Being Set Apart
In the 2nd month of 2020, I had the pleasure of driving 12 hours across CA to Klamath Falls, Oregon to take photos of the Bald Eagle. I was more excited about the drive, taking pics along the way, and more landscapes in icy rual Oregon. However, seeing these majestic powerful creatures up close is unforgettable. I am grateful for the entire experience. I remember as a child we would randomly find baby birds in the backyard. I once wanted to find the nest to place one back in it but I remember hearing my brother and sisters saying that “it shouldn’t be touched or the mother will kick it out of the nest, and the bird will starve” I never understood why the mother would do such a thing. It’s commonly stated that the mother will smell us humans on it, and will think to abandon it. It’s an interesting concept that she does not want her babies mixing with the stink of humans. I have since found this said to be a myth, but it does sound familiar to me as it is said of many species; and if it does happen to be true, it quite honestly is exactly how YAHWEH feels about us. He does not want the stink of the world on us and therefore calls us to be set apart from it. 2 Corinthians 2:17 says 17: Therefore YAHWEH says, “‘Go out from their midst; separate yourselves; don’t even touch what is unclean. Then I myself will receive you. (CJB). See what I mean? 😏
I’m running a bit behind this week as there is a lot of activity going on in my home with a bit of construction and in the midst of it all, one of my precious ones got hold of some poison. You guessed it, Jasher Yashar. I caught him in time before he ingested a lot of it but with a quick run to the vet, 1 induced vomiting and 1 huge vet bill later, he is back to being his strong willed playful loving self. I praise YAHWEH for hearing my prayers and saving Him from what could have been tragic for me. You know, YAHWEH is doing the same with us, with His Torah and YESHUA’S sacrifice. He wants to save us from something tragic too.
When I began reading the Old Testament and studying for myself, I came across this scripture in Exodus 19:5-6 Now if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6: and you will be a kingdom of cohanim (Priests) for me, a nation set apart. These are the words you are to speak to the people of Isra’el. (CJB) Other translations like the Aramaic Peshitta, Septuagint, the Israelite Samaritan and the KJV, they use the word “holy”. At that time I didn’t really consider this word because I thought I knew what it meant. In my mind it simply meant to not only be a good person; but to be a really good person; to be focused on reading the Word, being active in my church, to pray daily and be nice to people. Of course I did these things generally, but I was under the impression that holy people were more like catholic saints and people like mother Theresa. So, even though I strove for it, I never really thought of myself as “Holy”; and I was correct because I wasn’t.
Oxford Languages Dictionary defines holy as: dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred. ex: "The Holy Bible" Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines holy as: exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness (sounds like I derived my understanding from Merriam Webster). However, Strong’s H6918 defines the use of this word in its Hebrew root form as: qâdôsh or Kodesh which means: sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart and the Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon further defines it as: pure, clean, free from defilement of crimes, idolatry, and other unclean and profane things and relates this to several verses in Leviticus. Why do we care about the Hebrew root form anyway? Because the majority of scripture was written in Hebrew and now the verse cited above makes more sense as we see that YAHWEH was making for himself a set apart nation. He wanted a nation of people whose life practice was to live free of idolatry, unclean and profane things and His laws allow His people to do just that. To be holy or the term I prefer to use due to its accuracy, set apart, is not some random, cloud floating, pie in the sky behavior of a person who presents himself or herself to be pious. It is a way of life. It is the very reason why YESHUA said in Matthew 7:15-20 Guard yourselves from the prophets of deception, a who come in clothing of ewes but in their inside they are rending wolves. 16: By their deeds you will recognize them– for a man is not able to gather grapes from a bramble, neither figs from thorn bushes. 17: And every good tree produces good fruit, and a bad fruit tree produces bad fruit. 19: Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and burned. 20: By their deeds you will recognize them. (HG) We are warned here to watch out for wolves in sheep’s clothing, as there are many doctrines today who teach a belief in YESHUA but ignore His commandments. These kinds of doctrine remind me of 2 Timothy 3:5 as they retain the outer form of religion but deny its power. (CJB) This power is being filled with the RUACH HA’KODESH, (Holy Spirit) and if you are filled with the RUACH, you will have a desire and the ability to keep YAHWEH’S laws and commandments. Reading the Old Testament is how we know who our ELOHIM is and what He wants from and for His people. There is no need to guess or to struggle in trying to understand the Will of YAHWEH. Reading the OT makes it clear that His Will is for His people to put nothing or no one above Him, to live in obedience to His laws, and to walk in His ways.
Choosing to be in covenant with the Creator of all things is not easy because of how we have grown up in the world. However, in the midst of its difficulty, I personally find it to be a joy. Deuteronomy 14 outlines many instructions YAHWEH has for His set apart people, but in verses 1-2 He provides beautiful reasoning behind His command. He doesn’t have to give us a reason and yet He does, revealing His heart in the process. Deuteronomy 14:1-2 You are the people of YAHWEH your EL. You are not to gash yourselves or shave the hair above your foreheads in mourning for the dead, 2: because you are a people set apart as holy for YAHWEH your EL, YAHWEH your EL has chosen you to be His own unique treasure out of all the peoples on the face of the earth. (CJB). I don’t know how this makes you feel, but it causes me to want to do every single thing He asks of me. For those walking in Covenant with YAHWEH, He considers us to be “His own, unique treasure.” I know that I am not worthy and yet He considers me and He will consider you too. How is one considered by YAHWEH as His own, you ask? 😁 I’m glad you asked. Deuteronomy 26:18-19 says 18: In turn YAHWEH is agreeing today that you are His own unique treasure, as He promised you; that you are to observe all His mitzvot (commandments); 19: and that He will raise you high above all the nations He has made, in praise, reputation and glory; and that, as He said, you will be a set apart people for YAHWEH your EL. It’s clear, that His people, are to observe all of His laws and commandments, so why then when I read this years ago as a teenager, and again as a young adult did I believe that He meant this only for the Jewish people? It is because this is what I was told throughout my christian walk by pastors, and church leaders. I was told all I have to do is “just “believe” in Jesus because all the work was done on the cross with His death and resurrection.” This is only part of the truth; but isn’t that how satan operates, by mixing truth with lies?
It is a well known story in Exodus that YAHWEH brought on the plagues in Egypt, but prior to the killing of the first born, there were people who were not native born Israelites living among them. These people were believers in the One True ELOHIM who decided to roll with YAHWEH. In Exodus 12:49 it says, The same teaching is to apply equally to the citizen and to the foreigner living among you. (CJB) This command is echoed again in Numbers 15:15-16 For this community there will be the same law for you as for the foreigner living with you; this is a permanent regulation through all your generations; the foreigner is to be treated the same way before YAHWEH as yourselves. 16: The same Torah and standard of judgment will apply to both you and the foreigner living with you. (CJB) Since when did permanent translate to “until YESHUA’S sacrifice?” When He said “all your generations,” this trickles down to you and I today. Further, Leviticus 24:22 says You are to apply the same standard of judgment to the foreigner as to the citizen, because I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM. (CJB) Leviticus 33-34: says If a foreigner stays with you in your land, do not do him wrong. 34: Rather, treat the foreigner staying with you like the native-born among you — you are to love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt; I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM. (CJB) These are repeated verses in the Torah, which are the first 5 books of the Qadosh scriptures which the world calls the “Holy Bible” A person who is not a native born Israelite seeking to be in covenant with YAHWEH, follows the same laws as the Iraelites, they are those who are grafted in. There is one law given through Moses and the grafted in as well are to follow them; therefore these laws are not “just for the Jews.” This statement is even partially correct. Jews are referencing the Tribe of Judah, however there are 12 tribes, so once again no, being set apart by following YAHWEH’S laws and commandments are not only for the Jews, it is for the native born Israelites as well as the foreigner or the grafted in. HalleluYAH!
Once I understood that YAHWEH’S people are to be set apart by following His laws and commandments, I realized I needed to actualize this. I have written previous devotionals addressing the 10 commandments which are crucial to following the overall laws of our creator. However, what I have found is that Paul’s epistles in the New Testament is a huge reason why people believe whether native born or grafted in; the laws are done away with. My personal journey has caused me to see a lot of side stepping and cherry picking of verses in scripture all to accommodate our own will when believing in YESHUA has everything to do with dying to self and allowing YAHWEH’S will to be done in our lives. On one hand we are told the laws are for the native born Jews, which is false as explained above; and then on the other hand we are told the law is done away with reasoning that it was “nailed to the cross.” If the laws are done away with, why are Orthodox Messianic Jewish people still following them? For reading pleasure here is an interesting article from My Jewish Learning discussing this sect of people who both believe in the death and resurrection of YESHUA but also believe in following the laws and commandments of YAHWEH. I can go further into the Epistles of Paul which christians hang all their hopes of living a life of doing what they want on, but still believe to be saved by grace; but I won’t. What I will say in this devotional is that Paul’s letters are being taken out of context and He is definitely not teaching a saved by grace doctrine and besides, why would anyone hold what Paul says over what YESHUA already said in John 14:15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments? (HG) Or when He said in Matthew 7:23 Then I will tell them to their faces, ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness! (CJB) Doesn’t this make a person question, what law is YESHUA talking about? Below, I will reference a video message that explains what Paul is really saying much better than I ever could; but reading the Old Testament for yourself is the best way to understand what YAHWEH wants and why He sent YESHUA to redeem His people.
I believe it is best to also explain that there are books in the OT that were removed. These books further support and serve as witnesses to the Torah we are to guard and keep. The popular scripture book or (Holy Bible) contains Ezra, but there is a 4 Ezra, also known as 2 Esdras which was removed from the collection. Let’s take a peek at what it has to say. 2 Esdras 7:19-23 says And he said unto me. There is no judge above ELOHIM, and none that hath understanding above the Highest. 20: For there be many that perish in this life, because they despise the law of ELOHIM that is set before them. 21: For ELOHIM hath given strait commandment to such as came, what they should do to live, even as they came, and what they should observe to avoid punishment. 22: Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him; but spake against him, and imagined vain things; 23: And deceived themselves by their wicked deeds; and said of the most High, that He is not; and knew not His ways. (1611 KJVA). For anyone who is saying to themselves “well that is still the OT”, verse 28 mentions YESHUA . 2 Esdras 7:28-29 For my son YESHUA shall be revealed with those that be with Him, and they that remain shall rejoice within four hundred years. 29: After these years shall my son Mashiach die, and all men that have life. (1611 KJVA) If YESHUA’S coming is foretold in the OT in Esdras, just as it was prophesied in Isaiah 53, how can one believe that when YESHUA said in Matthew 5:17 Moreover YESHUA MASHIACH said to his talmidim, “Do not think that I came to throw down the Torah and the Prophets, on the contrary, I came to confirm. (HG) that the laws are done away with? Due to various other Greek to English translations, people believe that the word “confirm” is fulfill when it is not. The hebrewgospels.com version is a direct translation from Hebrew to English identifying this word to be confirm. However, even if the word was fulfill, YESHUA would not contradict Himself and say in Matt 5:17, “Hey I fulfilled the law for you, you don’t have to keep them any longer”, then turn around in Matt 7:23 and say “Get away from me lawless one”. YESHUA’S sacrifice did away with animal sacrifices only. We are called to keep the laws and commandments if we choose to walk in Covenant with Him.
So you see, it is my choice to be counted among the people of YAHWEH, to follow His laws and commandments, and walk in His ways. Romans 12:2-3 says In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh (this world). Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what The ELOHIM wants and will agree that what He wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed. 3: For I am telling every single one of you, through the un-merit favor that has been given to me, not to have exaggerated ideas about your own importance. Instead, develop a sober estimate of yourself based on the standard which YAHWEH has given to each of you, namely, trust. (CJB) Many christians know this verse because I did, but I never actualized or lived this verse out. The only way we can renew our minds and not conform to this world is to follow the beat to a different drum, a set apart drum which beats outside of the secular world we live in. YAHWEH has a total of 613 laws listed in the book of Leviticus where not all apply to women and not all apply to men. What I don’t understand is that people hear 613 laws and loose their minds. “How I’ma keep all them laws?” A better question is how do people keep the thousands upon thousands of laws written for their cities and states? There are laws, policies and guidelines for every facet of life; accounting laws, Criminal and Civil laws, Cosmetology laws, Athletic laws, Laws regarding building a home, Motor Vehicle laws the laws governing the world are like grains of sand on the beach yet we complain about the only 613 laws YAHWEH has for His people which if we abide by them there would not be so many social problems, conflicts, strife and health issues in the world. His laws are meant to protect us in a pagan world. The minute we were born into this world steeped in transgression, we were already destined for eternal torment and separation from the ELOHIM, but through His Word, which is the Torah and YESHUA who is The Word (Torah) made flesh; His sacrifice is the only way we can be redeemed. We must believe in Him and what He has done for us; and the way we believe in Him is by following His laws and commandments. Doing what He asks of us is the evidence of our faith.
To conclude, yes brothers and sisters, I am happily living a set apart life, right down to the wearing of dresses, non-mixed fabrics, wearing tzitzis, and head coverings during prayer. I’m still working on the tzitzis and since I’m always talking to YAHWEH, and I will never know if I need to pray for someone immediately, my head is covered the majority of the time. Head coverings were particularly difficult for me being a woman wearing my hair natural for over 20 years now. However, it’s been in just the last 3 years or so I have learned to embrace my natural curl pattern only to find I must cover it up. I will be honest, I do not like the way I look in a head covering, it’s a sensitive subject for another time, maybe. I’m grateful for a dear sister in the faith who posted a beautiful little story on her YouTube channel about a girl with a cell phone and her dad asking her why she purchased a case for it. He asked did she purchase a cover thinking it would insult the manufacturer, she said no, he asked did she put it in a case because it’s cheap and ugly? She said no, I bought the case to cover it in order to protect it so that it would not get damaged and be devalued. So you see yet again, it really is not about what I think of myself or anything else. Remember? To walk this walk, is to die to myself and it is all about what YAHWEH thinks of me, and what He sees in me. He wants to protect me from the world so that it does not devalue me; because I am set apart for Him. I pray that if you are not, that you choose to be set apart for Him too.
Shalom & Berekah
Just a few supporting verses:
Do not yoke yourselves together in a team with unbelievers. For how can righteousness and lawlessness be partners? What fellowship does light have with darkness? 15: What harmony can there be between the Messiah and B’liya‘al? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16: What agreement can there be between the temple of YAHWEH and idols? For we are the temple of the living ELOHIM— as YAHWEH said, “I will house Myself in them, . . .and I will walk among you. I will be their ELOHIM, and they will be my people. 17: Therefore YAHWEH says, “‘Go out from their midst; separate yourselves; don’t even touch what is unclean. Then I myself will receive you. 18: In fact, I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters.’ says YAHWEH-Tzva’ot.
-2 Corinthians 2:14-18
Now if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6: and you will be a kingdom of cohanim (Priests) for me, a nation set apart. These are the words you are to speak to the people of Isra’el. (CJB)
-Exodus 19:5-6
Guard yourselves from the prophets of deception, a who come in clothing of ewes but in their inside they are rending wolves. 16: By their deeds you will recognize them– for a man is not able to gather grapes from a bramble, neither figs from thorn bushes. 17: And every good tree produces good fruit, and a bad fruit tree produces bad fruit. 19: Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and burned. 20: By their deeds you will recognize them. (HG)
-Matthew 7:15-20
As they retain the outer form of religion but deny its power. (CJB)
-2 Timothy 3:5
You are the people of YAHWEH your EL. You are not to gash yourselves or shave the hair above your foreheads in mourning for the dead, 2: because you are a people set apart as holy for YAHWEH your EL, YAHWEH your EL has chosen you to be His own unique treasure out of all the peoples on the face of the earth. (CJB).
-Deuteronomy 14:1-2
In turn YAHWEH is agreeing today that you are His own unique treasure, as He promised you; that you are to observe all His mitzvot (commandments); 19: and that He will raise you high above all the nations He has made, in praise, reputation and glory; and that, as He said, you will be a set apart people for YAHWEH your EL.
-Deuteronomy 26:18-19
The same teaching is to apply equally to the citizen and to the foreigner living among you. (CJB)
-Exodus 12:49
For this community there will be the same law for you as for the foreigner living with you; this is a permanent regulation through all your generations; the foreigner is to be treated the same way before YAHWEH as yourselves. 16: The same Torah and standard of judgment will apply to both you and the foreigner living with you. (CJB)
-Numbers 15:15-16
You are to apply the same standard of judgment to the foreigner as to the citizen, because I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM. (CJB)
-Leviticus 24:22
If a foreigner stays with you in your land, do not do him wrong. 34: Rather, treat the foreigner staying with you like the native-born among you — you are to love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt; I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM. (CJB)
-Leviticus 33-34:
If you love me, you will keep my commandments? (HG)
-John 14:15
Then I will tell them to their faces, ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness! (CJB)
-Matthew 7:23
And he said unto me. There is no judge above ELOHIM, and none that hath understanding above the Highest. 20: For there be many that perish in this life, because they despise the law of ELOHIM that is set before them. 21: For ELOHIM hath given strait commandment to such as came, what they should do to live, even as they came, and what they should observe to avoid punishment. 22: Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him; but spake against him, and imagined vain things; 23: And deceived themselves by their wicked deeds; and said of the most High, that He is not; and knew not His ways. (1611 KJVA).
-2 Esdras 7:19-23
For my son YESHUA shall be revealed with those that be with Him, and they that remain shall rejoice within four hundred years. 29: After these years shall my son Mashiach die, and all men that have life. (1611 KJVA)
-2 Esdras 7:28-29
Moreover YESHUA MASHIACH said to his talmidim, “Do not think that I came to throw down the Torah and the Prophets, on the contrary, I came to confirm.” (HG)
-Matthew 5:17
In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh (this world). Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what The ELOHIM wants and will agree that what He wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed. 3: For I am telling every single one of you, through the un-merit favor that has been given to me, not to have exaggerated ideas about your own importance. Instead, develop a sober estimate of yourself based on the standard which YAHWEH has given to each of you, namely, trust.
-Romans 12:2-3
But you are a chosen people, the King’s cohanim, a holy nation, a people for God to possess! Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10: Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; before, you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (CJB)
-1 Peter 2:9-10
If the world hates you, understand that it hated me first. 19: If you belonged to the world, the world would have loved its own. But because you do not belong to the world — on the contrary, I have picked you out of the world — therefore the world hates you. (CJB)
-John 15:18-19
For we are of God’s making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do (CJB)
-Ephesians 2:10
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Law of the Day ☺️:
I am YAHWEH your EL, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery. 3: You are to have no other ELOHIM before me.
-Exodus 20:2-3
This one shouldn’t be too difficult, it’s the 1st commandment.