The Heart of YAHWEH
I love trying to capture the moon, stars and the milky way. They are all as beautiful and constant as our Creator’s love for us. This particular picture reminds of me of what the moon may have looked like when Joshua asked YAHWEH to make it stand still as I discuss further below.
Over my lifetime living as a christian, I have heard this question “How do you know what God thinks” or this statement, “Oh, so now you know what God thinks,” or even “Oh, so you can read God’s mind?” While we don’t know the exact time or hour when YESHUA (Jesus) will return, the blessings He may give us, or the exact plans He has for our future; we can at the very least surmise exactly what our Elohim (Mighty Ones/God) thinks by simply reading scripture.
When walking in covenant with YAHWEH (The Lord), knowing what He wants from us is very simple and can be summed up in one word; obedience. The first 5 books of the Old Testament make it clear that He wants us to be obedient to His laws and commandments; however, now that I have made it to the Book of Jeremiah, I can’t help but notice a repetitive underlying tone and it’s extremely difficult for me to ignore. It’s His heart. Oh, of course we know that YAHWEH (The Lord) loves us, but reading through the OT allows us to see His feelings. Yes His feelings.
In the book 1 Samuel, we see the common practice for YAHWEH (The Lord) to appoint Judges over the people of Israel. The Judge would settle matters over the people and rule over them according to the Laws of YAHWEH with a purpose of keeping them from transgressing their relationship with the Elohim thereby solidifying this relationship which encompassed His enduring love, and protection from their enemies. As long as the Israelites remained in covenant with our Father in Heaven, He would show up and go before them, fighting for them each and every time. While many times victories were won by YAHWEH (The Lord) empowering the Israelites in wars, there were times the Israelites needed miraculous intervention usually due to being outnumbered. In the Book of Joshua chapter 10 YAHWEH helped the Israelites in battle by throwing large stones down from Heaven onto the Amorites. It states that more of the Amorites died by those stones than by the sword. In that same chapter and battle, YAHWEH (The Lord) literally made the sun and moon stand still so that Joshua could continue to fight into the night ultimately defeating the Amorites. In 1 Samuel chapter 14, YAHWEH was with Saul and his son Jonathan during the battle with the Philistines and He put the army of the Philistines into a state of confusion causing them to go away defeated. In 2 Kings chapter 7 He went before Elisha the prophet causing the army of Aram to hear the noise of horses and chariots making it sound like a great army. The army of Aram thought the Israelites enlisted the Egyptians and Hitites to help them fight so they retreated. The list goes on and on; these stories are exciting and a beautiful depiction of a Father’s love for His children.
So with all of the love and protection our Father has shown to His children who remain in covenant with Him it’s no wonder that my heart broke when I read in 1 Samuel chapter 8 how the children of Israel wanted a king instead of an appointed Judge by YAHWEH (The Lord). See, Samuel was a Judge appointed by YAHWEH from His youth and His relationship with YAHWEH ensured the protection of the Israelites as YAHWEH spoke directly to Samuel ruling over the Israelites through him. However at this time Samuel was old in age and his sons did not walk in the ways of YAHWEH (The Lord) so the Israelites complained about Samuel’s sons and demanded that a king be appointed like all the other nations (gentiles). YAHWEH (The Lord) said to Samuel in 1 Samuel 8:7 Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8: According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt even to this day, as they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also to you. He basically said and I will paraphrase, ‘just give them what they want, it’s not you, they don’t want me ruling them anymore and besides that, they been cheating on me this whole time, they still in love with them Pharaohs and statues.’ I guess our Father didn’t have enough bells, whistles and baubles for the Israelites. It made me cry the first time I read it, and it still makes me tear up a bit even now.
I’m now in Jeremiah and while our Father YAHWEH repeats throughout the chapters the transgressions of the children of Judah and Israel, He also warns of the various judgements He plans for them if they do not repent. The tone is clear throughout the book that desolation, destruction and captivity is sure; however can be escaped if they repent from their lawlessness. His tone is both angry and hurt as He says in Jeremiah 2:28 But where are your gods that you have made for yourself? Let them arise and save you in the time of your trouble; for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah. Um, did YAHWEH just clown them? Yes, very much so, He did. The Israelites have a history of rejecting our Creator and turning to other gods repeatedly because He said something just like this in Judges 10:14 I will cite it below. Jeremiah is replete with the words of YAHWEH calling out every transgression of Israel and Judah that He sees. He likens them to harlots and because nothing is hidden from Him, He calls them out from the smallest lie, to idolatry, to the blood on their hands; and then I get to chapter 26:1-3 and it says this: In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from YAHWEH, saying, 2: Thus says YAHWEH; Stand in the court of YAHWEH’S house and speak to all the cities of Judah which come to worship in the house of YAHWEH all the words that I commanded you to speak to them; omit not a word; 3: Perhaps they will listen and turn every man from his evil way, so that I may cease from the harm which I purpose to do to them because of their evil doings. Our Father in Heaven is so merciful, He does not want to put down His judgement on them. This is His heart, He wants them back…He wants us back.
So when someone asks me why do you follow the commandments of YAHWEH including the Levitical laws when they have been done away with? First, they have not been done away with; but that’s another devotional for another time and second, how could I not? Out of everyone who loves me, He loves me the most. He has shown me through the sacrifice of His Son YESHUA but He has shown me His heart and personality from Genesis to where I am now in Jeremiah. (I haven’t finished the book yet, there may be a second devotional on this book, I really love it so far) I don’t want to hurt anyone as much as our ancestors have hurt our Father YAHWEH, so I definitely do not want to hurt Him especially after He has repeatedly from the beginning of time shown Himself worthy. He’s done nothing but love us as His children. He provides for us, protects us, heals and fights for us. So you see, I don’t want the baubles, bells and whistles; He is everything I need and I love Him. Don’t you do all that you can for the one you love?
Shalom!
Just a few supporting verses
Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8: According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt even to this day, as they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also to you.
-1 Samuel 8:7
Go and pray to the gods with whom you are pleased; let them become your saviors in the time of y our distress
-Judges 10:14
Thus says YAHWEH what iniquity have your fathers found in me that they are gone far from me and have walked after vanity and have profited nothing?
-Jeremiah 2:5
Who say to a piece of wood, You are our father; and to a stone, You have brought us forth; for they have turned their backs upon me and not their faces; but in the time of their trouble, they say, Arise and save us.
-Jeremiah 2:27
But where are your gods that you have made for yourself? Let them arise and save you in the time of your trouble; for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah.
-Jeremiah 2:28
Can a maid forget her ornaments or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
-Jeremiah 2:32
Why do you deck yourself to induce love? For behold you have also learned evil by means of your conduct. 34: Also on your hands is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents; I have not found it by hard search for it is under every tree. (again personality of YAHWEH clowning his children)
-Jeremiah 2:33-34
How long shall there be in the mouth of the false prophets, prophecies of lies? Prophecies of the deceit of their own heart? 27: Who think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers forgot my name and served Baal. (He wants us to remember His name and call Him by it (Baal = Lord))
-Jeremiah 23:26-27