Friday, February 18, 2022

CHUCK KOLB

 Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Ki Tisa (When You Take) - Standing in the Gap !!!


Previously posted ...
Shabbat Shalom Purim - Parasha Tetzaveh - the Beauty of Holiness !!!
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2022/02/chuck-kolb_11.html
Remain Steadfast And Confident
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2022/02/sermon-remain-steadfast-and-confident.html

 
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world
ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Luke 12:37
The war against Truth has been raging ever since
evil was expulsed from the realm of Heaven.  
God instructed Pharaoh, "Let my people go."
God instructs us, "Let my people know."
Shema Y'israel - Maranatha !
Na'aseh V'nishma  

✡ ✡ ✡
כבוד שם יהוה Baruch Hashem Adonai  

#ShabbatShalom - Welcome to this week’s study of the Parasha (Torah Portion). Today’s portion of Torah,
Ki Tisa (When You Take), will be read in synagogues around the world this Shabbat. We know you will be blessed!

Our last two Torah studies, Terumah and Tetzaveh, have focused on the design of the wilderness Tabernacle, furnishings, and priestly garments.  This Shabbat continues with God’s instructions to Moses on the mountain. The Israelites are to create the Sanctuary’s water basin, anointing oil, and incense.  God tells Moses that He has chosen a “wise-hearted” artisan named Bezalel, along with his associate Oholiab, to lead the sacred construction project. In order to fund the building of the Sanctuary, God commands Moses to take a census of the people of Israel and to instruct them to give a half shekel of silver.

You can view this Parasha on our website complete with embedded links ...
Parasha Ki Tisa (When You Take): Standing in the Gap

https://free.messianicbible.com/parasha/parasha-ki-tisa-when-you-take-standing-in-the-gap-5782/ 

Revelation and Na'aseh V'nishma
https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/11880
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/do-first-understand-later/
We will do and we will listen to all that God has declared. Exodus 24:7

When to Celebrate Yeshua HaMashiach's birthday ...
The Joy of Tabernacles when Jesus was Born

http://conpats.blogspot.com/2019/10/chuck-kolb-10142019.html
How Yeshua was born on the Feast of Tabernacles by Rabbi Isaac
http://www.calledoutbelievers.org/how-yeshua-was-born-on-the-feast-of-tabernacles/

English to Hebrew to English lookup
https://context.reverso.net/translation/hebrew-english/
https://www.doitinhebrew.com/Translate/default.aspx
https://english-hebrew-dictionary.com/
https://alittlehebrew.com/transliterate/  
https://yiddishkeit101.wordpress.com/category/hebrew-word-of-the-day
The Best Jewish Words You Need To Know: A Yiddish and Hebrew Glossary
https://www.joyofkosher.com/from-jamie/the-best-jewish-words-you-need-to-know/
https://hebrew4christians.com/Glossary/Hebrew_Glossary_-_Sh/hebrew_glossary_-_sh.html
A Living Library of Jewish Texts in Hebrew and English translation
https://www.sefaria.org/   https://dictionary.co.il/   https://www.hebrew-verbs.co.il/
https://www.mechon-mamre.org/  

Torah Teasers Parshat Ki Tisa by Moshe Erlbaum
https://www.aish.com/tp/i/teasers/Torah-Teasers-Parshat-Ki-Tisa.html

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Ralph Messer ...
Simchat Torah Beit Midrash - Joy of God’s Teaching and Instruction

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.  2 Timothy 3:16

What Does It Mean to Choose Life? Every decision you make can be made in a way that you are “choosing life.”
The Torah is God’s constitution; it is His teaching and instruction; it is eternal and it is life.
His Spirit is pure Light, abundant with untouchable, supreme, sovereign power.
God is the Source of all life.

כִּי תִשָּׂא  Ki Tisa means “when you take,” referring to the census that God commanded Moses to take at the beginning of this portion. From this we learn the important lesson that each of us has our own individual value, and each individual is equally valued in God’s eyes.  Everyone has a chance to count, every person matters, everyone is important.  We must recognize the equal value of each individual, and that each individual’s contribution has value.  Also, remember that your own contribution is as equally important as everyone else’s.  The objective is to not be intimidated by what you have or by what you don’t have.
https://stbm.org/ki-tisa/

Arrive a half hour+ early for starting lessons ...
Online> Saturday Shabbat (9:00am ET / 12:30pm ET) Services and Midrash  
Online> Monday Nights with STBM 8:30pm ET  / Thursday Afternoon> 3:00 pm ET
Learn more about special event streaming when you call our team! 866-867-2488
https://stbm.org/stbm-live-main/ - https://www.youtube.com/c/RalphMesser/videos
https://stbm.org/study-home/  https://stbm.org/rrm-subscriptions/  https://store2.torah.tv/  

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Todah Rabah - Dr. Gary Hedrick ...
Reaching the Jewish people with the Gospel

https://www.cjfm.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/
Charles Halff - What It Costs a Jew to Become a Christian
https://store.cjfm.org/product/146/what-it-costs-a-jew-to-become-a-christian

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Yitzchak ...

http://www.calledoutbelievers.org/sermon-topic/torah-parashot/
http://www.calledoutbelievers.org/free-downloads/
https://www.facebook.com/CalledOutBelievers/ at 10am PT
https://www.calledoutbelievers.org/events/shabbat-telegram-teaching/
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssemblyofCalledOutBelievers/videos
The Mark of the Beast is Coming Quickly Upon Us!
https://www.calledoutbelievers.org/news/the-mark-of-the-beast-is-coming-quickly-upon-us/
The Importance and Beauty of צִיצִ֥ת Tzitzit
https://player.vimeo.com/video/152885286
http://www.calledoutbelievers.org/tzitzit/
The Hidden Beauty of the Holy Name of God - YHVH
vid> https://youtu.be/dbb45zmkli4 (20:59)
 
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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Chaim Richman ...

Weekly Torah Study: with Rav Gedalia Meyer
Temple Talk with Yitzchak Reuven and Rabbi Abba Horovitz

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheTempleInstitute/videos
https://www.facebook.com/The-Temple-Institute-22738684968/
https://www.instagram.com/thetempleinstitute/ - https://twitter.com/TempleInstitute
https://www.templeinstitute.org/ w Weekly Newsletter - 34 years
https://templeinstitute.org/red-heifer/

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Chaim Jachter ...
Kol Torah Academy of Bergen County 

Ki Tissa  - 17 Adar 1, 5782 - February 18, 2022
https://www.koltorah.org/articles?category=Ki%20Tisa
https://www.koltorah.org/by-parashah https://www.koltorah.org/about-us
https://www.koltorah.org/rav-jachters-halachah-files
Books - https://www.koltorah.org/books
Yeshiva - https://www.tabc.org/ https://www.instagram.com/koltorah.tabc/
TABC Parashat Ki Tissa (4 page pdf)  

https://www.koltorah.org/s/Kol-Torah-Ki-Tissa-2022-4.pdf
 
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Parshat Ki Tisa

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/2833/jewish/Ki-Tisa-in-a-Nutshell.htm
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/default.asp?tDate=2/19/2022  
https://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/month_cdo/jewish/Jewish-Calendar.htm
https://www.chabad.org/calendar/converter_cdo/aid/6225/jewish/Jewish-Hebrew-Date-Converter.htm

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Naphtali “Tuly” Weisz ... 
 
https://israel365.com/  https://www.israel365news.com/
https://www.israel365.com/about/  https://theisraelbible.com/
https://theisraelbible.com/bible/torah/  
 
The Portion of Ki Tisa
https://theisraelbible.com/ki-tisa/ / 

Bennett to abolish Green Passports in Israel - set to expire on March 1.
https://www.israel365news.com/266392/bennett-to-abolish-green-passports-in-israel/

Israeli researchers look into a matter of survival
– how the immune system decides what pathogen to attack first

https://www.israel365news.com/266387/israeli-researchers-look-into-a-matter-of-survival-how-the-immune-system-decides-what-pathogen-to-attack-first/

Trudeau refuses to apologize after accusing Jewish MP granddaughter
of Holocaust survivors of “Standing with Swastika”

https://www.israel365news.com/266407/trudeau-refuses-to-apologize-after-accusing-jewish-mp-granddaughter-of-holocaust-survivors-of-standing-with-swastika/

Anti-Semitism is on the rise in the United States.
Stand with 100,000+ people who stand with Israel.

https://www.israel365.com/the-israel-covenant/
 
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Truth Social. online 2/21/22
https://secure.winred.com/nrsc/trump-social-media-date-tst
https://truthsocial.com/   

DONALD DATES
Melania 4/26/70
Barron 3/20/06

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Good News From Israel - Achievements and Heartwarming Stories
In the 13th Feb 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:

https://verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com/2022/02/israels-good-news-newsletter-to-13th.html
http://verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com/

Mishpacha Jewish Family Weekly
https://mishpacha.com/  

Members of the Tribe
In the African backwoods, Ari and Ari meet natives aspiring to be Jews

https://mishpacha.com/members-of-the-tribe-2/
 
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Todah Rabah - beloved Ted Belman writing from Jerusalem, Israel for 20+ years ...  
THERE IS NO DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION
Israel should declare three nos;
no to nuclear Iran, no to two-state solution, no to bi-national state
 
Justin Trudeau: Fidel Castro’s Son
https://www.israpundit.org/justin-trudeau-fidel-castros-son/
https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2022/02/justin-trudeau-fidel-castros-son-robert-spencer/

Byrne: “15 million fake ballots that got moved into the system.”
https://www.israpundit.org/63678488-2/
https://patrickbyrne.locals.com/upost/1712201/livestream-jovans-results-are-in

A pandemic driven by politics, not science
https://www.israpundit.org/63678536-2/
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2022/02/a_pandemic_driven_by_politics_not_science.html

Meet the Obama mentor and Soros lawyer heading up the ADL’s civil rights
https://www.israpundit.org/meet-the-obama-mentor-and-soros-lawyer-heading-up-the-adls-civil-rights/
https://www.heritagefl.com/story/2022/02/18/opinions/meet-the-obama-mentor-and-soros-lawyer-heading-up-the-adls-civil-rights/16219.html

GLICK: Biden’s ‘victory’ against Putin
https://www.israpundit.org/glick-bidens-victory-against-putin/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/02/18/bidens-victory-against-putin/

>> The Jordan Option, plain and simple
https://www.israpundit.org/the-jordan-option-plain-and-simple/
>> The Jordanian Option is the only game in town
https://www.israpundit.org/my-jordan-option-is-the-only-game-in-town/
>> The Ultimate Alternate Israel-Palestine Solution by Ted Belman
https://www.israpundit.org/the-ultimate-alternate-israel-palestine-solution-3/
 
Kindly donate to support the work I do
by Ted Belman
https://www.israpundit.org/please-support-the-work-i-do-2/
https://www.israpundit.org/my-half-yearly-appeal-for-donations/
 
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Quest For The Lost Tribes - Full Simcha Jacobovici Documentary

vid> https://www.bitchute.com/video/jbB2ELq4xPw/ (1:33:29) 8/18/19
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simcha_Jacobovici
12 Tribes of Israel: The Shevatim
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3798842/jewish/12-Tribes-of-Israel-The-Shevatim.htm
https://www.jewishvoice.org/read/blog/who-are-tribes-judah
 
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In this week’s Parsha Ki Tisa, we have a little of both.  
Gold and silver can be used to make things more beautiful, to show our love and appreciation, like a wedding ring or a special piece of jewelry.  Or gold can blind us with the idolatry of wealth. B’nai Yisrael are each commanded to give a half-shekel of silver to help build the Mishkan.  It is a gift from individuals for a holy communal purpose.  But when Moses does not descend from Mount Sinai as fast as the Children of Israel are expecting, the people create a golden calf to worship.  It is a corruption of the very generosity that began our parsha. Gold can also be used to elevate a simple dessert to one worthy of your elegant Shabbat table.
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/an-elegant-shabbat-menu/

Eggplant, Mushrooms, Zucchini, Oh My!
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/roasted-eggplant-stacks/
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/breaded-and-baked-cheesy-portobellos/
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/zucchini-lasagna/

The Ultimate Israeli Salad
vid> https://youtu.be/OzEzc0vEqcY (0;31) JewLish
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/ultimate-israeli-salad/
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/israeli-potato-salad/

Magnificent: Pistachio Challah
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/pistachio-challah/

Hawaij for Coffee Pull Apart Coffee Cake
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/hawaij-for-coffee-pull-apart-bread/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L3VPX7K/

Support Our Farmers
To keep the biblical mitzvah of shmitah.  
https://campaigns.causematch.com/SupportOurFarmers
vid> https://player.vimeo.com/video/660942292 (10:42)
FREE Farmers-Guide-for-Produce (7 page pdf)
https://tinyurl.com/Farmers-Guide-for-Produce

Vegan Recipes
https://jamiegeller.com/search?query=vegan+recipes  
Cook the 21 Most Popular Recipes of 2021
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/cook-the-21-most-popular-recipes-of-2021/

This is Where You Can Find Me Most of the Time
JewLish - One People - Many Flavors
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLpomjPnHcZ/
https://www.instagram.com/jamiegeller/
https://www.facebook.com/jamiegeller
https://www.facebook.com/jewlishbyjamie/

Joy of Aliyah  
http://jamiegeller.com/tag/joy-of-aliyah/
https://jamiegeller.com/tag/joyofisrael/
Jamie Geller Welcome's You
vid> https://youtu.be/XO-owES713c (0:35) JG  
Lots of 💕 Jamie - Until next week Shabbat Shalom from Israel !  

The answer is, it's made with love from Israel !  
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/my-jewish-food-memories/
My Love Affair With Jerusalem
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/my-love-affair-with-jerusalem/

Jerusalem Street Food with Jamie Geller Spices
vid> https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/CluuvDpk-FSMnt4zj.html (10:56) JewLish   
Machane Yehuda - https://jamiegeller.com/browse/a-haute-market-in-jerusalem-the-shuk/
https://jamiegeller.com/browse/4-israeli-desserts-inspired-by-the-shuk-in-jerusalem/

The Jamie Geller Spice Collection: Now Available Worldwide!
Sending you love and my heartfelt wishes for peace, from Israel.
New Trio of Pilaf Mixes - Mujadara Lentil, Festive Herb and Jeweled Almond
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jamie+Geller/page/55E36343-CF6F-4E88-A4D5-D7C1C0274F7F
https://www.amazon.com/shop/jamiegeller  

Babies, Books, and a Billion Views: My Decade in Review
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/a-decade-in-review/

Best of the Best w Hubby - Family Heirloom Cholent ...
vid> https://youtu.be/Ae2-lQVFsGw (12:01) 8/11/11 JG classic
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/family-heirloom-chulent/
https://jamiegeller.com/blogs/cholent/

Jamie at Aish - Chief Media & Marketing Officer
https://www.aish.com/authors/48868432.html
https://www.aishhatorah.com/
How You Can Make the Future Brighter
vid> https://youtu.be/fclstyB-1rA (2:48) Aish
https://www.youtube.com/c/Aishdotcom/videos

Free Hebrew course Aleph Bet
This entire four-lesson course in 30 minutes.
https://academy.aish.com/course/aleph-bet

The Influence of the Hebrew Bible on America's Founding Fathers
vid> https://youtu.be/jE6Sqh-kezw (7:15) J-TV
https://www.aish.com/jl/h/h/The-Influence-of-the-Hebrew-Bible-on-Americas-Founding.html
Serpents of Desire: Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. An Introduction
https://www.aish.com/jl/b/eb/ge/48966101.html

Jamie Hanala Geller
https://jamiegeller.com/author/jamie-geller/
Tamar Genger MA, RD
https://jamiegeller.com/author/tgenger/
Titles by Jamie Geller
https://www.amazon.com/Jamie-Geller/e/B001JS2GV8/
The High Holiday Recipe Collection - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/om8u2hvu10jwaeo5xuzi/
Beef Bacon 101 - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/jeithgmmua2s7fpzrgzk/
A Passover for Everyone - Aish and Jamie - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/sqyphcgmojgxtcq32ndx/
The Ultimate Challah - free eBook
https://koshernetwork.ac-page.com/pinterest-challah
Comforting Soups - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/vp6jenajjphxppjobhib/
Rosh Hashanah Sides - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/lmhvzqio815zbglkdar8/
Modern Israeli Kebobs - free eBook
https://koshernetwork.acemlnc.com/lt.php?s=a476321cee1a62660d5e43a07fe84c19&i=109A824A1A5341
Modern Israeli Summer - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/myjxowbuybzbzl3de8zb/
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/qlxqz3dqauo76fhgwlfd/
The Perfect Turkey Guide - free eBook
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Join My Way Better Cooking Class with Jamie Geller
https://get.waybetter.com/jamiegeller/
Jamie's Quick & Easy Shabbat Menu App
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https://www.prepear.com/jamiegeller/cookbooks/quick-and-easy-shabbat-menus/
LIVE Series: FEED YOUR SOUL
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/feed-your-soul/

Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord
a ransom for his life at the time he is counted.  Then no plague will come on them when you number them. Exodus 30:11–12


Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Ki Tisa (When You Take) - Standing in the Gap !!!

Reading Torah scroll with a yad (Torah pointer)
 
Shabbat Shalom
 
Welcome to this week’s study of the Parasha (Torah Portion).  Today’s portion of Torah, Ki Tisa (When You Take), will be read in synagogues around the world this Shabbat.  
 
KI TISA (When You Take)
Exodus 30:11–34:35; 1 Kings 18:1–39 (Ashkenazi); 1 Kings 18:20–39 (Sephardic); Matthew 17:1–13
 
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted.  Then no plague will come on them when you number them.”  (Exodus 30:11–12)
 
 
The Numbering of the Israelites, by Henri Félix Emmanuel Philippoteaux
 
Our last two Torah studies, Terumah and Tetzaveh, have focused on the design of the wilderness Tabernacle, furnishings, and priestly garments.  This Shabbat continues with God’s instructions to Moses on the mountain.
 
The Israelites are to create the Sanctuary’s water basin, anointing oil, and incense.  God tells Moses that He has chosen a “wise-hearted” artisan named Bezalel, along with his associate Oholiab, to lead the sacred construction project.
 
"See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah."  (Exodus 31:2)
 
In order to fund the building of the Sanctuary, God commands Moses to take a census of the people of Israel and to instruct them to give a half shekel of silver.
 
“This is what everyone who is numbered shall give: half a shekel ... as a contribution to the LORD.”  (Exodus 30:13)
 
 
A half-shekel coin from the First Jewish War (AD 66–70).  Around the 
chalice it says, "Half Shekel," and above it “Year 2.”  The sprig of 
pomegranate side states, “Jerusalem is holy.”  (Photo by Classical 
Numismatic Group)
 
Although the construction of the Sanctuary is an important and sacred task, God makes it clear that His commandment to rest on the Sabbath takes priority over this worthy goal.
 
We also may be working toward worthwhile achievements (and even those that are for the purpose of serving the Lord), but we must remember that God prefers us to put them on hold for a day in order to keep the Shabbat holy.
 
Resting and being refreshed on the seventh day Sabbath is a special sign of our covenantal relationship with the Almighty God.
 
It is a testimony that He is the Creator.  And just as He created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, so are we to work for six days and rest on the seventh.
 
“It will be a sign between Me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”  (Exodus 31:17)
 
 
It is traditional to have two loaves of challah (braided egg 
bread) at the Shabbat meal on Friday night.  These 
loaves are a commemoration of the double portion 
of manna that the Israelites received every Friday in 
honor of Shabbat.
 
Standing in the Gap
"And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said to him: 'Come, make us a god who shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.'"  (Exodus 32:1)
 
While Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving God’s instruction, the people become impatient for his return and demand that Aaron make them a god they can see.
 
Aaron gives in to the pressure and fashions a golden calf, proclaiming the idol as their god: “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”  (Exodus 32:4)
 
When God sees the people worshiping a golden calf, He threatens to destroy the nation of Israel and to start all over again with Moses.
 
“‘I have seen these people,’ the Lord said to Moses, ‘and they are a stiff-necked people.  Now leave Me alone so that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them.  Then I will make you into a great nation.’”  (Exodus 32:9–10)
 
 
An Israeli artist fashions a mosaic.
 
Instead of accepting God’s offer to make him the beginning of a great nation, Moses stands in the gap and intercedes on behalf of the people of Israel.
 
We see in this Parasha that even though Moses prays for the people, he is so angry when he comes down from the mountain and witnesses their idolatry that he smashes the tablets of testimony that God had engraved with His own hand.
 
Moses then destroys the Golden Calf, and the primary instigators to this idolatry are put to death.
 
Although God relents from destroying Israel entirely, their sin is not without consequences—3,000 men fall under the sword of judgment that day.  
 
Amazingly enough, on Shavuot (Pentecost), which commemorates the giving of the Torah, God poured out His Ruach (Spirit) in Jerusalem soon after the resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus) and the exact same number were saved!
 
“So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”  (Acts 2:41)
 
His pouring out of God’s Ruach underscores the fact that Yeshua did not come to condemn us but to save us.  There is hope for us yet.  
 
We have been given the Spirit of God to bring us into life, not death, by leading and guiding us into all truth.
 
 
Jerusalem

God Gives Second Chances
Like the Israelites, some of us might go through periods of our lives where we descend into sin or fall away from the Lord, but God promises the hope of restoration and renewal if we will agree to come back into His presence in repentance to find forgiveness.
 
This, perhaps, is represented by God calling Moses to come back up the mountain to receive a second set of tablets, even though Moses destroyed the first set in a rage.
 
“Now the Lord said to Moses, ‘Cut out for yourself two stone tablets like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets which you shattered.’”  (Exodus 34:1)
 
 
God is so good!  He passed in front of Moses and proclaimed to him His Divine character:
 
“The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness [chesed / covenant loyalty] and truth; who keeps lovingkindness [chesed] for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin.”  (Exodus 34:6–7)
 
The more we become conformed and transformed into the image and likeness of God, in whose image we have been created, the more we will demonstrate these wonderful qualities of His chesed love, mercy, grace, patience, long-suffering, goodness, and truth.
 
We will become less judgmental and more merciful; we will criticize less and intercede more.
 
Oh, how we long to be changed—to be more like Him.  Coming into covenant with God is not about just following the rules; it is about having a deep, abiding, intimate relationship with a loving God.
 
 
A Jewish man with his tallit (prayer shawl) draped over 
his head stands before an open Torah ark at the 
Western (Wailing) Wall.
 
Battle for the Eternal Covenant with Israel
Today, there is a portion of the Christian Church that believes in the doctrine of replacement theology, a fallacious teaching that contends God is no longer in covenant with the Jewish People—that He has disowned them and has replaced them with the Church.
 
Those who believe they are now God’s new Israel display an arrogance that starkly contrasts Moses’ humilitya man who could have replaced Israel but, instead, prayed for their survival.
 
The apostle Paul warned the church against the conceit of non-Jews in the family tree of God: “Do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.”  (Romans 11:18)
 
Rather than replacing the tree, Gentile Believers are grafted in as branches to an ancient tree whose root is still Jewish.
 
It is quite impossible that God has substituted another people for His Chosen because He has promised that He will never forsake or abandon His people Israel:
 
“For the Lord will not abandon His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance.”  (Psalm 94:14)
 
 
Torah and yad (Torah pointer)
 
Haftarah Ki Tisa: Battle for Truth
In this week’s Haftarah (prophetic) reading, the prophet Elijah has a mighty victory on Mount Carmel when he sets out to prove to the Israelites that there is no God but the God of Israel.
 
He challenges the prophets of the false god, Baal, to a contest.
 
Two altars are made: one for Baal and one for the God of Israel.  Oxen are slaughtered and set on the altars.  But the contestants do not light a fire to burn the sacrifice.
 
Elijah and the prophets of Baal challenge the true God to send fire down from Heaven to burn up the sacrifice.
 
Elijah makes a mockery out of their false god and proves in dramatic fashion without any doubt that YHVH (יהוה – LORD) is Elohim.
 
 
Elijah's Sacrifice, by Albert Joseph Moore
 
Elijah effectively starts Israel on a path away from their infidelity and back to the One True God.
But prophets of God are often unappreciated, and in ancient days many were put to death.  Instead of thanking Elijah for killing all of the prophets of Baal, King Ahab blamed Elijah for causing Israel trouble. 
(1 Kings 18:17)
 
Ahab chose to forsake a true prophet of God, Elijah, to protect the interests of his Phoenician wife, Jezebel.  It was this pagan woman who enticed the Chosen People of God to follow her false god, Baal. 
 
It has been said that behind every good man is a great woman, and the wrong woman can also be a man’s downfall.  We see many examples in the Bible in which a woman has powerful influence for good or for evil.
 
We need only to look at the examples of Eve and Adam, Sarah and Abraham, Esther and King Ahasuerus, Bathsheba and David, Abigail and David, and Delilah with Samson to see this truth.
 
Because of these dangers, God has warned us to not marry non-Believers, lest they turn our hearts away from God.
 
We see this warning played out with King Solomon, whom God gave such great wisdom to but who, nevertheless, lacked wisdom in his decision to marry foreign women.  In the end, they turned his heart away from God to worship false gods.
 
Godly women need to be conscious of the influence they can have over the men in their lives and use it wisely in the fear of the Lord.
 
 
Jezebel and Ahab Meeting Elijah in Naboth's Vineyard, 
by Sir Francis Dicksee
 
Queen Jezebel used her powerful influence to lead Israel into the sin of worshiping idols.
Elijah helped Israel to see the error of their false beliefs.
 
But if we look at their lives, on the surface it could seem that Jezebel was more blessed than Elijah.  She had power, position, and prosperity, while Elijah had no lineage, no worldly position, and sometimes he went hungry.
 
He even despaired at times, believing that there was no one left who wanted to serve God.  He longed for fellowship but often felt lonely.  There were times he felt so depressed and discouraged,
he wanted to die.
 
He certainly doesn’t sound much like a blessed man, does he?  However, we can’t take only a temporal view of life; we need not see this life as the end, for all of eternity awaits us, and we may have treasures stored up in Heaven that no eye has even seen!
 
“Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.”   (Psalm 37:16)
 
 
Elijah in the Desert, by Washington Allston
 
If we look at the lives of Elijah and Jezebel, we see that power, position, and prosperity cannot be our end goal; rather, our primary aim in life must be to stay faithful to the Lord God of Israel — in sickness and in health, in riches and in poverty, for better or for worse — from this time forth and forevermore!
 
“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the LORD always.”  (Proverbs 23:17)
 
We can see that these two people, Jezebel and Elijah, are each zealous in their own mission — one for the Lord and one for a false god — but their lives ended in vastly different ways.
 
While Jezebel sat applying her makeup, she was pushed out the window by her servants and fell to her death.  The horses trampled her body, and the dogs savagely ate her flesh.  What a horrible end — yet, her eternal destiny is far more horrifying.
 
Elijah, who endured great and severe trials in this lifetime, went up to Heaven on a chariot of fire.
 
 
An Israeli child inserts a written prayer into the crevices of the Western 
(Wailing) Wall, a tradition that arose after the destruction of the Holy 
Temple, which was situated behind this wall.  (Go Israel photo by 
Noam Chen)
 
Someday, like Elijah, we will be in Heaven and enjoy God’s Presence forever.
 
Life’s present troubles and trials will fade away.  There, we will be comforted on every side, as God wipes away all our tear
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