A Fishy Tale But Not The One That Got Away!

August 15, 2022

When reading this passage we have all no doubt always understood Jesus/Yeshua was talking about paying taxes…..but which taxes? …And then, was there something more to the connection with the fish?

It’s a well known story in Matthew where Yeshua/Jesus sends Peter to catch a fish; telling him that there would be money in the fish’s mouth and that they would then use that money to pay the tribute tax for them both.

Matthew 17:24-27
And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

This may sound strange to western ears and other than a miracle…how could there be money in a fish’s mouth? Consequently many answer that question by saying just that… God, by way of a miracle, placed some money in that particular fish’s mouth.

Once again, understanding the eastern culture in which the Bible was written helps us to understand the story a little better. Again these are things to think on and further research for those inclined to do so, we should all be good Bereans; and here, research showed there are fish in the middle east called the Musht. Describing them as small fish about six inches long with a large head. Apparently they also have what we would call a bag, or a pouch under the mouth.

Pertinent articles tell us that after new Musht hatch, the parents keep them in the pouch for a short while to protect them. Then when it is time, the parent fish will begin to pick up pebbles from the bottom of the sea and put them into the pouch. This is done so the new fish will not be so comfortable because it’s time for them to leave!

These Musht fish basically eat plankton, so at certain times of the year you can find them in very shallow water. At times they do pick up shiny objects, coins, gold etc… Whether this is the fish Peter caught is not certain/proven but it is interesting nevertheless.

Another custom:

We must remember that in Bible times, offerings to God were taken very seriously. Sometimes there were those individuals who wanted to give an offering however they didn’t want to receive any recognition; because, many believed that if you received praise from men then you had already received your reward now in this world and they preferred to receive their reward in the one to come. People would throw their offerings into the waters in order to keep it private and threw their offerings into what was considered ‘holy waters’ would be best, but, depending on where one would be, any water would do.

Many traditions have grown over the years of throwing coins into a fountain or well for good luck. The Trevi Fountain in Rome is a famous location as well as the Ganges River which is considered a holy river.

In the scriptures Yeshua/Jesus told Peter to go to the sea, Galilee, cast in a hook, and take the first fish that came up. He further told him that when he opened the fish’s mouth he would find a piece of money.

Peter was a fisherman and possibly was well aware that this type of fish could have a coin in its mouth but that it was a rare thing to catch one.

Think of the sequence of events that would have been needed: First, someone had to lose or throw a coin in the water. Then, a fish had to take that coin in its mouth and keep it there. That same fish then had to bite Peter’s hook even with a coin in its mouth and be caught. This cannot be explained away so easily.

Consequently, it may not have been such an amazing miracle that the fish had a coin in its mouth; but rather the more amazing miracle being that it was the very first and only fish that Peter caught!

Just as Peter did, we can have confidence in the promises of our Heavenly Father, by accepting that what He has promised is true and believing that He can and will supply all our needs. Furthermore we should not limit the manner in which He meets those needs.

The scripture tells us that the reason Peter had to find the fish was to pay the taxes but which tax?

While they were in Capernaum, those who collected tribute money approached Peter and asked, “Doth not your master pay tribute?” (v. 24).

This tribute was not a civil tax but a religious tax, also known as the temple tax. The amount due was a coin known as a didrachma, for a day laborer this was the wages equivalent of about two days work. This was based on Exodus 30:11-16, which required every adult male to pay half a shekel as ransom money towards the building of the tabernacle. It is not clear from the original text whether this was to be an annual tax or, more likely, just a one-time tax towards the making of the tabernacle Ex. 26:20-25; 38:25-31. Later in Nehemiah, a similar tax was levied for the rebuilding of the temple Neh. 10:32-33.

Peter, answered the question in v. 25. However in reading the verse carefully..

He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying,

when Peter went to tell Yeshua/Jesus, Who it says was in the house,

He prevented him,

or anticipated him,

revealing His omniscience.

This is a gentle reminder that wherever we are, Messiah is the silent witness of our conversations and even what we think are our private thoughts. He asks Peter a question saying in other words:

Kings do not normally charge tax to members of their own family, but they do charge taxes from their subjects. Which am I?

An interesting question which, when we recall when Peter had declared just before in the previous chapter,

Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 16:16.

Was this highlighting a change from His earlier confession? Again possibly a gentle reminder that as disciples we often live so differently from our confession without thinking twice about it.

Is this also the reason that Yeshua/Jesus called him Simon in verse 25, that being Peter’s former name and a reference to the fact he had acted so easily and quickly according to his old nature?

We all need to be continually doing what Rom.12:2 encourages us to do….. renewing of our minds.

He says to Peter, What thinkest thou?

or as we might say,

What are you thinking?

We need our minds to be on the things of God and not be distracted from what He has asked us to be doing.

It is recorded that every Jewish male over the age of 20 was required to pay the temple tax each year and the money was used for the upkeep and maintenance of the temple. In Exodus 30:13–16,

In Yeshua/Jesus day, the Temple tax

literally. מחצית השקל – the half shekel,

was a tax paid by Israelites and Levites which went towards the upkeep of the Temple in Jerusalem/Yerushalayim.

Yeshua/Jesus pointed out that a king does not order his own son/family to pay taxes.

Since Yeshua/Jesus was and is the Son of God, Lord and Owner of the Temple, He and His family/children should have been free from paying taxes because for Him to pay the tax would be like paying taxes to Himself. When He says, The children are exempt. v. 26, meaning that because of our relationship/connection with Him, that which applies to Him applies to us also; and in this instance meaning, neither Messiah nor His disciples should have to pay the temple tax?

The reason why Yeshua/Jesus had Peter locate a hook and line and go fishing could also be that fish have always played an important role in Jewish tradition and mysticism. Fish called gefilte fish are still popular today. Interestingly the word gefilte means fullness. Fish have always been symbolic of God’s provision. Fish lay many eggs and symbolize both prosperity and multiplication. We have looked previously at the pictograph for the letter N – nun or noon which is the word fish in the Hebrew and has the idea of flowing, going with the stream.

There is another possible reason why Messiah may have asked Peter to go fishing for the coin/money. There is a tradition that says before the Day of Atonement, all observant Jews go to a river to fish. Why? This is because the Talmud (Talmud-the written oral Law); teaches that men are like fish who are often as prey when the hooks and nets are set before them by the Yeitzer Hara /evil desires/temptations. This tradition is a reminder that freedom from sin comes only through repentance and repentance for forgiveness of sins was also a common teaching during Yeshua/Jesus’s day. Was He offering Peter a chance to reflect on how easily it is to get hooked by the enemy and the coin in the fish’s mouth represented how the enemy can use money to get you hooked?

The money collected for the temple tax was a fund also used to help the poor, which Messiah would not have objected to. Peter would have thought that Yeshua/Jesus as his rabbi was teaching him something in this situation.

The coin would have had to have been a Jewish or temple coin and not a Roman coin. Yeshua/Jesus told Peter he would find a piece of money in the fish’s mouth. The Greek word used for money is sater which means a silver coin. In Aramaic, the word used is ‘astra which is a coin worth about one shekel. Scholars believe this would have been one shekel in Jewish money and the tax was one half shekel per person, so one shekel would cover both Peter and Yeshua/Jesus. The Roman coin usually had the image of a Roman emperor on it who considered himself a god and this would have violated the 2nd commandment particularly if it were brought onto temple grounds. This is possibly why the temple had money changers in the court in order to change the pagan coins into one the priesthood approved as clean? It could also have been a reason why Messiah turned over the money changers tables; if they were piling up pagan coins and thereby violating the 2nd commandment right on the temple grounds by using paganism and idolatry to conduct their commerce? As a rabbi, Yeshua/Jesus was not going to allow it and by overturning the tables He was performing a task well within His authority as a master teacher, which is probably why the temple guard did not try to stop him?

Which coin was it?

Quoting the section from Mark, “Whose is this image and superscription?” From the answer, we understand that the coin must have had a portrait of a ruler and also have a superscription, or in other words the word Caesar was in the title and it would be a coin of the denarius or possibly drachm denomination. Apparently denarius coins of Julius Caesar s portrait did exist but were quite rare, and would not have been minted after 44 B.C., although certainly a candidate, it would not have been a common type of coin in circulation at the time.

There were coins of Augustus, which featured the word Caesar; he issued a lot of the denarius coins in his reign with his portrait on. This would have been from before Yeshua/Jesus’ birth into His young adulthood from around 27 B.C. – 14 A.D. and would probably be a more likely coin that was shown to Him.

Traditionally the most likely coin that was referred to as being the Tribute Penny, is the silver denarius which was the coin of emperor Tiberius, he reigned 14-37 A.D. and these coins also featured the title of Caesar on them. In the context of the time period described, these would have been the most recently-minted coins and therefore the most widely-accepted form of the Tribute Penny.

Further information gleaned says that the shekel of Tyre was minted between 125 BC and 66 AD when the first Jewish war broke out. It was the standard coin and only coin accepted in the Jewish temple at the time of Messiah. One reference to the story of Yeshua/Jesus telling Peter to pay the temple tax for the two of them says it was a Tyrian shekel which was retrieved from the mouth of a fish.

How many times we read a passage and still miss some deeper meaning Matthew 22:20-21 for example

And He said unto them, whose is this image and superscription? They say unto Him, Caesars. Then saith he unto them Render unto Caesars the things which are Caesars and unto God the things that are God’s.

The drachma was given for the roman tax.

Looking at the whole scenario a little more carefully, the Pharisees and Herodians were on a quest to trap Jesus/Yeshua in any way they could and this time they really thought they had Him trapped when they asked Him about paying taxes.

With the Roman guards no doubt standing nearby and the Pharisees also within hearing distance, a Pharisee asked Yeshua/Jesus if it was right to pay a tithe or 10% to the Roman government in taxes.

Why?

Because If He said yes, the Jewish leaders/Pharisees, would condemn Him for giving support to a pagan government and they would probably have brought Him before the Sanhedrin accusing Him of being a law breaker.

It was taught by oral law, not the written Torah Law, but the law as man wrote it, that to pay a tax was to pay a tithe and you could only tithe to God, not man.

Paying tax to a foreign government was considered as the same thing as paying a tithe to the government which was not forbidden by Mosaic law but it was by the Traditions of the Fathers.

Torah Law taught you were to give 10% of your earnings in a tithe. Tithe means ten and strangely coincidental, the Roman government demanded that you pay 10% of your income in taxes! So to pay the government 10% was like paying a tithe and the oral law forbade paying taxes that equaled 10%.

Time after time Yeshua/Jesus was condemning much of oral law as not being authoritative. For example the Torah teaching/instruction/Law, taught that no one could work on the Sabbath. Oral teaching/law or man’s interpretation of that teaching/law was that to heal on the Sabbath was considered work; therefore if a person healed someone on the Sabbath they were breaking Torah Law by ‘working’. Messiah healed on the Sabbath in direct violation of their oral law, which is why they called Him a sinner.

These traditions were later part of the forming of what is known as the Talmud. The Talmud was not considered to be inspired, but it was nonetheless authoritative instruction; and to violate the teachings of the tradition of the Fathers was a chargeable offense and that had to be heard before the Sanhedrin which was the religious court.

If Messiah answered no it implied He agreed with the teachings of the Tradition of the Fathers…then the Roman government could arrest Him for treason and for being disloyal to the Roman government and inciting others to also rebel!

Why did His response cause the reaction it did from the Pharisees and Herodians? When Yeshua/Jesus said: Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar and to God that which is Gods. Matthew 22:20-21

Wasn’t He saying that it was alright to pay the taxes? Meaning in so many words.. just pay taxes with Roman money and not the coins issued by the temple.

Didn’t His enemies have Him right where they wanted Him?

Why did Yeshua/Jesus call them hypocrites in verse 18?

Reading around this subject in Jewish literature there is an interesting note about the 2nd commandment. Exodus 20:4: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image in the likeness that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the sea.”

Thou shalt not make…

The word make in Hebrew is ashah which is followed by the word leka which means to you.

Ashah leka has the idea of taking something unto yourself.

So You are not

to take for yourselves any graven images.

The word for graven image is pesel

Pesel letters: Pei Sade Lamed

which means:

to carve out and fashion something that is seen.

This carving or engraving could be done with wood or metal.

This is telling us that we are not to take upon ourselves anything that is fashioned to take on the representation which is a likeness or physical manifestation of anything in the heavens above or the earth below or in the sea.

This commandment is instructing the Jews to have no other gods before God Jehovah. They are not even to make that is the Hebrew word pasal which is an engraving or carving and it is not to be made for your own personal possession.

Obviously people recognized that a coin made of metal had an image engraved upon it however if that image was in the likeness of someone who was considered a god, then for a Jewish person to have or even carry with them such a coin meant they were violating the 2nd commandment.

What did Messiah say? He asked the Pharisee if he had a coin.

Yeshua/Jesus asked the Pharisee to show Him a coin, he took out and showed Him a coin with Caesar’s image or likeness on it.

When asked whose picture was on the coin. He said Caesars. Then Yeshua/Jesus said: Render unto Caesar that which is Caesars and to God that which is God’s.

As noted the first century, coins are called the Tribute coin and it has engraved on it the picture or image of Caesar Augustus Tiberius and the inscription

“Caesar Augustus Tiberius, Son of the Divine Augustus.”

This was blasphemous to a Jew as it was claiming that Caesar Augustus Tiberius was a god and also by carrying this coin with him the Pharisee was in violation of the 2nd commandment.

Messiah cleverly used their own Oral Tradition and their own twist on the Torah to trap them instead; and in his enthusiasm to trap Yeshua/Jesus, by having such a coin, he was admitting to a form of idolatry.

Apparently, their teaching pointed out that to ‘carry such a coin’ meant he worshipped that specific god. The Jews interpret this to mean that you cannot even possess an image of anything that declares himself or herself to be a god.

It is possible that this Pharisee could not read the Latin words, because it says on the coin:

Caesar Augustus Tiberius, son of the Divine Augustus?!

So, by having and carrying that coin he was declaring in other words, that he worshipped a Roman god which was Roman money.

At the same time Yeshua/Jesus put the correct understanding onto the 2^nd commandment when He said, Render unto Caesar that which is Caesars, it was not a simple reference to paying taxes with Roman currency, it was speaking of worship.

Even if this Pharisee had Roman coins, it may have been because he had business deals with the Romans. The more likely point was that Messiah knew what was in his heart and that his god was money. He broke the second commandment, meaning his god was money not our Heavenly Father.

Was Yeshua/Jesus showing them that while they were accusing Him of breaking the Tradition of the Fathers, which was the Oral law, they were breaking the 2nd commandment by having such a coin. Messiah came to fulfill the law by pointing out the things added by men which were not from His Father and to teach people how to live correctly by the given Torah.

In the next verse of Matthew 22:21-22: They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. (22) When they had heard [these words], they marveled, and left him, and went their way.

Matthew 22:22 tells us that everyone marveled and then left Him alone. What made them marvel about that statement?

Wasn’t He falling into the Pharisee trap, saying it was right to pay taxes?

In the Greek text the word marvel is ethaumasan. This is where we get the English word enthusiasm. It means to be astonished, amazed, surprised or stunned.

The word is damar in Aramaic which means to admire. It is in a form that means: so they were filled with admiration. So, it was the Pharisee who fell into Messiah’s trap.

The word render is yahav

which means:

to allow which would be..

Allow Caesar to have that which is his

and God to have that which is his.

Allow Yahav

יהב

Yod Hei Beth

Exodus 20:3-4: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4. Thou shalt not make (for your possession) unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:

Not all Roman coins bore such a subscription Caesar Augustus Tiberius, son of the Divine Augustus. declaring the person pictured to be divine or a god.

What may have caused them to marvel was not just how Jesus/Yeshua knew the Pharisee would pull out that specific coin and not a temple coin, that is amazing enough. But was it the fact that He caught the Pharisee breaking the first commandment that really astounded the people?

In the Aramaic Yeshua/Jesus was telling the Pharisee something in the meaning of: Allow Caesar to be Caesar thinking he is a god. But allow God to be God and bear all the glory as the God of the Universe. You are carrying Caesar’s image thereby giving him the glory of considering himself a god? Then you turn around and accuse me of breaking man’s law when you are in direct violation of the very first commandment?

Yeshua/Jesus never answered the question and He didn’t have to because He took away the Pharisees right to even ask.

Simply put, by asking such a question when he was in personal violation of Torah teaching and the 1^st commandment meant he was being a hypocrite…which is precisely what Messiah had called them.

We are to give to our Heavenly Father that which He has asked of us, and to do so willingly and to love Him first with ALL our heart, mind and strength…. He gave everything for us and the price was far beyond any coins with graven images on …. We can never repay the debt He paid for us in His own Blood

but….

we can give Him ALL that we are, and ALL that we have; and allow Him to make us into the person we are called to be and to serve Him while we still can…Our Father’s promise is to provide our needs and we should not limit His way of provision… a fish may swim to us or a bird may fly over with just what we need and just at the right time…

Shalom shalom mishpachah/family

and cheverim/friends!

It’s all about Life and Relationship,

NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE?

YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Why Was Elisha Digging Ditches To The Sound of Music?

May 16, 2021

The background to the story is that of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, a relatively good, God-fearing King, but he made a critical mistake by making an alliance with the wicked son of Ahab, Jehoram.

2Kings 3:5-24

But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6 So at that time King Joram….7 sent this message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?”

Israel was at war with the Moabites but their king had led them in a roundabout route for 7 days, leaving them with no water and dwindling hope.

Kings 3:9-26, 9 “So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched on that roundabout route seven days; and there was no water for the army, nor for the animals that followed them. 10 And the king of Israel said, “Alas!

King Jehoshaphat

המלך יהושפט

Yehoshaphat.

Phonetic Spelling: (yeh-ho-shaw-fawt’)

Definition: the LORD has judged or

Yah Hath Judged/Yahweh Has Judged/The Lord Judges.

The name Jehoshaphat consists of two elements:

1) The name יה(Yah) = יהו(Yahu) = יו(Yu), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton; the name of the Lord: YHWH.

2) The verb שפט (shapat), meaning to judge or govern:

King Jehoshaphat plan was to try to take over the land of Moab…but as we know, the end doesn’t justify the means. The plan backfired on him and he found himself with thousands of soldiers and animals and no water.

God never wants us to align ourselves in a common goal with wickedness, those not walking in covenant relationship with Him.

Both old and new testaments remind us

32 Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. Exodus 23:32-33

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Cor. 6:14

Jehoshaphat had not done right in terms of separating himself from unbelievers, and it ended up costing his people because now their very lives were in danger.

Having commanded some 40,000 men to march 7 days over a hot desert with minimal food and water.

When his options had run out, he finally decides to go to the man of God for counseling; this should have been his first action along with seeking the Lord for His direction. He realized he needed to separate from them, and yet there is no water…

What was the answer to his dilemma?

“Let’s consult ELISHA, a prophet and a man of God to inquire of him. He knows about water. He poured water on the hands of Elijah.”

And Jehoshaphat said, Whether any prophet of the Lord is here, (so) that we (can) beseech the Lord by him? And one of the servants of the king of Israel answered, Elisha, the son of Shaphat, is here, that poured water upon the hands of Elijah (Elisha, the son of Shaphat, is here, who poured water upon Elijah’s hands). 2Kings 3:11

Elisha

אלישע

Modern: ʼElīšaʻ, My God is salvation or

God is salvation

Greek: Ἐλισ[σ]αῖος, Elis[s]aîos or Ἐλισαιέ, Elisaié)

So they did, however, the answer was probably not what they were expecting because…..

Sometimes He asks us to be a part of His solutions….

and sometimes in rather strange and unusual ways.

Elisha says:

2Kings 3:15-17

15 But now bring me a musician.”. Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. 16 And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of [ a]ditches.’ 17 For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’.

This word “valley” in the Hebrew is

ואדי

“wadi“,

which is a “dry riverbed

More Hebrew words for wadi.

noun וָאדִי.

gully, ravine.

noun נַחַל. s

tream, river, brook, valley, ravine.

“Cherith, Kerith (Hebrew: נַחַל כְּרִית ‎ Naḥal Kərīṯ), or sometimes Chorath (/ ˈ k ɔːr ɑː θ /; from the Septuagint’s Greek: Χειμάῤῥους Χοῤῥάθ cheimárrhous Chorrháth), is the name of a wadi, or intermittent seasonal stream mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.

Now bring me a minstrel/musician… One that can sing and play well upon an instrument of music.

He sent for a minstrel, possibly to calm his mind from the impressions of the physical problem and having been disturbed at the sight of idolatrous Jehoram,

the soft tones of the lyre/harp brought composure to his mind and soul so that he might be inspired to more fervent prayer, and thereby be prepared to receive the prophetic inspiration.

When the musician played, the hand of the Lord came on him and his spirit gave instructions to work the miracle.

minstrel

2 Kings 3:15
HEB: קְחוּ־ לִ֣י מְנַגֵּ֑ן וְהָיָה֙ כְּנַגֵּ֣ן
NAS: bring me a minstrel. And it came
KJV: But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel

also

נָגַן Nagan

Phonetic Spelling: naw-gan’

Definition. to touch or play a stringed instrument. NASB Translation. minstrel (1), minstrel played (1), musician

Strongs #5059

2 Kings 3:16-18
“This is what the Lord says: I will fill this valley with pools of water. For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord; he will also deliver Moab into your hands.“

God lays it on Elisha’s heart what

He,

the Lord,

will do to rescue them:

All they have to do is dig some ditches!

Why?

It sounds completely crazy!

So Why? ….

Because God said to.

Even though He said in v. 17 there won’t be storms or rain!

…but

there’ll be water…

God has spoken.

Dig ditches…..

תְעָלָה

ditch, channel, canal, gutter, culvert, water course

They needed

to act

on their faith,

regardless of how illogical it sounded!

Imagine what passers-by must have thought….

an army digging ditches???

Digging a valley full of ditches,

for water,

to win a battle with no sign of rain!

He didn’t need human logic,

no rain was required,

no river,

just

His power and

simple faith, trusting in Him.

if He says it, He does it!

From the irrational display of desperation to the next morning

….they find that…

Water has flowed uphill and across this ancient plain

that was once a stream bed.

In verse 20, the valley is full of water for the troops

Then a further miracle happens:

the Moabites mistake the water for blood and through this they are defeated.

Nothing is impossible for God, and He achieves it through

His plans,

no matter how illogical and unexplainable they are to us.

He even provides in abundance,

far more than we would expect, for them

AND their animals.

But they had to trust God,

His plan

and what He asked them to do.

So should we.

We think often that God will give us faith to change or to persevere and stand until the situation changes.

However, true faith comes when we walk into the valley, often situations that are opposite to mountain top experiences; and instead of trying to fill the valley, we instead dig until they are filled with ditches.

The Lord requires places/ containers for His waters to collect, so that it won’t run off and dissipate into another stream.

He wants to fill our valleys.

biqah: a valley, plain

בִּקְעָה

Phonetic Spelling: bik-aw’

Strongs#1237

Not only so we can drink, but to have enough for everyone around us who needs it, including crops and animals/ livestock.

Faith is not looking up and seeing rain clouds and seeing the rain fall.

Faith is looking at a clear sky

but being full of expectancy

that the valley will be filled.

You will not see wind nor rain.

He wants us to do things like, dig ditches, with the promise to fill them and in unexpected unconventional ways.

He wants a faith filled people.

He is looking for people who don’t need rain in order to have rainfall!

Faith people who will dig ditches to collect water that never falls from the sky!!!

People who will believe

He will bring water

in His own way and time

all we have to do is act in obedient response,

that is faith!

The ‘ridiculous’ faith of Elisha!

We must sometimes dig a ditch so God can fill it!

That is a clear lesson from this scripture account.

Our Heavenly Father specializes in

FILLING

things

which are

EMPTY.

We are to empty ourselves of the cares of this world, and that makes room for God to fill us!

As we remember, the cares of the world choke the Word of God.

When we empty ourselves of the flesh

and then the Spirit comes flowing in like a rushing river,

filling the valley of our souls!

Our Heavenly Father gets all the glory when He uses our provision of emptiness to fulfill His will in and through us in overflowing ways!

His OUTPOURING into our need!

In the following chapter we see the familiar story of the widow and her empty vessels which God filled for her. Elisha, who challenged the widow woman to create more emptiness for the Lord to fill, had just seen it happen himself as he dug ditches so God could fill them.

Have faith…trust…

lay aside all self-sufficiency,

and instead,

find some emptiness!

The widow of 2Kings 4 brought all the jars she had faith to bring!

How many would we bring?

Sometimes we are called to create some emptiness so God can fill it.

… Dig a ditch,

or God won’t fill it!

A mind occupied with planning

pays homage to the idol of control.

Planning takes little to no faith because it is fore-thought and carefully and deliberately arranged and what is worse, it leaves God completely out of the picture and then we ask Him to bless our way.

Many spend all week planning the weekend, thinking it is Gods’ will when in fact it is just simply what they want to do.

One of the greatest hindrances to living a faith filled life is not making room for God.

In this account, Elisha shows how faith works.

It is echoed in Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see.

The principle here is

putting

faith

into

action.

Don’t just say you have faith!

Show it by our actions

James said in 2:17…

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” shew me thy faith without thy works/actions, and I will shew thee my faith by my works/actions.

Fulfillment comes in emptiness of self, and being filled with the Spirit maybe its time to dig some ditches???

May His true Shalom/Peace

rest upon each one in Jesus/Yeshuas’ Name.

‘Mishpachah’ ‘Family’

משפחה

Mish-pa-KHa Mish-pa-KHa

you are greatly loved and prayed for daily..

NOT SURE if you are part of His Family? YOU CAN BE..

Say the following and mean it from your heart…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He came in the flesh and He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life.

Because your word is truth, I say that I am now forgiven and born again in my spirit and by faith I am washed clean with the Blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

He Touched Me

April 19, 2021

Why did Yeshua/Jesus touch people?

What made Him touch them?

touch

נגע

Strong’s Hebrew: 5060.

נָגַע (naga) — to touch, reach, strike

A primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. Lay the hand upon

First of course, He did what His Father told Him

Yeshua/Jesus always obeyed His Father, but it was not by routine actions devoid of feeling and concern . Yeshua/Jesus cared deeply for the people and all the situations around Him.

In other words, Yeshua/Jesus being moved with compassion was an expression of His Father. Surely, our Heavenly Father ‘feels’ things as deeply as Yeshua/Jesus.

There was a force within Him that was able to alter the elements of reality around Him and effect changes in the lives of the multitudes that followed Him.

Matthew 9:36. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 14:14. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

Mark 8:2-3 “I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat.

Mark 1:41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, I am willing; be cleansed. Luke 7:13.

Matt 20:34 And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and straightway they received their sight, and followed him.

When we read in Scripture that Yeshua/Jesus was moved with compassion; it was a deeply heart-felt reaction to any given situation that led to an action. When confronted with the evidence that satan had deceived people, and kept them in sickness and oppressed them. He reacted with help, to undo the wrong, to set people free.

In different situations the scripture records Yeshua/Jesus was “moved with compassion.” In other versions it is sometimes translated as

take pity, Indignant, and heart went out to….

However they fall short of the Greek meaning.

“Moved with compassion”

is more than feeling pity or sympathy for someone. This word means a feeling that comes out of the innermost being.

It is that gut-wrenching, feeling we get in the pit-of-the-stomach when something really bad happens or we believe that it is going to happen.in the bowels hence the saying bowels of compassion. Colossians 3:12-13 – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, however, it is not a feeling of powerlessness.

At those times when Yeshua/Jesus was moved with compassion, He did something, a physical action followed; whether it was casting out demons, raising the dead, healing the sick or teaching about the gospel of the kingdom of the heavens in order to bring people out of ignorance about their Heavenly Father and His ways.

True compassion involves resistance to the wrong and why some translate it as “indignant” and includes action to correct it or, at least, bring comfort through it.

In our own pain we need to look on others not in pity or with sympathy for what they are going through, but be moved with compassion. We need to become the hand of Yeshua/Jesus in ministering to them. They need to look into our eyes and see the love and compassion of the infinitely caring God looking back at them through us.

in Matthew 20 where Yeshua/Jesus asked two blind men, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”

Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him” Matthew 20.32-34.

In Mark we are told about a man with leprosy who “came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed.” The man said, “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

Again, Scripture reports,

“Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed” (see Mark 1.40-42).

There are other similar occurrences in Scripture. Each time Yeshua/Jesus feeds the multitudes, we’re told,

Yeshua/Jesus “had compassion on them”

(e.g., Mark 6.34; Mark 8.2; Matthew 14.14).

Often, when Yeshua/Jesus saw crowds of people who seemed lost, He was moved with compassion.

His compassion always leads to action

whether healing, feeding, providing.

Compassion

Strong’s Hebrew: 7356. רָ֫חַם (racham) — compassion

The three Hebrew Letters are Reysh, Chet and Mem.

This is compassion and it has been said that all women have more of this gift of compassion, not only mothers.

Ra-chem, (give or have mercy)

is the imperative form

(commanding or requesting something from others).

The imperative form is considered an actual tense in Hebrew, in additional to past, present and future.

Example of ra-chem (verb):

The sound cha in ra-cha-mim is pronounced like

the Spanish ja in the word Jalapeño.

Ra-cha-min is a noun, but it can also be used as a verb, as it often happens in prayer. When it is a verb: ra-chem for have mercy.

Mercy, compassion, womb – רַחֲמִים

It is quite fascinating that mercy or compassion, nra-cha-min, is derived from the name of the most motherly place in the human body: the womb, re-chem.

This is where the strongest connection of compassion and love are bonded between the mother and the baby, respectively. Men may need to learn this, if you are a mother, you will have experienced this compassion first hand.

This connection has been referenced in previous posts and although it is generally understood that our faith is in Gods ability and must be present to heal; there are many scriptures where the word compassion is used as a precursor to the power for healing being manifested or miracles taking place.

Some examples referenced below:

Jesus was moved with compassion, Matt. 9:36 (Matt. 20:34; Mark 1:41; Luke 7:13). A certain Samaritan had compassion on him, Luke 10:33.

Ephesians 4:32 – And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Mark 6:34 – And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

Colossians 3:12-13 – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

James 5:11

Rom. 9:15 2; Cor. 1:3-4; Phil. 2:1-3; Matt. 9:35-38; Matt. 20:29-34; Matt. 14:13-21; Matt. 15;29-39; Mark. 6:30-44; Luke. 15:11-32.

Compassion seems to be a spiritual force that moved Yeshua/Jesus to action and without that action it is simply observation and sympathy.

In the Torah there are clear guidelines that anyone touching a leper would be unclean

Did Yeshua/Jesus give evidence of His deity because He cleansed the leper and the leper did not make Him unclean or did it?

In reading scripture during the course of study there are differing opinions as to the meaning of this as concerns Messiah the options follow so the reader can draw their own conclusions.

This story which most people are familiar with. On one of His return visits to the Galilee, Yeshua encounters a leper who begs for healing. Yeshua, being filled with compassion, touches the leper and he is healed instantly. However, there is more going on in this incident than what lies on the surface.

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Mark 1:40-44)

It is important to take a look at leprosy from a biblical perspective. The typical mental image is of a debilitating disease which leaves a person scarred and disfigured, with missing fingers and toes.

This seems to be a misrepresentation being forced onto the Scriptures due to the use of the English word, leprosy.

Biblical leprosy is known as tzara’at (צרעת)

and has no relation to modern leprosy, otherwise known as Hansen’s Disease. which is a bacterial infection affecting the skin and the nervous system,

biblical leprosy tzara’at involves none of these symptoms.

The parameters of tzara’at can be found in Leviticus 13 and 14. In the introduction to Leviticus 13, most Bibles will have a footnote saying something to the effect of,

Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases.

The text,says that tzara’at was very specific in its identification and had to meet certain criteria before it could be labeled tzara’at by the cohen (priest) NOTE: not a doctor/physician.

Also, we find that not only is it associated with a skin condition, but it can also be a type of mildew-like substance that can appear on the walls of a house (Lev. 14:33-53), or in fabric or in leather-goods (Lev. 13:47-59).

Other distinguishing factors of biblical tzara’at are its severity and transmission. According to the biblical texts, tzara’at does not transmit physical ailment akin to Hansen’s Disease. It does, however, transmit ritual impurity (making one “unclean”).

“A person or object in contact with a leper becomes both unclean and contaminating.”

What does this mean?

It means an ostracizing of the metzora (a “leper” in biblical terms).

In other words, when one has been diagnosed as being a metzora, one must remove himself from the community so as not to “infect” others

The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp. (Lev. 13:45-46)

leper מצורע

lazar. lā′zar, לזר

one afflicted with a loathsome and pestilential disease like Lazarus, the beggar.

Strong’s Hebrew: 6883. צָרָ֫עַת (tsaraath) — leprosy

Strong’s Hebrew: 6879. צָרַע (tsara) — to be struck with …

The Septuagint, a translation of the Hebrew Bible originally used by Greek-speaking Jews and Gentile proselytes, translates the term tzaraath with Greek lepra (λέπρα), from which the cognate “leprosy” (a term now referring specifically to the bacterial infection aforementioned as Hansen’s disease) was traditionally used in English Bibles.

Although this seems like a harsh treatment for someone who has a non-life-threatening, semi-communicable impurity (and not a disease, per se), one must remember that this command was given while the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness and encamped together in close quarters.

Any contact (intentional or not) with other people or objects would immediately transfer ritual impurity to the person or object, thus rendering them tamei (טמא) as well.

This contact with ritual impurity would make these individuals unable to participate in communal worship and the sacrificial system. In order for this to be contained, the priesthood was commissioned with identifying and quarantining outbreaks of tzara’at.

A metzora had to undergo routine inspections to monitor the condition of their infection.

We have to keep in mind, however, that ritual impurity (being “unclean”) is in no way equivalent to sin.

Remembering that the definition in Torah of being unclean, was not the same as committing a sin!

Being “unclean” was part of the routine of life during the days when the Tabernacle or the Temple were standing. Women became ritually impure during their monthly cycle or during childbirth. Both men and women became unclean with any kind of bodily emission.

Tzara’at, however, was one of the most severe cases of ritual impurity, even surpassing corpse contamination, since one was only able to be purified on the condition the symptoms had vanished.

Once the symptoms were completely gone an elaborate series of sin offerings, sprinklings, immersions similar to the purification rituals of corpse contamination were required in order to be declared officially clean (“ritually pure”).

The only way sin would be connected to impurity is if an unclean person entered the Holy Temple. They would be guilty of defiling the earthly abode of the Almighty and be held liable.

There is, however, an odd condition in regard to tzara’at which makes its spiritual / ritual nature explicit. Once a metzora was completely consumed with tzara’at, and covered from head to foot and has turned completely white, he was pronounced tahor (טהור) clean / ritually pure and was free from his quarantine (Lev. 13:12-13).

Once new skin began replacing the infection, however, he was quarantined once again and the entire inspection cycle was begun anew.

There was no known cure for tzara’at. The priesthood did not affect the affliction, but only diagnosed it.

Based on several inferences in Scriptural, there are seven sins for which one may be afflicted with leprosy: slander, the shedding of blood, vain oath, incest, arrogance, robbery and envy.

The word metzora as a compound word comprised of the words “motzi [shem] ra”

this means one who “brings forth [an] evil [name].”

In other words, a leper is one who spreads gossip and slander. The sages viewed evil speech as so damaging that they interpreted slander to be one of the most grave sins:

If this is the case, it is interesting to note that this is one of the few instances in which Yeshua did not also tell the one he was healing that his sins were forgiven. Why? Because sins committed against God can be pardoned by either God or His earthly agent. However, the only way sins committed against another living human being can be pardoned is from the one whom we have wronged (Matt 5:23-24; John 20:23).

After considering the details of tzara’at, returning to the passage in which Yeshua encounters the metzora, a man who has contracted biblical leprosy. The man requests one thing of Yeshua.

“If you will, you can make me clean” (v. 40).

Notice his request was not healing, but purity.

This is an especially important aspect to the story now weve learned what Leviticus says in regards to tzara’at.

The man must have had advanced stages of tzara’at, because Luke 5:12 describes him as one who was full of leprosy. However, it is reasonable to say that he could not have been completely covered Leviticus 13:12-13 or he would have been considered tahor, ritually pure/clean. If he was already clean/ritually pure, then why would he have need of Yeshua’s touch to make him clean/ritually pure?

With this in mind, this man was still a legitimate metzora and brought uncleanness/ritual impurity upon anyone touching him.

Some teach that although Jesus/Yeshua touched the metzora, He did not become unclean and proved His Divinity.

However, if that is correct and Yeshua could not contract ritual impurity, then He was not truly human?

Scripture says, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

He was not merely human in appearance, but human in every regard.

If we think now with a Hebrew mind would it be true to say thta being in an unclean state was not a new experience for Yeshua? He would have no doubt dealt with this numerous times in His life. Examples being: the woman with the hemorrhage who touched Him; and then He went on to touch Jairus’ dead daughter raising her to life.

Also the raising of the widows son in Nain.

Remember, being ritually unclean is NOT the same as sinning.

His identification with humanity through taking upon Himself flesh and blood allowed for Yeshua/Jesus to truly identify with the temptations and the sufferings of mankind.

Mark tells us that Yeshua was

moved with pity, and therefore “stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, ‘I will; be clean.’”

Called the Leper Messiah by the Rabbis in Accordance to Isaiah 53:4‘Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him a leper, smitten of God, and afflicted.’

Yeshua used this understanding as evidence that He was indeed the long-awaited Messiah when questioned by the disciples of John the Immerser:

And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk,

lepers are cleansed

and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” (Matthew 11:4-5)

Did He became the Leper Messiah for our sake, bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows by intentionally touching the lepers and taking upon himself their afflictions? His skin did not break out in white scabs. However, it seems He did become unclean/ritually impure for the sake of this man. Rather than speaking a word of healing and remaining clean / ritually pure, His compassion and empathy prompted His hand to reach out and touch the impurity of another.

Yeshua not only understood this and demonstrated this, but taught hHs disciples to do likewise by telling them,

Heal the sick, raise the dead,

cleanse lepers,

cast out demons (Matthew 10:8)

With the healing of the leper, Yeshua sends the man away with a mission:

“Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them” (Mark 1:44).

In doing so, Yeshua was commanding the man to travel to Jerusalem (a 2/3 day journey from the Galilee) to be inspected by the priesthood in the Temple. Once he was seen and declared clean, he was to offer up “what Moses commanded” for the purification of a metzora (from Leviticus 14).

This included:

Two live clean birds for purification ceremony

One male lamb for a guilt offering

One female lamb for a sin offering

One male lamb for a burnt offering

Flour and oil for grain offerings

Reading Yeshua’s instructions to this man, it raises some questions

One, if he is already clean, why does he need to show himself to the priesthood and undergo the purification rituals?

This involves an issue of obedience to Torah. Although the man has already been purified, he still needs to be declared clean by the administrating priesthood according to Leviticus 14:1-32. Without the declaration from the priesthood, the man would not be allowed admittance back into his community (or any Jewish community for that matter). Also, to refuse to do so would have been a direct violation of the Torah. In other words, he would have been sinning. By telling the man to show himself to the priesthood, Yeshua upheld the command of Torah which tells the proper procedure for declaring a metzora to be clean

Two, main stream Christianity usually teaches that Yeshua came to do away with the Temple, the priesthood and the sacrificial system/law and that we are under grace alone. so why would Yeshua/Jesus give the man specific instructions to “offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded?”

This involves the priesthood and the sacrificial system. By having the man show himself to the priesthood and offer the prescribed sacrifices in the Torah, Yeshua demonstrated the intended interpretation of his teaching in

Matthew 5:17, in which he said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.”

By doing this He upheld both the commandments and the earthly function of the levitical system. He showed that His soon coming atoning work was not in competition with the levitical priesthood and system, but that His work was greater than these and the very thing upon which they were based/foundation.

His sacrificial death and resurrection were in place long before the creation of the heavens and the earth.

In Revelation, John declared Yeshua to be

the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Rev. 13:8.

It is this pre-existing act of Yeshua on which the entire sacrificial system is based, reflects and points toward?

Three, what was Yeshua hoping to prove to them by sending this man to the priesthood as proof?

This involves evidence submitted to the priesthood.

But what did it point to?

It actually makes a connection to the two previous questions. Yeshua/Jesus remained a lamb without blemish in regard to all of the righteous requirements of His Father, by having the man submit to the commands, the authorities and the procedures given by YaHoVeH in the Torah,

He would have immediately invalidated Himself as the anticipated Messiah and would have broken at least one, if not several, of the commandments and thus become a sinner Himself, if He had ignored or changed any of these procedures or had instructed the man whom He healed to do so. Matthew 5:19

The man would have presented a threefold evidence to the priesthood:

Firstly, that he was indeed healed and could begin the rituals which would allow for him to be declared clean and thus re-enter his community.

Secondly that there was indeed a healer of lepers in Israel, which would have given rise to messianic hope.

Thirdly that Yeshua was indeed qualified as one who could lead his people as the righteous Messiah and not a lawless false prophet who had come to tempt the Israelites away from Torah with signs and wonders. Deuteronomy 13:1-5.

Exodus 29:37. you shall make atonement for the altar and sanctify it and it shall be an altar most holy whatever touches the altar shall be holy.

This is clearly prophetic of Messiah Yeshua.

He is the atonement for sin. Hebrews 9:12.

The part of this story which has relevance to us today is in this scripture.

Lev 6:20 whatever whoever TOUCHES the flesh of the SIN offering becomes HOLY cleansed, sanctified, made atonement for.

He was fulfilling Old Testament – Torah – law and He said

I came to fufil it.

He touches us in our state of sin in the same Way He touched the leper

Whoever touched it became holy. Leviticus 6:18.

As already noted, Leprosy was also a type of sin.

Lashaon hara – evil speech. RA opposite of shalom.

Evil = out of harmony with God and His will.

Healing + Instant cleansing.

The flesh of the sin offering was Jesus/Yeshuas physical body. The human contact, the physical contact, the transference of Gods healing/restoring /redeeming/ cleansing power

The leper touched the flesh of the ultimate SIN offering.

The spotless lamb of God.

The leper was kneeling, submission, homage, respect and with the TOUCH

he was made holy/whole/ kadosh/set apart /cleansed unto the Lord.

His life changed forever he was no longer a leper, no longer a stigma, a named category of society shunned an outcast.

The TOUCH of God

the TOUCH of Messiah

caused his life to take another direction..

towards the priest to be accepted and restored to society.

His sins forgiven. His body restored and healed and

made holy – so that the at one ment with God was redeemed

and broken relationship was re-established.

Whoever touches the flesh of the sin offering becomes holy!

Reach out and Touch Him!

When we come and humble ourselves in a true genuine authentic attitude of repentance with deep Godly sorrow we touch Him and He touches us as our sin offering and we become holy!

When we understand and accept that He is our sin offering we are instantly cleansed.

Because the lamb of God has shed His blood as the ultimate sin offering and

our sins are not only covered but removed forever.

He is also our High Priest, so verse 4 for us is included within our relationship and He presents us to the Father as our mediator.

This is the good news -this is the gospel!

This is the creator of the universe TOUCHING His creation

and bringing us into the kingdom of His heavens.

Eternal love and everlasting life/chaim.

Let Him touch each one of us today.

He is willing

verse 4

I am willing

His life touched the world

His death at Pesach touched the world

His resurrection at First Fruits touched the world

and it has never been the same since because

He is still touching the world today through us.

He touched us and we are made whole and as He resides within us.

He touches others through us and darkness must flee,

light fills the souls that are touched and

human spirits are reborn and reconnected to their heavenly father

reconciliation, restoration, redemption and royalty are the result.

The touch of Yeshua/Jesus is what we need.

The touch of the masters hand

The touch of the saviors love

The touch of the redeemers forgiveness.

And the hope of His return.

IF you need the touch of Yeshua/Jesus

make sure He is given access to the sanctuary of our hearts

let Him in to heal, cleanse and deliver and fill us

that He may in turn touch others through our lives.

He touched me, oh, He touched me

And, oh, what a joy that floods my soul

Something happened and now I know

He touched me and made me whole

adjective שָׁלֵם. complete, entire, intact, perfect, total.

made me whole

in Hebrew is

עשה אותי שלם

שלם

The verb שלם shalem means:

to be or make whole or complete,

and is also used to describe

a righteous recompense

or proper restitution

(whether positive or not).

The familiar noun שלום shalom means:

wholeness, completeness or peace.

Many will be familiar with the older chorus above, never truer than today:

May His true Shalom/Peace

rest upon each one in Jesus/Yeshuas’ Name.

‘Mishpachah’ ‘Family’

משפחה

Mish-pa-KHa Mish-pa-KHa

you are greatly loved and prayed for daily..

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

please make sure you are secure in the knowledge that you are saved….

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past. I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Time To Trust in His Chariots of Fire!

January 10, 2021

While preparing the main meal for this week our Avinu/Fathers Ruach HaKodesh/Holy Spirit, prompted this brief posting for today.

We are all living in very uncertain times and unprecedented events are occurring around us all over the world. Many times we do not hear of all the things that are happening to our brothers and sisters and what Father is overseeing behind the scenes.

We often struggle to live as spiritual beings in this physical universe.

We really have a hard time accepting that this scene in front of our eyes is merely a shadow of things

and

the unseen is our true reality.

It is understandable that we find it difficult to ignore that which is reasonable and logical to our minds.

It means that we have to accept as truth that which our physical senses cannot detect …

however, now we are in Messiah we have the ability to see in the spirit that which is unseeable with our natural eyes.

We need to have faith that Adonai can be trusted implicitly even when there is no physical evidence that He is able to do what He says…and especially when the situation appears impossible… this indeed is a Red Sea moment.

Referring once more to the title He gave for this post…

Time To Trust in His Chariots of Fire!

…there is not another place in the Scriptures where this truth is more clearly revealed.

This tiny glimpse into a moment in Elisha’s life reveals an enormous truth. Yes we are too many times just like Elishas servant because we have difficulty seeing that all around us is the invisible army of God.

We must come to an understanding that regardless of what we see with eyes, the reality of our walk with Yeshua/Jesus is summed up in this……

FEAR NOT

for more are they who are with us

that they who are with them….

We are not supposed to run and hide when the enemy comes against us.

For the Lord will raise up a standard against him if we stay in the place of trust and faith.

His word will not return void Will accomplish what he sends it forth to do.

We often focus on the negative spiritual forces around us and forget that there are twice as many positive spiritual forces in the form of angelic hosts!!

The reality is that We are surrounded by an army always prepared to fight in our defense!

The enemy already knows that God’s Warriors are there and that the only thing he can do is try to make us believe otherwise.

We have to resist these lying whispers and the scripture says he will flee from us as we submit ourselves to Him. James 4:7

Avinu/Father in the name of Yeshua/Jesus You are the King and Lord of all Creation, the Leader of the army of heavens hosts; thank you that you have surrounded us and will protect us from all our enemies. Teach us to stand firm without fear and open our eyes as you did with Gehazi so we may see the mountain covered with horses and chariots of fire.

Help us to see your reality with 2020 vision that we may not trust in what we perceive but what is invisible to our eyes. You are our deliverer, redeemer and our faith and trust is in You, we praise and worship you Father in the precious name of Yeshua/Jesus.

Below are links to Psalms to encourage and comfort.

Psalm 30:4-5 KJVS Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. [5] For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Lets remember to pray and intercede for those in dire circumstances. For example a report a little over 12 hours ago:

There are 200 million in Pakistan without power as Pakistan’s national power grid has failed, leaving almost the entire country in the dark.

“A countrywide blackout has been caused by a sudden plunge in the frequency in the power transmission system,” Pakistani power minister Omar Ayub Khan wrote on Twitter, shortly after the country was plunged into darkness before midnight on Saturday.

This can happen anywhere… at any time…. so

In the event we lose all communications, which would include the internet, remember to stay

in faith

not fear and…

Abba/Avinu/Father, Precious and Holy Are You! We rise and bring our hearts, minds and souls in union with Your Holy Presence here with us. Abba/Avinu/Father, we sing of Your Glory and we lift up Your Holy Name on High! You are our Beloved Father, and we thank You for fresh starts and new beginnings by Your Amazing Grace! Thank You for loving us the way You Do. We worship and adore You!

In Your love, grant to us Your wisdom and patience and protect us all from evil and those intent on doing us harm because of our faith and witness to the truth in Messiah. Bless the hands of those who serve and guard their steps as they carry the message of Salvation to those who are perishing; and send your angels/messengers to watch over all your children..

Abba/Avinu/Father, we plead the Blood of Yeshua HaMashiach/Jesus Christ over each one here in this Family Mishpachah

משפחה

help us to know who our enemies are and to pray for them and to bless them as Yeshu/Jesus Blessed His enemies; pour out Your Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh upon each one of us and keep us in unity, in one accord and in peaceful union through Yeshua/Jesus. Abba/Avin/Father, give us Your courage to stand fast in our faith and the strength to endure what we must for the sake of the Gospel; all for Your Glory and Praise.

Abba/Avinu/Father, we thank You for this Shalom/Peace in Yeshua/Jesus as we study Your Holy Word and rest in the knowledge that You are in control of the universe You created, overseeing every detail.

Thank You for hearing our prayers and for always answering us according to Your Perfect Will; knowing what is best for us. Not our Will but, Your Will be done!

These prayers are lifted to You in the Holy and Mighty Name of Yahusha Ha’Maschiach, Christ Jesus of Nazareth. Amen and Amen.

Avinu, our Heavenly Father is in control! Shalom family and remember you are greatly loved and prayed for daily and His will be done, His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

All being well the next post will be uploaded as soon as it is completed.

It is surely time to trust in His chariots of Fire.

Keep your eyes on Yeshua/Jesus!

Shalom …always…

When reading this passage we have all no doubt always understood Jesus/Yeshua was talking about paying taxes…..but which taxes? …And then, was there something more to the connection with the fish?

It’s a well known story in Matthew where Yeshua/Jesus sends Peter to catch a fish; telling him that there would be money in the fish’s mouth and that they would then use that money to pay the tribute tax for them both.

Matthew 17:24-27 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

This may sound strange to western ears and other than a miracle…how could there be money in a fish’s mouth? Consequently many answer that question by saying just that… God, by way of a miracle, placed some money in that particular fish’s mouth.

These Musht fish basically eat plankton, so at certain times of the year you can find them in very shallow water. At times they do pick up shiny objects, coins, gold etc… Whether this is the fish Peter caught is not certain/proven but it is interesting nevertheless.

Another custom:

Many traditions have grown over the years of throwing coins into a fountain or well for good luck. The Trevi Fountain in Rome is a famous location as well as the Ganges River which is considered a holy river.

In the scriptures Yeshua/Jesus told Peter to go to the sea, Galilee, cast in a hook, and take the first fish that came up. He further told him that when he opened the fish’s mouth he would find a piece of money.

Peter was a fisherman and possibly was well aware that this type of fish could have a coin in its mouth but that it was a rare thing to catch one.

Consequently, it may not have been such an amazing miracle that the fish had a coin in its mouth; but rather the more amazing miracle being that it was the very first and only fish that Peter caught!

Just as Peter did, we can have confidence in the promises of our Heavenly Father, by accepting that what He has promised is true and believing that He can and will supply all our needs. Furthermore we should not limit the manner in which He meets those needs.

The scripture tells us that the reason Peter had to find the fish was to pay the taxes but which tax?

While they were in Capernaum, those who collected tribute money approached Peter and asked, “Doth not your master pay tribute?” (v. 24).

Peter, answered the question in v. 25. However in reading the verse carefully..

He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying,

when Peter went to tell Yeshua/Jesus, Who it says was in the house,

He prevented him,

or anticipated him,

revealing His omniscience.

This is a gentle reminder that wherever we are, Messiah is the silent witness of our conversations and even what we think are our private thoughts. He asks Peter a question saying in other words:

Kings do not normally charge tax to members of their own family, but they do charge taxes from their subjects. Which am I?

An interesting question which, when we recall when Peter had declared just before in the previous chapter,

Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 16:16.

Was this highlighting a change from His earlier confession? Again possibly a gentle reminder that as disciples we often live so differently from our con­fession without thinking twice about it.

Is this also the reason that Yeshua/Jesus called him Simon in verse 25, that being Peter’s former name and a reference to the fact he had acted so eas­ily and quickly according to his old nature?

We all need to be continually doing what Rom.12:2 encourages us to do….. renewing of our minds.

He says to Peter, What thinkest thou?

or as we might say,

What are you thinking?

We need our minds to be on the things of God and not be distracted from what He has asked us to be doing.

It is recorded that every Jewish male over the age of 20 was required to pay the temple tax each year and the money was used for the upkeep and maintenance of the temple. In Exodus 30:13–16,

In Yeshua/Jesus day, the Temple tax

literally. מחצית השקל – the half shekel,

was a tax paid by Israelites and Levites which went towards the upkeep of the Temple in Jerusalem/Yerushalayim.

Yeshua/Jesus pointed out that a king does not order his own son/family to pay taxes.

The money collected for the temple tax was a fund also used to help the poor, which Messiah would not have objected to. Peter would have thought that Yeshua/Jesus as his rabbi was teaching him something in this situation.

Which coin was it?

How many times we read a passage and still miss some deeper meaning Matthew 22:20-21 for example

And He said unto them, whose is this image and superscription? They say unto Him, Caesars. Then saith he unto them Render unto Caesars the things which are Caesars and unto God the things that are God’s.

The drachma was given for the roman tax.

Looking at the whole scenario a little more carefully, the Pharisees and Herodians were on a quest to trap Jesus/Yeshua in any way they could and this time they really thought they had Him trapped when they asked Him about paying taxes.

With the Roman guards no doubt standing nearby and the Pharisees also within hearing distance, a Pharisee asked Yeshua/Jesus if it was right to pay a tithe or 10% to the Roman government in taxes.

Why?

Because If He said yes, the Jewish leaders/Pharisees, would condemn Him for giving support to a pagan government and they would probably have brought Him before the Sanhedrin accusing Him of being a law breaker.

It was taught by oral law, not the written Torah Law, but the law as man wrote it, that to pay a tax was to pay a tithe and you could only tithe to God, not man.

Paying tax to a foreign government was considered as the same thing as paying a tithe to the government which was not forbidden by Mosaic law but it was by the Traditions of the Fathers.

Torah Law taught you were to give 10% of your earnings in a tithe. Tithe means ten and strangely coincidental, the Roman government demanded that you pay 10% of your income in taxes! So to pay the government 10% was like paying a tithe and the oral law forbade paying taxes that equaled 10%.

If Messiah answered no it implied He agreed with the teachings of the Tradition of the Fathers…then the Roman government could arrest Him for treason and for being disloyal to the Roman government and inciting others to also rebel!

Why did His response cause the reaction it did from the Pharisees and Herodians? When Yeshua/Jesus said: Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar and to God that which is Gods. Matthew 22:20-21

Wasn’t He saying that it was alright to pay the taxes? Meaning in so many words.. just pay taxes with Roman money and not the coins issued by the temple.

Didn’t His enemies have Him right where they wanted Him?

Why did Yeshua/Jesus call them hypocrites in verse 18?

Reading around this subject in Jewish literature there is an interesting note about the 2nd commandment. Exodus 20:4: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image in the likeness that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the sea.”

Thou shalt not make…

The word make in Hebrew is ashah which is followed by the word leka which means to you.

Ashah leka has the idea of taking something unto yourself.

So You are not

to take for yourselves any graven images.

The word for graven image is pesel

Pesel letters: Pei Sade Lamed

which means:

to carve out and fashion something that is seen.

This carving or engraving could be done with wood or metal.

This is telling us that we are not to take upon ourselves anything that is fashioned to take on the representation which is a likeness or physical manifestation of anything in the heavens above or the earth below or in the sea.

This commandment is instructing the Jews to have no other gods before God Jehovah. They are not even to make that is the Hebrew word pasal which is an engraving or carving and it is not to be made for your own personal possession.

Obviously people recognized that a coin made of metal had an image engraved upon it however if that image was in the likeness of someone who was considered a god, then for a Jewish person to have or even carry with them such a coin meant they were violating the 2nd commandment.

What did Messiah say? He asked the Pharisee if he had a coin.

Yeshua/Jesus asked the Pharisee to show Him a coin, he took out and showed Him a coin with Caesar’s image or likeness on it.

When asked whose picture was on the coin. He said Caesars. Then Yeshua/Jesus said: Render unto Caesar that which is Caesars and to God that which is God’s.

As noted the first century, coins are called the Tribute coin and it has engraved on it the picture or image of Caesar Augustus Tiberius and the inscription

“Caesar Augustus Tiberius, Son of the Divine Augustus.”

This was blasphemous to a Jew as it was claiming that Caesar Augustus Tiberius was a god and also by carrying this coin with him the Pharisee was in violation of the 2nd commandment.

Messiah cleverly used their own Oral Tradition and their own twist on the Torah to trap them instead; and in his enthusiasm to trap Yeshua/Jesus, by having such a coin, he was admitting to a form of idolatry.

Apparently, their teaching pointed out that to ‘carry such a coin’ meant he worshipped that specific god. The Jews interpret this to mean that you cannot even possess an image of anything that declares himself or herself to be a god.

It is possible that this Pharisee could not read the Latin words, because it says on the coin:

Caesar Augustus Tiberius, son of the Divine Augustus?!

So, by having and carrying that coin he was declaring in other words, that he worshipped a Roman god which was Roman money.

Matthew 17:24-27
And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

Was this highlighting a change from His earlier confession? Again possibly a gentle reminder that as disciples we often live so differently from our confession without thinking twice about it.

Is this also the reason that Yeshua/Jesus called him Simon in verse 25, that being Peter’s former name and a reference to the fact he had acted so easily and quickly according to his old nature?

At the same time Yeshua/Jesus put the correct understanding onto the 2^nd commandment when He said, Render unto Caesar that which is Caesars, it was not a simple reference to paying taxes with Roman currency, it was speaking of worship.