Let Joseph’s Example Encourage You

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Genesis 41:16, After all Joseph had endured—multiple false accusations, murder attempts, enslavement and imprisonment—a man of lesser spiritual stature than Joseph might have lost his faith in Elohim along the way.

In this verse, what is evidence that he hadn’t given up hope in his Heavenly Father and that he had not lost sight of the dreams and promises that YHVH had made to him many years earlier?

As a form of witnessing, do you give honor to YHVH whenever you can—even to strangers? Doesn’t the fact that Joseph was able to do so in front of one of the most powerful monarchs of his day show evidence of his strong and abiding faith in and fear of YHVH even in spite of years of mistreatment and false accusations?

Joseph is a powerful and encouraging example to the down-trodden of the world who have been persecuted for their faith. It is possible to maintain faith in YHVH even in spite of dire circumstances.

 

 

Blog Scripture Readings for 12/9 through 12/15/12

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Parashat Miketz — Genesis 41:1 – 44:17
Haftarah — Zechariah 2:14 – 4:7
Prophets — 1 Samuel 28:1 – 31:13; 2 Samuel 1:1 – 4:12
Writings — Psalms 64:1 – 70:5
Testimony — Mark 9:38 – 12:44

Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.

The full “Read Through The Scriptures In A Year” schedule, broken down by each day, can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.” There are 4 sections of scripture to read each day. One each from the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and from the Testimony of Yeshua. Each week, the Torah and haftarah readings will follow the traditional one-year reading cycle.

Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 12/9 through 12/15/2012

 

Web Server Problems

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Sorry for the problems with viewing this blog over the past few days. It was driving me crazy. We had some web server problems, which have now, thankfully, been solved.

I wasn’t even able to get on my own blog, much less post or edit anything. It appears that everything is working okay now. HalleluYah!

 

Prophetic Implications of the Five Loaves and Two Fishes

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Get ready for some surprising prophetic understandings from one of the most well-known stories about Yeshua—the feeding of the 5000 with five loaves and two fishes.

The corollary passage to Mark 8:1–10 is Matthew 14:13–21, which we will explore below.  

First you might want to review Matthew 14:13–21.

This account appears to be an allegory pertaining to end-time events—specifically, the regathering of the Israelite exiles, and is another allusion to the final redemption.

John the Immerser (Baptist), who came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way for Messiah, had just been killed by the politico-religious system of his day. (Similarly, it is interesting to note that the two end time witnesses or prophets who will come in the spirit of Elijah will be martyred in Jerusalem just prior to the return of Yeshua [Rev 11:1–13].) In response to John’s murder at the hands of Herod, Yeshua and his disciples left the area to escape any possible backlash of the wrath of Herod (who allegorically represents the devil). This seems to be a picture of what is prophesied to occur to the bride (the saints) of Messiah during the great tribulation just prior to the return of Yeshua (Rev 12:12–17). The boat seems to metaphorically represent the eagle’s wings of Revelation 12:14 that carried the woman into the wilderness, which is a place of protection and safety during the great tribulation.

Once in the wilderness, “when the day was far spent … and now the time is far passed” (a prophetic reference to the end of the age Continue reading →

 

Blog Scripture Readings For 12/2 through 12/8/12

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Parashat Vayeshev — Genesis 37:1 – 40:23
Haftarah — Amos 2:6 – 3:8
Prophets — 1 Samuel 20:1 – 27:12
Writings — Psalms 57:1 – 63:11
Testimony — Mark 6:1 – 9:37

Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.

The full “Read Through The Scriptures In A Year” schedule, broken down by each day, can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.” There are 4 sections of scripture to read each day. One each from the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and from the Testimony of Yeshua. Each week, the Torah and haftarah readings will follow the traditional one-year reading cycle.

Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 12/2 through 12/8/2012

 

The Front Cover of the National Geographic Is Here!

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Remember when body piercings, nose rings, ear discs and other forms of bodily mutilations including mass tattooing were something you saw only on half-naked indigenous peoples sporting on the front cover of the National Geographic?

How is it that these practices, once considered ridiculous, or even barbaric, savage and heathen, are now considered fashionable by many in our society?

Is this yet another bellwether of our society’s turning away from biblical values and a continued spiritual declension into godless heathenism and demonism?

Why would someone so mutilate their body and call it fashionable? What is mental-emotional status of a person given to expressing themselves in this manner?

Are those who engage in such practices simply evidencing their spiritual confusion about who they are? Is it an expression of self-dissatisfaction, self-rejection? Is it a cry-out for spiritual help, guidance—an expression of a need for love and acceptance? Or is it simply a “fashion statement” and an effort to be different from the societal norm only for difference’s sake?

Do you know any individuals who are “well-adjusted,”  have a healthy self-esteem, or are even biblically-grounded who mutilate their bodies for fashions’ sake?

What are your thoughts on this matter? Is this growing trend in our society a cause for alarm, or simply a current fad that has no further ramifications than that?

By the way, you might want to take a look at the following blog post I wrote a few months ago—

Genesis 35:4, Strange gods …earrings. For a discussion on the biblical view of men wearing earrings, see an earlier post I wrote on the subject at http://hoshanarabbah.org/blog/?s=earrings&submit=Search.

 

Symptoms of Demon Possession

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Mark 5:1–20, The Gadarene demoniac. This encounter between Yeshua and this  demon-possessed individual teaches us about the characteristics of one who is tormented or even possessed by an evil spirit.

  • One with an unclean spirit is “unclean in thought and life” (Mark 5:2).
  • Such an individual may have a pre-occupation with things relating to death and dying (Mark 5:3)
  • They may possess superhuman strength (thanks to the aid of the demon in him, Mark 5:4).
  • They may act wild, unable to be restrained (Mark 5:4).
  • They may be given to fits of shouting loudly (Mark 5:5), shrieking or making a shrill cry (Mark 9:18).
  • They may cut oneself, or resort to other acts of self-mutilation (Mark 5:5) or self destruction (e.g., burning oneself by fire, Matt 17:15; Mark 9:22), drowning (Mark 9:22).
  • The demoniac may possess supernatural knowledge (Mark 5:7).
  • The demon can speak through the demonized person (Mark 5:7), or cry out (Mark 9:26).
  • A demonic spirit wants to possess or inhabit something; if not a human, then an animal (Mark 5:12), or to homes, to objects like idols or books (Acts 19:19).
  • They may be clothed improperly or scantily (Mark 5:15).
  • They will not a possess a “right [sound, self-controlled, sober]” mind (Mark 5:15).
  • A demonic or an unclean spirit may cause convulsions or spasmodic contractions, bodily contortions within a person, or cause a person to be hurled to the ground (Mark 1:25; 9:18, 20), wallowing or rolling around on the ground (Mark 9:20).
  • Epileptic-type seizures/madness can be symptoms of demon possession (Matt 17:15)
  • A demoniac may foam at the mouth (Mark 9:18, 20)
  • A demoniac may grind or gnash of the teeth (Mark 9:18)
  • A demonic spirit can cause one’s body to waste away, dry up or become rigid (Mark 9:18).
  • Demonic spirits can accompany people as they come into the congregation of YHVH (Mark 1:23; Luke 4:33).
  • A demonic spirit can make one to be mute or unable to speak (Mark 9:17).

But thanks be to YHVH Elohim, our Father, who has given the saints of Yeshua the power over demonic spirits through the blood, the Word and the name of Yeshua the Messiah!

Luke 9:1, Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Luke 10:18–19, And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

See also James 4:6–10; 1 John 4:4; Revelation 12:11.