Jonah son of Amittai

We don't know who we really are - only the Creator knows all things.

With that in mind, it makes sense that we should all, by Faith, trust in Him and obey His commands and live according to His Instructions, otherwise we might fall into that 'once saved always saved' trap - thinking we are one of His Chosen and later hearing Y'shua tell us to go away from him, he never knew us.

Jonah is an Example: 

Yah tells Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, and proclaim judgment upon it because of their wickedness. Jonah decides to ignore this request and run away from being in service to Yahweh. He found a ship going to Tarshish, paid the fare and sailed off. He left because he thought he already knew what Yahweh was going to do regardless, knowing that Yah is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness, renouncing punishment - but Jonah missed the point: he disobeyed a command of Yahweh and things got pretty troublesome for him until he finally acknowledged the powerful existence of Elohim and agreed to go to Nineveh and proclaim the judgment.  

Yahweh cast a mighty wind upon the sea causing a great tempest putting the ship in danger of breaking apart.  The sailors cried out, each to their own god but Jonah had gone below and fell asleep.  They cast lots and the lot fell upon Jonah - he confessed he was a Hebrew and worshipped Yahweh Elohim.  When they learned the stormy seas were a result of his attempt at fleeing from the service of Elohim, they asked what must be done to calm the waters.  Jonah told them to toss him overboard.  The men continued to row hard towards shore but could not and the storm worsened.  They called out to Yahweh not to kill them on account of Jonah nor hold them guilty for killing him.  They acknowledge that Yahweh Elohim brought this about and then heaved Jonah overboard and the sea stopped raging.

Yah provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah where he stayed three days and three nights, and he prayed.  He acknowledged his troubles and that when near death Yahweh brought him up from the pit.  He gave thanks and vowed to do as He commanded.  The fish spewed Jonah out upon dry land.

This second time when Yah told Jonah to go at once to Nineveh, he did.  The people believed that Yahweh would do what He said He would, and they turned back from their evil ways. Yah saw what they did and renounced the punishment.  Yet, Jonah was displeased.

O Yahweh! Isn't this just what I said when I was still in my own country? This is why I fled to Tarshish. Please take my life - I'd rather die than live.

Jonah leaves the city and found a place where he made a booth where he sat in the shade while he waited to see what happened to the city.  Yahweh caused a ricinus plant (castor bean) to grow up over Jonah to provide shade for his head and save him from discomfort.  He was very happy about this plant.  The next day Yah provided a worm which attacked the plant and it withered. When the sun rose, Yahweh provided a sultry east wind, the sun beat down on Jonah's head and he became faint, begging for death.  Yah asks him if he is that deeply grieved about the plant.  (There was a lesson being taught Jonah)

Yah says: 
You cared about the plant which you did not work for and you did not grow, which appeared overnight and perished overnight.  Should I not care about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not yet know their right hand from their left, and many beasts as well!

These people did not know right from wrong and could not be held responsible for their actions - just as beasts cannot be held responsible for what they do. The people had to be made aware of their wrongdoings. Nahum the prophet made a pronouncement on Nineveh, a city of crime, utterly treacherous, full of violence, where killing never stops! He writes that it is because of the countless harlotries of the harlot, the winsome mistress of sorcery, who ensnared nations with her harlotries and peoples with her sorcery that Yahweh will deal with her. 

Nineveh was founded by Nimrod shortly after the Flood (Genesis 10:11-12); and as capital of the Assyrian empire, it rose to power about 900 B.C. Years later, Assyria began the process of conquering Israel, and Jonah clearly saw this nation as an enemy and feared what it would eventually do. By 721 B.C. the Assyrian army had destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel. The Assyrians were extremely brutal and cruel, even skinning their captives alive. The city of Nineveh eventually fell to the invading armies of the Babylonians and Medes (about 607 B.C.)

Here is a link to more info about Nahum's prophecy about Nineveh

When we know right from wrong we will be held responsible for our actions. This knowledge of right and wrong is written in Scriptures, namely Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

The Covenant Renewed

In a discussion about those who think the New Testament is not part of Scriptures, I was asked to find in just the Old Testament (Tanakh) any place where Yah said He had a son. This is challenging because the New Testament (Renewed Covenant) answers each point I have found in the Old Testament.

If we read just the Tanakh and ignore the Renewed Covenant, we are left with many unanswered questions which leave us open to speculation. The same goes for reading the NT only- if one doesn't know the circumstances, rules and regulations spoken of in the OT much of the NT writings won't make sense. It is what's referred to as 'types and shadows' of thing to come. Just as Yahweh gave the pattern of the Tabernacle to Moses, we have the pattern to understand the renewed covenant writings. 

In the course of this study I have found Scriptures to be one whole book, and that it truly does interpret itself- it just takes effort on our behalf.

Yahweh used Nathan to speak to David:

2 Samuel 7:12- and when your days are done, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of you own issue (Solomon), and I will establish his kingship. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. I will be a father to him and he shall be a son to me.

This is part of David's reply to Yahweh:

7:23- And who is like Your people Israel, a unique nation on earth, whom Yahweh redeemed as His people, winning renown for Himself and doing great and marvelous deeds for them and for Your land- driving out nations and their gods before Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt. You have established Your very own people forever and You, Yahweh, have become their Elohim.

Psalm 2:6- "But I have installed My king on Zion, My holy mountain!" Let me tell of the decree: Yahweh said to me, 

"You are My son, I have fathered you this day."

2:11- Serve Yahweh in awe; tremble with fright, pay homage in good faith, lest He be angered, and your way be doomed in the mere flash of His anger. Happy are all who take refuge in Him.

Proverbs 30:4- Who has ascended heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hand? Who has wrapped the waters in his garment? Who has established all the extremities of the earth? What is His Name or His son's name, if you know it? Every word of Yahweh is pure, a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He indict you and you be proved a liar.

Isaiah 7:14- Assuredly, Yahweh Elohim will give you a sign of His own accord! Look, the young woman is with child and about to give birth to a son. Let her name him Immanuel. (this prophecy was given about 700 years before Y'shua was born)

Isaiah 9:5- For a child has been born to us, a son has been given us.  And authority has settled on his shoulders. He has been named "The Mighty Elohim is planning grace; the Eternal Father, a peaceable ruler" - In token of abundant authority and of peace without limit upon David's throne and kingdom, that it may be firmly established in justice and in equity now and evermore.

Hosea 11:1- I fell in love with Israel when he was still a child; and I have called him My son ever since Egypt. Thus were they called (out of Egypt), but they went their own way; they sacrificed to Baalim.

Micah 5:1- And you, O Bethlehem of Ephrath, least among the clans of Judah, from you one shall come forth to rule Israel for Me- one whose origin is of old, from ancient times. Truly, he will leave them helpless until she who is bear has borne, then the rest of his countrymen shall return to the children of Israel. He shall stand and shepherd by the might of Yahweh, by the power of the Name 'Yahweh' his Elohim

These Scripture quotes point towards a future event, something we cannot realize until we read the Renewed Covenant (NT). Now we can connect the dots between what was, what is and what is to come.

Satan is So Subtle

We have been warned against 

speaking the names of pagan deities:

Exodus 23:13

Be on guard concerning all that I have told you.  

Make no mention of the names of other gods; 

they shall not be heard on your lips.

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Quote:

In ancient Mesopotamia, astrologers assigned each day of the week the name of a god. In a culture where days were consumed by religion, it is unsurprising that the days of the week were made in homage to the gods believed to rule the lives of mortals. Many centuries later, the Romans, upon beginning to use the seven day week, adopted the names of the week to fit their own gods. These were then adopted by Germanic people who also adjusted the names according to their gods. It is predominantly these Germanic and Norse gods that have lived on today in the days of the week.

We really need to stop using the names for the days of the week and the names for the months of the year in order to stay on track with the Creator.   Here's another link for a little more history on how those names came about:

The Refiner's Fire

-:':':':':-

Here is a quote from aish.com: 

Even though the names of the months are linguistically speaking Babylonian, they were adopted by the Jews with the understanding that they were Divinely inspired names, and are laden with kabbalistic nuances. (end quote)

It appears that while the Israelites were living in Babylon for 70 years, is when they started calling months by names. Explained here, chabad.org, the original system according to YHWH was to count months in numeric order, in effect recalling the exodus from Egypt serving as a constant reminder of the deliverance from Egypt.  After they were delivered from Babylonian captivity, they started using the names that they became used to using in Babylon. They seem to think that these names serve to remind them that YHWH has redeemed then from this second exile.

Note: The first time was not an 'exile' scenario.  The descendants of Abraham, the House of Jacob/Israel, were invited to live in Egypt by Pharaoh who's friend and 2nd in command was Joseph. 

Do you see this as another example of folks trying to please the Creator in their own way? We read in the above examples that naming the months is a man-made invention that goes against what Yahweh set forth. And it originated in Babylon.  Aren't we told to come out of Babylon? Jeremiah 51:36, for one example and Revelation 18 for another.  They had picked up bad habits while in Babylon and brought them back to Judea when they returned.  Then they taught tradition mixed with Scripture to the generations that followed.

The Talmud : Man's opinion over the Word of Yah

Kabbalah : Magic tricks

And from the Jewish Virtual Library:

Kabbalah is the name applied to the whole range of Jewish mystical activity. While codes of Jewish law focus on what it is God wants from man, kabbalah tries to penetrate deeper, to God's essence itself. (end quote)

Yahweh says what is good

Satan tries to convince us it could be better

It has been easier to stop partaking in the tradition holiday celebrations than it has been to stop speaking the names of the the months and the days of the week. This language is so embedded in our daily affairs it is almost impossible to ignore. As of this posting I am still struggling with this command. Even so, both my husband and I have started the counting of days via the seven day count from the new moon/new month and keeping the Sabbath Day Rest on each 7th day. We sincerely try to live by His Instructions and look forward to the day He restores all things.

Keep on keepin' on Y'all! 

Right from Wrong

Galatians 5:19

For you know the works of the flesh, which are these:

adultery, impurity and lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, stubbornness, treacheries, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelry and all like things. 

Those who do things like these, they will not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim.

The fruits then of the Spirit are these:

Love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. 

Against these things there is no instruction put in place.

There are no instructions against fulfilling these fruits of the Spirit, although Yah does instruct against the lusts of the flesh. Flesh desires a thing that is against the Spirit. Torah, Yah's Instructions in Righteousness, teach us 'right from wrong' so that we may make an informed decision when choosing how we want to behave.

That Cushite Woman

The murmuring of Aaron and Miriam

Numbers 12:1

When they were in Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron spoke against their brother, Moses, because of the Cushite woman he had married:

"He married a Cushite woman! Has Yah spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?"

Yahweh heard them.

Yahweh calls to them: Come out, you three, to the Tent of Meeting.

Then he calls out Aaron and Miriam and He said:

"Hear these words of Mine: when a prophet of Mine arises among you, I make Myself known to him in a vision, I speak with him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; he is trusted throughout My household.  With him I speak mouth to mouth, plainly  and not in riddles, and he beholds the likeness of Me.  How then did you not shrink from speaking against My servant Moses!"

Yahweh was incensed with them as He departed.  Miriam was struck with snow-white scales. Aaron pleads with Moses admitting their sin they committed in folly. Moses cried out to Yah to heal her, but He says:

If her father spat in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days?  Let her be shut out of the camp  for seven days then let her be readmitted.

Let us now refer to the historical accounts of Moses as they are written in the book called Jasher, beginning with the time Moses killed an Egyptian.

Moses was eighteen years old and desired to see his parents who were living in Goshen. On his way he came across a 'work place' where he saw an Egyptian hitting one of his Hebrew kin.  This man who was being beaten saw Moses and ran to him for help, as Moses was greatly respected in the house of Pharaoh.  He tells Moses that this Egyptian came to his house at night, tied him up and then had his way with his wife in his presence, and now intended to kill him.  Moses was angered and struck the Egyptian, which killed him. Eventually Pharaoh found out about this and sent his guards to kill Moses. Yah sent a Messenger/angel who guided Moses from Egypt, 40 days journey from the border.

Moses ends up in the camp of King Kikianus of Cush and remained with them for nine years.  The king and princes and all the fighting men loved Moses, for he was great and worthy, his stature was like a noble lion, his face like the sun and his strength was like that of a lion - he became counsellor to the king.

When the king died, his men found no other choice but to make Moses their new king - he was now 27 years old and reigned 40 years.  Yahweh granted him favor and grace in the eyes of all the children of Cush.

The people gave to Moses for a wife Adoniah the Cushite queen, wife of Kikianus.  Here it is mentioned that Moses feared Yahweh the Elohim of his fathers, so he did not go to her nor look her in the eyes.  He remembered how Abraham made his servant Eliezer swear not to take a woman from the daughters of Canaan for his son Isaac. Therefore, Moses did not turn his heart to nor take the wife of Kikianus as his own.  But he did strengthen himself in the kingdom of Cush and guided them with his usual wisdom and he prospered.

In the fortieth year of his reign, Adoniah the queen has had enough of pretending.  She speaks in front of Moses, the nobles and princes saying, "What is it you have done for all this time?  This man (Moses) has not approached me nor has he served the gods of the children of Cush.  Therefore, let him reign no more. My son (from Kikianus) is grown up and it is better for you to serve him than a stranger, slave of the king of Egypt.

The people gave in but were afraid to go against Moses - they knew his Elohim was with him - and they remembered the oath they swore to Moses so they did him no harm and sent him packing.  He was sixty six years old when he left the land of Cush and traveled to Midian. He was afraid to go back to Egypt on account of Pharaoh.  This is when he comes upon a well and meets the seven daughters of Reuel the Midianite. (Exodus 2:16)

Having this information helps explain why Yah got so angry with Miriam and Aaron for speaking out 'falsely' against their brother.   He was not married to the queen of Cush - she was given to him but he stayed true to Yahweh Elohim.