Parasha Vayishlach: Day 4

B'reisheet/Genesis 34:1-35:12

Just because a believer says the right words or offers wonderful prayers does not make him an authority or righteous. The journey to righteousness is full of places where faith and belief are tried, tested and purified. This is the road that Yacov traversed, along with his family, when living in Canaan. From a humanist point-of-view, Shechem and his people were not Covenant keepers, nor did their desire for circumcision render them such. In the gate of his people, Shechem revealed the real motives regarding intermarriage to Israel. Not only would his personal passion be temporarily squelched, but the possessions of Israel were presumed to soon belong to those Hivites. It could have been that their circumcision could have led to a Covenant relationship with Elohim, but that may never be known since Simeon and Levi took vengeance for the disgrace of Dinah, their sister.

The fruit of the Hivites' lives was not yielded from the Ruach, nor were the inhabitants necessarily called to walk in Covenant relationship with Israel, possibly not even YHVH. It was quite apparent that greed motivated them, even to the point of rationalizing removal of skin from a very sensitive area and from every male in the region. That's reasonable? The question of Simeon and Levi's actions is not at question since we may not have all the facts, and we do know that Yacov had an ongoing automated response to irrationally fear man. What is important is the elimination of wrong fruit and wrong lifestyles for the right reasons. When YHVH calls a man or a nation to respond, that is motivation enough to respond with integrity and fortitude.

One can journey with YHVH, such as Yacov and his family, all their lives and still be in need of pruning, honing and correction. Yacov was not exempt from doing wrong, making mistakes or saying things he should not do. Likewise, his family, servants and those sojourning with them were not above reproach, nor did they have all the answers to life or spirituality. YHVH knew that and capitalized on it by requiring Yacov and his household to, "Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments." After meeting Elohim face-to-face, after seeing the ladder in Bethel, after being affected in his hip and his name being called Israel, Yacov still had those of his house that had idols and foreign elohim. Furthermore, it was not enough to be rid of the idols themselves, but all that was associated with those false elohim was to be purged. This included the rings in their ears that would have been designed for or commemorative of false elohim. It would not be until these were expunged that the Creator would explicitly call Yacov by his new name, Israel; and, at that same time, extend the personal Covenant from Abraham and Isaac to Yacov for the Seed and the Land.

Our Elohim is Jealous. We are not allowed to have other false elohim or their memorabilia around us so to seduce us or lull us into spiritual complacency leading to bondage once again. YHVH asks us to purge our lives, our family's lives and our homes from the filth of idolatry and those idol's influences. What does that mean in practical terms? Well, if we do not worship Nimrod, Talmuz or other Babylonian gods, why would we participate in traditional Christmas activities? On closer examination, why would we want an idol commemorative "tree" in our homes for that time of year? Chanukah is not without its pitfalls. The Chanukah is a mere perversion of the Menorah that was used in the Tabernacle and Temple. If that is not bad enough, the center candle is commonly referred to as the shamash which was the Babylonian sun god. Each time a candle is lit from this servant candle and the name of that false god is used, it does not edify YHVH, but proves that we are need of purging. These are only two examples of ways that many believers tolerate false elohim in their lives and/or homes. Through Catholicism, Christian traditions and worldly alliances and dependancy, most believes have some type of idolatry in their lives through ignorance and unsound teaching.

Our motives need to be pure and the call is sure. YHVH desires us for Himself only. He will not share our attention and he does not desire our love when it is used to get what we want.  YHVH asks us to rid our lives of the world, idols and anything that would divert our attention and affection to Him. As we do this in faith and obedience, our names are called Israel because we belong to the Creator and are not of this world, but separated from it. 

Dwell upon Shemot/Exodus 20:2-4, "I am YHVH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth."