Blessings and curses in the Bible

Sheepfold Gleanings

KI TAVO / WHEN YOU RETURN

Deuteronomy 26:1 to 29:8
Isaiah 60:1-22
James 1:1 to 2:26
Romans 11:1-15

Deuteronomy 26:1-2 "When you enter the land that YHVH is giving you as a heritage, and you possess it and settle in it, you shall take some of every first fruit of the soil, which you harvest from the land that YHVH is giving you, put it in a basket and go to the place where YHVH will choose to establish His name."

There is an order here. First, that we enter the land. This is seen on a physical and spiritual level. Many people have come to believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but physically and spiritually have not truly entered the land because of ignorance of His ways. They may have gone in to visit the land but not to live and take possession of it as YHVH originally commanded His people. The sinful natures, transgressions and iniquities from generations past will prevent YHVH’s people from fully walking in the Kingdom. If our sinful nature is allowed to live and rule in us, it will keep us separated from YHVH’s Kingdom. The Kingdom of YHVH is to be entered into. Many people spend a lifetime outside the land never venturing to enter in or understanding their identity as Israel. The only way you can enter the land today is through obedience to YHVH's teaching and instruction, the Torah. Without these instructions given from Mount Sinai we cannot enter in. The Children of Israel who left Egypt were never allowed to enter the land and journeyed for forty years in the wilderness because they did not follow the Words at Mount Sinai but instead stumbled over them. Moses is now teaching their children how to inherit the land. These are our ancestors and these instructions still speak to and guide us today. Those who believe in Yeshua have an inheritance in the land. The gateway is through Yeshua (Galatians 3:7, 29). We must take on the identity of the Messiah and walk in His gospel. Many of us say we believe but have not been able to walk in His footsteps or enter into the principles that govern the earth, i.e. YHVH’s moral, ethical and social requirements.

The second step of returning to the land is to take possession of the land. This must be done in our hearts first before physically possessing the land. If we do not identify with the land (which is synonymous with Torah) nor find our identity as part of Israel, how are we to take possession of it? As the land, the Torah and the people of Israel are all synonymous, let us look at our own lives. Do we have inhabitants within “our own lands” that do not belong there? Are we “mixing”? How clean is our camp? If Yeshua has died for everything so that we might live a life hidden in Him, why are we still the walking wounded? Why are we still dealing with bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment, retaliation, anger, hatred, violence, murder, envy, strife, jealousy, accusation, betrayal, rejection and rage, etc. toward one another or when situations arise in our lives? How is our health? Are we struggling with physical illnesses and diseases? Are we able to discern between clean and unclean ways, such as in the foods we eat? Can we love our neighbor as our self? The above list of various spirits that YHVH finds detestable is only a portion of what brings blockages in our lives and separates us from YHVH and His blessings. If this is going on in our lives, we may have to ask ourselves: Have we truly obeyed what YHVH taught us?

If YHVH has set us free, why are we not able to take possession of our land? It starts in our hearts first, beginning with the choice to wholly forgive ourselves, our family and others. Then, having love for one another, and offering up sacrifices of praise and worship in thankfulness to YHVH will be a natural response to the work He has done in our lives. We will have entered into Yeshua’s death that leads to His resurrection life and thus be able to offer this life to others. This is taking possession of the land. We are made of three parts: body, soul and spirit. We are to conquer all that hinders our walk and bring it into obedience to YHVH. To enter Yeshua’s life is to conquer the land within us. If we are not in Him, how can we see the growth, fruit, and signs and wonders of the blessings promised? We may need to reevaluate our walk and apprehend the priesthood He has offered us. (Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Peter 2:9; Hebrews 12:14).

More blockages that may prevent blessings could be ignorance in regards to YHVH’s Word or lack of knowledge of YHVH’s ways. For example: tolerating personal or generational sin issues, not have faith in YHVH but trust in man or when looking for signs, wonders and miracles, and have expectations of YHVH on our own terms. When we choose to be dishonest and participate in obvious or habitual sins, then these become blockages. Many of us have come to a knowledge of our salvation but do not walk in redemption through a sanctified holy lifestyle. We may still be partaking in sins that could lead to diseases and potentially death – sins such as bitterness, unforgiveness and fear. Other causes of separation from YHVH include: failure to pray, not caring for our bodies, not eating biblically acceptable foods, not resting on the Sabbath, murmuring or listening to gossip or idle talk, not blessing our wives or failing to take proper care of the widows, orphans and poor among us, to name a few.

1 Corinthians 9:23-26 Paul said, "I do all this for the sake of the gospel (Mosaic Covenant given at Mount Sinai that tell us how to receive our inheritance as Israel), that I may share in its blessings (Abrahamic Covenant defines the inheritance given to Israel). Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

The third and equally important step is that we settle in the land. There is a move by the Ruach Ha Kodesh/Holy Spirit and a call on people's hearts to enter, possess and inhabit the land. This is done in an attitude of righteousness which leads to holiness, for without holiness no one will see YHVH (Hebrews 12:14). Is this impossible? Not at all. Maybe we have given our lives to YHVH but never really given our hearts to Him. When we truly give our hearts to Him we see what is written on our hearts (Torah), and the Ruach Ha Kodesh/Holy Spirit begins to instruct us in that walk of holiness called redemption. We choose everyday to walk as YHVH designed life for us. In that choice the shackles of the past fall away, we conquer our minds and hearts for YHVH, and, in this way, we enter into the land. As we continue to pursue holiness we begin to possess the land, and finally we settle and have peace because we have become accustomed to walking in His ways.

When these three steps are carried out and we work the land that YHVH has given us, fruit is produced. We are to bring the first of this fruit (in Hebrew called bikkurim or “firstfruits”) in a basket before Him. “The terms ‘inheritance’ and ‘possession’ (in the sense of conquering) are often used in conjunction with the word ‘gift’ when referring to the Land of Israel. This is because the land that was originally given to Abraham as a gift was destined to be re-conquered by Abraham's descendants. Each generation must begin anew for itself the conquest of the Land." This is done on the spirit, soul and body level. (For further references to the land see parsha Va'etchanan – Deuteronomy 3: 25-7:11.)

Do we have a basket of bikkurim or “firstfruits” to present before YHVH, the fruit of our labor from the land He has given us? Many of us who have not entered into this walk of redemption may not have experienced His Fruit yet. The fruit is called signs and wonders and is what raises the dead, heals the sick and cleanses the lepers. These are called the elementary things that follow those who have a purified and holy walk in YHVH through Yeshua (Hebrews 6:1-2). We then become His firstfruits as we labor together in His field, white for the harvest (John 4:35; Ezekiel 37:1-14).

This is known as the order of Melchizedek (king and priest). When the House of Israel begins to walk in the ways of YHVH they bring the priestly order and receive their inheritance of “a land, a people and a blessing”. When the House of Judah begins to walk in YHVH’s ways they bring the kingly side and receive the same inheritance of “a land, a people and a blessing”. When both Houses begin to walk in YHVH’s ways in unity, as of one heart (2 Chronicles 30:10-12; Romans 15:5; Ephesians 4:3), David’s fallen tent (Covenant) is restored. This restoration ushers in the order of Melchizedek…last fulfilled by Yeshua. Thus, we are Yeshua’s firstfruits (Ezekiel 37:15-28; Amos 9:11; Acts 15:16-21).

James 1:17-26 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of YHVH. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law (Torah) of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

We pray for a great return to YHVH’s ways that His people might enter, possess and settle the land (both spiritually and physically). May our baskets of firstfruits be overflowing as we come daily before YHVH, rejoicing in His abundant provisions.

Deuteronomy 26:12-13 "When you have set aside in full the tenth part of your yield in the third year, the year of the tithe and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat their fill in your settlements, you shall declare before YHVH: ‘I have cleared out the consecrated portion from the house; and I have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, just as You commanded me.’”

In Exodus 25 we have learned the Tabernacle was built on tithes. In Exodus 35, after the Tabernacle was built, the offerings were brought in to maintain it. In Leviticus 27:30, Numbers 18:26 and Deuteronomy 14, Scripture emphasizes the tithes maintain the Tabernacle and provide for the Levites, those who minister before YHVH and teach and uphold His Word to others.

Tithes are also set aside for the strangers, the fatherless and the widows among us. Today, as the Temple of YHVH resides in us, the tithes are foundational for doing His will plus maintaining our heart and walk before Him. YHVH blesses us, and we are to tithe from the portion He gives us. This tithe is consecrated, a sacred holy portion and a covenant of salt from our house. It literally has the mark of YHVH on it and is to be given freely, liberally and with great joy. Moses has taught us well, now it is up to us to carry out this fundamental commandment; otherwise we inhibit the blessings from flowing in our lives and in the Land of Israel.

When we have finished setting aside a tenth of all YHVH has given us, we stand before Him saying, "I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless and the widow according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as your promised on oath to our forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey" (Deuteronomy 26:13-15).

Deuteronomy 26:16-19 "This day YHVH commands you to observe these statutes and judgments; therefore you shall be careful to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. Today you have proclaimed YHVH to be your Elohim, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, and that you will obey His voice. Also today YHVH has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to YHVH, just as He has spoken."

By saying this, Moses is renewing the Covenant given them at Mount Sinai (found in Exodus 19-24) before they cross the Jordan River.

Deuteronomy 27:2-8 "When you have crossed the Jordan into the land YHVH is giving you, set up some large stones. Write on them all the words of this law. And set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. Build an altar to YHVH of fieldstones and offer burnt offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of YHVH. AND YOU SHALL WRITE VERY CLEARLY ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW ON THESE STONES YOU HAVE SET UP.”

When YHVH first gave this covenant to the Children of Israel, Moses built an altar and set up twelve stones representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel. He read the book of the Covenant to the people who agreed with all YHVH said. Moses then sprinkled blood on the altar and the people. This is called the “Blood of the Covenant”, which consequently sealed (like plaster) all the words spoken by YHVH and the people (Exodus 24; Hebrews 9:18; Hebrews 10:26-31).

Because their parents broke the Covenant with YHVH by worshipping the golden calf, forty years later Moses is told to renew this covenant with their children before crossing over into the land. The same Words that were spoken over their parents are now written very clearly on large stones covered by plaster, representing the flesh of the stones. They were then set up on Mount Ebal. Today, those who are in Yeshua now have written on their flesh the very words that Moses wrote on those stones. The Torah is written on our hearts. He never leaves us or forsakes us.

1 Peter 2:5 “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Yeshua Ha Mashiach/Jesus Christ.”

Hebrews 10:26-31 “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of YHVH. Anyone who rejected the Torah/law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Deuteronomy 27:9 Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel saying: “Silence! Hear, (Shema) O Israel! Today you have become the people of YHVH your Elohim.” This is the confirmation of the Covenant of Moses.

Deuteronomy 27:12-13 "These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin; and these shall stand on Mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice..."

At their bases, Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal are only five hundred yards apart, with the town of Shechem lying between them. It is reported that there are eighty springs in or around the town. Shechem means shoulder, as well as to rise early in the morning. The town is a city of refuge forty miles north of Jerusalem in the region of Ephraim.

When Abraham was called from Ur, he entered the land and stopped here first to build an altar to YHVH (Genesis 12:6). It was here that Jacob buried his family idols and grazed his flocks at the well (Genesis 35:4; 37:12-14). Genesis 49:29-32 and Acts 7:16 records the patriarchs are buried at Shechem in the plot both Abraham and Jacob repurchased (Genesis 33). Jeroboam was crowned king of Israel here after separating and taking ten tribes from Solomon's son Rehoboam King of Judah. Shechem became the capital of Samaria for the Northern Kingdom, the House of Israel.

In the book of Joshua we read that, after entering the land, all Twelve Tribes presented themselves before this monumental place at the entrance of the land. Six tribes stood on one mountain and six tribes on the other with the Ark resting between them. In obedience to what Moses taught, the Levites declared in a loud voice the twelve fundamental curses from the Law of Moses over the Children of Israel. The last curse spoken over them was: "Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out." The people agreed and said “Amen” (“So be it”). Today may we also be a people, who know and understand the words of YHVH and say “Amen”, “So be it.” (Deuteronomy 27:15-26, Joshua 8:30-35)

After the people of Israel fully agreed, a condition was given. The condition was IF Israel would fully obey YHVH and carefully follow all His commands that He spoke through Moses. These words given Moses are still “speaking” to us today. The Mosaic Covenant is conditional. The Mosaic Covenant is YHVH’s teaching and instruction manual for the Abrahamic Covenant, the covenant that gave us our inheritance through Messiah Yeshua. If we obey Moses then we will inherit the land (the place of our identity and our inheritance), the people (i.e. become part of Israel) and be a great blessing.

Zechariah 4:6 “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says YHVH of hosts.”

IF we obey, we will be blessed. IF we disobey, we will incur the curses. Salvation is not the issue here. The issue is the act of obedience and our heart attitude. Our actions and attitudes are the “signs and wonders” or “fruit” that follow those who profess Yeshua as their Savior. Getting to know what the blessings and curses are helps us to see how we are walking in YHVH’s Kingdom. If we do not come to understand His teaching and instruction we will miss the message (Yeshua) and blessings. This is why we study Moses today. Those returning to the ways of YHVH are finding there is a direct correlation to how we walk that brings on the blessings or brings on the curses in our lives. In the past we may have blamed it all on ha satan. If we looked carefully, however, we might come to realize the lack of blessings may not have come solely from the outside but also from within. We need to look at ourselves and examine our hearts before YHVH. In what areas have we come into agreement with the enemy and his lies? The curses in our lives are signs and wonders warning us when we are outside of His will for our lives. The curses become a warning system to us. This is key. Knowing Moses is how we can know Yeshua better. How we enter His will is how we enter the land.

John 5:46-47 Yeshua said, "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 Blessings For Obedience to YHVH's Word
"IF you fully obey YHVH and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, YHVH will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey YHVH: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

"YHVH will establish you as His holy people, as He promised you on oath, IF you keep the commands of YHVH and walk in His ways. Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of YHVH, and they will fear you. YHVH will open the heavens, the storehouse of His bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. IF you pay attention to the commands of YHVH that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them."

Just before Moses was to die, he renewed the Covenant with the second generation of those who left Egypt. Just before Yeshua’s death, He renewed the Covenant with His disciples and Yeshua renews the Covenant with us, those who are leaving Egypt (i.e. the iniquities, pagan ways and influences that yet remain in our hearts). The Covenant that was once written on stone tablets and on the twelve stones in the desert is now written on hearts of flesh sealed in Yeshua’s blood, the Blood of the Covenant. The circumcised hearts of flesh are then able to enter the Land and enjoy the Sabbath Rest for the people of God (Hebrews 4:1-13).

Luke 22:20 “In the same way, after the supper [Yeshua] took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new Covenant in my Blood, which is poured out for you.’”

Today we are the living stones, and the children of those who had broken the Covenant (1 Peter 2:5; Hebrews 4:1-13). At this time we are being restored, renewing the Covenant through Yeshua’s blood that was sprinkled on us. Through obedience and the walk of redemption in Yeshua, the Torah today is not written on plaster and stone, but on our hearts – of living flesh! We are sprinkled with the living blood of the Messiah (1 Peter 1:2). The “blood of the Covenant” literally seals us into the Covenant through Yeshua the Messiah. All that was given at Mount Sinai and that was renewed before entering the land is sealed in our hearts by His blood. Our walk of obedience to the Covenant, called the walk of redemption, is the “mark/seal” upon us.

What signs and wonders do we display today before our family, friends and “the nations” we are amid? Are our signs and wonders, blessings or curses, or are they a mixture of both? May we be a people who make holy choices and live in abundant blessings! May we embrace and walk in all the Words spoken so that we may enter the land and see our families live in peace (Revelation 3: 15-22).

Deuteronomy 28:15-44 Curses for disobedience to YHVH's word
"IF you do not obey YHVH and do not carefully follow all His commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you” (Deuteronomy 28:15).

"YHVH allows curses to come upon His people due to our transgressions (sins), many of which go back to our forefathers. “Transgression" literally means to cross or to go against YHVH’s will. This is our active refusal to acknowledge and observe the Torah (YHVH’s teaching and instruction) in our daily lives.

"The Torah describes in detail blessings and curses as consequences of our life choices. As a consequence of our actions, we either choose His way (blessings), or suffer from the consequences of disobedience (curses) in our own lives. Both of which may be passed down to the third and fourth generations. Curses that are passed down from generation to generation are known as iniquities. Transgression is the disobedience we willfully do on our own. Our transgressions can become iniquities. The decisions we make today not only determine our destiny but could determine the destiny of our children and their future generations. It is very important to recognize these as sins in our life and to take responsibility for them. Then to repent, renounce and remove it from our life. Finally, to resist it and thank YHVH for the victory in restoring you and healing you.

"Do any of these following curses apply to us or to anyone in our family? These signs and wonders in our life are YHVH's warning that we may have stepped outside His instructions for life and are touching the realm of death. (Deuteronomy 28:46) Fear, stress and anxiety are a major plague in the people of America today. It is also the root of many diseases. Bitterness is a principality that hosts unforgiveness, resentment, retaliation, anger, hatred, violence and even murder. Attitudes of the heart are the basis for many physical ailments and diseases in people’s lives, diseases that can bring death. Disease comes from within.

“Many curses are brought about by internal sins (iniquities) stemming from third and fourth generations or from this generation. The sequence of sexual sins may lead to mental/emotional breakdown, poverty then to rage/anger. (A More Excellent Way, Henry Wright)

1. Mental and / or emotional breakdown includes: madness, driven mad (Deuteronomy 28:28,34); confusion of heart or confusion of mind, depression (Deuteronomy 28:20,28); a trembling heart or an anxious mind (Deuteronomy 28:65); anguish of soul or a despairing heart (Deuteronomy 28:65). The areas affected are described as the heart, the soul and/or the mind.

Possible root causes: Occult involvement whether white or black magic, paganism, earth worship (wicca, new age), involvement in secret societies i.e., Freemasonry, Lodges (Elks, Moose, etc,) fraternities, sororities, etc., involvement in horoscopes, astrology, Ouija boards, tarot cards, etc. Possible symptoms/consequences: confusion and depression and emotional rollercoasters, rebellion.

2. Repeated or chronic sicknesses (especially if hereditary) include: plague or plagued with diseases (Deuteronomy 28:21); consumption or wasting diseases (Deuteronomy 28:22); severe burning fever (Deuteronomy 28:22); inflammation (Deuteronomy 28:22); incurable boils (Deuteronomy 28:27,35); tumors/cancer (Deuteronomy 28:27); scabs or festering sores (Deuteronomy 28:27); incurable itch (Deuteronomy 28:27); blindness (Deuteronomy 28:28); extraordinary, fearful, prolonged plagues like diabetes (Deuteronomy 28:59); serious and prolonged sicknesses or severe and lingering diseases like cancer or heart disease (Deuteronomy 28:59); every other kind of sickness and plagues (Deuteronomy 28:61). Either these are inherited through generations or brought on by self-inflicted.

Possible Root Causes: Bitterroot judgments or unforgiveness (especially towards parents, spouse, ex-spouse, and employers) or against anyone who abused or molested you; late onset of diabetes and asthma often result from bitter root judgments against your parents, and /or against present or past spouses, fear, stress and anxiety.

3. Barrenness, a tendency to miscarry or related female problems
The key phrase from Deuteronomy 28 is "Cursed shall be the fruit of your body" or your womb (Deuteronomy 28:18). This curse may affect any of the various organs or functions involved in procreation. These include: inability to conceive; a tendency to miscarry; fetal death during or before childbirth; endometriosis; failure to menstruate; irregular menstruation; debilitating menstrual cramps; frigidity; cysts, tumors or other growths or structural defects affecting any of the various organs connected with the reproductive process; any condition leading to hysterectomy; prostate cancer in men; low sperm count in men; sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Possible Root Causes: Many causes relate to violations of the laws of Niddah. Scripture is very clear about not having sexual intimacy with a woman during her monthly flow for seven days (start to finish) (Leviticus 15:19-33). Cervical cancer or other female related problems can be linked to violation of this law. Other possible root causes are: Bitterness or unforgiveness. Fornication outside Torah principles (marriage), pornography, abortion, affairs, soul ties (flashbacks of past relationships), comparing your spouse with your own or their parents, oral sex and masturbation (which is a homosexual act - witchcraft).

4. Breakdown of marriage and family alienation
Deuteronomy 28:41 "You shall beget sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours; for they shall go into captivity." Possible symptoms/consequences: Divorce; poor relationship with parent/grandparents/in-laws; rebellious children; abuse to spouse and /or children' neglect or abandonment of children, causing them to be orphaned; critical or judgmental spirit, accusations, envy/jealousy.

Possible Root Causes: religious pride, anger, not honoring your parents. Note: divorce will cause us to live in poverty for a season, whether spiritually, mentally or financially.

5. Continuing financial insufficiency
Deuteronomy 28:17 "Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl or trough; 'You shall not prosper in your ways or you will be unsuccessful in everything you do." The full outworking of this curse, however, is most graphically presented in verses 47-48; "Because you did not serve YHVH with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom YHVH will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of all things [absolute poverty]."

Biblically speaking, God's abundance is having all you need to do God's will and something left over to give to others. We must recognize that there is a higher level of wealth than just the material (Proverbs 13:7).

Possible Root Curses: Adulterous affairs, pornography, and greed. One of the biggest areas of continuing financial insufficiency is related to sexual immorality. The spirit of lust is a root of both financial insufficiency and sexual immorality. Typically, when one is involved in sexual immorality, their spirit cries out in the form of anger and rage. They cannot save money because of the lust for more things or uncontrollable spending.

6. Being accident-prone
“You shall grope...as a blind man gropes in darkness” (Deuteronomy 28:29). Including: freak accidents, carelessness, impulsiveness, and unnatural impulse to do harm to another or to animals, an unusually high number of vehicle accidents.

Possible root causes: molestation, abuse.

7. A History of Suicides and Unnatural or Untimely Early Deaths, including: thoughts of suicide or trying to commit suicide; lack of joy in your life; critical or judgmental spirit; self-hatred; untimely death of family members due to murder, suicides, or diseases that took someone's life at an early age.

Possible root causes: Abuse, molestation, occult activity. (End of quote from Mikvah by STBM, Rabbi Ralph Messer)

Along with the list above, eating outside Biblical guidelines for our wellbeing further aggravates many of our health issues (including mental/emotional breakdowns, repeated/chronic sicknesses, and female problems).

We suggest that if the symptoms above from Deuteronomy 28:15-68 are more evident than the blessings from Deuteronomy 28:1-14 in one’s life, the notes at the end of this teaching may help. Yeshua's blood purifies us, yet we can incur contamination, which keeps holiness and righteousness far from us. The walk of holiness and the process of cleansing is our part and our choice. It is not a salvation issue, and the law still applies under Yeshua’s blood. With the High Holy Days coming, this is the time and season for repentance and a good time to cleanse our temples.

Romans 11:1-15 The Remnant of Israel
The Torah portion for this week closes with Paul sharing about YHVH’s plan for the remnant coming from the Nations and for the Jewish people. For those choosing repentance, cleansing and a walk of redemption through holiness, Paul uses the picture of an olive tree. Olive trees need to be engrafted with a wild olive branch in order to survive. The root and the tree is Yeshua, the Vinedresser. The tree also represents the Torah. The natural branches represent the House of Judah, the Jewish people, and the wild olive branch represents the remnant of the House of Israel coming from the Nations.

In the grafting process of an olive tree, the vinedresser first cuts off a natural branch, causing it to fall to the ground. This causes the bark on that cast-off branch to harden for a time. The vinedresser then goes out to find a wild olive tree and cuts off a strong branch, bringing it back and grafting the wild olive branch into the natural olive tree. The cut/grafting is called a “scion” (Strong’s G1461) pronounced “zion.” He uses worn High Priest garments, called “swaddling clothes”, to wrap the grafted wild olive branch to the natural olive tree. For three and a half years – the length of a Torah cycle – the vinedresser checks daily to see if the grafting will take. After that time, if the wild branch has adapted, the cut or “circumcision” is no longer visible. The wild olive branch has become like the natural branch of the olive tree. Then the vinedresser gathers the natural branch that fell and hardened for a time and grafts it into the same place that the wild olive branch had been grafted into. This process takes another three and a half years for a total of seven years. Each year represents a thousand years, corresponding to the seven thousand-year plan of YHVH. (Olive Tree: 7000 Year Redemptive Plan of God Rabbi Ralph Messer)

The wound in the natural olive tree is likened to Yeshua’s death on a tree, and his pierced side, when blood and water poured out. It was this moment the two sticks of Israel/ the Houses of Israel and Judah were grafted into the true olive tree (Ezekiel 37:15-28).

“I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Nations. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Nations, how much more their fullness! Israel (the Jews) has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Nations has come in and so all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:11-12).

Isaiah 61:1 “Because YHVH has appointed me to preach the good news to the poor."

Yeshua quotes this passage in the Brit Chadasha/New Testament in Luke 4:18-19. The good news is the gospel YHVH gave Moses at Mount Sinai. Yeshua is the one Moses said would come to bring the good news to the people as the fulfillment of those Words spoken at Mount Sinai. He is our Redeemer and our Salvation.

Shabbat Shalom
Carl and Julie Parker

The Mikvah:
The Mikvah is a Biblical practice of water immersion through which people around the world have reached out to YHVH for spiritual renewal and repentance from disobedience especially for believers for thousands of years. It encourages people to look deep within themselves and acknowledge any known or unknown sin or disobedience that they or their forefathers may have committed. After going through each section on the curses in Deuteronomy 28 listed in this lesson, ask the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) to bring to our attention things that may have been forgotten due to traumatic events that may have occurred earlier in our life. Write down any curse patterns that show up in our lives. We then invite YHVH to cleanse us of all iniquity and transgressions through a personal prayer of repentance through Yeshua. Mikvah’s grant us an opportunity to turn away from our former ways and to choose a deeper, more whole relationship with YHVH. First forgive ourselves, and then forgive everyone who has hurt us physically, spiritually and emotionally. (Colossians 3:12-13)

"Hebrew tradition identifies three stages in the process of forgiveness, whether you are being forgiven or you are forgiving other. The steps are identifies by the words 's'lechah' (forgiveness), 'm'chilah (letting go), 'nad kapparah' (atonement). Forgiveness begins with the conscious intention to forgive. But if the process ends there, the feelings of guilt or resentment reappear when you least expect them. Letting go means, '' you no longer need the past to have been any different than it was.' At this stage, you may remember the pain, but you are no longer consumed either with guilt or resentment. With atonement, you can accomplish something positive that otherwise wouldn't have been possible. You still remember, and you still may feel the pain, but the act of atonement transforms the pain into a blessing." Rabbi Ted Falcon, PhD.

Prayer of Confession before Mikvah: "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, I ask You to forgive me of my disobedience, iniquities and transgressions. I forgive my forefathers for turning their backs on Your Torah. I forgive all those who hurt me physically, spiritually and emotionally. I ask that all demonic influences be bound and not permitted to operate in my life according to Torah, and that your Spirit be loosed to operate in my life according to Torah, to rule and reign in my life, and to help me walk out Your Will. I ask this in the name of my Lord and Savior, Yeshua Ha Mashiach. Amen.

In the month of Elul, the preparation month for the High Holy Days, many are preparing themselves for YHVH's Feast days: Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot/Tabernacles. People are coming to YHVH confessing and cleansing their bodies and souls (hearts) before Him.

How to take a Mikvah: Home Immersion
At home, fill the bathtub (or if you just have a shower with a couple of inches of water), get in, then turn the tap or shower on and let the water drain out of the tub while you submerge in the water. This way the “living/fresh” water washing cleanses the iniquities and transgressions. If there is a lake or fresh water source close to immerse in, all the better! (1 John 5:6-8)

If you do not know your Savior Yeshua Ha Mashiach we invite you to share this prayer with us: “I believe that Yeshua of Nazareth is the promised Son of God, the Messiah of Israel. He was crucified for my sins, was buried and arose the third day according to the scriptures. I believe He is ascended up into the heavens and all power in heaven and earth is given unto Him. I believe He has promised to return and all that believe in Him and are immersed into His name will receive remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit and citizenship in the Israel of God. I receive His forgiveness for my sins this day and confess Yeshua of Nazareth as my personal Lord and Savior.” Amen

Do you believe with all your heart that the Lord Yeshua is the revealed person of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit? Make your confession now of the oneness of God and your vow to love Him.

"Hear O Israel, YHVH the Father, Our God Yeshua the Son, And YHVH the Holy Spirit Is One and the Only God." "I vow this day to love and serve YHVH the God of Israel with all my heart and with all my soul, and with all my strength, and with all my understanding. I believe that when these words are in my heart and in my mouth and before my eyes, then it will be counted for me for righteousness. And God will not impute unto me my sins, but will cast my sins into the depths of the sea, and He will pour out His Spirit upon me, giving me a new heart, and He will give His angels charge over me to keep me and prosper my way. I believe salvation is not of works of righteousness that I have done but according to His mercy whereby He saves me, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit whom He promises to pour out on me abundantly through faith in Messiah Yeshua, our Savior.”

Now upon confession of Lord Yeshua, immerse in the Mikvah into the Name of Yeshua, the revealed person of: The Father, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. And the God of Peace who brought up Yeshua from the Dead, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant, now cleanse you of all sin and fill you with the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit), making you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, though Yeshua, the Messiah, to Whom be all glory forever. Amen. (Quote from Mikvah by STBM Rabbi Ralph Messer)

Reference:
Call to Torah by R. Munk Mesorah Publications, Ltd.
Parsha Va'etchanan: www.sheepfoldgleanings.com
Deuteronomy 28 Curses and Mikvah: by STBM Rabbi Ralph Messer www.torah.tv
Blessings and Curses by Derek Prince.
A More Excellent Way by Henry W. Wright www.pleasantvalleychurch.net
The Olive Tree by R. Ralph Messer 7000 Year Redemptive Plan of God www.torah.tv

Sheepfold Gleanings written by Carl and Julie Parker
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