Last time out, I talked about Jacob running away. This time around, Jacob, having spent many years working for his uncle Laban, decides to return to his homeland, Canaan, the land Yahweh promised to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. Jacob, deceived by his father-in-law Laban, had worked diligently for years to accumulate wealth and livestock. However, Laban's deceit and greed led Jacob to make a secret departure with his family and possessions.
In a land where the echoes of ancient prophecies reverberated, two stories unfolded, joined by the threads of divine purpose and human ambition.
As Rebekah settled into her new life, she bore Isaac two sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau, the elder, was a skilled hunter, while Jacob, the younger, was a contemplative scholar. A fateful day arrived when Esau, famished from a long hunt, traded his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew. This act, though seemingly insignificant, set in motion a chain of events that would shape the destiny of generations to come.
Katika nchi ambamo mwangwi wa unabii wa kale unasikika, hadithi mbili zinafunuliwa, zikiunganishwa na wazo moja la kusudi la Mungu na tamaa ya wanadamu.
Rebeka alipotulia katika maisha yake mapya, alimzalia Isaka wana wawili, Esau na Yakobo. Esau, mkubwa, alikuwa mwindaji stadi, wakati Yakobo, mdogo, alikuwa mwanachuoni wa kutafakari. Siku ya maafa ilifika wakati Esau, akiwa na njaa baada ya kuwinda kwa muda mrefu, alibadilisha haki yake ya mzaliwa wa kwanza kwa Yakobo kwa bakuli la supu ya dengu. Kitendo hiki, ingawa kinaonekana kuwa kidogo, kinaanzisha mfululizo wa matukio ambayo yataamua hatima ya vizazi vijavyo.
Di negeri tempat gema nubuatan kuno bergema, dua cerita terungkap, disatukan oleh benang merah dari tujuan ilahi dan ambisi manusia.
Saat Ribka menjalani kehidupan barunya, dia melahirkan dua orang putra bagi Ishak, Esau dan Yakub. Esau, yang lebih tua, adalah seorang pemburu yang terampil, sedangkan Yakub, yang lebih muda, adalah seorang sarjana yang kontemplatif. Suatu hari yang menentukan tiba ketika Esau, yang kelaparan karena perburuan yang panjang, menukar hak kesulungannya kepada Yakub dengan semangkuk sup miju-miju. Tindakan ini, meskipun tampaknya tidak penting, menggerakkan serangkaian peristiwa yang akan menentukan nasib generasi mendatang.
En una tierra donde resuenan los ecos de las antiguas profecías, se desarrollan dos historias, unidas por el hilo común del propósito divino y la ambición humana.
Cuando Rebeca se instaló en su nueva vida, le dio dos hijos a Isaac, Esaú y Jacob. Esaú, el mayor, era un hábil cazador, mientras que Jacob, el menor, era un erudito contemplativo. Llegó un día fatídico cuando Esaú, muerto de hambre tras una larga cacería, cambió su primogenitura a Jacob por un plato de sopa de lentejas. Este acto, aunque aparentemente insignificante, pone en marcha una serie de acontecimientos que determinarán el destino de las generaciones futuras.
Dans un pays où résonnaient les échos d’anciennes prophéties, deux histoires se sont déroulées, reliées par les fils du dessein divin et de l’ambition humaine.
Alors que Rébecca s'installait dans sa nouvelle vie, elle enfanta à Isaac deux fils, Ésaü et Jacob. Ésaü, l'aîné, était un chasseur habile, tandis que Jacob, le plus jeune, était un érudit contemplatif. Un jour fatidique arriva où Ésaü, affamé après une longue chasse, échangea son droit d'aînesse sur Jacob contre un bol de ragoût de lentilles. Cet acte, bien qu’apparemment insignifiant, a déclenché une chaîne d’événements qui façonneront le destin des générations à venir.
In the scorching desert, Abraham's wife, Sarah, had given birth to Isaac, a miracle child as promised of Yahweh. Abraham was one year older, at one hundred years and Sarah well past the age of child bearing. Yahweh had told Abraham that Sarah’s son, Isaac would be the son of the covenant and the start of a great nation.
What do you believe? Is the word of Yahweh true and can it be trusted? Are his promises sure and will they come to pass, in your life, the lives of your friends and family and in your environment? These are the questions this lesson attempts to answer with the story of Abram, his wife Sarai and their maid Hagar.
Genesis 11:1-9, tells a fascinating story about the Tower of Babel. This story is set in ancient times and happened after the flood. As people migrated from the east, they settled in the plain of Shinar, eager to rebuild, settle and perform the motions belonging to the ordinary business of living. At this time, “the whole earth was of one language and of one speech.”
Way back in July of 2007, I published that establishing doctrinal unity in our present times is not a realizable undertaking. This was in my very first two postings on the Assembly of Yahweh Natzraya blog. To quote myself, In this present age, it is evident that the spiritual terrain is pockmarked with symptoms of divisiveness produced by the obnoxious attribute in man referred to as unreasonable or selfish ambition, James 4 1, Philippians 1 16, 2 Corinthians 2 17, 2 Corinthians 4 1-2. Seventeen years later, my assessment is still uncontested and applicable to the myriads of congregations engaged in preaching soundly or divisibly about Yahweh’s reign and Yehoshua Natzraya His chosen sovereign, specifically in Nigeria and in other parts of the world today (see Luke 9 49-50, Mark 9 38-40, Matthew 12 30, Luke 11 23, Philippians 1 15-18).
This episode explores the theme of corruption and redemption. Beginning at Genesis 5 1-32, a book is found which traces the lineage of man from Adam to Noah. The register contains Adam’s lineage from the birth of his son Seth which is why it is known as the line of righteousness. However, in terminating this ancestry with Noah, and the birth of his sons, the list admits the book is an index of men whose bodies are subject to corruption. I can arrive at this conclusion because it is at the point where Noah’s record is included in the book that the repetitive occurrence of death is suspended. This makes Noah a type of another man in whose book, corruption will not be found.
Change is a constant. Every morning when you rise from your bed or sleeping pallet, change has occurred. Change happens as you pass from birth, a fledgling, and attain youth and old age, till a person dies. These are all internal changes that occur with our bodies. The most important change that should happen to a person is the change of passing from death to life, just as Yehoshua of Nazareth, our saviour promised his followers and did (John 5:24). Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has perpetual life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life). Whenever a change occurs, the previous state is old, and the current state is new. Of course, the most important change in the governance of the affairs of diverse and differing groups is the change the United Nations Organization (U.N.) has adopted from the Scriptures as its motto (Micah 4:3). Then He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide. Then they will beat their swords into ploughs and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war.
Deuteronomy 26 12-15, describes giving tithes (a tenth of one's produce) to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, when they arrive in the land of the promise. The Israelites are reminded to acknowledge the Mighty One’s blessings and provision, declaring their obedience to His commands. This act of giving demonstrates gratitude, trust, and recognition of the Mighty One’s sovereignty. This practice is to be performed in the year of tithing. The interesting question here is to ask what the year of tithing is. The answer is close, it is in the passage I am about to read, and if you compare what is been practiced now, you will arrive at the conclusion on Today’s foreign tithe.
Vows are a form of gratitude toward Yahweh, the Mighty One, that people perform (Psalm 65 1, Psalm 116 14,18). Some vows recorded in Scripture are the vow of Jacob (Genesis 28 20-22, the vow of Jephthah in Judges 11 30-40, Hannah’s vow (1 Samuel 1 9-11), King Saul’s vow (1 Samuel 14 24-30), and in the Messianic Scriptures, there is the example of Paul’s vow (Acts 18 18, Acts 21 17-24).
Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Yehoshua Messiah was like this; for after his mother, Miriam, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Set Apart Spirit.
19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
20 But when he thought about these things, behold, a messenger of Yahweh appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take to yourself Miriam, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Set Apart Spirit.
21 She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Yehoshua, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by Yahweh through the prophet, saying,
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;” which is, being interpreted, “the Mighty One with us.”
24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the messenger of Yahweh commanded him, and took his wife to himself.
Moses, in his speech to the assembled Israelites, warned them against the sin of pride. They had defeated nations and peoples. These nations were stronger and had a greater population. These were established nations who had been inhabiting the land for ages. In comparison, Israel was just been born as a nation after leaving Egypt were they had been slaves. All of these encounters would be acceptable, Moses warned, if the Israelites saw these victories they had gained as victories given to them through the wisdom and might of Yahweh. Israel would be wrong to think that these victories was because of their righteousness. On the contrary, they should understand that these victories given to them was because of Yahweh’s judgement on the sins of the people whom Israel had defeated. Israel was not to forget that they too had provoked Yahweh as these nations had done.
Looking at events ongoing in today’s world. It is not difficult to conclude there is no comfort for those who lack and are suffering. It all sounds like a scripted version of the trials that afflicted Job introduced as “a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing the Mighty One and shunning evil” (Job 1:1). Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic decide to make forceful changes to the government of the day. The reasons for these changes are similar in content. This is happening when the Ukrainians and the Russians are at war, and threatening the supply of wheat to other nations of the world. The price of bread rises. While all of this is ongoing, Israel and the Hamas led Palestinians begin a series of battles that is gradually drawing other countries into the fray. Protest erupt in the United Kingdom, in Ghana, in Nigeria. Adding to the deaths from the war fronts, these protest are characterized by violence and looting. This is not comforting.
This week’s episode takes off from the book of Isaiah to highlight the loving kindnesses of Yahweh, our creator and maker. While it is true that He dislikes and punishes sin, which comes from disobedience to His instructions, it is barely understood by the perishing how much loving kindness He shows to those who are not deserving of His favour.
This week’s episode titled Parashat Matot-Mas, is the last from the book of Numbers for the Nazari year 1994. It is a passage in the life of the Israelites that Yahweh trained in the wilderness, which reveals the control the flesh had over the tribe of Reuben and the tribe of Gad. This is shown in their materialistic desires and self seeking or selfish behaviour. The facts of their Lust for the pleasures of this life, as Yehoshua Messiah calls it, reveals the troubling character of those among the brethren who do not have the Spirit of Messiah in them - You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of the Mighty One lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Messiah, he does not belong to Messiah (Romans 8:9).
Ruth, une Moabite, est une figure centrale de la lignée de Yehoshua Messie. Bien qu'elle puisse sembler une candidate improbable à l'inclusion dans la généalogie du Messie, son histoire est une démonstration remarquable de la souveraineté et de la faveur du Tout-Puissant.
Comment Ruth, une Moabite, s'inscrit-elle dans l'image de la lignée du Messie ? Ruth épouse Boaz, un descendant de Juda. Leur fils, Obed, devient le père de Jessé, et Jessé est le père du roi David. Cette lignée est méticuleusement retracée dans le livre de Ruth puis dans la généalogie présentée dans le livre de Matthieu (Ruth 4 :18-22 ; Matthieu 1 :5-6).
