Shavuot, Pentecost 2022
When G-d created the world He created a world with the ability of choice. We all have a choice. We can choose G-d or not choose G-d. To choose good or to choose evil. Everyone has the same ability to choose, no one is left out, and everyone in this is equal.
In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of Egypt, G-d tells Moses of how He carried them on eagles wings and brought them to Himself! And that if they listen closely to His voice, and keep His covenant then they will be His own treasure, a kingdom of priests and holy nation!
What a promise! How awesome is that and the Israelites response is equally awesome!
And the people answered together saying. “Everything that Adonai has spoken, we will do.” Just think about that, before they hear what is expected of them their answer is we will do it. The love shown by both HaShem and the Israelites is beautiful. The foundation of the covenant at Mt Sinai and the giving of Torah is love. Love and Torah go hand in hand. They are synonymous.
In the morning of the third day, Adonai came down onto Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain and He spoke.
Torah portion: Exodus 20:1-17, the 10 commandments.
The revelation and truth at Mount Sinai and the giving of the 10, begs these questions…
- Do I choose G-d?
- Do I choose to listen to His Words?
- Do I choose to hear and obey His Words?
- Do I choose to practice these Words in my daily life which will bring change and demonstrate my love for Him?
The 10 commandments teach us how to love G-d and how to love each other.
We need to study these commandments to understand fully and truly what love is.
Haftarah: Ruth 1: 16-17
Ruth is an example of Torah in action. Remember the book of Ruth is during the time period of the Judges, when man was doing what was right in their own eyes.
Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, made a choice and left the land of promise during a difficult time of famine. When they left, blessings seemed to leave their household. Elimelech soon died, their two sons married Moabite women and after 10 years, they died.
But then a change happened…Naomi heard—she heard that Adonai had taken note of His people and was providing them food. With Naomi hearing she made a choice to go back to Israel, back to the place of promise. This was a good decision and as we know blessings started to follow in her life.
First her daughter-in-law Ruth follows Naomi back to Israel. She clings to Naomi as the children of Israel are to cling to Torah. Ruth chooses Naomi over her own family, Ruth chooses Naomi’s people over her own people, Ruth chooses Naomi’s G-d. Ruth hears and obeys Naomi, doing everything that Naomi instructs her to do. In Ch 3:5 Ruth states “I will do everything you say.” Very similar words spoken by Bnei Israel spoke in Exodus 24:3 Receiving and obeying Naomi’s instruction demonstrated Ruth’s love for her. Ruth’s submission to Naomi’s instruction parallels the children of Israel’s choice to follow Adonai’s commandments.
It was not by accident that Naomi and Ruth came back to Israel at the beginning of the barley harvest, just after Passover at the time of change.
Death was found in Moab for Naomi, but life came back to her when returning to Israel.
Torah is love, Torah brings life, and obedience to Torah brings blessings. And what was one of the many blessings to their response? Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David!
B’rith Hadoshah: John 14:23-26 or 29
In chapter 14 of the book of John, Messiah states “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments,” He also gives us a great promise that He will not leave us as orphans, but promises a Helper, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who will be with us forever.
When Holy Spirit comes and dwells in the believer, He brings God’s order, plans and purposes into our lives. He empowers us to hear and obey, to keep G-d’s commandments, and to walk in obedience, displaying our love back to Him.
And in Vs 23, “We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him”.
Doesn’t this sound so familiar? Just as in Exodus when He brought Israel out of Egypt to Himself to dwell among them. Just as Ruth clung to Naomi and dwelled with her and her people. That is still the desire of G-d today.
The whole Torah is based on love, and Messiah’s ministry was all about love. Messiah Yeshua kept those commandments demonstrating His love to the Father and for us.
The choices we make each day will either bring us closer to Messiah Yeshua or further from Him.
- Do we choose to hear?
- Do we choose to obey?
- Do we choose His plans and purposes?
- Do we choose to make a bold proclamation saying, “everything that Messiah Yeshua has commanded we will do!”?
Let us demonstrate our love to our Heavenly Father today— confessing Messiah Yeshua as our Savior and King and let us walk boldly with Holy Spirit in all Truth and in Righteousness.
Let our choice be made known, today!