Keeping your word is an essential component of integrity. Your word is promising to do what you promise. Keeping your promise sends a message that you value the person to whom you gave your word.
As a nation, we are beginning to see a person in the White House who is keeping his word according to his campaign promises. In just hours, he is setting political prisoners free, moving to protect our borders, bringing our jobs back to the States, and defining common sense gender.
In this week’s Torah study, Va’era, we see the God of Israel speak to His nation, “And I Appeared.” Does YHWH keep His word? Does He appear? Let’s take a look.
God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. . . 6 Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the labors of the Egyptians, and I will rescue you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments.
7 Then I will take you as My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the labors of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you as a possession; I am the Lord.’”
Isn’t it interesting that after Moses gives the Gospel of Good News, people still turned away. How could this possibly happen you might ask. The Torah tells us,
9 So Moses said this to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage.
Interesting enough, the story of Yeshua Messiah, holds true to the same story picture given in Exodus. He appears first as a servant, like Moses proclaiming the Good News of Redemption. He is then rejected. Does He still keep His word to redeem and rescue? The answer is a resounding yes. Though in this picture, Yeshua is greater than Moses in that He conquers death so we can have victory in the spiritual realms of an everlasting kingdom and not just a physical kingdom.
After His death and resurrection, Yeshua appears in His Heavenly Glory to solidify His promises.
- Yeshua shows Himself to Mary Magdalene at the site of the tomb. He says to her, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” John 20:16-17
- Yeshua shows himself to other women (possibly Mary of Clopas, Mary the mother of James and Joanna). And behold, Yeshua met them and said, “Hail!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Matthew 28:8-1
- Yeshua shows himself to disciples on the Road to Emmaus, breaks bread with them and blesses them. Luke 24:13-43
- The eleven speak to others saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon! Luke 24:34
- Yeshua brings peace to his disciples without Thomas. As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” Luke 24:36
- Yeshua proves Himself to Thomas. “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” John 20:26-29
- Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. John 21:1-2
- Yeshua reveals Himself to five hundred disciples. “Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”1 Cor. 15:
- Yeshua appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 1 Corinthians 15:7
- Yeshua blesses and ascends into Heaven in front of His disciples. “Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.” Luke 24:50-53
Why is it important for us to know Yeshua faced death and conquered it? Why is it important for us to know that He appeared after His resurrection? In my opinion, it has to do with keeping One’s Word. We worship a King that keeps His word yesterday, today and tomorrow. It’s for this reason we give testimony to anyone who will hear. His promises are true and He will come again. This time to conquer a sinful world and to make all things new.
“ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” Jn. 14:3
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts. 1:11
Be blessed this Sabbath,
Rollyn