Behar, On the Mount
Vayiqra (Lev) 25:1 – 26:2
YirmeYahu (Jeremiah) 32:6-27
Luke 4:16–21
Ever wonder why native Americans lived the way they did? Why were they all nomadic and not landowners?
Indigenous Inhabitants and the Rest of the World
Why did indigenous peoples not dwell in walled cities with infrastructure like most of therest of the world? Why just gather and collect food and hunt and fish for meat? Why not plow, sow and harvest for food and raise livestock?
In his arrogance, modern man would like to say that native peoples were ‘savages’ and‘barbarians,’ indicating indigenous peoples were inferior and somehow incapable of building societies like theirs. Evolutionists suggest that some people just didn’t evolve into the superior human beings like their kind did.
However, we do know that all human beings were created by Elohim and are descendants of the same genetic pool of Adam and Eve. The Creator didn’t makeanybody incompetent and stupid.
All peoples on the earth have always been capable of building houses, farming lands, raising livestock and building communities with infrastructure. We see many examples of that from the beginning in Genesis.
Having worked with archaeologists for 37 years on National Forest, I know that cultural artifacts left behind by the natives in their centuries of habitation are much less than those of the foreign settlers. Unlike European settlers, why did the native peoples leave
so little trace upon inhabiting lands?
So after all the centuries that native Americans lived in this land, why didn’t they develop societies like other parts of the world did? Indigenous peoples had always used such a light hand on the land, showing deep respect, intimacy and a high regard for creation.
Vision Quest from the Mount
Indigenous people all over the world have designated sacred sites, many on high elevations where they could see far across
the land. These places of fasting, prayer and soul searching were places of ‘vision quests.’ Vision quest sites in our land have been identified by archaeologists and protected by the US Government.
Makes me wonder what the young men were seeking for. Where did this ancient practice of seeking the ‘Great Spirit’ originate?
Our Torah portion Behar, On the Mount, Mount Sinai, was the place where YHWH spoke to His servant Moses. On the mount, Moses had a view of the entire camp and a long distance view of the landscape around him. From this vantage point, the pre-incarnate Messiah met with Moses face to face. There He gave him vision and instructions on what His people were to do upon inhabiting the Promised Land.
Not only was his vision far distance-wise, YHWH gave his leader Moses a vision for future times ahead with regard to His people living in the land. Not only would he see that the children of Israel were to work the land to raise crops and fruit for six years and then let the land rest on the seventh, they were to extend the seven year pattern of years out to seven sabbaths of years. His vision extended out to cycles of sevens of years.
Every fiftieth year was to be holy, set-apart – a jubilee year when the people were to proclaim liberty and the right of return to the land. It was to be a double Shabbat rest for two years for the inhabitants and the land. (Lev 25:2-11) It’s in His plan of redemption.
Our Connection to the Land
Adam was made from adumah, red earth. He was created out of the dust of the earth and to dust he shall return. Therefore, human beings have an innate, inseparable connection to the earth.
Born-again believers who were made new creatures in Messiah (Eph 2:10; 4:24, Col 3:10) have an innate, inseparable connection to the Promised Land. We are connected to the land where our Messiah walked and where our Messiah will return.
The parables of Yeshua show us how connected to the land that He was and that all of mankind is. His parable of the sower, teachings using creation, and His walk with nature on the mount, in the garden, on the lake, all show His connection and ours with creation. Is it any wonder why born-again believers feel such a strong connection to the Promised Land? When many of our brothers and sisters arrive in the Land of Israel, they often say they’ve “come home.” Not only in Jerusalem, but around the Sea of Galilee, believers feel in touch with the Land like no other place on the planet. I sense that in my heart.
Abraham's Journey in the Land
Shortly after I was born again, long before I heard the word “Torah,’ my Father in Heaven made the journey of Abraham a reality for me. I still marvel how the father of our faith made the ‘Hall of Fame of Faith:’
Having been called out by faith, Abraham obeyed to go forth to a place which he was going to receive for an inheritance; and he went outnot understanding where he went. By faith he resided as a foreigner in a land of promise, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the joint-heirs of the same promise; for he looked forward to a city having the foundations of which the builder and
maker is God. (Heb 11:8-10)
Like Abraham, I’ve never understood where I was going, where to live -moving from place to place up and down the canyon from Idanha to Salem. Friends and family close to me have questioned why I never bought a piece of property and settled in any one
place here in Oregon. They’ve questioned my good sense.
However, the Father has never directed me to buy land here. To be honest, I’ve never felt truly at home here in the land of Oregon. The only place I feel at home is where my wife is and also where His people gather in His Name – not on any piece of land. Other than that, like Abraham, I reside as a foreigner in exile, not yet in the Land of Promise. I know the only place I’ll ever feel truly at home on a piece of land will be in the true land of Israel – where the Messiah places me.
Abraham knew that the earth belonged to YHWH. It would have to be in His timing that his seed would occupy the land. No man really owns any land, but the Creator owns it all. David declared this reality as recorded for us in Psalm 24:1-3:
The earth belongs to YHWH, and the fullness thereof; the world, and those who live in it. For He has founded it on the seas and established it upon the rivers.
Who shall go up into the hill of YHWH? And who shall rise in His holy place? Going up to a high holy place is a common thread with Behar, On the Mount, where Moses ascended Mount Sinai to receive instructions on inhabiting the Land. In Behar
we find out again that YHWH declared ownership of the land:
And the land shall not be sold in perpetuity; for the land is Mine; for you are aliens and tenants with Me. (Lev 25:23, HRB)
That’s what Abraham believed, he was an alien in the land, not an owner of it. Yes, His seed was promised the land, but only to be tenants of that land. Yeshua’s parable of the Workers of the Vineyard teach us this lesson. Even here in exile, we are to respect and obey the Master of His land and to be good stewards, servants, in His land no matter where we live. The seed of Abraham abides by this.
Indigenous Peoples and the Exiles of Israel
For those who tremble at His Word (Isa 66:5), this Torah portion should put the fear of
God in any God-fearing soul. The consequences for not keeping the Sabbath rests of YHWH are devastating. Just read and heed the warnings in Leviticus Chapter 26.
For the children of Israel to experience the curses warned by the Torah and to bevomited out of the land must have caused deep trauma in the souls of the exiles of Israel. Wherever they went, many of them must have felt a great respect for the Creator
and for the lands of their exile.
Native Americans and other indigenous peoples have held to many of the customs of Israel. Vision quests, fringes on their garments, round dancing, living in tents, and many other long-held traditions point to origins in the land of Israel. Pictographic writing, including paleo-Hebrew, have been found in America, the most notable being the Los Lunas Stone in New Mexico. The natives there wrote the Ten Commandments in paleo-Hebrew upon that huge stone, still to be
viewed today. Many of the world’s common pagan practices and idolatry are missing from native American cultures. Hebrew Roots historians have traced the exile routes of the twelve tribes, showing that many indigenous peoples originated in the Land of Israel.
Because their forefathers hadn’t let the Land of Israel rest, maybe the exiles of Israel felt they needed to not make the same mistake as their fathers. It was in their tribal psyche to be easy on the lands that they were scattered into.
Maybe that’s why native Americans and indigenous peoples of today were afraid to work the land and build new towns and villages. After all, the lands and infrastructure they came from had been devastated for breaking the commandments. Maybe that’s why they lived on the land like every year was a seventh year sabbath of rest, trying to make
up for the sins of breaking the sabbatical years for so many centuries in the Land.
God's Great Reset
You and I could go on and on how bad life in America is getting, how corrupt this land is and how ripe for judgment this land really is. Although there is little to no consensus by Messianic leaders, my understanding is that we are in a shemittah year, the seventh year
of a cycle this year, ending on Sunday, September 25, 2022. We shall see.
On so many fronts, the world is being set up for a great reset by YHWH our Elohim, and, on the other hand, a counterfeit reset by the rulers of the kingdom of ha’satan. It’s a huge subject.
But know this. Even if man rebels against the Torah of YHWH and His commandments, the Creator will have His way with the land. Even if the people who profess faith in the Messiah do not keep the commandments to let the land rest every seventh year, YHWH will bring about a rest for the land.
It may even take the fall of Babylon for this land we live on here in America to enjoy it’s rest. We shall see.
The shemitta nullification and reset by YHWH is actually something to look forward to. Like in the days of the first exodus, judgment raining down on Egypt meant release for the Hebrew slaves. With the fall of Babylon will come nullification of the slavery systems of modern societies. We have yet to see the hand of Yah work out a great deliverance! Nullification is in the meaning of the word ‘shemitta,’ which is described in the Torah portion – Behar. With nullification comes a great reset, a time of deliverance and a new
way of living as a free people under the authority and dominion of the Kingdom of the Messiah. May His Kingdom come, may His will be done!
Because we human beings are connected with the land, if man is Spiritually fruitful in covenant relationship with the Creator, the land becomes fruitful (Lev 25:19). If His people are walking in the flow of the Spirit, the heavens send their rain in due season to
make the land fruitful and productive (Deut 11:14; 28:12; Jer 5:24).
Why is most of the nation under drought conditions with catastrophic weather events? We know the global warming narrative is a lie, but the Torah narrative is the truth. Lands around the world are cursed because of the sin and corruption of its inhabitants.
Why has there been so much rain, so many showers here in northwestern Oregon this
spring? Detroit Lake is full in May – a really rare sight! Is it because people like us are walking in the Spirit and keeping His commandments? I believe places like the Mid-Valley of the Willamette basin are like the land of Goshen in the midst of Egypt..
I believe revival has already begun! Be looking forward to an out-pouring of the Ruach! How many more shemittah years will go by before this land gets a rest? Since 1776, 35 seven year cycles have gone by without any rest for the lands of the USA. Since 1848, 24 seven year cycles have gone by without a rest for the lands of Oregon. How long before these lands get their required rest? It could be this year, it could be in seven more years, it could be on a different set of sevens, but one day, this land will get a rest.
The Favorable Year of YHVH
In the meantime, the whole earth is experiencing the birth pangs of the Messiah. Groaning in travail, the lands of the earth are about to vomit out their corrupt inhabitants. On the other hand, the exiles of Israel about to be freed to return to the Promised Land!
What liberty did Yeshua declare when the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him on Shabbat (Luke 4:18-19)?
“The Spirit of YHWH is upon Me and because of this, He has anointed Me to declare the good news to the poor. And He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted and to preach release to the captives and sight to the blind. And to free those who
are oppressed with forgiveness, to preach the acceptable year of YHWH.“
What is the acceptable year of YHWH? We can see it in the spring festivals. We see His release of captives on Pesach (Passover) when He liberated us from Egypt. On Shavuot (Pentecost) He liberates us from the Egypt inside of us. On Shavuot, His Spirit shows His acceptance of us by writing the Torah upon our hearts and filling our souls.
The 50 day omer count in the spring starts with a barley harvest and ends with the wheat harvest. Barley represents the carnal, worldly nature. Wheat represents the golden, spiritual nature of the redeemed and sanctified soul. What YHWH wants to do in us is to take us from a carnal to a spiritual nature, to be led by the Spirit in liberty, not by bondage to the flesh. After the end-time harvest of souls – He will bring us the acceptable year of YHWH and His rest, His shalom with His people and with His land.
What we are counting on is that He will empower us by the Ruach Ha’Qodesh to be the best that we can be for our Bridegroom Yeshua. He brought us out of miserable Mitsrayim (Egypt) that we may go to Behar, on the Mount, in order that we may worship Him and are free to serve Him all our days. Then one day – we’ll return to the Land.
So get ready! He’s coming back! The Messiah is returning soon to replenish and renew the earth! We have a wonderful hope for His great reset to restore this earth to the garden of Eden experience again. That’s our blessed hope: Looking for the blessed hope and appearance of the glory of our great Elohim and Savior Yeshua Messiah, Who gave Himself on our behalf, that He might redeem us from all Torah-lessness and purify a special people for Himself, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:13-14)
Praise YHWH! Count on it! With pure hearts and clean hands, be busy about the Master’s business. He’s coming back soon to complete the redemption of all of Yisra’el! B‘rakhot BaShem Yeshua HaMashiyach! Blessings in the Name of Yeshua the Messiah! David Klug