One Law, Water, Light and Bread

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Pete Rambo

I was reading a post by Peter over at the OMJ blogspot when a comment he had inserted into a quote got my attention.  While the post was about John 7 and 8 from a Hebraic perspective, the comment said,

[Peter’s One-Law Note:  the Bible compares Torah to light and water.  Light because it says “Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet, a Light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).  Water because it says bread and water“Let my teaching fall like rain”(etc).  In John 7:37-39, Yeshua, referencing Isaiah, said “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.”  The quoted passage (Isaiah 55) says that G-d will also summon foreign nations to these waters of Torah.  And Zechariah says that the nations who fail to observe Sukkot will have no rain!  The deeper meaning of course is that they can’t have the rain (i.e. teachings of Torah) if they’re not present at Jerusalem to hear the teachings of Torah being taught by the King]

And, it triggered a thought about the metaphors and ‘One Law.’

Those who oppose One Law say that the Jews are responsible for all of the Torah, but only some of it applies to the Gentile.  Continue reading →

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My Defense…

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Pete Rambo

This tune was playing in my head all afternoon.  Wonderful reminder of Who defends me when the adversary assails.

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Did Jonah Meet Yeshua??

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Pete Rambo

So, I’m studying and preparing to teach a segment on the Memra to a group during their Sukkot gathering.  It is an invitation I am excited about, particularly because they asked me to briefly share on one of my favorite topics, the Memra, and because at least half of the guests are NOT Messianic, but from local churches!  What an opportunity to display the Messiah through Judaic eyes to potential seekers.  May their eyes be opened!

Anyway, I had my whole powerpoint presentation finished and was doing some random browsing in Scripture when I was drawn back to a passage I read a few days ago.  Then something popped off the page!

Jon 1:1 Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Jon 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
Jon 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah; and he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah.

WOW!!  Did that just say what I think it said??

‘The word of Jehovah‘ said….  And then Jonah flees from ‘the presence?!?’

We know that there are so many other places in Scripture where the Angel of the Lord comes and speaks the words of the Father, and we know that there are dozens and dozens of places in the Targumim where personifications of Yehovah are translated as ‘the Word of the Lord.’

Did Jonah speak with and run from the physical presence of pre-incarnate Yeshua?

What are your thought?

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Yom Kippur in Babylon

Posted on October 4, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Today marks our fourth Yom Kippur observance since leaving the traditions of men behind, and it has been an interesting one.

As many of my readers know, we are in the unenviable position of being ‘homeless.’  The house we were renting was sold and we had to move out a month ago without having found a suitable rental or purchasable dwelling that meets a litany of requirements.  Chief among those requirements is a few acres for our dairy goats.  So, while we are staying with friends to remain close to my eldest son’s college for his daily commute and near my work, we have been forced to ‘farm out’ our animals.  Five of our Nubian princesses went to the breeder and the five girls from this spring’s kidding, went a state away to be housed on my father-in-law’s farm.

We had hoped it would be temporary, but weeks have stretched into a month and the breeder called.  What to do with the other five, but to transport them to my father-in-law’s (FiL) to keep the herd together.

Well, as timing would have it, my wife’s 30th high school reunion is this weekend, and my FiL is being ordained tomorrow as a deacon in the Baptist church…  so, early last week I came to the difficult realization that we would have all of this going on over Yom Kippur.  Then I got the call…  My FiL let me know that we would spend Saturday (Shabbat/Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year) mending fences so the goats would have sufficient grazing.

Feel the angst?  Yom Kippur in Babylon! Continue reading →

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‘To the Jew first…’ You can help!!

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Pete Rambo

My regular readers are familiar with Rabbi Itzhak Shapira and his book, The Return of the Kosher Pig, from a number of posts referring to him in one way or another.   Frankly, I love this brother in Messiah and his passion for bring the good news to his people.

In the recent past he has had several really special opportunities for which he has needed to raise funds.  It has been a blessing to participate.

Today, I received an email about another such opportunity and I want to share it with you.  Please participate as you feel led!!

Ahavat Ammi logo-2x

Dear Friends, Rabbis, and close partners of Ahavat Ammi Ministries,

Last year, we had a chance to make a History in Paris, France with the revival project and the donation of a Torah scroll to congregation El Beth-El. During this event, sveral Orthodox Jewish Men received Yeshua as their Messiah. Then, earlier this year, we went to Belgium to establish another Messianic Synagogue (first in the country) to make history. Here are some highlights of our previous outreaches:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ14zo2BNOU

On December this year, we have been given the opportunity to make yet another history together in another area in Europe in the heart of the Jewish community in Italy! Continue reading →

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His Tender Mercies… Ha’azinu

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Pete Rambo

This week’s Torah portion (Ha’azinu, Deu. 32) has been particularly interesting to study with it yielding a number of heretofore unseen gems.  I don’t really have the motivation to share all I learned, though I filled several margins of my Bible with notes.  I do want to share an item or two regarding the Memra and Moshe.

As many here recall, I have really enjoyed reading/studying the ‘angel of the Lord’ passages which led to me reading and searching the Targumim for the translator’s understanding of the presence of the Memra.  Now, if you are not familiar, the crash course is simple:  During the intertestamental period between the Babylonian exile and the destruction of the Temple, several authoritative Aramaic translations of the Torah were composed.  What makes them of particular interest is that they are dynamic equivalent translations allowing the translators to interject some of their theological understanding, thus giving us an avenue into the minds of some some Second Temple thought.

The part that has been most fascinating to me is the use of ‘the Word of the Lord,’ or ‘the Memra d’Yah,’ as a personification of YHVH working in the affairs of men.  Here is a basic article with additional pingback links in the comments.

With this fascination, I often search the Targumim in certain Torah portions to see what they yield, and this one was special.

Yeshua’s Presence is clearly visible, even without the Memra additions, as we see four significant uses of ‘the Rock,’ which Rav Sha’ul definitively connects to Yeshua in I Cor. 10:4.  Besides the ‘Rock’ references, I want to share a few ‘Memra’ occurrences as well as a few thoughts…

32:6-7  Can you indeed so requite the Name of the Word of the Lord, O foolish people, and receive the law, yet not be made wise? Is He not your Father who bought[2] you, who created you and established you?

Moshe is relating future prophecy to Israel.  Through the chapter we see many events that happened later, however there are a couple yet future events.  In the above quoted paraphrase from Targum Pseudo-Jonathan/Yonatan, we see the prophecy that Israel ‘repays’ the Word of the Lord wrongly by acting corruptly.  Continue reading →

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Shabbat Shalom

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Pete Rambo

A bit ago a friend sent this beautiful image and Psalm.  Enjoy.

Shabbat Shalom

Psalm 121
(1) If I raise my eyes to the hills,
from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from Adonai,
the maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip —
your guardian is not asleep.
4 No, the guardian of Isra’el
never slumbers or sleeps.
5 Adonai is your guardian; at your right hand
Adonai provides you with shade —
6 the sun can’t strike you during the day
or even the moon at night.
7 Adonai will guard you against all harm;
he will guard your life.
8 Adonai will guard your coming and going
from now on and forever.

 

 

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A Psalm for today…

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Pete Rambo

I am not sure why, maybe by tradition, but Psalm 27 is THE Psalm for the month of Elul, which ends this afternoon at sunset.  Frankly, until a meeting I had today, the Psalm and its twice-a-day reading during this month completely fell off my radar.  It has been a crazy busy and challenging month as we have gone through so much.  Still, Abba has been good.

Well, a friend pointed me to the Psalm knowing a small bit of my family’s present situation and I sat quietly at the library to read…  WOW!!  Speaks directly to me and where I am right now!

Check it out:

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident. Continue reading →

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Orthodox Jews forced into silence about Messiah?

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Pete Rambo

We’ve discussed some of the matters explored on this short video…

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Saving Christmas – A Rebuttal For Kirk Cameron by Zach Bauer

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Pete Rambo
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Moses was right…

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Pete Rambo

On several occasions in the Torah we see Moshe having a conversation with Yehovah concerning Israel’s obstinance.  Numbers 14:11ff relays one such conversation, while Exodus 32:9-14 relays another.

9 The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are [a]an obstinate people. 10 Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.” 11 Then Moses entreated the Lord his God, and said, “O Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, ‘With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your [b]descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your [c]descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.

Moshe’s defense in both instances cited is that Yehovah would defame His Name among the nations if He went back on His word or broke His oath.  Essentially, if God does NOT keep His promises to physical Israel, then He is a liar!

Some may claim the promises Continue reading →

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An update and a couple nuggets from Ki Tavo

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Before sharing a couple (Ki Tavo, Deut. 26:1-29:8)  nuggets from last week’s Parsha, I wanted to give a quick update and prayer request fro friends and family who read my blog.

Several weeks ago the house we were renting was sold and we were given a 20 day notice to be out.  Due to our having livestock (dairy goats) and MAJOR construction project in the area sucking most all rentals off the market, we have been ‘homeless.’  One family from our fellowship has taken us in while we hunt housing, however, an approaching major surgery for one of them will cause us to move to stay with another dear family.  The situation has radically challenged all of us in terms of space, harmony, etc.  But, stretching is good, even if uncomfortable for the moment.

While we search for a house, we are praying several things:  Buy?  Rent?  Go mobile?  Honestly, we are open to anything, but need Abba to give us some clear direction as to HIS will.  This has been a good time of ‘soul searching’ and surrender.  Please pray with us for HIS clear direction and answer to one of several ‘fleeces.’

One of the negatives of this whole situation is that I am staying considerably farther from work for my twice a day commute, and my eldest is farther from college, meaning we both spend a lot more time in the road as well as my wife and I house searching, etc…  Therefore, I have not had time to write and at time not even had the focus to read or write, but the passion is still very much there!  My desire is to regain stability so I can better focus and rededicate to the passion of studying and sharing what I am learning.  Thanks for your prayers.

On to the parsha.

While I plan to share more deeply in another post, this first thought, here is a basic sketch that jumped off the page at me…  On several occasions in the past I have read an interesting phrase in Scripture that recently has taken a turn in meaning.  Here is a verse with the phrase, Continue reading →

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Warning!! Controversy ahead….

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Following is a video guaranteed to stir the waters. In fact, I have no doubt, some will be violently opposed. Now, this is not necessarily my opinion or perspective, though I do share a number of understandings with both the interviewer and the interviewee, but I put this here to demonstrate yet again that Judaism is not monolithic in its understanding of what happened to the Ten ‘Lost’ Tribes. In fact, much of Messianic Judaism would have us believe that they have already been united, however, both logic and many, many rabbis would disagree.

Here, Eddie Chumney interviews Orthodox Jew Yair Davidi about the matter. Davidi is not the first orthodox Jew we have heard from concerning Ephraim, the lost tribes, etc. I have personally spent time with Orthodox Jew Hanoch Young who has also come to similar conclusions as Yair.

I look forward to tracking down a few of the sources Yair cites.

[My own perspective is that I am a Gentile, grafted in by the blood of Messiah and as a ger am a full participant in Israel awaiting the Messiah who will sort the details out. In the meantime, I choose to ‘walk as He walked.’]

Enjoy discussing, but please keep any disagreement filled with grace and love. None of us have all the truth… yet. Baruch haba b’shem YHVH!!

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Israelis: Who is Jesus to you?

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Here is an excellent video of Israelis answering the question, “Who is Jesus to you?”  I found the video through a post on Rosh Pina Project.  Comments following.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Christendom has historically failed miserably at the ‘Jew first’ part.  Why?  Christendom assumes stiff-neckedness and hard-heartedness on the part of the Jew.  While that may be a contributing factor, it is FAR from being the main or even a top ten reason that it is so hard to communicate the message of Salvation.

Rather than trying to lay the blame for lack of Jewish acceptance at someone else’s door, Christendom needs to take a hard look in the mirror to find the reasons why.

Point blank: Christendom misrepresents Jesus.  No wonder the Jews avoid Him like the plague!  (But that is changing, more in a minute.)

How has He been misrepresented?  Continue reading →

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I Believe!!

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Had a great evening attending an area Baptist church where the pastor was reporting on his recent trip to Israel.  Very exciting to hear of the many doors opened to minister directly to soldiers of the IDF during the recent action against terrorists in Gaza.  Even more exciting to hear him share some of the awakening going on in his heart and head as he understands our connection to Israel and the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!!

Made me think of this song….

Much is happening in the world, and specifically, much is happening with the Jews opening to the understanding that Zaphenath-panea might not be just the Prince of Egypt…

Baruch haba b’shem YHVH!!

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