שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם
Shalom aleichem
Welcome and Peace!
The Abrahamic Covenant
As time passed humanity drifted ever farther away from the Echad Elohiym and His Torah. The Noahide Laws were no longer being observed by most people and humanity was becoming increasingly engulfed by spiritual Darkness.
The true worship of the One God became diffused and mixed with local traditions, beliefs and superstitions. The Book of Judges shows how the people would draw close to HaShem for a while and then drift away again and again. We also find evidence of this influx of Paganism in the writings of the Sumerians, the Chaldeans, the Babylonians, and elsewhere.
The true worship of Echad Elohiym was replaced by idolatry to myriad gods and goddesses like the 360 Arab idols -- ruled by allah Hubal-Sin of Mecca -- and the host of Ba'als (demigod "masters"). More and more the world was coming to resemble the days before the flood but Adonai's patience continued as He invited the earth to return to His Way.
Humanity had been granted free will and so the Echad Elohiym would not force Himself on the people nor would He again flood the world to destroy them (Genesis 9:11). The Echad Elohiym allowed the people to go their own ways in darkness and ignorance. While most worshiped the Ba'als and other elohiym (gods) such as Hubal, the Akkadian Bēlu, moon gods like Nanna, Suen and Asimbabbar (who later became known as the Moon god Sin), and goddesses such as Lat, al-Uzza, and Manat (referenced in al Qu'ran), precious few bent the knee the One True God as spiritual darkness again filled the earth.
The Strict Monotheism of Avraham
But then one day, ten generations after the flood and the giving of the Sheva Mitzvot to Noach, a young boy with a philosophical bent walked into his father's shop and forever altered the course of human history!
The boy's father was a skilled artisan named Terah (Joshua 24:2,3). He was a maker of statuary including religious elıyl or idols. The boy was doubtless his apprentice as well, such was common. In those days the world was a very frightening place and one relied heavily on ones family and communal gods for everything. The skill required to make these exacting figurines was highly prized and the craft quite lucrative.
On this fateful day, according to tradition, the young boy, his name was Avram, walked into Terah's workshop and paused, looking at the idols his father had crafted for sale. Avram had always wondered about the figurines. Did they really have magic powers like the people believed? Could they act for good or for ill? It was an intriguing idea and he was a curious boy!
As Avram stood in his father shop surrounded by idols the Ruach Hakodesh (Presence) of the One God inspired him to action!
Avram took one of his father's big hammers and ran around the shop smashing all the idols to bits! He noted with doubtless relief that none of them retaliated and so he continued his work of idol smashing. Now he was certain, the images had no power at all! They were nothing but pieces of artwork made of stone, of wood and other of physical substances: Beyond the physical there was nothing to them at all!
Finally all of the idols were smashed except the biggest one, the most fierce looking of them all. But as Avram approached this final elıyl the Echad Elohiym inspired him and he stopped. Rather than smashing it, Avram carefully placed the hammer in its outstretched hands and quietly left the shop!
When Terah returned and saw all his work smashed to bits he was livid! This destruction would cost him dearly in late orders and missed sales... so he called for his son.
"Avram! What happened here!" he demanded.
The boy looked at his father and recounted how the big elıyl had hopped down from his podium screaming at the other gods in his jealousy! "That big god," Avram told his father, "grabbed your hammer and began smashing all the other ones to bits! He kept screaming that he was the strongest god of them all and that he would not share his glory with others! He said he was tougher than they were and that he would not let them steal his worship any longer! All the other gods just quaked in fear! The cowards!"
Terah looked at his son in disbelief! "Do you take me for a fool boy! These are just elıyl (idols)! They can't walk around, talk and fight like real beings!"
Avram then asked his father, "Then, why do you make and worship them?"
Terah was speechless and monotheism was rekindled!
Because of Avram's intelligence, ability to reason and his faith, the Echad Elohiym blessed him and revealed a portion of His Torah to him. Avram prospered greatly under the Presence of the One True God as did all who came under his roof, including Lot who later settled in the town of Sodom.
We wont consider Avram's life in too much detail here as we are currently focusing on the covenants, particularly the B'rit Hadashah or New Covenant instituted by Adon Y'shua the Nazarene. We do need to understand however that biblical religion springs from Noach (and the Rainbow Covenant), was restored through Avraham avinu and the Abrahamic Covenant Adonai granted to him and his descendants and later codified through the Mosaic Covenant.
Avraham's revelation of the absolute Oneness of Adonai is the central pillar of biblical truth and doctrine. It is also the most frequently challenged of all the biblical truths. Whether detractors and heretics postulate multifaceted godheads, forms of polytheism, trinities or dualities, variations of gnostic oneness and shadow reflections or whatever else they may concoct, the central pillar of the Torah and true biblical religion remains inviolable:
שמע ישראל ה 'הוא האלוהים שלנו הוא אחד Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad
"Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One"Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya'akov
Avram grew up and married Sarai but after many many years together it was apparent that she was barren.
As the couple grew old they earnestly prayed for a son and heir to inherit the blessings bestowed on Avram by the Echad Elohiym and no yet child was born. A man without a son was regardless as dry riverbed, useless. Avram had been so blessed! Had the One God abandoned him after these years? They were understandably concerned.
God's Ways are not our ways! Being favorably disposed toward the couple and wishing to establish His Glory throughout the Earth and thereby bless all creation, the Echad Elohiym sent messengers to the couple promising they would have a son and heir when the time was right. They must exercise faith however and wait for God to act.
After a while their faith wavered and they began to doubt the promise they been given. They were drying up physically and still no son was born. So trusting in human wisdom rather than the Wisdom of God they decided to have a son by alternate means!
Sarai suggested Avram impregnate her maid, an Egyptian slave named Hagar -- back in the day this idea didn't pose the social and moral problems it would today! As explained previously on the Gilui Arayot commandment: fifth of the Seven Noahide Laws, sexual mores must in part be determined by cultural norms of the day. In an act of doubt Avram, nearly a hundred years old by this point, impregnated the Egyptian slave of his beloved wife. The act was not sinful, doubting Adonai was.
In due course Hagar gave birth to a son and named him Ishmael. Indicative of his offspring, Ishmael was a "wild man" according to the Torah (Genesis 16:12). God promised Avram that Ishmael would father a great people (the Northern Arabs) but that His promise would not pass through him. Ishmael's birth was therefore the result of a lack in faith.
The Child of promise would be born just as the Messengers of Adonai had foretold through Sarai. Avram's faith was somewhat rekindled but Sarai doubted still.
Finally Avram and Sarai gave birth to the promised son and named him Yitzchak (translated as Isaac in English Bibles).
Isaac's birth and the divine decree that he would be the one to carry the blessings of Avraham caused jealousy regarding Ishmael. As the firstborn son of Avraham and presumed heir Hagar wanted those rights and the authority it entailed for her son. Yet God had said Isaac would be the heir of Avraham and the bearer of the promise to bless the earth. Ishmael's mother Hagar and her son were soon cast off from the community of Avraham by Sarah and wandered away into the desert.
The Echad Elohiym renamed Avram Avraham and Sarai He renamed Sarah, both changes being evidence of His intervention in their lives and in the lives of all humanity though their chosen offspring.
In time Issac and his wife prospered and gave birth to a son named Ya'akov (Jacob). The One God was pleased with Jacob as well and blessed him and was with him. As a sign of His favor God renamed Ya'akov Israel and covenanted Himself with the House of Israel forever.
The Echad Elohiym was well pleased with Israel/Jacob and gave him twelve sons (the Twelve Houses of Israel are their descendants) and a daughter named Dinah. God declared that this house or lineage would be the Chosen family through which He would interact with and eventually redeem the entire world (Genesis 12:1-3).
This not the place to for much more detail on this topic, but from the Houses of Israel God chose the House (or tribe) of Judah (the Jews) to bear the Promise forward and through that House Adon Y'shua was later born as the Seed of David and branch (netser) of Jesse, for which reason he called "the Nazarene."
The Jews are the rightful heirs and guarantors of God's promises to Avraham, Isaac, Jacob. This is why Jews are not like the other people and why their destiny is not like the destiny of the rest of humanity. They are the Eternally Chosen by Adonai.
The Truth About Allah
As for Ishmael, the son of Sarai's doubt, his descendants and the gods they worship...
KJV: Genesis 17:18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
17:21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.The Torah is abundantly clear that the Semitic Northern Arabs (the descendants of Ishmael including Muhammad Mustafa) have no part in the Covenant between the One True God and Avraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moshe.
As I discuss elsewhere in more detail, twelve houses or tribes were born to Ya'akov (Jacob) however as Isaiah and Jeremiah describe 10 of these 12 houses were "divorced" from Israel when it became apparent that their hearts were not established in the worship of Adonai (compare Jeremiah 3:8) the God of Israel.
Having a physical link with Avraham is not enough to be counted among the promises granted to him. As Adon Y'shua explained:
KJV: Matthew 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.Ishmael's connection with Avraham means nothing of itself. Recall that HaShem removed most of the tribe of Benjamin (Judges chapters 19-21) due to their gross violation of the hospitality laws and their unwillingness to repent. Likewise HaShem divorced the Ten Houses of Israel for their "spiritual prostitution" with other gods (compare Jeremiah 3:8). HaShem also brought the houses of Judah and Benjamin into captivity to Babylon, restored them to their Land for a time, and when they still refused to repent HaShem had the Romans destroy the Beit HaMikdash in 70 C.E and disperse His people throughout the Earth!
HaShem grafted Gentiles (Noahide Nazarenes) into the House of Israel to "provoke [the Jews] to jealousy" (Romans 11:11) reminiscent of Moshe's warning at Deuteronomy 32:21. Adonai seeks those who seek Him and He remains ever faithful to His commitment to Am Israel (People Israel).
In each case the Scriptures are clear about Adonai's displeasure with His people and why He does what He does seeking to inspire their repentance. In Genesis Moshe is completely clear that Adonai's Spirit and blessings remained with Isaac and his descendants and that Ishmael was driven out into the desert, cast off from God's Promise to Avraham. The Ishmaelites could have continued in their relationship with HaShem as Noahides but instead they turned to false gods and made themselves the enemies of the Echad Elohiym. That was/is their free will choice. HaShem does not force us to come to Him.
Ishmael, the mamser of an Egyptian slave, copulated with local Pagan women and embraced the worship of their gods. In time 360 such gods were seated for worship and service at Mecca. Whether these gods existed in Mecca before the days of Ishmael we don't know but that his descendants worshiped these gods and even facilitated their abominable practices is certain (the Hebrew word "abomination" -- תּועבה or to-ay-baw) is always used in a religious context in the Bible. If something is described as "an abomination" failure to recognize its religious implication is to miss the meaning. Chief of Mecca's gods was allah Hubal-Sin.
The descendants of Ishmael were disowned by the God of Avraham and they rejected His Torah. They sided against Israel in confederation with the descendants of the Nephilim such as the Rapha (who peopled among the Philistines -- pel-ish-tee: a Greek sea faring people). The Ishmaelites warred against the Israelites and against the God of Israel seeking to genocide them completely as we read in the Tanakh:
KJV: Psalms 83:2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head....
83:5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
83:6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
83:7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
83:8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.We find reference to these Pagan gods, goddesses and their devotees throughout the Torah. The wrath of Adonai always burns hot against them and frequently He instructed the Israelites to utterly decimate their numbers, even killing their cattle and their crops, so vile was their abominations (to-ay-baw) in the land that the Israelites were forbidden to have any contact with the remains (compare Deuteronomy 7:25)!
Hubal Sin
Among these false gods the Ishmaelites embraced was the Arabian Moon god named Hubal, the chief god of Mecca. Hubal is related to the Mesopotamian Moon god Nanna (or Sin), the son of Enlil and Ninlil. The two chief seats of Nanna/Sin's worship were Ur (where Avraham was from) and Harran in the north.
Hubal/Sin was a fairly major local idol in his day and it is likely that his image was among those destroyed by young Avram in his father's workshop as described above. His image stood atop the Kaaba in Mecca as ruler and overseer of the 360 god Arab/Ishmaelite pantheon. As chief god Hubal-Sin was known simply as Al-lah or "the god." Allah Sin's name is related to place names like Sinai, the wilderness of Sin and so on.
Rather than Holy Jerusalem, Mecca is the Moon god's capital city and the Kaaba was and remains to this day his principle shrine. The crescent moon symbol of Hubal-Sin is prominently displayed on every Muslim shrine and throughout the lands controlled by the Ummah of Islam. The Kaaba of Hubal-Sin is where Muslims make their haj (pilgrimage) and Muslims the world over stop and bow to the Kaaba five times a day.
Muhammad
After several thousand years one of these Arab Pagans, a warlord and religious reformer of the Quraysh tribe of Mecca united the 360 Ba'als of Mecca by the sword after plagiarizing the Bible, the Indian Vedas and the Zoroastrian Avesta to produce al Qu'ran. With the sword Muhammad (born circa 570/571 C.E. in Mecca – June 8, 632) declared that there is no allah (god) but allah (i.e. Hubal-Sin) and that he, Muhammad, is the final prophet of Hubal-Sin. All who opposed this declaration (known as shahada) was executed:
lâ ilâha illallâh, Muḥammadur rasûlullâh
There is no allah but [our] allah, and Muhammad is his final messenger.This is the true origin of Islam: Islam did NOT begin with Avraham, with Ishmael nor even with Muhammad Mustafa. Muhammad merely outlawed the other Pagan gods of the Kaaba, turned Hubal-Sin into a caricature of the Echad Elohiym (One God) of the Torah and usurped the role of Adon Y'shua as Cohen Gadol and Mediator between God and humanity.
Further evidence of this can be seen in Muhammad's father's name, Abd Allah ibn Abd al Muttalib: which means "slave of the god" [i.e. "allah"]. Remember that Muhammad claimed the Arabs had completely forgotten Allah (supposed God of Avraham and Ishmael) and that he (through the angel) had revealed the true identity of the One God to his people. If that was true, what about his father's name? A father who died before his birth let alone before his alleged angelic visitation and revelation? What allah was Abdulah the slave of? The Moon god Hubal-Sin! The same allah Muhammad and his followers "submit" to (islam means "submit") as slaves to this vary day). Jews and Muslims do NOT worship the same God. Muslims serve a false god directly condemned throughout the Torah.
Hubal-Sin is not now and never was the God of Avraham Avinu! He remains a Pagan moon god in opposition to the God of Israel.
Clearly then, Islam is NOT the religion of Avraham, Isaac and Jacob! It is the redressed remnant of an ancient Moon god cult (hence the crescent moon symbol, the timing of Ramadan -- crescent moon to crescent moon -- and so on) practiced by Pagan Arabs since the days of Babylon and Mesopotamia if not before. The Islamic allah's name Hubal-Sin means "Controller of the Night," "Master (Ba'al: Hu-BAAL) of the Darkness!" His emblem was and remains the crescent moon that is so prominent throughout the Islamic world.
I discuss this false religion elsewhere in more detail. For now, understand that Islam is a plagiarized faith based on taqiyya (Sharia approved deception) and jealousy of the Jewish people. It has no legitimate claims to any blessings granted to Avraham Avinu nor to any of his descendants whether they are Jewish or Nazarene (Christian).
These ARE biblical times! Nothing is different. Worship the Echad Elohiym of Israel and the Bible or worship Hubal-Sin, the Moon god. As always, the choice is ours to make.
The Mosaic Covenant
The Israelites had their adventures as described in the Torah of Moshe. They entered into Egypt seeking relief from the famine that devastated all of Eretz Israel and in time Adonai called Moshe to his ministry to bring them out of Egypt back Home to their own Land.
In this study we wont spend much time on these exploits mainly because it is not my intention for this study become a book and most people are already familiar with these events. In my Timeline of Eretz Israel I offer a concise history and in my study Where Was Mount Sinai? I cover the events of the Exodus in some detail.
Once the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai and humbled themselves before Adonai HaShem revealed His Torah to Moshe and the world. That's what we will focus on in this section.
The Echad Elohiym revealed His Personal Name as well as His Torah to a descendant of Avraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel named Moshe (Moses in English translation). Of this revelation we read:
KJV: Exodus 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.CJB: Exodus 6:3 I appeared to Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov as El Shaddai, although I did not make myself known to them by my name, Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh [ADONAI: the LORD].
As noted above, Moshe wrote the first five books of the Bible (called the Torah/Pentateuch) and established the proper worship of HaShem ("the Name": properly used to honor the Holy Name). Although Moshe employed the Holy Name in the earlier portions of Genesis, the Name was not actually revealed until this point. Moshe wrote the Torah after receiving the Holy Name.
Moshe is the most important figure in the Jewish religion and second only to Adon Y'shua according to the view of Nazarenes. Far too many people who consider themselves Christian ignore or even denigrate Moshe avinu and his writings. Moshe is pivotal in Adonai's Plan of Salvation.
Moses Maimonides, also known as the Rambam (born on Pasach Eve, 1135 C.E., and died on December 12, 1204) was arguably the preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah teachers of all times. In the Misneh Torah Rambam identified the Taryag Mitzvot ("613 commandments") contained in the Hebrew Scriptures (the Tanakh). That number has been generally accepted ever since by most biblical scholars Jewish and Christian alike.
These 613 mitzvot Rambam categorized as 248 positive and 365 negative commandments. There is much more to the Torah than the Laws however these commandments are considered the essential requirements for all Jews (although not all Jewish sects consider them all binding and many clearly do not apply to everyone, some can not be observed in the absence of the Beit HaMikdash, the Jewish Zion Temple for instance). Many Orthodox Jews divide the 613 mitzvot into many subcategories making far more than 613 even as some sub-divide the 7 Laws of Noach avinu.
The Noahides have the Sheva Mitzvot (7 Laws) discussed above and recorded by Moshe in early Genesis. These are included within the 613 and most of the applicable Taryag Mitzvot can be observed optionally by Ger Tzadikim (righteous Gentiles) including Noahides and Noahide Nazarenes. Most of the 613 commandments are only required of Jews according the rabbis and my reading of the Torah. For instance Noahides may wear kippa (skull caps), tallit (prayer shawls), tzitzit (fringes) and so on however we not required to do so. This means that when we properly adopt such mitzvot we receive added blessings.
Jews may accept the validity of the 613 mitzvot however no one since 70 C.E. has practiced them all.
Furthermore, since we Nazarenes (both Jewish and Noahide) accept that Adon Y'shua is serving as global Cohen Gadol (High Priest and Mediator between God and humanity) and has already performed the final blood sacrifice, we believe that many of the sacrificial mitzvot no longer apply (peace offerings etc. could still be made were the Temple standing). Therefore even with the opportunity to offer these rites in the rebuilt Temple Nazarenes would typically decline to perform them all.
Jews of course will, once the Temple is rebuilt, resume all biblically mandated sacrifices as they do not accept Y'shua's sacrificial service nor his position as global Cohen Gadol.
As Gentiles Noahide Nazarenes will not be allowed to perform these rites even if we wish to, nor will we even be allowed to enter certain portions of the rebuilt Beit HaMikdash. So while we too long for the Temple to be rebuilt (even though we understand the dire events that will follow that event according to the prophets), our manner of worship will remain unchanged after the fact until as Mashiach Y'shua the Nazarene takes up his reign.
As Y'shua said, we are not commanded to worship in any earthly temple but in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). Once the Kingdom Age begins Y'shua HaMashiach and his priests will direct all sacrifices and doubtless institute new directions -- harmonious with the Torah (of course).
Likewise, based on the Spirit-led rulings of the Way Counsels recorded in the Book of Acts and the determinations established through Paul and certain comments by Y'shua recorded in the Gospels, most if not all of the dietary restrictions that apply to the Jews under the Law are regarded as having been removed for Nazarenes. Nazarenes do not feel bound by the Jewish rules of Kashrut however we honor their importance for Jews. Many Nazarenes choose to be vegetarian or vegan. Many who eat meat abstain from pork and shellfish since the Torah is clear about those. Each Nazarene must determine such things for her/himself. I discuss this issue in some detail Here.
It is sometimes asked whether or not Nazarenes believe Jews are still "under the Law" and the answer is that of course they are, unless they have accepted Adon Y'shua as Cohen Gadol, then they are under his legal reforms as any other Nazarene. This is made very clear in the B'rit Hadashah. Remember that the point is not, from the Nazarene perspective, legalistic observance of the 613 (nor even the 7) laws but our consciousness, our harmony with the Torah written upon our hearts. We judge no one in such matters. Each person should walk according to the Light revealed to her/him by the Master.
Time continued ever onward. The Ten Houses were removed from the presence of HaShem and the Jews (Judaites and Benjaminites) maintained the Torah while most Noahides returned to Paganism or non-religious lifestyles, although some remained as Ger Tzadikim (righteous gentiles) until our very day.
In 606 B.C.E. the Judaites (Jews) went into captivity to Babylon and the Medes and Persians. They eventually returned to Judah and circa 30 C.E. Adon Y'shua established the B'rit Hadashah or New Covenant, grafting the Noahides who accepted him as Cohen Gadol into Am Israel (People Israel).
This has been admittedly cursory but the general information is important to understand. We will now examine the Nazarene view of Adon Y'shua the Nazarene and see how it differs from that of the other biblical religious movements including Nicene Christianity. Those who embrace the Noahide Nazarene Way are seeking to return to biblical religion as inspired by the reforms of Adon Y'shua.
Keep reading!
Our Study of the Way of Y'shua Continues in Part Six
The Way of Adon Y'shua Thus Say the Prophets Jewish Studies Nicene Christian Studies My Main Blog My Facebook AllFaith.com
