By Matthew Moshe Nolan
SHEMOT/Exodus 19:4, 8; 20:18-21: You have seen what I did to the MITZRIM/Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. And all the people answered together and said, All that YHWH has spoken we will do. And all the people saw the thundering, and the lightning, and the noise of the SHOFAR, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they moved back and stood at a distance. And they said to MOSHE, You speak with us and we will listen; but let not ELOHIM speak with us lest we die. And MOSHE said to the people, Fear not for ELOHIM is come to test you and that His fear may be before your faces, that you sin not. And the people stood far off and MOSHE drew near to the thick darkness where ELOHIM was.
BADMIDBAR/Numbers 14:20-22: And YHWH said, I have pardoned according to your word. But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the TIFERETH of YHWH. Because all those men who have seen My TIFERETH and My NISIM which I did in MITZRAYIM and in the wilderness, and have tempted Me now these ten times, have not listened to My voice.
The Hebrew children were greatly afraid of YHWH their Elohim – so much so they wanted Moshe to talk to YHWH, “lest we die.” The Torah has more to do with your future than it does with the past! The Eternal (YHWH) has tested ten times (Bamidbar 14:22). What are these Ten Tests? How did our forefathers who are mentioned here in Scripture err these ten times? We too, will face these same temptations to sin. How will we handle them? The Father is greater than the Son. We reject the equality of the trinity. “Shema Y’Israel: YHWH is our Elohim, YHWH is Echad.” (Devarim/Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29). The Hebrew children did not listen to YHWH their Elohim. Will you listen (Shema)? Are you ready today to be tested?
See also Corinthia Alef/1 Corinthians 10:1-13 where Rav Sha’ul says in verse 9, “Neither let us test Moshiach, as some of them also tested and were destroyed by serpents.” We need to identify with our fathers in the belief (not the fathers of Christianity). The first five tests have to do with the sin of unbelief. The last five tests have to do with the sin of not trusting YHWH our Elohim, which reveals their “rejection” of YHWH.
Test One (Unbelief) – Shemot 14:11-14
Go into the house of an Israelite and you’ll be saved! Leave the world – go to the Mountain and receive the Commandments of YHWH. The Israelites said, “This is a mistake, let’s go back to Egypt.” When we leave the world system, there will be people in our day who say, “Let’s go back.” Your belief will be tested! Their unbelief was that they didn’t believe YHWH would save them from the anti-messiah (Pharaoh). YHWH will defeat Pharaoh’s end time anti‑Messiah army. We must trust in the provision of YHWH!
Test Two (Unbelief) – Shemot/Exodus 15:22-26
The Israelites did not believe YHWH would provide the key essentials for life. After going three days without water, they now found the water bitter. We must expect to go three days without food and water. Physical healing is needed for Israelites to receive His teachings from YHWH our Elohim and to learn His ways. Note in verse 24 the people murmured; verse 25 if you will listen to YHWH = no diseases. Expect to go without food and water for three days. It has been reported that Emergency Disaster Relief will not arrive during the first three days. Yochanan/John 11:39 referring to El-Azar says, “For he has been dead four days.” Will you believe YHWH for the essentials of your life?
Test Three (Unbelief) – Shemot 16:1-8
“Your murmurings are not against us, but against YHWH.” In this test we see complaints against leadership by the children of Y’Israel. The Israelite people were hungry and did not believe YHWH would provide food for them in the wilderness. Trust YHWH our Elohim! One month out of Egypt and they were complaining against the Torah! There will be those among us in the last days who will complain that “the Torah on my heart is too hard.” They will lust after the flesh of Egypt. There will be Israelites in the camp who will want to return to life on easy street. Take a close look at the test in verses 4 and 5: YHWH set up a way of gathering “that I may test them, whether they will have their chalacha/walk in My Torah or not.” Have you examined your chalacha lately?
Remember in the Renewed Covenant when Yahushua fed the 5000 people? The next day He went across the Galilee on a boat and the multitude followed. Yahushua said they came for the food. The food He offered was to “eat My body and drink My blood.” Only the 12 Talmidim/Disciples remained with Yahushua. It was true – the people had only followed Him for the fleshly food. We are to eat of Messiah when we are tempted to lust for the things of the flesh and the world we have left behind. This is where and how He will keep us. Read and study Yochanan/John 4:34 and 6:26-58: We need to recognize that Yahushua’s food “is to do the will of Him who sent Me,” and we must learn to “eat” of Yahushua. Trust Yahushua HaMoshiach to provide food for us.
Test Four (Unbelief) – Shemot 16:20-28 and 17:1-7
The Hebrew children did not believe Moshe—that is, the Torah—that he taught to them. They gathered more manna than instructed during the week so it bred worms and stank. The people would not heed Moses to believe in Shabbat – rest on Shabbat. Verse 24 says “Neither was there any worm inside (no worm inside the manna on the Shabbat). Verse 28, “How long do you refuse to shomer/guard My mitzvoth (Commandments) and My Torot /Laws?” If you move the Shabbat to another day, it will breed worms and stink to Yahuah. Shabbat is the definition of your love to Yahuah. They had to decide whether to gather or to stay in their tent and obey. Some Israelites did not believe Yahuah and they gathered on the 7th Day. This was not because of need but because of unbelief in Yahuah to provide. Shabbat is the 1st test of obedience and sets us apart from the world and to Yahuah. Trust Yahuah. They were told to gather manna early in the morning, before the sun melted it. We, too, are to eat of the Word early in the morning before the cares of the world take us away. The Greco/Roman pagan belief system is NOT the same as the Torah-based belief.
Korah rebelled against Moshe—which meant he was rebelling against the Torah—which Yahuah had given for the Israelites to follow. Do you remember the Renewed Covenant account in Abraham’s bosom – Lazarus and the rich man? Yahushua said if people won’t believe Moshe (Torah), they won’t believe One Who has returned from the dead (Moshiach?). See also Shemot Exodus 7:1 for the importance of Moshe and Aharon. Belief in Moshe is the litmus test. He is the spokesperson for Yahuah.
Double portion: Do you trust His provision for the double portion on the Shabbat? We are to gather a double portion on the 6th day which will allow us to rest on the Shabbat. The challah bread is symbolic of the double portion. Two portions are woven together. The double loaves are also a reference to the Two Houses of Yisrael mentioned as the Two Sticks becoming One in His hand. (see Yechezkel/Ezekiel 37:15-28)
Shemot 17:1-7: Why do you test Yahuah? Give Yahuah esteem (glory) – not men (Moshe). They didn’t believe Yahuah’s presence among them. The rod (staff of judgment), Rock of Salvation (Yahushua) came from the waters of Salvation. Yochanan/John 7:37: This is where Scripture says Moses spoke of Yahushua. Yochanan 7:37-40: “If any man thirst …” Yahushua is identified. Yochanan 19:33-36: Yahushua’s bones were not broken – His side is pierced, blood and water came out. Yahushua is Messiah and fulfilled Scripture (Katuv). Yochanan Alef/First John 5:1-8: These three bear witness = the blood, the water, the ruach (Spirit).
Test Five (Unbelief) – Shemot 32:1-8
They did not believe in the One True Elohim. The Y’Israelites wanted an Elohim that they can command; not one according to Torah – no counterfeit J-sus! Will you believe in the One True Elohim and not create other ways of worship other than what Torah teaches?
We must understand that tests will come – trust Yahuah our Elohim!
Sixth Test (Rejection) – Bamidbar/Numbers 11:1-10
Rejection of Yahuah; Graves of the lust (see verse 34). The Israelites rejected the manna. “There is nothing at all beside this manna.” Don’t sit on the outside near the edges; come in close. They rejected His presence (the pillar of fire by night, the pillar of cloud by day). Don’t look back on the world and the things of the world. Be content with Yahuah’s provision. The people rejected the manna and, in doing so, they rejected Yahuah.
Seventh Test (Rejection) – Bamidbar 11:16-20
The Israelites reject Yahuah: “Because you have despised Yahuah who is among you,” 22 Crying they said, Why did we leave Egypt? They remembered the meat of Mitzrayim/Egypt and desired to return to Mitzrayim for it. They wanted meat and Yahuah gave them meat … “until it comes out of your nostrils.” They rejected His presence among them for the things of the world; they didn’t believe His Word. Don’t reject the presence of Yahuah among us. Believe on His Word: the written Word and Yahushua in you.
Eight Test (Rejection) – Bamidbar 11:20-22
The Israelites rejected His Salvation (verse 20). They asked, “Why did we come out of Mitzrayim?” Be warned: Don’t become Jewish and lust after being Jewish. Remember, you can’t be anymore Jewish than the Jews. Be patient, for your redemption draws near. There’s room enough for everyone in the Two Houses of Yisrael. Take a good look at Ephsiyah/ Ephesians chapter 2 and recognize you are in the Commonwealth of Yisrael.
Ninth Test (Rejection) – Bamidbar 12:1-10
The Sages teach that Moses abstained from sexual relations with the Ethiopian woman. Abstaining was not a requirement but, by choosing to abstain, Moshe was always ready to meet with Yahuah face to face because he did not require mikvah before entering the Tabernacle. Moshe was Yahuah’s anointed. They rejected Yahuah when they rejected Moshe as Prophet by speaking against him. Miryam and Aharon did not abstain; thus, verse 1 says, “And Miryam and Aharon spoke against Moshe because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman.” It is taught that this euphemism is repeated for her great beauty. Many will become leprous in the last days when they speak against Yahuah and His anointed ones. Leprosy is the sign of slander and gossip and is rejection of Yahuah’s Anointed One (Yahushua). Rejection of Yahuah by rejecting the leaders He appoints is a very serious matter.
Tenth Test (Rejection) – Bamidbar 14:1- 12
The Israelites murmured against Moshe (again). Yahuah chooses the leader who will speak for Him in these lasts. Verse 3 says, “Is it not better for us to return to Mitzrayim?” Then in verse 4 Scripture says, “They said one to another, Let us make a leader and let us return to Mitzrayim.” The spies came back with a bad report. In these last days our elders will send out people who come back with bad reports. They will be more concerned with their families than obedience to Yahuah. Rejection of Yahuah over family means you don’t love Yahuah your Elohim more than anything else this world has to offer. They rejected the Promised Land (Eretz Yisrael) for fear of harm to family. This one thing eliminates people from going to live in the Promised Land. Rejection of the Promise Land means you reject Yahuah. Don’t allow the love of family to stop you from crossing over into the Commonwealth of Yisrael.
THE TORAH HAS MORE TO DO WITH “YOUR” FUTURE THAN WITH THE PAST!
JAN
