Get up and leave?
As I write this blog, I realize that this coming Sabbath our world will be different. As our choices have been laid out before us, it will be a world where lawlessness continues to raise its ugly head leading us toward complete abandonment of the Holy One. Or, we will have an opportunity to be renewed in strength through our repentance and a chance for a change of course. Either way, as believers in YHWH we are called to come out of Babylon.
“. . . Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich from the excessive wealth of her luxury.”
4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive any of her plagues; 5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her offenses.
Our study this week proclaims, “Lech L’cha—Get Yourself Out!” Which poses a couple of real questions. Are we to come out now or wait to be called out? And when we come out what does it exactly look like?
In order to find an answer to this question, maybe we can start with the promise given to those who seek to follow the God of Abraham. As the Apostle Paul states in Romans 4, “For it (faith) was counted unto him as righteousness. (1-5), likewise we have that same opportunity. We can choose to follow in faith.
Though as we walk in faith, does YHWH give us any assurances to keep us in faith? Lets look at the words from the Prophet Isaiah in chapter 41.
“But you, Israel, My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
Descendant of Abraham My friend,
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth
And called from its remotest parts,
And said to you, ‘You are My servant,
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will also help you,
I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
How does this text help us in coming out of Babylon? Let’s break it down.
#1. Isreal my servant, Jacob whom I chose, and Abraham my friend are the first clues.
Jacob was a man of the tent (meaning he studied the Word) therefore he would gain the inheritance from Isaac. But as we all know, Jacob proceeded to seek the inheritance through ill gain. Hence, Jacob was sent away to be humbled in his work, in his family life, and in his attitude. Jacob finally leaves the lies and deceit of Laban (a type of Babylon). He then realizes his need and wrestles with God and overcomes his doubt. In doing so, Jacob joins the ranks of being a true descendent of Abraham—a friend of Yahweh and not a slave servant of Laban.
We can see in the Torah, stories of Yahweh defending and protecting those who follow. Like Abraham, Jacob learned to follow and was renamed Israel. In my understanding, this is why there is neither Jew or Gentile after the death and resurrection of Yeshua. We belong to Israel in that we are baptized into Messiah (Gal. 2:27-29) Therefore, when I choose to come out of Babylon, our first priority is to be willing to walk in faith with our Redeemer.
In John chapter 8, we see an opposite reaction. The religious leaders of the day, claim that they are Abraham’s offspring through their physical genealogy and promise, but fail to recognize the Son of God, Yeshua challenges them:
“If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. 40 But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. 41 You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born as a result of sexual immorality; we have one Father: God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came forth from God and am here; for I have not even come on My own, but He sent Me.
43 Why do you not understand what I am saying?
It is because you cannot listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning,
and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him.
As we can read, those who do not accept Messiah are from a different kind of father. If we deny the Son, we are not inheritors of the Kingdom. Consequently, like these false leaders we might be unable to leave the comforts of an earthly Kingdom or do the works of righteousness in that we desire to serve an earthly kingdom of our own making.
#2 “Isreal is gathered from the ends of the earth, the remotest parts, with the statement,
“I have not rejected you”
Who is Israel? Many times, we only think about the direct sons of Jacob, but In Genesis 48, we see “Israel” blessing the sons of Joseph; Ephraim and Manasseh with this blessing:
“The God before whom my fathers, Abraham and Isaac walked,
The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,
16 The angel who has redeemed me from all evil,
Bless the boys;
And may my name live on in them,
And the names of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac;
And may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
In this blessing, we see Israel including those who have and were born in the land of Egypt—the land of slavery and bondage. When compared to the Isaiah text, we have another assurance from YHWH, for He will draw us from the ends of the earth in that we are not rejected by Him. This means we have a real choice in staying or leaving Babylon. He rescues, but do we desire to be rescued? In my opinion, when we know we belong to the Kingdom, we are more willing to put on our spiritual armor given to us from our “family” and fight for the Kingdom.
#3 Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will also help you,
I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Like the Israel of old, we are all caught up in a land of slavery. But in the end days, we will be called to leave. This remnant are those who keep the commandments of Yah and hold true to the testimony of Yeshua. (Rev. 14:2)
The Name “I AM” was given at the burning bush displayed for Moses as a prophetic picture of Yeshua. Behold, the outstretched arm, a clinched nail, behold (Yod Hey Vav Hey). Because of Yeshua’s sacrifice we have no reason to fear darkness in the spiritual realms. We are instead, Children of Light.
(I Thess. 5:5)
In the book of Acts, we get to read about a person named Stephen who was unafraid to give truth to the Sanhedrin Council. In doing so, he was blessed to see into the light of the Kingdom.
“Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56)
So, if we are called out of Babylon, how do we know when to leave and what would it look like?
In this year’s Torah cycle, we will be eventually reminded of Lot’s story. For he was another man counted as righteous, whom YHWH rescued. (2 Peter 2:7) In this story, we will read about angels literally pulling Lot out by the hand to leave his “Babylon.” Does this mean, we will leave when there is no other option?
As you know, many are called to minister in Babylon. Joseph, Daniel and Esther all worked in the systems of Babylon. They were all given a purposeful time for a purposeful mission. Some of you, may have a similar mission. Just know this, when it is time to leave, our outcome may not always be so great, at least in this earthly life.
You may be rescued. You may have to stay and experience a fleshly death, or you may leave on your own only to wander in the wilderness for a short time. In any of these scenario’s, we just need to know that we will be gathered in a greater Kingdom where all will be made new. Hallelujah!
So, as you prepare to leave Babylon physically, emotionally, or spiritually, just remember the message to the remnant. Keep or cherish the commands of Yahweh and give heed to the testimony of Yeshua. Your steps will be directed upon this promise.
Be super blessed,
Rollyn
Nov. 9, 2024: Lech Lecha (Get Yourself Out)
Gen. 12-17:27, Isaiah 40:27-41:16, Romans 4:1-25
Isaiah: 40:28 41:8-9, 13-15