A look into Isaiah 43:21-44:23 and Mark 11:1-12:44

[Jacob Ben Avraham]

ISAIAH 43:21-44:23

YHVH speaks through the Prophet Yeshayahu and complains that Israel has forgotten about God, they no longer bring sacrifices, but are engrossed in sin, He explains that craftsmen will use their skill to make idols, that have no value, what a waste of craftsmanship! They can take iron and make a plowshare, swords, and even an idol. Is the fault in the iron? Or in the craftsman? Iron is just a material from the ground, the craftsman can turn it into something for usefulness or idolatry.

The worker in wood can cut down trees, make perhaps a plow, a wheel, use the wood for fuel for fire, or make a wooden idol. Is it the wood’s fault? or does the fault lie with the craftsman? Even today, we can use money either to buy food for our family, pay our bills, or buy and sell drugs! Does the fault lie in the money? Or the use of it? We can use money to honor or dishonor God and those around us, the choice is ours.

What are we doing with the resources that God has given us? Everything belongs to God. He owns it all. We just use HIS resources. Someday, we will ALL be held accountable for how we have used what HE has given us "on loan" We can use what He has given to us for HIS glory and honor, or to satisfy greed and self.

God cries out to Israel; “I SHALL WIPE OUT YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS LIKE A CLOUD, AND YOUR SINS LIKE A MIST, RETURN TO ME AND I SHALL REDEEM YOU” (44:22) The promise still stands. If we “shoov” (return) to HIM, HE will save us! That's what the name "Yeshuah" means. "Salvation is of YAH"

MARK 11:1-12:44

There are several themes in these verses. Yeshua is in all of them. One theme is that when he went into the temple in Yerushalayim, he threw over the money tables and chased out the money changers, saying “My house is a House of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves” There are many synagogues and some churches that refuse to conduct business on the Sabbath or the day of worship because they are reminded of that verse. However, Yeshua called them “thieves” These money changers were exchanging foreign money such as Greek “drachmas” and Roman “Denarii” for Israel “Shekels” to buy sacrificial animals. Many times, the money changers would not honor the exchange rate, and would “cheat” the clients. If 12 Mexican pesos equaled 1 US dollar, it would be like accepting the 12 pesos and giving the person 75 cents! Perhaps these money changers were cheating in this way.

Are there ways that we are thieves? If God has set aside the Sabbath to attend HIS house, to visit with Him and show HIM due honor, are we there? be it on Shabbat or on Sunday? or both? Or are we at the park, at a ball game, or just in the "I don't want to go to church today" mode? Either way, we are "stealing" from God! Our time belongs to the LORD. Tithes and offerings also belong to Him. Let us honor the LORD with our time and with our resources, and not be thieves.

In 12:29-31 Yeshua quotes the “Shema” Hear O Israel YHVH is our Elohim, YHVH is ONE (Echad) and he continues, Love Elohim with all your heart, being, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Yeshua just summed up all the 613 commandments in two verses! Because all the commandments have to do with our relationship with YHVH and our relationship with our fellow man.

That is the purpose of Bible study, to learn these commandments and put them into practice, to deepen our relationship with Messiah Yeshua to be a good witness to our fellow man, and to bring lost mankind to a saving relationship with Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Christ).

 

Messiah Yeshua, the Bread of Life, who paid our sin price with his body and blood