Tazria - תזריע
Leviticus: Leviticus 12:1 - 13:59
Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:42–5:19
Apostolic Reading: Luke 2:22–35
Reading #7 - Leviticus 13:55–59
My Thoughts:
Plagues not only affect people, but affect clothing, homes, dishes, pots, etc. All must either be declared clean or destroyed. It reminds me of when we sin. We not only affect ourselves but we affect others around us. For instance, someone who has an abortion and does not understand that she was carrying a tiny human being -- not only destroys a life, but takes away a part of the woman who was pregnant. And the generations that would have been continued through this new life that was taken, are also taken. What we do in our everyday life affects so many others. We need to think about that the next time we sin or do something hurtful. Repent and ask Hashem to forgive you. And go to those you have hurt and ask their forgiveness. Then give something you value away to pay the price.
Challenge:
Talking about abortion is so difficult as I did above. Do you know that approximately one in four women have had an abortion? If you have had one or know someone who has, there are support groups out there for you. If you have not resolved the pain you have gone through please try and contact a group. You can go to: Abortion Help. Read through the website and see if it helps you or refer it to someone you know. I hope and pray you find healing.
Reading #7 - Leviticus 13:55–59
13:55 Then the priest shall examine it, after the plague is washed; and behold, if the plague hasn’t changed its color, and the plague hasn’t spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire. It is a mildewed spot, whether the bareness is inside or outside. 56 If the priest looks, and behold, the plague has faded after it is washed, then he shall tear it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof; 57 and if it appears again in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn what the plague is in with fire. 58 The garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatever thing of skin it is, which you shall wash, if the plague has departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and it will be clean.”
59 This is the law of the plague of mildew in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or in anything of skin, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.
Haftarah
My Thoughts:
Sometimes Hashem sends “messengers” into our lives to tell us important things. Just like Naaman we may be suspicious and not trust them that they heard from Elohim. We may need encouragement from a friend that we should do what we have been told, that it truly is from Hashem. Just like Naaman and his servants did. Maybe we should pay more attention to these important moments in our life. They could change history! Maybe those who have spoken some “words” to us really did hear from Hashem! I have a friend that has a very close relationship to Hashem. When she tells me something that she thinks she has heard from Hashem, I listen and pay close attention. And it has proved to be true and beneficial and wonderful!
Challenge:
After Naaman receives his miracle we read in verse 5:15 “I know that there is no Elohim in all the earth, but in Israel.” That’s how miracles change us. We see a miracle and we remember or discover that there is only one G-d in all the universe, and that is the G-d of Israel. That makes me think about how I want to be “joined” to Israel to serve the one true Holy Elohim. Don’t you? The best way I know to be a part of Israel is to say to Hashem, “Whatever you tell me to do, I will do.” And that means following the Torah. That means committing to the instructions and way of Hashem. Forever. That is what the Israelites did and do today. And when you disobey the instructions and rules of Torah -- you repent. Think about “joining” Israel today and claiming what Naaman did, that there is no other God in all the earth, except for the Elohim of Israel. And think about choosing to follow Him today and all of His Commandments. The Torah. It brings life.
Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:42–5:19
4:42 A man from Baal Shalishah came, and brought the man of Elohim some bread of the first fruits: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. He said, “Give to the people, that they may eat.”
43 His servant said, “What, should I set this before a hundred men?”
But he said, “Give the people, that they may eat; for Hashem says, ‘They will eat, and will have some left over.’”
44 So he set it before them, and they ate, and had some left over, according to Hashem’s word.
5 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Hashem had given victory to Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “I wish that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.”
4 Someone went in, and told his lord, saying, “The maiden who is from the land of Israel said this.”
5 The king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”
He departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.”
7 When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes, and said, “Am I Elohim, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy? But please consider and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.”
8 It was so, when Elisha the man of Elohim heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean.”
11 But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Hashem his Elohim, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.’ 12 Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them, and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
13 His servants came near, and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?’”
14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of Elohim; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15 He returned to the man of Elohim, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, “See now, I know that there is no Elohim in all the earth, but in Israel. Now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.”
16 But he said, “As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.”
He urged him to take it; but he refused. 17 Naaman said, “If not, then, please let two mules’ burden of earth be given to your servant; for your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to Hashem. 18 In this thing may Hashem pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon. When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may Hashem pardon your servant in this thing.”
19 He said to him, “Go in peace.”
So he departed from him a little way.
Apostolic Reading
My Thoughts:
In verse 22 we read, “... according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present Him to Hashem.” Yeshua’s parents, Mary and Joseph (English names) brought Yeshua to Jerusalem to be brought into the Temple along with a sacrifice. All according to Hashem’s laws. Does this make you think at all? Yeshua’s parents were fully Jewish – the chosen people of Hashem. They followed Torah and raised their Son to do the same. And when He ministered, He taught Torah and pointed only to Hashem. Again, I say, what don’t we get about this? If you truly want to follow Yeshua, then you will follow Him in ALL WAYS. As He followed Torah, so do we.
Challenge:
Verse 26 reads, “It had been revealed to him by the Ruach Hakodesh that he should not see death before he had seen Hashem’s Mashiach.” Can you even imagine. First of all, to hear from Hashem so clearly. And secondly, that he would live to see the Mashiach. Wouldn’t that be wonderful today? If we would all live to see the Mashiach? It should be our prayer every day that the Land (especially the temple mount) would be given back to His people. That the Temple would be rebuilt. And that the Mashiach would come and restore the world. Then the glory of Hashem would fill the earth! Amen? Let’s pray for that today!
Apostolic Reading: Luke 2:22–35
2:22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought Him up to Jerusalem, to present him to Hashem 23 (as it is written in the law of Hashem, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to Hashem”), and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of Hashem, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Ruach Hakodesh was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Ruach Hakodesh that he should not see death before he had seen Hashem’s Mashiach. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Yeshua, that they might do concerning Him according to the custom of the law, 28 then he received Him into his arms, and blessed Elohim, and said,
29 “Now you are releasing Your servant, Master,
according to Your word, in peace;
30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 which You have prepared before the face of all peoples;
32 a light for revelation to the nations,
and the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning Him, 34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
