Instructions On Leprosy

'And if the priest sees that the scab has indeed spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy.'
Leviticus 13:8 NKJV

When many people look at the word leprosy they think of Hansen’s disease.  Although in biblical times Hansen’s disease did exist we must understand that when we see the word leprosy in the Bible it is not always associated with just Hansen’s disease.  We see this as we read and discover that the word leprosy is also associated with clothing and buildings. 

'And he shall examine the plague on the seventh day. If the plague has spread in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, in the leather or in anything made of leather, the plague is an active leprosy. It is unclean. '
Leviticus 13:51 NKJV

'then the priest shall come and look; and indeed if the plague has spread in the house, it is an active leprosy in the house. It is unclean. '

Leviticus 14:44

The word translated as leprosy in Hebrew is the word sara’at.  As we can see it is a term that is generic for a plague that is on the skin of a person, on clothing, or on a house.  Medical science is catching up to what the Torah has been instructing us.  With modern medical science we learn about pathogens that can spread through surfaces.  There are instructions in the Torah about taking the sick and putting them in quarantine.

'But if the bright spot is white on the skin of his body, and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and its hair has not turned white, then the priest shall isolate the one who has the sore seven days. '
Leviticus 13:4

It is the grace and mercy of our Lord to give us instructions, even before we understand it, on how to avoid pathogens that could ultimately kill us.  Imagine if the Lord would not give us this part of the Torah.  By giving us this part and all of Torah the Lord helps us understand the dangers that are in this fallen world so that we can choose life. 

'I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; '
Deuteronomy 30:19

The Error of Dispensationalism

'And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, '
Romans 11:17 NKJV

11. 'Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—
12. that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.'
Ephesians 2:11-13 NKJV

I want to focus on the two most common, among Christians, the idea of dispensationalism.  Many groups may believe in one or both ideas that I will discuss.  The two most common are replacement theology and duel doctrine.  The main error in this belief is that God has a different plan for Israel than he has for the Church. 

Replacement theology is one of the main beliefs people have.  Replacement theology basically states that the Church has replaced Israel.  This belief did not just come in modern times but was around during the time of the disciples.  Yeshua gave John a vision on the Island of Patmos and gave a message to the Church of Philadelphia.  In this message he warns of people calling themselves Jews who are not Jews.   

'Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. '
Revelation 3:9 NKJV

Duel doctrine is another belief people have that is in error.  This belief is basically that God has a different plan for Israel than he does for the Church.  This error of belief is usually found in the pre-tribulation rapture theory.  The pre-tribulation rapture theory can cause people to believe they don’t really have to witness to the Jews because in the end times that is when they will find Yeshua and be saved.  It is true that the end times will be a time of a great revival the world has not yet seen, especially for Israel, but this is not a reason to ignore witnessing to the Jewish people. 

One well known pastor, which I will not mention, had explained one time that Yeshua did not come for the Jews.  If it is true that Yeshua did not come for the Jews then it would lead a person to believe that the gospel is not for the Jew.  This of course is completely in error and is definitely a false teaching. 

'But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Matthew 15:24 NKJV

Paul even tells us that we must bring the gospel to the Jews first then the Greek.

'For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Romans 1:16 NKJV

Using a theology or doctrine that basically drives us to ignore the Jewish people is wrong.  Two verses I provided in the beginning helps us see that Israel is not replaced nor is there a different destiny for Israel.  Yes we are adopted into the common wealth of Israel: so, we are Israel.  But, let us remember, in proper context, we are grafted into Israel.  Therefore, the Gentile Christinan Church did not replace Israel but joined the Messianic Jewish Congregation to become the one new man as described in Ephesians. Both Jew and Gentile reap the benefits of belonging to the commonwealth of Israel.

Be Strong In The Lord

6. 'So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,

7. “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8. And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ '

Exodus 5:6-8

God directs Moses to talk to Pharaoh and request that Pharaoh let God’s people go to make sacrifices.  How frustrating it must have been for God’s people to endure the increased labor that was set on them.  Many of us are so focused on just part of the picture that we don’t see all of the picture.  We ask the Lord to set us free from our own bondage and when our labor increases we complain.  We must learn to realize that when God moves the enemy will move as well.  And yet so many of us will act just like the Israelite's did when their labor was increased.

'And they said to them, “Let the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.”'

Exodus 5:21

'And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. '

Exodus 4:21

It is interesting to discover that God hardened Pharaohs heart.  Did God want to set His people free from bondage?  Of course God wanted His people to be free however, God had to work on Pharaoh and God’s children so that both parties would be ready.  Pharaoh had to reach a point where Pharaoh himself would drive the Israelite's out of Egypt and at the same time God’s children would want to leave as well.

'Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”'

Exodus 6:1

When we reach a point in our lives that staying where we are becomes so uncomfortable it might be a sign that God is about to move us.  We must learn to prepare for the move instead of resisting the signs that is indicating our move.  Remember God wants to lead us away from bondage and into a place called paradise. 

'Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”'

Joshua 1:9

God's Love Protects, Guides, and Feeds

17. 'Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”

18. So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.'

Exodus 13:17-18 NKJV

We see God wanted to protect His children by directing them to a path that is safe.  God knew that the sons of Israel were not ready to deal with the problems that would come by going through the land of the Philistines.  God knowing the Israelite’s hearts knew they would just run back to Egypt and become slaves once again.  We know that later God directs the sons of Israel to go to war with the very people he had them avoid but God knew the Israelite’s were not ready.  The Israelite’s did not know how to fight yet because they were slaves and had not been trained in the art of war. 

In verse 18 we see that the Israelite’s went the way God directed in orderly ranks.  I want to focus on the word orderly because the Hebrew word for orderly is chamush.  Chamush means in battle array, arrayed for battle by fives, and or armed.  God had the sons of Israel walk as if they were going to battle.  God was training the sons of Israel already to later be able to handle the wars that were to come.  God was showing them that He not only directs them but also teaches them what they need.

19. 'And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.

20. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.'

Exodus 14:19-20 NKJV

We see God protecting the sons of Israel in a supernatural way.  The Angel of God placed himself between the Israelite’s and the Egyptians.  The Angel of God appeared as a pillar of cloud that on one side was dark and the other gave light.  God showed his wrath toward His enemy and at same time showed light, that can be a representation of God’s love, to His children.

24. 'Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians.

25, And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”'

Exodus 14:24-25 NKJV

We see here that God fights for the Israelite’s and it is in such a way that the Egyptians knew who was fighting them.  There are times in our life that we forget we have a God who will fight for us.  We become so afraid over our situation we forget to call on God.  When we learn to look to God and trust Him for help we will then see a path that is presented to us in supernatural ways.  We must also trust God to walk that path because it will be the very same path that will take out our enemies.  Only God can have a path that means safety for us and destruction against our enemies at the same time. 

'“I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ ”'

Exodus 16:12 NKJV

The Lord loves us and is open to our complaints.  He did not take their complaints as an act against Him but understood they had needs.  God being a loving God provided food for His children.  In the wilderness God provided bread for the Israelite’s which foreshadows the bread He gives to the world.

32. 'Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

33. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34. Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”

35. And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. '

John 6:32-35 NKJV

The bread that was given to the Israelite’s in the wilderness foreshadows Yeshua the messiah being the bread of life.  God loves us all so much that he sent the bread of life, His son, so that we may have eternal life.

The Feast of Trumpets

"Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God.”"

Numbers 10:10

Notice how we are commanded to blow our trumpets at the beginning of every month as a memorial for us before our God.  The Lord wants to make sure we do not forget him and that we worship him at the appointed times.  It is amazing how our God makes it so easy he even tells us how and when to worship him.  We also see that our God desires us to be happy.   Notice how in Numbers 10:10 it starts with in the day of your gladness.  This tells me that God desires us to be happy.

"“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation."

Leviticus 23:24

God already ordered us to blow our trumpets at the beginning of every month.  There must be something more special about why he had to command us again to blow our trumpets at the first day of the seventh month.  Many people call this day the Feast of Trumpets.  When we read Numbers 29 and Leviticus 23 we later find instructions concerning the Day of Atonement.  The Day of Atonement is on the tenth day of the seventh month which is ten days after the Feast of Trumpets. 

"‘And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets."

Numbers 29:1

"also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, to make atonement for you;"

Numbers 29:5

As we look further into the Feast of Trumpets we see that one of God’s instructions is to present one kid of the goats as a sin offering.  This sin offering is to make atonement for our sins.  Because the Feast of Trumpets starts by making atonement for our sins and later we are instructed to bring a sacrifice for the Day of Atonement is why many call this period ten days of awe or ten days of repentance. 

Many people believe that the Feast of Trumpets is foreshadowing Yeshua’s second coming.  Leviticus 23 describes six feasts and they are divided into two season.  Three of the feasts are in the spring so many people call them the Spring Feasts.  Three of the feasts are in the fall so many people call them the Fall Feasts.  When Yeshua first came to earth many people see how He fulfilled the Spring Feast.  They are currently waiting for Him to fulfill the Fall Feasts and believe that the Feast of Trumpets marks the beginning of that fulfillment.  

God's Love Through Tithing

“When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year—the year of tithing—and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled,

Deuteronomy 26:12

As I am learning about God and His laws I am realizing that our understanding of Him and His laws are wrong.  It is such a great joy to learn who our God really is because what man has taught us has corrupted the way we see God.  What man has taught us is that the true love of God had not come until Yeshua our Messiah had come.  That God was someone who just gave us laws that we could not fulfill.  I am understanding that God was and is always love. 

When we are instructed to not touch a hot stove how do we take that instruction?  Do we understand in many ways that the instruction is also a law?  We are more than grateful to receive that law to not touch a hot stove because we fully understand why that law was given. 

I believe what has happened is that man at times does not understand why our God has given us the laws and or instructions.  Instead of seeking to understand the laws we have justified away reasons to not follow them.  We begin to believe that it is impossible to follow what the Lord had commanded us.  I believe that our Lord will not command us and or give us laws that we could not follow.  Seeking to understand the laws God has given us may help us see that it was His love and to keep us from harm like instructions to not touch a hot stove. 

God had instructed us to tithe and many of us really do not understand the reason.   We must first understand when God instructed to tithe it was not money but food he had asked us to give.  Deuteronomy 26:12 helps us to see that God’s desire was to give food to the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.  God has always and is still working though His people to pour out His love to others. 

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Philippians 2:13

So following His laws is God working through us to help and to show love to others.  We were chosen to be the Lords hands and the Lords feet.  Let us learn to show love toward others by following what the Lord commands.  We may not fully understand God’s laws but at least let us see them as God’s love for us.  

Baruk Haba Bashem Adoni

for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed  is  He who comes in the name of the Lord !’ ”
Matthew 23:39 NKJV

בָּר֣וּךְ הַ֭בָּא בְּשֵׁ֣ם ייְהוָ֑ה

Hebrew reads from right to left instead of how we read from left to right. Anyone interested may look at the Hebrew words I just posted from right to left.  This is Hebrew for blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.  The way to speak it sounds like baruk haba bashem Adoni.

Realizing what Yeshua said and understanding the history of how the Jews were treated started to make sense to me.  Do not get me wrong I do understand that Lucifer is also attacking the believers in Yeshua however there are much more attacks against the Jews.  It seems to me that it does not matter if gentiles come to know Yeshua versus Jews coming to know Yeshua.  I see a strategy and attacks used against the Jews coming to know Yeshua.

One of the strategies used is for Lucifer to use the church against all Jews.  We see in history that the church has threatened and even killed the Jews for not converting to Christianity.  The anti-Semitism in Church history I believe has tainted our view and interpretations of scripture.  I also believe it has influenced the way we see and understand Yeshua.

Because of the Church’s history in their anti-Semitism it has also caused the Jews to reject Yeshua as their Messiah.  If the common belief among Christianity, due to historical influence against the Jews, presents Yeshua in a way that is against Deuteronomy 13, we are able to see why so many Jews reject Yeshua as Messiah.  Deuteronomy 13 tells us, in summary, that even if a person shows miracles and predicts the future the true test is if the person teaches us to follow God or false idols.

Many of us are taught that the things in the old testament especially Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy no longer apply to us.  We are taught that some of those things were just for that time and for the Israelites before Yeshua.  Many are taught and believe that once Yeshua came many of the rules changed.  As I showed in my earlier posts this is a false belief because all of God's Word still applies today.

And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Exodus 19:6 NKJV

Israel was chosen to be a special nation.  Their job was to be a nation of priests and as priests they were to show God to all nations.   Paul describes everyone having different gifts to be used.  Some were to be preachers and healers and other gifts were given to each person.  As a nation Israel has a gift to share God to the World.  Now understand in context those who believe in Yeshua are adopted in the seed of Abraham.   Therefore they are also able to receive and partake all the promises given to Abraham and his seed.

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:29 NKJV

Many who take this truth out of context will teach and believe a theology called replacement theology.  This theology teaches that the Church is now the chosen people of God and that Israel is now replaced with the Church.  They use some of Paul's letters that explains how Israel rejects Yeshua, so salvation comes to the gentiles.  They do not stress that Paul states that it is to provoke the Jews to jealousy so that they would come to Yeshua.  Also, if the believers are adopted then they are not a replacement.

I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has  come to the Gentiles.
Romans 11:11 NKJV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Romans 1:16 NKJV

Many do not stress that Paul says to the Jews first.  Again I write Paul states that the gospel is to the Jews first.  So God has not replaced and or abandoned His people.  In context those who believe in Yeshua as Messiah have a duty to spread the gospel to the Jews.  Again in Church history the influence of anti-Semitism has kept many of us from sharing the gospel to a Jew.   We also must understand that we may have a wrong understanding of Yeshua because of Church history.  We must discover the truth of who Yeshua really is so we can in truth share to the Jews their Messiah.

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
Romans 10:14 NKJV

In context Yeshua saying he will not return until Israel calls on His name and Paul urging us to spread the gospel to the Jews is why we can understand Lucifer's attacks are mainly toward the Jews.  For the Jews to realize who their Messiah is and call on His name, Lucifer would lose.  Let us join the fight against Lucifer and learn to share the true gospel of Yeshua not just to anyone but also to the Jews.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord ! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord .
Psalms 118:26 NKJV

Baruk haba bashem Adoni.
בָּר֣וּךְ הַ֭בָּא בְּשֵׁ֣ם ייְהוָ֑ה