The Three-Hundred-Ninth (In Control)

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen how scripture tells us of a historical arc where all people were in YHWH’s plan for salvation since the beginning.  It is an arc that has played out over the course of thousands of years, but hints about it have always been included in YHWH’s written record throughout.  However, even today it remains hidden to many due to, very simply put, man’s pride.

That’s not to say mankind hasn’t tried to figure out the truth in scripture, or that all those who have studied had bad intentions.  It’s just recognizing that rather than completely stripping him- or herself of everything in an effort to get to the truth and rely solely on the Holy Spirit to get answers, mankind has a tendency to keep some aspect of its own bias while searching the scriptures.  I was certainly guilty of it myself, and it takes conscious, continuous effort to avoid taking that route.

The point, this week, is not to judge or berate anyone for coming to the wrong conclusions, it’s to ask ourselves who is in control.  Who do we say is in control of our lives?  Who do we want to be in control?  And to be honest with ourselves about who really is in control, despite what we profess to be the case?

YHWH, throughout the course of history and through millions, if not billions, of people, not only crafted this plan to save mankind, He implemented it and messaged it in a way that preserved it for us to read today.  He never was satisfied with only saving a group of people based on bloodline, because everyone, ultimately, is a child of His.  Some were more rebellious than others, but all were sinful and rebellious in one way or another (Romans 3:23).

However, even during this rebellion, YHWH created and implemented this plan (Romans 5:8).  Even during continued rebellion, He desires all be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4).  He was involved all throughout history, and continues to be involved today to try and show people truth and deliver them from the world.

A lot of believers don’t recognize that while Israel was split by YHWH and the northern kingdom dispersed into the nations, they maintained at least a portion of their beliefs and traditions as they went.  When the kingdom of Judah was conquered and dispersed, some of them remained in the nations they were dispersed to instead of returning to Jerusalem when it, and the temple, was rebuilt.  While some of these Israelites incorporated ungodly things into their lives based on living in pagan societies, some of them also maintained following certain aspects of YHWH’s commandments.

When the time came for them to show themselves to YHWH in Jerusalem at the temple, they did so.  One of those times was during the Shavuot after Yeshua’s resurrection.  They went there in obedience to one of YHWH’s commandments, whether simply based on their traditions or out of faithfully following the commandment in truth.

This time was different, although they didn’t know it initially.  There were “Jews from every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5-6), but don’t let that term “Jews” fool you.  It is a term associated with the land of Judea, not with a certain tribe of Israel.

Later, we see that many of the “island” nations we learned about a couple weeks ago, as well as descendants of Ham and other bloodlines of Shem, are represented.  The Medes (Madai) (Genesis 10:2), Egyptians (Mizraim) (Genesis 10:13-14), Elamites (Elam) (Genesis 10:22), and others, were all there (Acts 2:9-11).  Could they have planned that out on their own?  Could they have chosen that path, to be there on that particular day, if YHWH had not coordinated it?  

Yet YHWH had hinted of this hundreds of years earlier when He gave Isaiah prophecy about it (Isaiah 19:19-25, 66:19).  A kingdom like Egypt, from which YHWH delivered Israel and promised never to send them back to if they continued to follow His commandments (Deuteronomy 28:68), and one they were commanded never to return to (Deuteronomy 17:16), was prophesied to not only have an altar to YHWH but that they would be blessed as His people.  What Israelite could have come up with any of that on his or her own?  Especially among a people that had built a very clear dividing line between them and the people of those nations (Ephesians 2:14).

Despite commandments about loving and taking care of your neighbor (Leviticus 19:18, 19:34), and one Law being for the sojourner and the Israelite (Exodus 12:49, Leviticus 24:22, Numbers 15:15-16), man created separation.  Even today, that separation exists in the minds of many of those who avidly study scripture.  “Gentile” believers, an oxymoron if there ever was one, are somehow different than “Jewish” believers and have different expectations from YHWH; are held to a different standard.

If we can’t figure out what YHWH is really saying in scripture on our own even to this day, how can we expect to be able to control our own lives in the right way?  Only YHWH truly knows what’s best for us, and obviously, only He knows His plans for us.  It should be common sense for us to let Him be in control.

I think for most believers this is common sense, but the challenge comes with putting that sense into practice in our lives.  We claim we have given our lives to YHWH, but our actions speak differently.  We strive for the things we want rather than what He wants for us, and many times the things we want are really just things the world told us we should want.

This isn’t anything novel, or unique.  Multiple authors of scripture mention that this should be our goal, to let YHWH decide where we go and what we do in our lives (Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 1:17-23).  James tells us we shouldn’t even plan on today, but let it be YHWH’s will that we do the things we do (James 4:13-15)!  

On the one hand, we have the planning on doing certain things in our future, and on the other hand, we have the changing of plans that we had already made.  In other words, it’s not wrong to have plans, which might be the conclusion a believer comes to if they take the words of James out of the context of the entirety of scripture.  However, when you make plans, they should be made by seeking YHWH’s will for your plans.  They shouldn’t be made out of haste, and they certainly shouldn’t be made out of our own desires or what the world tells us our desires should be.  

Also, keep in mind the context of what James said.  He wasn’t talking about getting lunch, or stopping at a store on the way home from work.  He was talking about major, long-term plans like spending a year in a different city running a business and making profit.  

We know James and others had scripture they referenced in their writings and lived by, so where did they get these ideas?  The idea of letting YHWH be in control of our lives has been there from the beginning.  James talked about not boasting in tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1), but other texts talk about YHWH directing our steps in spite of our self-determined plans (Psalm 37:23, Proverbs 16:9).

There is a “cheat code” though.  YHWH provides a way for man’s plans to be fulfilled.  The key is committing all your actions to Him (Proverbs 16:3).  

This has a caveat, though.  It will not work if your actions are not in alignment with what YHWH would approve of.  In other words, you can’t do something sinful, like murder someone, commit that action to YHWH, and expect Him to then fulfill your plans.  

We saw an example of something like this with the Israelites.  After deliverance from Egypt, while Moses was on Mount Sinai with YHWH, they created an idol to worship (Exodus 32:2-4).  They committed that act, and their worship, to YHWH by having a feast to YHWH, giving offerings to Him.  The idol was the object created for their worship of Him, and as a result, they were judged for it (Exodus 32:25-35).

It may seem daunting, even worrying, to try and figure out how to determine what YHWH wants you to do.  It really isn’t that hard, though.  Scripture certainly tells us, but what it comes down to is putting in the effort, and we’ll talk about what that means in a moment.  

Scripture tells us that YHWH’s word helps us to see where we’re going and what’s ahead (Psalm 119:105).  It’s a commonly used verse, but the rest of the passage really tells us what that means (Psalm 119:106-112).  It’s about following His commandments, His statutes, and His Law.

It's not just about reading scripture, although that does help us better understand who He is and what He desires from us.  It’s about actually applying scripture to our lives, including His commandments (James 1:22).  It’s from this baseline that we can ensure our day-to-day actions are in alignment with His will, and without this baseline we can’t figure out what He wants us to do for the bigger decisions of our lives.

Once we are committed to that baseline, we can ask YHWH for His desire in these decisions (James 1:5).  He will answer in one way or another (Matthew 7:7, 21:22, Mark 11:24, John 14:13, 15:7, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 John 5:14-15), but remember, getting what you ask for requires your will to be in alignment with His.  Trust me, He knows us way better than we know ourselves, and whatever His will is for us is going to be better than anything we come up with on our own!

As far as my personal experience, I have seen YHWH answer in many different ways.  Sometimes, it’s things here and there, like something someone says or does or something I see happen, where my ask of Him immediately pops into my mind and is connected to it.  Sometimes, it’s simply a feeling of peace, assurance, or calmness about something, while other possible paths give me anxiousness or nervousness.  Sometimes, it’s that something keeps showing up over and over again, almost like a sort of spiritual billboard saying, “this is it!”

Regardless of what it is, it’s ok to ask Him for confirmation.  I mean, Gideon asked YHWH to act multiple times to confirm what He wanted Gideon to do as far as leading his men in battle (Judges 6:36-40).  I will say though, a lot of times when you know, you know, and while you may feel like you need confirmation, it’s probably just that you’re nervous about what it means to go down the path YHWH’s leading you on!

The final thing I’ll say, in terms of trying to figure out YHWH’s will for our lives, is that it’s ok to ask another believer what they think, but just keep in mind that person might be worse at hearing from YHWH than you are!  That being said, He can use even those people to give a confirmation or denial of what you think He’s saying.  You just have to test what they say against scripture to verify.

I’m not going to lie and say it’s always easy to hear from YHWH, but I will say it’s a lot easier if you’re living according to His word and talking with Him every day, multiple times a day.  This really is about walking with Him, and it’s a relationship between you and Him, and not with anyone else.  Obviously, if you have a spouse, you should be including him or her in what YHWH’s telling you to do!  But you each need to have your own relationship with Him, and if you do, I promise He will bring you both along in His will together!

We hope you have a great week!  Shabbat shalom and YHWH bless you!  

-Rob and Sara Gene

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The Gospel

We are born sinful as a result of Adam and Eve's sin (Genesis 2:17, 3:6, 1 John 1:8)

The consequence of sin, which is unavoidable through our own works, is death (Romans 6:23)

Yeshua, the Son of YHWH, lived sinless and was put to death (Hebrews 4:15)

His death, therefore, cleanses us of sin that would have required our death

(2 Corinthians 5:21)

He rose on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4)

Because of His resurrection, we are confident in our future resurrection and eternal life

(1 Corinthians 15:17-18, John 3:16)