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 of Aaron and Paul line up with this week’s Torah parshah called, “Acharei Mot?”
At the start of our study, YHWH instructs Moses:
“Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.” Leviticus 16:2
This instruction was given due to the sin that had been committed by Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu. They had defiled the holy place through “strange fire.” Consequently, atonement had to be made. From this point forward we are taken through the needed process of atonement for Aaron and all of Israel.
In Leviticus 17:5-7, we find another fascinating topic. Israel is told to bring their sacrifices to the tent of meeting and not to an open field. YHWH then says, “They shall no longer sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat demons with which they play the harlot.”
Did you know that Israel, had problems with goat demons? This particular god was called “Pan,” who is part goat and part man. You might have seen him in the movie Narnia. Historically, pan tries to overcome young virgins with music played from his “pan pipe.” The word “panic” is directly derived from his name and was used when young virgins would try to run from his advances. Shepherds and woodsmen would make sacrifices for Pan to keep him away from innocent virgin girls and women.
So why do I bring this up? It’s a part of our study, which seems to indicate that Israel hadn’t fully left Egypt behind. We are told in Ephesians 6:12 that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces and hosts. Naturally, we would then need to ask, “How can we fight spiritual forces and how can we learn to leave Egypt behind?”
If we seriously consider the altar at the tent of meeting, I think we would recognize the power of the Lamb’s sacrifice. It is a sweet aroma to YHWH in that sin would be blotted out from the east and to the west. This sacrifice represents the works of the Messiah. For it is He who fights our spiritual battles. He will conquer the “pans” of the world for us if we choose to accept His workings.
Why does Paul talk about the nullification of works so much in Romans? I believe he does this to challenge the actions of our flesh so that we deal with our spirit and soul. Our flesh wants to recognize what is “fair,” so we work hard to be justified. We keep commands to justify our existence as a believer. But Yeshua wants our soul and spirit so we can live forever. He looks at long-term salvation. Consequently, to defeat sin, we must nullify our works and lift up the works of Yeshua our Messiah. If we live by the flesh, we live by what “we” do. If we live by the spirit of belief, we allow Yeshua to fight in the Spiritual realms for us.
So why does Yah even give us commands? Paul tells us, “Do we nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish (ascertain or determine) the law.” In short, if we can see the law, so we will know the need for our spirit and soul to be united with our Creator. This recognition makes us earn to be drawn back to Him.
This week, you will read about commands that keep us away from sins that open the door to spiritual darkness. If we were to drink blood like the pagans, commit incest, and lay with like gender, we give gods like Pan a right to come into our spiritual lives. Consequently, we must recognize the works of the Messiah to free us.
Maybe this is why, the phrase “I AM YHWH, the Lord your God” shows up so often. In Acharei Mot, this phrase shows up 35 times. Do you think it might be important? The “I Am” declaration was given to Moses when he thought he would be unable to do Yah’s bidding. Isn’t it fascinating then to see this declaration once again amid a listing of sins that are so corruptible to us?
Should we “claim” the “I AM” when facing sin? We often “stumble” over ourselves and sometimes even “stumble” over the works of Yeshua—lacking faith in our dedication to allow Him to be the Sacrificial Lamb. Israel (this includes us) did not pursue righteousness by faith but by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone (the works of Yeshua and the Holy Spirit). See Romans 9:3-33 and Isaiah 28:16.
In Romans 10:9-10 we read:
“If you confess with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord (kingly ruler) and believe in your heart that YHWH raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth, one confesses and is saved.”
To defeat sin, we must claim the blood of Messiah Yeshua. He is the One who bears our sin and takes it away. This week let us consider the workings of the Yeshua and truly allow Him to work in us so that we can leave Egypt and all its baggage:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Let me make this practical. When facing sin, I make a statement of prayer and it goes like this:
“Father thank you for Yeshua our Messiah and the shedding of His blood for me. You have made me recognize my sin of _____. Thank you. Show me Fathe,r through your Spirit where this sin comes from. Thank you. I now repent of this sin, I reject this sin, and I renounce this sin in the heavenly places and in front of You. I claim the blood of the Lamb and the strength of the Messiah Yeshua to defeat this sin in my life. Thank you for Your mighty works. Continue to cleanse me. Continue to renew my heart. Thank you. Amen.
Be Blessed,
Rollyn
