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We are given a depiction, in Torah, of what the community of Israel is to do as they enter the land for the fist time. They are to go to the Mt. of Blessing and the Mt. of Cursing, Mt Ebal and Mt Gerizim. We are not given specifics to the function, but that six tribes would go up to each mountain and the priests and levites would be in the valley between the two.
Now, which would you want to be on, sort of like playing Haman for the Purim play. No one really wants to be the bad guy for real. Somebody could portray a bad guy and do a good job on stage or for a skit, but to really represent the evil, well, we don't want to have to associate with even the appearance of evil....
But if Yah is calling you to make an example of a situation and to give the Torah directives through example, you would certainly want others watching to see it for what it is and not take up an offense (or stones) with you. Wouldn't we want that our friends and neighbors would heed the Holy Spirit and pay no attention to us. This idea seems so simple, but the truth is that human nature dictates that we immediately see the person in play and not the actions or the words spoken. We immediately have the opportunity to take it personally and to hold a grudge. We immediately have the ability to rebel and repel or embrace and repent...even with a smattering of forgiveness if necessary.
It does not take a lot of grudge or unforgiveness to endow bitterness, yet it festers among us like a plague. Many times, due to bad behaviors or loose tongues, people get hurt and hold to a bad impression of a body member, and sometimes, the perception of what is taking place or what is said is what sparks embitterment to take root in our hearts and to get stuck there for years. Moreover, the side of the words spoken or the actions taken does not matter, because each side is scoping the other side out to watch for body language to interpret or to hear what attitude might be in the voice inflections. The side of blessing can be as injured or even wrongfully take offense as easily as the side of cursing. We assume that the side of cursing is immediately in the wrong and walking in sin or uncleanness.
Could it be, that with the promises and the curses of Yah both written in Torah, that we cannot escape the causality of our actions and that our salvation is in Yeshua, but the tongue and heart are still so dark that we continuously walk in either a blessing by obedience or a curse brought on by disobedience. That we judge people based on what we perceive them doing and not by asking the Father what He has asked them to do. Could it be that we see a group of people on a mountain and we immediately flock to them thinking, hoping, searching and longing for the blessings of YHWH, only to find those on the mountain top speaking curses, yet proclaiming truths. The truths get shrouded out by our preconceived notions that we deserve the blessing and that is all we are going to listen to. We get our feelings injured and pick up the offense (a stone) and take aim at those that could be the mouth piece of the Most High.
Everyone wants the blessings. This is the common state of affairs and why we see multitudes flocking to the sensationalistic styles, the charismatic enclaves and the "special movement" that we think the Holy Spirit has sanctioned. Bless me, listen to me, hear me, touch me, heal me, laugh with me, lift me up, hear my voice, knock me down, make me laugh, make me cry. However, we, of all people, should know that it has nothing to do with me and everything to do with Him. We take it so personally and charge after those ideas and actions that can best benefit our flesh and our desires. Often times, even these are
disguised behind our guile raging with the Body stating that the Holy Spirit told me that or that I was led to do this. Does not the word tell us that Love does not seek its own?
So those on the mountain top, even the ones crying out the curses are there by the instruction of YHWH. They may not sound so plain as what Torah explains in curses against disobedience, it may be that rubbing of others to sharpen us. It may be the development of godly character through opposition of loved ones and community members. It may be God imploring us to come home to His mountain of blessing, not to seek the blessing, but to seek His face.
What group are you in? Maybe it is not so bad to be on the side where the curses are being pronounced. Maybe this is the side that YHWH is using in this day to call an unbelieving people to repentance, maybe it is the side that has to be seen first in order for the fullness of all things can come to pass. It could be that it is the side that our merciful and gracious Abba has sent us to allow us to grow before we can approach a jealous, consuming fire. |
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