Isaiah 43:25-26: “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted.”
The ‘parsha’ (‘Torah’ portion) this week, ‘Parsha Vayikra’ (and he called) which begins the third Book in the ‘Torah’, Leviticus, is found in Leviticus chapter 1:1 to the end of chapter 5, and is the twenty fourth weekly ‘Torah’ portion in the annual Jewish cycle of ‘Torah’ reading; the corresponding ‘haftorah’ (reading of the prophets) is found in Isaiah 43:21 – 44:23.
The second half of the Book of Exodus, whose reading we concluded last week, was taken up primarily with the details of the Sanctuary's construction.
In Exodus' concluding verses, we read how the Sanctuary was erected and the Divine Presence came to dwell in it. Thus the Sanctuary commenced its function as the “Tent of Meeting” between G-d and man; the place that is the focus of man's endeavour to serve his Creator, and where G-d communicated to man and made His presence felt within a humanly constructed abode.
In ‘Parsha Vayikra’ which opens the book of Leviticus, G-d speaks to Moses from the Tent of Meeting and begins His communication of the laws governing the ‘korbanot’ – the bringing of the animal and meal offerings that were the central feature of the service performed in the Sanctuary.
These laws included: The ‘olah’ – the “ascending offering”; Five varieties of ‘minchah’ – the “meal offering”, prepared with fine flour, olive oil and frankincense; The ‘shelamim’ – the “peace offering”; The different types of ‘chatat’ – the “sin offering” and the ‘asham’ – the “guilt offering” which was brought by one who had appropriated property of the Sanctuary; one who was in doubt as to whether he had transgressed a divine prohibition; and one who had committed a “betrayal against G-d” by swearing falsely to defraud a fellow man.
G-d also instructed the Jewish people to bring the Passover offering, to eat it with ‘matzo’ and bitter herbs, and to abstain from leaven for seven days.
This week's ‘haftorah’ starts with a rebuke to the Israelites for abandoning the Temple's sacrificial service. Sacrifices are also the dominant topic of this week's ‘Torah’ reading.
The prophet Isaiah rebuked the Israelites for turning away from G-d and refraining from offering sacrifices, turning to idolatry instead. G-d exhorted the people to return to Him, promising to forgive their transgressions.
‘Haftorah Vayikra’ concludes with G-d’s plea to always remember Him and to return to Him, and ends with G-d’s redemptive promise to Israel – “Remember these, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” (Isaiah 44:21-22).
In this week’s ‘parsha’, we read about the ‘korbanot’, the laws governing the bringing of the animal and meal offerings that were the central feature of the service performed in the Sanctuary.
However in this week’s ‘haftorah’, we see that the Israelites were rebuked for turning away from G-d and refraining from offering sacrifices, turning to idolatry.
This is very interesting as, only through the sacrificial system, could one’s sins and soul be atoned for. Yet, in the ‘haftorah’, we read that the Israelites turned away from G-d and refrained from offering sacrifices.
However in the ‘Haftorah’, G-d says to Israel that He has not forgotten them and that, if they return to Him, He will redeem them.
Sadly, Israel never accepted G-d’s offer of redemption. In fact to this day, the majority of my Jewish brothers and sisters have rejected G-d’s offer of being redeemed from sin and eternal death as, only through Yeshua, can one be redeemed from sin and eternal death.
Up to 7 October 2023, most of the Jews living in Israel are secular, with only about twenty per cent being religious. And G-d is saying to His chosen people: “Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” (Isaiah 44:22).
However since October 7 2023 and the onslaught of Israel’s war with Hamas, more and more Israelis – especially young Israelis and soldiers – are returning to ‘Adonai Elohim’ the L-rd G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
However, full redemption only comes through the saving grace of the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua. G-d’s heart is for Israel, the Jewish people, to be saved; we see this heart in:
Romans 9:1-4: “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites”
Romans 10:1: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved”
Romans 11:13-14: “For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.”
However, G-d’s heart for salvation extends to all of mankind: 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
And it’s exactly for this reason that, as the church, and as Messianic Jews, we must obey the G-d given commandment given by Yeshua Himself called the ‘Great Commission’ which is found in four books of the bible – Matthew, Mark, Luke and Acts, in which Yeshua commands us to take the gospel to all the nations.
However, G-d has given the Gentile church a specific mandate for the Jewish people which is found in Romans 11:11-15: “I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
It’s vital that as believers in Yeshua, you walk in full obedience to the ‘Great Commission’ as well as to the mandate to take the gospel to the original messengers, the Jewish people.
Perhaps you are reading this article and you realise that you have not been obedient to the ‘Great Commission’ or, if you are a Gentile believer in Yeshua, to G-d’s mandate regarding giving the gospel to Jewish people you know. You need to repent and begin obeying G-d’s command to share the gospel with both Jews and Gentiles.
Perhaps you are reading this article and you realise that you have rejected G-d’s offer of being redeemed from sin and eternal death. Perhaps you realise that you have rejected Yeshua and that you don’t really know if your sins have been forgiven you and that, if you died today, you have no guarantee regarding your eternal future.
Yeshua sacrificed His life for you so that you can receive the forgiveness of sin and have the guarantee of eternal life in heaven and this is for everyone, Jews and Gentiles.
Will you return to G-d by committing your life to His Son Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah who lovingly and faithfully endured the cross for you and for me, accepting Him as your L-rd and Saviour? This is the only way to salvation, as only through Yeshua can one’s sins be forgiven and one’s soul be atoned for – or saved.
Right now, Almighty G-d is saying to you: “Return to Me, for I have redeemed you”.
To accept G-d’s gift of the forgiveness of sin, salvation and everlasting life in heaven, all you need to do is confess your sins, repent of them and ask Yeshua to come into your life as your L-rd and Saviour.
And you can do this by praying the Prayer of Salvation found at the end of this article.
Finally, pray for Israel to be saved.
So when will the end come and when will Yeshua return? When “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations” (Matthew 24:14).
And the church has neglected to take the gospel to the one nation the church is mandated to take the gospel to, the Jewish people, who are the original messengers.
Please pray for the salvation of the Jewish people. More than this, take the gospel to Jewish people that you know, as this is well pleasing to Almighty G-d – “How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”” (Isaiah 52:7).
We love you.
Shalom.
Scripture of the week: Isaiah 43:1-2: “But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”
SALVATION PRAYER
Thank you Yeshua for Your love for me.
Thank you for giving up Your life on the cross for me and for taking my sins upon Yourself.
I confess that I have sinned.
I repent of my sins and I turn from everything I know to be wrong.
I invite You to come into my life as my Messiah, my Saviour.
By Your grace I will serve You all the remaining years of my life.