Have you ever had someone get upset with you because you asked a question about a Biblical text? Maybe the verse or chapter you questioned wasn’t black and white or a “thus sayeth the Lord” moment, but the person responds anyway with something like, “that’s what the text says and if you don’t believe it,…
Category: Rollyn’s Reads
You Want me to Submit?
Last week, a good friend was sharing with me on Hebrew Nation Radio, how certain Torah concepts seem hard to understand for casual readers. This of course got us thinking. What if Torah passages were met with a question such as, “Where is Messiah in the particular passage?” We both agreed that this approach allows…
Defeating Sin: Can it be Done?
We are told that Biblical commands give us life and are not too hard to follow (Deuteronomy 30:11) But when it comes to faith or belief, there is no mention of these being comfortable. Faith requires a heart and soul commitment, which does not come easy from our sin-filled flesh. So how do the stories…
Does Holy Inspection Separate?
I don’t know very many people who enjoy being evaluated. It seems we all enjoy a bit of privacy. The first time I met my vocal coach, he asked me all kinds of questions during his assessment to find out if he wanted me as a student. I was confident he would accept me on…
What Does Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread Mean to You?
Over the years, there have been many discussions on how to honor these “Set Apart Days.” How to celebrate, when to celebrate, and whether we should celebrate at all, are topics that have been around for thousands of years. Moshe Gold wrote an article for Jewishawareness.org in 2013 that addressed the history surrounding the early…
Cults and Fats: What Can They Possibly Have in Common?
What is a cult? Typically, when someone says, “you belong to a cult” they are referring to a group that is controlled by a powerful personality and who submit to teachings or rules that seek to brainwash. But in actuality, a cult by its simplest definition implies a sect or group of people that trend…
Do Liver and Kidneys Please Yahweh?
VaYiqra or “And He Called” can be a difficult lesson to understand. It’s all about sacrifices; a topic that seems to be more suited for pagan gods and rituals, not for a God who claims to be a loving God. But here it is in Leviticus 1-6. YHWH calls to Moses and defines a sacrificial…
Assemble a House for YHVH?
The study of VaYak’hel follows the story of Israel turning their backs on YHWH and worshipping another god—the “golden calf” of Egypt called apis. This false god in many ways claimed the attributes of YHWH much in the same way as the antichrist who seeks to lead Yah’s people away from life. From the viewpoint…
When You Elevate
What do we elevate in our lives? The meaning of elevate can take on the action of uplifting, promoting, or to raise. With this mind, do we give people, ideas, or traditions a priority over spiritual insight? In this week’s Torah study of Ki Tisa, we can easily see the account of Israel uplifting a…
Are You Called to be a Priest?
The Torah passages describing Tabernacle proceedings for the priests are full of details. Why? I’m thinking if you were a priest performing services in the “tent of meeting,” details would be very important. Consider what YHWH said to Moses: “And they (the priestly garments) shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they enter the…