Are Holidays Really Our Heavenly Fathers’ Holy Days?

This season always seems to bring conflicting choices in how families decide to celebrate. There are both positives and drawbacks in how we respond; however, it’s a great opportunity to tell others of the real reason for the christians Christmas observance. So many say holidays instead of Christmas and rather than be offended by it, we can use the term to expound on the word holidays which has its roots from the word HolyDays!

מועדים

Moedim

This word moed has often been translated as festival or feast, which is not quite accurate. Moedim is plural and they signify covenant relationship with the LORD as His Appointed Times. 

Strong’s Hebrew: 4150. מוֹעֵד (moed) — appointed time, place or meeting.

Original Word: מוֹעֵד

Part of Speech: Noun Masculine

Transliteration: moed

Phonetic Spelling: mo-ade’

They signify life!

We can then take the focus back to our Heavenly Fathers Appointed Holy Days, the times when He desires for us to spend time with Him in thanksgiving, praise and worship in remembrance of  Who He Is and What He has done for us.

Specifically we remember the birth of His promised Messiah and Immanuel – He is with us and as Believers, born again from above, His Spirit dwells within us.

This is an opportune time to reflect on a personal level;

first, what we actually believe; and

second, can we clearly articulate it to others?

2Tim. 2:15 encourages us to be diligent and to present ourselves approved unto God a worker who does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of truth.

We should try to state to ourselves what we believe to be the absolute truth of God and then, we will be allowing Him the opportunity to pass it on through us to someone else. If we cannot express ourselves well on each of our beliefs then we must work and study until we can. If we don’t other people will miss out on the blessings that come from knowing the truth. We could start by making a goal to re express a truth of God to ourselves, clearly and understandably; and God will use that same explanation when we need to share it.

However we must be willing to go through Gods’ winepress, where the grapes are crushed and the oil press where the olives are crushed.

It pleased Him to crush Him and it pleases our Heavenly Father to prepare us thoroughly. We too will struggle because He didn’t take our spiritual education and training away so we still have to go through it. He didn’t remove it for His disciples and emissaries… they too drank the cup. 

Who are we that we think we get a free ride?

He asks us the same question today…

We must study His teaching, His words, His Torah, His Tanach and Brit Chadashah; and rehearse our words to express clearly to others, the truth of His gospel of the kingdom of heaven.

His words are spirit and life and these are the words that should come from our lips; and which make up the reality of the sword of the spirit, the active part of Eph 6 spiritual armor. His words coming from our mouths not ours…His words cut through darkness and everything that has snared people in a world of sin and negativity.

If we can be ready and prepared, then when the opportunity presents itself, the same expressions of His truth will come easily and smoothly from a prepared heart. We will not shrink back or stutter or recuse ourselves from sharing what we know and believe. It’s not just the pastors and leaders of a local congregation who are to share the gospel, it’s for everyone who declares they are a believer. Don’t take another’s words but rather, state what you believe to be the absolute truth of God and it will make others and ourselves free.

We are to daily practice to study to stir our own minds thoroughly and to think through what we have easily believed. To check out for ourselves if what we have been taught in years past is even accurate.

Our position in Christ is not really ours or established, rooted and well founded, until we make it ours – it’s a choice and it will take commitment just like any relationship /marriage takes time dedication and selfless commitment.

It takes time to study and we need to be brutally honest with ourselves because when we say we don’t have time, then in reality we are saying that we are too busy for the things of God and it’s not 1st place in our lives, where it needs to be.

The one from whom we learn the most is not the one who teaches us something we didn’t know previously though that is always helpful. It is rather the one who helps us take a truth that we have struggled with and they help us give it expression enabling us to speak it clearly and boldly.

It’s only the truth you know and apply that will make you free. Just sitting listening every week and not memorizing what is said, not writing it down and not applying it, is not a productive use of our time; because we are not to be hearers only but doers of His Word.

We are so quick to justify our actions, to compromise our chosen way of spending our time. We become defensive when our choices are challenged and call the challenge being judgmental! We protect our lifestyle at all costs and the scripture says there is a way that seems right

but the end is death.

What we choose to believe – will never change the truth.

As the western calendar draws to a close and many will make resolutions for the coming year; maybe one should be… less social media time and more Word time. Less reading what others write on facebook and instead take those hours we spend seeing what others are doing and replace it with real spiritual facetime with our Heavenly Father and read what He has written for us in His Word.

Instead of the time we spend checking our email and phone text messages, let’s check our hearts and read our Fathers messages to us

for a life of  godliness.

For what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul?

It is amazing that we have found time to spend on all the aspects of social media, yet still don’t have time for study. The one thing that will change us from glory to glory, that will strengthen us in the inner man, that will fortify us against the enemies onslaught. That which will cause us to be strong in Him and in the power of His might. Because faith only comes by hearing and hearing by the word. Romans 10:17

Not by any other means and

without faith it is impossible to please God.

Hebrews 11:6

Maybe it’s time to lay some of these distractions aside and make a resolution to apply that time to the things of the spirit of the living God. The time to get ready for the battle ahead, is NOT when we find ourselves in the thick of the fight, but to be ready NOW and then we will not only be able to stand..2Chron. 20:20

but also able to assist others and as a good soldier not being

entangled with the world;

entangled with the world;

but also and most importantly

to endure to the end. Jesus Messiah is no longer a baby in the manger

and neither is He still hanging on a tree,

He is resurrected,

seated at the right hand of His

and our Heavenly Father in majesty and glory

and Has made the Way for us back to having a relationship with Him.

He came and died in our place taking our sins and removing them forever by the shedding of His blood. We are forgiven and made holy – set apart…

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  ..

and that we should share the good news of His gospel and GO and make disciples of all nations….

This is the real reason for the season

and it’s not just for Christmas

it’s for life – chaim!

Shalom, shalom mishpachah/family

and cheverim/friends!

It’s all about Life and Relationship,

NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE?

YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Shade of Shaddai

At this season

chag ha sukkot

those following the

appointed times of the Lord – His Moedim

observe Leviticus 23:40, 42 43.

Deuteronomy D’variym 16:13-15

Chag haSukot  הַסֻּכֹּ֛ת חַ֧ג

13 ‘The feast of booths thou dost make for thee seven days, in thine in-gathering of thy threshing-floor, and of thy wine-vat;

14 and thou hast rejoiced in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy handmaid, and the Levite, וְהַלֵּוִ֗י levivy and the sojourner hag ger וְהַגֵּ֛ר

and the fatherless, and the widow, who ‘are’ within thy gates.

15 Seven days thou dost feast before Jehovah thy God, in the place which Jehovah doth choose, for Jehovah thy God doth bless thee in all thine increase, and in every work of thy hands, and thou hast been only rejoicing.

16 ‘Three times in a year doth every one of thy males appear before Jehovah thy God in the place which He doth choose — in the feast of unleavened things, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of booths; and they do not appear before Jehovah empty;

17 each according to the gift of his hand, according to the blessing of Jehovah thy God, which He hath given to thee.

A sukkah

is also called

סֻּכֹּֽת

a booth – a tabernacle – temporary dwelling,

depending on who you ask.

(There are several alternate spellings of the Hebrew word.)

It is only for 7 days and when it is described as a

temporary dwelling,

it’s because the

sukah/sukkah

construction itself is

temporary,

it is not a permanent structure.

For 7 days each year all who are native born in Israel

are to live in these sukkah

made of tree boughs branches and leaves.

The flimsy sukkah

is not really able to give much shelter from

the heat of the sun or the wind rain and dust;

nor does it provide privacy.

There’s no protection from criminal activities and by itself it’s totally ineffective for a long term dwelling place.

The point is that, for 40 years this is how the children of Israel lived as they travelled through the wilderness...

and it serves as a reminder to all subsequent generations, and the grafted-in-believers, how our Heavenly Father

protects and shelters His children

as we continue on our wilderness journey to His promised land..

We would opt for a more sturdy building of wood, brick and concrete with locks on our doors, if we were given a choice; yet is this any more permanent and reliable than a sukat/sukkah when the forces of nature are unleashed against it?

It only takes a moment, to look at the aftermath of deadly hurricanes and floods, for us to see the devastating results.

All who are native born ……sons of Israel.

Leviticus 23

40 and ye have taken to yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palms, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of a brook, and have rejoiced before Jehovah your God seven days.

41 ‘And ye have kept it a feast to Jehovah, seven days in a year — a statute age-during to your generations; in the seventh month ye keep it a feast.

42 ‘In booths בַּסֻּכֹּֽת ye dwell seven days; all who are natives in Israel / Yisrael יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל

dwell in booths,

43 so that your generations do know that in booths בַּסֻּכֹּֽת

I caused the sons of Yisrael / Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל

to dwell; in my bringing them out of the land of Egypt; I, Jehovah, ‘am’ your God.’

44 And Moses speaketh ‘concerning’ the appointed seasons of Jehovah unto the sons of Israel.

The sukkah reminds us

that our faith/trust should

NOT

be in

so called permanent structures

that have been built by human hands;

but instead

our faith/trust should be in the

One Who

has the power to protect us

in every situation and circumstance

and all adverse conditions.

We are to

abide and remain

in the

shade of shaddai….

the

shadow of the Almighty.

לְצֵל־   lezel – shade/shadow

שַׁדַּי shaddai/shadday –

strongs #5996

צל של שדדאי

shade of shaddai

צל – shade

אל שדי  el shaddai  the almighty

Strongs# 7706. Shadday: Almighty

Original Word: שַׁדַּי
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: Shadday
Phonetic Spelling: shad-dah’-ee or sha’da eye

Almighty: Shaddai.

Masculine noun.

Strong’s 7706.

Root: שַׁדַּי

Pronounced: sha’dah-ee.

Meaning: My Destroyer, My Protective Spirit, My Rainmaker.

Self-Sufficient, Who Is Abundantly.

From the verb שדד ( shadad ), to destroy,

or the noun שד ( shed ), protective spirit,

or the verb שדה (shadah), to moisten.

God Almighty

El Shaddai – ale shad-dah’-ee. אל שׁדי

Genesis 17:1 
HEB: אֲנִי־ אֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֔י הִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ לְפָנַ֖י
NAS: to him, I am God Almighty; Walk
KJV: and said unto him, I [am] the Almighty God;

And when Abram was ninety nine years old and the LORD appeared to Abram, and he said to him, I am El Shaddai, walk before me, and be perfect
Genesis 17:1

God Almighty

El Shaddai  – ale shad-dah’-ee

letters: YDSLA – al shdy

Hebrew Letters:

alef, lamed, shin or sheen, dalet, yud or yod.

אל שׁדי

The Aleph is the picture of an ox head

and illustrates: the strength of an animal.

It can mean: strong, power, or leader.

 

The Lamed is a picture of a shepherd’s staff.

The shepherd used the staff to

exercise authority over the sheep to direct or lead them.

It can mean: teach, lead, yoke, move forward, or authority.

 

The Shin represents two front teeth

and can mean: sharp, eat, consume, separate, or destroy.

 

The Dalet represents a tent flap or door.

It can also mean:

back and forth movement as in going in and out of a door.

 

The Yud represents an arm and a hand.

The picture can mean: work, throw, worship

or it can simply mean: arm or hand.

The Aleph and Lamed form the root word

El which means: God or strong controller.

The Shin, Dalet, and Yud

form another root

Shad meaning breast.

Together they reveal:

The One mighty to nourish and

supply all our needs!

We live safely NOT because we have a well built house,

but because our Heavenly Father is

protecting us

and is also

providing for us

and caring for us each and every day.

Even the most reliable building is really just a

sukkah

because one day it will no longer exist.. BUT…

we will have a permanent dwelling place forever with Him.

Let’s allow Him to teach us to put our trust

only in Him

and to know that He shields us from harm because

He is our provider and protector.

This time of reflection towards our dwelling place and where we live and rest, reminds us of Psalm 91:1-4 because it’s related to the fact of not being reliant on a physical place in a natural sense….. It has the elements of a protective sinnah – shield,

and the shelter and shadow/shade/lezel

of the Almighty/Shaddai

…because is the secret place of 

  עֶלְי֑וֹן

El’yon

pronounced:el yown

which is

the shield and surrounding wall of His truth.

This is not a metaphorical description, it’s a real place;

as real as we allow it to be to us.

How so?

Because if we don’t believe it’s there or that it exists, how can we go there?

And if we don’t ever go there, how can we rest there habitually as the Psalmist says?

He who dwells in the shelter of Elyon,

will abide in

the shadow of Shaddai.

It’s very real, yet sometimes hard to find…

Is it because we’re looking for the wrong kind of structure?

When we read the word secret, do we think it’s hidden by some kind of camouflage?

The verse says it’s a stronghold so do we think its made of some indestructible material?

Does the shield part make us think we can’t see through it and that the surrounding wall may be so high and wide that we can’t get around or over it?

So we are looking for something our minds can relate to and in looking from the

Shade of Shaddai

we make our relationship with Him so complicated that we miss His provision, especially when it’s right where we are?

How can that be right?

Because His truth IS a shield

and the surrounding wall for us,

without the need for any additional support or fortifying;

and all we need to do is recognize that truth and

rest in the shadow of His Word – Jesus/Yeshua.

This is where we will find all the comfort and shelter we need.

With Isaiah and David the Psalmist, let’s state clearly….and not just for this week.. but going forward each and every day….

Father, YOU are our strength, our stronghold, our God and we trust in You. We are not looking for a natural fortress that’s impenetrable but we are resting habitually in Your protection, in the

shade of shadai/shaddai

because You are our

everlasting sukah/sukkah

and will one day tabernacle with us for ever.

If you haven’t already please take the time to read earlier posts focusing on the week of Sukkot/Tabernacles/Booths.

Links below:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/sheltering-presence-god/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/sukkot-the-promise-of-a-permanent-dwelling-place/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/seasons-of-the-lord-his-rhythm-of-chaim-life/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/in-the-end-its-all-about-yeshua-jesus/

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim and mishpachah!

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week,

you are greatly loved and prayed for daily.

Please don’t leave here without assurance of your salvation because

one of these days we will leave behind this personal, physical

body/tent/temporary shelter/sukkah….

and dwell for eternity in one of two places..

either with, or without, the presence of our Heavenly Father.

Not sure ..you can be…

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer,

Savior, Lord, and soon returning King

and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are very precious in His sight.

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.

Scarlet Sins & Scapegoats?

Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith- the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

“אם יהיו חטאיכם כשנים כשלג ילבינו”
“Even if your sins will be scarlet, they will become white as snow.”

”שָׁנִי

shani – shawnee – scarlet #8144

Original Word: שָׁנִי
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: shani
Phonetic Spelling: shaw-nee’
Definition: scarlet

Isaiah 1:18
HEB: יִֽהְי֨וּ חֲטָאֵיכֶ֤ם כַּשָּׁנִים֙ כַּשֶּׁ֣לֶג יַלְבִּ֔ינוּ
NAS: your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white
KJV: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white
INT: become your sins scarlet snow white

Why does our Heavenly Father call sin as scarlet?

Scarlet is the color of blood and it is the blood of Yeshua/Jesus that removes the sin, sins are not scarlet are they?

In answering this question we must try to remember that words for things that are common usage today, would be totally confusing to people even a hundred years ago. E.g., In conversation today, we might say, “My laptop has a wifi Bluetooth mouse but my tablet and ipad do not.” This statement would mean nothing to someone born in the early 1900’s! A mouse with a bluetooth!! they would think you were completely crazy!

The point is our language and application of words changes, so when we read the scriptures we must remember what was relevant to those people at their time and according to the culture of their native country.

In those days people were not used to color as we are today. They did not decorate or color co-ordinate their homes or clothes; because bright colors were rare, they had not turned color into a science all its’ own as industry has today. There was no such thing as Interior/exterior paint and there were no paint spray cans or colored pencils/pens.

In the middle east their surroundings were mostly desert browns with sparse greenery and when a bright colorful flower animal or insect was observed it caused them to stop and be amazed.

The Hebrew word used for scarlet in this verse is kashanim

from the root word shani שָׁנִי

which is a word for a specific insect.

Crimson, scarlet in the Bible (37 verses). Hebrew: שָׁנִי …

Hebrew Base Word: שָׁנִי.

שָׁנִי

šānî (H8144)

 Crimson, scarlet (thread)

Definition: Crimson, properly, the insect or its color,

also stuff dyed with

Scarlet, crimson.

Properly, the insect ‘coccus ilicis’, the dried body of the female yielding coloring matter from which is made the dye used for cloth to color it scarlet or crimson.

The ka in front of the word is a preposition: like or as

so it would read literally:

though your sins be as or like an insect.

Translators correctly used the word scarlet because the people of that day were very familiar with this unique insect. This unusual insect caused the observers to be amazed because this little creature attached itself to a tree to give birth to its offspring, and when it died and its body dried up, it turned a bright, scarlet, red color. So a bright color such as scarlet would have been rare and thus everyone in Israel thousands of years ago, knew what scarlet/crimson was, or, the reference in the verse, red like crimson.

Scarlet is not only tied into the concept of sin and redemption, but it was also used practically within the confines of the Jewish Temple. Scarlet and crimson were united together in the Temple curtains/veils:

Exodus 35:25

All the skilled women spun with their hands, and brought what they had spun, in blue and purple and the scarlet material [tola’at ha-shani] and in fine linen.

The Hebrew word for material in this passage is towla-at, which is the same word used for crimson-worm. So it appears that this word evolved from representing the worm to also representing any material colored scarlet by the worm itself.

This scarlet material (tola’at shani) is found in mulyiple places in scripture, and had a particular emphasis in decorating the Temple.

Exodus 26:31-33

“You shall also make a veil of violet, purple, and scarlet material [w-towla’at shani] , and fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim, the work of a skilled embroiderer. Then you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, their hooks also of gold, on four bases of silver. You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve as a partition for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.”

Strong’s Hebrew: 3680. כָּסָה (kasah) — to cover

When this scarlet worm is ready to lay its eggs, it attaches itself to the trunk of a tree, more specifically, the Kermes oak found in the Mediterranean region. It secures itself very firmly because it already knows it will not come back down that tree alive!

It is a voluntary sacrifice!

(Is this sounding familiar to another

death on a tree as a voluntary blood sacrifice??)

Its’ eggs, which are birthed beneath its body, remain protected until they hatch and are able to go off on their own. When the worm dies, it secretes a crimson fluid that stains its body and the wood around it.

Many people had the job of gathering these little insects. Once they died dried out and began to decay giving off its scarlet color. These dead insects were then collected, crushed and turned into a scarlet color dye. The dye was then applied to the material used to make clothes for royalty and those in society who could afford such luxuries. Because it was so uncommon to be clothed in bright garments, when a person wearing scarlet clothes came by, it was an obvious clue that they were very important.

Click link below for more detail on this amazing insect.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-secret-of-how-a-worm-preached-the-gospel/

Why does this matter?

Because when someone heard the word

shani שָׁנִי or scarlet

they immediately thought of

this insect that was dead, and literally decaying.

The association with sin would then be quickly recognized as that dead decaying thing in your life, that choked the spiritual life out of you.

In the same way they would also understand that in skillful hands this dead thing could be turned into something of great beauty. Our Heavenly Father was saying that although our sins make us spiritually dead as that scarlet colored insect, He is able and willing to restore us to new spiritual life.

There are historical and archeological references, easily found on line, describing the Assyrian armies uniforms who, in Isaiah day, were Israels’ greatest enemies and eventually conquered them. It’s not beyond the realm of possibility, that most people living in Israel had heard the battle accounts; and that one thing they would have noticed was the uniform of the soldiers in the chariots. These chariots were manned by, some say 2 others 3 warriors, 1 to drive the chariot and the other 2/3 to shoot the arrows while racing as close to the enemy lines as possible; then they would circle around for another attack.

With all the enemies arrows flying, casualties were high, however it seems one arrow was not enough to knock such tough warriors down, and their wounds still bled. The scarlet colored uniforms concealed the blood coming from their wounds, and the enemy could not tell if they were hitting their targets or were fighting against something more supernatural!

Due to this military cultural practice, scarlet became known also as a camouflage.

It was part of the art of war, a means of keeping the soldiers injuries concealed and hidden from those observing the battle.

Applying this to our spiritual condition, it is telling us that when our Heavenly Father says that even though your sins are as scarlet, these sins were not the only ones destroying you but also included are those hidden or secret sins. Hidden sins are those that no one else but our Heavenly Father knows about, and even those sins that are hidden and concealed will be cleansed.

It is interesting that a word for sin is chata’

which is an archer’s term for

missing the mark or target.

And also makes us think of the verse in Ephesians concerning the fiery darts/arrows of the evil one which is why our shield of faith should always be held up high.

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The word sin both in Hebrew and Greek means missed the mark, just as any archer might. 

The Mark, the centre, the bulls eye, that man is to make this his aim through life, as to THE GLORY OF GOD.

Paul tells us that to all alike, missing this mark is SIN. The standard is a high one however, we are to aim directly and always at God’s glory and not mans’. 

One of the words for sin in Hebrew, as mentioned does mean:

miss the mark,

meaning that: you didn’t achieve the right goal.

There are other words for sin, and some of them mean something more like: deliberately chose the wrong goal, which is rather more serious.

In Hebrew: HATA

Hebrew Strong’s #2398

Literally: to MISS God’s Standards.

(e.g. Hosea 8:1; Daniel 9:11; Isaiah 5:20-24)

“Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4 KJV cf. Romans 7:7.

God’s Target is His Commandments.

Breaking His Commandments is Missing God’s Target.

Same root, not the same word

Miss the mark is hechti החטיא

which also means: caused somebody to sin

Sin is chet חטא

Hebrew has several other words for sin beyond hata, each with its own specific meaning.

The word pesha, or trespass,

means:sin done out of rebelliousness.

The word aveira means: transgression.

And the word avone, or iniquity,

means:sin done out of moral failing.

A Hebrew word for sin is

חטאה

hhatah,

Strong’s #2403

and literally means: miss the mark.

The Greek translation of the Old Testament often used hamartia,

an equivalent word also meaning: to miss the mark.

Word meanings were often not as precise as English words are, because the Hebrew language had a small vocabulary; and it’s very common in language to use very natural terms as a way to describe things that are much more abstract.

Just as Paul wrote in Philippians 3:14

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The same author told us in Romans 14:23

…whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

It is clear that the will of God, whether we are aware of what it is or not, is the mark. The responsibility is on us to both discover and to do it.

As noted, the common Hebrew term translated sin is chat·taʼthʹ; in Greek the usual word is ha·mar·tiʹa. In both languages, the verb forms (Hebrew, cha·taʼʹ; Greek, ha·mar·taʹno)

mean: miss, in the sense of:

missing or not reaching a goal, way, mark, or right point.

In our case how do we miss the mark?

We all miss the mark of perfection, in the sense that we are all called sinners in the scriptures.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

The reason Messiah Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach left his heavenly home and was born as a human, was to offer up His perfect human life in exchange for the perfect human life that Adam forfeited, when he rebelled against God’s authority.

“and it is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom paid by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:24

chet: a sin

Original Word: חֵטְא
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chet
Phonetic Spelling: (khate)
Definition: a sin

ḥă·ṭā·’ê·ḵem — 1 Occurrence

Isaiah 1:18
HEB: אִם־ יִֽהְי֨וּ חֲטָאֵיכֶ֤ם כַּשָּׁנִים֙ כַּשֶּׁ֣לֶג
NAS: Though your sins are as scarlet,
KJV: the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet,
INT: Though become your sins scarlet snow

The Scapegoat –

Azazel  עזאזל

Ayin Zayin Aleph Zayin Lamed

 

Leviticus 16:9-10: “And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him [for] a sin offering. (10) But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, [and] to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.”

There is something interesting in Jewish writings regarding Rosh Hashanah:

During Yom Kippur in ancient days, two goats were brought before the High Priest.

Both were as identical as possible. 

Lots were then drawn.

One bore the words To the Lord and the other To Azazel.

The word Azazel is an interesting word as there is much debate as to what its meaning really isMany translations just translate it as Azazel in reference to a geological location.  Some of the earlier translations use the word scapegoat. As to whether Azazel meant scapegoat to the ancient Hebrews is said to be questionable.

In 1530 William Tyndale broke the law of the land by translating the Bible into English. This was an act for which he was put to death.  Azazel was the name of a demon and even a common name among Jews used for Satan. To say the other lot fell to Satan who was allowed to escape, did not seem right, so Tyndale considered the word Azazel to be a compound word, as for goat; ez and azal for sending away, hence scapegoat.  However, if we stay with the original understanding of Azazel as a demon or even a reference to Satan himself, we are then open to a deeper and maybe a more relevant understanding of this strange ritual.

It seems obvious that the goat who received the lot, To the Lord, was representative of the Messiah, as we identify to be Jesus/Yeshua. This Messiah gave His life and shed His blood for the sins of all mankind. But what was the reason for the Azazel and sending the goat into the wilderness? because the scapegoat never made it out of the wilderness alive.

The sages had no problem with one goat being slaughtered and shedding its’ blood as a sign of God’s forgiveness of sin, but they also realized just having your sins forgiven was not enough. It was a great relief on Yom Kippur to have all your sins forgiven, ready to start the New Year with a clean sheet, but what about the consequences of those past sins which was primarily the consequence of guilt. It seems it was not uncommon for Jews to amend their rituals and add to God-given directions. An example would be that an individual may not realize until they are older of the many sacrifices made by family members for their benefit. Sometimes the commandment to honor parents cannot be fulfilled if the parents die before they are able to repent, ask for forgiveness and personally thank them. They pray and repent and they receive Gods forgiveness by faith, and that sin is washed away, like the goat shedding its’ blood for their sin; yet some individuals carry that guilt and live with the burden of it for years.

The sages saw that Azazel, a demon, or the enemy himself, is constantly whispering in our ears. We are to remember and be encouraged that after God has forgiven you and cleansed you

the only weapon the enemy has

are his lies.

Because of this it was agreed that the Azazel or the scapegoat also represented the guilt of the sin. God forgave the sin but many still live with the guilt.

One word for wilderness is medabarah which could also be translated as words from the heart.  So, the picture they saw of the scapegoat was the words that the Azazel puts into your heart, words of condemnation and guilt are to be sent away far from the tabernacle or tent.

Again be certain that not only did

God forgive our sins,

He also

removed the guilt

often attached to that sin.

The only guilt we feel is just the lies of the Azazel or the enemy. Messiah came to set the captives free from ALL of it.

The sins were placed on the scapegoat and by so doing removing all guilt being carried; and they did two extra things not mentioned in the Torah which are recorded in the Talmud/Jewish Literature. 

First, they tied a red wool thread around the horn of the scapegoat and cut off a piece of that red wool thread. 

Then when they sent the goat away some priests followed it and when the goat got near a cliff, they made sure the goat fell to his death, accordingly the lies of Azazel were put to death!

When the Pharisees placed their hands on the goat and confessed the sins… it was ALL placed on the scapegoat. When the Pharisees slapped Jesus/Yeshua on His head and called Him blasphemous; this act was, placing the sins of all mankind on the head of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, maybe unintentionally… but it fulfilled their job! So when Messiah died and went to paradise all the guilt went too.

Tradition teaches that when that scapegoat with the red thread tied around its horn was tossed off the cliff, the piece of wool thread that the High Priest cut from the red wool thread on the horn, turned white; as proof that God not only forgave the sins of the nation but took away the guilt as well. 

Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

https://www.minimannamoments.com/at-one-ment-with-the-one-you-love/

This season of self examination should not be only for when we reflect on the Appointed Times; but daily we are to examine our hearts before our Heavenly Father and apply His precious crimson scarlet blood to our lives.

Even if your sins (all our of missing the mark), will be scarlet, be as or like a shani שָׁנִי insect; literally that dead decaying thing in our lifes/chaim that choked the spiritual life out of us – they will become white as snow in skillful hands; and this dead thing can be turned into something of great beauty.

Our Heavenly Father was & is saying that although

our sins make us spiritually dead as that scarlet colored insect,

He is able and willing to restore us to new spiritual life in Him; and in that process, completely removing

ALL sin and ALL the guilt and shame

associated with those sins through the Blood of Jesus/Yeshua, His own sacrificial Lamb and scapegoat.

How?

By staying in right relationship with Him every possible moment, and walking step by step in obedience to the path He designed for each of us.

As we are entering into the week of

Sukkot/Booths/Tabernacles,

it is appropriate to think on the

soon return of our King, our Messiah

when He will tabernacle with us for ever.

All our waiting and hoping

will be turned into

rejoicing and fullness of peace/shalom;

as His presence will not be by faith believing,

but will be tangible and complete.

Hallelujah!

Stay always alert and ready,

for we know not the hour our Lord returns…

Matthew 24:42

for so much more on Sukkot/Tabernacles/Booths

please be sure to click links below:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/sheltering-presence-god/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-sheltering-presence-of-god-cont/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/sukkot-the-promise-of-a-permanent-dwelling-place/

Keep your lamps filled trimmed and lit..

our bridegroom is coming and the midnight hour is here.

Shalom aleikhem

friends and family – chaverim and mishpachah!

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week, especially through Sukkot.

You are greatly loved and prayed for daily.

Please don’t leave here without assurance of your salvation  and the deep inner knowing that you are sealed to the day of redemption by the Blood of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua.

Not sure ..you can be…

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord, Your Passover Lamb/Your High Priest of the Atoning Blood Sacrifice

and soon returning King;

and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are very precious in His sight.

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.

Day of Atonement – Yom HaKippurim

Known in English as the

Day of Atonement,

Yom HaKippurim

יום כפור

It occurs 9 days after

Yom Teruah/The Feast of Trumpets/Day of Blowing.

It is celebrated on the 10th day of the 7th month in the Hebrew calendar.

(5th October 2022).

It was given originally to the sons of Israel/Yisra’El.

“Speak to the children of Yisra’El, saying, ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you have a rest, a remembrance of Teru‛ah,” Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:24

The Annual Moedim/Appointed Times of the Lord

were set in by our Heavenly Father to remind us of His Plan and Purpose for our lives now and eternally. The very same God Who granted favor and mercy to all humanity by sending the Messiah, Jesus/Yeshua, to die for our redemption; will also send Him again to destroy His enemies and to separate the wheat from the tares, the sheep from the goats, and to provide the ultimate atonement/redemption for those who are His.

When you see all these things begin to come to pass look up for your redemption draws near. Luke 21:28

What does His Word tell us about this Kadosh/Holy/set-apart day?

Are there things that we are supposed to do and see and hear?

In studying the Scriptures about Yom HaKippurim / Day of Atonement, we could pray in the words of King David: Heavenly Father, please “open our eyes that we might behold wonderful things from your Torah” and see our returning Messiah Jesus/Yeshua in this moed/appointed Day.

Gods’ Word was given to us to speak of Him and we should seek to hear its’ voiceHis voice… especially during His appointed times/moedim.

What Does Scripture Say About Yom HaKippurim?

Yom HaKippurim

יום כּףּר,

Strong’s #3117 + #3725

means

“day [of] atonement”.

Atonement

is the Hebrew word kippur

and it comes from the word

kaphar

which means:

“to cover”.

The blood of atonement was used to cover and cleanse the spiritual uncleanness of the children of Israel/ Yisra’El.

Hebrews 10:4 tells us that the blood of bulls and goats will not take away sins. However there are numerous passages in the Torah, which tell us that the blood of bulls and goats will make atonement or temporary covering.

“For it is impossible for blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Ibrim/Hebrews 10:4

In reality we know that the

Atoning Blood of Messiah has covered and cleansed us.

He is our atoning sacrifice.

Wayyiqra/Leviticus 16:1-34 tells us of the casting of lots for the “scapegoat”

The word translated as “scapegoat”

In Strong’s #5799

is the Hebrew word:

עזאזל

azazel.

This word is only used to describe the “scapegoat” in Leviticus 16.

There is some debate among scholars about the literal meaning of the word.

 

The Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon translates it as:

“for absolute removal”.

Strong’s translates it as “goat of departure”.

The NAS Concordance translating it as “entire removal”.

The Septuagint, an early Greek translation of the Old Testament,

took the Hebrew as;

ez ozel [“the goat that departs”]

and translated it as:

tragos apopompaios [“goat sent out”].

This translation was used by the Latin Vulgate, which rendered the word as:

caper emissarius, or “emissary goat”.

William Tyndale rendered the Latin as

“(e)scape goat”

in his 1530 Bible and his translation was later used by the authors of the KJV 1611.

We know that bulls and goats cannot remove sin (Hebrews 10:4) we now understand the purpose of the “scapegoat” was to somehow take the uncleanness associated with sin away from the camp. The person who releases the goat then had to bathe to remove the “stain” of being in contact with the goat.

According to Leviticus 16:29-31 and 23:27

It is a day to “humble your souls”

Heb: ועניתם את נפשׁתיכם

v’initem et napheshoteykhem

Some translations treat this as

“afflict your souls [nephesh]”.

If anyone does not humble himself on this day that person shall be cut off from among his people. Leviticus 23:29.

It is an extremely serious penalty to be cut off from Israel/Yisra’El so we should make an effort to understand what is meant by

“humbling our souls”.

There are two passages in the Tanakh/Old Testament, that use the same words. The first comes from the Psalms where David said:

Malicious witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I do not know. They repay me evil for good, To the bereavement of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting, And my prayer kept returning to my bosom. I went about as though it were my friend or brother; I bowed down mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother. Tehillim/Psalm 35:11-14

The 2nd is from Isaiah:

‘Why have we fasted and You do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’ Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, And drive hard all your workers. Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high. Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord? Yeshayahu/Isaiah 58:3-5.

Strongs #3665

kana: to be humble

Original Word: כָּנַע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kana
Phonetic Spelling: kaw-nah’

2 Chronicles 7:14 
HEB: וְיִכָּנְע֨וּ עַמִּ֜י אֲשֶׁ֧ר
NAS: by My name humble themselves and pray
KJV: by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray,

Yom HaKippurim/Day of Atonement

pictures Messiah because He is

the Great High Priest

Who will bring about

a permanent atonement and cleansing for His people.

“Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, יהושע the Son of Elohim, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who was tried in all respects as we are, apart from sin. Therefore, let us come boldly to the throne of favour, in order to receive compassion, and find favour for timely help.” Ibrim/Hebrews 4:14-16

He is the One Who “stands in readiness” to

lead away our uncleanness

with the scapegoat, the goat of removal.

He is the scapegoat that will

bear our sins and take them away

“For Messiah has not entered into a set-apart place made by hand – figures of the true – but into the heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of Elohim on our behalf, not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters into the set-apart place year by year with blood not his own. For if so, He would have had to suffer often, since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the offering of Himself. And as it awaits men to die once, and after this the judgment, so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to those waiting for Him, unto deliverance.” Ibrim/Hebrews 9:24-28

The self sacrifice that is necessary to atone for our sins is so far beyond what any of us is willing or able to do. It would take every single drop of our own blood to cover our own sins let alone for anothers’. Yet what purpose would this serve if we lost our lives in the process? The justice required by the Lord might be satisfied but His mercy and grace would not be fulfilled.

This Holiest of days in our Fathers Appointed Times/Moedim, is when the haCohen haGadol/the High Priest has to perform the sacrificial offering; to make atonement for the sins of the people through the shedding of innocent blood.

Hebrews 9:6-15

6But The Priests were always entering the outer Tabernacle and performing their ministry, 7But The High Priest would enter the inner Tabernacle once a year by himself with blood, which he was offering in the place of his soul and in the place of the evil doing of the people. 8But by this The Spirit of Holiness had taught that the way of holiness had not yet been revealed, as long as the first Tabernacle was standing.9And this was a symbol for that time in which gifts and sacrifices were offered, which were not able to perfect the conscience of him who offers them, 10Except in food and drink only, and in various washings, which are ordinances of the flesh that are established until the time of reformation.

11But The Messiah who has come has become The High Priest of the good things that he did, and he entered The Great and Perfect Tabernacle which is not made with hands, and was not from these created things. 12And he did not enter with blood of yearling goats and of calves, but with his own blood he entered the holy place one time and has achieved eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of kids and of calves and the ashes of a heifer were sprinkled on those who were defiled and it sanctified them for the purifying of their flesh, 14How much more therefore, will the blood of The Messiah, who by The Eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works that we may serve THE LIVING GOD?

15Because of this, he is The Mediator of The New Covenant, for in his death he is salvation to those who violated The First Covenant, that we, those who were called to eternal inheritance, would receive The Promise. 

However much blood is in that sacrifice …it will eventually stop flowing and it will therefore never be enough.

The ONLY ONE Who can sympathize with our weaknesses yet is apart from sin (4:15) is Messiah Yeshua/Jesus and…. HE has come. As haCohen haGadol of the coming good things, He alone could enter the greater and more perfect tabernacle… neither through the blood of goats and calves but through His own innocent blood.

Atonement has been made

and Messiah has obtained age enduring redemption for us. When John declared in 1:29  Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! We know now this prophetic statement was completed 2000+ years ago.

Justice is satisfied and mercy fulfilled …once and for all…. The blood, His blood its everywhere and it’s alive.. not drying up, or running out… because, in Messiah there will always be enough. HalleluYah!

Dear Heavenly Father we humble ourselves before you as we think on this Holy time. Denying ourselves because You once denied Yourself for us. We bless your Name with a thankful heart for you have done for us what we could never do for ourselves. Our Father God, Lord, King, our Savior and Redeemer, we worship You and bow down before You in humility; by ourselves we are nothing but in You and in You alone we have everything because You are more than enough….

Chag Sameach Yom HaKippurim!

For other much more detailed posts on this Appointed Time/Moed and the amazing connection between Blood and gold…

click links below:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/at-one-ment-with-the-one-you-love/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/secrets-of-a-life-filled-with-feasts/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/what-is-the-connection-between-blood-gold-and-the-mystery-of-beth-shemesh-part-2/

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם‎,

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim and mishpachah!

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week, you are greatly loved and prayed for daily. Please don’t leave here without assurance of your salvation  and the deep inner knowing that you are sealed to the day of redemption by the Blood of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua.

Not sure ..you can be…

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord, Your Passover Lamb/Your High Priest of the Atoning Blood Sacrifice

and soon returning King;

and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are very precious in His sight.

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.