of all good, light and truth, and “evil” or more correctly, calamity or woe, which is good in that it produces good results in the lives of people or even protects people. What do we mean by this? Let us briefly discuss each kind of evil.

 To the Hebrew way of thinking (and that was the mindset of the authors of Scripture) all that YHVH created is existence and all else is nonexistence. Therefore that which is non-positive is nonexistence and not a part of his creation, or is outside of his creation. In Genesis chapter one, we learn that Elohim created physical existence, and it was all good (that is, no part of it was evil). He created good and light (i.e., existence), and the time space continuum in which the earth and its cosmos exist as a type of bubble or spaceship in the midst of darkness and nonexistence. Humans as part of the physical creation live in that area Scripture calls good. Theoretically and spiritually, total darkness that is outside of or apart from YHVH Elohim is non-light and is evil. So, reasons Rambam, all evil is the absence of good; that is, all that is evil is the negation of good. For example, death is evil since it is the negation of life (which is good). Death in the ultimate or eternal sense is separation from Elohim and is, therefore, non-existence or darkness and evil. For example, Paul told the Greek philosophers on Mars Hill that in Elohim all humans live and move and have their being (Acts 17:28). Conversely, it could be reasoned that outside of Elohim there is no existence—no life or beingness. Rambam goes on to reason that ignorance is evil, for it is the negation of knowledge. This type of evil is ultimate evil which YHVH did not create and where he does not exist. 

Now let us discuss the second kind of “evil” which is not really evil at all in the ultimate sense, but is actually good in that end results of it are good. Again, think of a loving parent disciplining their wayward child. As already noted, a better term for this type of evil would be calamity or woe, which one brings on oneself due to their wrong choices and actions.

We experience the good kind of “evil” all around us every day. Physical pain is an example of this. For example, if our bodies failed to experience pain when we cut ourselves, we might inadvertently bleed to death. If we did not experience pain when eating something poisonous, we might succumb to that poison. If we failed to experience pain from a broken leg bone, we might continue to walk on that broken leg and end up becoming crippled for the rest of our lives instead of getting the bone set and letting it heal. A thousand other such examples could be given of things that appear to be bad or evil, but are actually good for us. As is obvious, this kind of “evil” is for our ultimate good.

On a moral or spiritual level, when we read in the Bible that YHVH “created evil” (Isa 45:7) or “afflicted” his people (Deut 8:3), or brought calamity upon them in one fashion or another because of their wayward actions (Pss 55:19; 88:7; 90:15; 119:71, 75), to the biblical Hebraic way of thinking this cannot be considered evil, since it was for the purpose of bettering or refining the people of YHVH, or to bring them to the higher level spiritually, or to bring them to (or reconcile them to) their loving Father in heaven. The classic biblical example of this is the suffering of Job. Scripture records that he was a blameless and upright man before Elohim (Job 1:1, 8), yet YHVH allowed him to suffer pain, loss, and extreme trials to bring him to a higher level of righteousness and into a deeper understanding of and walk with his Creator. Therefore, what Job experienced at YHYH’s hand cannot be considered evil, for the outcome was good. Paul experienced something similar with his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor 12:7). Many other examples from Scripture could be given of “evil” that was for one’s the ultimate betterment.

The writer of the Epistle of Hebrews provides another example of “evil” resulting in good. It is the parent disciplining their child example again. Quoting several pericopes from the Tanakh (e.g., Job 5:17; Prov 3:11–12), the author declares that as a father YHVH chastens his children whom he loves (Heb 12:5–11) for the purpose of bringing forth the good fruits of holiness and righteousness (verses 10–11). On the other hand, those who despise the chastening of their Heavenly Father (verse 5) end up separating themselves from him spiritually and this leads to eternal death, darkness and nothingness which is ultimate evil and non-existence. Is it YHVH’s fault that people choose this path? Is it his fault that people, by the choices they make and the actions they take, remove themselves from the protective umbrella of his good creation and place themselves outside of his creation where ultimate evil exists? No. YHVH is good and brings no evil upon people except as they choose to walk away from him and, as a result, they end up suffering the consequences or fruit of their own actions. The Epistle of James clear delineates this path that leads to evil. 

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by Elohim”; for Elohim cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. (Jas 1:13–16)

Moreover, YHVH hates wickedness, and Scripture declares that those who align themselves with evil become workers of iniquity (Ps 5:5). By their choices, they have placed themselves outside of YHVH’s presence and outside of that which is good. They are now the personification of evil.

Now YHVH is gracious to both the just and to the unjust. The earth which he created provides all humans with the necessities of physical life. He also gives each human the freedom to choose to obey or disobey him. If YHVH chooses to withdraw his hand of mercy and grace from an evildoer, so that they suffer the consequences of their actions is he therefore the agent or cause of evil? Not at all. Again Rambam reasons that YHVH Elohim cannot be the creator of evil. Elohim cannot be responsible for or connected to that which he did not directly cause, even though he may have set up the spiritual “mechanical” of reaping and sowing, cause and effect. Nevertheless, when a person chooses to commit evil (called sin), he brings upon himself the consequences of his own actions which is divine judgment against evil or sin. Furthermore, because Elohim, the Just Judge of the universe, may be temporarily staying or withholding judgment of heaven’s court against the evil actions of humans does not make him the agent or creator of evil. Eventually, the heavenly gavel will fall and judgment will be pronounced on unrepentant evil people for the evil they have done and they will permanently consigned to the evil of non-existence where YHVH is not. They have reaped the consequences of their actions, and a loving YHVH is simply cleaning house by ridding the place of evil, which in no way makes him evil.

Now, for the biggest question of all. Was YHVH Elohim evil when he “smote” (which means “slay”or “slaughter”) and “bruised” his Son, Yeshua (Isa 53:4 and 10)? Not according to the Scriptural definition of evil, since the result of Yeshua’s death on the cross paved the way for the reconciliation of man to YHVH Elohim, which is good or tov in the ultimate sense and is the opposite of all that is evil or ra!

A Thought Provoking Story to Illustrate the Point (from an unknown source)

Did God create everything that exists? Does evil exist? Did God create evil? The university professor challenged his students with this question. “Did God create everything that exists?” 

A student bravely replied, “Yes he did!”

“God created everything?” The professor asked. 

“Yes sir,” the student replied.

The professor answered, “If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.”

The student became quiet before such an answer. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth. 

Another student raised his hand and said, “May I ask you a question, professor?” 

“Of course,” replied the professor. The student stood up and asked, “Professor, does cold exist?” 

“What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?” The students snickered at the young man’s question. 

The young man replied, “In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-459 F) is the total absence of heat; all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat.”

The student continued, “Professor, does darkness exist?” The professor responded, “Of course it does.” The student replied, “Once again you are wrong, sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact, we can use Newton’s prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn’t this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present.” 

Finally the young man asked the professor, “Sir, does evil exist?” 

Now uncertain, the professor responded, “Of course, as I have already said. We see it everyday. It is in the daily examples of man’s inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil. 

To this the student replied, “Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God’s love present in his heart. It’s like the cold that comes when there is no heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light.” 

The professor sat down.

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Deuteronomy 8:3, 14, Humbled you…your heart is lifted up. Consider these thoughts concerning the dangers of pride:

The people of Israel are compared to a vine to teach us that just as a vine has large and small clusters of grapes, the larger ones hanging lower than the smaller ones, the greater a person is (the heavier his wisdom), the profounder his humility (A Torah Commentary For Our Time, p. 120–121, UHAC Press).

King Solomon teaches that pride causes a person to speak dishonestly. It forces a person to deviate from the truth and to make accusations that are unfounded. Elohim weeps over those who are filled with pride. (ibid. p. 121)

Deuteronomy 8:7–9, Bringing you into a good land. Do you really have the faith to go forward spiritually, even if the way is fraught with difficulties, and to trust in YHVH’s leading? Or are you content to stay in the comfort zones of your religious wilderness? Have you put limits or boundaries on where you will allow YHVH take you in your spiritual growth and development? Are there certain things in YHVH’s Word that you refuse to believe applies to you, even though you have been presented with truth to the contrary? Have you dug in your heels, hardened your heart and stiffened your neck telling YHVH you refuse to go where he is leading? It is this attitude that kept the older generation of Israelites out of the Promised Land (Deut 9:6–7; Heb 4:1–7). Let’s carefully examine our lives in this regard and ask the Spirit of YHVH to enlighten our understanding so that with his help we can overcome these sin strongholds that are hindering our forward and upward movement toward Elohim.

Deuteronomy 8:15–16, Do you good in the end.YHVH allows us to go through the wilderness of life with its trials along with his supernatural provision as a faith test and character refinement for our ultimate benefit. Why? To do us good in the end; that is, to prepare us for the Promised Land of his eternal kingdom.

Deuteronomy 8:20, Obedient unto the voice of YHVH.What does it mean to be obedient to the voice of YHVH? When this was written, people did not have Bibles. Nowadays most Christians believe that hearing the voice of YHVH refers strictly to reading and obeying YHVH’s written Word. This is true in part. But until the invention of the printing press in the 15th century, few people had the Word of Elohim in written form. So hearing YHVH must, logically, have a broader meaning. Do you hear his voice? How does he speak to you other than by his written Word, the Bible?

Deuteronomy 9

Deuteronomy 9:1–20, Moses recounts Israel’s idolatry and stiffneckedness…and extols the mercy of Elohim.The mercy and grace of Elohim toward his sinning people is clearly expressed in these verses. The corollary passage is Exodus 33:19 and 34:5–9. These verses offer one more proof that the NT concept of mercy and grace finds its roots in OT passages like these. The theological fantasy that the “God of the Old Testament” was an angry, autocratic, vengeful and merciless being could not be further from the Biblical truth, but is blasphemous on its face. This notion that has to one degree or another permeated mainstream, antinomian or anti-Torah church doctrine has its roots with the second century Gnostic heretic named Marcion of Sinope who, because of his wealth, was able to promulgate this evil belief far and wide across much of the Roman world. Yes, the Roman church denounced him as a heretic, but not because of his false view concerning the God the Old Testament—who in reality is the pre-incarnate Yeshua the Messiah— but because he denied the deity of Yeshua. Sadly, the ghost of Marcion’s false teachings still hauntingly permeate mainstream Christian theology to this day.

Deuteronomy 9:4–5, Do not think. The lesser of two evil. YHVH chose the lesser of two evils when he chose the Israelites. His choice was between the more sinful pagans and the less sinful Israelites. Let’s be real here. He made the same choice when he chose you and me! Yes, we can accept the fact that he chose the Israelites ultimately because he was bound to his covenant with Abraham, but let’s not forget one thing. After the golden calf incident, YHVH threatened to destroy all the Israelites and fulfill his promises to the patriarchs through Moses’ seed. So he could have circumvented the majority of the sinful Israelites and still fulfilled his promises to Abraham through Moses’ offspring. What is the bottom line or takeaway idea here? But for the grace of Elohim none of us stands a chance. When he extended a call to you and me to receive salvation, he made a choice between the lesser of two evils!

Now let’s kick this ball into a different arena.

When voting for elected political officials, we will never have the perfect candidate. It will always be a vote for the lesser of evils until King Yeshua returns to this earth and sets up his world-ruling government at which time voting won’t even be an option. At that time, his government will forcibly be imposed on humanity and enforced with a rod of iron! Until that time, when voting, I usually have to vote between the lesser of two evils. If YHVH sometimes has to make the choice between the lesser of two evils, who am I to say that I’m better than the Creator by refusing to vote, while waiting for the perfect godly candidate? Israel was not the perfect candidate, and neither am I, yet YHVH “voted” for me?

Deuteronomy 9:18–20, 25–29, I fell down. Moses fasted for 40 days (again) and prayed as an intercessor because of the sins of the children of Israel and Aaron. Because of Moses’ action, YHVH had mercy on the Israelites and didn’t destroy them. This is a prophetic picture of Yeshua interceding for us before Elohim in heaven as our Great High Priest.

Deuteronomy 10

Deuteronomy 10:11, Begin your journey. At the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land, the children of Israel had a divine encounter with Elohim. This experience that occurred at the start of their trek across the wilderness marked the beginning of a spiritual relationship with their Creator. To be sure, it was an intense, emotional experience where Elohim revealed himself to them, but as is the case with any relationship human or divine, this was a starting place for them, or a spiritual launch pad into a new way of life. This new relationship carried with it responsibilities and requirements. Paul declares, that what happened to the Israelites was for OUR learning and admonition (1 Cor 10:11; Rom 15:40). 

So what can we learn from this? Simply this. When we had our first encounter with Elohim at the beginning of our spiritual journey, this wasn’t just a one time event where we experienced an emotional high and had a brief period of spiritual enlightenment occurring and then we went from there unchanged. No! YHVH Elohim revealed himself to us so that our lives would be transformed, changed and so that we could enter into a special relationship with him. For example, when one gets married, life changes. There are new responsibilities and duties to maintain the marital relationship. One’s life doesn’t continue as before. It changes dramatically. The same was true for the Israelites after encountering the Creator of the universe at Mount Sinai, and the same thing occurs with us when we encounter Elohim at the beginning of our spiritual journey en route to the Promised Land of our spiritual inheritance. 

So what does our Creator require of us from the beginning of our spiritual journey through the wilderness of this life? The exact same thing he required of the children of Israel. Moses answers this question in the next two verses. Elohim’s standards of righteousness and obedience have never changed from then until now. 

Deuteronomy 10:4–5, Wrote on the tablets…put the tablets in the ark. If the two tablets are biblical symbols for the heart of man onto which YHVH Elohim writes his laws (see notes at Exod 34:1), then the ark of acacia wood which sites in the holy of holies (the earthly representation of Elohim’s throne room) into which the two tablets were deposited represents the human body and life which, ideally, should abide in the presence of Elohim guided by the Torah-Word of Elohim. Aaron’s rod that budded and the pot of manna, which the ark also contained, respectively represent the tree of life or tree-cross on which Yeshua gave his life as an atonement for our sin and Yeshua as the bread of life, which is a prophetic picture of the Word of Elohim that the saint must feed on in order to obtain eternal life.

Ten Commandments…down from the mountain. Moses received the Torah-instructions from out of the fiery presence of Elohim and brought them down from the mountain—a symbol of heaven. Elohim gave his Torah-law or instructions in righteousness to man to be deposited in the ark (a symbol of the human heart and mind). In light of these facts, it is unthinkable that Christian theologians came along many centuries latter and developed a philosophical system that, to one degree or another, relegated YHVH’s Torah-law—his instructions in righteousness—to past times and people, and subsequently declared to millions of Christians that the Torah was “done ways with,” “fulfilled,” “nailed to the cross” and was “against us,” and therefore is largely irrelevant and unnecessary to obey. The pride and hubris of such a belief is, frankly, astounding and clearly demonstrates to what degree the carnal mind of man will twist the Word of Elohim to devise his own religious system to fit his own will. 

This mainstream Christian belief system is totally in accordance with the lying words of the snake in the tree: “Has Elohim indeed said?” (Gen 3:1), and the rebellious deceitfulness and sinfulness of the unregenerate human heart (Jer 17:9; Rom 8:7).

Moreover, such a theological approach is akin to the occult social or spiritual philosophy developed in the early 1900s by the occultist and Satanist Aliester Crowley—dubbed at the time as “The wickedest man in the world” (1875-1947). Crowely dubbed his Torah-hating religious system Thelema where the mantra was, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.” Crowley taught that “adherents of Thelema should seek out and follow their true path, i.e. find or determine their True Will” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelema). 

How is the philosophy of Thelema any different than the one that the serpent seduced Adam and Eve at the tree of knowledge into believing when he questioned the Torah-Word and sovereign authority of the Creator of the universe? Now follow the bouncing ball. Christian theology that, to one degree or another, advocates the abrogation and irrelevance of YHVH’s Torah contains within it the same underlaying fundamental philosophical strains as the Satanic religious system that Crowley founded more than a century ago. In mainstream Christianity, “Do what thou wilt” means, in essence, that one has the freedom to pick and choose only those aspects Elohim’s Torah-law that one desires or wills to follow. Sadly, this belief system simply illustrates what two biblical authors wrote long ago about the inherent sinful and rebellious nature of man:

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jer 17:9)

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against Elohim; for it is not subject to the Torah-law of Elohim, nor indeed can be. (Rom 8:5–7)

Deuteronomy 10:8–9, Separated the tribe of Levi…their inheritance.The saints are now the kingdom of priests or royal priesthood of Elohim (1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6; 5:10) and the kingdom of Elohim is their inheritance, not this world.

Deuteronomy 10:12–13, What does YHVH your Elohim require of you? These two verses lay out the five fundamental things that YHVH requires of us. 

Fear YHVH your Elohim. The two levels or types of fear explained. There are two aspects or levels of fearing Elohim. The higher of the two is the sense of awe and reverence we should have for YHVH simply because of he is, the Sovereign King and Ruler of the universe as well as man’s Creator. Such fear or reverential awe is easy to imagine, but hard to walk out. This type of fear involves loving Elohim because of who he is; therefore, we want to obey him because it pleases him (not to mention that it will bring great blessings upon us).

The second fear, and the lesser of the two, is the fear of physical punishment because of disobedience to YHVH (The ArtScroll Kestenbaum Edition Tikkun, p. 433). When the higher fear fails to be a significant motivating dynamic in our lives, we are likely to experience the lower type of fear birthed out the so-called “school of hard knocks” or the consequences of our sinful actions. If this type of fear causes us to wake up from our spiritual stupor and we correct the error of our ways, then we can come back to the higher level of fear—obeying YHVH because we love and revere him. Sadly, it seems that few humans ever figure out these fundamental spiritual principles and, thus, they fail to make it to the higher level fear.

If we constantly walk in a loving reverence of Elohim, we will keep his commandment because we love him (John 14:15, 21), because he is Elohim and it is our duty to serve and obey him, and, lastly, because we do not want the consequences that disobedience brings to come upon us. 

How can we achieve the greater level of fear and maintain it as a constant force operating in our lives that helps to keep us on the straight and narrow path of righteousness, while at the same time walking in intimacy with the Father? This can only occur through a relationship with Yeshua and the work of his Set-Apart Spirit who has written YHVH’s Torah on our hearts.

Deuteronomy 10:16, Circumcise…the…heart. (q.v., Lev 26:41; Deut 30:6; Jer 4:4; Rom 2:29) Are you surprised to discover that the concept of circumcision of the heart did not originate in the New Testament with Paul? So just what does it mean to have a circumcised heart?

It is interesting to note that Moses discusses a circumcised heart after listing the requirements for serving and obey YHVH Elohim in verses 12–13 above. Why is this and what is the correlation between fearing YHVH, walking in his ways, loving him, keeping his commandments and having a circumcised heart? Simply this, without a circumcised heart, it is impossible to enter into a proper, loving and obedient relationship with Creator or Heavenly Father. It all starts with a transformation of the heart of man—literally a spiritual heart transplant!

What Does It Mean to Have a Circumcised Heart?

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,

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of Elohim. (1 Cor 7:19)

For in Yeshua the Messiah neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. (Gal 5:6)

For in Messiah Yeshua neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Gal 6:15)

The circumcision that the Creator cares about is much more than a physical surgical procedure; it is about a spiritual reality in the heart of an individual and the evidence of which is faith in Elohim and obedience to his commandments.

This is why Jeremiah contrasts and compares the uncircumcised Gentiles with the circumcised Israelites and says that the latter is no better than the former if the heart of the Israelite remains uncircumcised. The days are coming, declares YHVH through the prophet, that YHVH will separate between those who are circumcised in heart and those who are not whether they be physically circumcised or not. This is why, ultimately, YHVH cares little whether one is physically circumcised or not. It is the condition of the heart that matters, not the condition of the male appendage—a condition that only applies to half the human population anyway, while heart circumcision applies to the entirety of the human race!

Thus says YHVH: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, that I am YHVH, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says YHVH. “Behold, the days are coming,” says YHVH, “that I will punish all who are circumcised with the uncircumcised—Egypt, Judah, Edom, the people of Ammon, Moab, and all who are in the farthest corners, who dwell in the wilderness. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.” (Jer 9:23–26)

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from Elohim. (Rom 2:28–29)

Circumcision—both physical and heart circumcision is about a relationship with Elohim. It was an outward symbol and visible sign that one was in a covenantal relationship with the Almighty with all the privileges and benefits that come therefrom. Those who were uncircumcised were outside of the covenants, blessing and protection of YHVH Elohim. David had this in mind when he made the following statement regarding Goliath whom he was about to slay.

Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living Elohim?” (2 Sam 17:26)

Gentiles do not a covenant relationship with Elohim and therefore cannot be saved. One has to become an Israelite (through a relationship with Yeshua the Messiah) to become a part of the nation and covenants that YHVH made with Israel.

Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—that at that time you were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world. But now in Messiah Yeshua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah. (Eph 2:11–13)

Beautifully and miraculously, circumcision of the heart is a synergistic effort between a person and their Creator. A person first determines to and them makes the effort to get cleaned up spiritually including repenting of sin, then walking in the path and lifestyle of righteousness. At the same time, YHVH aids the person in the cleansing and subsequent transformation process with the help of his Holy Spirit and the washing of the water of his Written Word—the instruction manual for righteous living—as YHVH cleansingly transforms a person from the inside out. These are the two directional flows we see occurring in the Tabernacle of Moses. It is earth reaching upward to heaven as a person enters the tabernacle by way of the alter of the red heifer (a picture of the cross) in an unclean state and takes the required progressive spiritual transformational steps to come into the presence of Elohim as represented by the holy of holies (the inner most room of the tabernacle and a symbol of heaven). At the same time, YHVH Elohim is reaching down to man from his place in the holy of holies beckoning man to come up to him and simultaneously aiding him in the process. As heaven and earth meet in the tabernacle, the same occurs in the human heart as it is being slowly circumcised or cleansed spiritually. Man in his impure state reaches from the outside of the tabernacle inward toward the presence of Elohim, while contemporaneously Elohim reaches downward and outward from the inside (the holy of holies) toward uncircumcised man beckoning him to come upward in relationship with him. This is the progressive cleansing process the Bible calls sanctification.

Circumcise yourselves to YHVH, and take away the foreskins of your hearts, You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, lest My fury come forth like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, Because of the evil of your doings.” (Jer 4:4)

Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? (Ezek 18:31)

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Messiah, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of Elohim, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Col 2:9–15)

For we are the circumcision, who worship Elohim in the Spirit, rejoice in Messiah Yeshua, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Messiah. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Messiah and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Messiah, the righteousness which is from Elohim by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Phil 3:3–11)

Ultimately, a circumcised heart is another way of expressing one’s submission to the way of the cross which the ritual of baptism for the remission of sins—that is identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua—portrays in illustrative detail. (Col 2:9–15) It is about dying to self or mortifying one’s carnal passions and sinful tendencies and submitting to the path of righteousness that leads to YHVH Elohim as revealed and modelled by the life of Yeshua the Messiah.

If ye then be risen with Messiah, seek those things which are above, where Messiah sitteth on the right hand of Elohim. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with the Messiah in Elohim. When the Messiah, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of Elohim cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but the Messiah is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of Elohim, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as the Messiah forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of the Messiah dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks to Elohim and the Father by him. (Col 3:1–17)

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Elohim forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Yeshua the Messiah were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as the Messiah was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with the Messiah, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that the Messiah being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto Elohim. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto Elohim through Yeshua the Messiah our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto Elohim, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto Elohim. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Rom 6:1–14)

 For in the Messiah Yeshua neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Gal 6:15)

How to Become Circumcised in Heart

Circumcision of the heart is about a spiritual transformation that occurs deep within a person, so that they become aligned with YHVH Elohim through Yeshua the Messiah, while turning away from the sinful ways of the world, the flesh and the devil.

For in Messiah Yeshua neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Gal 6:15)

Circumcision of the heart involves having faith in Elohim.

For in Yeshua the Messiah neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. (Gal 5:6)

When one is circumcised in heart, the spiritual fruits will be evident. First one is convicted of sin unto repentance.

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yeshua the Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:37–38)

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of the Messiah. (Col 2:11)

After repentance of sin occurs, the process of circumcision of the heart begins to take place resulting in obedience to the commandments of Elohim.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of Elohim. (1 Cor 7:19)

When one begins to see the amazing work of spiritual transformation occurring in one’s life as they move away from sinfulness and carnality, joy and happiness will come resulting in praising and worshipping one’s Father in heaven without whom this process would be impossible.

For we are the circumcision, which worship Elohim in the spirit, and rejoice in Messiah Yeshua, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Phil 3:3)

Ultimately, heart circumcision is about victory through Yeshua the Messiah over the world, the flesh and devil and death itself resulting in eternal life. This is why circumcision of the heart is such a big deal to YHVH: He want children in his kingdom—his forever family!

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of the Messiah, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Col 2:11–15)

Deuteronomy 11

Deuteronomy 11:1, Love YHVH…and keep…his commandments. Let’s compare this verse with what Yeshua said in John 14:15 and 21. 

If ye love me, keep my commandments….He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

When we understand that Yeshua is “YHVH your Elohim” does that not give us a new perspective about not only who Yeshua was and is, but his teachings in the Gospels? Does this shed new light on the issue when Paul said to “follow me as I follow the Messiah” (1 Cor 11:1)? What did Paul mean by this? Contrary to what the mainstream Christian church has been teaching for the better part of 1,900 years, wasn’t Paul really advocating a pro-Torah position?

Deuteronomy 11:8, That you may be strong. Obeying YHVH by keeping his Torah-commandments keep us strong. Strong is the Hebrew word chazaq meaning “to be strong, grow strong, to prevail, to be firm, be caught fast, be secure, to grow stout, grow rigid, to restore to strength, give strength, sustain, encourage, make bold, encourage, to repair and to withstand.” If YHVH’s Torah can do this for a person, then why would one not passionately want to incorporate it into every aspect of one’s life? Obedience to YHVH’s commandments make a people strong morally and spiritually, so they have the fortitude to conquer the spiritual land that YHVH has given them for their inheritance, and to expand the kingdom of Elohim with boldness.

Deuteronomy 11:13, If you will hearken. Stale versus fresh manna. In Hebrew, this phrase literally reads, “If hearken, you will hearken….” Rashi (the Medieval Jewish Torah scholar) interprets the double usage of this verb to mean, “If [you] listen to the old, you will listen to the new” meaning that if one listens to what one has already learned by taking care to review and understand it, one will gain new insights or fresh insights into the Torah (The ArtScroll Sapirstein Edition Rashi—Devarim, p. 110; The ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash, p. 995). 

What does this teach us about studying YHVH’s Word consistently and regularly? YHVH gave the Israelites fresh (not stale) manna every day, even as he watered the land of Israel with the early (fall) and latter (spring) rains (a symbol for spiritual refreshment), so that the land would be fruitful without the need of man-made irrigation systems. Manna and rain both came from heaven and are used as figures of speech Hebraically to represent Torah-truth. 

Is your life being renewed regularly with fresh revelation and insights into the Word of YHVH, into his very heart and character? Does this not refresh, nourish and sustain the ground of your life, so that it yields an abundant spiritual crop of joy, shalom, intimacy with the Father along with his regular blessing and anointing on your life? Is your life a place of fresh manna and constant rain, or a place of stale bread and drought? If the latter, then what changes do you need to make in your life to reverse this situation?

Deuteronomy 11:14, Grain [wheat and oats]…wine…oil. (See also Gen 27:28; Ps 104:15.) These were the three most important agricultural crops in ancient Israel. These three foods represented what are known today as the three basic nutritive elements: proteins, carbohydrates and fats. The yield of these crops were easily stored for long periods in the hot, dry climate, and kings stored these foods in their forts and strongholds for possible siege (e.g., 2 Chron 11:11; 22:28; Golden Jerusalem, by Menashe Har-El, p. 11).

Deuteronomy 11:18–21, Teach them to your children. Homeschooling one’s children is a biblical mandate. This is a repeat of the second third of the shema, which is found in Deuteronomy 6:4–9. This is a reiteration of the biblical mandate for parents to give their children a Torah-based homeschooling education. This command takes precedence over that of any civil government’s laws requiring a parent to give their children a publicly sanctioned education. In fact, parents who are not active to one degree or another in educating their own children are being disobedient to this clear Torah command and are therefore sinning. Sadly, the majority of Christians in the mainstream church have egregiously missed the mark on this biblical command! Rather they have abdicated this responsibility thinking that the local church and the public educational system would do their job for them.

Deuteronomy 11:18–19, Lay up these words. Read and meditate on this passage. Look at the phrases: in your heart, in your soul, between your eyes, teach and speak. How are you walking out these commandments in your life? Are you doing so with consistency, or only here and there, now and again when you feel like it?