Back in the day, before Yeshua changed my heart, I had a temper problem. Even though I was small in stature, I would fearlessly oppose anyone or anything that stood in my way. That temper showed itself many times. When at home, I fought my brothers. And when at school, I would fight anyone who picked on my brothers. One day, in righteous anger, I broke the nose and arm of a bully who was abusing my brother. As an older person, I would get upset with horses that were in training with me and I would lash out. But finally, after slugging it out with a horse, I saw the look of confusion and a plea for understanding in his eyes. It was on that day I asked the Lord to change my heart.
Where does anger come from? Typically, it’s born out of frustration about one’s position or people not listening to your perspective. But unchecked anger can boil over into something unproductive and even wicked. We see it in today’s world as people join sides with groups that foster hatred, even when evil is being explicitly demonstrated.
“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is the source not your pleasures that wage war in your body’s parts? 2 You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.” James 4:1-2
This week I was drawn to Genesis 6:11-13 where the word violence hit me square in the face.
“Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for humanity had corrupted its way upon the earth. Then God said to Noah, “The end of humanity has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of people; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.”
The word for violence in its Hebraic context is hamas חֲמַס and can be found in Strong’s Concordance as H2555. It means violence without law, cruelty, severe injustice, language and harsh treatment that is wrong. This word is expressed in Scripture 44 times. The prophets Obadiah, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Zephaniah speak of it often as it relates to these last days.
“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah” Matt. 24:37
In America, we witness hatred from groups like Antifa who are dressed in virtually the same garb as what Hamas wears in the middle east. Most recently, we are now witnessing atrocities done by “hamas or lawless violence” for which we can barely even mention. Is this what Messiah calls His disciples to be? Yeshua states:
“I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35.
Yeshua again reminds His followers that we know a true disciple by their fruit:
“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” Matt. 7:16-20
Can we literally change governmental systems in our present world. Can we stop violence? Not likely, for it is Yahweh that brings up or takes down Kingdoms. But we can be a pivotal game changer by spreading The Word, in that YHWH places good people in wicked regimes. His Mighty Hand reaches down when He places people in Kingdoms in order to change hearts: Lot, Joseph, Moses, Esther, Daniel, David, Isaiah, the Apostles, and many others (Heb 11) were placed in lands and cities to bring about divine motivation to help change a direction.
We are all seeing people who like to yell out death to the Jews and America for supporting Israel. But, is this fruit from Yahweh? I would say not. Instead, it is filled with hatred that only comes from pure evil.
Granted, we pray for the Jewish people to see the Sacrificial Lamb and to accept Yeshua into their lives. And yes, rabbinical teachings without the understanding of the Servant King should not be accepted as doctrine. Does this mean we remain silent in the midst of violence against a brother who has been blinded for the sake of prophecy?.”
Consider the following texts:
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it” Luke 13:33”
“He saw the city and wept over it” Luke 19:41
“For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;” Romans 11:25
“For this is like the days of Noah to Me, When I swore that the waters of Noah
Would not flood the earth again; So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
Nor rebuke you. 10 For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,
But My favor will not be removed from you, Nor will My covenant of peace be shaken,”
Says the Lord who has compassion on you.
I am convinced that there is a remnant among every country in this world. This remnant will put Messiah first in all they say and do. They will allow Yahweh to judge all matters, but will stand on truth—that truth being Yeshua as our supreme sacrifice. Consider the following pictures from Noach, when balancing what I just shared.
In Noach, the sentence of destruction by flood would be the consequence of a verdict against violence. But even here, God announces mercy. God provided compassion. Noah is the man deemed righteous in his day by not following the ways of violence. In fact, Noah’s name is a picture of peace. Thus, mercy would be found in providing the safety of a boat.
We see a similar picture in the story of Moses, where he is rescued from death by being in a boat basket. The term basket is “Teba.” In Hebrew, Teba is spelled with the letters tav, bet, and hey, which means a covenant or seal of the house. Does Yahweh hold true to his original covenant mentioned in the house?
It’s also interesting to note that the “pitch” holding the boat together is “koper” which in Hebrew means price of a life or ransom. Can you say, “The works of the Messiah?
This is what I know. YHWH is YHWH and this no other. He is a mystery. His times and actions are not on our pay scale. He rescues many from all types of backgrounds, religious beliefs and challenges. Job found this out when he questioned Yah about his circumstances and YHWH responded:
Then the LORD said to Job,
Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who rebukes God give an answer.”
Then Job answered the LORD and said,
“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I say in response to You? I put my hand on my mouth.
“I have spoken once, and I will not reply; Or twice, and I will add nothing more.” Job 40:1-5
Friends, it is my plea with you to make Yeshua the center of your life and not conspiracies, stories, or events that will anger or distract. You are called to a much greater mission. That mission is to spread the gospel of the truth—that the living King came to this earth in a form of a man to take our sins away and provide salvation to all and any who seek Him.
Yeshua never sent out His disciples to conquer earthly kingdoms with anger or misdirected victimhood. Instead, He sent them out to deliver a message of hope. We are the feet and hands of Him who sends. For “here am I,” the battle belongs to the Lord.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises up those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous; Psalm 146:8
May you be strengthened in the Messiah,
Rollyn