On or Off Curse

 

“The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed laws [“torot”, plural for torah], violated the statutes [chok, single statute or law], broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse devours the earth…” (Isaiah 24:5-6).  

I wonder how many Bible believers in what is called the Judeo/Christian world would agree that we are living today under the above curse.

In using “torot” – instructions, and chok – statute, the above scripture points to the entirety of YHVH’s decrees – as many of its injunctions are preceded by “the torah of…” (each of the sacrifices, for example, is a “torah” in itself, there is also the “torah” of the Temple, the “torah” of leprosy, etc.).  Forsaking “chok” means that the very idea or concept of law has been nullified and made void. It doesn’t take more than this kind of attitude and deeds which follow, for the everlasting covenant/s to be broken and for the curses to come.  John warns, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).   Just how far must a nation go before the consequence of sin catches up with its inhabitants and for the curses of Deuteronomy 28:15 to materialize:  “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of YHVH your Elohim, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you…” 

Israel of old has experienced over and over again the fulfillment of these words, but somehow each generation did not seem to learn from the previous.  So YHVH made a New Covenant with the house of Israel, with the intent of giving them a fresh start.  However, ignoring the Torah still remains a problem, even though it is supposed to be inscribed on the hearts and minds.  It would be great if the Torah on the heart would be made evident with the waving of a magic wand.  However, this cannot happen instantaneously.  Acts of obedience of faith and knowledge of YHVH’s Torah, is what will bring about the blessings and break the curses.   

In one of our recent fellowship meetings, a visiting Jewish brother from England shared with us what is happening in the UK, where as early as in the 2^nd grade the children can decide, on a daily basis, their preferable gender, dress accordingly and use the bathroom facility of their choice.  Speaking out against this incurs violation of the law, and hence the believers/Christians are living in fear and do not speak out, or else have to face the consequences. One has to ask the question: What has taken place in countries where in the past there was a substantial presence of the “faith people”?  The above scripture drops a very big hint.  They have abandoned the Torah of Moses, and by so doing began, in ignorance, to transgress the moral laws that are contained therein. 

In neglecting the Torah these “faith” people, i.e. those who are actually believers in Yeshua as the Messiah of Israel, have left behind, again in ignorance, a major revelation of their Messiah.  “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27).  "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:46, 47).   Also, hidden within the Torah is the mystery of their identity as the seed of the forefathers, and the irrevocable calling and destiny as the “sons of the living Elohim”.   

Scriptures remind us that: “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,  having predestined us to adoption as sons by Yeshua the Messiah to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” (Ephesians 1:4-5).  Please note the emphasis of “in Him”.   Thankfully through the New Covenant He is in us by grace, but in order to know Him we need that abiding intimate relationship that is found only in Him, as He is our life (see Colossians 3:4).  “We live and move and have our being in Him” (ref. Acts 17:28) and by “knowing Him and the power of His resurrected life” (ref. Philippians 3:9) we will survive the coming days. While “those who dwell in the earth are convicted [found guilty], therefore they are burned, and a small minority of mankind is left” (Isaiah 24:6 literal translation).   Yeshua, however, has given us encouragement and hope in His parable of the “Tares and the Wheat” (see Matthew 13:24-30).