October 1999
For me the call to repentance on Yom Teruah, and beyond, was accompanied by a strong reminder about one of Israel's most infamous kings, who was notorious for his sins and iniquitous practices, namely "Ahab". Generally, it is Ahab's wife Jezebel who gets most of the attention, but more than anything she was a help mate and a compatible reward to a rebellious Ahab. What's more, it must be remembered that she was a Sidonian, a daughter of an idol worshipping king who, in all likelihood, served also as a high priest of his idol (Baal). Here is the very unambiguous portrayal of Israel's ruling pair of the day.
"Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of YHVH, more than all who were before him. And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke YHVH the Elohim of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him"
(1 Kings 16:30-34).
It was in the day of this evil king, whose nation had also participated in the very same sins, that YHVH sent the prophet Elijah. It was while Israel was in bondage in idolatrous Egypt that Moses came on the scene. Yeshua, too, showed up during the height of Rome's decadence and evil practices of idolatry. Likewise, the contemporary conditions of the world, with its worship of humanism and the works of its hands, should give rise to the appearing, in some form, of an Elijah or a Moses in order to confront and deliver YHVH's people. Let me reiterate: Are we living in the times of the "two witnesses" (Moses and Elijah, see Revelation 11:3), and if they show up would we recognize them?
The Mount of Transfiguration scene could provide us with some clues as to what we are to look for. In this episode, Moses and Elijah are seen standing on each side of Yeshua while a voice speaks out of the cloud, declaring about Yeshua "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him" (Matthew 17:5). Why hear Yeshua, and not Moses and Elijah? Was YHVH pointing out that the words, as spoken by Moses and Elijah, were epitomized by "Yeshua the Word"? Was the Father implying that in the last days (the time of the “two witnesses”) Yeshua will be showing up again, only this time in a body of people that will represent Him as Moses the "Torah" and Elijah the "Prophets"? The religious leaders of Yeshua's day missed His first appearing, because they had it all figured out (or so they thought). How can we be sure that we are not missing his second appearing by misinterpreting or misunderstanding?
In Malachi chapter 4 we again see all three figures, this time as they appear at the end of the age. The reference to "the Sun of righteousness with healing in His wings", in verse 2, recalls the Transfiguration scene where Yeshua's face shone like the sun (ref Matthew 17: 2). In verse 4 Israel is exhorted to "remember the Torah of Moses and the statutes and ordnances…for all Israel" before Elijah shows up (verse 5), who "will restore the hearts of the fathers to the sons and the hearts of the sons to their fathers" (verse 6).
Before we are tempted, like Peter, to enshrine Moses in one succah and Elijah in another, let us ponder peacefully what this last Feast is really all about - not the "shadow" but the essence (ref. Colossians 2: 16-17). Yeshua, Moses, and Elijah could be standing in our very midst, through the Spirit of Holiness that is “tabernacling” in us, while we are sitting in our succah in a park somewhere or in our own backyard. Just something to think about.
Ephraim
For me the call to repentance on Yom Teruah, and beyond, was accompanied by a strong reminder about one of Israel's most infamous kings, who was notorious for his sins and iniquitous practices, namely "Ahab". Generally, it is Ahab's wife Jezebel who gets most of the attention, but more than anything she was a help mate and a compatible reward to a rebellious Ahab. What's more, it must be remembered that she was a Sidonian, a daughter of an idol worshipping king who, in all likelihood, served also as a high priest of his idol (Baal). Here is the very unambiguous portrayal of Israel's ruling pair of the day.
"Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of YHVH, more than all who were before him. And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke YHVH the Elohim of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him"
(1 Kings 16:30-34).
It was in the day of this evil king, whose nation had also participated in the very same sins, that YHVH sent the prophet Elijah. It was while Israel was in bondage in idolatrous Egypt that Moses came on the scene. Yeshua, too, showed up during the height of Rome's decadence and evil practices of idolatry. Likewise, the contemporary conditions of the world, with its worship of humanism and the works of its hands, should give rise to the appearing, in some form, of an Elijah or a Moses in order to confront and deliver YHVH's people. Let me reiterate: Are we living in the times of the "two witnesses" (Moses and Elijah, see Revelation 11:3), and if they show up would we recognize them?
The Mount of Transfiguration scene could provide us with some clues as to what we are to look for. In this episode, Moses and Elijah are seen standing on each side of Yeshua while a voice speaks out of the cloud, declaring about Yeshua "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him" (Matthew 17:5). Why hear Yeshua, and not Moses and Elijah? Was YHVH pointing out that the words, as spoken by Moses and Elijah, were epitomized by "Yeshua the Word"? Was the Father implying that in the last days (the time of the “two witnesses”) Yeshua will be showing up again, only this time in a body of people that will represent Him as Moses the "Torah" and Elijah the "Prophets"? The religious leaders of Yeshua's day missed His first appearing, because they had it all figured out (or so they thought). How can we be sure that we are not missing his second appearing by misinterpreting or misunderstanding?
In Malachi chapter 4 we again see all three figures, this time as they appear at the end of the age. The reference to "the Sun of righteousness with healing in His wings", in verse 2, recalls the Transfiguration scene where Yeshua's face shone like the sun (ref Matthew 17: 2). In verse 4 Israel is exhorted to "remember the Torah of Moses and the statutes and ordnances…for all Israel" before Elijah shows up (verse 5), who "will restore the hearts of the fathers to the sons and the hearts of the sons to their fathers" (verse 6).
Before we are tempted, like Peter, to enshrine Moses in one succah and Elijah in another, let us ponder peacefully what this last Feast is really all about - not the "shadow" but the essence (ref. Colossians 2: 16-17). Yeshua, Moses, and Elijah could be standing in our very midst, through the Spirit of Holiness that is “tabernacling” in us, while we are sitting in our succah in a park somewhere or in our own backyard. Just something to think about.
Ephraim
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