Rebeca y los camellos

A Love Story Written by Yehovah

by with No Comment Biblical Studies

Selecting a wife who shared Abraham’s principles and faithfulness to the Most High was essential for the fulfillment of the promises given to Isaac and his descendants.

Throughout our lives, we face decisions that are truly pivotal—choices after which our path changes in significant ways. One of the most defining is the search for a spouse.

In the biblical narrative of Genesis 24, we find a profound lesson on obedience, faith, and the importance of seeking God’s will in matters as crucial as marriage.

Abraham, aware of the need to preserve God’s blessing upon his descendants, entrusted his most reliable servant with the mission of finding a wife for his son Isaac. To ensure that this woman would share the family’s faith and values, he instructed him not to seek a wife from among the daughters of the Canaanites.

After a long journey, the servant—trusting in divine guidance—prayed for a clear sign to identify the right woman. Then Rebekah appeared, showing remarkable hospitality by offering water to him and his camels, perfectly matching the criteria he had prayed for. Her actions confirmed that she was the one chosen by God. Selecting a wife who shared Abraham’s principles and faithfulness to the Most High was essential for the fulfillment of the promises given to Isaac and his descendants.

This account stands in contrast to the experience of other biblical figures, such as Esau, whose Canaanite wives brought grief to his parents because they did not share their faith. Likewise, Solomon’s heart was turned away from the God of Israel by his foreign wives, highlighting the consequences of binding one’s life to someone who does not walk in the same faith.

Abraham’s insistence on finding a suitable wife for Isaac was not about cultural exclusion, but about preserving purity of faith. God desired His people to remain set apart and faithful, protected from influences that could draw them away from true worship.

Abraham’s example teaches us the importance of seeking divine direction in major life decisions—especially marriage. It reminds us that faith, character, and loyalty to God are essential qualities for fulfilling His purposes, just as Proverbs 3:5–6 affirms:

“Trust in Yehovah with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight.”

Pareja compartiendo

Your Couple is far from Ordinary

by with No Comment Biblical Studies

Abraham and Sarah stand out. Their story reminds us that faith never promises quick fixes or easy paths. On the contrary, it demands endurance, growth, and the courage to trust Yehovah even when the road darkens.

Every couple is a world of its own. Two lives, two histories, two characters shaped by unique family and cultural backgrounds. When those lives join, the family they form will be just as distinctive. No marriage is ordinary—yours included.

Among the many examples found in Scripture, Avraham and Sarah stand out. Their story reminds us that faith never promises quick fixes or easy paths. On the contrary, it demands endurance, growth, and the courage to trust Yehovah even when the road darkens.

When Faith Is Stretched

Jewish tradition teaches that Avraham faced ten major tests—each one tightening his faith like the strings of an instrument until it produced the tone Yehovah desired.

Some of those trials touched Sarah directly: famine, danger, abduction, humiliation, waiting, disappointment, and the long-delayed promise of a son. Their journey was anything but simple.

Yet in every struggle, Yehovah refined them. And as they matured, their marriage revealed something powerful: faith grows best in the soil of shared trials.

A Love That Endured

Avram was drawn to Saray’s beauty, only to learn she was barren—a devastating reality in the ancient world. Still, he remained loyal. He didn’t replace her. He didn’t look elsewhere. His covenant with her stood firm.

Later, in Egypt, fear clouded his judgment. He asked her to present herself as his “sister,” a choice that led to her abduction. Avram surely questioned himself afterward: “Why didn’t I trust Yehovah?” His mistake had consequences, but Yehovah intervened and restored Sarah unharmed.

Their story shows that even righteous people falter—but Yehovah’s mercy meets them in those moments.

“We glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance…

and perseverance, proven character… and proven character, hope.”

Romans 5:3–5

When Sarah Felt Like the Problem

Saray eventually reached a painful conclusion: “Yehovah has kept me from having children.” Out of desperation, she offered her servant Hagar to Avram. It was her attempt—misguided, yet sincere—to help fulfill the promise.

But even then, Avram never replaced her in his heart. She remained the woman Yehovah had chosen for him.

Years later, Yehovah transformed their names—Avram became Abraham, Saray became Sarah—and the long-awaited miracle arrived. Sarah conceived Yitsjak (Isaac), whose very name means laughter.

“Elohim has made me laugh,” she said, “and all who hear will laugh with me.”

Love Beyond Death

Nearly three decades after Yitsjak’s birth, Sarah died. And even in grief, Abraham honored her. He purchased a dignified burial place—the Cave of Machpelah—ensuring she had a resting place worthy of her life and legacy, and reserving a space beside her for himself.

Their love endured trials, mistakes, shame, joy, miracles, and loss.

It was not a perfect marriage. But it was a faithful one.

The Example They Left Us

The lives of Abraham and Sarah remind us that a strong marriage is not built on perfect moments but on steadfast commitment—especially when life presses hardest.

They supported one another.

They forgave one another.

They respected one another.

They walked together until the very end.

May Yehovah give us the strength to face life as they did.

And may our lives become examples that our children and grandchildren will want to follow.

Abraham y la tumba de Sarah

Not Looking Back: Faith, Grief, and the Legacy of Abraham

by with No Comment Biblical Studies

God had promised Abraham countless descendants like the stars of the heavens and the sand of the sea, yet he had only one son—Isaac—who was still unmarried at thirty-seven!

This week’s parashah speaks about the life of Sarah, and at the same time teaches us how the patriarch Abraham managed to endure trauma and pain in the final stage of his life.

Abraham was an old man and had already gone through two deeply painful experiences involving the people he loved most. The first was related to his son Isaac, whom he had waited for all his life. He and Sarah had lost hope, yet God promised they would have a son and that he would carry on the covenant. The years went by and Sarah did not conceive. She grew old, but the promise remained. At last, Isaac was born. There was joy. Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of it will laugh with me” (Gen. 21:6).

Sarah listening about her future pregnancy

Then came the unthinkable: God said to Abraham, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love… and offer him as a burnt offering” (Gen. 22:2). Abraham did not argue or delay. Father and son traveled together, and at the final moment, a voice from heaven said, “Stop!” How does a father and son survive a trauma like this?

Then came a different kind of pain: Sarah died. She was his beloved wife, his companion on the journey, the one who left everything with him—land, home, and family. Twice she even risked her life by saying she was his sister to protect him.

So what does an old man like Abraham (the Torah calls him “old and advanced in years,” Gen. 24:1) do after all this? Surely his heart was heavy. He had obeyed Yehovah, yet many promises were still unfulfilled. God had promised him the land of Canaan, but when Sarah died, he didn’t own a single piece of it—not even enough to bury her. God had promised him countless descendants like the stars of the heavens and the sand of the sea, yet he had only one son—Isaac—who was still unmarried at thirty-seven. Humanly speaking, Abraham had every reason to be discouraged.

And yet, he did not remain paralyzed. The Torah says, “Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her” (Gen. 23:2). Then immediately, we read: “Then Abraham rose up from before his dead…” After this, he focused on two things: buying land to bury Sarah and finding a wife for his son. These two actions were directly connected to God’s two promises: land and offspring. Abraham didn’t wait passively for God to act; he understood he needed to take responsibility.

How did Abraham overcome trauma and sorrow? How does someone move forward after nearly losing his only son and then losing his wife? What kept him going?

The Torah shows us two people who faced trauma in opposite ways: Noah and Lot’s wife. Noah, the most righteous man of his generation, obeyed Yehovah even as the rest of the world faced destruction, and through his obedience, he saved his life and his family. In contrast, Lot’s wife disobeyed the angels’ command and “looked back” as Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. She became a pillar of salt—paralyzed by shock and unable to move forward. These two stories help us understand Abraham’s response after Sarah’s death. He chose to build the future rather than remain trapped in the past—as Lot’s wife did.

Abraham kept the promise in sight. Sarah was gone. Isaac was unmarried. He had no land or grandchildren. But he did not accuse God or give in to despair. Instead, he remained sensitive to Yehovah’s call to move forward and trust. That is how Abraham survived grief and shock.

May Yehovah spare us from such trials—but if they come, let us follow Abraham’s example: focus on the promise.

We are not here by accident. We are here because God wanted us here, and because there is a task we must fulfill. Discovering it is not always easy—it can take years and even bring frustration. Yet each of us has something God is calling us to do, a purpose to accomplish.

Let us not allow the past to chain us down. Instead, let us learn to endure pain like Abraham did, and keep our eyes on the promises of Yehovah for our lives.

Shalom!

Abraham e Isaac 2

Misleading Images in Biblical Narratives

by with No Comment Biblical Studies

When we read the Scriptures, we inevitably do so through certain paradigms. In other words, we read with “lenses” shaped by what we’ve been taught and conditioned to believe, and these lenses steer our understanding in a particular direction.

A paradigm is a collection of ideas, assumptions, norms, or traditions that are accepted without much questioning. Over time, they form a rigid framework of thought.

Was Abraham really about to sacrifice a little boy?

This is one of those cases. When we read about Abraham offering his son Yitsḥak (Isaac) in this week’s Parashah, most people picture a young child—maybe seven years old—being carried to the altar by his father. Under that assumption, the story feels like an attempted child sacrifice.

But when we examine the full context, we discover something very different. Isaac was not a small boy but a mature man—around 27 years old—who willingly submitted to the offering. He did not resist. In this light, he becomes a prophetic picture of the Messiah, who also carried the wood for His own sacrifice and willingly gave Himself up.

Was it really a boy who killed a giant?

Another well-known example is the story of David and Goliath. We are much more emotionally captured by the picture of a small boy facing a massive warrior than by a young adult confronting him. And so, when we read the story, the image taught by children’s books and cartoons instantly comes to mind, often without being challenged.

But here is the reality…

David was not a child. He was a young man, roughly the same height as King Saul—who, according to Scripture, was taller than everyone else around him. David tried on the king’s armor, and although he chose not to use it because he wasn’t trained for battle in it, the point remains: no one would attempt to place a grown man’s armor on a child. People were not that foolish.

And after striking Goliath down, David picked up the giant’s own sword and cut off his head. Could a small boy have wielded a weapon of that size and weight? Highly unlikely.

The Last Supper… in a Renaissance banquet hall?

A similar issue appears in the way we imagine Yeshua’s last supper with His disciples. Leonardo da Vinci’s 16th-century painting is world-famous, but it does not reflect the Hebrew culture or setting at all.

It looks like a posed group picture—everyone facing the same direction, seated at a long Western-style table. The disciples appear as older men, some nearly elderly. If that were accurate, they would have soon died after the resurrection, which would have been a poor plan for establishing a movement meant to change the world.

The food on the table doesn’t match the customs of the time, nor does the architecture of the room. And yet, when we read the Gospel accounts, that exact image often comes to our mind, overshadowing important details and stripping away the richness of its Hebrew roots.

So what happened?

Over time, many biblical scenes have been reshaped by culture, art, and tradition. Whether intentional or not, these reinterpretations removed Yeshua and His disciples from their Jewish context. This shift led to misunderstandings—not only of the historical and cultural background but also of prophetic meanings and symbolic patterns embedded in the text.

From such distortions, various doctrines emerged. Some became central to Christianity, yet they overlook the original context and purpose for which these narratives were given.

What should we do?

For all these reasons, we must be willing to set aside inherited traditions, cultural assumptions, and long-held misconceptions. Only then can we read Scripture with fresh eyes, rediscover what truly took place, and discern the proper meaning of these accounts—and how they speak into our lives today.

Josue - circuncision

Circumcision for Abraham, for Joshua, and for Me

by with No Comment Biblical Studies

For many who have chosen to take this important step of drawing near to the covenant of Abraham—even without converting to the Jewish religion—the subject of circumcision can be quite stressful.

Having been born Jewish, one of the things I’m most grateful for is that I never had to worry about my brit milah (circumcision).

I was only a baby when it was performed, so I didn’t have to go through the stress of imagining what was going to happen or when.

For those who convert to Judaism—and even for many who decide to take this important step of entering the covenant of Abraham without formally converting—the matter of circumcision can be quite stressful.

Did God really have to confirm this covenant with Abraham in that particular place?

There’s a reason why, in His mercy, the Creator ordained that this commandment be carried out on baby boys when they are eight days old—sparing them the anxiety of facing it as adults.

Yet, on the other hand, just as there are adults today who choose to undergo circumcision, there are also examples in Scripture where this act takes place at pivotal moments in biblical history.

The Establishment of the Covenant of Abraham

9 God said to Avraham, “As for you, you are to keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you, generation after generation.
10 Here is my covenant, which you are to keep, between me and you, along with your descendants after you: every male among you is to be circumcised.
11 You are to be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; this will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.
12 Generation after generation, every male among you who is eight days old is to be circumcised, including slaves born within your household and those bought from a foreigner not descended from you.
13 The slave born in your house and the person bought with your money must be circumcised; thus my covenant will be in your flesh as an everlasting covenant.
14 Any uncircumcised male who will not let himself be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin—that person will be cut off from his people, because he has broken my covenant.”

Genesis 17:9-14

 

23 Avraham took Yishma‘el his son, all the slaves born in his house and all who had been bought with his money, every male among the people in Avraham’s household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin that very day, just as God had said to him. 
24 Avraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin,
25 and Yishma‘el his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

Genesis 17:23-25

We must first pay attention to the timeline of these events. Yehovah did not ask Abram to be circumcised at the time He called him to “leave his country” — when Abram was 75 years old. More than twenty years passed before this command was given. Abraham was already an old man when he was circumcised, and his son was thirteen! The rest of his servants were presumably of various ages.

From that moment on, every newborn male would be circumcised at eight days old — including his son who would be born a few months later, Itzjak (Isaac).

The key point here is that regardless of age, grown men had to undergo this “procedure” as an act of obedience and a visible sign of their faithfulness to the covenant of Abraham — especially as it related to the promise of inheriting the land.

More than six generations later, this difficult task would fall upon Yehoshua (Joshua) once again.

The Entry into the Land and the Sign of the Covenant

2 It was at that time that Yehovah said to Y’hoshua, “Make yourself knives of flint, and circumcise the people of Isra’el again, a second time.
3 So Y’hoshua made himself knives of flint and circumcised the people of Isra’el at Giv‘at-Ha‘Aralot [the hill of foreskins].
4 The reason Y’hoshua circumcised was that all the people who had left Egypt who were males, all the fighting men, had died in the desert along the way after leaving Egypt.
5 For although all the people who left Egypt had been circumcised, all those who had been born in the desert on the way as they went on from Egypt had not been circumcised;
6 because the people of Isra’el walked forty years in the desert until the whole nation, that is, the fighting men who had left Egypt, had died out; because they had not heeded what Yehovah said. Yehovah had sworn that he would not allow them to see the land which Yehovah swore to their ancestors that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
7 So he raised up their children to take their place, and it was these whom Y’hoshua circumcised; till then they had been uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised while traveling.
8 When all the nation had been circumcised, every one of them, they stayed where they were in camp until they had healed.
9 Yehovah said to Y’hoshua, “Today I have rolled off from you the stigma of Egypt.” This is why the place has been called Gilgal [rolling] ever since.

Joshua 5:2-9

Just before the Children of Israel entered the Promised Land, Joshua received special instructions. Let us remember that the original covenant given to Abraham was established specifically in connection with that Land. So, it makes perfect sense that at the very threshold of entering it, there would be a pause to focus on that covenant once again.

But from another point of view, the timing seemed utterly inappropriate. Can you imagine how one feels before going to war? The rush of adrenaline, the fear, the physical and mental preparation—Israel was about to attack Jericho and finally step into the Promised Land! Yet there was a pause.

A pause to remember why they were there and why they were about to do what they were about to do.

While everyone’s mind was on the coming battle, the Creator told Joshua:

“They must first focus on the covenant.”

Knowing full well that Israel’s enemies would see this ritual as nothing more than an act of bodily mutilation—one that would leave the men incapacitated for days—the Almighty required it nonetheless as a non-negotiable prerequisite for entering the Land.

With the same resolve that Abraham had shown generations earlier, Yehoshua son of Nun did not hesitate to “get to work,” obeying the will of the Creator and preparing his people not only for the physical battle ahead, but for the spiritual one as well.

eleven fifty-five (3D Rendering)

Unmistakable Signs of the End of the Age

by with No Comment Biblical Studies

It would take naivety and innocence to affirm that political leaders will somehow find answers to all this chaos.

Likewise, just as it happened in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 17:28-30

On several occasions, Yeshua declared that prior to His return, the situation would be similar to the days preceding the Flood and the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah. And what were those conditions? Nothing more and nothing less than the ones we are witnessing. Let’s see:

  • Abortions – equivalent to the sacrifices of children offered to demons, disregarding the life given by the Creator.
  • Greed – Insatiable desire for material things. At present, almost all activities in life revolve around buying and selling some product. Humanity is insatiable and is not ashamed of it.
  • Unions outside of marriage – Fornication – Adultery. Relationships have been degraded to the purely physical level, and in the best cases, marriage is just a social activity without any commitment.
  • Excesses in food and drink – Today, the proliferation of exotic and unhealthy foods leads to gluttony and dependence on them; the same happens with drinks, and poor health is the consequence of these excesses.
  • Industrial food production – Through genetically manipulated seeds, a few companies produce food for humanity because most people are clustered in cities, disconnected from Creation and its Creator.
  • Unprecedented construction – as a response to the needs of the crowds crowded in urban centers.

Faced with all of the above, you don’t need to be a scientist or a prophet to identify the current conditions. Just open your eyes and look around. Of course, we haven’t mentioned all the other situations that are also already present: frequent earthquakes, diseases due to people’s blind trust in official health systems, pollution of our planet, complete imbalance in the delicate system created by YeHoVaH… etc.

So, ask yourself if you truly believe that this will improve through a political party or a human leader. If your answer is negative, ask yourself this other question: how long will this situation last? It would take naivety and innocence to affirm that political leaders will somehow find answers to all this chaos. No. The situation will worsen because it’s foreseen to.

Yeshua warned us in advance that this would happen; moreover, He encouraged us to lift our faces because when this is being fulfilled, it means our liberation is near. It is planned that these things will happen before His return to establish a real kingdom of justice and peace.

There’s no room for fear because we have hope in the promises of our Eternal Father YeHoVaH, who will intervene in due time to rescue His faithful remnant who have separated themselves from the contaminated system and placed their trust in Him. It’s time to align your daily life with His commandments. If you haven’t done so yet, what are you waiting for?

Homemade,Round,Challah,And,Wine,For,Shabbat

Shabbat, the First Commandment

by with No Comment Biblical Studies

In these erratic times in which we live, where we spend most of our time working to acquire material possessions, separating the Sabbath day from the rest of the days is a true sign (Exodus 31:17) that reminds us of whom we truly serve.

When a person begins to delve into the study of the Bible and leaves behind religious conditioning, they realize that there are numerous commandments contained within the pages of the Torah. Not coincidentally, the word Torah is translated as “law,” despite the more appropriate translation being “instruction.” These instructions were not created by the Almighty to overwhelm us or confine our existence to religious confinement, but rather to learn how to navigate this world and guide our families and communities. According to rabbinic accounts, there are 613 commandments contained in the first five books of the Bible. It is important to note that not all of these apply to everyone. Many of these commandments are exclusively related to the service of the Temple and the priesthood, while others are specific to judges, women, men, and so on. Most people are familiar with the Ten Commandments, which represent the statements that the Creator Himself spoke from Mount Sinai and dictated to Moses:

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write these words, for according to the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.’ So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.” Exodus 34:27-28

Among these Ten Commandments, which even most Christians pride themselves on observing, is the Sabbath, the fourth commandment:

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11

Although this verse speaks of “remembering” the Sabbath, in the recounting of the commandments in Deuteronomy 5, it speaks of “keeping” it.

Why is the Shabbath the first commandment?

When the commandment of the Sabbath was first declared by the Creator in Exodus 20, it appears in the fourth position. So why do I say that the Sabbath is the first commandment? Simple, when we follow the chronology of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, on their way to Mount Sinai, in the second month, they complained and received manna from heaven. A few days after the manna started to fall, Moses told them:

“Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.” Exodus 16:23

This is how we can see that the Sabbath was introduced weeks before the Israelites reached Mount Sinai and had implications regarding the collection and preparation of food.

Where does the Sabbath come from?

The Sabbath is defined in the creation week at the beginning of the book of Genesis. Thousands of years before the Torah was given and even before Abraham was chosen, the Creator established this model and pattern of seven days. When we study different elements of Creation, we realize that the number 7 is extremely relevant and cannot be altered, whether it’s the 7 musical notes (do re mi fa sol la si), the 7 colors of the rainbow, or the 7 days of the week. Throughout the Biblical narrative, we encounter this number time and time again.

Conclusion

Being the first commandment that appears after the Israelites’ liberation from slavery, we see that it holds special importance. It is no coincidence that most believers interested in the Hebrew roots of Christianity begin with this very commandment. In these erratic times in which we live, where we spend most of our time working to acquire material possessions, separating the Sabbath day from the rest of the days is a true sign (Exodus 31:17) that reminds us of whom we truly serve. For more information about the Sabbath day, click here.
the-feasts-of-yahovah_NoPlasticChairs

The Feasts of YeHoVaH

by with No Comment Biblical Studies

Modern lifestyle has disconnected us from nature – Yehovah’s Creation – and has connected us to an artificial life that prevents us from understanding the way God acts.

We were created to interact with Creation at all its levels. The original mandate was: “fill the earth and govern it.” Instead of that, we have grouped ourselves to live in paved cities, full of skyscrapers, highly polluted, and we have lost sight of the Garden in which we were originally placed.

Modern lifestyle has disconnected us from nature – Yehovah’s Creation – and has connected us to an artificial life that prevents us from understanding the way God acts.

In this condition, we do not know or understand the Festivals that were given to us, as they are linked to nature and the cycles of food cultivation.

Not only have we lost the opportunity to recognize the hand of our Father in nature, but we also ignore the meaning of the Appointed Times gave by Him. Yehovah our Father determined multiple celebrations throughout the year:

For the Spring season:

  • The Celebration of Pesach (Passover).
  • The Feast of Matzot (Unleavened Bread).
  • The celebration of Bikkurim (First Fruits).
  • The Feast of Shavuot (Weeks or Pentecost).

For the Fall season:

  • The celebration of Yom Teruah (Trumpets).
  • The celebration of Yom Kippurim (Day of Atonements).
  • The Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles).

We then have Four Celebrations and Three Festivals each year. But we also have at the beginning of each month, the celebration of Yom Kodesh or the beginning of the lunar month (see topic: Yehovah’s Calendar), and every week, we have the Shabbat, a gift from our Father so that we can suspend the routines that sometimes overwhelm us and take a break in His presence (see topic: Shabbath, the First Commandment).

In general, we can affirm that these Celebrations and Festivals have several purposes:

Setting aside time to be with Him, knowing Him, and thanking Him for His constant provision.
Keeping us alert to the development of His perfect Eternal Plan.
Identifying ourselves as His people by honoring Him.
Recreating and rejoicing in the proper and non-harmful manner.
When we practice these Celebrations and Festivals, we are acknowledging that Yehovah is the center of our existence, so we orbit around Him throughout the year, and in that way, we testify that He is the most important person in our lives. Additionally, these are opportunities to develop our interpersonal relationships and take time to rest and enjoy the things He provides for us.

Decide to participate in Yehovah’s Festivals because you will gain an understanding of His Word that is not possible to achieve otherwise.

Sunset,Or,Sunrise,With,Clouds,.,Religion,Background,.silhouette,Of

The Calendar of YeHoVaH

by with 7 Comments Biblical Studies
The practice of Yehovah’s Calendar will help us to understand more clearly the prophetic times, the Scriptures and our Father’s Plans.

The emphasis on the importance of knowing and understanding Yehovah’s Calendar will never be overstated because the prophetic events of the Scriptures are not aligned with the calendar that the world uses day by day. Because of this, many will be taken by surprise like a thief in the night. Here is a brief introduction to the topic.

The Days

From the moment we are born, the counting of time begins for each of us. According to the date our parents claim we were born, we start counting the days, weeks, months, and years. That special day we celebrate every year begins at 12:00 a.m., that is, midnight, and ends one second before midnight of the next day. However, our Eternal Father defined the start and end of days differently. When we read the account of Creation in the Bible, each stage of the process is described as:

“And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.” Genesis 1:5

Therefore, days begin at sunset and end 24 hours later when the sun sets again.

The Weeks

Scripture only gives a name to the seventh day: Shabbat in Hebrew (Sabbath in English). The other days are recognized as the first day of the week, the second day of the week, and so on until the sixth day. English translations keep the name Sabbath for that day. However, some translations into other languages have substituted the Hebrew word Shabbat for the word Saturday, or for the expression “day of rest”, thus making it difficult to recognize both the Shabbat and the fulfillment of what our Eternal Father commanded.

The Months

According to the Scriptures, months begin with the new moon or the appearance of the first crescent of the moon after nights when it has not been visible. (Clarification: The astronomical new moon is a calculated event that occurs at an instant when it enters conjunction with the sun, one of the nights when the moon is not visible.)

Moon Cycles

Moon Cycle

When the Temple in Jerusalem was still standing, it was imperative for two witnesses to testify before the high priest that they had observed the first sliver of the moon with the naked eye. The high priest would then declare that day (which had already begun at sunset) as the beginning of a new month.

The Years

The calendar we currently use is solar, which means we calculate time based solely on the sun. However, our Father Yehovah governs His Creation according to His lunar-solar calendar, making use of both celestial bodies.

God determined when the years begin:

“The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, ‘This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.'” Exodus 12:1-2

At that time, the Hebrew people were about to be liberated from their slavery in Egypt. It was spring, when all plants are greening, and life returns after the cold winter. The beginning of that first month was determined by the new moon. Later, Yehovah gave instructions regarding a second condition to be considered in determining the start of the years: the maturity of the barley:

“Today you are going out in the month of Aviv.” Exodus 13:4

“You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in the month of Aviv you came out of Egypt.” Exodus 34:18

Aviv was not the name of the month but the condition of the barley. If it is in a certain state of maturity and close to being harvested, it is said to be “aviv.”

Now we know everything we need to determine how to start the years today, following the Torah’s instructions. In summary: if the barley is aviv, the day the first fraction of the moon appears, then the beginning of a new year is declared.

The way to understand how this calendar operates is to practice it, by celebrating the New Moons, keeping in mind the Feasts of Yehovah, keeping Shabbat as the last day of the week and being aware of the beginning of each day at sunset. This will help us to better understand the Scriptures and our Father’s Plans.

Why is it important to study the Torah?

by with One Comment Biblical Studies

The holy books were never secret documents, but the patrimony of the whole community.

While it is true that the priests and the Levites were entrusted with the custody of the sacred books, they were also entrusted with the responsibility of teaching the Torah — YeHoVaH’s instructions — to the people. However, the Levites were not the only ones who had the responsibility of studying and knowing it.

In fact, the very survival of YeHoVaH’s people has depended upon their faithfulness to YeHoVaH’s instructions; it’s the responsibility of everyone who trusts in the God of Israel! For this reason, ignorance of the Torah is no excuse among the children of YeHoVaH. This is why Moses was tasked with reading these instructions to everyone — both the literal tribes of Israel and the “mixed multitude” who escaped Egypt with them:

“And he (Moshe) took the Book of the Covenant and read in the ears of the people”
~ Exodus 24:7

One of the provisions of the Torah specifically calls for the reading of the entire book of Deuteronomy before the assembled people — specifically so that those who did NOT know the God of Israel would understand what He expected of anyone who would consider themselves as part of Israel:

“And Moshe commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time of the year of remission, in the solemnity of Tabernacles (Sukkot), when all Israel go to appear before YeHoVaH your Elohim in the place which He has chosen, you shall read this Torah before all Israel in their hearing. You shall gather the people, men, women, and children, and your stranger who is in your gates, that they may hear and learn, and fear YeHoVaH your Elohim, and keep the words of this Torah to do them. And that their children who do not know it may hear and learn to fear YeHoVaH your Elohim, all the days that you live in the land where you are going, past the Yarden, to take possession of it.
~ Deuteronomy 31:12

So it was that every seven years, and during the Feast of Sukkot of each Sabbath year, all the people of Yisrael were summoned to be instructed by the priests and Levites, making it clear from the beginning of their existence as a nation, that they were the people chosen by YeHoVaH to develop that unique identity. This is the reason why the holy books were never secret documents, but the patrimony of the whole community.

If we are to affirm our identity as YeHoVaH’s people, we need to keep immersing ourselves in His Word, otherwise, we will not be able to discern the Truth from the multitude of voices and messages that reach our ears every day. The path is narrow and staying on it requires our full attention to the Torah — the instructions — that our Father has provided to us.