These dates on the calendar link below are based based on the visible crescent new moon abib barley calendar. If the first century biblical calendar is new to you, I invite you to read my three articles on this subject as well as my several articles on the biblical feasts at https://www.hoshanarabbah.org/teaching.html#feast.
May Yehovah bless you as you love Yeshua by keeping his commandments, so that you may qualify to be his end times saints.
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. (John 14:15, 21)
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of Elohim, and have the testimony of Yeshua the Messiah. (Rev 12:17, emphasis added)
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Yeshua. (Rev 14:12, emphasis added)
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Rev 22:14, emphasis added)
Perhaps you have heard the statement, “You are a spirit, and you have a soul that lives in a body.” Is this true, and if so, then what does it mean? Moreover, Paul the apostle in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 makes an interesting statement about the human makeup that appears to be more pagan Greek than biblical Hebraic in nature.
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV, emphasis added)
What is your spirit? How is it different from your soul and your body? Sadly, there is much confusion in mainstream Christianity as to the difference between the soul and the spirit, the latter of which is not the same as the Holy or Set-Apart Spirit of Elohim which is part of the godhead. In fact, quite often, the terms soul and spirit are used interchangeably as if they were the same entity. As we shall see, the Bible does not present such a muddy view as to the nature of the spirit that is in each person. In fact, it has a lot to say about this subject.
Stay tuned. You are about to learn some things about yourself that you probably never knew!
In the quoted Bible verse above, each of the words body, soul and spirit are separated by the conjunction and. This same grammatical construction exists in the biblical Greek as well: “spirit and [Gr. kai] soul and [Gr. kai] body.” This shows Paul’s deliberateness at showing the separateness of these three components of a person’s makeup. In Paul’s mind, the soul and spirit of man were two separate entities. While the ancient Greek philosophers had a clear understanding of this, the Hebraic Bible writers seemed to have often conflated the idea of a person’s soul and spirit; that is to say, they didn’t clearly distinguish between the two. This doesn’t, however, mean that they didn’t understand the uniqueness of man’s spirit, as opposed to his soul, as we will soon see. What are we to make of this?
Thus, according to Paul, man is a tripartite being composed of a body, a soul and a spirit. In biblical Hebraic thought as presented in the Tanakh (Old Testament), the soul and spirit are virtually indistinguishable and the Hebrew words nephesh (soul) and ruach (spirit) are often used interchangeably. Paul, however, in his letter to the saints at Thessalonica, puts a finer point on the differences between the soul (or the mind, will and emotions of a person, or their unique personality) and their spirit by making a clear delineation between them. Moreover, as we shall learn, the spirit of man (or that divine spark in each person that) which each person receives most likely at conception (Zech 12:1), is subsequently and supernaturally energized by the Spirit of Elohim, when a person comes to faith in Yeshua the Messiah. It is one’s (personal) spirit that connects a person to Elohim, who is a Spirit (John 4:23–24; 1 Cor 2:10–14). Additionally, the separateness of man’s soul and spirit is specifically referred to in Hebrew 4:12 where we read,
For the word of Elohim is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The fact that Paul mentions the spirit first in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 seems to suggest that YHVH created the spirit of man first, then his soul, and then placed both of them in a physical body.
Bible Scriptures That Speak of the Personal Spirit of Man
While the writers in the Tanakh may have made only an ostensible delineation between the soul and spirit of man, unlike the Greek philosophers or Paul and the writer of Hebrews did, there are several biblical passages in the Tanakh that clearly show that the ancient Hebrews understood that the spirit of man was different than his soul or mind, will and emotions. In fact, Job, the author of perhaps the oldest book in the Bible, as well as Moses, the one who codified the Torah in written form, and Solomon all understood this fact long before the Greek philosophers. Against this biblical contextual backdrop, and from the following Bible verses, we can see that Paul’s statement in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 no longer seems incongruent with the earlier Scriptures. Note the following:
The burden of the word of YHVH concerning Israel: Thus declares YHVH, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him. (Zech 12:1)
But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. (Job 32:8)
The spirit of man is the lamp of YHVH, searching all his innermost parts. (Prov 20:27)
And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to Elohim who gave it. (Eccl 12:7)
And they fell on their faces and said, “O Elohim, the Elohim of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” (Num 16:22)
The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of Elohim… (Rom 8:16)
But he who is joined to YHVH becomes one spirit with him. (1 Cor 6:17)
Elohim is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)
Now may the Elohim of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. (1 Thess 5:23)
For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of Elohim except the Spirit of Elohim. (1 Cor 2:11)
For the word of Elohim is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb 4:12)
And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. (1 Cor 14:32)
Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? (Heb 12:9)
They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Yeshua, receive my spirit!” (Acts 7:59)
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. (2 Cor 4:6)
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (Jas 2:26)
YHVH be with your spirit. (2 Tim 4:22)
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to Elohim the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect. (Heb 12:23)
A Person’s Spirit Is Supercharged at the Time of the Their Spiritual Regeneration
Even though every human is born with a personal spirit that acts as a sort of spiritual compass to guide him in a basic understanding of what is right and wrong, (Rom 2:14–16), the Bible reveals that one’s spirit is activated in a major spiritual way only when they receive the Spirit of Elohim at the time of their initial salvation.
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:17)
But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. (Job 32:8)
The spirit of man is the candle of YHVH, searching all the inward parts of the belly. (Prov 20:27)
When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness. (Job 29:3)
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of Elohim. (Rom 8:16)
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. (Eph 3:16)
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.…But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:20, 27)
Hereby know ye the Spirit of Elohim: Every spirit that confesseth that Yeshua the Messiah is come in the flesh is of Elohim: And every spirit that confesseth not that Yeshua the Messiah is come in the flesh is not of Elohim: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:2–3)
But Elohim hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of Elohim. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of Elohim knoweth no man, but the Spirit of Elohim. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of Elohim; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of Elohim. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of Elohim: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Cor 2:10–14)
The Defilement and Purification of One’s Personal Spirit
In two passages in the Testimony of Yeshua, Paul discusses how one’s inner man or personal spirit must be renewed spiritually.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (2 Cor 4:16)
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind… (Eph 4:23)
What in us has to be renewed regularly or (literally renovated)? It is true that each of us was born in sin or was born sinful (Ps 51:5), and that our soul (i.e., our mind, will and emotions) is the part of us that actually sins (Ezek 18:4). So what has to be renewed or renovated if our soul was sinful from the beginning of our life?
Evidently YHVH created something sin-free in us that became defiled along the way and needs to be renewed. If it is not our soul, than what is it ? It must be our personal spirit, which is the candle of YHVH (Prov 20:27). Renewed in what? In the knowledge of Elohim due to its being tainted by the soul of man, which has been influenced and corrupted by the world, the flesh and the devil, and which needs to be made perfect, completed, finished or brought to the end goal of perfection.
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living Elohim, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to Elohim the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect [Gr. made complete], to Yeshua the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. (Heb 12:22–24, emphasis added)
The tainting of man’s personal spirit is indicated in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, where we read,
Now may the Elohim of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. (emphasis added)
Man’s spirit must be “preserved blameless.” Preserved is the Greek word tereo meaning “to guard, to keep, one in the state in which he is, to observe, to reserve or to undergo something.” This means that one’s personal spirit can be tainted, defiled or dirtied. Moreover, Job 7:11 not only differentiates between the spirit and the soul, butspeaks about the “anguish [or distress, narrowness, tightness] of my spirit” and “the bitterness of my soul.”
Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
Obviously, man’s personal spirit can be distressed, wounded, hurt, oppressed or constrained by the negative influences and the trials of life. Here Job tells us that we can have negative emotions in both our soul and our spirit. It is highly likely that anguish in our spirit could degenerate into bitterness in the soul. This suggests that both our soul and our spirit need cleansing, healing and forgiveness. The fact that man’s spirit can be adversely affected or negatively influenced, or even defiled by one’s sinful soul is further corroborated in 2 Cor 6:18–7:1,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the YHVH Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse [Gr. katharizo] ourselves from all filthiness [or defilement] of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim. (emphasis added)
It is for these reasons that the spirit of man needs to be “renewed” (Col 3:10), “made perfect” (Heb 12:23), and “preserved blameless” (1 Thess 5:23).
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him… (Col 3:9–10)
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect… (Heb 12:23)
Now may the Elohim of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. (1 These 5:23)
Are the Human Conscience and the Personal Spirit Interconnected?
Perhaps you have heard the expression, “Let your conscience by your guide.” The implication is that deep inside of each person is an innate sense of what is morally right or wrong. Is there a connection between one’s conscience and one’s spirit and if so what is their relationship? Scripture has a few things to say about the conscience. It not only differentiates between the conscience and the mind, but also reveals that YHVH’s basic moral laws are written on the human conscience, which then informs the mind.
To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. (Tit 1:15)
Mind is the Greek word noos meaning “the intellect, that is, mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will.” On the other hand, conscience is the Greek word suneidesis meaning “co-perception, that is, moral consciousness.” Evidently, the conscience is its own separate entity within a person’s makeup. Is it the same as one’s personal spirit, or at the least, interconnected with it?
Restoration of Truth Series: The State of the Dead
by Nathan Lawrence Hoshana Rabbah Biblical Resources at www.HoshanaRabbah.org
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Yeshua the Messiah, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which Elohim has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:19–21, emphasis added)
It has been the common belief among nearly all Christians universally for nineteen hundred years that upon physical death a person’s soul immediately separates from their body and lives immortally either in heaven or in hellfire. In this brief study we will show incontrovertible proof that this cornerstone of Christian orthodoxy needs to be reexamined, and that the idea of the soul being immortal is of non-biblical (even Satanic) origination. Admittedly, this is not a salvational issue, but this belief is detrimental to one’s biblical understanding, since it leads to a skewed view of several other key biblical truths. This belief also hinders the advancement of YHVH’s kingdom as we will also demonstrate below. If you are a bold truth seeker, and not timid about questioning sacred cow beliefs then read on.
Does Man Possess an Immortal Soul?
This question of the immortality of the human soul should not be passed over quickly. Why? Because nearly all of the world’s false, non-biblical religions believe that each person possesses an immortal soul that lives on after death. To the questioning mind, shouldn’t the universality of this idea be suspect? Therefore, shouldn’t it behoove the assiduous truth-seeker to know the origination of this belief? Is it biblical or from some other source? These are excellent questions that we will answer below. The answers affects everyone!
The Source Is Not Elohim!
The first place in the Bible that the immortality of the soul concept is mentioned is in Genesis chapter three—literally at the beginning of man’s existence on earth, and the source of this idea was not YHVH Elohim, the Creator of man. Rather it was from the spiritual entity Yeshua the Messiah labeled as “the father of all lies” (John 8:44), Satan the devil, the serpent (Rev 12:9).
We pick up the story of how the immortal soul idea come into man’s initial awareness way back in the Garden of Eden at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, where the serpent (i.e., Satan the devil; Rev 12:9), in enticing the woman to eat from the forbidden tree, told her that “you shall not surely die” even though YHVH had told Adam and Eve that they would die if they ate of it (Gen 2:8–9; 3:1–6). Was the serpent the originator of the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, According to the Bible, the answer is yes! As we shall now discover, this concept was not even an aspect of Old Testament theology.
An Analysis of the Hebrew Word Nephesh
Upon a careful analysis of all the Bible scriptures on this subject from both the Tanakh (i.e., Old Testament or OT) and Testimony of Yeshua (i.e., New Testament or NT), a truth becomes clear. Man possesses a soul, but nowhere does Scripture state that his soul is immortal. An understanding of how Scripture uses the Hebrew word nephesh (in the OT) and the Greek word psuche (in the nT)—both translated as “soul” in our Bibles—reveals that notion that the soul of man is immortal is to overlay the Word of Elohim with a concept that is foreign to biblical truth. This is because neither the OT nor the NT indicate that the soul is immortal, but rather that it is simply that part of a human that defines who one is. That is, it is merely one’s personality, character, emotional make-up, mental capabilities and the volitional or will part of a person.
Let’s now examine the actual meanings of the words nephesh and psuche. According to The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (volume 9, p. 617ff), Scripture equated nephesh with the breath of man, the blood of man and the person of man. In the latter, it is used as a term for the total nature of man, for what he is, not just what he has. The same cannot be said of the spirit, heart or flesh part of man. The classical text in Genesis 2:7 clearly expresses this truth when it calls man in his totality a nephesh hai-yah or “a living being” (NKJV) or “a living soul” (KJV). The nephesh has no existence apart from the body. Hence the best translation in many instances is “person”comprised in corporeal (relating to the physical body, as opposed to one’s spirit) reality. Nephsesh can denote what is most individual in human nature, namely, the ego (ibid. p. 620).
Nephesh as used in the OT can also be an expression of the will. The nepheshis manifest in orientation to an object, whether this be the elemental realities of hunger and thirst on the one side (Deut 12:15,20; 1 Sam 2:16, etc.) or the lofty aspiration of yearning for Elohim on the other (Ps 103:1). Nephesh can refer to the sex drive (Gen 34:3; Jer 2:24), to hatred (Ps 27:12), to pain and sorrow (1 Sam 1:10; 30:6), to the will (Gen 23:8), and the supreme striving of man for Elohim (Isa 26:9; Ps 63:1; 84:2, etc.) (ibid., pp. 621–622).
Based on these definitions of the word nephesh as used in the OT, we see that the Bible refers to the soul of man as the mind, the will and emotions. It refers to who one is as a person or one’s personality. It is in this Hebraic sense that the writers of the NT would be using the term soul (e.g., 1 Thess 5:23). There is no reason to assume that the apostolic writers referred to man’s soul in anything other than Hebraic terms to the exclusion of any Hellenistic (pagan Greek) concepts of the immortal soul.
Further Study of the Hebrew word Nephesh/Soul from Various Lexicons
The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament is not the only expert lexical source that reveals the meaning of the word soul as used in the Scriptures and debunks the notion that it is immortal. The following is a list of several other notable lexicons that contain similar information.
With the recent COVID pandemic and the advent of the so-called “COVID Passport” that was required in some regions and nations, and now with the imminent emergence of the central bank digital currency (CBDC) possibly connected to one’s social credit score and implemented via digital biometric data with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) and super computers, it appears that the mark of the beast system, as predicted in the Bible (Revelation 13:16–17), is right around the corner. No one knows whether we have one year, five years or 50 years until this occurs, but make no mistake, Bible prophecy will be fulfilled or else the YHVH Elohim, the Creator of the Universe, is a liar!
Those who refuse to take the mark will be excluded from the global monetary system. In brief, they will not be able to function or survive within modern society. Where will they go? How will they survive if they cannot buy or sell? Pay their rent or mortgage, hold a job, have a bank account, pay for gas, food, clothes, be able to travel and buy insurance, pay their taxes, buy or sell anything at all? It is time to start asking oneself these questions, and then preparing ourselves for the inevitable.
Don’t forget what the Bible says: those who take the mark cannot be saved—they will permanently cut themselves off from Elohim and will be thrown into the lake of fire at the last judgment.
To be sure, the end times will be an adventure for everyone and period of great testing and faith building for the saints of Elohim. It will also be a time to spread the gospel message resulting in much revival according to the Book of Revelation. Now is the time to prepare physically and, most importantly, spiritually.
Nathan discusses these things and more in this video.
The subject of generational curses can be a controversial topic—especially among those who refuse to believe that they may be the unwitting victim of such a thing. Moreover, many Christians deny the existence of generational curses because, after all, when you come to Christ, isn’t every sin from here on out forgiven, and all curse automatically nullified? Doesn’t every decision for Jesus card come with an exclusive insurance policy guaranteeing protection from all dark forces as well as the consequences of the sins of one’s ancestors? And from now on, it’s peace on earth and good will toward men, because Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life, so what could go wrong? Until the rapture bus takes us to heaven, it’s a bed of roses. The problem is that even roses have thorns!
If generational curses is a moot point, does this mean that the saint can carelessly turn a blind eye to invisible forces behind the scenes, to the laws of cause and effect, or to the principle of reaping what you sow? How about to ripple effects on the opposite shore of the proverbial stone that has been dropped into the pond?
Perhaps it would be wise to carefully examine what the Bible says about blessings and curses as well as the consequences of sin and how it affects a person’s life—and even those of his descendants.
As we are about to discover from Scripture and from life examples, there is such a thing as generational curses, generational blessings, as well, the consequences of both one’s sins and righteous living upon our children. The Bible speaks to each of these separate but similar, often interrelated and sometimes conflated concepts. One thing is certain. Generational sin often results in generational consequences which may lead to generational curses. Below we will discuss how each of these affect our spiritual growth or the lack thereof, and what can the disciple of Yeshua can do to both break the curse as well as mitigate the consequences.
The Fall of Man and the Curses and Consequences of Being Cut Off From the Creator
Every human is under the general generational curse of original sin brought on the world by Adam and Eve. That curse is the result of being cut off from an intimate relationship with Elohim, man’s Heavenly Father, and as, a result, coming under the negative influences of a fallen sin nature as well as the world and the devil (which are both cut of from a relationship with Elohim), and then suffering the wages or consequences of one’s sin which is death.
The cleavage in the relationship between the first humans and their Creator occurred when these rebellious children chose to eat of the forbidden fruit resulting in man’s first sin. Now cut off from their Heavenly Father, Adam and Eve bequeathed to their future offspring the generational curse of a “fallen” sin nature and innate tendency to acquiesce to the sinful pulls of the world, the flesh and the devil. This is the nascence of man’s struggle against sin to this day.
The consequences and curses of all sin that is unrepented of whether it be ours or that of our forefathers can negatively affect us. We can repent of our own sin, and that of our forefathers (as Daniel and Nehemiah did), and pray that YHVH will forgive us and our forebears, and then lift the curses of that sin off of us. But curses and consequences may be different. Daniel, for example, prayed for forgiveness for his sins and that of his forefathers that resulted in the destruction of Judah and the deportation of many Jews to Babylon including himself. YHVH may have forgiven Daniel for his sins (disobedience to YHVH’s commandments), but he still bore the consequences of the sins of his fathers and himself, that is, he was still exiled in Babylon—a heathen nation where he died. This is like one’s parents divorcing because of marital infidelity, yet the children having to live with negative consequences of that sin and subsequent divorce long afterwards.
The Curse of Original Sin
The Bible addresses the issue of this generational curse that Adam bequeathed to his children. The ultimate generational curse was the sin of Adam, which is death, that passed on to all of his human descendants. Similarly, through the blessing of one man’s righteousness, forgiveness of sin and eternal life has passed on to all who accept Yeshua.
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—(for until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of Elohim and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Yeshua the Messiah, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Yeshua the Messiah.) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Yeshua the Messiah our Lord. (Rom 5:12–21)
Generational Consequences
Even though all humans who accept Yeshua as their redeemer are set free from the curse of Adam’s sin and their own personal sins, for which they have repented, the consequences of that original sin have been passed on from one generation to the next. For example, woman still have pain in child birth, and men have to wrest a living from the earth by the sweat of their brow.
To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.” Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen 3:16–19)
These consequences of sin come on everyone because we live in a fallen world.
Curses for Disobedience to YHVH’s Commandments
We have just discussed the universal curses and consequences of Adam’s sin. Now let’s learn about the curses of an individual’s sin that can affect one’s family and even future generations. These curses are the cause-and-effect consequences of violating YHVH’s commandments or sin.
[Y]ou shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, YHVH your Elohim, am a jealous Elohim, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (Exod 20:5–6)
And YHVH passed before him and proclaimed, “YHVH, YHVH Elohim, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exod 34:6–7)
And if the people of the land should in any way hide their eyes from the man, when he gives some of his descendants to Molech, and they do not kill him, then I will set My face against that man and against his family; and I will cut him off from his people, and all who prostitute themselves with him to commit harlotry with Molech. (Lev 20:4–5)
You shall perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. And those of you who are left shall waste away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; also in their fathers’ iniquities, which are with them, they shall waste away. (Lev 26:38–39)
In the Exodus 20 passage above, please note that conditional phrases “those who hate me” and “those who love me.” The implication is that curses will fall on those who hate YHVH by disobeying him and not fall on those who love him. We will discuss this further below.
Under the New Covenant and through our relationship with Yeshua, we can receive the Father’s forgiveness from many curses that affect our spiritual and eternal life. However, if our forefathers’ sins have resulted in our living in a cursed environment, a cursed nation, or cursed life situation, if we are saved, we can expect YHVH’s grace in that situation, but we may or may not be totally delivered from all the consequences of the past sins of our forefathers. Again, we can use the example of a parents’ divorce because of the sin of infidelity. The breakup of a family can potentially have negative consequences for generations to come.
For the past nearly two years, Nathan has been co-leading a live Zoom meeting three Shabbats/Sabbaths a month, and you’re invited to join us.
If you have no local fellowship and are looking for a loving, caring Hebraic-oriented, Yeshua-centered community with which to interact, you are welcome to come aboard. The Zoom app is free and easy to download and use via smartphone, computer or tablet.
During the meeting, Nathan usually does a teaching followed by a group discussion with Q and A. Others also share their insights, as well, and give extemporaneous teachings as led by the Spirit of Elohim. We also pray for each other, and have experienced many answered prayers, healings and infilling of the Spirit of Elohim. We also sing, praise and worship, and share testimonies and praise reports along the way.
If this is something that interests you, please email Nathan at arborist@goodnewstree.com and share a brief written testimony of how you came to faith in Yeshua the Messiah as well as a brief synopsis of your journey into the more Hebraic aspect if things biblically.
We meet at 2:30 Eastern Standard Time US.
Nearly all of the recent videos that Nathan has posted on this blog and on his Hoshana Rabbah YouTube channel were given live at these meetings. The benefit of participating in the live Zoom meetings is that after the teaching is given, you can chat live with Nathan and the others in the group about his Bible teaching. You can also bring up other questions for discussion.
