As life would have it, I now have 4 grandchildren. God knew what He was doing when the process of adoption fell through years ago. No matter how heartbroken I was at the time, HIS plan was bigger and better!
I've also grown spiritually to a different and better place - that I would never have even dreamed of years ago. Which brings me to my current post.
I just can no longer comprehend why Christian churches do not teach from a Hebrew perspective but continue in Greek thought (almost dismissing Torah/Old Testament teaching if favor of "life application" sermons that are designed to grow mega churches and make everyone feel good). When Yeshua (Jesus) walked this earth and walked out the Father's will - he was doing so as a Hebrew. All that he taught, was from Hebrew perspective. If that is what He taught, isn't that what we should follow? Seems pretty logical to me.
So many want to say there is a NEW covenant - I beg you to change your way of thinking. Pray about it. It is a RENEWED covenant, not a new one. Case in point......
As I was reading through the weekly Torah Portion (something all Hebrews do on a yearly cycle - all the same Scripture - all at the same time [wow, pondering the powerful spiritual thought of that concept]) - I got hung up, so to speak on Leviticus 9. All that reading of sacrifices and offerings just bungles my brain sometimes! I decided I was going to really think about it this time and not just read on through - knowing Yeshua is my once and for all sacrifice. I'm so glad I did.
These are just my naive thoughts - and are subject to change as I grow and transition according to the Father's will for my life - but I am going to share all the same. Leviticus 9 outlines the first sacrifices of Aaron as high priest (along with his sons as priests and the firsts sacrifices of the newly ordained priests).
I am focusing my thoughts on Aaron and am thinking of Yeshua as the High Priest. Below is an outline of the offerings as best as I can explain - and I ask this IMPORTANT and IMPERITIVE question - If I had not studied from a Hebrew Perspective (and I know someone is going to correct me on something I have wrong here, but that's ok - I'm still learning [hopefully until the day I die]), how would I have seen the very significance and parallel of what Yeshua did for me? How would anyone have known the foreshadowing of His coming and what he fulfilled - the truthful understanding of what He did and continues to do for us - if we are not studying Torah along with the renewed covenant? I am very sure the great voices of the past did this very thing, so that even those that don't study Torah weekly - are afford the blessing of their commitment - as the message has been extrapolated over time without having to delve in for ones self.
- For Aaron, sons, and elders:
- Bull calf = sin offering - denoting purification
- Yeshua gave his very life to purify us from sin
- Ram = burnt offering - indicating self surrender to God
- Yeshua submitted his complete will to the Father
- For children of Israel (whom you are if you have accepted Yeshua as you are grafted into the family of God - Israel):
- he-goat = sin offering
- Calf & lamb = burnt offering
- For all:
- Meal offering mingled with oil - consecration of service/toil
- Yeshua's whole life was that of service to His Father
- Peace offering - ox and ram - symbolizing friendship with God
Shouldn't we all want and desire to follow God's design? Do you see the pattern?
- To rid ourselves of sin by repentance (as Yeshua is our sacrifice for sin)
- To submit our will to the Father (as Yeshua submitted His will to the Father)
- To consecrate our daily toil to His service (just as Yeshua served His Father and all of mankind)
- To be at peace with the Father so that we may enjoy Divine communication which is our supreme experience in life
So I ask - don't you really want to know for yourself - and not what other men teach you? Don't forget that every man that teaches you - comes from his own life experiences! Let your life be influenced not by another man's but by the very One who created you! Get in the Word for yourself. He is true to be there with you. He is true to teach you His own ways - lest you not be led astray.
