More Questions Than Answers

Hello from Israel!

 I have so many questions as I read through The Word.  Some are quite complex, and I fear that I will forget them.  Have you ever had such a weak grasp on something like that?  It's like a dream that I am afraid I will not remember when I awake.  I am going to pin them here and wait for revelation from The Father.  As I learn more, my hope is to update.  If you read this and have something to share, please share. 

Nov 1, 2020

Thinking of "brides" today.  In Jeremiah chapter 3, YHVH references giving Israel a certificate of divorce, inferring that a marriage has taken place.  Fast forward to Revelation 21 where John is told, "come, I will show you the bride...."  But the bride is not Israel or the church (as I have always been taught) but it is the holy city of Jerusalem.  Now add to that Paul in Ephesians 5 revealing the mystery of the husband/wife relationship and applying it to Messiah and His "called out ones."  And then there are the wedding garments of Revelation 19...made white by the righteous deeds of the saints.  Are these garments for the bride, or are these garments for the attendees?  Who is the bride?

• I have been fortunate enough to have a few readers reach out to me about this question with their thoughts.  The overarching consensus (although it has come from different perspectives) is that the bride is indeed followers of Messiah Yeshua and YHVH.  This comforts me that so many do see it as this.  One friend reminded me that Jerusalem can be used as symbolism for the people who inhabit her...so seeing the bride, Jerusalem, can certainly denote Jerusalem's people and not necessairly just The Land.  But...I cannot shake just how important The Land has been to The Father throughout the history of the earth.  The Land was cursed right along with the people and animals, and it too, longs to be restored.  This is a topic that I will hold closely and keep collecting clues so as to discern a fuller picture, as I am allowed.  Now we see through a mirror dimly, but one day....

November 1, 2020

I noticed in Genesis 10:3 that the Ashkenazi are descendants of Japeth, not Shem.  So...legit question: How are there Ashkenazi Jews...if Jews are of Judah, a descendant of Shem?

• A reader (and friend) sent me an article about this with some ideas. According to the article, the Semite (Shem-ite) men were dispersed to the area of Japeth (Europe) and married women from the Ashkenazi line.  The mitochondrial DNA alleges this theory, again, according to the article.  If these women were truly grafted into the Jewish nation, their claim to Jewishness would be as strong as any native born.  Will continue to pay attention to this if I continue to encounter it.  

November 1, 2020

Can you believe I have a 3rd question on the same day?  -- ha Eretz means "the earth" or "the land" in Hebrew.  I usually think of it more aligned with earth.  It is the word used in Genesis 1:1 and 1:2.  I find it used in Isaiah 45:18 where we are told that YHVH "did not create it [referring to haEretz / earth] desolate."  Today, I also found it used in Jeremiah 4:23 in a passage that is more about the land associated with Israel.  "I looked at the earth [some versions say the land, but it is haEretz] --it was unformed a void -- and at the sky [ haShaymim...also same word in Genesis] -- it had no light. Jeremiah tells us that all this happened before the burning anger of YHVH.  Scratching my head.  The timelines of Genesis and Isaiah don't seem to match the timeline of Jeremiah for this "unformed and void" [same in Hebrew in Genesis and Jeremiah "toe-hu v' bo-hu"...only "empty" toe-hu in Isaiah].  Are all 3 of these speaking of a similar time?  And...if they are...what are the implications of my understanding of the Genesis creation history?

• Looked at a few bible commentaries on this.  (PS-- I really don't like to do that...I prefer revelation from YHVH alone. But...I did). The consensus seems to be a comparison of 3 things:  Gen 1:2 when the earth was formless and void; the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem; and the "day of the Lord" as described in 2 Peter 3:10, when the heavens will pass away...elements will melt...earth exposed.  --I agree that it must be bigger than just the Babylonian captivity since "haEretz" is used.  That gives it a catastrophic sense.  By the by -- the CJB interprets it as "the land" in Jeremiah 4:23, which I think could make readers miss that point.  Still not completely content, but I must remember that The Father is a master of using patterns. Perhaps it really is an allegory to the "waste" period that earth went through in Gen 1:2.  --Makes me think of what had happened to create a need for such utter destruction.  What happened between verses 1 and 2?  Was it an entire world...did it take as much time...were there people and inheritances involved.  Much to think upon....
• Also had a fun conversation with a good friend on this one.  Hope we will have some time to revisit after we have both done some additional searching.  

November 7, 2020

New question today -- Actually more of a new "notice" and I am wondering if the 3 scriptures that I have strung together are actually meant to be.  I am afraid that sometimes I can stretch a bit when I really want something to fit.  I don't ever want to do that, so  I'm just going to leave these verses here and wait to see if I am given further revelation on whether or not they are indeed related. Here are the scriptures:

Matthew 13:30

Jeremiah 23:28-29

Isaiah 5:24

In Matthew, Yeshua is speaking of The Kingdom of Heaven when He shares the parable of the wheat and tares.  The tares are allowed to grow with the wheat until harvest when FIRE burns the tares.  In Jeremiah, we see YHVH asking what do chaff and wheat have in common and describing His Word as FIRE.  Isaiah speaks of FIRE licking up stubble and chaff...get this...because the Torah has been rejected. 

So, are these verses related?

Is the FIRE a common theme in each verse?  If so, is the FIRE literal or is it the very word of YHVH?

Are the Jeremiah and Isaiah scriptures at all related to The Kingdom of Heaven?

Is the Torah being spoken of in Matthew as it is in Isaiah?

These are the questions I have for these 3 verses.  

• A friend shared this link with me about chaff/straw -- the meaning according to this site has to do with lower level "knowledge."  Kind of reminds me of "belief," as in "I believe in Yeshua," w/out the evidence of the "belief," i.e.: changed life / good works.  Perhaps even "false truth."  Not sure that this is correct, but putting it here to research further.  Wheat, on the other hand would represent full knowledge and truth.  --Still not sure how the Jer/Is scriptures connect with The Kingdom of Heaven that Yeshua was teaching about.  The search is still on...
• A friend also shared Obadiah 1:18 -- where Esau is the straw and Jacob and Joseph are the flame.  Pondering that one...

 November 19, 2020

Revisited an old question today, and decided it was time to write it down.  Scripture reference: Ezekiel 4:4-6

This is where Ezekiel lies on his side for 390 days to represent the punishment of the House of Israel and 40 days to represent the punishment of the House of Judah.  --I get the 390 days for Israel, but I am puzzled by the 40 days for Judah.  Here is why:  Judah went into captivity in Babylon for 70 years, as predicted by Jeremiah.  If we apply Leviticus 26:18 and multiply the years by 7...we come up with 280 years.  That does not appear to fit either.  However, appearances can be deceiving.  ;)  --So...I would like to understand that 40 days/years better.  

Adding this resource:  Captivity Article

If you take out the overlap, and add the 3 captivities (not Rome), you come out with 283.  280 is the "magic" number.  So...it's close, but would only call this "entry level" info.  I thought it was interesting that Babylon and Persia were categorized separately.  Greece, too.  And that the first set of years given added up to 51 years.  Interesting because if the ancient year had only 360 days, it would have 51 sabbaths.  Leviticus 26 talks about the people being banished from The Land in order to give The Land the sabbaths she is due.  HMMMMM.......

December 5, 2020

I have had two things on my mind as of late.  I feel like I have at least the beginnings of answers for them both, but...they are pretty important, so I wanted to make sure they were written down, lest I forget.

1). The Assyrian tree of Ezekiel 31 -- I lost sleep over this one.  Why?  Well, if Assyria was a tree in the Garden of Eden, what does that say for the other trees?  The implications are a crashing line of dominos.  I'm still not 100% comfortable with any of the trees to be honest, but the question did lead me to brush up on my history.  Interestingly, I downloaded a book, published in 1728 by Sir Isaac Newton - and get this - it was for a totally different reason...a study of Revelation...But, when I scanned the book, guess what I ran across?  If you said that Assyrian tree of Ezekiel 31, you are correct!  So, am I 100% clear on it?  Nope.  But you know what I did realize?  I realized that YHVH heard my prayers about wanting to understand that tree and all of the dominos that it may topple.  How else would I have been drawn to a book that is almost 300 years old and turn to the exact page (page 388) where the content was discussed in its historical context...all while I was not even looking for it?  The answer: not statistically possible.  So, I am 100% certain that YHVH heard my prayer and will honor it in time.  So often with Bible study, the answer is at the top of a tall stair case that must be climbed one step at a time.  I realize that a new journey has begun.  I have faith that He will provide the steps along the way, and that when I arrive at the landing, that I will realize there was no other way to arrive but by the slow climb.  --I've been in that boat before, and I understand this process.  Looking forward to how YHVH will lead me on this journey to understanding.  The book?  The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms, Amended by Sir Issac Newton.  

Sept 2022 -- I feel like I am getting a little bit closer with this one.  Still mind-blowing.  I've dedicated another blog space just for my notes on the Assyrian tree and all that it may be telling me, but I am not confident enough to push the "publish" button.  So...still mulling it over.  But, I will say this.  If the notes I am compiling are accurate...This tree changes a lot of what I thought about the Bible.  Not in a bad way.  In a deeper way.  Nothing has changed, per say...it has just deepened.  So, not ready to put a period at the end of this research yet, but thinking that I may have my answer...and still grieving over it a little bit.  It's a cycle:  grief, repentance, acceptance, joy.  It comes in the morning!

2) The "sin offering" of Ezekiel 45:22 -- I've been hot on the trail of this one for days now.  I'm almost too exhausted of it to even write.  I *think* I have it worked out now, but... I have a bit of self doubt for a few reasons: 1) Several people that I really respect for their biblical wisdom disagree with my conviction.  That always leads me to great reflection;  2) I am not an expert at Hebrew, which part of my "answer" relies upon; 3) Ultimately, the answer seems a bit too simple.  It's such a hard question.  Could the answer *really* be that simple?  

So here is the question:  The prince is offering a sin offering for himself and for the people in Ezekiel 45:22.  This leads many to believe that The Prince could not possibly be Messiah Yeshua.  I, however, am convicted that The Prince IS INDEED Messiah Yeshua.  So...why is He making a sin offering for Himself?

I looked at this from a few different angles, and this is what I came up with:

1) As my friend Amy says, when in doubt, always go back to the Hebrew.  Amy actually put me on the trail of noticing that there is at least the possibility of a double entendre in the Hebrew when it comes to the making of this sacrifice.  I went in search of what she was pointing me to, and here is what I found...

So, the sacrifice could be interpreted as being made for the people through The Prince.  This would make absolute perfect sense for The Prince being Messiah.  My one drawback to this hypothesis is that I cannot find any translators who have chosen to translate this verse from the Hebrew in this way.  --That doesn't mean it isn't true...but, I cannot declare it to be so based solely on the Hebrew.

2) Angle #2 -- Obedience.  My friend Anne hinted in this direction.  The Prince in this verse is acting out the prescribed sacrifices given for Passover back in the Torah.  One of the commanded sacrifices is a sin sacrifice.  In order for The Prince to be obedient to Torah, He must follow it and make all of the commanded sacrifices.  So...He may simply be acting out of obedience.  --If you will recall, Yeshua did something similarly during his earthly ministry.  Yeshua went to John and was baptized.  Was He baptized for forgiveness of His sins?  Certainly not!  Yeshua acted in obedience to The Father as an example to others.  If we apply that principle, it could answer the question as to why The Prince, assuming that The Prince is Messiah Yeshua, would be making a sin sacrifice for Himself and the people.  Simply because He was being obedient to Torah and The will of YHVH.  

Could it be that simple?  I'm at peace for now.  We shall see if The Father wants to provide more insight in time. 

Adding one more thought on July 31, 2021 after I noticed a bit more "evidence" on my bible read through this year: 

We begin in Ezekiel 35 with YHVH The Shepherd.  Notice that 

one of His tasks will be to: 

"Judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats." 

Ez 35:17

"So I will set up One Shepherd over them, My servant David 

-- He will tend them...and be their shepherd.  

I YHVH will be their God, and 

My servant David will be PRINCE among them." 

Ez 35:23-24

Fast forward to Matthew 25:31+

Here Messiah Yeshua tells of the return of the "Son of Man."  

One of His tasks will be to:

"...and He will separate them 

[the nations that are gathered before Him] 

from one another, 

just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  

And He will put the sheep on His right, 

but the goats on His left."  Matt 25:32-33

In Ezekiel, this "task" of dividing the sheep and goats is ascribed 

to YHVH Himself.  And He says that He will put the flock 

under the authority of David The Prince.  

In Matthew, Messiah says this "task" will be performed by 

the "Son of Man."  

Messiah Yeshua says, as the "Son of Man" in Matt 35:34:

"Come, you who are blessed by My Father, 

inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the 

foundation of the world."  

So, The Son of Man IS The Father.  

He IS YHVH.  

Messiah Yeshua and YHVH are One.  

So what about The Prince, David?

The Prince in Ez 34:23 -- The Prince is tending the flock.

What do we see Messiah Yeshua and the Son of Man 

doing in Matthew 25?

I think we see them (echad) tending the flock!

Could this be evidence for 

The Prince of Ezekiel 45:22  being Messiah Yeshua?  

Can I just take this opportunity to tell you that this journey is so much richer with friends?  I have a group of wise Bible reading friends who really challenge and sharpen me.  Sometimes we see things differently, and we don't always come to the same conclusions and convictions, but we keep each other on our toes (and many times we do find the same answers).  We keep each other honest, on our knees before The Father, and holding the flashlights for each other as we seek for the narrow path.  If you are reading this, you are more than likely one of these special people.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart 💞

December 14, 2020

Another "notice" that may be forming a question as I think upon it. The scripture is John 16:8-11.  Yeshua is telling His disciples the things that the world is wrong about.  They are wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment.  The judgement one gives me pause, b/c Yeshua explains that "the ruler of the world has been judged."  I've checked as many language resources as I understand, and it does appear that this is correctly translated as past tense.  So...while I have always had a picture in my head of the prince of this world being judge at the end of days, Yeshua tells His disciples that it has already taken place....AND that the world is wrong about it.  Meaning, perhaps, that the picture in my head is wrong, too.  ???  This could have influence on end-times interpretations.  Rolling it around.  Not sure how to make a question of it yet, but definitely asking The Father for more wisdom concerning these words of Messiah Yeshua. 

Sept 13,2022 -- Still not sure what the question truly is, but am collecting strings for the answer:

Ezekiel 34:12 -- As a shepherd seeks out his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will seek out My sheep.  I will rescue them out of all the places where they have been scattered, ON A DAY OF CLOUD AND THICK DARKNESS.... 

So, I associate that with Yom Kippur language -- and The Shepherd DID make atonement at the cross.  Yeshua was both the Passover and Lamb and the Goat of the Yom Kippur sin offering.  --Is THAT when judgment took place?  John 12:31 says "NOW is the judgment of this world!"  Does NOW mean NOW?  As in, at the sacrifice and resurrection of Yeshua?  If so...should we (as in, the church) still be waiting to see our enemy judged...or was "death" judged at the cross?  

February 14, 2021

So...a new question is bubbling in my spirit right now.  It is not one that I want to ask.  I desperately hope that when I receive my answer that it is a hard "NO, Debbie!"  The question:  should we be involved in carrying out any animal sacrifices within our homes at this point in history?  

Where did this question come from?  

I have been studying the threshold covenant and its relationship to the first Passover in scripture.  I have also noticed threshold covenant language sprinkled throughout scripture, now that I know how to recognize it.  As I have been writing, I have noticed a pattern.    

• home sacrifice / no tabernacle or temple
• corporate sacrifice / there is a tabernacle or temple
• ???  / no tabernacle or temple

See the ??? -- It seems to reason that without a temple, we may be "back home" as far as worship according to Torah is concerned.  Prior to the "place of YHVH's choosing," Israel was expected to offer sacrifices on the home threshold.  So now post-temple, are we expected to do the same?

There are 2 reasons that I hear NOT to do this:

1) Yeshua was the final sacrifice

2) We don't have a temple, so we cannot offer sacrifices in the place of YHVH's choosing.

My address to these

1) Yes, Yeshua was the final sacrifice to save humankind from their sins.  However, we are taught in the book of Ezekiel that there is a time in the future when corporate sacrifices will once again resume.  Recall that there are many different types of sacrifice...not just sin sacrifices.  So in some capacity the sacrificial system remains. 

2) It is true that we do not have a temple.  So...b/c we no longer have a temple, should we stop sacrificing until Messiah returns OR should we assume that the "place of YHVH's choosing" has returned to the home and the earthly high priest as the "first born" or the husband/father of the family and resume "in home?"

I really want to find that we are not expected to sacrifice within our homes at this time.  However, since the question has presented itself to me, it would not be okay for me to not ask.  I welcome your thoughts presented gently.  

Anne Elliott wrote a blog series about this topic shortly before Passover this year.  I felt like I was meant to find it and my answer.  At this time, I feel like my conviction NOT to offer animal sacrifices has been confirmed.  Very grateful!!!

June 20, 2021

We now have a "Feasting Friends" group, and what a sweet gift it is to my soul!  Yesterday we studied about the Feast of Trumpets.  We looked at scripture in Matthew and Mark where Yeshua says that no man knows the hour or day for Messiah's return.  We compared that to the "feast language" of Trumpets.  It is the only feast that no man could know the hour/day of...because it is kept on the first day of the month.  I brought up the fact that the first day of the month was determined by 2 witnesses agreeing that they had seen the first sliver of the new moon in Jerusalem.  --Then, it got me to thinking....

If the 2 witnesses were important to determining the Feast of Trumpets -- then the 2 witnesses must be important to determining the Feast of Trumpets in a prophetic sense.  So, my search was on for the identity of the 2 witnesses.

We find a description of the 2 witnesses in Revelation 11:4

* 2 olive trees

* 2 menorot (candlesticks)

This seems to tie back nicely to Zechariah chapter 4

"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Ruach, says YHVH Tz'vaot!"

In Zechariah the 2 olive trees are told to be the "2 sons of oil" who stand before the Lord of the whole earth.

Sons of oil?

Some translations used "anointed ones."  But in Hebrew, it definitely says "sons of oil." 😉

What does that mean?  -- And earlier in the chapter "Grace, Grace!"  What does that add?

Then, I am reminded that the 2 witnesses must agree.  What must they agree upon?  

What does their being in agreement bring?

I've got some loose ideas rolling around.  They won't be popular with anyone I know.  But...here goes

The 2 witnesses could be: 

1) Judah

and 

2) Israel (Ephraim)

*They are both sons

*Are they sons of oil?  Are they anointed?  --They were both set apart by their father's blessing way back in Genesis.  So, perhaps...

What must they agree upon?

What do they disagree upon presently?

Presently they disagree about the Torah and the Messiah.

*Judah believes in the Torah, but not Yeshua as Messiah

*Israel / Ephraim believes in Yeshua as Messiah, but not in the Torah

They do not agree.

They must agree in order to...what?

For Yom Teruah to begin -- the day of shouting to begin!

Do we see a pattern or example from scripture about this?  YES!

King David had to flee from his kingdom when his son Absolom began a revolt.  Once Absolom had been killed and the revolt ended, David did not immediately return.  What was he waiting for?  

"You are my kinsmen, my bone and my flesh!  Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?" 2 Sam 19:13

David was waiting for Judah to call him back!!!!!

Israel/Ephraim had already made the plea for the king's return, but the brothers were not unified in making the plea.  King David was waiting for BOTH brothers to ask him back to the throne...and specifically his own kinsmen!

So....

Is this what the brothers must now agree upon?

Must they agree to call Messiah Yeshua back to take His rightful throne?

Once they agree -- that Torah is truth and that Messiah Yeshua is ruler (each brother has something to learn from the other), they must call Messiah back.

When Messiah hears the agreeing plea of the 2 witnesses, He will TERUAH and return to His rightful throne in His kingdom.  HallaluYAH!!!!!

So, are the 2 witnesses important in the fulfillment of Yom Teruah / The Feast of Trumpets?  I am thinking DEFINITELY so!

--This is where I am in my understanding right now.  This is subject to change with more light.  

Once again, however, I am confronted with why it is essential for Judah and Israel/Ephraim to reconcile.  In my "circles" the thought is to "evangelize" Judah so he can see "Jesus."  However, "Jesus" has been so terribly misrepresented to Judah for the past 2,000 years, he wants no part.  Who could blame Judah????  It is our job to restore Judah to his Messiah by representing Messiah authentically.  Yeshua is Jewish.  Yeshua kept Torah.  Yeshua participated in the feasts.  Yeshua did not bring a separate religion. How will Judah see if Israel/Ephraim keeps portraying "Jesus" as a white Roman man who is worshipped at christmas and easter?   We MUST begin to take responsibility for representing Yeshua well to our brother Judah.  That is how Judah will see his Messiah!  And once Judah sees....Judah will call his kinsman back.  

Will it be then that Yom Teruah truly begins?

Sept 13, 2022 -- By the way, the above question turned into a blog series called "The Two Witnesses" that I really enjoyed researching.  There are still a few unanswered questions, but I think I have nailed down that Judah and Joseph are those 2 witnesses.

A link about the new moon sighting process -- They make a real good case for the calendar being corrupted at this time.  Will be revisiting.  

1-6-2022

The "trees" of Moreh and Mamre (Gen 12:6 and Gen 13:18) - I am going to guess that these are ancient boundaries.  Moreh's is near Shechem, and Mamre's is near Hebron.  I am also going to guess that these are both Amorite kings/tribal leaders.  Mamre is based on Gen 14:13.  --The word for "tree" in the TLV is translated "plain" in the KJV...a pretty big difference.  In my initial look, we could be talking about groves here.  Or, it could be a literal tree.  Or it could be a piece of wood carved to be a boundary marker.  This will require some research to understand further.  I think we are hearing about an ancient marker using ancient language and/or idioms.  Would really like to understand more about this, as 2022 is my year to read the Bible and look for agricultural signs.  Off to a good start!