ISSUE: #28

MEM

Message

An honest man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman hit the roof, and the horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed and placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects. He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off at the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. "I noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday-School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car."
(Obtained from the Internet.)

What causes us to be so impatient? So irritated? I find myself complaining about other drivers and those that take up my time when I am on a mission, regardless of its urgency. What kind of example am I setting? Is patience a thing of the generations past? Do I need patience?

Hebrews 6:12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

AV-longsuffering 12, patience 2; 14

How are we doing?

Proverb

Proverbs 8:34 "Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts.

Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, "I will repay evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

Saying

Anger is the only thing to put off till tomorrow. Slovakian Proverb

Change your thoughts and you change the world. Harold McAlindon

Character is doing what’s right when nobody’s looking. J.C. Watts, Jr.

(Ah but someone is looking!)

Bible Quiz

1. At what hour of the day did the fever leave the official’s son?
2. How many books of the Old Testament are considered to be historical?
3. Where did the Israelites find twelve springs and seventy palm trees?
4. What Spirit had the Corinthian Christians received?
5. Who discovered that the Armeans had fled from Samaria after a long siege?
6. Who were Uz and Buz?
7. Who said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world"?

Hebraic Lesson

Did Jesus (Yeshua) and his parents follow God’s instructions given in the Torah (The first five books where God gave instructions to his people Israel)?

Luke 2:21 And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

(Note Yeshua was circumcised on the eighth day as was instructed in Genesis 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations.)

Luke 2:22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.

The instructions of purification are found in Leviticus 12:2-4 If a woman conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days…And in the eight day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days…

Back to Luke 2:23-24 As it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn Male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’) and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

We find the instructions for this in Leviticus 12:6-8 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering …v.8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons…

So here in Luke 2 we see Jesus (Yeshua’s) parents following the instructions of God by having Yeshua circumcised on the eighth day then waiting out the time of Mary’s purification and then according to the law of the Lord they brought Yeshua to Jerusalem to go before the priest.

His parents kept the Passover Luke 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. We find the instructions to keep the Passover feast in Leviticus 23:4-6

In Luke 4 we find the temptations of Yeshua by the Devil. Yeshua answered him with instructions from the Torah. The Devil says command this stone to be made into bread. Yeshua answers in verse 4 "It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. This instruction is found in Deuteronomy 8:3.

In Luke 4:8 Yeshua answers the Devil "Get you behind me, Satan: for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God , and Him only shall you serve. He is quoting from Deut. 10:20.

In Luke 4:12 Yeshua answers "It is said, You shall not tempt the Lord your God." He is quoting again from the Torah in Deuteronomy 6:16

Luke 5:14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. (Instructions to go the priest to make an offering for cleansing are found in Leviticus 13 and 14.)

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. These are found in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Here are a few instances where I found Yeshua’s parents following and Yeshua teaching about the Torah. I would imagine there are many more references one could find.

Think

I wonder how many of us cannot hear the great things God wants to do in us and through us, because we don't believe in his ability. Think of how we would pray and live differently if in our heart of hearts we knew God's power had no limits.

TorahBytes [torahbytes@torahbytes.org]

Did you know:

The first roller skates were perfected more than two centuries ago by Joseph Merlin – who, unfortunately, failed to perfect the art of skating as well. His first public demonstration ended in disaster.

A renowned maker of violins and harpsichords, the Belgian-born Merlin moved to London in 1760, where he dreamed up the idea of replacing the blades on ice skates with metal wheels. To dramatize his invention, Merlin dressed as a minstrel and made a spectacular entrance on skates at an elegant masquerade ball. He dazzled the other guests as he wheeled gracefully about the ballroom floor while playing a violin. Then, as his admirers watched in horror, Merlin lost control and sailed headlong into a crystal mirror, demolishing it and his handcrafted violin.

Whatever chances of immediate success the new invention might have had were shattered with the mirror. Fearful that Merlin’s creation was unsafe, Europeans virtually ignored roller skating, and it wasn’t until the 1860’s – when a skating craze swept the U.S. and Europe – that the sport finally enjoyed real popularity. – Parade, June 26, 1983

Lighter Side

On packaging for a Rowenta iron: "Do not iron clothes on body." (Ouch!)

On Nytol Sleep Aid: " Warning: May cause drowsiness." (Now if I can only get some sleep.)

On Boot’s Children Cough Medicine. "Do not drive a car or operate machinery after taking this medication." (That’s the problem – all those 5 year old drivers.)

On a Japanese food processor: "Not to be used for the other use."

Children’s Story

Back home again.

On his way home Pierre’s vivid imagination kept him going by wondering about what had happened to the entire village of natives. He hardly noticed the long trek home.

When he arrived at the open door of their house he called out, "I’m home," to alert his mother. No response. Strange he thought. Oh well, I better break out the books and study until she returns.

In his home schooling, there were several worn books to choose from. Missionary Bill would collect them and drop them off. He would pick up the ones Pierre had finished and would take them on to other villages, in the nearby Pacific islands where English was spoken. Pierre would always first read any story book that had anything to do with sea going ships. The mystery of the sea always intrigued him. But Mom would impress on him the need to put his lessons above his love for story reading.

Again the temptation was to find a story book to read instead of the math lesson for the week. However, Pierre found some paper scraps (there often was no paper or pencil), he found the math book on the top shelf of their desk cabinet. He looked on the shelf with the little cubby holes and found a stub of a pencil.

Pierre had helped his father fashion and build this desk with its shelves for books and papers and important documents, with its little spaces and drawers for items of interest. They had built the structure near the open window that faced the sea, they had removed trees to give as much natural light as possible while reading or working at the desk. They also made a place for an oil lamp on the right side of the desk when the light was not adequate, or for the occasional night work. It was also cooler near this open window because there usually was a gentle breeze blowing off the sea from the North.

The days and the nights here were of almost equal length year ‘round. During the rainy season there were shutters to close to prevent the wind from blowing rain upon there library treasure, as there was no glass for the window. In the middle of the shelves above the desk was the family Bible. With great care and a feeling of awe, Pierre would have the privilege of reading from its pages. Mother always read aloud to him every night and often during his schooling time when she was teaching him principles of morality. She would remind him that these were the words of the Creator, that He made all things, the earth and the sea the heavens and the stars, and He alone knows what is best for His creation. When father was home he would read from the Bible filling in with real life experiences to help drive home the important lessons from Scripture.

It was when he sat there by the open window he noticed it was getting late – looking out at the shadow of the evening palm tree he noted it was nearing the evening mark that indicated their usual time for the evening meal. Where is mom? I am feeling hungry with little or no food since morning. Pierre went to the area where his mother stored most of the cooking supplies. Rummaging through the containers he found some dried fruit and some recently shelled nuts. Putting a few in the pouch on his left side, which was held on by the same belt that held his knife on his right side, Pierre set out to find his mother before dark.

Quiz Answers

1) The seventh hour. John 4:52

2) Twelve, Joshua through Esther.

3) Elim. Exodus 15:27

4) The Spirit who is from God. 1 Corinthians 2:12

5) Four men with leprosy. 2 Kings 7:3-6

6) Abraham’s nephews; sons of Nahor and Milcah. Genesis 27:20-21

7) John the Baptist. John 1:29