Fox Byte 5775 #20: Tetzaveh (You Shall Command)

My friend Al has a precious gift for using TV programs and movie characters to make us think about the relevancy of Abba’s instructions for us today. He hit the mark again with this week’s post and you are sure to enjoy it!

THE BARKING FOX

תְּצַוֶּה

Chuck Connors as Jason McCord, a man unjustly accused of cowardice and drummed out of the Army. From the 1960s NBC TV Western Branded. (Photo: riflemanconnors.com)

One of the compelling images I recall from childhood is the opening scene of Branded.  This Western TV drama starred Chuck Connors as a United States Army officer unjustly charged with cowardice.  Week after week the series opened with Jason McCord, Connors’ character, being drummed out of the service at a remote post in the American West.  As the garrison assembles, McCord is marched to the front and center of the formation, where his commander removes from him every vestige of his connection with the Army – his hat, rank insignia, and even the buttons on his coat.  Last of all the commander removes McCord’s sword from its sheath, breaks it over his knee, and tosses the broken hilt out…

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Fox Byte 5775 #18: Mishpatim (Ordinances)

THE BARKING FOX

מִּשְׁפָּטִים

Even hell must abide by the Laws the Creator has established for the seasons. (“It’s so cold that now HELL has frozen over: Michigan town falls victim to record cold temperatures”, Daily Mail, January 8, 2014)

How would one describe hell?  Dante does a nice job in his Inferno, depicting levels of escalating unpleasantness corresponding to the earthly misdeeds of the unfortunate sufferers.  It is important to note that Dante’s descriptions, however grotesque, are not without a certain order.  In other words, hell is not complete chaos.  There is an organization, a hierarchy, and a supreme authority that keeps it functioning.  If there were no order then hell would splinter into a million pieces and never cause harm to another soul.  And thus Dante reflects something that Yeshua explained about the infernal realm:

And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against…

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Yitro – Jethro

Torah Portion:  Exodus 18:1 through Exodus 20:23
Haftarah Portion:  Isaiah 6:1-7:6 and Isaiah 9:5-6
New Testament Portion:  1 John 1:1-6, 1John 2:2-11, 1John 2:24-26

Due to the earth-shaking (pun intended) ramifications of the events, it would seem logical that the name of this portion of Torah should be “commandments,” “Mount Sinai”, “betrothal” or “ketubah.” That it is named for Moses’ father-in-law, the “priest of Median” to whom we were introduced in Shemot a few weeks ago,  leaves us scratching our heads.

What Does the Bible Say About Keeping the Commandments?

The following is an exhaustive list of verses containing the word “commandments” obtained by my use of E-Sword, a free Bible software program available on the Internet, and The Blue Letter Bible Online, a web site that provides extensive Bible study materials at no charge. Programs like these are invaluable for examining the whole counsel of God in regard to specific subjects. When I began to examine the “sum of Thy word,” which, according to the psalmist, is “truth,” my perspective of the Scriptures, and what is expected of believers, drastically changed, as did my walk with the LORD. It is my prayer that this article will prompt much thought and searching that we might say, as did Peter and the apostles, “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts. 5:29)