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Wednesday, 24 November 2021
Your "Wages" Are Eternal Life!

Today, I'm starting with a Rabbi Trail ...

Rabbi Trail: Jacob had 12 sons whose heritage and destiny is tied to the 12 Apostles. And there are 12 Apostles whose heritage and destiny is tied to the destiny of the 12 tribes. Ephesians 2:14 For He is our shalom, the One who made the two into one and broke down the middle wall of separation. Within His flesh He made powerless the hostility ...

Did you notice that the sentence doesn't end at the end of verse 14? So it's disingenuous not to comment on the rest of the sentence, as it is continued in verses 15 and 16. Let's put them together and I'll comment further.

Ephesians 2:14-16 For He is our shalom, the One who made the two into one and broke down the middle wall of separation. Within His flesh He made powerless the hostility - the law code of mitzvot contained in regulations. He did this in order to create within Himself one new man from the two groups, making shalom, and to reconcile both to God in one body through the cross - by which He put the hostility to death.

Of course I could write a book in unpacking these 3 verses. But because I'm only writing a short reflection, I'll just briefly comment. What is meant by "the law code of mitzvot contained in regulations?" This is (obviously) not all mitzvot (commandments), but certain regulations. These are the ordinances of the sacrificial system, Temple worship, and priestly observance of the Aaronic priesthood. The Aaronic priesthood is superseded by the Melchizedek priesthood. The book of Hebrews is filled with chapter upon chapter explaining this. I don't have to do it all over again. Here is the point.

Hebrews 8:6 But now Yeshua has obtained a more excellent ministry, insofar as He is the mediator of a better covenant which has been enacted on better promises.

End RT.

The 9th son of Jacob was born to Leah, who becomes pregnant later in life.First, she had the first 4 boys, then 2 each to Rachel's handmaid, Bilhah, and then Leah's handmaid, Zilpah. That made 8 sons. Now son #9, after a sordid tale of Leah renting her own husband for the night, is Issachar (Leah #5).

Genesis 30:16-18 So when Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him, and she said, "You must come to me. For I've actually hired you with my son's mandrakes." So he lay with her that very night. Moreover, God heard Leah, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob. Leah said, "God gave me my reward because I gave my female servant to my husband." So she named him Issachar.

Issachar is defined in some translations as "recompense." "Google Translate" (I saw it on the internet, so it must be true) tells me the Shoresh (root) Shin-Kaf-Resh means "wages." The Bible tells us something about wages. Romans 6:23 For sin's payment is death, but God's gracious gift is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord. Every lifestyle has a payday. The payoff for sin is death, while the payoff for following Yeshua is eternal life.

Rabbi Trail: I want to thank Raymond Finney (for so much, but there is this in particular) for clarifying for me something I said a few days ago. I was going on about what it means to be a "Believer." Raymond pointed out that anyone can be a believer (even the demons believe) following any life style. Only followers of Yeshua are what we mean when we label someone a "Believer." A true believer will follow Yeshua's ways, which is why the first believers were called "followers of the way." End RT.

We don't have to think too hard to apply the meaning of this name to the character of every follower of Yeshua. As we walk with Yeshua, He gives us a "payday," and those "wages" are the gift of eternal life. Point - Set - Match.

Posted By Rabbi Michael Weiner, 11:00am Comment Comments: 0