I was reading yesterday and today, and both days I noticed something interesting (and profound, for me). In Number 1:5, YHWH tells Moshe (Moses) “These are the men to take with you: …” He then proceeds to name specifically each of the men that He wants. What’s the big deal? He knows them by name! For some reason this hit a little deeper today. There are hundreds of thousands of Israelites, and YHWH knew exactly which ones He wanted to go with Moshe! He didn’t say vaguely, “Take with you the leaders of the clans.” No, He called them out by name. The people of Israel weren’t just nameless masses to Him. And we aren’t either. There may be billions of people on this planet, but Yeshua and YHHW know me by name and He doesn’t just call out for that woman in that state who does… He calls me Amanda. And that is amazing! The second part of that is in Numbers 4:32. YHWH told Moshe to assign each specific person (each person by name) a load. YHWH knows our names, and He has specific tasks or loads for us to carry out. I think that is awesome! It’s so easy to think of YHWH as so big that He can’t possibly know all the little details. Those things He must surely delegate to others. But, no! Even the details like giving us a task by name are His choices and His desires for us! Hallelujah!
Just a couple of thoughts from the church service today that I wanted to record before I forgot: Believe the truth – I may know the truth, but I don’t always believe it or live it. My challenge is to believe the truth even if it’s difficult, because if I believe the lie then I let the enemy win. This includes believing that YHWH loves me completely and passionately. Enforce the victory – YWHW has already won the battle. When I struggle with demonic influences and strongholds and curses, I’m not trying to win a victory. I am enforcing a victory that has already been won. Seek God first and above all – The Bible says that if I seek YHWH first, then all these other things will fall in line. While He does ask me to ask Him for things, my focus shouldn’t be on those things, it should be on Him.
There have been a lot of things that have seemed really jumbled for me in the past year and I couldn’t understand how they all fit together… until today! Surrender and Slavery I was listening to Dutch Sheets speak about Intercessory prayer, and something he said suddenly just clicked! God created man (Adam) to be an image (a shadow, an illusion, a re-presentation) of Him and His glory here on earth. Adam looked like YHWH and was given His authority to re-present the will of YHWH on earth. Unfortunately, Adam surrendered that authority and gave it to Hasatan, our Adversary, and in doing so, turned over YHWH’s kingdom to the enemy. Now Adam was stripped on that authority and a slave or captive. But YHWH promised the enemy who had gained authority that a time was coming when his rule would be crushed. Reclaiming the Kingdom Four thousand-ish years later, Yeshua came. A man surrendered authority and a man had to take it back. To do this, Yeshua had to overthrow the rule of the enemy, death. When Yeshua rose again, defeating death, He took back the kingdom authority for YHWH on earth. Once again, the true King rules and reign. Redemption So what does that have to do with people? What does it mean to “trust in Yeshua”? When I trust in Yeshua, when I surrender my will to His, when I choose to believe and accept that He is the One, true King, I choose to become part of His kingdom. Kind of like a naturalized citizen in a country. I swear my allegiance and submission to the rule and reign of YHWH. I turn my back on my former citizenship and slavery, and I choose to submit to His rules and His ways. Reigning As a citizen of YHWH’s retaken kingdom, I choose to submit to His laws, the Torah. As His embassador to this earth, it is my role to live a life that demonstrates what it means to be a part of His kingdom. And since His kingdom is totally different from the enemy’s, my life should reflect that difference. Just like Roman ambassadors were charged with making conquered citizens more Roman, I am charged with showing the newly freed and those who still live in bondage what it means to be a part of YHWH’s rule and reign. Reconciling the Torah One confusing bit was how the Torah fit in. I believe in its relevance, but how does it work with what Yeshua did? Here’s my thoughts: I can live by the Torah and never enter into and submit to YHWH’s kingdom authority by believing that Yeshua, His Son has reclaimed the keys to the kingdom (so the Torah can’t bring me true life, but my inability to follow it does show me that I need Yeshua, someone to save me from slavery.). But, if I do believe that Yeshua crushed the rule of the enemy and now rules this earth, and if I submit myself to His rule, then I also choose to obey His rules (Torah). Do people break rules? Yeah. Sometimes on purpose, and sometimes in ignorance. Are there consequences for breaking rules? Yeah. Some are more obvious than others, though. If I choose to eat pork, the consequence may be a build up of fat and being unhealthy. It may not kill me, but I won’t be all that I could be. On the other hand, there are some laws that, if broken, carry more obvious consequences. Like murder. I can live in YHWH’s kingdom and not follow Torah. But life will be richer, and I will be a better light and re-presentation of YHWH’s kingdom if I do.