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Adrian’s Midrash (A-Drash)

This Week’s Torah Portion: Tzav “Command”

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Prophets:

Jeremiah 7:21-8:3, 9:22-23

Gospel:

Luke 4-6

This week I was hoping to focus on the first part of the passage in the Brit Chadashah (NT, which I prefer calling it the Apostolic Scriptures, because the New (renewed) Covenant is actually found in Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36). And, although the passage in Leviticus is very good, I wanted to focus on the temptation of Yeshua and how through his victory we have victory.

In the start of his ministry he immediately goes into the prophetic aspect of his calling, which fulfills what Moses records in Deuteronomy 18:15, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him” (emphasis mine). Now, although there has been debate about this passage in both Christian and Jewish circles, the fact remains that Yeshua starts his ministry like the prophets of old, and he is being led of the Ruach HaKodesh into the wilderness.

During that time he immerses himself in prayer and fellowship with the Father (Abba)–YHWH. After 40 days of fasting, I love how the Scriptures tell us that Yeshua was hungry. It’s surprising how the Apostle Luke takes the time to point us to this fact. Why? Because Satan’s tactics have not changed. He always comes after the righteous when their guard is lowered. However, HaSatan (Satan) is in for a reversal of roles. He doesn’t have the upper hand on Yeshua. Three times he tries to use sly words of twisting the Bible to his interpretation: (1) “If you are the Son of Elohim, say to these rocks that they should become bread,” (2) “I will give all this authority and all its glory that is delivered to me, and I can give it to whomever I desire. All of it will be yours, if therefore, you prostate yourself before me.” And, (3) “If you are the Son of Elohim, cast yourself down from here to below, for it is written that He will command to His Messengers that concerning you, to keep watch over you, and they will bear you upon their arms, or else you dash your foot against a stone” (Luke 4:3, 6, 9-10) (Aramaic English New Testament, Netzari Press, 2008). Each time, Yeshua used proper interpretation and stood on truth: (1) “It is written that man should not live on bread alone, rather, by every Word of Elohim,” (2) “It is written that you should worship Master YHWH your Elohim, and you should serve Him alone.” And, (3) “It is said that you should not test Master YHWH your Elohim.”

It would have been easy for Yeshua to turn the rocks into bread because he was hungry. However, he knew very well that bread was only a temporary solution to his hunger, but the Words of Elohim will endure forever. How often have we “desired” something in our weaknesses? Whether it be food, money, sex, women, men, etc., just for a temporary fix. We live in a fast-food society, which teaches us to have it all, right now. However, the secret to success isn’t money, food, or any tangible thing. It’s falling in love with the Words of Elohim, and knowing His will by applying what He wants and not what we want.

Each correction that Yeshua gives to HaSatan, Lucifer, deals with everyday temptations that we have: (1) The lust of the flesh—“me, me, me.” (2) False worship—“I’ll worship my own way, and to my own god.” And, (3) The pride of life, “I am the best, no one is better than me, my family, my culture, my pride.”

Each of us have to deal with one aspect of this daily; however, our victory is not in the things we possess, but, rather, on the One in whom we believe, trust, and live for. True success is being happy with your family and content with what ever flight you are led in YHWH. Believe me when I say, I deal with these things daily, and my only hope is found in the truth of His Word, and faith I have in Him.

Shalom, shalom!

Happy Passover! (Hag Pesach!)