Some are proclaiming that the New Covenant is not a New Covenant at all, it is just a renewal of the Old Covenant. They even go so far as to proclaim that if there is a difference between the Torah and the New Testament writings, e.g. circumcision, the Torah must be followed. Are the covenants the same? If there is a difference, which takes precedence? We will compare the covenants in this treatise in order to come to a final conclusion.

By Jerry Healan

I know that many who read this treatise are going to lift up their voice to high heaven and once again proclaim that Jerry Healan is a false minister. It won’t be the first time, nor will it be the last. But then, I suppose I will be in the finest of company since many speak out so vehemently against Paul and his writings. But Paul isn’t the only one who is vilified. I have known many to completely turn away from the New Testament writings, embracing only the Old Testament as credible. But then, there are also others who have not only questioned and discarded the New Testament writings, but have also questioned and turned away from the Old Testament. It would be facetious to think that I can reason with any of these people to change their minds in any way. Yahweh is the only One Who can do that. But I must do what I can to speak out against error. I must do what I can to present Yahshua the Messiah and His wondrous covenant that He has made available to His people.

Problems and differences are coming up in the assemblies, the body of the Messiah, which are breaking the body apart when it comes to the understanding concerning the principles that we are to live by in these days before Yahshua appears to usher in His wondrous and glorious kingdom. These understandings range from marital relations, divorce and remarriage, in effect, how we are to live and what we are to do under the New Covenant in this present day and age. This is leading to confusion and misapplication of the Scriptures in the lives of many.

Some have said that if there is a conflict between what is written in the Torah and the New Testament writings then the Torah rules supreme. The differences are imputed to have crept in through “Hellenistic” thinkers and writers who would not live by the law and wanted it to be destroyed.

I know men who are going about proclaiming that we must live by the law, the Torah. They proclaim themselves to be ordained elders and rabbis and seek to force everyone to live by the strictest application of the Torah. Many of these men have been divorced and remarried. Being an ordained minister, elder, or rabbi in the body of the Messiah actually puts one into the priesthood under our Heavenly High Priest Yahshua the Messiah. There were principles that the Levitical priesthood had to live by under the Old Covenant. They either had to take a virgin from the daughters of Israel or they could marry the widow of another priest. I wonder why many of these men don’t force this rule of the Torah upon themselves since they are quick to force the rules of the Torah on others.

I remember sitting in on a Bible study (actually a Bible discussion) wherein one man brought up the idea that since we were to live by the application of the Torah, why didn’t we have silver trumpets made in accordance with the command found in Numbers 10:1-2? These trumpets were blown in various manners so that the children of Israel would know when only the leaders were to assemble with Moses and Aaron at the tabernacle, or when all of the tribes were to assemble. Blown in another manner the Israelites knew when to strike camp and continue on their journey. Blown in an alarm meant to arm and prepare for war. If we are to apply the strictest measures of the Torah, then this was a very good question, just as it’s a good question concerning whether a minister, elder or rabbi was married to a virgin of the daughters of Israel or the widow of a priest. If many of these men (ministers, elders and rabbis) have not applied these principles in their lives, then they should abdicate their positions and allow someone to take their office who actually has fulfilled it. (Fat chance of that!) It would probably be a great aid in straightening out much of the confusion in the assemblies and synagogues, however.

The question is, Do the strictest commands and measures of the Torah apply? Does the Torah rule over the New Covenant (Testament) when there seems to be a contradiction. Is there a difference between the two covenants? Let’s do our comparison between them to see which rules over the other and hopefully to find out what applies and where.

PASSOVER (OLD TESTAMENT)

We know that the children of Israel had gone down into Egypt upon the bidding of the patriarch Joseph who was sent there not only for the preservation of the family of Israel but for the preservation of Egypt itself. Isn’t it amazing that Joseph was hated and scorned by his own brethren, sold into slavery by them, sent to Egypt, imprisoned there by the Egyptians, and at the right time was delivered from prison so that he could not only save those who had incarcerated him, but save the families of the very brethren who had hated, rejected and sold him into slavery in the first place! It seems that the Scripture, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner,” (Psa. 118:22) applies in this situation. The builders of the families of Israel and  the builders of the families of Egypt refused Joseph, but when verse 23 comes into play (This is Yahweh’s doing) things change and they change dramatically.

But the time came when a Pharaoh was raised up who didn’t know Joseph and couldn’t remember what he had done for the kingdom of Egypt (Ex. 1:8). This Pharaoh became alarmed at the growth of the families of Israel and worried that the Israelites might join forces with an invading army and take over the kingdom (v. 10). So Pharaoh dealt subtly with the children of Israel bringing them into harsh and cruel bondage (vv. 11-14).

Moses was another rejected stone who became the head stone of the corner. We know the story of Moses and what his mother did to save his life; that he was adopted by the Pharaoh’s daughter and became a mighty man in Egypt until the day that he slew an Egyptian for abusing an Israelite brother and had to flee the kingdom for 40 years. But once again, Yahweh had a plan that included the one who was rejected. He called Moses (Ex. 3) and sent him on a mission to deliver the children of Israel out of the house of bondage to Egypt in order to bring them back into Canaan, the land of promise.

After 9 grievous plagues which all but devastated the land of Egypt, Yahweh brought one last plague, a 10th plague which would bring about the release, the deliverance of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, “And Yahweh said unto Moses, ‘Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence together,” Ex. 11:1.

The plague spoken of was the plague of the death of all the firstborn in the land of Egypt from the throne of Pharaoh to the least of his subjects. It even included the animals (Ex. 12:12). But Yahweh made preparation for the salvation of the firstborn of the children of Israel through the killing of Passover lambs. They were to slaughter them in the afternoon of the 14th day of the month, brush their blood on the lintels and sides of the doors of their dwellings. Then they were to roast the flesh of the lambs and eat them during the ensuing night (Ex. 12).

The Israelites were delivered out of the house of bondage that very night. They were set free to begin their journey back to the land of Canaan which had been promised to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). Israel was commanded to remember that day of deliverance through a re-enactment of killing a Passover lamb every year along with an observance of seven days of unleavened bread (Ex. 12:14-20, 13:3-10; Lev. 23:4-8; Dt. 16:1-8).

PASSOVER (NEW COVENANT)

The Apostle Paul writes, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even the Messiah our Passover is sacrificed for us,” 1 Cor. 5:7. What? Do you mean that there has been a change? Is the Passover of the New Covenant different from that of the Old Covenant? ABSOLUTELY!

Here is what the Prophet Jeremiah wrote, “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that it shall no more be said, ‘Yahweh liveth, That brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;’ but, ‘Yahweh liveth, That brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither He had driven them:’ and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers,” Jer. 16:14-15.

Furthermore, to add emphasis to what is already spoken, Yahweh made the statement again, “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Yahweh that they shall no more say, ‘Yahweh liveth, Which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;’ but, ‘Yahweh liveth, Which brought up and Which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land,” Jer. 23:7-8.

Do you notice that the focus will no longer be on the Egyptian deliverance? Why? Because He has driven the overall preponderance of the children of Israel into the north country and also scattered others into all countries around the world. Now why did He do that? Isn’t it because of their failure to obey Him?

It has been reported and I know for a fact that there are those who are now killing an animal (sheep or goat) in observance of the Passover every year. That was the requirement for the deliverance from the land of Egypt and for the purpose of bringing them under the first (old) covenant. But the reality of the deliverance under the second (new) covenant is that there will be a greater deliverance requiring a greater sacrifice and that sacrifice provided for us is Yahshua the Messiah.

THE LAMB OF THE NEW COVENANT

When John the Baptist saw Yahshua he proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of Elohim, that taketh away the sin of the world! (ASV),” Jn. 1:29. A second time he witnessed, “and he looked upon Yahshua as he walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of Elohim!,” v. 36.

Peter writes, “And if ye call on the Father, Who without respect of persons judgeth according to everyman’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of the Messiah, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him do believe in Elohim, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in Yahweh,” 1 Pet. 1:17-21.

The prophet Isaiah witnessed beforehand, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Yahweh hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of My people was He stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors,” Isa. 53:6-12.

In the book of Revelation we read, “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of Elohim sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to Yahweh by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our Elohim kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever,” Rev. 5:1-14.

One man who slaughters an animal every year at the Passover told me that he didn’t see anywhere in Scripture that the original Passover lamb slain in Egypt had any association with sin, but he is wrong! While Egypt was a vessel of physical bondage, it did serve the purpose of typifying our bondage to sin, corruption and death. However, such was the weakness of the animals slain in Egypt! They did have power to deliver the living firstborn from the power of the death angel, but they had no power to deliver anyone from sin nor the eventual reality of death! Nor did they have the power to deliver those already dead from the grave.

However, Yahshua, our Passover Lamb has the power to not only deliver us from our sins, our transgressions, our iniquity, to also deliver us in the future from the north country and from all other countries where we have been scattered, but He also has the power to deliver us from death and the grave, “I am He That liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death,” Rev. 1:18.

The animal that was slain in Egypt didn’t have the power to do these things! The Egyptian deliverance didn’t last! Israel (both Israel and Judah) sinned, corrupted and disobeyed so terribly that they had to be cast out of the land of promise! Our Passover Lamb has the power to deliver us back into the land of promise at the future date that Yahweh has chosen, the power to cleanse us from all of our sins, transgressions, rebellions, iniquities and even open the door of death and the grave for that very purpose of restoration! Our Passover Lamb was slain and then resurrected! The Egyptian Passover lamb was slain, but is still in death. Which Passover is better? Which lamb is greater? You can’t have both. It’s one or the other. The first has passed away because it was only a type of the second greater Lamb. When the greater is come, when that which is perfect is come, you no longer need the imperfect one.

Are we beginning to see that there is a difference between the two covenants? Multiple animals were slaughtered for the Passover every year under the first covenant which served the Egyptian deliverance, but the second covenant has a Passover Lamb that was slaughtered once for all time and that Passover Lamb is still living today. As a matter of fact, our Passover Lamb is not only a Lamb, but He is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah! While animals, especially sheep, and lions don’t get along very well in the physical earthly realm, in the spiritual heavenly realm, we have One Who is both Lamb and Lion! What power!!! What strength!!! What honor!!! What glory!!! No wonder the heavenly host mentioned in Rev. 5 fall down before Him and worship Him, vv. 8, 14!!! How about you?

THE COVENANT (OLD TESTAMENT)

Israel came into the wilderness of Sin in the third month of their wilderness ordeal (Ex. 19:1). Moses went up unto Yahweh Who said, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; ‘Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.’ These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.’ And Moses came and called for the elders of the People, and laid before their faces all these words which Yahweh commanded him. And all the People answered together, and said, ‘All that Yahweh hath spoken we will do.’ And Moses returned the words of the People unto Yahweh,” Ex. 19:3-8.

Moses gathered the people at Mount Horeb (Sinai) and Yahweh descended declaring His commandments to the People (Ex. 20). After hearing the commandments, the People withdrew and Yahweh gave His statutes and judgments to Moses  (Ex. 21, 22, 23), “And Moses came and told the People all the words of Yahweh, and all the judgments: and all the People answered with one voice, and said, ‘All the words which Yahweh hath said will we do.’ And Moses wrote all the words of Yahweh, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto Yahweh. And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the People: and they said, ‘All that Yahweh hath said will we do, and be obedient.’ And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the People, and said, ‘Behold the blood of the covenant, which Yahweh hath made with you concerning all these words,” Ex. 24:3-8.

Did you notice that the People promised three times that they would do and be obedient to Yahweh’s words and His covenant? The first time all the elders of the tribes of Israel made the promise, but the second and third times all the People made the promise. The first (Old) Covenant was based on the promises of Elohim (Yahweh) and man (the children of Israel). But the Scriptures (the Torah, the Prophets, the Psalms and the New Testament) witness to the unfaithfulness of the children of Israel to their own word, their own promises.

THE COVENANT (NEW TESTAMENT)

The failure of the children of Israel to be faithful to their own word opened the door for a New Covenant to be made which was based upon a better promise, “Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith Yahweh: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith Yahweh, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts; and will be their Elohim, and they shall be My People. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know Yahweh:’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Yahweh: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more,” Jer. 31:31-34.

Notice that the New Covenant is based on the faithful words and promise of Yahweh and not on the unfaithful words and promises of man (whether Israel, Judah or Gentile). The book of Hebrews makes this point, “For if that first (covenant) had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, He saith.... (then Jer. 31:31-34 is quoted)...In that He saith, ‘A New (covenant),’ He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away,” Heb. 8:7-8, 13.

Hasn’t something changed here? Hasn’t something been eliminated in going from the Old (first) to the New (second)? Isn’t it different and being different, isn’t it far, far, far greater and better than the first? ABSOLUTELY!!! That which is unfaithful, that which cannot be fulfilled is eliminated, which is based on the promises of man! Now we have a covenant that cannot and will not fail because it is based on the faithful Word of Yahweh!!! HalleluYah!!!

THE MEDIATOR (OLD TESTAMENT)

The Old Covenant had a mediator to whom so many, many of the children of Israel still look today. That mediator was Moses. When Yahweh descended upon the mount to declare His commandments the People couldn’t bear Yahweh’s presence as it is written, “And all the People saw the thunderings and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the People saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said to Moses, ‘Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not Elohim speak with us, lest we die.’ And Moses said unto the People, ‘Fear not: for Elohim is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.’ And the People stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where Elohim was,” Ex. 20:18-21. However, the sight was so fearful that Moses, himself, said, “I exceedingly fear and quake...,” Heb. 12:21.

Paul writes, “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator,” Gal. 3:19. Actually, this verse should say, “It (the law) was added for the sake of defining sin.” Such is the purpose for law.

The law was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. The mediator is Moses. The angels are simply messengers. In this case it applies to the men who represented the law, e.g., the priesthood, kings and prophets, especially the priesthood (which we will touch on later).

Now the Scriptures do say that Moses was faithful in all his house (Heb. 3:2), but Moses did fail in one seemingly simple thing that Yahweh told him to do. Just before Israel entered into the promised land Yahweh brought them once again into the desert of Zin. There was no water there and the people began their usual complaining. Earlier in their wilderness trek Moses had been commanded to smite a rock with his rod in order to bring forth water to the people (Ex. 17). This time he was commanded to only speak to the rock and the water would come forth (Num. 20:2-8). But Moses became impatient with the people and struck the rock twice with his rod (Num. 20:10-11). Yahweh told Moses, “Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them,” v. 12.

Moses is credited with having written the overall preponderance of the first five books of Scripture (the Torah). Moses was the mediator of those Scriptures, including their covenant, and he was the personification of them. But Moses failed to be able to bring the children of Israel into the promised land. He did bring them up close to the boundary, but he didn’t have the power to deliver them into it. That power was transferred to another man, Yahshua, the son of Nun.

THE MEDIATOR (NEW COVENANT)

Yahshua Ben (son of) Nun was a type and forerunner of the Savior Yahshua the Messiah. They both had the same name Yahshua which means “the salvation of Yahweh” or even “Yahweh the Savior.” “Nun” means “perpetuity.” “Perpetuity” means eternal, forever! It also means to “resprout” or “propagate by shoots.”

Read the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy. Even before the children of Israel were delivered into the land, Yahweh prophesied that they would eventually turn to the worship of other elohim, seeking their own way and not His. He declared that He would hide His face from them and would move to destroy them (v. 23-26) and that their day of calamity would come (v. 35-38). But He also promises to restore them in His own given time (v. 43).

His promise was that He would make a New Covenant with the houses of Israel and Judah and would restore them at the end of days. The New Covenant would be administered in the hand of a new Mediator and that Mediator is Yahshua the Messiah, “For there is one Elohim, and one Mediator between Elohim and men, the Anointed Man Yahshua,” 1 Tim. 2:5. “But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises,” Heb. 8:6. “And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new testament (covenant), that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament (covenant), they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance,” Heb. 9:15.

Take a look at this better covenant again! The New Covenant provides for the redemption of transgressions committed under the Old Covenant. It is a much better covenant because it is not only based upon better promises (Yahweh’s Word alone), but it is eternal. The first covenant was based upon the Word of Yahweh, but it was also based upon the word of man which made it conditional. The first covenant was mediated by Moses who was unfaithful in only one point, but that one point was a contributing factor to its decline. The New Covenant is based upon the faithful and beloved Son of Elohim, Yahshua the Messiah. He lives forevermore and His covenant continues forevermore!

This New Covenant is exactly what it says it is, NEW! It is not a RENEWED covenant as some like to proclaim, because a renewal would cause us to be put right back under the terms and conditions of that first covenant. That covenant was mediated by Moses, but this covenant is mediated by Yahshua. That covenant had the seeds of destruction contained therein, the New Covenant does not!

MT. SINAI (OLD COVENANT)

The children of Israel were brought to Mt. Horeb in the Sinai wilderness in order to make their covenant with Yahweh, “In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount,” Ex. 19:1-2.

“Horeb” is #2722 in the Hebrew Lexicon of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and is defined as; from 2717; desolate. #2717 is the root word from whence Horeb is derived and it is defined as; to parch (through drought)   i.e. (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill.

The Apostle Paul writes, “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar,” Gal. 4:21-24.

What is this bondage? It is bondage to their own word, their own promises. They promised three times that they would obey and do all of Yahweh’s word. They trusted in their own ability to fulfill the law and they failed miserably. They went about to establish their own righteousness. Paul writes, “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; as it is written, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed. Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to Yahweh for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of Elohim, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of Yahweh’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of Yahweh. For the Messiah is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth,” Ro. 9:30-33; 10:1-4.

Don’t we still see a people today who declare themselves to be the covenant people, yet they have stumbled at the stumblingstone and are in denial of the Messiah Yahshua? I am speaking specifically of those who embrace Judaism, especially the Orthodox. But there are also many in the assemblies named after Yahweh who become blinded to Yahshua and have turned to establish their own righteousness. Isaiah warns, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away,” 64:6.

MT. ZION (NEW COVENANT)

If you and I had been with Israel in the wilderness, we would have made that same covenant with Yahweh for it was the only covenant available at the time. But those things were only types and examples of the New and better covenant and promise that was yet to come. But the promise of the New and better Covenant has now come and is offered to us through the faithful Mediator Yahshua the Messiah.

The book of Hebrews says, “For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, and if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, ‘I exceedingly fear and quake:’) But ye are come unto mount Zion...,” Heb. 12:18-22.

Peter writes, “Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.’ Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone Which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed,” 1 Pet. 2:6-7.

Scripture reveals that Israel and Judah were disobedient and had to be destroyed and cast out of the land of promise. Many of their descendants in today’s world seek to uphold and obey the Torah, but if they are in denial of the Stone Yahweh has laid in Zion, their attempt at obedience is futile. Peter cried out to those of his day, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahshua the Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as Yahweh our Elohim shall call,” Acts 2:38-39. Peter’s words are written also for all in our world today.

Under the covenant made at Mt. Sinai (Horeb), the people were only allowed to approach the gate of the courtyard of the tabernacle and the later temple with their sacrifices which were to be offered on the altar. Only the Levites were allowed to enter the sanctuary and only one man was allowed to enter into the holiest place of all and that only once a year on the day of Atonement.

Under the New Covenant, which is Zion, we are encouraged to boldly come before the throne of grace, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,” Heb. 4:16.

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Yahshua, by a new and living way which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; And having a High Priest over the house of Yahweh; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful That promised),” Heb. 10:19-23.

Which mount is better, Mt. Sinai or Mt. Zion? The people feared to approach Mt. Sinai. Even Moses quaked and feared exceedingly. Mt. Sinai engendered bondage. Mt. Zion engenders faith, confidence, boldness, mercy, freedom, etc., etc. Mt. Sinai allowed only one man to enter into the very presence of Yahweh, but Mt. Zion allows us all to boldly approach His throne of grace through Yahshua the Messiah.

Is there not a change here? Hasn’t there been a change from Mt. Sinai to Mt. Zion?

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The dalet is the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is equivalent to the English letter D. It looks like this (d/d/d) in the more ancient Pictorial Hebrew, Paleo Hebrew, and Modern Hebrew respectively. In its position as the fourth letter, it also serves as the number four. This is important to explore.

By Jerry Healan

The previous letter that we focused on was the gimel, which serves as the number three. In the second verse of Genesis the earth was revealed to have become in a state of chaos, destruction, darkness, etc. Elohim began a series of six days of refashioning and remolding the earth for habitation. On the first day light was commanded to come forth. On the second day, Elohim created the firmament by dividing the waters, and on the third day the earth was brought forth from the waters so that plant life could appear.

Plants, as we know, are so important to the earth's ecosystem. They breathe in carbon dioxide and emit oxygen, for one thing. They are important for food. This life form of plants on the third reveal something else very interesting. They are rooted in the earth and have no freedom to move about. This is typical of man's introduction into the world. We are essentially bound to the earth. Though many dream of traveling to and colonizing other heavenly bodies, there is no freedom to do so.

It is interesting that we live in a three dimensional world, which does give us width, length, and height. However, there were still certain restrictions on the earth for Yahweh had to go through another series of three days of creation in order to bring forth the land animals and man.

On the fourth day, Yahweh put the sun, moon, and stars above the earth. This, in essence, established another dimension beyond the earth's three dimensional world. On the first day of creation Yahweh brought forth light. That light was a powerful primordial light that existed by the power of the word of Yahweh to give light on the earth. On the fourth day, He established the heavens above the earth, that is, brought them into focus by bringing forth the two great lights (the sun and moon) that were to rule the day and night (the stars also). On the second day of restoration/creation, He divided between the waters creating a firmament or heaven. On the fifth day he created the creatures that would fly through the heaven, and those that would live in the waters below. On the third day, He brought forth the earth and plant life, while on the sixth day He brought forth the land animals, and man.

This freedom of movement is a type of a future life wherein man will no longer necessarily be bound to the earth.

The fourth day reveals Yahweh going beyond earth's atmosphere in order to establish a dimension, a heaven that governs the earth when it comes to establishing a calendar, that is, the day, the month, a year, etc. Of course, the sun's light and the gravitational pull of both the sun and moon serve the most important purposes also. Four is 3 + 1. The fourth through sixth days were another cycle of three days in creating a more elaborate form of light, and life forms that weren't rooted into the earth like plants, but rather had freedom of movement. The second cycle of three days of creation were followed by another day established for spiritual, and heavenly growth, and rest, that is 6 + 1, or the seventh day Sabbath.

With three lines, we can form a triangle, but we must have four to form a square, or rectangle. There are four major compass points, north, south, east, and west. According to the sages, the physical creation is composed of four main elements, earth (which is nourished by nitrogen), water (whose major component is hydrogen), air (mainly oxygen), and fire (active combustion producing carbon). The atomic number for nitrogen is 7, hydrogen is 1, oxygen is 8, and carbon is 6. When added together (7 + 1 + 8 + 6), the result is 22, which corresponds to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Nature is revealed in man, animal, vegetable, and inanimate. There are four major forces known to modern physics, gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong, and weak nuclear force.

THE DOOR

The name of the fourth letter, dalet, is that of a door. That is also what it pictures. In the name Adam (mda), we have the aleph (a/a/a), dalet (d/d/d), and mem (m/m/m). The aleph, of course is the picture of the head of an ox, which indicates that which is the head, first, foremost, chief, number one, strength, etc. The dalet is the picture of a door, while the mem is the picture of water. Yahshua likened water to spirit (Jn. 7:37-39). Spirit (ruach in Hebrew) is also likened to breath.

There are two major Adams presented by the Scriptures. The first Adam was/is utilized as a door (dalet) to bring us into this world. The second Adam, Yahshua, is our door (dalet) to enter the world to come. (1 Cor. 15:45-49)

Yahshua proclaimed with authority that He is the door, "Then said Yahshua unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture," Jn. 10:7-9.

There is no other way to the Father, nor to the life in the world to come. The tabernacle in the wilderness had only one opening (door/gate) through which one could enter into the courtyard to present his gift, his sacrifice to Yahweh on the altar. There was only one door (opening) into the sanctuary, and only one door (opening) to the holy of holies (qodesh ha qodeshim). Each one of these openings consisted of a hanging/curtain of fine twined linen that was dyed blue, and purple, and scarlet (see Ex. 26:31-37; 27:16).

The blue is the color of heaven and typified Yahshua as Elohim, and the son of Elohim. (Mt. 14:33; 27:53; Mk. 1:1, etc.) The scarlet is the color of the earth, especially man's flesh and blood. It typified Yahshua as the son of man. (Mt. 9:6; 11:19, etc.) The purple typified Him as the mediator between Elohim and man. (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6; 9:15; 12:24) (Note: when blue and scarlet are mixed together, the result is purple.) Thus, Yahshua is the only one Who has existed as both Elohim and man and is able to mediate between the two, as well as mediate the New Covenant.

The fine twined linen was white typifying Him as being righteous, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Yahshua the Messiah the righteous," 1 Jn. 2:1.

He is our righteousness, "Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, Yahweh OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS," Jer. 23:5-6.

"Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, Yahweh our righteousness," Jer. 33:14-16.

The Apostle Paul writes, "But of him are ye in the Messiah Yahshua, who of Yahweh is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in Yahweh," 1 Cor. 1:30-31.

The book of Revelation reveals,  "And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our Yahweh, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for Yahweh Elohim omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of Yahweh," Rev. 19:5-9.

THE PILLARS

The entrance (door) to the courtyard was supported by four pillars. Men can be pillars. Paul wrote that James Cephas and John seemed to be pillars (Gal. 2:9). Yahshua said, "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my Elohim, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my Elohim, and the name of the city of my Elohim, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my Elohim: and I will write upon him my new name," Rev. 3:12.

The gate to the courtyard was supported by four pillars, which was the beginning (Genesis) of one's trek toward the holiest place of Yahweh. Of course, only one man was allowed to go all the way in only once a year on the day of Atonement while that tabernacle and the following temple stood. But the four pillars of Genesis would be Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel, and Joseph.

Why Joseph? Joseph was utilized as a tool to save the then known world from the dirge that was coming upon the earth. Pharaoh of Egypt named him "Zaphnath-paaneah" which means "revealer of secrets" or "savior of the land (or age).

The word of Yahweh (Dabar-Yahweh) made his covenant with Abram/Abraham by the power of His own word, unlike the covenant that He made with Israel under Moses, which was based upon two promises, that of Yahweh's Who is always faithful to His word, and that of Israel, sons of Adam, who were never truly faithful to their word. But the covenant made with Abraham passed on to Isaac, and Jacob, who became Israel, and Jacob passed it on down to the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh.

The door to the sanctuary was suspended on five pillars which would correspond with the first five books of Scripture, the Torah. One pillar for each book.

But the number four is a square of 2 (22). Two or three witnesses were required to establish a thing (Dt. 19:15). The vail of the holy of holies was suspended on four pillars. The vail was revealed to be a type of Yahshua's flesh in the book of Hebrews, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Yahshua, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of Yahweh; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water," Heb. 10:19-22.

These four pillars would be represented by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John who were witnesses of Yahshua in the flesh and wrote their evangels accordingly. These are the 22 (2 x 2) witnesses, which are more than the requirements established by Yahweh.

THE POOR MAN

The first two letters of the word dalet (Heb. = tld) are the dalet (d), and lamed (l) which, together, form the word dahl (ld). The definition of the word dahl is weak or thin, and has also been variously translated as "poor man." It is extended into another word dalal (lld), which, among other things, has to do with being impoverished.

If a waw (w) is placed in the word dalet, e.g. twld, the resulting word daluwt has to do with poverty or leanness.

If we go back to the beginning of the alphabet and progress forward (d g b a←) we have the aleph (a) which represents Yahweh, the beit (b) His house, and the gimel (g), which is coming out of the house and approaching, or standing before the dalet/door (d).

The rabbis teach that the gimel with its leg and foot extended toward the dalet (door) expresses the running of the rich man to bestow goods upon the poor man.

Since we are looking at the letters as they apply to Yahshua, Who is the aleph and tau (the complete Hebrew alphabet), the situation teaches this author what is written in the book of Philippians, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  Let this mind be in you, which was also in the Messiah Yahshua: Who, being in the form of Elohim, thought it not robbery to be equal with Elohim: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross," Phil. 2:4-8.

Yahshua had all of the powers, glory, esteem, honor, riches, etc. of Elohim, but emptied Himself of all that to become a man and impoverished Himself for you and me. At the end of His life He had nothing but His life, His breath, the Spirit of Yahweh. He hung on the cross (tau = t = Pictorial Hebrew depiction of the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet), beaten, mangled, humiliated, naked, and suffering because of our sins, not His, for He had no sin. He had to pour out His life, His breath, the Holy Spirit, and Blood! He even had to be forsaken by the Heavenly Father.

The door of eternal life was shut to us. We were living in abject spiritual poverty. He became the door through which we can enter into an incorruptible, and immortal existence. As a camel (gimel) bears burdens, He bears our burdens as He said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light," Mt. 11:28-30.

The Apostle Paul reveals, "For ye know the grace of our Sovereign Yahshua the Messiah, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich," 2 Cor. 8:9.

Yahshua was rich, powerful, glorious, but He impoverished Himself, so that He might bestow upon the poor, the impoverished, the most wondrous riches!

THE CLOSED DOOR

The great problem is that the great overall preponderance of the people of this world have closed their door of understanding to the truths about Yahshua. Even those who proclaim to be His own people have closed that door. It is revealed in the book of Revelation, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me," Rev. 3:20.

What has caused them to shut the door of understanding to Yahshua? "And unto the angel of the assembly of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of Elohim; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked," Rev. 3:14-17.

Let's explore here so that we can understand a little better, or maybe a lot better. The word Laodiceans should provide a vital key to aid us in understanding. This word is a combination of two Greek words; laos, and dike. Laos is defined as "people." Dike is defined as; right (as self-evident), i.e. justice (the principle, a decision, or its execution).

Are you beginning to understand what this means? Laodicea is another way to say "DEMOCRACY," or "RULE OF THE PEOPLE!" Democracy is defined as; 1. A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. 2. A state governed in such a way. 3. government by the people; especially: rule of the majority. 4. a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections. (online definitions)

Furthermore, the Greek word Laodicea is variously translated as; judgment, punish, vengeance (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance). Thus, those who take the power of government, the power to rule, bring upon themselves judgment, punishment, vengeance.

America's republican/democratic form of government may have helped to cause the people to become powerfully enriched with wealth, goods, etc. to the point that they have much physically, but are extremely impoverished spiritually. Also, democracy has become a worldwide phenomenon. This is the final nail in the coffin of this present evil age.

Notice that Yahshua stands at the door and knocks. But in John 10 He proclaims that He is the door. This can only mean that this country and age (world) has closed the door of truth to their eyes, ears, minds, and hearts. They have chosen another door, a false messiah, which has shut the door to the true Messiah, the true witness. Therefore, He has to stand at the closed door and knock

JUDAH

During the day of Moses, and the days of the tabernacle in the wilderness, the tribe of Judah was the major tribe in the east, which was before the only door, the only entrance to the tabernacle. The name Judah is quite revealing. It is hdwhy in modern Hebrew, while it is edfei in Pictorial Hebrew. Notice that the name contains a dalet. Judah's mother Leah named him such because when she brought forth her fourth son she said, "Now will I praise Yahweh," Gen. 29:35.

"Praise" is translated from the Hebrew word yada (hdy/edi). She, in effect, combined the Hebrew word for praise (hdy/edi) with the name Yahweh (hwhy/efei) forming the name Judah/Yudah.

Therefore, Judah/Yudah (hdwhy/edfei) has to do with the door to Yahweh. Yahshua had to be born of Judah because he is the lion of the tribe of Judah, the door to Yahweh's heavenly tabernacle. It is through Yahshua that we are able to truly praise Yahweh. Yahweh inhabits the praise of His people Israel (Psa. 22:3).

THE WORD

It was the Word of Yahweh by which all things were created, "By the word of Yahweh were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear Yahweh: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast," Psa. 33:6-9.

The Apostle John agrees for he writes, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Yahweh, and the Word was Yahweh. The same was in the beginning with Yahweh. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.... He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth," Jn. 1:1-4, 10, 14.

John further witnesses, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Yahshua the Messiah," 1 Jn. 1:1-3.

The book of Hebrews agrees, "Yahweh, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds," Heb. 1:1-2.

The Hebrew word for "word" is dabar (rbd/rbd). Notice that the word begins with the dalet (d/d) followed by the beit (b/b) and then the resh (r/r). The dalet, as we already know, is the picture of a door. The beit is a picture of a house, tent, temple, family, etc. The resh is the picture of the head of a man. This tells us that Yahshua, being the word (dabar) is the door of the house's, tent's, temple's, family's head.

Yahshua is the word of Yahweh (hwhy-rbd/efei-rbd)! The word dabar can also be looked at in another light. The beit (b/b) and resh (r/r) together make up the Hebrew word bar (rb/rb), which is another word for son. Thus, this declares that Yahshua is the son (bar) who is the door.

THE WAY OR PATH

Yahshua proclaimed that He is the way, "Yahshua saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me," Jn. 14:6. Doesn't this fit in with what we have just discussed concerning Yahshua being the Word?

The Hebrew word for "way" is derek (krd/krd). Once again we have the dalet (door), and resh (head). The third letter is the kaf (k/k), which is the picture of an open hand, or the sole of a foot. Derek is defined as; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action. Therefore, the way (derek) is the door (dalet) through which the head (resh) leads the foot/feet (kaf).

We must understand that we are all the sons of Adam who took of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Being the sons/children of Adam, we naturally follow in his way which is the way of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, " And Yahweh Elohim said, Behold, the man is become as one from it (the tree), to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever," Gen. 3:22.

Man (Adam) was originally made in the image and likeness of Elohim (Gen. 1:26-28). The serpent deceived the woman into thinking that she needed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to become like Elohim (Gen. 3:1-5). You are what you eat. She took of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and ate and gave it to her husband and he ate. Suddenly their lives were changed forever and they then knew that they had sinned and needed a covering for that sin so they covered themselves with fig leaves.

The Apostle Paul reveals that all men have inherited the way of sin from the first man Adam (Ro. 5:12-21). Furthermore, Yahweh introduced the law (Torah) in order to cause the offences to abound even more, but it is the grace through Yahshua that will lead us in the true path, the true way to life (vv. 20-21 again).

"Therefore Yahweh Elohim sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life," Gen. 3:23-24.

No man has the power to walk in the way of the tree of life unless, or until he follows Yahshua the Messiah!

Yahweh led the children of Israel in a pillar of a cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night in order to keep them in the way (Ex. 13:21). But during Moses' absence they quickly turned aside out of the way, made a molten calf declaring it to be the Elohim that delivered them out of Egypt (Ex. 32:8). Israel's history has always been that of turning aside out of the way.

It is reported twice in the book of Proverbs, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death," Prov. 14:12; 16:25.

The Psalmist  cried out, "Teach me thy way, O Yahweh; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name," Psa. 86:11.

We must go to Yahweh, asking Him to teach us, lead us, guide us, feed us. It is Yahshua who set the example for us, " For even hereunto were ye called: because the Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls," 1 Pet. 2:21-24.

Yahshua is the DOOR, the DALET. Yahshua is the WORD, the DABAR. Yahshua is the WAY, the DEREK. Keep your eyes focused on Him, for He is also the TRUTH, the LIFE, the RIGHTEOUSNESS. He is the One Who Israel was following in the wilderness, "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was the Messiah," 1 Cor. 10:1-4.

Our baptism is greater, for Moses wasn't able to deliver them into the promised land. He brought them to the edge, but one named Yahshua Ben Nun, a type of Yahshua the Messiah was the one whose hand delivered them over the Jordan. The spiritual food they ate was only a type of Yahshua, our Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7). They ate the manna, a type of Yahshua the true bread from heaven (Jn. 6:28-56). They drank water of the rock, but through Yahshua the true drink, the true water, the Holy Spirit is given.

Do not be a Laodicean! Do not shut the door to Yahshua! He is the DOOR, the DALET. We must be seeking, asking, knocking on His door, keeping our heads focused on Him so that our walk, our path, our way (derek) will be after His footsteps.

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