mordekhi v yisraela

Torah: B’har (On mount), Vayikra (Leviticus) 25.1-26.2
along with: B’chukkotai (By my regulations), Vayikra (Leviticus) 26.3-27.34
Haftorah: Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 16.19-17.14
Suggested Messianic Writings: Matthew 22.1-14

Shalom,

The second of the two parashiot (readings) this week is called B’chukkotai (By my regulations), בְּחֻקֹּתַי (pr: b’khoo-koh-tie). Most parashiot are titled after the primary words that begin the section, and the title may not necessarily be the theme. This reading is an exception, in that “by my regulations” is not only the beginning phrase, but the primary theme of the section deals with regulations of HaShem. These are regulations that are to be observed in a covenant relationship.

Israel and the United States are the only two nations in history I am aware of that were founded upon a covenant with the Creator. Israel’s history began with the initial covenant between HaShem and Avraham (Abraham). Yeshua stated in Luke 12.48, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required.” Much has been required of Israel throughout her history, yet her Creator has been faithful to her and to His covenant with her. Because of failures and disobedience, Israel has gone through much. I believe that there is now a pressure being put upon Israel, for her Messiah desires her to recognize and acknowledge Him. It will happen.

The USA was founded upon a covenant with the Creator. I have not personally read, but I understand that this type of teaching is no longer to be found in the average history textbook in our schools today. However, if one does a search, there are publications available with such facts. When one enters into a covenant, there are regulations to be observed. And when that covenant is between the Creator and a nation, the covenant endures through the generations; in fact, each generation is responsible to continue in covenant or face the consequences, whether they be eventual or current.

In this parashah, the Creator declares, “If you live by my regulations…” a lot will happen for your good: rains will come at the proper time and in the proper amounts; the crops will grow and produce abundantly; there will be plenty for all. You will prosper in a righteous way. The land itself will be safe, free from enemy attacks, and when the enemy is chased, they will be defeated greatly. Best of all, the Creator will dwell in the land with those who He has covenanted with, and who are obedient to Him.

However, “if you loathe my regulations…,” terror will come upon the entire land: wasting disease; crops will not produce properly; enemies will begin to overtake the people and the land; people will be fearful when there is no reason to be so. We must note that these are corporate promises, not individual; however, a corporate promise will affect an individual. In other words, because of corporate failure to a covenant, a righteous person could be affected to one degree or another. This is not to be a judgment upon the individual.

And the terror will come in stages: “I will break the pride you have in your own power.” The land will not yield; the rains will come at improper times and improper amounts, or not at all. Calamities will increase relative to the sin level; greater sicknesses will come, people will become scared to move about because of the fear of disease; enemies will begin to gain control. Lastly, the nation may fall and some of the inhabitants scattered among the nations of the world.

This is not written to be gloomy; but just take a look around you at our nation. Swine flu is the current headline every day; storms, heavy rains and flooding are pounding much of the nation, other areas are being burned out. These things have been going on for some time now, and seem to be increasing in intensity. I heard a new term recently (new to many people, but weather services are beginning to put info out – do a Google), referring to a fairly rare type of storm called a “derecho” [pr: deh-rey-cho], a Spanish word which means, “direct, or straight ahead”. A derecho recently passed through Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Downbursts of winds up to 130 mph can be produced; the storm itself is a straight line of wind, as opposed to a whirling tornado. The derecho can travel forward at speeds of 50 mph or greater, it can be 250 miles wide and 800 miles long, and can keep going for days.

Believe what you want, my take is that much of what we see in our news does not happen to a nation that is living in covenant. We know that darker days are coming, the prophets have predicted such. The days of tribulation are yet to fully arrive, and we must be ready. Corrie Ten Boom was warned by a Chinese pastor many years ago against preaching an early escape from tribulation. They had done that in China, then communism took over, and many believers were not spiritually strong enough to stand. When tribulation fully comes, I believe that all followers of Yeshua still living will be here for the ride. For some, it may be treacherous and disastrous, for others, it may have little effect.

The idea is to be ready spiritually for whatever may come. No one who believes that we will go through the tribulation looks forward to it, yet at the same time we must remember a couple of things: 1) yes, there will be end-time martyrs for ADONI, just as there have always been and still are martyrs around the globe for Him; and 2) just as at the time of the plagues at the Exodus from Egypt, there were “pockets of safety” for the people of HaShem. If your role is to be a martyr, don’t be fearful of that now. Corrie Ten Boom told another story, of a time when she was worrying about not having enough faith. Her father reminded her that when she was a child, he would never give her her ticket to get on the train until the train had arrived; i.e., you don’t need the grace to be a martyr until that moment arrives. History recounts, in books such as Fox’s Book of Martyrs, of believers dying under great torture while at the same time singing, praising and praying as if nothing was bothering them. At the same time, pray that you will be delivered into one of the “pockets of safety.” Read the Matthew section for this week, and be sure you are “dressed for a wedding”! Tribulation may be terrible, but I can’t imagine a worse terror than being thrown out by the King.

And so we have finished the book of Vayikra, Leviticus. I leave you with the blessing pronounced at the end of the reading of each book of Torah:

Kha-zakh! Kha-zakh! V’neet-kha-zayk! חֲזַק! חֲזַק! וְנִתְחַזֵק!
Be strong! Be strong! And let us be strengthened!

שַׁאֲלוּ שְׁלוֹם יְרוּשָׁלִָם – Sha’alu shalom Yerushalayim – Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!