I Have Redeemed!

He has redeemed! Yeshua, He Redeemed us!

What does this mean to you? Please tell me!

To me it means everything!

I am here because of Him, I can breathe because of Him, I can move because of Him, I can see because of Him! What can you do because of Him?

I can do so much, but let us not be confused on what we can do. Because there are things that we can do, but it is not all what He wants us to do.

Luke 7 and this Parsha is so beautiful. You see, here we are in a time when God is dealing with things that give off uncleanliness. God shows us how He wants us to approach Him. Should we be unclean, He wants us to draw near to Him. During these days, being unclean was usually because of sin. Ofcourse, there is an exception in this portion. In the beginning of this parsha we see, if a woman concieves a child she shall be unclean as in the days of her monthly cycle plus extra days for purification.

There are a couple ideas on why this is the case, and the one that sticks out to me is in regards to the male having only half the time of uncleanliness. For male born means the mother has 7 plus 33 days of uncleaness (however, the 8th day is seperated for the circumcision) for female child to be born 14 plus 66 days of uncleaness are taken.

Essentially, because a male is brought before the Lord, it is as if purification has already taken place. The second idea I think is appropriate to say is the idea that because a male child doesn’t grow up to bring life, and undergo’s circumcision. The mother then only has to undergo 40 days of uncleaness. However, a female child grows to bring life into the world and will go through the cycle in order to fulfill God’s purpose and promise through the woman… So the mother goes through 2 periods of uncleanness 1 for her own purification and the other for the daughters purification. So circumcision is what enables God’s promise for the boy, and the time of purification enables God’s promise for the girl.

From the beginning of time God separates us for His purpose. This period of dedication is so important as it allows God’s promise to continue within the community of Israel. This however, doesn’t save us!

This act is a part of our obedience to the Lord so that it may go well with us, however, many before and around Abraham were not circumcised. And Guess what? Many were used by the Lord. Job was said not to be a Jew, and it is likely that Job was not circumcised. However, Job was seen as a righteous man.

The most important thing to know is… Are you walking with the Lord?

In 2 Kings 5 we see a very incredible event happen. A man not an Israelite under the King of Aram was used by ADONAI! Though the man was a mighty man of valor… he had tza’arat. During one of their conquests, Naaman’s wife was given an Israelite slave. It was when Naaman had tzaarat that the israeli girl said “if only my lord went before the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his tza’arat.

The king told Naaman to go and Naaman took gifts to give. He brought a letter from the king of Aram to the king of Israel, and the king of Israel rent his clothes.

What is interesting to me is what Elish the prophet says in response to the king’s action. “Why have you rent your clothes? Please, let him come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

Elisha spoke these words that meant… God is still working and active in Israel. This means that God was doing something to show Himself Holy among the people! It says that Israel is under God’s authority and He is waiting for the children of Israel to recognize who ADONAI TZAVOT IS!

There is actually a brief foreshadowing of what is about to take place in Israel. Because at the end of 2 Kings Jerusalem is destroyed because of the sins of the children of Israel. Yet, during this time of exile, God uses kings and people from the nations to see that God is still moving.

Today, we see the same things happen as many do not recognize God’s Kingship, and this is a sign of the time! HaShem Yeshua is coming in all His glory in judgment in order to purify the land of the unrighteous acts we have done… However, to those who believe, there is redemption. There is redemption for both you and me… for Jew and for the Greek.

So Naaman appears at Elisha’s doorstep, and Elisha sends a messengar to tell Naaman… Just go wash yourself in the dirty water right there and make sure you dip yourself … hmmmm… 7 times!

That’s not exactly what he said, but Naaman definitley took it that way. The Word says “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.” Naaman said that he can go to these other waters in Damascus and in anger he turned away, however, Naaman’s servents told him… “my father, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, would you not have done it?”

Guys!!! Dont you see it!!! If God had told us to do this, though it may be difficult… would we not be redeemed!!!

Doesn’t it say that all of this is in fact… “Not too difficult for you to do!”

Upon hearing… “Would you not have done it?” Naaman dips himself in the Jordan 7 times and comes out clean and completely restored so that his flesh was like “the flesh of a child” I am not gonna lie, I think i’d like some smooth skin. But even more so.... Naaman was clean!

In Luke 7:36-50 it is quite simlar. Yeshua goes to eat with these Pharisees and behold an unclean woman goes before Yeshua and pours out a bottle of expesnive perfume at the feet of Yeshua. She’s crying over Yeshua’s feet, and wipes His feet with her hair. While anointing His feet, she kisses His feet.

The Pharisees seeing this says to himself, “If this were a prophet, He would know what sort of woman is touching Him - that she is a sinner.”

Can I ask you… “what kind of person are you?”

How are you approaching the throne of heaven? Do you believe that Yeshua has come? Do you believe that you are saved? Do you believe that God has cleansed you? Do you believe that Yeshua has freed you? Do you believe that what God is telling you to do is for your good?

The prophet spoke to Naaman, and at the realization of His own greed and authority, he could have kept walking in his shame. Naaman could have stayed covered in tzaarat!

The women, she was a sinner… though her sin not mentioned, it was great enough for people to know that this woman was unclean!! The woman could have fled, but something else happened....

Naaman turned back to enter into the water, and the Woman stayed at His feet!! because they believed! Naaman believed that if this was a prophet of God… he would be healed by God. So he went knowing that he would be healed. The Women believe that this was the Messiah of Israel, and that if she brought herself to the feet of Yeshua, her sins would be forgiven. So she did knowing that her sins would be forgiven.

Naaman was healed by God, and the women’s sins were forgiven by the Messiah of Israel!

Those who do not believe will not know, and those who are not immersed will not understand. Salvation has come to bring us to perfect obedience in who He is.

Naaman said it, “2 Kings 5:15 “When he returned with his entire retinue to the man of God, and came and stood before him, he said, “Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. Now please, accept a present from your servant.””

Elisha doesn't accept the gift, and Naaman continues 2 Kings 5:19 “Elisha said to him, “Go in peace.” So Naaman departed from him some distance.”

Those who do not listen, they will be held captive by the uncleanliness as we see take place to Elisha’s servant Gehazi who goes after the gifts that Elisha refused. Gehazi fell into the trap of the lust from the eyes. Gehazi’s heart was not set on God.

The Pharisees also did not understand, and Yeshua said to them… Luke 7:46-47 “You didn’t anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I tell you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven—for she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.”

and he continues in the ends saying....

Luke 7:50 “Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in shalom.””

Remember what was said las week… They will seek Shalom, but they will not find it!

However, if you seek for Yeshua, You will know Him!

If you believe/have Faith in Him, you will be saved!

Most importantly, He tells you “Go in Shalom”, because you are Redeemed; you are Forgiven!

Knowing this… How are you choosing to walk out of here today?