What would you do if a dust-throwing, coat-tearing, violent crowd accused you falsely . . . calling for your death? Would you remain strong?
How do we remain strong in YHWH? I believe our strength is found in knowing our identity. According to Scripture, we were made in the image of Yah. We are to be a part of the royal priesthood, blameless in His sight. We also know He formed us from the beginnings of this earth and has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. (Genesis 1:27, I Peter 2:9, Ephesians 1:3-4) Consequently, any claim from a satanic force that may cause us to question our identity should not be given credit.
In our modern-day world, human identity is being questioned. Radical leftists yell and scream to abort babies. They seek to mutilate bodies for transgender perversion. They seek to destroy justice. Is this foolish radical agenda being set forth around the world new? King Solomon wrote: “There is nothing new under the sun.”
When Abraham’s wife Sarah sent Eliezer to Sodom to check on Lot, Eliezer was met with a cultural belief that any person who was attacked would be responsible to pay the attacker. He was met by a culture that would rob the innocent. He was met with a culture that believed wives did not belong to husbands and that young men belonged to older men. (The Book of Jasher, Chapters 17 and 18) Does this sound remotely familiar to you? We have monthly celebrations of homosexuality and “drag your kid to drag day.” Is there justice for those who seek equal application of the law? And why does our government protect attackers and not the attacked?
In the New Testament, Paul speaks to the Jewish leaders about his call to bring the gospel of truth and life to the Gentiles. How did they receive this message? They ripped their clothes, threw dust in the air, and called for his death. They questioned his calling even though Paul taught and kept the Torah. (Acts 22, 23) Paul’s identity in the Messiah was hated.
So what is the solution? As stated before, I believe the solution is to know your identity. This truth is found in this week’s study of Naso, which means to elevate or lift up. So what do we lift up?
The story of Samson and the Nazarite vow found in Judges 13 is about identity and making a promise to walk in that identity. Marital faithfulness, trespassing and restoring to another, working as a Levite from ages 30-50, and duties of being a Kohathite or Geshonite are also about identity. A child of Yah’s Kingdom seeks to not only “lift up” the ordinances of Yah, but to “take up” the cause of putting value into others.
Identity means uniqueness or individuality. It has to do with your character or personality. For some sick reason, today’s world wants to be unique outside of YHWH. They seek “to do as you wilt.” (Anton LeVey, Book of Satan). But a person who forms his identity in The One who created him will find a different answer. He or she will find gifts of patience, kindness, joy, love, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. (Galatians 5)
Is this identity in Yah something we just claim? Sin has affected our identity and our relationship with the Creator. Adam and Eve sought to hide themselves once they sinned. So is it possible to find our true identity? The Gospel message of the Messiah is for us to repent from our sins and to be covered by the perfect blood of the Lamb. In so doing, we will become a “new man.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
My prayer is that we repent from our wicked ways and return to our true identity so that what was hidden is made known to us.
“Father forgive us for our sins so that we can walk in Your ways so that we can claim our priesthood and fulfill our vow to a called-out royal identity. Let us stand strong once again so that Your Kingdom is made known and that Your Truth is revealed. Renew us in the perfect righteousness of Yeshua our Messiah. Thank you, Father. Amen.”
May you be blessed this Sabbath,
Rollyn