Land of our Inheritance

The land which is our inheritance covers a bit more land than the current day nation state of Israel. Does the land of Canaan ring a bell? 

"The area known as Canaan in ancient times covered parts of modern-day Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Ancient Canaan also included parts of the coastal regions and areas of Syria, Lebanon and Jordan"

Genesis 13:12 ~ Abram stays in the land of Canaan while Lot settled in the cities of the Plain, pitching his tents near Sodom. YHWH said to Abram, "Raise your eyes and look out from where you are, to the north, south, east and west, for I give all the land that you see to you and your offspring forever. Get up and walk about the land, through its length and breadth..." Abram moved his tent and dwelt at the terebinths of Mamre* which are in Hebron. 

Numbers 34 ~ When you enter the land of Canaan this is the land that shall fall to you as your portion, the land of Canaan with its various boundaries: 

Your Southern sector shall extend from the wilderness of Zin alongside Edom. The boundary shall start on the east from the tip of the Dead Sea.  It shall then turn to pass south of the ascent of Akrabbim and continue to Zin and its limits shall be south of Kadesh-barnea, reaching Hazar-addar and continueing to Azmon. From Azmon the boundary shall turn toward the Wadi of Egypt and terminate at the Mediterranean Sea.

For the Western boundary, you shall have the Great Sea (Mediterranean) and its coast. This shall be your western border.
 

The Northern border: from the Mediterranean Sea you shall draw a line to Mount Hor. From Mount Hor you shall draw a line to Lebo-hamath, and let it reach Zedad. From there the border shall extend to Ziphron, and terminate at Hazar-enan. This shall be your northern border.
 

For your Eastern border, draw a line from Hazar-enan to Shepham. And the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue downward and abut on the eastern slopes of the Sea of Chinnereth (Sea of Galilee). And the border shall continue down along the Jordan, and terminate at the Salt (Dead) Sea. This shall be your land as defined by its borders all around.”

*Note: Mamre was an Amorite, kinsman of Eshkol and Aner, allies of Abraham. The terebinths of Mamre in Hebron are generally agreed to have been oak trees and that grove was named after Mamre.

This land is also pointed out later on to Moses in Deuteronomy 34. The territory has been divided among the twelve clans descended from Jacob (whose name Yah changed to Israel) ~

Moses went up from the steppes of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the summit of Pisgah, opposite Jericho, and YHWH showed him the whole land:
Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, the whole land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea; the Negev; and the Plain (the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees) as far as Zoar.  YHWH said to Moses, 'This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, I assigned it to them and their offspring.'

Many ancient names for these locations have remained and some have not.  It's not the easiest of tasks to find an overlay of the land of Canaan on to the modern day borders of Israel.  But the main message is that the physical land mass of what we know as Israel is not the same as the promised land described by our Creator. His promise is to the people, Israel, those descended from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, their offspring AND anyone who chooses Yah as their God, abide by His Instructions and have the tesitmony of His son, thus becoming adopted into the commonwealth of the House of Israel.  "Israel" is a people, not the U.N. created state.

Click Here to go to my Study: Who Is Israel?

This Really Chaps my Hide.....

Here is the meme I recently saw on Facebook that seems like one of those "Get out of Jail Free" cards, giving folks excuses to live and let live and still feel good about themselves. For example, if David had an affair, what difference is it if I have one? 

 

If we actually read Scriptures we'll learn that this is not acceptable behavior. If we deliberately go against our Father's Instructions things won't end us so well for us.

The Meme:

I agree that sometimes it may seem puzzling as to why God used these people to accomplish certain things but bottom line is that they are all examples for us.

From 1 Corinthians 10... all our fathers were under the cloud, and they passed through the sea, and they were all immersed by Moses in the cloud and in the sea. The all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink... from the spiritual rock that attended them and that rock was the Anointed One. But with a multitude of them, YHWH was not pleased. These things are an example for us so that we won't covet after evil things as they did. Neither should we serve idols as some of them did nor commit sexual sin.

Let me set the record straight in regards to the allegations listed in the meme and what is actually written in Scriptures.

1. Noah wasn't a drunk although he did get drunk drinking from his first grape harvest after The Flood. Maybe he was celebrating the fact that he and his family and all those animals survived the ordeal. This incident did not result in Noah being cursed, but one of his sons was cursed.

2. Abraham grew up in a pagan household and when God called him out he did not hesitate. It was by faith that he obeyed the command to leave Ur of Chaldea. He became the father of many peoples and God kept His Covenant through him by his sons Isaac and Jacob. Yep, he aged during this time.

3. Sarah, Abraham's wife:
In Genesis 11 we read the fact of her being barren, childless. This was back when they were packing up to leave Ur of Chaldea. In Genesis 16:1 we read that Sarah offered her maid, Hagar, to Abraham so they could have a child by her. They did and named him Ishmael. This was a few years before Genesis 18 we read about the two messengers who said she would give birth to a son and Sarah thought it was pretty funny that they thought she would get pregnant after all these years of being barren, and at her age let alone the fact that Abraham was 99 years old! I'm not seeing enough to imply she was impatient.

4. Jacob was a cheat? What is that referring to? Is it Genesis 25:30 when Jacob legally purchased Esau's birthright? Or is it Genesis 27:30 when Jacob's mother set him up to receive the blessing of the first born?

5. Moses would rather YHWH send someone else to set His people free from Pharaoh. Remember that Moses was raised as royalty in Egypt and his time there ended badly: the accidental death of an Egyptian Moses had hit 40 years earlier. In Exodus 4 Moses makes another excuse for why God shouldn't choose him; “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”

Quote: In Stephen’s speech in Acts 7, he reminded his audience that Pharaoh’s daughter brought Moses up “as her own son. And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds."

Moses was humbly trying to convince God that he was not qualified for the task because he simply did not want to go back to Egypt. God knew better than that.

6. Miriam, sister of Moses and Aaron:

Numbers 12:1 ~ Both Miriam and Aaron spoke out against their brother because they believed Moses had married a Cushite woman. Further study reveals that Moses never married this queen of Ethiopia nor shared a bed with her; he remained true to YHWH during his exile in Ethiopia after he accidentally killed an Egyptian. In this case, yes, Miriam and Aaron were guilty of spreading rumors and they were showing some jealousy towards their brother. It didn't happen again. Zipporah was the only wife Moses had. She was a Midianite, one of seven daughters of Reuel (Jethro) the priest of Midian, a counsellor to Pharaoh.

7. Gideon, Judges Chapter 6: 

God says to Gideon: "Go in this strength of yours and deliver Israel from the Midianites." Gideon wants to be sure it is indeed Yahweh speaking with him so he asks for a sign; and Yah gave him one by accepting the offering made by him. Nothing insecure about that. Twice more Gideon asked for signs and Yahweh obliged him. Satisfied that he was being commanded by the Living God, Gideon listens and obeys.

It is true that Yahweh chose Gideon who was from the humblest of clans in Manasseh and he was the youngest in his father's household, but our Father also knew that Gideon would carry out His plans; just as He knew of the righteousness of Abraham, Noah and Moses who all obeyed Yahweh because of their Faith in Him. It makes sense that we should, 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.

First John 4

Do not believe all spirits but discriminate among the spirits whether they are of Elohim; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

8. About King David.... now lets be real about this as he had more than an affair. In II Samuel 2, after Saul had died, we read David had two wives at that time, Ahinoam and Abigail. It was then that David, his household, the men and their families moved to the Hebron area and settled. The men in Judah came and anointed David king over the House of Judah; David was 30 years old. In chapter 3 we read David fathered sons from Ahinoam and Abigail as well as from Maacah who was the daughter of the king of Geshur; Haggith and Abital and another gal by the name of Eglah who is also called his 'wife'. In chapter 5 we read David took more concubines and wives when he was in Jerusalem.

9. Elijah was moody? Good Golly People - Read Scriptures!

1 Kings 19:14 ~ “I have been very zealous for You, Master Yahweh,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”

10. Jonah 1:1

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.

The second time Yah told Jonah to go at once to Nineveh, he did. The people believed Jonah was speaking on God's behalf, that He would do what He said He would do, so they turned back from their evil ways. Yah saw they repented and renounced the punishment, yet Jonah was displeased. This was the very reason he tried to avoid God in the first place because he thought he knew Yahweh well enough and knew what the outcome would be; why should he waste his time to do anything, or get involved, or try to warn anyone.  But YHWH knew the people needed to have the error of their ways pointed out to them - they had become so accustomed to them that these ways seemed 'normal'. The people needed to be shown they had strayed from Yah's Path of Righteous Living.
 
The lesson here is that we should not think so highly of ourselves that we venture to know our Creator so well that we think we know what He will do regardless of our actions, so we choose to sit back and do nothing (the 'live and let live' attitude) instead of sharing the Word of YHWH with other people. We read in Galatians Chapter 6 that if a man considers that he is something when he is not, his soul is deceived.

Galatians 6:1 ~ Brothers, if any man among you goes before you in error, you, who are in the Spirit, restore him by the spirit of gentleness, and beware or else temptation also comes upon you.

11. Thomas wanted proof that his fellow disciples actually saw the resurrected Messiah.

12. Peter may have had a temper, but it was more like he became highly irritated when people started pointing him out as one of the followers of Y'shua. Peter fulfilled prophecy and denied knowing Y'shua. Moses got mad and struck the rock twice. God once destroyed the earth with a flood and lets not forget it will be the wrath of our Creator that brings this world to an end.

Ephesians 4:26 ~ Be angry, but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down upon your wrath and give no place to the Accuser

13. We read of Zaccheus/Zakkai in Luke 19:2 and learn he was a wealthy man and head of the publicans. When he learned Messiah was coming to town, he desired to see him but was small in stature so he climbed a tree to see him. When Y'shua saw him in the tree he called him to come down that he might stay in his house. When this happened the others started arguing because Messiah went in and lodged with a sinful man.

So, you see, it was about wanting to actually see the man, Y'shua the Anointed One, and not letting the opportunity pass by Zakkai climbed a tree. Y'shua noted the man's heart felt desire and knew this was the man he would lodge with. The others started arguing because, well, Messiah didn't pick any of those who thought they were better than old shorty.  In Mark Chapter 2 we learn that the scribes and Pharisees displayed the same mindset disgusted that Messiah would sit and eat with publicans and sinners. Y'shua says to them:

The healthy have no need for a physician, rather those who are very ill are in need. I have not come to call the righteous, rather the sinners.

14. Martha

In Luke 10:41 we read that Martha had received Y'shua into her house. She was busy with chores that her sister, Maryam, usually helped her with but now Maryam was seated at the feet of Y'shua listening to his words. Martha tells Y'shua to tell her sister to to help her and Y'shua lets Martha know that he knows she is anxious and troubled by many things but at this time Maryam was where she needed to be, hearing the Word. (I have often wondered how wonderful it would be to be a the feet of Messiah as he taught!) Martha's sister Maryam is the same Maryam that had anointed the feet of Y'shua and wiped them with her hair. Martha, Maryam and Lazarus were from the town of Bethany. These same two sisters along with their brother Lazarus are written of in John 11. Here we find out Y'shua had great love for these people, and brought Lazarus back to life.

15. Mary Magdalene was not a whore. In Luke 7:36 we do read of an unnamed woman known as a sinner who cried at the feet of Y'shua while he was in the house of a Pharisee. She wiped his feet with her hair and had an alabaster vase of ointment and anointed his feet with the oil of incense. The Pharisee was thinking to himself 'if Y'shua was truly a prophet he would realize who she was and what her reputation was.'  Yet because of her faith Y'shua said to her: You are forgiven your sins, your faith has given you life.  Is this the event that folks tie in with Mary Magdalene thinking she was a prostitute? Probably but it is not the same woman.

In medieval Western Christian tradition, "Mary of Bethany" (sister of Martha and Lazarus) was identified as "Mary Magdalene" (who had seven demons cast out) in large part because of a homily given by Pope Gregory the Great in which he taught about several women in the New Testament as though they were the same person. This led to a mixing together of the individual women and presenting them as one and the same: Mary of Bethany with Mary of Magdala as well as with another unnamed woman (Luke 7:36), and the woman caught in adultery (a story not found in the four earliest Greek manuscripts but was added at a later time in John 8 verses 1-11).

Note:
In John 12, six days before Passover, Y'shua came to Beth-Anya where Maryam the sister of Martha and Lazarus were gathered with folks at a banquet for Y'shua. Martha was serving and Lazarus was a guest along with Y'shua. Maryam took an alabaster vase of very expensive perfume of the choicest nard and anointed the feet of Y'shua; the fragrance filled the house. This is when Judas (the thief who was in charge of the money bag) complained that the perfume could have been sold and the money could have been used to help the poor. This was Maryam of Bethany in this scenario and not Maryam of Magdala.

Maryam of Magdala (Mary Magdalene) 
In Luke 8 Y'shua was going about preaching and declaring the Kingdom of God; his 12 apostles were with him and those women who were healed of sicknesses and of evil spirits. Maryam who is called Magdalitha from whom seven demons had gone out, and Yokan the wife of Kuza the steward of Herodus, and Shushan and many others were ministering to them from their wealth.  

Magdala was also known as Magadan, Dalmanutha and Mejdel:
This small city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee was about 3 miles N of Tiberias. Taricheae was a Greek name of the place called in Hebrew Migdal (Magdala), and came from the word 'taricheuein' which means to smoke or preserve fish ("pickling places.") The pickled fish of Galilee were known throughout the Roman and Greek world. Large quantities were taken up to Jerusalem at the season of the yearly feasts, because of the great multitudes. Barrels were also transported around the Mediterranean.

With this information about the area where 'Mary Magdalene' came from it is easy for me to see that her wealth came from her family's successful fish business.

When do we read of Mary Magdalene again? At Y'shua's death (Matthew 27:55-56;61). In Chapter 28 she comes with 'the other Mary' (mother of James the lesser) to see the grave of Y'shua and an angel lets them know that he was risen and that they should go and tell his disciples that he had risen from the dead. In Mark 16:9 we read that Magdalitha was the first to see the resurrected Messiah.

In John 19:25 we read that before he died Y'shua saw his mother Maryam standing near the stake and she was with her sister; and Maryam of Qalyopa/Cleopas (she was married to him, Luke 24:18); and Maryam of Magdala were there. 

16. Paul describes himself in Philippians 3:5, the way he was before his encounter with Y'shua, before he became an apostle -

"Circumcised when eight days old; of the stock of Israel; of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, descendant of Hebrews; in regards to Torah, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the assembly of Messianic believers; and as to the righteousness of the oral Torah, I was without fault." (Oral Law is rabbinic tradition)

Paul was a Hebrew of the tribe of Benjamin and was taught "Judaism" by the most respected rabbi of his day. He was blinded to the truth of YHWH while being horribly misled by the traditions of the Pharisees, who were at extreme odds with the followers of The Way as taught by Y'shua the Anointed One. This same thing is so true in today's world which is saturated with man's traditions being spread by 'respected religious leaders' and false teachers who continue to mesmerize congregations into believing they are doing the right thing. What we should be doing is reading Scriptures for ourselves so that those scales fall from our eyes in order to see the truth be revealed. Any of us could have been raised in a God-fearing home, going to church every sun-day, but sitting in any religious assembly listening to someone you trust teaching you about Scriptures instead of reading Scriptures for yourselves is the same as abiding by 'oral torah' taught by the Pharisees.  These are the same types of religious leaders that Y'shua fought against in his day, and remember, he said the day will come when he says, 'Go away from me, I never knew you.'

The story of Paul begins in Acts Chapter 8:

Paul was a participant in the murder of Stephen as well as part of the great persecution going on towards the congregation of the followers of Y'shua in Jerusalem.  He was part of those who persecuted the congregation of Yahweh. He entered homes and dragged out the men and women and took them to prison.  Chapter 9 - Paul was full of intimidation and the fury of murder towards the disciples of our Master Y'shua.  Paul asked for letters from the chief priests to take to the assemblies in Damascus giving him permission to arrest any followers he may find there and bring them to Jerusalem. On the road to Damascus a light from heaven suddenly shone upon him, and he was thrown to the ground. He heard a voice saying to him, "Shaul! Shaul! Why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick the stakes*." 

The men who were traveling with Paul were amazed because they heard only a sound but no man was visible to them. Paul got up from the ground and was no longer able to see, even though his eyes were open.  The men guided him as they continued to Damascus. Paul was unable to see for three days and neither did he eat or drink during this time.  (a very humbling experience)

It took an experience such as this and what followed for Paul to 'see the light' and become a righteous follower of The Way.  Who better than he to be chosen as the one to teach the Gentiles? What an extraordinary example for all of us in today's world!  No matter our past sinful ways we have the choice to come into covenant with our Creator through His son Yahshua the Anointed One. 

Paul went to Jerusalem desiring to join the disciples there but all of them were afraid of him.  They did not believe that he had become one of them. Bar-Naba ended up taking him to the Apostles and explained to them what had happened. They let him in with them and they went out into Jerusalem. Paul was boldly speaking in the name of Y'shua and disputing with those Jews who spoke Greek and they desired to kill him.  When the brothers knew this they brought Paul to Caesarea by night and sent him to Tarsus... nevertheless, the assembly that was in all Judah and Galilee and Shamrin now had peace in them.  The assembly grew, built up and instructed in the fear of Yahweh and in the comfort of His Set Apart Spirit.

Yahshua called the qualified ones to become his disciples and they became Spirit filled Apostles ten days after he left this earth.  They carried on in truth and wisdom teaching many and making further disciples. They continued to fight the good fight for the faith once delivered and it is amazing that our Creator preserved His Instructions with their stories in Scriptures as examples for us teaching how to live according to them.

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* "kick against the stake" is also translated "kick against the goads" which is a Hebrew idiom referring to getting a stubborn ox to move (more or less).  Y'shua is telling Shaul to stop fighting him, stop trying to get him to move out of the way.  It's possible Y'shua had been working on Paul for some time and finally broke through to him on the road to Damascus.

Ecclesiastes 3 ~ Seasons

A season is set for everything, 

a time for every experience under heaven:

A time for being born and a time for dying

A time for planting and a time for uprooting the planted

A time for slaying and a time for healing

A time for tearing down and a time for building up

A time for weeping and a time for laughing

A time for wailing and a time for dancing

A time for throwing stones and a time for gathering stone

A time for embracing and a time for shunning embraces

A time for seeking and a time for losing

A time for keeping and a time for discarding

A time for ripping and a time for sewing

A time for silence and a time for speaking

A time for loving and a time for hating

A time for war and a time for peace

These are the things YHWH gave man to be concerned with.  

He brings everything to pass precisely at its time.  

He puts the idea of eternity in our minds without us knowing it, 

from the beginning to the end, He brings all things to pass.

Lets do what is good in our lifetime 

and realize that what we have (food, water, shelter) 

is a gift from YHWH. 

He tends always to our needs.

Whatever He brings to pass will recur evermore:

Nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it

and He does what He says so that man shall revere Him.

What is happening has happened long since 

and what it to occur occurred long since.  

Alongside justice and righteousness there is wickedness. 

All the labor and skillful enterprise come from 

men's envy of each other

(nothing more than the chasing of the wind)

Better a poor but wise youth 

than an old but foolish king 

who no longer has the sense 

to heed warnings.

Not Part of the Problem

How can one be seen as part of 'the problem' 

 simply by appearing not to be part of 'the solution'?

That makes no sense to me.

And while I'm at it:

How can one's silence be construed as consent?

I am beginning to believe that those who spread these catch-phrases are simply pointing the finger at others so as to draw attention away from themselves.

In Lamentations we read:  

"Of what shall a living man complain? 

Each his own sins!"

How could I be part of the problem if I do not see a viable solution to support? and how could I automatically become part of the problem simply because I don't agree with a proposed solution?  I will never choose the lesser of two evils just to make people think that I am not part of the problem.  Choosing evil in any form is no solution to any problem; it only prolongs the inevitable.

Moving on, how can my silence equal consent when I've been verbally beaten down by the very ones accusing me of consenting? They have twisted honest talk into their perceived hate speech. There are times I keep my mouth shut because I have learned that lesson long ago; there are folks who just don't listen; and, for example, when I do point out the truth of a matter I get pushed aside as a conspiracy theorist.

These catchy phrases have been taken way out of context and reflect narrow mindedness by those throwing them out there (to one extent) and look like brainwashed behavior beyond that. Those words are a 'stop sign', a verbal wall put up that allows no further conversation. 

Here is the origin of one of those sayings:

"To be sure I must; and therefore I may assume 
that your silence gives consent."

This is taken from a speech given by Socrates as recorded by Plato.  Please note that it is an 'assumption' made by Socrates, who is standing trial in regards to a religious matter.  I was inspired to do some research and it turned out to be an interesting study.

I learned that the poet Meletus was one of three accusers of Socrates. The affidavit sworn out by Meletus made two related charges against Socrates: "refusing to acknowledge the gods recognized by the State and of introducing new and different gods" and "corrupting the youth."  Here is part of the speech made by Socrates in which his manner of speaking made Meletus look like a fool. I think I would have been temporarily rendered speechless listening to this man bloviate as well:

Did ever man, Meletus, believe in the existence of human things, and not of human beings? I wish, men of Athens, that he would answer, and not be always trying to get up an interruption. Did ever any man believe in horsemanship, and not in horses? or in flute-playing, and not in flute- players? No, my friend; I will answer to you and to the court, as you refuse to answer for yourself. There is no man who ever did. But now please answer the next question: Can a man believe in spiritual and divine agencies, and not in spirits or demigods?

He cannot.

How lucky I am to have extracted that answer, by the assistance of the court! But then you swear in the indictment that I teach and believe in divine or spiritual agencies (new or old, no matter for that); at any rate, I believe in spiritual agencies, so you say and swear in the affidavit; and yet if I believe in divine beings, how can I help believing in spirits or demigods; must I not? To be sure I must; and therefore I may assume that your silence gives consent. Now what are spirits or demigods? Are they not either gods or the sons of gods?

Certainly they are.

But this is what I call the facetious riddle invented by you: the demigods or spirits are gods, and you say first that I do not believe in gods, and then again that I do believe in gods; that is, if I believe in demigods. For if the demigods are the illegitimate sons of gods, whether by the nymphs or by any other mothers, of whom they are said to be the sons--what human being will ever believe that there are no gods if they are the sons of gods? You might as well affirm the existence of mules, and deny that of horses and asses. Such nonsense, Meletus, could only have been intended by you to make trial of me. You have put this into the indictment because you had nothing real of which to accuse me. But no one who has a particle of understanding will ever be convinced by you that the same men can believe in divine and superhuman things, and yet not believe that there are gods and demigods and heroes.

Socrates put a big spin on the accusations against him but was found guilty.  He failed in his attempt to use the words of Meletus against him, and failed to use his silence against him as well. His accusers argued for the death penalty. Socrates was given the opportunity to suggest his own punishment and initially offered the sarcastic recommendation that he be rewarded for his actions. When pressed for a realistic punishment, he proposed that he be fined a modest sum of money. Faced with the two choices, the jury selected death for Socrates. The philosopher was taken to the near-by jail where his sentence would be carried out. Athenian law prescribed death by drinking a cup of poison hemlock.

 ↔↕↔↕↔

"If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem."

This saying is attributed to Eldridge Cleaver who was an American writer and political activist. He became a follower of Malcolm X and an early leader of the Black Panther Party as 'minister of information'. In his later years Cleaver proclaimed himself a born-again Christian and a Republican, engaged in various business ventures, and struggled with an addiction to cocaine.  He died of prostate cancer in 1998. It is also noted that this popular saying might not be the full quotation from Soul on Ice, a collection of writings he composed while in Folsom Prison, in which Cleaver traced his political evolution while denouncing American racism. (I haven't read the book to confirm this):

'There is no more neutrality in the world. You either have to be part of the solution, or you're going to be part of the problem.'

The observation being made is akin to getting someone to stop sitting on the fence or to quit walking down the middle of the road (staying neutral), as in trying to force someone to take a side. It will only appear a person is part of the problem if they don't readily agree with your view on the matter. I, for one, would rather stay in the neutral zone while I studied out the matter at hand before making any decisions or jumping to any conclusions.

The bottom line of most problems is lack of knowledge which does not make one automatically part of the problem or the solution; just as one's silence doesn't equal consent.

Sodom and Gomorrah

Another one of the things Y'shua lets us know about in regards to the signs that indicate the nearness of his return is recorded in Luke 17:28 when he makes reference to both Noah and Lot:

As it was in the days of Noah, so it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking and buying and selling, growing crops and building. But on the day that Lot went out from Sodom, Master YHWH rained down fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed all of them. Thus it will be in the day that the Son of man is revealed.

Back in the days of Noah folks were living life as usual, eating, drinking, getting married, raising families, buying and selling goods and ignoring the reason Noah and his family were preparing in obedience to the instructions given by YHWH our Creator. Those other folk kept on keepin' on right up until the Noah Family entered the ark. The others did not really understand what was going on until the flood hit and then it was too late to enter the ark, too late to be saved. We are told the signs before the return of Messiah so we will prepare before it's too late to be saved from the coming flood of Wrath of Yahweh, which is contained in the final 7 Bowls of Plagues.

Sodom, Gomorrah and surrounding communities were living life the same way as those in Noah's day, but we learn it was common practice for these folks to welcome strangers/new comers into their town by having sexual intercourse with them, whether male or female or if they were willing or not. Abraham's nephew, Lot, warned the two messengers YHWH had sent to his town not to stay out in the open and to spend the night in his home. In Genesis 19 we read that the townspeople, young and old alike, gathered at Lot's house demanding he bring the visitors out to them so they could be 'intimate' with them. Lot beg the townsfolk to leave them alone and even offered his own virgin daughters to the mob to do to them as they please but to leave those 'men' alone who he was trying to protect. This happened the night before Yah rained down brimstone and fire upon the towns.

Both scenarios are examples of people who are disobedient or rebellious, putting themselves first and God as an afterthought, if they thought about Him at all. They mocked or ignored the ones preparing to be saved from destruction. Today we are called 'conspiracy theorists' or 'bible thumpers' and are mocked or ignored as we continue to study Scriptures and learn how to prepare for those end time events. Back in the days of Noah as in the days of Lot many did not have faith in the Creator and lived life the way they saw fit, sort of the 'Live and let live' mindset many have today. And who can ignore the perverted sexual lifestyles promoted in today's world?

Jude 1:6

And the Messengers (aka Watchers, those angels whose offspring were the Nephilim) that did not keep their first estate but left their station, He has reserved in chains unknown, under darkness to the judgment of the great day. And in like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities which followed sexual sin and went after strange flesh, are also placed beneath eternal fire, being doomed to judgment.

We read in the second letter of Peter that our Master YHWH knows how to rescue from afflictions those who fear Him, and He will reserve the wicked for the day of judgment to be tormented, and especially those who go after the flesh in the lusts of perversions.

In today's world the majority of people live out each day to the best of their abilities: eating, drinking, getting married, raising families, providing for their wants and needs, content to 'live and let live' while turning a blind eye to the evil that has continued to surface throughout the years until 'evil' is now considered good and 'good' is called evil; 'good' is called hate speech and homophobia. The next step Y'shua tells us about is that we will be hated because of him, because of our faith in God the Father, Yahweh our Creator. This is exactly what is happening as if we were the ones building an ark while spreading the Word about the Good News of the Kingdom to come, informing people about choosing the way of salvation. The analogy for us today, however, is that we have been invited to the wedding feast and if we are not prepared to enter, if our lamps are not full of oil and we run off to buy some more, the door to the banquet hall will be shut and locked - it will then be too late to enter, too late to be saved.

In Deuteronomy 32 Moses predicts what will happen speaking poetically when he said: "Ah! The vine for them is from Sodom, from the vineyards of Gomorrah; the grapes for them are poison, their clusters a bitter growth." Yahweh says He is saving it up to be His recompense and vengeance at the time "their foot falters". Their day of disaster will come as destiny rushes upon them. This is pointing towards the end of the world as we know it. Just as He brought an end to creation with The Flood when man's thoughts were on evil continuously, just as He brought an end to Sodom and Gomorrah because of their arrogance and wicked ways, He will bring an end to this world that we know for those same reasons. Likewise, as He saved the righteous and faithful from The Flood and as He saved Lot from destruction, so do we have the opportunity to be saved from death eternal.

Compare today with the writings of Ezekiel in Chapter 16 for example. There are people in these modern times who are arrogant, who have plenty to eat and live without worry or concern but they do not support the poor or needy; in their haughtiness they commit abominations in the eyes of our Creator. Then there are those whose ungodly behavior makes those people appear righteous by comparison. There will be a day of reckoning for us all. Lets remember we can choose to be in His Everlasting Covenant and He will forgive and forget the follies of our youth. For us today it is by acting in obedience to our Creator's Instructions and having the testimony of His Son, Y'shua the Anointed One that we find salvation.

Suicide - the Murder of Oneself

As we continue on His Path we gain understanding and learn how to apply His Instructions to modern day affairs. Many questions arise over time in regards to various topics concerning daily life.  One of the commandments from His Book of Instructions in particular is not to commit murder which has raised the question: "What about suicide?"  How does this affect one's salvation, or was one truly saved at all if they entertain the idea of ending their own life?  Please read my study Always Saved and also take this into consideration as we read Jude 1:5 - Let me remind you that Elohim, after once rescuing the people from Egypt, again destroyed them who did not believe.  Every one who left Egypt that day did so because of 'the blood of the lamb' which saved them from death yet not everyone kept the faith and some stopped believing in Yahweh.

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who endures temptations so that when he is proved he may receive a crown of life which Elohim has promised to them that love Him. 

Is it temptation that leads one to murder oneself? We are told to resist temptation so that the devil will flee from us. Giving in to suicide is giving in to temptation and in doing so we give up that crown of life. Remember how horrible life became for Job who once was living so comfortably yet never gave up and never blamed Yah for his miseries. By staying committed - faithful - and steadfast Job was rewarded with more than he had before.  So shall it be for us as we endure 'life' and whatever comes our way.  If we stand strong in our faith and remain committed to our Creator and abide by the terms of His contract we shall be rewarded with much more than what we once had.

Revelation 2:10 - Be not terrified at any of the things you are to suffer. The Accuser/Satan will throw some of you into custody (prison) that you may be tried and there will be trouble for you ten days (tortured). Be faithful (right up until the day they kill you) and I will give you the crown of life.  

If we keep our faith in YHWH then death loses its sting; we will not even think about killing ourselves regardless of the state we find ourselves in.  If we are not full of the Word of our heavenly Father then Satan will find ways to fill those empty places allowing demons to do his dirty work.

Scriptures is full of stories that involve killings, murders, accidental deaths, wars etc.... although only a few people are noted as suicides, depending on which version of Scriptures you read from. And in reading Scriptures we find these weren't all suicides. Lets take a look:

Saul

1 Samuel 15:35 = YHWH regretted making Saul king over Israel.

1 Samuel 28:6 = Yah stopped talking with Saul and Saul goes as far to break his own law and inquires of 'spirits' by visiting the witch of En-dor.

1 Samuel 31:4 = Saul has been severely wounded in battle and tells his arms-bearer to draw his sword and run him through so that the 'uncircumcised' Philistines wouldn't have the chance to finish him off and make sport of him.  His arms-bearer, in his great awe, refused so Saul grasped the sword and fell upon it.  When his arms-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him.

The next day the Philistines came to strip  the slain and they found Saul and his three sons lying on Mount Gilboa. They cut off his head and stripped him of his armor and sent them throughout the land of the Philistines to spread the news in the temples of their idols and among the peoples. They placed his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth and impaled his (head) on the wall of Beth-shan.*

The Amalekite  (Note: this young man's account is a bit different than what is recorded in 1 Samuel 31:4).

2 Samuel 1:1-16 = After the death of Saul, David was in Ziklag when a man, an Amalekite, came from Saul's camp and told David what had happened. He was at Mount Gilboa and saw Saul leaning on his spear. Saul called to him and told him to finish him off, and he did.  He took Saul's crown and armlet to bring back to David.  Later in the evening David says to the Amalekite, "How did you dare lift your hand and kill Yah's anointed?" and he ordered one of his attendants to strike him, which he did, and the Amalekite died. 

I noticed that the Amalekite said he knew Saul would never rise from where he was lying, so maybe he used that as an excuse to 'say' that he finish him off even though Saul was already dead. Because his story is different than what is first recorded in 1 Samuel 31:4 I can imagine this young man watching the battle from afar.  He saw Saul become severely wounded, kill himself and saw his arms-bearer commit suicide soon after.  He saw an opportunity and maybe thought he could win favor with David and save himself from the Philistines so he grabbed Saul's identification (crown and armlet) and headed to Ziklag where David had been hiding out from Saul, and told his version of story. Either way he ended up being killed because of it.

*1 Chronicles 10:8 ~ The next day the Philistines came to strip the slain and they found Saul and his sons lying on Mount Gilboa.  They stripped Saul and carried off his head and his armor and sent them throughout the land of the Philistines to spread the news to their idols and among the people. They placed his armor in the temple of their god (Ashtaroth) and impaled his head in the temple of Dagon (at Beth-shan).

Ahithophel

In 2 Samuel 15:31 David was told that Ahithophel was among the conspirators with Absalom.

In 2 Samuel 16:22-23 Ahithophel had advised Absalom to have sex with his father's concubines in full knowledge of all Israel.  In those days Ahithophel's advice was accepted like an oracle sought from YHWH, and Absalom did have intercourse with David's concubines on the roof of the palace. (This also fulfilled one of the things Yah said he would cause to happen).  And we read in 2 Samuel 17:23 that Absalom got a second opinion this time and does not take Ahithophel's advice.  When Ahithophel saw his advice had not been followed he packed up and went to his native town, settled his affairs and then hanged himself.

Abimelech
Judges 9:24

He did not kill himself but his pride and arrogance held true to his end.  During an attack on the tower in Thebez a woman dropped an upper millstone which fell and cracked Abimelech's skull.  He didn't want the world to know he was killed by a woman so he cried out to his attendant to finish him off with his dagger, and he did.  Abimelech knew he was dying and asked his attendant to finish the job.  

Samson 
Judges 16:25

I don't read his story ending as a suicide as I don't think Samson planned to kill himself.  He had been in captivity long enough for his hair to grow out and he was regaining strength. The event that brought him out of the dungeons to be made fun of gave him the opportunity to seek the revenge he so desired. The collapse of the building did kill him, but this wasn't a planned suicide.  He was consumed with revenge and didn't care if he died along with them or not.

Zimri
1 Kings 16:18

When Zimri saw that the town of Tizrah was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and set it afire.  He remained inside and the place burnt down upon him.  And so he died because of the sins which he committed and caused Israel to commit, doing what was displeasing to Yah and following the way of Jeroboam.

Judas Iscariot 
Matthew 27:3-5

He regretted betraying Y'shua but wasn't able to handle his remorse.  He did confess that he had shed innocent blood but the same religious leaders who paid him to betray Messiah turned him away, and in his despair he hung himself. 

2 Peter 2:20 - For if, when they have escaped the pollutions of the world by the knowledge of our Master and Redeemer Y'shua (aka saved), they again become involved in the same (old ways) and are vanquished, their latter state is worse then the former. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after having known it, to turn back from the Set Apart Commandment that was delivered to them.

Having read the examples found in Scriptures I see that these are some of the thoughts and feelings one may have prior to killing themselves (and the reasons affecting people today):
Deep regret, lasting guilt, feeling defeated, wanting the easy-way out, one's perceived self-importance becomes shattered, emptiness, loneliness, repeated failures, alcohol and drug use, lack of faith and doubting Yah as the Creator.

If we allow any one of these mental states to creep in and linger in our thoughts they could eventually tempt one to end their life. If life is a gift from YHWH how could we think it's alright and without consequence if we take our own lives.

It seems that we have a moral obligation to live
and to promote life in others,
as in 'do unto others as you would have them to do unto you'.

Luke 6:31 ~ 

And as you desire how others should treat you, 

you also do likewise to them. 

┋━┋━┋

I agree, in part, with what I read in Answers in Genesis.  Yahweh wants all people to love, obey and hold fast to Him and thereby find life.

“They cry out and He hears and saves them from all their troubles. He is close to the brokenhearted; those crushed in spirit He delivers. Though the misfortunes of the righteous be many, He will save him from them all" (Psalm 34:18-20).  

BUT in order for our Creator to do these things we must take the first step and come into covenant with Him.  In obedience to His Instructions we gain life which is eternal. Choosing death is rebellion against Yahweh. 

Yahweh saw His work of creating Life on this earth as good. Death came into the world as a result of Adam and Eve's disobedience when they both ate from the tree of knowledge of good and bad (Genesis 2:16-17).  And by that act of disobedience sin entered the world and by means of sin death entered (Romans 5:12).  The wages of sin is death; but the gift of Elohim is life eternal through our Master Y'shua the Anointed One (Romans 6:23). 

Deuteronomy 6:24 ~ We are to observe all the laws, to revere YHWH our Elohim, for our lasting good and for our Survival, as is now the case. It will be therefore to our merit before YHWH to observe faithfully this Whole Instruction (found in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) as He has commanded us. 

As far as my research has gone, so far, I have not found one faithful steadfast Set Apart believer in Yahweh who has committed suicide, which is the illegal or immoral taking of one's own life aka: murder. My husband mentioned Judas, but even Judas was not filled with the Spirit of YHWH at that time. We read that murder is sin. Sin is rebelling against our Creator by not living according to His Instructions. If we are rebellious children we shall not inherit the promised land. From what I have read in Scriptures it seems to me that to commit suicide is an rebellious act defying YHWH's gift of life which makes us part of His Creation.

To wrap up this study I think the introduction into the book of Job is appropriate.

Yahweh said to Satan, 
"Have you noticed My servant Job? There is no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears Me and shuns evil!"

Satan voices his opinion on the subject, and then challenges Yahweh: 

"But lay Your hand upon all that he has and he will surely blaspheme You to Your face." 

Yah takes Satan up on this challenge and allows him do what he will to test Job, but forbids that he lay a hand on him and not to kill him.

Every bad thing that follows is from Satan. Satan is told by Yahweh not to kill Job and as we read, Job did not end up killing himself. No matter how bad things seems in your life it will be worse if you decided to end it all instead of enduring those temptations = lures that Satan uses against our Creator by trying to corrupt His children. Our fear and awesome respect for Yahweh helps us to shun evil and carry on. Be in His Word daily; resist temptation and the devil will flee from you. Do not trade your inheritance for the lies of Satan.

As a side note:
I feel this study isn't 100% complete because of the variables one could come up with, but I am 100% certain that committing suicide goes against our Creator's set of Instructions and affects one's state of perceived salvation.  (I will do a spin-off study later on in regards to one's station in the Kingdom to Come as we read some will be greater and some lesser, which may or may not tie in with this current study). If we are without God it is easy to go the way of the world: abortion, assisted suicide, drugs and alcohol, life support systems, false religions, icons and idolatry etc.....  These are things He warned His people about way back when and there is nothing new in today's world.
 

Mystery of the Evil One

We have been told:

2 Thessalonians 2:9
For the coming of that Evil One is the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all the deceptiveness of iniquity in them that perish because they did not receive the love of the truth by which they might have life. Therefore YHWH will send upon them the strength of a deception that they may believe a lie, and that they all may be condemned who believe not the truth but have pleasure in iniquity.

2 Thessalonians 2:7
For the mystery of the Evil One already begins to be operative and only if that which now hinders will be taken from the midst, then at length will that Evil One be revealed who Master Y'shua will consume by the breath of his mouth and will bring to nothing by the visibility of his coming.

Will this deception build in strength until that time, and what is this strong delusion that befalls those who do not seek the truth?  What is it that hinders this evil mystery from going into full operation?  After that which hinders is taken from the midst, the Evil One will be revealed.  I believe Mr. Evil One is the final world leader who brings a sense of world peace at a critical time, who will be fully revealed 3-1/2 years into the final seven years when Satan possesses Mr. Evil One and he claims to be 'god'.  The deception is building as it is written that it is already in operation.

Folks have been brainwashed from birth (me included) and the time has come for the end times scenario.  Those who search out the truth see this and those who have fallen into one religion or another have been blinded to His Truth.  What was the very first tactic Satan used against Yah's creation?  He caused Eve to Doubt the Word of God.  The example in The Garden is of one doubting the command given by the Creator and causing another to do the same. Would it be fair to apply this same tactic to us? I would say 'Yes' because that exact thing has been going on for years: Christians believe The Law has been nailed to the cross in effect making Torah, Yah's Instructions in Righteousness, null and void and have been teaching others this same false doctrine. They have called into question the truth of our Father and caused people to be uncertain of what is written in Scriptures.

2 Thessalonians begins in regards to the return of Y'shua and our standing strong in our Faith in him, that we should not be uprooted in our mind nor be troubled or deceived. Paul writes that before the Son of Elohim returns, first will come a defection and that man of sin will be revealed; the son of perdition; who is an opponent and exalts himself above all that is called praiseworthy; so that he also sits in the temple of (God) as a deity and displays himself as if he were a deity.

The defection is also called the 'falling away' or the 'great apostasy' which is the fallen state of Churchianity as a whole.  Even in Paul's day there was an all-Gentile church forming which aimed to throw off God's Instructions and reinvent Messiah to put him more in line with Hellenism, polytheism and paganism.  The Defection (which is already in progress) will become most evident when the Final World Leader takes his place.  The Truth of the Matter will be fully evident 3-1/2 years later.

A 'delusion' is something that is falsely believed or propagated. It can be a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary.  It is the act of tricking or deceiving someone. 'Doubt' makes one call into question the truth; to be uncertain and consider something unlikely. If we have been deluded into believing something (lies) while ignoring proof to the contrary (truth) then we have been tricked and deceived which causes us to doubt the truth, becoming uncertain of its reality: if we do not love truth we will be content to accept lies.  That is how Satan, the father of lies, has succeeded and will continue to conquer people right up until the return of Messiah.  I see the first big-time obvious end times result of those who have fallen for the delusion is when they line up to receive the 'mark' in order to continue shopping, buying, selling and all things that require 'money' to complete the transaction.  This will be a strong test for all Set Apart believers; remember, it was money that convinced Judas to betray Y'shua. Remember also that Yahweh removed His hedge of protection from Job so that Satan could test his faith.  Our love of the truth and our faith in our Creator will see us through these coming trials.  (Read Job again to get an idea of the horrible times we will be facing in the future end times scenario)

Here is a list of a few items that I think are some of the building blocks used in that deception, the strong delusion, which grows in one's mind the longer they go without seeking the truth or ignoring it; they become delusional. These same topics have been successful in causing great divisions amongst all who consider themselves believers, making it easier for Satan to continue his plan.

Religion - click here for my study Stumbling Blocks

Death - click here for my study Rest in Peace

Eternal Salvation - click here for my study Always Saved?

Modern Day Israel - click here for my study Who is Israel

The Pope et al - click here for my study Delusion of Religion

The Old Testament - click here for my study Moving Beyond Hebrew Roots

Our Creator is not slow to keep His Word yet is giving everyone time to repent and return to the faith once delivered - the Way it once was.  He does not want anyone to perish but knows only a remnant will be saved at the return of His Son.  He will, some day, remove His hedge of protection and it will seem we will be fending for ourselves, but never forget, it is always true: with Him all things are possible.