I was reminded in an email today that Jews are about community. We must stick together in pain, success, loss, religion, even politics, be they right or left, right or wrong for the health of Israel. It’s about doing what we do together or, as I call it, going along to get along. But that seems rather lame. Especially in the light of so many Jews who do not support Zion at all. And in the light of those who have never read the Tanakh but swear that they are keeping the commandments given by God to Moses, when really what they call Torah is that which has been handed down by “holy men” and sages, perhaps modernized to fit the needs of society today. But that seems rather woke, and pardon me for saying so!
I mean, how can I enjoy a Shabbat meal keeping my mouth shut at the table with 10 other people who believe the government of Israel needs to be done away with and don’t mind saying so? When I hear friends spouting socialist ideas that they think are best for Israel, shall I keep quiet and let them carry on with their dangerous ideals? Shall I pretend to agree? So is this what it means to be a good Jew? So inside I am boiling over and I daren’t do anything about it! And I ask myself, since when was keeping peace with people who declare war against everything you believe in, the right thing to do? I say let there be a flaming argument, let there be war amongst friends before we head off as a mixed multitude to fight a real war!
I took a short class in Gemara about 15 years ago. It was definitely interesting, but I remember Tuesday night discussions at our synagogue in Tacoma, Washington where we looked at topics like stealing, lying, etc. The night we read about finding an item of value, lost by its owner, we read several rabbinic opinions. One stated that if the item was found on a beach with sand, there was no need to return it, even if you saw it fall from the hand of the one who lost it. There were at least two other opinions, but, this stuck in my mind as finding a loophole to be dishonest. The explanation was that since the person would never return to look for it, knowing full well that the tide would bury it, then it was right to keep it. Finders keepers, even if you knew who lost it! And that didn’t set well with me.
Many of us believe that we came into this world with a sense of right and wrong instilled in our souls! Innocence often disappears when we justify things. And yet there is a promise that the Eternal will place His Covenant in our hearts someday.
“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith YHVH: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” – Jer 31:33
What I said in my introduction about going along to get along, about people becoming more and more woke in this generation…how can this work out for a holy life? I think not!–unless if we all have the laws of the Torah written in our hearts? And clearly humanity is not there yet.
Can going along to get along ever lead to righteousness? It doesn’t, not when the heart is full of self-justification. Today’s world is full of this. How about the narcissistic birthday party where a Jewish woman works all day Shabbat preparing the house and getting things ready for a several course meal with 30 + guests to come in the evening to celebrate her birthday? Where did the blessing of the Sabbath go? How can anyone know what is right, and what is wrong if self is in the center of the picture? If what is important is what is good for me?
The prophet Jeremiah is pointing to a time after a nationwide repentance when hearts are filled with the love of the Eternal and love for mankind. It may have to start on an individual basis.
But how do we get there? Some say: “that is why we have rabbis.” “To keep us on the derech.” Yes, that is what has been and will be for humanity until something happens to make it otherwise. In Bible times, there were priests and Levites who had officials who decided on cases and later there was a Sanhedrin set up to judge the people. Today there are rabbis for Jews and ministers for Christians, and of course, other religions have their methods for keeping their congregants in line.
But frankly, Jeremiah, we are not on course yet! And I wonder if we will ever be. How many years of trying to fit in are we going to see before the world self-detonates or something happens so that we will get it right? When will we seek our Creator with all our hearts, admitting that we have been off the derech for too long? As a people, we have followed many things that seem to be traditions at best. What is the will of the Almighty God of the Universe? How do we find it? Will we all die thinking that we are serving Him when we don’t even know His name nor what He originally said? What a surprise it would be to wake up in the hereafter and find that most of what we were taught stemmed from the sick imagination of mystics and self-proclaimed leaders!
Can we know YHVH for ourselves? I believe with all my heart that when we seek Him, we will find Him, and we will be attuned to His desires for us.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith YHVH, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end. 12 And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith YHVH, and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith YHVH; and I will bring you again unto the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” – Jer 29:11-14
But the first step? Maybe go read the Bible through for the first time. Without commentaries.
¿Cuánto de lo que creemos que ocurrió en la historia fue escrito por aquellos que querían contar su versión de los hechos, incluso cuando no era toda la verdad? Las víctimas de la guerra rara vez llegan a contar su historia y, aun ahora, mientras enfrentamos una guerra existencial en el Medio Oriente, las historias del Holocausto están siendo borradas por los medios liberales de izquierda. Sistemas enteros promueven la idea de que Auschwitz nunca ocurrió y algunos llegan incluso a afirmar que el Israel sionista de hoy ha reemplazado a los nazis en sus intentos de presentar la autodefensa y la preservación como “genocidio”—¡“genocidio”! nada menos—afirmado por la destrucción de un grupo enloquecido de terroristas cuya única visión de su guerra santa para destruir a nuestro pueblo y a cualquiera que no sea musulmán es ser llamado “infiel”. Esta mentalidad no permite que se escuche la verdad. La propaganda mediática pinta a Israel con los tonos más oscuros, acusando al pueblo judío de las mismas cosas que sus enemigos planean hacerles. Detrás de ello hay una fuerza maligna dedicada a erradicar la verdad y al pueblo llamado a preservarla en la tierra. ¿Cómo evolucionaron los medios de comunicación tradicionales hasta el punto de presentar como verdad únicamente la voz de quienes nos odian? ¿Por qué hay tan pocas voces que se alcen para defender y alentar a la pequeña nación que ha luchado por sobrevivir desde que regresó a poseer la tierra prometida a ellos y a sus antepasados? ¿Cómo los terroristas fanáticos y violentos—asesinos de bebés, si se quiere—se han convertido en víctimas inocentes a quienes deberíamos proteger y apoyar? Ester—Un mito que moldea nuestra guerra Gran parte de la fortaleza del pueblo de Israel proviene de la lucha interna por sobrevivir y cumplir el mandato de ser una luz para las naciones, de proporcionar un ejemplo de rectitud en medio de un mundo lleno de maldad y corrupción. Vemos milagros diarios de Aquel que cuida los asuntos del mundo y está profundamente involucrado en lo que prometió a Abraham hace más de 3500 años: la tierra de Israel y sus descendientes como poseedores de esa tierra. Pero, por supuesto, no se trataba solo de un pueblo viviendo pacíficamente en la tierra, sino de un pueblo que transformaría el mundo en uno que abrace la rectitud. Pero, ¿cuál es la verdad que deben abrazar aquellos que lideran el mundo? ¿Cuál fue el pacto que los judíos debían guardar? ¿Fue dado en el Sinaí? ¿Hemos despreciado de alguna manera ese pacto? Comprender la verdad es esencial para saber de dónde venimos y hacia dónde vamos. Hay muchas historias—midrashim, si se quiere—que no tienen base histórica. Historia que no es historia real, pues lo que realmente ocurrió está disfrazado en mitos y midrashim. ¿A qué nos aferramos como ejemplos del pasado que nos animen a avanzar más allá de la mera supervivencia de nuestro pueblo y la creación de un estatus en el mundo que ilumine y traiga la paz definitiva? ¿Pero cuál es el peligro de olvidar lo que realmente sucedió y seguir las historias que la mayoría de nuestros líderes promueven? ¿Alguna vez la mayoría ha tenido razón y qué se nos dice realmente sobre seguir a la mayoría? Éxodo 23: “No seguirás a la multitud para hacer el mal; ni responderás en una causa inclinándote hacia la multitud para pervertir el juicio.” El hecho de que algo se haya enseñado durante muchos años no significa que sea verdad. ¿Dónde están los verificadores de hechos de la historia? Especialmente de la historia de la religión. Pero, ¿dónde podemos encontrar la verdadera historia si ha sido alterada para enseñar lo que la multitud de maestros quiere imponernos? ¿Josefo? ¿Los libros de los Macabeos? ¿Los Rollos del Mar Muerto? Un midrash en particular que aprendí hace muchos años, Chamsa y Bar Hamsa, descubrí que era un encubrimiento de lo que realmente sucedió. Nunca aprenderás esto de la historia real. A veces, la pluma de los antiguos escribas se sumergía en sus tinteros para insertar cosas que pueden o no ser completamente ciertas, incluso en nuestra Santa Biblia. Examinemos el libro de Ester. ¿Resiste la luz del resto de las Escrituras? Y si es siquiera parcialmente cierto, ¿proclama las obras del Cielo o las obras de los judíos? De hecho, el nombre del Todopoderoso ni siquiera se menciona en el libro de Ester. Muchos dicen que Él estaba allí obrando tras bambalinas, pero ¿lo estaba realmente o siquiera ocurrió? ¿Podemos encontrar evidencia en la historia? Mientras escribo esto, acabamos de terminar de celebrar la festividad de Purim. El libro bíblico de Ester nos habla especialmente en este tiempo en que los judíos deben luchar por sus propias vidas y las de aquellos vecinos que desean libertad de la tiranía. Israel se está convirtiendo en una potencia más fuerte de lo que ha sido en los últimos 2000 años. Algunos dicen que tomamos nuestra inspiración de la historia de Ester. Pero si retrocedemos y analizamos el libro de Ester y lo que realmente dice, vemos que ocurrió en un tiempo en que muchos judíos se negaron a regresar a la tierra de Israel cuando Ciro el Grande abrió el camino para ellos y ayudó a financiar la reconstrucción del Segundo Templo. La historia de Ester ocurrió, según nuestras mejores fuentes, alrededor del año 473 a.C. Esto fue 65 años después de que Ciro decretara en 538 a.C. que los judíos debían regresar a Israel y reconstruir su templo. ¿Por qué estos judíos permanecieron en Persia? ¿Y por qué la historia de su éxito sobre sus enemigos allí, en la diáspora de la antigua Persia? Para mí, la historia es una justificación para permanecer en la diáspora y continuar viviendo según las costumbres de las naciones, usando el engaño y una trama romántica novedosa para destruir a quienes querían destruirlos. Nuevamente, ¿por qué seguían en Persia? ¿Y qué estaba ocurriendo entonces? Sabemos por el Tanaj que había facciones que luchaban contra la construcción del Templo. Evidentemente, no sabemos cuánto de la historia fue cambiado al escribirse para que las generaciones futuras lo asimilaran. También hay un problema con los nombres Ester y Mardoqueo. Ester proviene de la diosa Astarté y Mardoqueo de Marduk, un dios famoso en ese tiempo. ¿Cómo puede ser correcto ocultarse bajo la influencia de otros dioses? Debo admitir que es una historia fantástica con un final satisfactorio. Si hubiera ocurrido antes del decreto de Ciro, sentiría más apoyo hacia ella. Si los nombres de los protagonistas no fueran los de deidades paganas, me interesaría más. Se lee como una novela y muy probablemente lo sea. Purim es una época divertida del año, aparte del ayuno, que yo nunca hago de todos modos. ¿Para qué ayunamos? ¿Tradición? ¿Memoria? Pero dado que es muy difícil encontrar una Ester real en fuentes históricas auténticas, quizá—solo quizá—sea un mito, algo escrito para mantener a los judíos viviendo entre las naciones sin vergüenza. Venir a Israel nunca ha sido fácil. Requiere un cambio casi total de mentalidad—un sacrificio de mucho de lo que apreciamos profundamente. La tierra misma devora a sus habitantes, como afirmaron los diez espías en su momento. Sin embargo, al contemplarla ahora con otros ojos, la tierra produce abundantemente para todos los que la aman. Es una buena tierra y, a pesar de la manipulación y las mentiras de las naciones y de nuestro propio liderazgo, que a menudo suplica la aprobación de América o Europa, la tierra es buena y proveerá para nosotros. ¡Dios nos ayudará a tener la fuerza para creer, como Josué y Caleb, que somos plenamente capaces de poseer esta tierra y de vencer al enemigo tanto fuera como dentro de Israel!
Was she real? Was she a justification to live outside the LAND?
How much of what we believe happened in history was written by those who wanted to tell their side of a story, even when it wasn’t the full truth? The victims of warfare rarely get to write their story and even now as we face an existential war in the Middle East, the stories of the Holocaust are being erased by the liberal left-wing media. Entire systems promote the idea that Auschwitz never happened and some go so far as to claim that Zionist Israel today has replaced the Nazis in their attempts to frame self defense and preservation as “genocide”–”Genocide!” no less, claimed for the destruction of a crazed group of terrorists whose sole vision of their holy war to destroy our people and anyone who is not Muslim is called “infidel”. This mentality does not allow truth to be heard.
Media propaganda paints Israel in the darkest of hues, accusing the Jewish people of the very things that their enemies scheme to do to them. Behind it is an evil force dedicated to eradicating truth and the people called to preserve the truth from the earth. How did the MSM evolve to the point that it now presents as truth only the voice of those who hate us? Why are there so few voices raised to defend and encourage the small nation that has fought for survival ever since returning to possess the land promised to them and their ancestors? How did violent fanatical terrorists, baby killers if you will, become innocent victims that we should protect and support?
Esther–A Myth that Shapes our Warfare?
Much of the strength of the Israeli people comes from the internal struggle to survive and fulfill the command that they are to be a light to the nations, to provide an example of righteousness amidst a world filled with evil and corruption. We see daily miracles from One who looks after the affairs of the world and is deeply involved in what He promised to Abraham over 3500 years ago–the land of Israel and his descendents as possessors of that land. But of course it wasn’t just about a people living peacefully in the land, but about a people who would transform the world into a world that embraces righteousness. But what is the truth that should be embraced by those who lead the world? What was the covenant that the Jews were to keep? Was it given on Sinai? Have we somehow despised that covenant?
Understanding truth is essential to knowing where we have been and where we are going. There are a lot of stories–Midrashim, if you will, that do not have any historic basis. History that is not real history for what really happened is disguised in Myths and Midrashim.
What is it that we cling to as examples in the past that encourage us to push forward beyond mere survival of our people and a creation of a status in the world that will enlighten and bring about ultimate Peace? But what is the danger of forgetting what really happened and going with the stories that the majority of our leaders promote? Has the majority ever been right and what are we really told about following the majority?
Exo 23: “2 Thou shalt not follow the multitude for evil; neither shalt thou answer in a cause, to go after the multitude to pervert judgment.”
The fact that something has been taught for many years does not mean it is truth. Where are the fact checkers for history? Especially the history of religion? But where can we find true History if it has been doctored up to teach what the multitude of teachers want to impress upon us? Josephus? The books of the Maccabees? The Dead Sea Scrolls?
A particular Midrash that I learned many years ago, Chamsa and Bar Hamsa, I found to be a cover-up to what really happened. You will never learn this from real history.
Sometimes the pen of ancient scribes dipped into their inkpots to insert things that may and may not be fully true even in our Holy Bible. Let’s examine the book of Esther. Does it stand up to the light of the rest of Scripture? And if it is even partially true, does it proclaim the works of Heaven or the works of the Jews? In fact the name of the Almighty is not even mentioned in the book of Esther. Most say that He was there working behind the scenes but was He or did it even happen? Can we find evidence in History?
As I write this, we have just finished celebrating the holiday of Purim. The Biblical book of Esther speaks to us especially at this time when Jews must fight for their very lives and the lives of those neighbors who desire freedom from tyranny. Israel is becoming a power stronger than it has been for over the past 2000 years.
Some say we take our inspiration from the story of Esther. But if we back up and analyse the book of Esther and what it is really saying, we see that Esther happened at a time when many of the Jews refused to return to the land of Israel when Cyrus the great opened the way for them and helped fund the rebuilding of the second temple. Esther and her story happened, according to our best sources, around the year 473 BCE. This was 65 years after Cyrus decreed 538 BCE that the Jews should return to Israel and rebuild their temple. Why did these Jews remain in Persia? And why the story of their success over their enemies there in the Diaspora of ancient Persia?
For me the story is a justification to remain in the Diaspora and to continue living in the ways of the nations, using trickery and a novel romantic plot to destroy those who would destroy them. Again, why were they still in Persia? And what was going on then? We know from the Tenakh that there were factions that fought against the building of the Temple. We obviously do not know how much of the story was changed as it was written for future minds to digest. There also is a problem with the names Esther and Mordecai. Esther coming from the goddess, Astarte and Mordecai from Marduk, a famous god at the time. How can it be right, to hide under the spell of other gods? I have to admit it is a fantastic story with a satisfying end. If it had happened before the decree of Cyrus, I would feel more support for it. If the names of the chief actors were not the names of Pagan deities, I would be more interested. It reads like a novel and it very likely is just that.
Purim is a fun time of year other than the fasting which I never do anyway. What are we fasting for? Tradition? Memorial? But since it is very hard to find an actual Esther in any real historic source, maybe, just maybe it IS a myth and something written to keep Jews living among the nations without shame. Coming to Israel has never been easy. It requires a virtual change of thinking–a sacrifice of much we hold near and dear. The land itself eats up the inhabitants, as the ten spies once claimed. Yet beholding now with different eyes, the land produces abundantly for all who love it. It is a Goodly Land and despite the manipulation and lies of the nations and our own leadership who often go begging for the approval of America or Europe, the land is good and it will provide for us. God will help us to have the strength to believe like Joshua and Caleb, that we are well able to possess this land and to overcome the enemy both outside and inside of Israel!
La astrología judía kosher dice que debemos aprender sobre la alineación de los planetas y cómo superar nuestras debilidades y moderar nuestras fortalezas desbordantes. Al menos eso es lo que enseñaban ayer, cuando asistí a una reunión de mujeres de Rosh Jodesh en nuestra ciudad de Israel. Una de ellas dijo: «Los planetas te bendecirán».
Todas las alarmas de mi cabeza se dispararon y supe que o iba a vomitar o a irme. Quería decir: «Eso es brujería y tú eres una bruja».
Pero me quedé sentada en silencio y terminé mi jarrón decorativo, en cuya elaboración la profesora de manualidades nos había ayudado generosamente. Había una docena de mujeres allí, y la mayoría coincidía con el tema que planteaba la instructora. Me asombró el nivel de adoctrinamiento que presencié, pero me di cuenta de que todo esto se ha creído durante mucho tiempo. ¿Pero eso lo justifica? ¿Acaso algo que se cree desde hace mucho tiempo lo hace más cierto? ¿Es que hoy en día no existen pensadores de verdad?
Esta astróloga judía (llamémosla Rivka) decía cosas como: «Estamos por encima del calendario, y nos corresponde a nosotros establecer la fecha de Rosh Jodesh». ¿Qué dice la Biblia al respecto? ¿Quién ordenó las señales en el cielo para guiarnos?
Y dijo Dios: Haya lumbreras en la expansión de los cielos para separar el día de la noche; y sirvan de señales.Y para citasY durante días y años.
“Dijo Dios: «Haya lumbreras en la expansión del cielo para separar el día de la noche; servirán de señales para los tiempos señalados: los días y los años;»Génesis 1:14, traducción JPS).
Nótese la palabra hebrea «moedim», resaltada en el versículo anterior. Esta palabra se refiere a las fechas fijas que el Creador estableció para el pueblo de Israel. «Fechas fijas» es otra forma de referirse a las fiestas bíblicas. «Moed» (parte de la palabra moedim) se usa para las reuniones sagradas. Por ejemplo, «ohel moed» significa «tienda de reunión», en referencia al lugar donde se celebraban estas reuniones. Originalmente, teníamos el Mishkán (tabernáculo o tienda de reunión) que acompañó a los israelitas en el desierto y que Josué erigió en la tierra después de cruzar el Jordán.
¿Acaso el pueblo judío puede decidir cuándo se celebran las fiestas? ¿Quién tiene prioridad? ¿Quién estableció los signos para marcar el año? Entonces, ¿podemos cambiar lo que Dios ha dicho? ¿Quién tiene prioridad, después de todo? ¿Sigue siendo Dios Dios o nos hemos puesto nosotros mismos en el trono?
¿Acaso el Creador otorga a los judíos el derecho de cambiar sus leyes? O, más específicamente, ¿puede el Pueblo Elegido ser santo si no obedece el Pacto?
Y ahora, si en verdad obedecéis mi voz y guardáis mi pacto, seréis una posesión especial entre todos los pueblos, incluso entre toda la tierra.
“Ahora bien, si me obedecéis fielmente y guardáis mi pacto, seréis mi tesoro preciado entre todos los pueblos. En verdad, toda la tierra es mía.”Éxodo 19:5 Traducción JPS).
¿De qué pacto estamos hablando? El pacto del que se habla en la Torá es la Torá misma, y esta fue dada a nuestros antepasados: Abraham, Isaac y Jacob. ¡Y aun así, la humanidad pretende alterar lo que fue establecido como una bendición para nosotros!
¿Cómo es posible que “los planetas te bendigan”? ¿Cómo puede un objeto inanimado, ya sea una piedra o un planeta, tener la capacidad de bendecirnos? ¿Acaso están elevados al nivel de dioses?
Hace poco conversaba con una mujer sobre las bombas y la guerra en Israel. Le comenté que alguien sale a la calle incluso cuando suenan las alarmas. Me dijo que los judíos tienen que protegerse. ¿Significa eso que Dios ya no nos protege? Es cierto que el sentido común nos dice que debemos protegernos en estos tiempos, pero ¿acaso nuestra protección depende únicamente de nosotros mismos? ¿Es posible que, al ignorar las reglas que el Creador estableció desde el principio, sintamos que este es nuestro universo y que la protección de Dios es mínima o inexistente?
¿Acaso Dios ha emprendido un largo viaje y, por alguna razón, no nos escucha? Esto me recuerda al profeta Elías en el Monte Carmelo (un lugar a un par de horas de aquí). ¿Qué les dijo a los hombres cuando los profetas de Baal danzaban alrededor de su altar?
“Cuando llegó el mediodía, Elías se burló de ellos, diciendo: ‘¡Gritad más fuerte! Después de todo, es un dios. Pero puede que esté conversando, puede que esté detenido, o puede que esté de viaje, o tal vez esté dormido y despierte’”.1 Reyes 18:27, Traducción JPS). Lee la historia completa en 1 Reyes.
Elías desafió al pueblo de Israel con estas palabras:
“¿Hasta cuándo vacilaréis entre dos opiniones? Si Jehová es Dios, seguidle; pero si Baal, seguidle a él.”Ibíd., versículo 2
¿Cómo discernimos la verdad? Mediante una comprensión individual de las sencillas palabras de la Torá. A menudo, la ornamentación de nuestros sabios, tanto modernos como antiguos, nubla la verdad. ¿Podrían ser, en realidad, profetas de Baal? ¿Los mismos por los que Elías reprendió al pueblo?
¡Volvamos al estudio de lo que los profetas bíblicos nos transmitieron sin añadir ni quitar nada!
Kosher Jewish Astrology says that we must learn about the alignment of the planets and how to overcome our weaknesses and tone down our wild strengths. At least that is what they were teaching yesterday, when I went to a Rosh Hodesh gathering of women in our town in Israel. The speaker actually said: “The planets will bless you.”
All the red alerts in my head started going off and I knew I was either going to vomit or walk out. I wanted to say: “That’s witchcraft and you are a witch.”
But I sat there quietly and finished my decorative vase that the craft teacher generously helped us with. There were about a dozen women there and most agreed happily with the theme of the woman who was teaching. I was astounded at the level of brainwashing that I saw but I realized that all of this has been believed for a very long time. But does that make it right? And does something that is believed for a long time make it more right? Do real thinkers not exist today?
This Jewish Astrologist (Let’s call her Diva) said things like, “we are above the calendar, and it is up to us to establish the date for Rosh Hodesh.” So what does the Bible say about that? Who ordained the signs in the heavens to guide us?
“God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate day from night; they shall serve as signs for the set times—the days and the years;” (Genesis 1:14, JPS translation).
Notice the word “moedim” in Hebrew, highlighted in the verse above. This word refers to the set times that the Creator established for the people of Israel. “Set times” is another way to express the Biblical Festivals. “Moed” (part of the word moedim) is used for sacred meetings. The “ohel moed” for example means “tent of meeting” referring to where these gatherings were held. Originally we had the Mishkan (tabernacle or tent of meeting) that traveled with the Israelites in the wilderness and was set up by Joshua in the land after they crossed the Jordan.
So the Jewish people can decide when the festivals occur? Who is on first? Who appointed the signs to frame the year for us? So now then, can we change what God has said? Who is on first anyway? Is God still God or do we place ourselves on the throne?
Does the Creator give the Jews the right to change His laws? Or more specifically, can the Chosen People be Holy if they do not obey the Covenant?
“Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples. Indeed, all the earth is Mine.” (Exodus 19:5 JPS translation).
So which covenant are we talking about? The Covenant that was spoken of in the Torah is the Torah itself and this was given to our forefathers; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And yet mankind likes to alter what was set up as a blessing for us!
How is it that “the planets will bless you?” How can an inanimate object, be it a stone or a planet have the ability to bless us? Are these somehow elevated to the level of gods?
I was recently chatting with a woman about the bombs and the ongoing war in Israel. I mentioned someone who goes out even when the alerts go off. She told me that the Jews have to protect themselves. Does that mean that the Almighty no longer protects us? It is true that common sense dictates that we exercise a bit of self preservation in these times, but is our protection only in our own hands? Is it possible that by ignoring the rules that the Creator set up in the very beginning, we somehow feel that this is our universe and that there is little if any protection coming from Hashem?
Has God taken a long journey and somehow does not hear us? This reminds me of the prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel (a place a couple of hours from us here). What did he tell the people when the prophets of Baal were dancing around their altar?
“When noon came, Elijah mocked them, saying, ‘Shout louder! After all, he is a god. But he may be in conversation, he may be detained, or he may be on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and will wake up.’” (1 Kings 18:27, JPS Translation). Read the entire story in 1 Kings.
Elijah challenged the people of Israel with these words:
“‘How long halt ye between two opinions? If YHVH be God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’” (Ibid, verse 2
How do we discern truth? By having an individual understanding of the simple words of Torah. How often does the embellishment provided by our modern and ancient sages cloud the truth?–Could they actually be prophets of Baal? The same ones Elijah rebuked the people for?
Let’s get back to the study of what the Biblical prophets handed down to us without adding or subtracting!
I often hear that Satan is in charge of the world, that Satan is the god of this world and that all the trouble that comes against us is because of Satan and his followers, but to what extent is this true? And if it is, perhaps it is for a good cause and not as is suggested.
The concept of the New Testament or Christian Bible is that Satan is a power opposed to YHVH. That Satan’s power is immense for evil, that he rebelled and fell from heaven as the archenemy of God—yet, do we realize that when we accredit him with a power almost equal to the power of the Creator, that we make him into a lesser god? I have often chuckled that for some religions, Satan holds the fourth position in the Trinity. Joking aside, it seems to be the level in which he is exalted among these groups.
The Jewish belief, based on the Torah and Tanakh does not support this. What is an angel, but a messenger? Does a messenger have the ability to change the message he was sent to deliver? As the scriptures portray angels, and as I will attempt to show; they do only what they are sent by God to do. They do not exercise their own judgement.
But, some will say, Satan is too evil to be part of God’s kingdom. But what about this verse in Isaiah?
Isa 45:60-7: “that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am YHVH, and there is none else, I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I, YHVH, do all these things.”
Now if we take this at what it says, then YHVH creates evil and if we look at other verses, we will know that He created angels as adversaries to test the righteous or bring about His will in this world even when the angel does a destructive work.
Check out the case of Balaam. (Num 22:22), an angel was sent as an adversary (a Satan שָׂטָן ) to block his path. Who sent him?
In the case of King Saul, after he had refused to obey the specific command to destroy the Amalakites and their king, etc. A very strange verse follows:
1 Sam 16: 14: “וְר֧וּחַ יְהֹוָ֛ה סָ֖רָה מֵעִ֣ם שָׁא֑וּל וּבִעֲתַ֥תּוּ רֽוּחַ־רָעָ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה׃ But the spirit of the YHVH departed from Sha᾽ul, and an evil spirit from the YHVH tormented him.” (A good spirit and then a bad one?) Clearly both spirits were from YHVH, the latter one was not from another source.
Jdg 9:23 “Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech” It says God sent the evil spiritרוּחַ רָעָה.
But are angels spirits?
Psa 104:4: עֹשֶׂ֣ה מַלְאָכָ֣יו רוּח֑וֹת מְ֝שָׁרְתָ֗יו אֵ֣שׁ לֹהֵֽט׃ “Who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flaming fire.” (We see that angels are used by God to carry out his will, they are not in opposition to Him. Also note that they are transformed at the will of YHVH into spirits or flames of fire.)
Did God create evil angels?
Psa 78:49: speaking of the Angels who wreaked havok upon Egypt bringing the plagues: “And he sent upon them the wrath of his indignation: indignation and wrath and trouble, which he sent by evil angels.”
Hebrew for evil angels: מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים (literally: angels of evil). The question arises, did God create them as evil? Many versions use “destroying angels” but this is not the meaning of the Hebrew. Is it possible that an angel can do whatever work he is assigned to do? Can a good angel carry out an evil purpose that the Eternal designs and still be a good angel? Isn’t goodness about carrying out the will of the Eternal? I do not know if there are separate groups of angels; some that carry out destructive jobs and others that do things such as speak to prophets and bring blessings upon the righteous. And perhaps it does not matter.
Are there biblical examples of angels sent to work for mankind?
Psa 91:11-12: “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (Here again, the angels are not self-directed nor do they use their own wisdom).
Gen 24:40: “And he said to me, The Lord, before Whom I walk, will send His angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s house:” (And again, the angel is sent to do God’s bidding, it is YHVH who decides what the angel will do).
Dan 6:22 “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.”
Dan 8:16 “And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.”
Dan 9:20-23 “And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. (Daniel had been praying ferverently for an answer to his question about the restoration of his people to the land of Israel based on his understanding of the prophecy of Jeremiah. Gabriel is despached from Heaven, flying faster than any can imagine, to give him an answer. He is commanded to speak to him and to show him the meaning of what he did not understand. Here again is an example of an angel being despached to do a work on earth. Also look at the part that says he was “caused to fly swiftly.” Is this not an example of the power of YHVH to make an angel into a spirit to be able to arrive just in time to answer the prayer of Daniel? Was this some kind of jet-pack power, or transformer power that made space travel faster than the speed of light. Was it thought power? Interesting passage for sure!)
So God’s angels do what they are sent to do and nothing more?
Psa 103:20-21: “Bless the Lord, you angels of his, you mighty ones who perform his bidding, hearkening to the voice of his word. Bless the Lord, all his hosts; you ministers of his, who do his pleasure.
בָּרְכ֥וּ יְהֹוָ֗ה מַלְאָ֫כָ֥יו גִּבֹּ֣רֵי כֹ֭חַ עֹשֵׂ֣י דְבָר֑וֹ לִ֝שְׁמֹ֗עַ בְּק֣וֹל דְּבָרֽוֹ׃” (All the host of powerful angels do God’s pleasure….none does his own will ).
Jdg 13:13-20 “And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware. 14 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe. 15 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee. 16 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD. 17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is] thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? 18 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret? 19 So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. 20 For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.” (The angel came to do a job, not to be entertained. In the story of Abraham and the angels who came as guests, they ate his food. Here this was not part of the plan.)
Are there levels of hierarchy among the angels that God directs?
In Daniel 10 we see a being that is so awesome, and at the same time in human likeness, that Daniel fell on his face. This is apparently an angel or celestial potentate highly exalted for dealing with the great matters of humanity. Look at the passage:
Dan 10:10-21: “And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. 15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. 16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. 18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, 19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. 20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. 21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.” (This shows angels or heavely potentates dealing with the leaders of the nations. One is sent to Daniel but has to wait to finish a job with the king of Persia, and when he leaves the one in charge of Greece will be dispatched. These beings had a tremendous effect on Daniel, more so than other angels that ministered to him. Michael is shown in this passage as being “the prince” perhaps higher than the other angels.)
There may be many more examples in the Scriptures of angels and their work, but here we see enough to make us understand that angels are sent to do the jobs for which they are sent, they do not come to do what they think they should do or feel like doing. They can be sent great distances in a matter of seconds, they control kingdoms and fight with leaders of nations, they have levels of status as seen in the book of Daniel. There is apparently a prince of the angels called Michael who is apparently head angel and possesses some kind of super knowledge. Angels are sent to answer the prayers of the righteous and to be obstacles for people like Balaam. Angels also do the work of evil spirits, bringing depression upon those who have chosen to defy God’s will such as King Saul. They brought destruction to Sodom and Gomorrah.
There are many questions that could arise about angels, such as were they the ones that Elohim spoke of when He said, let US make man in OUR image? If they were present at the creation as indicated in the following verse, then perhaps this is the meaning. Perhaps.
Job 38:4-7 “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Who would these morning stars and sons of God be?)
Job and HaSatan
If angels can do good or evil from the perspective of mankind—evil being that which harms things on the earth or places obstacles or trials, then who was the Satan who appeared in the heavenly court to tempt God to afflict Job? Let’s examine this passage again:
Job 1:6-12: “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.”
Finally…
With what we have studied, the Satan (adversary in Hebrew—not a given name), is an angel created for a specific purpose (ever heard the term “devil’s adversary”? Sort of like that. He appears at the general conference of the sons of God and brings an evil report against Job. He has to get permission to persecute him. God gives him permission. So what does that say to us? That God has all kinds of agents. It is like the Satan goes around spying on people to see if they are who they claim to be. And he incited the Eternal to let him persecute him. And Job passed the test.
Maybe this explains a lot about the world today. We see the agenda of evil dominating the world scene. We see abominations against the Eternal Covenant of YHVH wherever we look. And some see this as proof that the devil is in control of the world, but let us think for a moment. If the Satan was sent to cull off the ones who do not love God and his Covenant, then would it not be according to the plan of the Eternal to separate His people from them and gather the wicked ones together for some kind of punishment? Is this not the Divine Plan? Is the Supreme One, Ruler of all, in charge of the universe or is He not? Is He in any way made inferior by the one appointed to orchestrate evil? I say no!
In Zechariah we find an interesting passage where YHVH rebukes the Satan.
Zec 3:1-7: “And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by. 6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.”
So what is this saying? That the Satan, doing what he was made to do, was overdoing it and had to be rebuked. Isn’t this similar to what finally happened in the book of Job, when he passed the test and was rewarded doubly? Though there is no mention of the Satan after Job was tested, it is clear that he was no longer testing and persecuting him.
So the lesson for those of us in these trying times is shown in the command to Joshua (above)… “If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge…” then we too can have the adversary taken away and we will be enabled to “walk among these that stand by (Holy angels).”
So, Angels all are on the work force of the Eternal.
Whether they do evil work or good, angels collaborate to get things wrapped up on this earth to bring about an eternal reign of peace under appointed King Messiah, who is, by the way as I see it, soon to come.
