This week, I became keenly aware of publicly stated comments that a particular group, sect, or yes, even certain people should be followed due to their vast wisdom or stated authority. But is this really true? From my perspective, I don’t believe so:
“For all have sinned had have fallen short of the glory of Yah.” Romans 3:23
Why do I think so?
In I Corinthians 10, the Apostle Paul reminds us to be aware of where we come from. For it was “all” of Israel who came out of Egypt being baptized into (through) Moses in the cloud and the sea. And, it was “everyone” in Israel who drank the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink of Messiah. But yet, YHWH was not pleased with them. Why?
It’s in this chapter that Paul gives four directives to help us understand each other in our wilderness journey so that we give no offense to brothers who are Jewish, Gentile, or in the Christian Church. (I Corinthians 10:31-32) These four directives are listed in verses 7-11 and come with a common denominator not to lose sight of Messiah, for He is the bread that we must partake in. (v.16)
What are the four directives?
Directive #1: Do not worship idols
Does this command sound familiar to you? It comes from the 10 commands on Sinai, where YHWH stated, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of bondage. . . do not worship any graven image. . . I am a jealous God.”
The Hebrew word for idol (‘atsav) typically refers to an image. But this word is also associated with “atsab” and “atseb” (H6091, H6087) as well, which can be rendered as bringing “grief, suffering or pain.” When we worship another god, we not only bring pain to YHWH, but we bring suffering to ourselves as well.
Directive #2: Do not act immorally
Sexual perversion corrupts the soul and spirit. Paul states that 23,000 died because of this sin committed with Baal Peor, while the Torah says 24,000. To many scholars, this is Paul’s attempt to be more specific. In Torah, we know that the two persons who brought these distorted unnatural sexual acts into the camp were killed as well as the leaders who allowed it to occur before the “plague began. Hence, there is the understanding that 998 leaders were put to death along with the two defiant persons. By stating this, Paul makes a distinction between laity and leadership which addresses personal responsibility.
Directive #3: Do not try (test) YHWH
The concept of testing Yah was at the core of satan’s temptations against Yeshua by saying, “You’re the Son of God—change these stones, throw yourself down from the pinnacle, and bow to me and you will save the world.” This temptation is centered around the misuse of spiritual forces for personal gain and power.
Directive #4: Do not grumble
Grumbling is the opposite of faith. Grumbling shows a lack of appreciation. Grumbling causes division, and doubt, and is not appreciated by anyone new to the body of Messiah. For if believers in Yah grumble to those who are new, why would those new to the body want to stay? Grumbling destroys Kingdom testimony.
If we look closely at these four directives, I believe we can see a common denominator of missing a particular mark. It is actually found at the beginning of Exodus 20, where the 10 commands begin with who we should worship or follow, “I Am the Lord your God.” Consequently, both the Torah and Paul warn us of the sin of idol worship in the following texts:
Psalms 106:34-38 (NASB)
They (All of Israel) did not destroy the people,
As the Lord commanded them,
But they (All of Israel) mingled with the nations
And learned their practices,
And served their idols,
Which became a snare to them.
They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons,
And shed innocent blood,
The blood of their sons and their daughters,
Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
And the land was polluted with the blood.
Deuteronomy 32:16-17 (NASB)
“They made Him jealous with strange gods;
With abominations, they provoked Him to anger.
“They sacrificed to demons who were not God,
To gods whom they have not known,
New gods who came lately,
Whom your fathers did not dread.
Other passages correlate idols with images of animals. The following passage provides one such example of how Canaanite deities were depicted in the images of animals.
Leviticus 17:7 (NASB)
They (All of Israel) shall no longer sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat demons with which they play the harlot. This shall be a permanent statute to them throughout their generations.
In short, idolatry is the usurpation of divine authority. Idols represent demonic power, which comes from disobedience towards worshipping the True God. The Apostle Paul brings this concept to the body of believers in the following passages:
1 Corinthians 10:20 (NASB)
No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.
Colossians 3:5 (NASB)
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
Paul is saying that these behaviors “add up” to idolatry. In other words, the sinner “pays homage or respect” to particular addictive behaviors.
2 Peter 2:19b (NASB)
1 . . . for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
In our faith walk, we will come upon arguments about who we should follow in helping us to overcome sin. We can easily assume that an entity, group, or person can save us from our sins or at least guide us away from sin. But again, can this be done by earthly men? Both the house of Judah and the house of Joseph struggled and still struggle with sin. So, what are some pictures in Scripture that can help us generate wisdom and understanding?
In Genesis 49, we read that Judah was given authority over nations and his brothers. Naturally, we should ask if this was a spiritual rule or a governmental rule. We do know that the line of Messiah comes through Judah, which is a spiritual rule through Messiah–the house of David (Ps. 78). Though do we still follow Judah as we know it if Judah rejects the very spiritual gift given to him? I believe we can have a glimpse of understanding this problem if we look further back in Genesis to find out who is Judah and what he had to learn.
In Genesis 37, Judah fails to protect his brother Joseph by selling Joseph to the Midianites, then projecting a lie about Jospeh’s death to his father Jacob. Later, in Genesis 38, Judah is involved in a similar crime by not protecting his daughter-in-law Tamah, then continuing in sin by handing over his ring and staff, while projecting yet another lie to his tribe.
How did Judah begin to restore himself? He finally confessed and humbled himself before Joseph, thus saving and protecting Benjamin. But years later, we once again see Judah missing the mark.
“The Lord says, “People of Judah, your sin is written with an iron pen; it is engraved on your hearts with a diamond point and carved on the corners of your altars. Your people worship at the altars and the symbols that have been set up for the goddess Asherah by every green tree and on the hilltops and on the mountains in the open country. I will have your enemies take away your wealth and your treasures because of all the sins you have committed throughout your land. You will have to give up the land I gave you, and I will make you serve your enemies in a land you know nothing about, because my anger is like a fire, and it will burn forever.” Jeremiah 17:1-4
When it comes to Joseph, we find another comparison. Jacob blesses the house of Joseph by placing his hands on Ephraim and Manasseh—saying “May my name live on in them, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac.” And, later in Genesis 49:26, Jacob again gives blessing and prophecy over the house of Joseph, by predicting the blessings of YHWH upon the “crown” of his head as the one who is distinguished among his brothers.
But again, like so many of us, we can forget our called-out purpose and lose sight of whom we should worship and follow. Hosea gives prophecy to Ephraim (House of Joseph) in Hosea 14:7-8:
“Return, Israel, to the Lord your God,
For you have stumbled because of your wrongdoing.
Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.
I am like a luxuriant juniper;
From Me comes your fruit.”
So, what’s the bottom line? I believe Yah can and will restore his entire bride—all of Israel. But all of Israel must come to recognize their need to give up their idols. This can and will include eliminating the worship of men over Messiah. All of Israel, both Jew, Gentile, and Church will be humbled. A dear friend of mine states it like this,
“Why should I bring pain and grief (to God)? I’ve heard Him (his cry) I have observed Him (his grief)
and I want now to be a tree of rest for him from this heartbreak. He has earned my love, to love Him in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse. Yet, I can also say:
“My love for God has not changed and I will not seek another god that offers riches or promises to make things better. I am refusing to be a fair-weathered friend to God.
“I will not ‘asav, bring grief, suffering or pain. I plan to be a true friend to God even if He doesn’t provide in the way I want.”
In Numbers 10, when the tribes of Israel leave Sinai, we see another beautiful picture of grace through the use of names:
The first three standards of the camp were led by Nahshon from Judah, followed by Nethanel of Issachar, and then Eliab from Zebulum. Their names take on the following meanings:
- Nahshon—Serpent, bronze, and oracle (meaning prophecy)
- Nethanel–God has given.
- Eliab–God is father.
After these three tribes, the Tabernacle parts were brought out with the sons of Gershon and Merari, followed by the standards of Elizur representing Reuben, then Shelumeil from Simeon, followed by Elaspah of Gad. Here are their meanings:
- Elizur–God of Rock
- Shelumiel—At peace with God
- Eliasaph— God has added.
After the above tribes stepped out, we have the Koharites who carry the holy objects from the Tabernacle. They are followed by the last six tribes. Here are their meanings:
- Elishama of Ephraim. God has heard
- Gamaliel of Manasseh. God is my investment
- Abidan of Benjamin My father is a judge
- Ahiezer of Dan who takes up the rear guard. brother of help
- Pagiel of Asher. occurrence of God
- Ahira of Naphtali Brother of purpose and friend
Combining the above names and actions without added interpretation we get:
“Vision of the bronze serpent is given by the Father. The tabernacle, God our Rock is whole and complete. YHWH has added holy objects and God has heard. Invest in YHWH our Judge. Guard and support our brothers—the occurrence of YHWH is with purpose and friend.”
If we pay attention, the pictures and promises of grace were abundant for “all of Israel.” Not to mention that YHWH dwelt among them. But yet, they all sinned and still sin. Paul reminds the early church that this can easily happen, even after Yeshua’s victory over death and the outpouring of the Spirit. It happens in that our flesh has been born into iniquity (Ps.51). Hence the reason for us to remind ourselves not to fall short like our fathers. The mercies of Yah are to be praised and at the same time, not taken for granted. Step forward and follow only Him—Yeshua our Messiah!
Be Blessed this Sabbath,
Rollyn