{"id":3616,"date":"2015-02-01T12:45:00","date_gmt":"2015-02-01T12:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=3616"},"modified":"2015-02-06T02:06:42","modified_gmt":"2015-02-06T02:06:42","slug":"bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-yitro-hearing-from-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-yitro-hearing-from-god\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Yitro, Hearing from God"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[youtube url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lAqOfPOyH2Q&amp;feature=youtu.be&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>This weeks reading is from Parashat Yitro (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shemot \/ Exodus 18:1-20:23<\/span><\/em>), the Scriptures tell us Yitro (Jethro) came to Moshe bringing Moshe\u2019s wife Zipporah and his two sons (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">18:6-8<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Moshe told Jethro everything the Lord had done and Jethro said <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">18:10 \u201c&#8230; \u2018Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.\u201d (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Jethro saw all that Moshe was doing for the people and recommended that he select leaders from the people as judges so that he can deal with only the heavy matters (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">18:13-26<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Moshe says farewell to his father-in-law and on the third month after the exodus the people arrived at the wilderness of Sinai (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">18:26-19:1<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The Lord told Moshe to have the people consecrate themselves for on the third day the Lord will come down on the Mountain of Sinai (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">19:7-16<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The Lord warned Moshe to warn the people not to break through and gaze so they would not die (<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>19:24-25<\/em><\/span>) and God called Moshe and Aaron to come up on the mountain.\u00a0 The Lord gives the people His ten commandments (i) to have no other gods before Him (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">20:1-5<\/span><\/em>), (ii) do not take the name of the Lord in vain (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">20:6-7<\/span><\/em>), (iii) remember the Shabbat (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">20:8-11<\/span><\/em>), (iv) honor your father and mother (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">20:12<\/span><\/em>), (v) do not murder (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">20:13<\/span><\/em>), (vi) do not commit adultery (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">20:14<\/span><\/em>), (vii) do not steal (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">20:15<\/span><\/em>), (viii) do not bear false witness against your neighbor (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">20:16<\/span><\/em>), (ix) do not covet your neighbors house (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">20:19<\/span><\/em>), and (x) do not covet your neighbors wife, male or female servants, his ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">20:19<\/span><\/em>)<\/p>\n<p>The Scriptures, according to <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shemot \/ Exodus 19:14-17<\/span><\/em>, tell us that Moshe went down to the people and consecrated them, they washed their clothing.\u00a0 In addition to this, the Torah tells us that Moshe instructed the people to not go near a woman for the Lord will show Himself on the third day.\u00a0 What was the purpose of this instruction to not go near a woman for three days because the Lord was going to show Himself upon the mountain to the people?<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05e9\u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05d9\u05d8<\/strong><br \/>\n\u05d9\u05d3\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8\u05b6\u05d3 \u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05df-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05e7\u05b7\u05d3\u05bc\u05b5\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05db\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e1\u05d5\u05bc \u05e9\u05b4\u05b9\u05de\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd: \u05d8\u05d5\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd \u05d4\u05b1\u05d9\u05d5\u05bc \u05e0\u05b0\u05db\u05b9\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05dc\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05ea \u05d9\u05b8\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc-\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05d4: \u05d8\u05d6\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d1\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b9\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b9\u05e7\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e7\u05b9\u05dc\u05b9\u05ea \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05e7\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e2\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05df \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05d1\u05b5\u05d3 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e7\u05b9\u05dc \u05e9\u05c1\u05b9\u05e4\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d7\u05b8\u05d6\u05b8\u05e7 \u05de\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05d3 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b6\u05d7\u05b1\u05e8\u05b7\u05d3 \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05e0\u05b6\u05d4: \u05d9\u05d6\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05e6\u05b5\u05d0 \u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd \u05dc\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05b4\u05df-\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05e0\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05d9\u05b7\u05e6\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05ea\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05e8:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shemot \/ Exodus 19:14-17<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 19:14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. 19:15 He said to the people, \u2018Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.\u2019 19:16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 19:17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Why did Moshe instruct the people to not go near a woman for three days prior to the Lord revealing Himself on the mountain?\u00a0 When thinking about not going near, this reminds us of the mitzvah regarding being intimate with one\u2019s spouse during niddah.\u00a0 In addition to this, we are also reminded of the term negiah (\u05e0\u05d2\u05d9\u05e2\u05d4) meaning literally <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201ctouch,\u201d<\/span><\/em> which is a concept in Rabbinical law (Halakha) that forbids or restricts physical contact with a member of the opposite sex (except for one\u2019s spouse, children, siblings, grandchildren, parents, and grandparents). A person who abides by this halakha is colloquially described as a shomer negiah (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cone observant of negiah\u201d<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 In the rabbinic literature, earlier sources do not use the word <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>\u201cnegiah,\u201d<\/em><\/span> but use the word <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201ck\u2019reiva\u201d<\/span><\/em> (coming near) or one of its grammatical variations (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">See, e.g. Sefer Mitzvos Gadol 126, Rambam Issurei Biah 21:1<\/span><\/em>) It is interesting in the biblical text, the words Moshe speaks saying, \u05dc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05dc\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05ea \u05d9\u05b8\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc-\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05d4 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cfor three days do not approach unto a woman.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The word used specifically here is <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cTigshu\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc) from the root word <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cnagash\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05e0\u05b8\u05d2\u05b7\u05e9\u05c1) written in the Qal Imperfect form, meaning as a verb, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cto get near to, come close to, approach.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 This word is used 19,885 times in the Tanach.\u00a0 What exactly was Moshe trying to say when he said that one is not to draw near to his wife (\u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05d4) for three days?<\/p>\n<p>The prohibition of negiah is derived from two verses in Leviticus, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">18:6 \u201cAny man shall not approach (\u05e7\u05e8\u05d1 qarab) his close relative to uncover nakedness; I am God,\u201d and 18:19 \u201cYou shall not approach a woman in her time of unclean separation, to uncover her nakedness\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The laws of negiah are typically followed by the Orthodox with varying levels of observance.\u00a0 Some Orthodox follow the Halakha with strict modesty and take measures to avoid accidental contact, such as avoiding sitting next to a member of the opposite sex on a bus, airplane, or other similar seating situation.\u00a0 Others are more lenient, only avoiding purposeful contact.\u00a0 Adherents to the Conservative and Reform Judaism do not follow the strict observance of this Halakha.\u00a0 The verse from <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus 18:6<\/span><\/em> is regarding being intimate with a close relative, and <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">18:19<\/span><\/em> is with regard to niddah.\u00a0 It is interesting to note how these prohibitions are described by the rabbis.\u00a0 The prohibition against physical contact with arayot (<em>Forbidden relationships in Judaism<\/em>) is codified by the Rishonim including Maimonides (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Hilchos Issurei Biah 21:1<\/span><\/em>) and Moses ben Jacob of Coucy (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Sefer Mitzvos Gadol 126<\/span><\/em>), note that the rabbis take into consideration of whether the contact is done in an affectionate or lustful manner.\u00a0 Maimonides and the Shulchan Aruch formulate this prohibition as <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201chugging, kissing, or enjoying close physical contact\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Rambam Hilchos Issurei Biah 21:1, HaEzer 20:1, and Be\u2019er Heitev 2<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Note that the Rishonim (\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d5\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd) <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cthe first ones\u201d<\/span><\/em> were the leading Rabbis who lived during the 11th to 15th centuries, in the era before the writing of the Shulchan Aruch (\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05d7\u05b8\u05df \u05e2\u05b8\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05da), the code of Jewish law, 1563 CE, and following the Geonim (589-1038 CE). Based upon these texts and the rabbinic interpretations, the rabbis do not indicate that mere touching is forbidden.\u00a0 So one conclusion we could make regarding <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shemot \/ Exodus 19:15<\/span><\/em> is not with regard to touching one\u2019s wife.\u00a0 The requirement of restricting the men from approaching their wives appears to be on an intimate level as opposed to merely touching as in the case of casual contact, touching a hand, a kiss, etc.<\/p>\n<p>Understanding the difference here from the perspective of the rabbis is very significant.\u00a0 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shemot \/ Exodus 19:15<\/span><\/em> is a very significant passage especially in light of the rabbinic interpretation on these verses and the concept of <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201clustful thoughts\u201d<\/span><\/em> that is coupled with Moshe\u2019s instructions to the people on preparing themselves to see the Lord God on the mountain on the third day.\u00a0 If one keeps lustful thoughts in one\u2019s heart, do you think he will see the face of God or even the Lord working in his life?\u00a0 The application for us today, men who are sinning in pornography, will not be able to see the face of God.\u00a0 This is also related to the Lord working in the man who is living in unrepentant sin.<\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Midrash Rabbah Shemot, Parashat 28, Part 3<\/span><\/em> has the following to say concerning this section of verses from the Torah.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Midrash Rabbah Shemot, Parashat 28, Part 3<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> And Moshe reported the words of the people unto the Lord (Shemot \/ Exodus 19:8).\u00a0 God wished at the moment to give them the Torah and to speak with them, but Moshe was still standing and God said, What can I do because of Moshe?\u00a0 Rabbi Levi said, It can be compared to a king who wished to pass acts without consulting the lieutenant governor; when he said to him, do this thing the reply was, It has already been done.\u00a0 The king tried once again, Go and call this counselor that he may come with you, and when he had gone, the king carried out his wish.\u00a0 So when God desired to give the Ten Commandments, Moshe was standing at His side.\u00a0 God thought, When I reveal the heavens to them and say, I am the Lord your God, they will ask, Who is speaking?\u00a0 God or Moshe?\u00a0 Let Moshe therefore descend and then I will proclaim, I am the Lord your God.\u00a0 Hence, when God said to Moshe, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments (Shemot \/ Exodus 19:10), he said, I have already sanctified them; for it says, For you did charge us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it (Shemot \/ Exodus 19:23). God then said to him, Go down and you will come up, you and Aaron with you (Shemot \/ Exodus 19:24); and as Moshe descended, God revealed Himself; for immediately after it says, So Moshe went down unto the people, we are told that God spoke.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05e8\u05d1\u05d4 \u05e9\u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05e4\u05e8\u05e9\u05d4 \u05db\u05d7 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05df \u05d2<\/strong><br \/>\n\u05d2 \u05d5\u05d9\u05e9\u05d1 \u05de\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9 \u05d4\u05e2\u05dd \u05d0\u05dc \u05d4\u05f3, \u05d0\u05d5\u05ea\u05d4 \u05e9\u05e2\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e7\u05e9 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d9\u05ea\u05df \u05dc\u05d4\u05dd \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05dc\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e2\u05de\u05d4\u05dd \u05d5\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05de\u05e9\u05d4 \u05e2\u05d5\u05de\u05d3 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05de\u05d4 \u05d0\u05e2\u05e9\u05d4 \u05de\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9 \u05de\u05e9\u05d4, \u05d0\u05f4\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d5\u05d9 \u05de\u05e9\u05dc \u05dc\u05de\u05dc\u05da \u05e9\u05d1\u05e7\u05e9 \u05dc\u05e2\u05e9\u05d5\u05ea \u05d0\u05d5\u05e4\u05d9\u05de\u05e9\u05d8\u05d0\u05d8\u05d0 \u05d7\u05d5\u05e5 \u05de\u05d3\u05e2\u05ea\u05d5 \u05e9\u05dc \u05d0\u05e4\u05e8\u05db\u05d5\u05e1 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d5 \u05e2\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e4\u05dc\u05d5\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d5 \u05db\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e0\u05e2\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea, \u05d5\u05e9\u05d5\u05d1 \u05d0\u05f4\u05dc \u05dc\u05da \u05e7\u05e8\u05d0 \u05dc\u05e4\u05dc\u05d5\u05e0\u05d9 \u05e1\u05d9\u05e0\u05e7\u05dc\u05d9\u05d8\u05e7\u05d5\u05e1 \u05d5\u05d9\u05d1\u05d0 \u05e2\u05de\u05da, \u05e2\u05d3 \u05e9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05d4\u05d5\u05dc\u05da \u05e2\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d4\u05de\u05dc\u05da \u05de\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d1\u05d9\u05e7\u05e9, \u05db\u05da \u05d1\u05d9\u05e7\u05e9 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d9\u05ea\u05df \u05d9\u05f3 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d5\u05ea \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05de\u05e9\u05d4 \u05e2\u05d5\u05de\u05d3 \u05de\u05e6\u05d3\u05d5 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05d0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d2\u05d5\u05dc\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d4\u05dd \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05e8\u05e7\u05d9\u05e2 \u05d5\u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05e8 \u05d0\u05e0\u05db\u05d9 \u05d4\u05f3 \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05da \u05d4\u05dd \u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05d9 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05d0\u05d5 \u05de\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05dc\u05d0 \u05d9\u05e8\u05d3 \u05de\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d0\u05d7\u05f4\u05db \u05d0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05e8 \u05d0\u05e0\u05db\u05d9 \u05d4\u05f3 \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05da, \u05db\u05da \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05dc\u05de\u05e9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05da \u05d0\u05dc \u05d4\u05e2\u05dd \u05d5\u05e7\u05d3\u05e9\u05ea\u05dd \u05d4\u05d9\u05d5\u05dd \u05d5\u05de\u05d7\u05e8 \u05d5\u05db\u05d1\u05e1\u05d5 \u05e9\u05de\u05dc\u05d5\u05ea\u05dd \u05d0\u05f4\u05dc \u05db\u05d1\u05e8 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d3\u05e9\u05ea\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05db\u05d9 \u05d0\u05ea\u05d4 \u05d4\u05e2\u05d3\u05d5\u05ea\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e0\u05d5 \u05dc\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d2\u05d5\u05f3, \u05d0\u05f4\u05dc \u05dc\u05da \u05e8\u05d3 \u05d5\u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05ea \u05d0\u05ea\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d0\u05d4\u05e8\u05df \u05e2\u05de\u05da, \u05e2\u05d3 \u05e9\u05de\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d9\u05d5\u05e8\u05d3 \u05e0\u05d2\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4, \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d9\u05e8\u05d3 \u05de\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05dc \u05d4\u05e2\u05dd, \u05de\u05d9\u05d3 \u05d5\u05d9\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05dd,<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In the midrash, the rabbis are discussing Moshe who is up on the mountain of Sinai and the Lord God who is going to speak to the people.\u00a0 The question is if Moshe remained on the mountain, they might be confused between the Lord speaking and Moshe speaking.\u00a0 The explanation is that God told Moshe to descend the mountain so the people would not be confused.\u00a0 The Ten Commandments are given from God both orally and in written form.\u00a0 The Lord instructs Moshe to descend the mountain and sanctify the people.\u00a0 The Scriptures say, \u05d9\u05d3\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8\u05b6\u05d3 \u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05df-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05e7\u05b7\u05d3\u05bc\u05b5\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05db\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e1\u05d5\u05bc \u05e9\u05b4\u05b9\u05de\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd: <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">19:14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The word sanctify or consecrated comes from the word \u05e7\u05d3\u05e9 meaning <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201choly,\u201d<\/span><\/em> or <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cto set apart.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The washing of the garments is another way of saying <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cget yourselves cleaned up to be presentable before the Lord.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Note that getting yourself all cleaned up before coming before the Lord, this is applied to those who already are in a covenant relationship with God in the Messiah Yeshua.\u00a0 If one is coming to faith and believe in the Messiah, the Lord helps to clean up his life following placing one\u2019s faith in Him and seeking for His help.\u00a0 Moshe descends the mountain and does just that, he causes the people to get cleaned up and he adds the instruction to not go near a woman for three days prior to the Lord revealing Himself on the mountain.\u00a0 The sense that Moshe is giving in this instruction, based upon the rabbinic interpretation on these verses regarding <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201clustful thoughts,\u201d<\/span><\/em> is that we are to be set out hearts on the things above and not upon pornographic materials if we want to see the Lord God on the mountain on the third day.<\/p>\n<p>What is interesting in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shemot \/ Exodus 19:10-11<\/span><\/em> the Lord tells the people to sanctify themselves because He is going to visit in three days.\u00a0 We have been discussing what it means to consecrate ourselves (set ourselves apart) and the Torah instructs us that we set in order our lives, to walk in God\u2019s ways, and we set in order our hearts, turning from sin and towards the Lord God in heaven.\u00a0 Notice how the instruction to consecrate yourself is repeated through the Torah over and over again.\u00a0 For example, we read in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus 20:7 \u2018You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. 20:8 \u2018You shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Note both the people and the Lord are involved in the sanctification process.\u00a0 Note also, as mentioned previously, the word used for <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cconsecrate yourselves\u201d<\/span><\/em> is \u05b0\u05e7\u05b4\u05d3\u05bc\u05b7\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05dd derived from the root \u05e7\u05d3\u05e9 meaning to make holy.\u00a0 Thus, the biblical use of the verb <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cconsecrate\u201d<\/span><\/em> is a synonym for <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201csanctify,\u201d<\/span><\/em> meaning <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cto make holy.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 This is an important point because in this world we need to be aware that there is a great amount of unholiness in this world.\u00a0 As believers, we should not choose to rub shoulders with what is unclean and be defiled.\u00a0 What we look at can defile our hearts.\u00a0 What we listen to can defile our hearts.\u00a0 The company we keep can defile, as Paul\u2019s citation from <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Isaiah 52:11<\/span><\/em> in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">2 Corinthians 6:17<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 Paul says we are to separate ourselves from everything that defiles and then the Lord will accept us (read <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">2 Corinthians 6-7<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 If you are expecting God to work in your life, have you taken the necessary steps to sanctify your life before God?\u00a0 If you are expecting the gifts of the Spirit to be manifest in your life, have you taken the necessary steps to sanctify your mind, body, and soul for that purpose?\u00a0 (<em>Note, the sanctification of the soul is a joint process with our desire seeking the Lord for that sanctification in His Messiah Yeshua.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<p>God\u2019s command to be holy is not only in the Torah, it is spoken of throughout all of Scripture (compare <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus 11:44, 19:2, 20:17<\/span><\/em> with <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">1 Peter 1:16<\/span><\/em> and <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">2 Corinthians 6<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 In addition to this, Revelation 19:7-8 tells us the bride of Christ sanctified herself for the coming of the Lord.\u00a0 Who is the bride of Christ?\u00a0 That is us right?\u00a0 According to the Scriptures, consecrated people are never lazy people, this is the lesson that is illustrated in the priesthood with Aaron and his sons from <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shemot \/ Exodus 28:41 \u201c\u2026 consecrate them \u2026 that they may minister unto Me in the priest\u2019s office.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Take for example, hypothetically, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cif you knew the exact day and time Yeshua would return on the clouds for His people, how would you behave?\u00a0 How would you behave yourself?\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 With these things in mind, are you able to put yourself into the shoes of the Children of Israel in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shemot \/ Exodus 19:14-17<\/span><\/em> and understand what Moshe was telling them to Sanctify\/Consecrate themselves?\u00a0 Should we not be living consecrated lives daily?\u00a0 If the Lord has not been working in your life, there may be a reason.\u00a0 If you are sick, ill, and dying, there may be a reason.\u00a0 If the gifts of the Spirit are not manifest in your life, there may be a reason.\u00a0 If you feel distant from the Lord and His Messiah Yeshua, there may be a reason.\u00a0 Have you offered your body, mind, soul, and spirit as a living sacrifice unto God? (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Romans 12<\/span><\/em>)\u00a0 Remember, spiritual sin maybe related to things that we set up as idols in our hearts.\u00a0 This week\u2019s study provides for us an example of an important aspect of our lives, our faith, and our walk before the Lord God in Heaven.\u00a0 We need to take seriously our faith and walk before the Lord because these things do impact our hearing from the Lord and His working in our lives.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Have you consecrated yourself today<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\n<em><strong> for the Glory of God?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/BTT_Parashat-Yitro-2015.pdf\">BTT_Parashat Yitro-2015<\/a>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[youtube url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lAqOfPOyH2Q&amp;feature=youtu.be&#8221;] This weeks reading is from Parashat Yitro (Shemot \/ Exodus 18:1-20:23), the Scriptures tell us Yitro (Jethro) came to Moshe bringing Moshe\u2019s wife Zipporah and his two sons (18:6-8).\u00a0 Moshe told Jethro everything the Lord had done and Jethro said 18:10 \u201c&#8230; \u2018Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3620,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3616","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tehillim"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3616"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3616\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}