Let’s examine Numbers 15:13-16 a little more closely…

ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE:  Numbers 15:13-16, wherein YHWH reiterates FOUR TIMES that ALL who choose Him are to obey His Torah/Divine Instructions in Righteousness:

Numbers 15: 13 "'Every citizen is to do these things in this way when presenting an offering made by fire as a fragrant aroma for ADONAI. 14 If a foreigner stays with you - or whoever may be with you, through all your generations - and he wants to bring an offering made by fire as a fragrant aroma for ADONAI, he is to do the same as you.

15 For this community there will be the same law for you as for the foreigner living with you; this is a permanent regulation through all your generations; the foreigner is to be treated the same way before ADONAI as yourselves. 16 The same Torah and standard of judgment will apply to both you and the foreigner living with you.'" (CJB)

PLEASE PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THESE WORDS in Numbers 15:13-16: 

"Every citizen," ... "or whoever may be with you, through all your generations," ... "is to do the same as you," ... "the same law for you as for the foreigner living with you,"... " the same Torah and standard of judgment will apply to both you and the foreigner living with you"....

This was reiterated in Matthew 5 where Yeshua himself tells us He came NOT to abolish but to fulfill (which did NOT mean "put an end to"....)

Matthew 5: 17 Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah - not until everything that must happen has happened.

19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot (words/commands) and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. (CJB)

Has everything happened that must happen? Have heaven and Earth passed away yet? Since when does the word "complete" (or "fulfill) mean "abolished"? Why would YHWH abolish His own original divine teachings which He said were to last forever? Did Jesus come to make a liar out of His Father?

No - matter of fact Yeshua (Messiah's given, Hebrew name) upheld and constantly taught from  Torah!  He even quoted from the Torah when being "tempted" by the Accuser (Luke 4:1-12).  Yeshua was the Living Word, and the Word is, and always was, Torah (first five Books of the Bible containing all of YHWH's Divine Instructions)...

As YHWH-ELOHIM (Yeshua’s Father) amply shows, time and time again: He is ONE GOD (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) who never changes (Hebrews 13:8), and anyone who chooses Him MUST do exactly as His "chosen" do, which is to OBEY Him! Same God, same rules, same laws:

Numbers 15: 28 The cohen will make atonement before ADONAI for the person who makes a mistake by sinning inadvertently; he will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven - 29 no matter whether he is a citizen of Isra'el or a foreigner living with them. You are to have one law for whoever it is that does something wrong by mistake.

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. 31 Because he has had contempt for the word of ADONAI and has disobeyed his command, that person will be cut off completely; his offense will remain with him.' (CJB)

They “tested” God 10 times…

THE ISRAELITES "TESTED" YHWH 10 TIMES? Yes, they sure did - and many died because of it! Let's take a look:

Numbers 14: 20 ADONAI answered, "I have forgiven, as you have asked. 21 But as sure as I live, and that the whole earth is filled with the glory of ADONAI, 22 none of the people who saw my glory and the signs I did in Egypt and in the desert, yet tested me these TEN TIMES and did not listen to my voice, 23 will see the land I swore to their ancestors! None of those who treated me with contempt will see it. 24 But my servant Kalev (who, by the way was from the Tribe of Yehudah [Numbers 13:6]!), because he had a different Spirit with him and has fully followed me - him I will bring into the land he entered, and it will belong to his descendants… (CJB)

As you know, YHWH has always been full of mercy and grace, BUT - contrary to popular belief, He expects something in return: obedience. His people are required to TRUST and OBEY. Anyone who chooses not to, will NOT get to enter His "Promised Land."

SO, WHAT WERE THOSE 10 TIMES? Let's check it out:

1. Lacking trust when at the Red Sea.

Exodus 14: 10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Isra'el looked up and saw the Egyptians right there, coming after them. In great fear the people of Isra'el cried out to ADONAI 11 and said to Moshe, "Was it because there weren't enough graves in Egypt that you brought us out to die in the desert? Why have you done this to us, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn't we tell you in Egypt to let us alone, we'll just go on being slaves for the Egyptians? It would be better for us to be the Egyptians' slaves than to die in the desert!" 13 Moshe answered the people, "Stop being so fearful! Remain steady, and you will see how ADONAI is going to save you. He will do it today - today you have seen the Egyptians, but you will never see them again!  (CJB)

2. Complaining about the bitter water at Marah.

Exodus 15: 23 They arrived at Marah but couldn't drink the water there, because it was bitter. This is why they called it Marah [bitterness]. 24 The people grumbled against Moshe and asked, "What are we to drink?" (CJB)

3. Complaining of the lack of food in the Desert of Seen.

Exodus 16: 1 They traveled on from Eilim, and the whole community of the people of Isra'el arrived at the Seen Desert, between Eilim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after leaving the land of Egypt. 2 There in the desert the whole community of the people of Isra'el grumbled against Moshe and Aharon. 3 The people of Isra'el said to them, "We wish ADONAI had used his own hand to kill us off in Egypt! There we used to sit around the pots with the meat boiling, and we had as much food as we wanted. But you have taken us out into this desert to let this whole assembly starve to death!" (CJB)

4. Failing to trust that the next-day's manna would be there and keeping leftovers overnight.

Exodus 16: 19 Moshe told them, "No one is to leave any of it till morning." 20 But they didn't pay attention to Moshe, and some kept the leftovers until morning. It bred worms and rotted, which made Moshe angry at them. 21 So they gathered it morning after morning, each person according to his appetite; but as the sun grew hot, it melted.  (CJB)

5. Collecting Manna on the Sabbath.

Exodus 16: 26 Gather it six days, but the seventh day is the Shabbat - on that day there won't be any." 27 However, on the seventh day, some of the people went out to gather and found none. 28 ADONAI said to Moshe, "How long will you refuse to observe my mitzvot and teachings? (CJB)

6. Complaining over lack of water at Rephidim.

Exodus 17: 1 The whole community of the people of Isra'el left the Seen Desert, traveling in stages, as ADONAI had ordered, and camped at Refidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 The people quarreled with Moshe, demanding, "Give us water to drink!" But Moshe replied, "Why pick a fight with me? Why are you testing ADONAI?" 3 However, the people were thirsty for water there and grumbled against Moshe, "For what did you bring us up from Egypt? To kill us, our children and our livestock with thirst?"  (CJB)

7. Building the Golden Calf to worship.

Exodus 32: 7 ADONAI said to Moshe, "Go down! Hurry! Your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have become corrupt! 8 So quickly they have turned aside from the way I ordered them to follow! They have cast a metal statue of a calf, worshipped it, sacrificed to it and said, 'Isra'el! Here is your god, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!'" 9 ADONAI continued speaking to Moshe: "I have been watching these people; and you can see how stiffnecked they are. 10 Now leave me alone, so that my anger can blaze against them, and I can put an end to them! I will make a great nation out of you instead."  (CJB)

8. Complaining at Tav'erah.

Numbers 11: 1 But the people began complaining about their hardships to ADONAI. When ADONAI heard it, his anger flared up, so that fire from ADONAI broke out against them and consumed the outskirts of the camp. 2 Then the people cried to Moshe, Moshe prayed to ADONAI, and the fire abated. 3 That place was called Tav'erah [burning] because ADONAI's fire broke out against them. (CJB)

9. Complaining of no meat.

Numbers 11: 4 Next, the mixed crowd that was with them grew greedy for an easier life; while the people of Isra'el, for their part, also renewed their weeping and said, "If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt - it cost us nothing! -and the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, the garlic! 6 But now we're withering away, we have nothing to look at but this man." (CJB)

10. Failing to trust YHWH's promise to enter the promised land after the bad report from the spies.

Numbers 14: 1 At this all the people of Isra'el cried out in dismay and wept all night long. 2 Moreover, all the people of Isra'el began grumbling against Moshe and Aharon; the whole community told them, "We wish we had died in the land of Egypt! or that we had died here in the desert! 3 Why is ADONAI bringing us to this land, where we will die by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be taken as booty! Wouldn't it be better for us to return to Egypt?" 4 And they said to each other, "Let's appoint a leader and return to Egypt!" (CJB)

YHWH ELOHIM IS MERCIFUL, PATIENT AND FULL OF GRACE; however, we should never take those things for granted!  Having a relationship with Him – like ALL relationships – a two-way street that requires something from both sides.  We are to love ADONAI “wholeheartedly” as outlined in our blog:  https://blog.therefinersfire.org/search?q=wholehearted

Clarifying our preferences of the spelling of the English transliterations of the Names “YHWH and Yeshua”

THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WE AT THE REFINER’S FIRE prefer to leave it up to everyone to make up their own minds because there are so many "voices" on the Internet shouting they and only they have THE Truth, including on the spellings of the "Sacred Names" - most of whom don’t speak a word of Hebrew, and are simply copying their “vast knowledge” from others.

First of all, nobody can say with 100 percent certainty that “their way” of spelling or pronouncing the Sacred Names is correct, or the “only” way of spelling them.  However, I personally don’t believe Yeshua’s name can possibly be written as “Yehusha” because it simply doesn’t match the Hebrew letters. There is no "Yah" in the letter "Yud", nor an "H" in between the Yud and the Shin in the Hebrew word ישוע ...

I’ve consulted several scholars over the years, including my former colleague Andrew Gabriel Roth, a Messianic Jew who translated the Khabouris Codex directly from Aramaic into English to produce the Aramaic English New Testament.  Andrew’s preferred English spelling of Yeshua's name from the Hebrew letters, ישוע is "Yeshua" or "Y'shua"; and the Father’s Name, יהוה – Yud Hey Vav Hey, as “YHWH” or YAHWEH with vowels in English.

Since the Hebrew language originally had no vowels and the pronunciation of is a bit of a mystery, with the vav acting as a vowel. As a consonant the vav has a "v" sound. But as a vowel, it has a "W", "ow", or "uw" sound, sometimes represented as "oo". So, it is perfectly acceptable to write the Hebrew letter vav as "vav" or "waw", and hence, represented as "YHVH" or "YHWH".
As to how to pronounce it – not even the Rabbis know for sure. We’re all just guessing.

Regardless, what matters, is NOT the myriad English transliterations; but rather, the HEBREW spelling of the Names YHWH and Yeshua.

As for the endless fights about the name of “Jesus” – during our continuous search for the “truth” over the last two and a half decades of being Torah observant, we offer this explanation as to why the Greeks came up with the name of “Jesus”.

Afraid to eat certain things because they might be made from “unclean” animals”

ARE YOU AFRAID TO EAT CERTAIN THINGS because they might be made from “unclean” animals?” If so, please ponder this:

The difference between what is considered “clean” or “unclean” when it comes to processed animal by-products, is that, once the pertinent dead animal pieces have been “processed” they are no longer considered “unclean” according to Torah standards, because they no longer have anything to do with the original, unclean animal.

Take, for example, the blue dye that was once used to make the blue thread of the tzitzit (commanded in Numbers 15:38).  The rabbis insisted it could ONLY be the particular shade of blue found in a certain snail – which was considered an “unclean” animal.  (Truth is, the Torah doesn’t specifically state a certain shade of blue…)

The train of thought was, the processed product was not considered “unclean” as the actual snail wasn’t being eaten, and that a chemical or compound extracted from something "unclean" is, itself, NOT unclean. 

Same goes for other “unclean” animals.  Once the hide (or hooves or anything else on it) is processed it no longer imparts tumah (ritual uncleanness). The product derived (i.e. gelatin, which many refuse to eat today because they believe it’s “unclean”) clearly no longer has anything to do with the original, unclean animal, and you are certainly not "eating the meat of an unclean animal" by eating gelatin.

Furthermore, YHWH said that ALL He created was "good" (Genesis 1:10, 1:12, 1:18, 1:25); and that would certainly include compounds and byproducts found in the things He created…

A LITTLE SIDE NOTE ABOUT THE SNAIL:  Eventually, when the snail could no longer be found, the rabbis decided it would be best to NOT add a “thread of blue” at all, because no one could decide on another shade of blue that was close enough to match the blue of the snail.  So, what happened?  They decided it was better to BREAK the command, than to risk using the “wrong” shade of blue… (Hmmm….)

SHOULD WE EVER “TEST” ELOHIM?

Actually, as far as I can tell, we see it only one time in Scripture, in the following passage, where "testing" Him refers to tithing:

Malachi 3:6 “But because I, ADONAI, do not change, you sons of Ya‘akov will not be destroyed. 7 Since the days of your forefathers you have turned from my laws and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says ADONAI-Tzva’ot. “But you ask, ‘In respect to what are we supposed to return?’

8 Can a person rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tenths and voluntary contributions. 9 A curse is on you, on your whole nation, because you rob me.
10 Bring the whole tenth into the storehouse, so that there will be food in my house, and put me to the test,” says ADONAI-Tzva’ot. “See if I won’t open for you the floodgates of heaven and pour out for you a blessing far beyond your needs.

11 For your sakes I will forbid the devourer to destroy the yield from your soil; and your vine will not lose its fruit before harvest-time,” says ADONAI-Tzva’ot. 12 “All nations will call you happy, for you will be a land of delights,” says ADONAI-Tzva’ot. (CJB)

Lamb’s blood is NOT a natural antidote to snake venom!

There have been some memes going around on social media suggesting that lamb’s blood is an antidote to snake venom – something that isn't really true! Lamb's blood isn't automatically an antidote to snake bites at all. It only becomes an antidote when the lambs are regularly injected with rattle snake venom, and the venom anti-bodies are collected later from their blood.

Let me say that again: Sheep blood does NOT contain anti-venom! Anti-venom is a specific type of medication created by extracting antibodies from the blood of animals, such as horses or sheep, that have been immunized with venom. The antibodies are then purified and used to treat venomous bites or stings. However, the blood itself does not have inherent anti-venom properties.

Memes with "ear-tickling" messages like this, are created by people who believe they have a "great idea' to illustrate trust in God, etc.; but which, in reality, are lies, which (as you know) are NOT a godly virtue! Problem is, they can "go viral" very quickly, as most people simply don't research anything before blindly passing it on...

While I understand what memes like these are trying to illustrate (i.e., belief in Yeshua removes our sin), memes of this type (originating in the misunderstanding of certain scriptures) are among the reasons some Christian cults have been sticking their hands into containers of poisonous snakes, as they believe that belief in "Jesus" will keep them alive, no matter of what peril they encounter.

They don't realize that COMMON SENSE also has to be in place as well, because we should never "test God!” (Except in tithing, as He said, concerning tithing: "Test Me on this!" in Malachi 3:10.)

Not even Yeshua ever “tested” YHWH. Take a look:

Matthew 4:5. Then the accuser took him to the Set Apart city and raised him upon the edge of the temple,[1] 6. and said to him, “If you are the son of Elohim, cast yourself down for it is written that his Messengers he commands concerning you, and upon their hands they will bear you up that your foot should not strike upon a rock.”[2] 7. Y’shua said to him, Again it is written that you will not test Master YHWH your Elohim.[3] (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] A dark foreshadowing of the martyrdom of Ya’akov HaTsaddiq (James the Just) brother of Y’shua. Ya’akov, who routinely prayed at the Temple to ask YHWH’s forgiveness for the sins of his people, was highly regarded for his meekness, devotion and service to the Jewish people. It was said that Ya’akov had camel’s knees because he very often prayed while on his knees. He was ultimately thrown off the top of the Temple by demonized religious fanatics because of his allegiance to Y’shua Mashiyach. Ya’akov taught that Y’shua is the Arm of YHWH revealed, and he refused to renounce his belief in Y’shua Mashiyach. Origen criticized Josephus for attributing the fall of Jerusalem to the martyrdom of Ya’akov, rather than to Y’shua.

[2] Psalm 91:11, 12.

[3] Deuteronomy 6:16

Deuteronomy 6:16 Do not put Adonai your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah [testing].
Luke 4:12 Yeshua answered him, “It also says, ‘Do not put Adonai your God to the test.’”

It’s not a smart idea to blindly pass on memes or interesting-sounding articles.  ALWAYS do your own research to test everything you see, read or hear!

Yes, we are to forgive, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay in a bad relationship…

YES, BY ALL MEANS “FORGIVE” – but that doesn’t mean you have to allow “career perps” to keep making your life miserable!

I think we all need to be reminded of that sometimes - especially those of us who tend to be "too forgiving" of every little thing. Not even Yeshua forgave everything! I mean, how "forgiving" was he of the money-changers who were committing "work" and “commerce” in the Temple on a Shabbat? He got physical with them and put a quick end to their nonsense!

YHWH Himself didn't allow Lucifer to continue causing problems in "heaven"; He kicked His “wannabe rival” completely OUT ... and has been punishing him by letting him WAIT for his awful fate for several MILLENIA now, fully KNOWING what his horrible end is going to be!

Do you honestly believe that YHWH forgave Hitler for every Jewish life he was responsible for taking during the Holocaust? It’s HIS call, of course, but I sure would hate to be Hitler on Judgment Day…

There have to be limits to "forgiving" so that, if nothing else, the perps can finally learn to take some responsibility for their actions!

If you have someone in your life who is strangling your soul somehow, get rid of the problem by letting them go – or else the constant “taking abuse and forgiving the perp” cycle will continue ad nauseam.

Nothing says we HAVE to remain in abusive situations – be they verbal, physical, sexual, emotional or mental! There ARE ways to set yourself free; and it’s up to YOU to take action.

It's insane to allow someone else’s actions or choices to keep us in constant chaos, to the point of ruining our daily walk with ELOHIM!

The Enemy is BUSY, and he is using myriads to do his evil bidding! He knows he has only has about a thousand more years left before he finally meets his fate – and, honestly, that's why the world is in such an uproar, as he is working overtime to take away all the people he possibly can from YHWH/Yeshua before he finally “bites the dust”...

So, if someone is constantly busy tearing your life apart in some way, and you’re tired of forgiving because you already know their abuse (in whatever form) will continue, simply forgive them for the last time, and then put them out of your life and set yourself free from their tyranny.

Psalm 119:134 Redeem me from man's oppression, that I may keep your precepts.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

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.

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