Sunday, August 31, 2025

If you believe Paul was anti-Torah, then how do you explain these verses?

Contrary to popular belief, the Apostle Paul was NOT against Torah (the laws/divine instructions from God). Why would he be, since without Torah, the world would have no blueprint of moral, holy living!  As proof of this, we present the following passages, straight from the “New Testament”:

Acts 28: 23 From morning till evening the Apostle Paul explained and declared the Kingdom of God and tried to convince people about Yeshua from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. (CJB)

Acts 24: 14. But this indeed I (Paul) acknowledge, that in that same doctrine of which they speak, I do serve the Elohim of my fathers, believing all the things written in Torah and in the prophets. (AENT)

Acts 21: 15. And after those days, we prepared ourselves and went up to Urishlim (Jerusalem). 16. And some disciples of Caesarea went along with us, taking with them a brother from among the earlier disciples, whose name was Mnason, and who was from Cyprus; that he might entertain us at his house. 17. And when we arrived at Urishlim, the Brothers received us with great happiness. 18. And the next day, with Paul, we went to Ya’akov (James), when all the Elders were with him. 19. And we gave them (wishes) of peace: and Paul narrated to them in great detail what Elohim had created among the Gentiles by his ministry.

20. And when they heard (it) they glorified Elohim. And they said to him: “Our brother, You see how many myriads[1] there are in Judaea who have believed: and these are all zealous for Torah![2] 21. And it has been told them, of you, that you teach all the Jews that are among the Gentiles to depart from Moshe, by telling them not to circumcise their children, and not to observe the rites of Torah.[3]

22. Now, because they have heard that you have arrived here, 23. do what we tell you. We have four men, who have vowed to purify themselves. 24. Take them, and go and purify yourself with them, and pay the expenses along with them, as they will shave their heads; that every one may know, that what is said against you is false, and that you fulfill and observe Torah.

25. As to those of the Gentiles who have believed, we have written, that they should keep themselves from (an idol’s) sacrifice, and from sexual sin, and from what is strangled, and from blood.”[4] (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Greek murias (myriads) refers to a minimum of 10,000 souls.

[2] Most translations read “zealous for the law”; it is a self-evident truth that myriads of Netzarim followers of Y’shua were also zealous for Torah! The work of the Ruach haKodesh (Set-Apart Spirit) is to write Torah (instructions in righteousness) upon the hearts of YHWH’s people, both Jew and Elohim Fearers.

[3] Attacks against Rav Shaul (Paul) by factions of rabbinical zealots were manifold. Shaul taught that faith and intent of the heart determines whether a person is ready to be circumcised and walk in Torah. At no time did Shaul teach against either circumcision or Torah; however, he opposed the “traditions of the Pharisees” who demanded blind observance to their religious traditions.

Shaul required that Gentile converts be taught about covenant and have clear understanding of what they were doing, in relationship to YHWH and His Mashiyach (Messiah) ; to be expected to know and observe complex halakha (way of walking) at early stages of belief is unacceptable. Both the Pharisees and Netzarim taught that a person must study to develop their understanding and establish the intent in their heart before circumcision, rather than blindly follow the wishes of others.

Only a small group of zealots demanded immediate circumcision, which is something Rav Shaul clearly opposes. It is very evident that Avraham received instruction before his circumcision, and he is the father of Faith for both Jews and Gentiles alike.

[4] Acts 15 does NOT suggest that Gentiles are exempt from obeying God’s Divine Instructions in Righteousness (Torah); rather, the point in the letter was to ease the mind of the new gentile believer that all the demands of Judaism would not be levied on them all at once. Rather, in the beginning, the gentile should leave behind the pagan ways of accepting as food, animals sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication. (Acts 15:29).

Saturday, August 30, 2025

Are you among those who believe the “Old Testament” is irrelevant?

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO PONDER ABOUT THE BIBLE; THE FOLLOWING IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE:

If you are among the many who believe the “Old Testament” is no longer relevant today, or that it doesn’t pertain to the modern-day world, then you – unfortunately -  are DENYING that passages such as Isaiah 52 and 53 both foretell and perfectly outline the coming of God’s Messiah!

No, really – don’t sit there, rolling your eyes!  The bottom line is, you either believe ALL of the Bible is true and relevant; or not.  There is no “gray area.” 

TIME may have changed, but GOD has not! (Malachi 3; Hebrews 13:8; Hebrews 6:17–20; James 1:17; Psalm 102:25–27; Psalm 90:1–2; Isaiah 40:27–28; Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29 and 2 Timothy 2:13.)

NORMS, CUSTOMS AND STANDARDS may have changed, but the nature of humanity has not! Human beings are still the same carnal beings they always were – and we can see that more than ever in today’s corrupt, immoral society, where everything God ever considered “good” is now considered “evil”, and “evil” is now considered “good” by society at large…

So, let’s check out the passages to which I’m referring:

Isaiah 52: 13 "See how my servant will succeed! He will be raised up, exalted, highly honored! 14 Just as many were appalled at him, because he was so disfigured that he didn't even seem human and simply no longer looked like a man, 15 so now he will startle many nations; because of him, kings will be speechless. For they will see what they had not been told, they will ponder things they had never heard." (CJB)

Isaiah 53: 1 Who believes our report? To whom is the arm of ADONAI revealed? 2 For before him he grew up like a young plant, like a root out of dry ground. He was not well-formed or especially handsome; we saw him, but his appearance did not attract us. 3 People despised and avoided him, a man of pains, well acquainted with illness. Like someone from whom people turn their faces, he was despised; we did not value him.

4 In fact, it was our diseases he bore, our pains from which he suffered; yet we regarded him as punished, stricken and afflicted by God. 5 But he was wounded because of our crimes, crushed because of our sins; the disciplining that makes us whole fell on him, and by his bruises we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, went astray; we turned, each one, to his own way; yet ADONAI laid on him the guilt of all of us. Or: and in fellowship with him 7 Though mistreated, he was submissive - he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to be slaughtered, like a sheep silent before its shearers, he did not open his mouth.

8 After forcible arrest and sentencing, he was taken away; and none of his generation protested his being cut off from the land of the living for the crimes of my people, who deserved the punishment themselves. 9 He was given a grave among the wicked; in his death he was with a rich man. Although he had done no violence and had said nothing deceptive, 10 yet it pleased ADONAI to crush him with illness, to see if he would present himself as a guilt offering. If he does, he will see his offspring; and he will prolong his days; and at his hand ADONAI's desire will be accomplished.

11 After this ordeal, he will see satisfaction. "By his knowing [pain and sacrifice], my righteous servant makes many righteous; it is for their sins that he suffers. 12 Therefore I will assign him a share with the great, he will divide the spoil with the mighty, for having exposed himself to death and being counted among the sinners, while actually bearing the sin of many and interceding for the offenders." (CJB)

Do you see what I’m getting at?  To ignore ANY of the “Old Testament” is NOT a wise idea – because, without it, you cannot KNOW the God you serve – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and His Divine Messiah! Unfortunately, many “New-Testament-only” Christians view the “Old Testament” as being interesting, but totally irrelevant “old stories”…

On the other hand, many  (if not most) Jews view the above passages as referring to Israel.  They never ask themselves how Israel can possibly "die" for Israel; or how Israel can’t be "well-formed or especially handsome" or have an "appearance that did not attract us."  They don’t ask how Israel can be "a man of pains, well acquainted with illness" or bear "our diseases" or be "forcibly arrested and taken away," or "given a grave among the wicked"…

But, yet –  just like their Christian counterparts – they will  “cherry-pick” Scripture, to find other passages to help them “tweak the truth” to match their own beliefs or understanding. (We’ve ALL been guilty of it, at some point!)

Regardless, as you can plainly see, the Bible should NEVER be viewed as “two separate “testaments.”  The “old” and the “new” are ONE ENTITY that reveal God’s Plan from beginning to end! Why is that so hard to understand?

Attempting to cherry-pick” the whole of ELOHIM’s Word is dangerous business, because it keeps one from actually KNOWING the God we worship: the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the One who never changes; the One who gave us His Only Begotten “Son” – Messiah Yeshua who willingly shed his own Divine Blood to become our Redeemer; the One who has ALWAYS expected mankind to get to know and obey His Divine Instructions, without which we would have NO blueprint for moral, holy living…

Please don’t take my word for it; simply remove those bigoted glasses through which you’ve been reading the Bible, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand GOD’s Truth as you begin reading your way from cover to cover, starting in Genesis, and heading straight through to Revelation.

Thursday, August 28, 2025

Some comments about the “Burning Man Festival”

I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SUGGEST THAT ADONAI HATES THE PAGAN “BURNING MAN FESTIVAL!” - which is why this festival (which includes idolatry, debauchery of all kinds, that includes a tent designed specifically for the purpose of conducting orgies) is fraught with endless strings of disaster.

Every year, attendees are forced to experience unexpected hardships, such as dust, downpours, medical problem - and sometimes even death.

This year (2025), a terrible dust storm tore apart tents and put a swift end to all the festivities: https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/26/world/video/burning-man-dust-storm-ldn-digvid

In 2024 alone, there were a total of 1,524 people injured at Burning Man, according to data provided by the nonprofit that runs the festival. The organization said there was a single death in 2024, as well as one in 2023. Thousands of people were seen by medical staff in 2023 and 2022, according to the event’s annual reports. Some injuries and even deaths are hardly surprising given the sheer scale of the event, which attracted over 70,000 people last year.

But Burning Man’s setup also presents many dangers. 

Dehydration and exposure are a constant risk in the desert environment, as attendees are required to be entirely self-sufficient with their own water, shelter and food. Drinking and drug use are common. The event grounds, called the playa, are covered in bizarre and beautiful pieces of art, and mutant vehicles that have been transformed into outlandish shapes, like yachts with dance floors or tentacled monsters spewing fire, roam around the desert at all hours of the night.

I personally believe the reason for these endless problems for this yearly event is that the it represents everything God hates – as amply outlined in this snippet from an article I borrowed from Patricipedia:

“Burning Man is commonly described as a festival about artistic expression, but the event is actually much broader in its scope and focus. Individuals who attend the festival – “Burners”, as they are colloquially called – have multiple reasons for participating in Burning Man, from creative expression to community engagement to revelry.

“Therefore, rather than featuring a single mission, the festival revolves around ten fundamental principles which have been adopted by the central organizing entity and disseminated online. These guidelines include radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification , radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leave no trace, participation, and immediacy. “

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT!  I don’t know about you, but I personally see ADONAI’s Wrath being unleashed to let these people know who’s Boss! Hopefully, some of them will “wake up and smell the coffee” while there’s still time, because the Bible is literally unfolding to usher in the end times scenario!

Things ADONAI hates…

THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE WE SEE THINGS THAT ADONAI HATES. The list of actions mentioned therein consists of everything that doesn't line up with His Divine Instructions to mankind (Torah). One of the most well-known passages can be in the Book of Proverbs, which leaves no doubt about the seriousness of willful transgression of holy behavior:

Proverbs 6:16 There are six things ADONAI hates, seven which he detests: 17 a haughty look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet swift in running to do evil, 19 a false witness who lies with every breath, and him who sows strife among brothers. (CJB)

Proverbs 21:6 goes on to say that a lying tongue is a characteristic of them that seek death. Revelation 21:8 says that all liars shall have their part in the second death (in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone). 2 Thessalonians 2:12 teaches that believing a lie can cost men their souls.

There are so many actions that He considers abhorrent, because they are directly opposed to His nature and standards of love, truth, and justice. However, He also knows that all humans, at some point, tend to stray, as that is our fallen nature – and that is why He gave us a way back to Him; and all we have to do is to repent and turn away from our sins (whatever they may be).

It is the ONLY thing that can get us back onto God’s Path, as there is NO salvation for continued, deliberate sinning:

Numbers 15: 30 "'But an individual who does something wrong intentionally, whether a citizen or a foreigner, is blaspheming ADONAI. That person will be cut off from his people. (CJB)

Hebrews 6: 4. But they who have once descended to immersion and have tasted the gift from heaven and have received the Ruach haKodesh 5. and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the power of the world to come, 6. cannot again sin and a second time be renewed to repentance; or a second time execute him on a stake and insult the Son of Elohim. 7. For the earth that drinks the rain which comes often upon it and produces the herb that is of use to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from Elohim. 8. But if it should put forth thorns and briers, it would be discarded and be approaching closely to a curse, and its end would be a conflagration. (AENT)

Hebrews 10: 26 For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, or raging fire that will consume the enemies. (CJB)

The above Scripture is not referring to those unclean bondages that dwell in our flesh but to the conscious choices believers make. It refers not to our unintentional sins but to those we pursue knowingly and willingly.

2 Peter 2: 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for a person is slave to whatever has defeated him. 20 Indeed, if they have once escaped the pollutions of the world through knowing our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah, and then have again become entangled and defeated by them, their latter condition has become worse than their former. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the Way of righteousness than, fully knowing, to turn from the holy command delivered to them. (CJB)

How many of today's believers behave in a way they know is sinful and yet they go ahead and do what they feel like doing, anyway? That's because they mistakenly think Divine grace covers intentional sin. That is a huge misconception! Divine grace has made wonderful provision for unintentional sin. But there is no provision for intentional sin. The Bible tells us so.

Deliberate, premeditated sin is willful disobedience and rebellion against ELOHIM. It results in severe punishment or even loss of our salvation.

Leviticus 26: 23 If, in spite of all this, you refuse my correction and still go against me; then I too will go against you; and I, yes I, will strike you seven times over for your sins. (CJB)

1 Corinthians 6: 9. Or don't you know, that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim?* Make no mistake! Neither sexual sinners, nor idol-worshippers, nor adulterers, nor the corrupt, nor men who lay down with other men, 10. Nor the oppressors, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of Elohim. (AENT)

FOOTNOTE: Compare this to Matthew 5:17-20, where we are told that breaking the least commandment of Torah and teaching others to do the same makes a person "least in the kingdom" but they still get in. Y'shua implies that those with more serious sins won't make it in: "Depart from me, workers of iniquity, I never knew you"; but in the passage above, Rav Shaul (Paul) gives a more specific list of what will keep them out.

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Are the Words of the Holy One “Commandments” – or Prophetic Empowerments?

Sharing some wise insights from Bill Bullock (a Texas attorney who produces some awesome Torah studies each week from his ministry, The Rabbi’s Son. Referencing Parashah 48: Shof'tim (Judges) (Deuteronomy 16:18 through 21:9), Mr. Bullock reveals something very interesting concerning ADONAI's Divine Instructions to His people:

The words which Moshe will speak in this second speech are usually described in English as “commandments” and “ordinances” and “laws”. But those terms do not describe them accurately at all. Alas, the translation of the Holy One’s declaration at Sinai into English and other Western language as ‘commandments’, ‘ordinances’ and ‘laws’ lies at the root of the most critical errors into which both Christianity and Judaism have wandered.

By and large organized Christianity has erred in rejecting Torah’s “commandments, ordinances, and laws” as “unspiritual” – indeed considered to border on being demonic. Most of Christianity has thus over the centuries devolved into a King-less, Constitution-less, Kingdom-less, Love-less, Law-less blob of prudish, angry religious people who try to process glorious spiritual mysteries through the filter of fleshly, carnal minds, who spread hate-filled opinions instead of truth, who expose people to dull, repetitive sermons instead of flowing in vibrant words of life, who pass off cute marquee one-liners as revelation, and who promote models of church growth and bean-counting instead of any real, substantive message that could lead to freedom, destiny, and purpose. Organized Christianity today thus has virtually nothing of value to offer either the world or its own adherents, and both groups are rejecting it in droves.

Many modern forms of organized Judaism on the other hand have committed the exact opposite error, focusing almost all their attention on the letter of Torah’s instructions, drawing all the wrong lessons from the Holocaust and therefore instilling in upcoming generations the paranoia that everyone who is not Jewish is anti-Semitic, dangerous, and inferior. Indeed since the Holocaust the mantra of organized Judaism seems to have unofficially changed from Sh’ma Yisrael! to ‘Never Again’!

As a result mind-numbing sets of extra-Biblical rules designed to keep people away have been promoted in the guise of ‘building a fence around the Torah’. There is indeed now a fence around the Torah in many forms of Judaism – and that fence is so high, is laced with so much razor wire, and is strewn with so many IEDs that the beauty of Torah – if not of the Holy One Himself -- has become hidden behind the carnage. Father Avraham would weep. Moshe would be appalled. David would hang his harp in the willows. Sh’lomo would scratch his head in bewilderment. Eliyahu would rend his mantle in twain and start thrashing.

Fragments of the Messianic Judaism are alas falling into the same traps as organized Christianity and Judaism. Labels such as ‘Sacred Namers’, ‘Two-Housers’, ‘Lunar Sabbatarians’, and ‘Sabbatical Year Followers’ have become modern ‘Shibboleths’. Swords are drawn and waving, ready to strike off the ear, cut out the tongue, or lop of the head, of anyone and everyone who fails to adopt the specific phraseology the ears of those bearing one’s chosen label itch to hear.

Brethren, these things should not be so. What in Heaven’s Name are we doing? How can we continue to misrepresent the Holy One’s character so horribly?

The Sinaitic covenant is not “law” - at least in any sense that term is used today. Nor are the mitzvot, mishpatim, and chukim “commandments” or “ordinances”.

They are Divine Energy.

They are a sweet fountain of life, health and peace.

They are substantive words of Divine empowerment and activation.

They are loving instructions, given in the context of an abiding covenant relationship, prophetically and creatively reshaping the soul and spirit of the recipient, transforming her from a redeemed slave into the Betrothed Bride-to-be of the Holy One.

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Some random musings…

JUST SOME RANDOM MUSINGS: Contrary to popular belief in some circles, Torah keeping was never about salvation, and deliverance was never by Torah observation!

Never have we seen Torah observation give someone the ability to earn their salvation or to deliver them from the calamity they were already experiencing! In Both cases YHWH is there offering us Salvation or Deliverance!

Even Noah did not save himself. The Holy One blessed him with life after the flood for his OBEDIENCE!! Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3) didn’t save themselves from the fiery furnace; yet, thanks to the fourth “person” in there with them, they emerged unscathed.

In Acts 10, Cornelius was desiring to learn more and go deeper in Torah - otherwise why invite Peter? If he just wanted to celebrate ELOHIM like all the other converted pagans, why invite a JEWISH man?

Because it is NOT about Jew and Gentile; it is about how to live in the Kingdom, as a citizen … someone who belongs there, who fits into the Macro- culture of how YHWH does things.

I could list dozens of examples, but the bottom line is simply this: Observing Torah is the real evidence that you actually received the salvation you say you did not earn!

Torah observation is not a burden, but an honor! I am honored to rest on Sabbath, I am honored to celebrate the Feasts; I’m honored beyond belief to know that YHWH opened my spiritual eyes to Shema (see and hear) … all of it! Torah is my/our culture and renewed Kingdom ways.

Living out Torah, properly is about God, life and celebration of community. I learn something, and share; and you learn something and share. When someone new comes in and joins us, we both help teach them from our different experiences coming to the Truth of YHWH/Yeshua/Torah.

Oh, how my heart longs to see more people being able to grasp that!

The Torah studies of year 2025 are nearing the end of the yearly Torah cycle … and the words of Moshe (Moses) continue to reverberate down through the millennia…

WOW! I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT WE RE NEARING THE END OF ANOTHER YEARLY TORAH CYCLE ALREADY! Only 8 more Torah studies to go (little less than two months) before we reach the last portion, Parasha 54, and Sukkot, the final festival of the Hebrew calendar year...

Regarding this week's Torah portion (Parasha 46), we note something VERY important as we continue to witness Moshe (Moses) reviewing for the "new generation" all that ADONAI had done for His people over the last 40 years - and what He expected of them, going forward.

What I've kept seeing reiterated over the last few readings about Moshe's review, is that YHWH expects His people to avoid paganism of all kinds - whatever it takes - because, if they don't, they will be sucked into the same rut they've been trying to escape in their quest to obey YHWH!
For instance, referring back to Genesis 12:1 we see Moshe relating the story of Avram (later renamed Avraham) being told to leave his father's house and go to the land that YHWH intended to show him.

(By the way, for anyone new to Torah, the term "Hebrew" means "to cross over" which is what Avram the Chaldean did in Genesis 12 when he both spiritually and physically "crossed over" to the land YHWH commanded him to go to. Once Avram "crossed over" he became our first Patriarch, Avraham, which means "father of many" or "father of a multitude." Avraham's life - just like yours on your new Torah journey! - was literally turned upside-down once he began obeying YHWH's Holy Will...)

Moving on with this week's Torah portion, referring back to Exodus 33:1, we are reminded of YHWH telling Moshe to "leave this place" and head for the Promised Land."

(Just like Avraham, Moshe/Moses endured many changes on his journey to do what YHWH had planned for him to do, all along... He surely never, in his wildest dreams, ever thought that God was going to use him to liberate His People from the pagan Egyptians, to lead them on a long journey to their own "Promised Land" - Israel ... a place that remains in turmoil to this very day BECAUSE of the struggle between YHWH and the Adversary! ...But we all know how The Book ends, don't we?)

Anyway, shortly - as Deuteronomy ends and the Book of Joshua begins - we will see YHWH's people actually "crossing over" into Israel where they fulfill His Genesis 12:2 promise to have their own land and to make them into a great nation! How very exciting!

Naturally, making them into a "great nation" came with some responsibilities, as YHWH expected His people to be HOLY AND SET APART, adhering only to HIS commands - which included displacing all the pagans they encountered to keep themselves from becoming polluted by paganistic ways. Take a look:

Deuteronomy 7: 12 "Because you are listening to these rulings, keeping and obeying them, ADONAI your God will keep with you the covenant and mercy that he swore to your ancestors.
Deuteronomy 7: 16 You are to devour all the peoples that ADONAI your God hands over to you - show them no pity, and do not serve their gods, because that will become a trap for you.

17 If you think to yourselves, 'These nations outnumber us; how can we dispossess them?' 18 nevertheless, you are not to be afraid of them; you are to remember well what ADONAI your God did to Pharaoh and all of Egypt - 19 the great ordeals which you yourself saw, and the signs, wonders, strong hand and outstretched arm by which ADONAI your God brought you out. ADONAI will do the same to all the peoples of whom you are afraid.

20 Moreover, ADONAI your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left and those who hide themselves perish ahead of you. 21 You are not to be frightened of them, because ADONAI your God is there with you, a God great and fearsome.

22 ADONAI your God will expel those nations ahead of you little by little; you can't put an end to them all at once, or the wild animals will become too numerous for you. 23 Nevertheless, ADONAI your God will give them over to you, sending one disaster after another upon them until they have been destroyed. 24 He will hand their kings over to you, and you will wipe out their name from under heaven; none of them will be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them.

25 You are to burn up completely the carved statues of their gods. Don't be greedy for the silver or gold on them; don't take it with you, or you will be trapped by it; for it is abhorrent to ADONAI your God. (CJB)

Many people use scriptures like the above to suggest "the God of the Old Testament was mean"...But nothing could be further from the Truth! YHWH doesn't waste words; there is a reason for everything He says. In cases like the above, he ordered the extermination of the godless pagans who did not belong to Him and who were/are/would be CONTAMINATING others with their godlessness.

In the above case, those particular pagans lived in the land that YHWH wanted HIS people to inhabit, and in order to keep HIS people from becoming "infected" with pagan ways, He wanted every last one of the pagans and their idols destroyed. (If Israel had only heeded these warnings throughout the millennia, the Land wouldn't be full of paganism now!)

We learn later on exactly why YHWH destroyed these pagans:

Deuteronomy 9: 4 ...it is because these nations have been so wicked that ADONAI is driving them out ahead of you.

IS IT STARTING TO MAKE SENSE TO YOU YET? The Holy One of Israel will NOT put up with any kind of paganism! This means we MUST rid ourselves of any and all idols - mentally, spiritually and physically - in order to truly belong to Him. He has always expected His people to be "wholehearted."

Yeshua reiterated this when he said:

Revelation 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth! 17 For you keep saying, ‘I am rich, I have gotten rich,[b] I don’t need a thing!’ You don’t know that you are the one who is wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked! 18 My advice to you is to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that you may be dressed and not have to be ashamed of your nakedness; and eyesalve to rub on your eyes, so that you may see.

19 As for me, I rebuke and discipline everyone I love; so exert yourselves, and turn from your sins! 20 Here, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If someone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me. 21 I will let him who wins the victory sit with me on my throne, just as I myself also won the victory and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”’” (CJB)

What ELOHIM personally said about Torah Observance…

This mini-lesson reveals some of God’s exact words about obedience to His Divine Instructions in Righteousness: Deuteronomy 27: 1 Then Mosh...