Yeshua and the Day of Atonement

This year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins on Friday evening September 29th, 2017. This is the single day of the year that the high priest could enter into the Holy of Holies, into the presence of God as He was seated on the mercy seat. The high priest was to come into the presence of God and make Atonement for the children of Israel. He was to do this year after year, every year in perpetuity. Why is the Day of Atonement necessary? After all, the children of Israel are already in covenant with God. What does making atonement entail? How does Yeshua provide the perfect atonement and what does that really mean?

Give Ear, O Heavens, and I Will Speak

As Moses’ begins to wrap up his instructions to the children of Israel before they go into the Promised Land, He spoke the words of a song we now call the Song of Moses. Moses called on the heavens and the earth to hear and witness the words of this song. The heavens and the earth are nearly an eternal witness. They were the first things that God created. They will endure until God recreates the heavens and the earth. What does the Song of Moses contain that is so important it requires the witness of the heavens and the earth? What does it tell us about God’s plan for His people? How does it point to Yeshua?

Entering the Covenant of the LORD

As we approach the end of this year’s Torah Cycle, we are observing the Children of Israel about to enter the Promised Land. New leadership is being chosen and a new generation of Israel will finally receive the promise that God made to Abraham nearly 500 years prior. As Moses addresses the gathered Israelites and strangers who dwell with them, he presents them with an open invitation to enter the covenant relationship with God. This covenant renewal at the threshold of the Promised land was not for just the Children of Israel, but for the stranger who dwells among them and for those not present, for those of future generations, Jew and Gentile who chose to serve the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We are presented an open invitation to enter God’s covenant.

When You Come Into the Land

Moses spoke to the children of Israel on the plains of Moab across the Jordan from the land that God had promised them through Abraham about what they were to do once they received the land. Each year, they were to bring their firstfruits offerings to the LORD and declare that they had received the inheritance of the land that God had promised to give them. This was actually just the beginning of what they were to declare. What was the purpose of this yearly declaration? What else were they to specifically do when they entered the land? How does it all point to Yeshua? And what does it mean for our lives?