Bechukotai: Why Would God Curse His People? – AlephBeta

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Healing in His Wings
Healing in His Wings

Is it possible that Jews could teach Christians about the Bible?  Could Jews even teach Christians something about their own theology?  If Christians have the revelation of Jesus Christ (Yeshua the Messiah), then what more is there that Jews could teach them?

How about this:  Jews can teach us the depths of God’s interaction with mankind from the beginning of time.  They can do this because Jews have received the oracles of God.  The Creator of the Universe has given to the Jews a number of things that Christians think only they have received.  The Apostle Paul lists these special things in Romans 9:1-5

  • The Adoption as sons and daughters of God
  • The Glory of God
  • The Covenants of God
  • The Law (Torah) of God
  • The Service of God
  • The Promises of God
  • The Fathers (Patriarchs) Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through whom God chose to bless all the earth
  • Messiah Himself

It is these special blessings that motivated Paul to write, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”  (Romans 11:29 NKJV)  And it is these special blessings that caused Zechariah to write:

“Thus says the Lord of hosts:  ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”  (Zechariah 8:23 NKJV)

True, Jews for the most part do not recognize Yeshua of Nazareth as Messiah, but that is something God Himself will correct one day (Zechariah 12:10; Romans 11:19-32).  After all, it takes a revelation from God to recognize Messiah (Matthew 16:13-17).  In the meantime, Jews have the Word of God, which they have been studying for millennia.  We would do well to tap into the wisdom which their studies have produced.  Jews have a profound grasp of the way God intended things to work.  One could think of it like a great furnace or brick kiln:  Jewish knowledge of Torah is the structure of that great furnace.  All they lack is the fire to burn within it.

Christians, it seems, have the fire.  It is the burning flame of Messiah Yeshua, Who has given His own life to bring human beings near to God.  And yet Christians for the most part do not grasp the structure of that great furnace which houses the flame.  Why?  Because for the most part we ignore the Torah, thinking it has no more bearing on us now that Christ has risen from the dead.  And yet it is Torah that lays the foundation for understanding Messiah’s identity and His work.  That is what He Himself said to the religious leaders of His day:

For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?  (John 5:46-47 NKJV)

Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’  And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’  But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”  (Luke 16:29-31 NKJV)

With that as an introduction, I recommend this short video by one of my favorite Jewish teachers, Rabbi David Fohrman.  In this teaching Rabbi Fohrman offers an explanation of why God made two trees in the Garden of Eden.  His explanation is fundamental to understanding the way God relates to all human beings.  As you view the teaching, ponder these words:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.  (John 14:6 NKJV)

Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  (John 15:4 NKJV)

BFB140521 Bechukotai
Bechukotai: Why Would God Curse His People? – AlephBeta.

© Albert J. McCarn and The Barking Fox Blog, 2014.  Permission to use and/or duplicate original material on The Barking Fox Blog is granted, provided that full and clear credit is given to Albert J. McCarn and The Barking Fox Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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