Ordinance

     Our Sabbath reading portion for this week is titled Chukkot, meaning "Ordinances of", and begins in Numbers Ch. 20. The Hebrew title Chukkot comes from the words hukka/hoq/haqaq which mean "statute, ordinance, limit, law, that which is established or defined/ordinance, bounds, commandments, boundary, decrees/decree, cut out, engrave, inscribe, govern, law giver, cut upon, mark out, cut in stone, a scepter, carve out like a grave or sepulcher in a rock." The ordinances of God are "set in stone" as the meaning of the word in Hebrew describes above. They are immutable (unchanging over time, unable to be changed-see Mal. 3:6, Heb. 13:8) by any natural means. We should keep in mind when considering the ordinances of God that there are two powerful and prophetic precedents that were established before the law was given to Israel from Mt. Sinai through Moses: covenant and grace. Covenant promises kept the LORD from completely wiping out the children of Israel, although they broke His ordinances (Mal. 3:6-7). Noah found grace in the eyes of God even though "all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth" and "every intent of the thoughts of his (man's) heart was only evil continually." (Gen. 6:5-13). However, neither of these two preceding conditions were intended to encourage the breaking of God's ordinances, and that without consequence (Rom. 6:1-2, 15-16). Neither covenant nor grace, however, means that we can continue to sin against the ordinances of God. These ordinances are to become written in our hearts so that we can live them as a testimony of God before men.

     In our Sabbath reading portion, Chukkot, or "Ordinances of", the children of Israel, the whole congregation (eda/ed - appointed meeting/witness, testimony, evidence), were in Kadesh (qades - holy, consecrated to God, consecrated to licentious idolatry) in the Wilderness of Zin (flat, to prick), a desert region. So God has directed His people to this specific place for an appointed meeting, to testify of His ordinances as witnesses. This place, Kadesh, can either be a place of holiness before the LORD or a place for the worship of idols by sexual uncleanness and soul-demeaning and soul-destroying perversion according to the meaning of the name. Imagine the spirits of wickedness that were to be found in this place, but God's assembly had been specifically brought to this dry place to witness and testify of Him, of His ordinances that limit and set boundaries against wickedness in the spirit. Not only do God's ordinances set boundaries against spirits of wickedness, bringing judgment to them, but we will see that there is a prophetic declaration hidden in these ordinances that would speak to generations ahead. However, because this place was such an important spiritual battleground, there would be serious challenges to the testimony of God's people here.

     The first challenge to the souls of Moses and the people of God that we find out about in Num. 20:1 is the fact that Miriam, Moses' sister died and was buried there in Kadesh. Miriam played an important role in preserving Moses' life when he was a baby, and she was a prophetess to the congregation (Ex. 15:20-21).  Then the congregation rose up against Moses and Aaron because there was no water in that place: "And the people contended (rib - strive, contend, debate, quarrel, wrangle, grapple, rebuke, to pull, to rend each other's garments, to contend with the hand in blows) with Moses and spoke, saying: "If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! Why have you brought up the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? And why have you made us to come up (ala- ascend, come up, offering, light, increase, raised, arose, go up, be exalted) out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place (maqom/qum - standing place, station, office, habitation, condition/to arise, stand up, become powerful, raise up)? It is not a place of grain (zera/zara  - seed, sowing, fruitful, seedtime, harvest/sow seed, yielding seed, to become pregnant) or figs (te'ena -tree having large leaves for shade covering, comfort) or vines or pomegranates (rimmon/raman - pomegranate fruit or tree/to be exalted, be lifted up, to be high, rise up); nor is there any water to drink." (v. 3-5). Contrary to what the congregation spoke, we know that it was not Moses who directed the congregation of Israel to this place, Kadesh, but the pillars of fire and smoke of God. The LORD instructed Moses to gather the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) assembly, and take the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) rod, and He said: "Speak (dabar) to the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) rock before their eyes, and I will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock..." (v. 7-8). However, instead of speaking to the rock, Moses lifted his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) hand and struck (naka - smite, slay, kill, beat, slaughter, wounded, stricken, stripes, scourge, give a thrust, ravage, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy, to pierce through, to pierce into) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) rock twice with the rod. Water did come out of the rock abundantly. Psalm 78:16-17 describes the water that came from this rock: "He also brought streams out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. But they sinned even more against Him by rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness."

     It is revealed in the New Testament that this rock which carried abundant water was Messiah/Christ in their midst (1 Cor. 10:4), and it is "the Rock of our salvation" that is mentioned in connection to the rebellion in the wilderness in Ps. 95, which is another reading portion from this Chukkat Sabbath. We can also see the same wounds and death that were inflicted upon Christ expressed above in the word for "struck", which is naka. This rock had been "struck" earlier by God's command (Ex. 17:6), but was not meant by God to be struck again. It is an ordinance of God as revealed in the New Testament that Christ was to die once for sin for all time (Rom. 6:9-11, Heb. 9:25-28, Heb. 10:12-14, 1 Pet. 3:18).

     Considering this, the Book of Hebrews also revealed the understanding of the importance of this act of Moses by saying that one's unbelief, after having already seen and experienced the enlightenment of God and the Holy Spirit through Jesus, crucifies Jesus again, and puts Christ to open shame (Heb. 6:4-6). The LORD said the same thing to Moses: "...you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) assembly into the land which I have given them." (Num. 20:12). It is possible that Moses must had some understanding of who the rock truly represented, but if he did not, his failure to follow the ordinance of God given to him, caused him to lose entrance into the promised land. This seems a severe consequence, but Moses did not lose his life for breaking this ordinance. God's people were brought to this place of Kadesh to shame the spiritual strongholds of wickedness through the (prophetic) ordinances of God, not to shame the LORD!

     Some people say, "If I ever saw a miracle, I would believe in God." However, the congregation of Israel, anointed and appointed to carry the testimony of God both within the Ark and within their hearts and mouths, saw miracles too many to count, yet they contended against Moses and the LORD repeatedly in unbelief (see also Num. 21:4-9). We look at these accounts and wonder how Israel could have failed to trust the LORD, yet we, who have been miraculously given the gift of salvation through the knowledge of Christ, often speak unbelief and contention, although we may deny it. As with Israel, this is our biggest challenge, and this is where the spirits of wickedness succeed in the spiritual battle against us. However, the scripture says: "...the accuser (kategoros - incl. Satan) of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Rev. 12:10-11).

     If you would like to learn more about the ordinances of God and their application in our lives, you can pray with me: "LORD God, Your Word is bread for me that feeds my life. Forgive me when I speak thoughtlessly or in unbelief. Forgive me when my testimony is weakened by unbelief and rebellion. Jesus urged us to be overcomers by the Word and the Spirit, to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches, and I want to be that living testimony of Your glory. All things are possible with You, Lord, and as You direct me, let my mouth speak, and my feet walk. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit who will give me the Words I am to say and pray, and will direct my testimony. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as Α Ω , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.

theRock

This Sabbath's reading portion is titled Ha-azinu, which means "Listen". This portion is read on the Sabbath before the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. The Day of Atonement is different from all the other feasts that the LORD commanded His people to keep. It is the only feast in which the LORD commands: "...you shall afflict (ana - humble, bowed down, weaken oneself, submit self, oppression and sorrow, to furrow the ground, to bring the earth into cultivation; hear, answer, bear, cry, respond as a witness, pay attention, to make answer, to give account, speak, shout, sing) (aleph-tav) your souls..." (Lev. 23:26-32). The afflicting of one's soul is interpreted to mean that God's people should pray, confess, and repent with fasting. It is a most solemn day. Under the Law of Moses, the atonement for sin took place in the deepest part of the tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, where the High Priest could enter only once a year on this appointed day to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice of atonement upon the Mercy Seat that covered the Ark of the Testimony. The tablets containing the Ten Commandments were inside the Ark. This atonement blood would cover the sins of the people for one year only. Jesus fulfilled this prophetic appointed feast by entering the Holy of Holies in heaven with His own blood as the atoning sacrificial covering for our sins. His sacrifice is not made yearly, as under the Law, but was made once, for all time. (Heb. 9:11-15, 23-26, 10:1,3-4). As I read the Sabbath portion for this week, I saw something about the Day of Atonement, and its fulfilment accomplished by the atoning blood of Christ, that I had not considered before: it was this Atonement that was the very foundation of all creation. We already know the scripture from Revelation calling Jesus "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Rev. 13:8). In another example, if we look closely at the Hebrew in Genesis 1:1, which starts "In the beginning...", God is written as Elohim aleph-tav. The individual pictographic Hebrew letters, aleph and tav, the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, can individually mean "God + cross". Jesus referred to Himself as "Aleph-Tav" when He said "I am the Alpha and the Omega (as translated into the Greek language), the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End" (Rev. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13). We will see more of the connection between the Atonement and the Foundation of the world in this week's Sabbath reading portion as well. This week's reading includes Deuteronomy 32, which is a song that Moses was commanded by God to teach to all of the people of Israel. His song begins with the phrase "Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; And hear O earth the words out of my mouth." (Deut. 32:1). Moses was singing a declaration of witness to all creation (see above definition of "afflict"). In this song, the LORD prophesies that Israel will turn away from Him, including the offering of sacrifices to demons (v. 17), and the many evils, like war, famine, pestilence and beasts, that would fall upon the children of Israel because of that. He also sang: "They are not His children, because of their blemish...children in whom there is no faith." (v. 5, 20). In describing the anger that is therefore created in God, the song of Moses said: "For a fire is kindled in My anger, and shall burn to the lowest hell; it shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains." (v. 22). Who or what could possibly save His people from such holy and righteous burning anger? It is an anger that will descend to, and set on fire, the very foundations of the earth. At the end of his song, Moses revealed this promise of the LORD: "He will provide atonement (kapar - cover, purge, make atonement, make reconciliation (see also Col. 1:19-20), expiate, cancel, cleanse, forgive, be merciful, pardon, overspread, free from legal charge) for His land and His people", which the people and the Gentiles would receive with rejoicing (v. 43). The promise said that God will provide the covering atonement. Although Israel already had the yearly atonement of animal blood by the Law, this atonement is spoken of in the future tense. God will provide it, rather than the sacrifices of men. As Abraham promised his son, Isaac: "God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." (see Gen. 22:6-8, 13-14). The word translated "provide" here really means much more. Don't let traditional knowledge of men rob you of the depth of the Word of God. As a student of Hebrew scripture brought to my attention, the word translated as "provide" is the Hebrew word ra'a, which really means: "behold, show, appear, foresee, look at, present oneself, to be visible, to be pleased with the sight, approve, look one upon another, present, cause to see, to be taught in visions divinely brought, provide". In these verses from Genesis, Abraham lifted up (nasa - bear/lift up, carry, accept, pardon, forgive, bring forth, extol, exalt, magnify, respect, rise up, desire, marry) his aleph-tav eyes and took (laqah - take, receive, fetch, bring, married, infold, send for, mingle, take for oneself, to receive for care and protection, to receive with the ears) the aleph-tav ram and offered it instead of his son. We who believe in Jesus Christ understand and believe that, as prophesied and promised, the future Atonement that God would send in order to cover His people from the fire of His anger that burns to the bottom of hell, would be His own Son, Jesus. In this song, which is read before the Day of Atonement, Moses refered to the "rock/Rock" seven times, including: "He is the Rock, His work is perfect"; "honey from the rock"; "oil from the flinty rock"; "forsook God... and scornfully esteemed the Rock of His salvation"; "of the Rock who begot you"; "their Rock"; "our Rock". This is the first time in scripture that God is described as a "Rock". This Rock in the Song of Moses is specifically identified as "the Rock of God's salvation". The Hebrew word for "rock" is sur, which means "rock, cliff, block of stone, boulder, refuge, beauty, strength, sharp, a sharpened tool made of rock used to circumcise, also to bind, distress, lay siege, fortify, adversaries". The same "Rock" that is a refuge and salvation for some, is war against another. We take it for granted now that God is our Rock, but it must have seemed strange when, for the first time, Moses repeatedly referred to the LORD in this way. Why would God identify Himself to Moses as the Rock, and what did it have to do with atonement? Moses and the people had already had two special experiences with "a rock" in the wilderness that provided enough water for all the people, and their flocks and herds (Ex. 17:1-7, Num. 20:2-11). As we will see, so great was this miracle, that it was still being praised as a specific wonder of God on behalf of His people centuries later in the Psalms (Ps. 105:41, 114:8). The New Testament reveals that this Rock in the wilderness was Christ (1 Cor. 10:2-4). Jesus Himself told of how He was the source of the living water of everlasting life that never runs out (Jn. 4:10, 13-14, Jn. 7:37-3). Here is an interesting scientific point that bears witness to the idea of rock as water found in the natural creation (true science, as opposed to false science, always bears witness to the Word of God). Water can be locked inside of two minerals: ringwoodite and wadslyite. These minerals are found only in the earth's mantle, the foundational rock of the earth. The depth of this mantle rock extends to 250-410 miles below the earth's surface. The amount of water contained in this mantle rock may be more than in all of the oceans combined. Steve Jacobsen, a geologist at Northwestern University said that because of the depth of this mantle rock, "It is not accessible. It's not a resource in any way." (as reported by NBC News). Man cannot access this impossibly deep foundational rock by any human means, yet the Rock followed Israel in the wilderness, and gushed forth abundant precious water when there was none to be found. In another reading portion from Ha-azinu, or "listen", Sabbath lesson before the Day of Atonement, we are again brought to the Rock: "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence...For who is God except the LORD? And who is a rock except our God?...and He makes my way perfect...The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation!" (2 Sam. 22:2-3, 32-33, 47, a Psalm of David). Now, in this Psalm, instead of the fire of God's anger being directed at His people, it is directed at the enemies of His people: "Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of heaven (samayim - firmament spread out like a vault over the globe as supported on foundations and columns) quaked and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; coals were kindled by it...the foundations of the world were uncovered, at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils." (v. 8-9, 16). This duality, Savior to some and Burning Breath of Fire in anger against an enemy, is included in the meaning of the Hebrew sur Rock as we saw above. Another reading from this week's Sabbath before the Day of Atonement recalls the rock known to Moses that yielded water for the people of God, as mentioned previously: "He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink in abundance like the depths (tehom/hamam - deep, depth, deep places, primeval ocean, abyss, deep hollows in the earth, subterranean water supply/break, consume, crush). He also brought streams out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. Behold He struck the rock (see Isa. 53:4 - "stricken... smitten") so that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed...In spite of this they still sinned, and did not believe in His wondrous works...they returned and sought earnestly for God. Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer...(He) chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved...He also chose David His servant...to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance." (Psalm 78, excerpt). David and Judah were named in connection to this. From both Judah and David, Jesus was descended in flesh as prophesied, and called Himself "the Good Shepherd" of His flock (Jn. 10:11, 14-16). As the assigned reading for this Sabbath before the Day of Atonement indicates, the atonement to be sent by God in the Song of Moses is also mentioned in connection to the foundational Rock of His salvation. Did you ever wonder why man was formed from the dust (apar - dust, earth, powder, ore, pulverize) of the ground? (see Gen. 3:19). I can't say for sure, but it is interesting that dust is the product of Rock that has been crushed by weathering, and we know that man was created in God's own image. Perhaps it is the image of the crushed (daka - bruise, break in pieces, beat in pieces, crushed, shattered, crumble, crush to pieces) Christ mentioned in Isa. 53:10. Here is yet another hint that the Atonement was the foundation of the world and creation. Man, it can be argued, was created from the Atonement sacrifice of Christ "from the foundation of the world". Let's look at some more verses that refer to the connection of Jesus to the (atonement) foundation of creation: John 1:1-4 - "All things were made through (dia - the channel of an act, by, through, with, because of) Him (The Word, Christ)..."/ 2 Tim. 1:9: "(God) who has saved us and called us...in Christ Jesus before time began"/ Heb. 1:1-2: God who...by His Son...through whom also He made the worlds...purged our sins"/ 1 Pet. 1:18-20: "You were...redeemed...with the precious blood of Christ, was of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you...". Before God, Elohim aleph-tav, created the world, the Lamb of God was slain for our salvation and atonement, and all things were made through Him, the living Word. I hope that I have been able to express the vision of the Atonement blood of Jesus Christ for the purging of our sin as a foundational work from the beginning, and before the beginning, of all creation, including the creation of man. Worthy is the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world! If salvation and atonement through Jesus Christ are indeed the foundation upon which all of creation was established, the LORD insists in Lev. 23 that we cannot disregard it in favor of our own self-righteousness. The Day of Atonement is a Day appointed by the LORD to allow us to humbly confess and acknowledge His foundational sacrifice of Atonement for our benefit. He saw our need even before we knew that we needed it: "But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Rom. 5:8-10). If you would like to know more about the priceless Atonement covering and purging our sins, you can join with me in my prayer: "Father of heaven and earth, You sent Your Son, Jesus, as the Atonement for my sins. His own blood has been sprinkled on the Mercy Seat for me. He was the Lamb sacrificed for this purpose from and before the foundation of the world. Moses sang of this Atonement, and taught all of the children of Israel his song. Not only Atonement, but also the living waters of salvation and eternal life are poured from the Rock of our Salvation. By Your Word and Spirit help me to build my house of faith dug deep with its foundation laid on the Rock (Lk. 6:47-48). I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

Defense

We were once very confident that the defense systems of our nations, especially those that were the most elaborate, sophisticated, and powerful in the world, were perfectly able to protect us against foreign attack...until the bright, clear morning of September 11, 2001. The world found out that no army, navy, or air force, no matter how advanced, was able to defend any nation in every circumstance. We were vulnerable then, and we remain vulnerable now. However, there is a Defense that IS sure, and cannot be shaken. In the Book of Numbers, or B'Midbar in Hebrew, which means "In the Wilderness", we read that the LORD divided the hundreds of thousands of Israelite men, whom the LORD called His armies, into divisions for war. Each tribal division, and in the case of the Levites, the priests, divisions within the division, camped under an identifying banner. The LORD armed His people with His Word, given to them from Mount Sinai, and the LORD covered His people, and enforced the placement of His anointed and appointed covering, Moses and Aaron. We saw last week that the people of God rashly rebelled against this covering the LORD had provided for them. The LORD's presence was strategically positioned in the midst of His people, in His Tabernacle. Sometimes the Israelite armies would go into natural battle against an enemy, but the greatest enemies they faced were not natural, but spiritual. However, the LORD had set in place a powerful defense system over His people. It is the title of this week's Sabbath reading portion, Chukkat, meaning "Ordinance of". The Hebrew letters that compose the word chukkat, or "ordinance of", are cheth, vaw, qoph, tav. Each of these letters have an individual meaning that, when joined together in this word, can mean "The fence, the tent wall, that separates and protects is joined together into a circle from the head and behind by a nail and a cross, the sign of the covenant". Chukkat, the ordinance of God, is the defense system for His people. The very first verses of Chukkat, this week's reading beginning in Numbers 20, reveals a wealth of information for us in order to study this defense system: "Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was burried there. Now there was no water for the congregation..." (Num. 20:1-2a). The people were not journeying and encamping according to their own whims. They were being led by the Pillar of Smoke during the day, and the Pillar of Fire by night, and following the Ark of the Covenant (see. Num. 10:33-36). The people are now in the Wilderness of Zin, which means "a low palm tree, desert, to prick". They were staying in Kadesh. The root word of Kadesh in Hebrew, Qadas, means "holy, sanctify, be hallowed, be separate, sacred, purify, clean, the Sabbath, consecrated as a priest, to declare holy". As the people of God, we can understand the nature of holiness found in this word qadas. From this holy root word, qadas, we will move closer up towards our word "Kadesh" with the next root word, qades. However, something has happened to corrupt the holiness of qadas. Qades, contrarily means "unclean, male devotee to licentious idolatry of Venus or Astarte, consecrated prostitute to an idol". Finally, the word of the place mentioned in the above verse, Kadesh, means "holy, sanctuary, libidinous worship of Astarte or Venus, harlot". Why had God directed His people to such a place? The people of God were encamped in a place of spiritual warfare. Their enemy is a spirit that twists and perverts the idea of the holiness of God. Holiness is attacked by corrupting the principle of consecration, and twisting it into depravity. The people have arrived in "the first month", yet there is no mention of Passover, which was last mentioned in Num. 9, during another first month, when the people were in the Wilderness of Sinai. The LORD had to command them then to keep the Passover, even though the Feasts of the LORD had been established earlier as an eternal ordinance of God (Num. 9:1-5). Miriam, Moses' sister and prophetess, died at this time in the Wilderness of Zin. Also there was no water in the land. However, the people did not turn to their defense system. Instead, they turned against it: "And the people contended (rib - grapple, wrangle, debate, strive, seize one another by the hair, rend each other's garments, contend with blows, defend) with Moses and spoke, saying: 'If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! Why have you brought up the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) assembly of the LORD into this wilderness that we and our animals should die here? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place?" (Num. 10:3-5a). Of course, Moses didn't choose to be the one to deliver the people out of Egypt, or to determine their path to the Promised Land. This was done by God. We have additional information that this account was taking place at the time of the appointed Feasts of the LORD that were an ordinance for the first month, because the people were looking for grains, figs, vines and pomegranates (v. 5), which are the fruits of the Feast of Tabernacles. They could not find those fruits in this Wilderness of Zin at Kadesh. Because of the contention of the people against them, Moses and Aaron left the congregation and went to the door of the Tabernacle where they fell on their faces, and the glory of the LORD appeared (v. 6). The people had tried to defend themselves against the evil of that place by contending with Moses and Aaron. Moses and Aaron, on the other hand, would receive an ordinance of defense from the LORD: "Then the LORD spoke...'Take the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) rod: you and your brother Aaron gather the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; and you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation and their animals..." (v. 7-8). In this "evil" place where the idea of the holiness of God has been defiled, leaving the land a barren, waterless desert, the LORD answered His complaining people with His glory, and with the Rock of His Salvation. It is a Rock filled with enough water to provide not only for the hundreds of thousands of numbered males plus women and children, but for their flocks and herds as well. Jesus spoke of Himself as an infinite supply of living water: "Whoever drinks of this water (a well established by Jacob) will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (Jn. 4:13-14). Jesus gave this revelation promise to a woman whom many would have considered to be immoral, and her land, Samaria, was also despised by the religiously minded, for worshipping God in an unacceptable manner. The New Testament also clearly identified this Rock at Kadesh as Christ: "...all our fathers...drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ." (1 Cor. 10:4). In the Wilderness of Zin, the LORD did not deal with the spirits of darkness by contending with them, but by overcoming them with the glory of His holiness, and with the provision of His Son, the Messiah, as water to His rebellious people. In the same way, the LORD did not manifest His Son to us because we deserved Him. Scripture says that while we were yet sinners and enemies of God, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8-11). However, not only is this the Rock of Salvation, but it is a Rock of defense, as we read in the Psalms: "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength (rock), in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies...He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved...the LORD has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge." (Ps. 18:2-3, Ps. 62:2, 6, Ps. 94:22). As Moses was given the command to take the rod and speak to this rock before all of the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation, The holiness of the LORD was again profaned by bitterness in this place of Kadesh. Moses, in His outrage, did not speak to the rock, as he was commanded, but struck the rock twice with the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) rod, saying: "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" (Num. 20:10-11). For this error, Moses and Aaron were told by the LORD that they would not be bringing His (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation into the (eres) land/earth/world which the LORD had given them because "...you did not believe Me, to hallow (qadas - see above root of Kadesh) Me in the eyes of the children of Israel..." (v. 12). The LORD brought His (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation to this forsaken place, made desolate by the perversion of holiness, in order to be enthroned in His qadas holiness. However, this would now be known as "the water of Meribah (meaning strife, contention, provocation)" because the children of Israel contended with the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) LORD (Yehovah) here (v. 13). The LORD had brought His people to this desolate place for a reason and a purpose - not to punish them, but to exalt Himself and establish His holiness over the spirits of darkness in this place. Psalm 99 is also assigned reading for this Sabbath of Chukkat or "Ordinance". It says in part: "The LORD reigns...Let the earth be moved...He is holy (qados/qadas)...Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool - He is holy (qados/qadas) ...You were to them God-Who-Forgives, though You took vengeance on their deeds. Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy (qados/qadas) hill; For the LORD our God is holy (qados/qadas)." (v. 3, 5, 9). This is something for us to keep in mind today also as we see darkness twist the holy character of the LORD before the people. As God's people left Kadesh, they traveled to Mount Hor, where Aaron would die by the Word of the LORD, and his son, Eleazar, would become high priest in his place. Mount Hor in Hebrew means "mountain mountain". It is also referred to as "the everlasting mountains" and "the eternal hills". The LORD said that this was the place where Aaron shall be gathered to his people and die there" (Num. 20:26). It is south of the Dead Sea, and the local people have referred to it as "the Mountain of Aaron the prophet". Aaron would be gathered to his people at this place and time, "for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against My (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) word at the water of Meribah." (v. 24). Here the LORD gives us an idea of what He intended to accomplish with the Rock at Kadesh. It is not something that we would immediately be able to see and understand without looking at the Hebrew words involved. Moses rebelled against the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) "word" of the LORD regarding the Rock. The Hebrew used for "word" is not dabar, as we usually see, but pe. Pe/pa'a means "mouth, lip, commandment, blowing, breathing/splitting, cleaving, break in pieces, shatter, blow away, scatter with wind". This (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) "word" was going to blow , scatter, shatter, those perverse spirits of darkness that had tried to rule over that area. Psalm 68:1-2 describes how God's enemies are scattered (pus - shake, break, or dash to pieces, scatter abroad) and driven away (nadap - diffused, dispersed, driven about especially by wind) like smoke. The Chukkat ordinance or command of God regarding the Rock at Kadesh was like a blowing of holy wind from the mouth of God in order to break His enemies to pieces and scatter those pieces in the wind. Unfortunately for Moses and Aaron, they did not keep this "blowing" pe word from the mouth of the LORD. We can learn from this lesson, can't we? If you would like to know more about God's perfect plan of defense on behalf of His people, you can pray with me: "Lord, You are my Rock of defense and Salvation (Yeshua/Jesus). The breath of Your mouth scatters Your enemies, and the throne of Your holiness will never be overcome. The whole earth is filled with the glory of the LORD, and we shout, "GLORY!" to the LORD who reigns in holiness. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit, and use the steps of my appointed journey with You to establish Your holiness in the earth, as it is in heaven. Let me not lean on my own understanding, nor be subject to the spirita of this world, but to trust in You only as my defense. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."

Tabernacles

The title of this week's sabbath reading portion is CHOL HA-MO'ED SUKKOT, which refers to the sabbath that occurs within the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles. So we are in the middle of that feast right now. Each of the readings assigned to this sabbath can give us a look into the importance of this feast to each of us. The topic of tabernacles is too large to completely discuss here, but there is a previous blog post on the right side of this page under "Featured Post". You can click on the post title "Culmination" to read that earlier post. We think of the tabernacle as a tent or building established for the worship and offerings brought to the LORD, and the atonement for the people, and it is that. However, that building is patterned after the heavenly things (Heb. 8:4-5). It is meant to be a representation of something greater. In one of the readings from this tabernacles sabbath, Moses has an experience with God that is different from his previous experiences. Up to this point, Moses has heard the voice of God from the middle of a burning bush. He has received and followed detailed instructions from God regarding the confrontations with Pharaoh, the night of the Passover, and the deliverance of the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt. Moses and the people have seen the LORD descend upon Mt. Sinai on the third day, in thunderings, lightnings, a thick cloud, fire and smoke, and the sound of a loud trumpet, which caused a great quake on the mountain: "And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up" (Ex. 19:15-20). God then spoke His Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17). The people were terrified and stood far away, "...but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was." (Ex. 20:21). We even learn that from a cloud at the door of the tabernacle, God "spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." (Ex. 33:9-11). These are remarkable experiences for a man to have with God, but Moses knew there was more. Moses was told by God that He knew Moses by name, and that Moses had found grace in God's sight (Ex. 33:12), but Moses knew there was more. Because of the grace that Moses had in God's sight, God also promised Moses: "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest" (v. 13-14), but Moses knew there was more. Moses acknowledged that if the presence of God went with the people and himself, "... we shall be separate (pala - separated, make wonderfully, set apart, marvelous, put a difference, marked out, be distinguished, illustrious), Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth", and the LORD answered, "I will also do this thing that you have spoken. For you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name." (v. 16-17). Grace was mentioned five times in this conversation between Moses and God. However, Moses knew of, and was seeking, something more! What could be more than speaking with God face to face like a friend? What is more than the presence of God causing His people to be distinguished and marvelous in the earth? What more could a man receive from God than the gift of His grace? What Moses was seeking from God in this sabbath's reading, which is specifically appointed during the Feast of Tabernacles, must be important to our understanding of that feast. We find out then what more Moses wanted from the LORD as he asked: "Please, show me Your glory (kabod/kabad - glory, abundance, honor, dignity, reverence, weighty, to endure adversity)." (v. 18). In order to fulfill this request of Moses, the LORD created a tabernacle for him. It was not the tabernacle that was made by the craftsmen from among the children of Israel. This was a tabernacle, instead, which was carved out of a rock, with a covering of God's own hand. The LORD spoke this to Moses: "I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you...You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me and live...Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the Rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen." (Ex. 33:18-23). Jesus was asked a similar question by one of His disciples, Philip, who requested: "Lord, show us the Father." Jesus answered that Philip should already know, "...He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (Jn. 14:8-9). This conversation took place after Jesus had told His disciples that in His Father's house (oikia/oikos - tent (as a tabernacle), dwelling, temple), were many mansions (mone/meno - dwelling, indwelling/not to perish, continue to be, to last, endure, survive, live, to be held or kept continually), and that Jesus was going to prepare a place (topos - space marked off, rock) for "you". (see Jn. 14:1-4). Jesus expected them to know exactly what He was talking about (v. 4), as He used words to bring to their minds the tabernacle, and the encounter that Moses had with God that we read above. As we look again at the tabernacle that the LORD provided for Moses in order for him to experience God's glory, we see that it was within the opening of a rock (sur - rock, God, beauty, Mighty One, the refuge and protection of Israel, a stone knife used for circumcision, to shut up, enclose, secure, cutting). A cleft (neqara/naqar- hole, fissure, pierced, bore, pierced with pain) was made in the rock to hide and shelter Moses. The body of our Rock of Salvation was also pierced with pain.
He is our living tabernacle, if we abide in Him, and we are the tabernacle of His Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:16, 1 Cor. 6:19). God covered (sakak which is the root word of sukkah or tabernacle) Moses with His hand (kap/kapap- palm, hollow of the hand, clouds, to be bent, be bowed (as in a rainbow for example), arched, to curve, to bend over). While the earthly tabernacle, and more so the heavenly tabernacle, are glorious, the individual and personal tabernacle created for Moses in this encounter is even more precious and significant to me. It as a tabernacle created of clefted Rock and Hand by the gracious words spoken by God over Moses that day: "I will be gracious (hanan/hana - pity, favorable, be inclined towards, to make acceptable, intreat for mercy, compassionate/pitch a tent, bend down, abide and rest in tents) to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion (raham - mercy, compassion, love, pity, to behold with tenderest affection) on whom I will have compassion." (Ex. 33:19). This tabernacle, prepared by God for Moses, protected Moses and provided a safe place for Moses to experience the glory of God. We read in several places in scripture of how the glory of God filled the tabernacle or temple. On one occasion, which is found in another reading from this special sabbath, the priests could not stand to minister in the new temple as God filled it with His glory (1 Kings 8:10-11). However, this kind of personal tabernacle, which God provides for each of us in Christ, the Rock, also has a special meaning in these last days before Christ's expected and awaited return. There will be those who will seek another kind of tabernacle, one that is without the glory, graciousness and compassion of God. They will have determined to live apart from God. They will have no desire to ask of God, as Moses did, "Please show me Your glory". In the terrible days at the return of Jesus, there will be judgment against evil strongholds, and those who serve them, who perecute and make war against the people of God. Scripture says that men of all statures, from the lowest to the highest, will run to the rocks for safety. They will cry out "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Rev. 6:15-17). Isaiah prophesied: "Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from the terror of the LORD and the glory of His majesty. The proud looks of man shall be humbled...The LORD alone will be exalted in that day, but the idols He shall utterly abolish. They shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, from the terror of the LORD, and the glory of His majesty...sever yourselves from such a man." (Isa. 2:8-22). They had rejected the tabernacle that God created out of His graciousness and compassion, until it was too late, and instead, they had joined themselves to the evil and the person who will seek to desolate the tabernacle of God with abomination (Dan. 9:27, 11:31, 12:10-11, Mt. 24:14-16). They will place their trust in substitute and worthless "tabernacles" in the rocks, not built for them from the graciousness and compassion of God, and not covered by God's own hand. The Feast of Tabernacles is the clefted Rock of Christ and Hand of God extended to each individual to join Him in the refuge that He has provided with His Words of graciousness and compassion, which are embodied in His Son, Jesus. We have this powerful and loving example of the tabernacle of God from a simple question asked by Moses: "Please show me Your glory." If you would like to know more about the tabernacle that God has prepared for you, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, Jesus has prepared a place for Me in Your tabernacle, where I can endure forever with Him. The tabernacle that has been prepared for me is created out of Your graciousness and compassion for me. It is the place where Your hand covers me, and I can share in Your glory. I pray that as I remember and rehearse Your Feast of Tabernacles this week with rejoicing, I pray that many others would also be gathered into the place of Your dwelling. I ask these things in the name of the clefted Rock Who is higher than I, Jesus. AMEN."

Contention

The people of God, the Israelites, were surrounded by enemy nations that stood between them and the Promised Land. However, they were never more weakened, and fatally threatened than when they were in contention with each other, with their leadership, and with God. The title of this week's Sabbath reading is Chukkat, meaning "Ordinance of". Some commentaries on this Sabbath's title include the idea that there are ordinances (huqqa - statute, custom, manners, rites, appointed; root meaning: decree, bounds, commandment, lawgiver, governor, engrave, cut in, to trace, mark out) of God that are not necessarily written, but taught and frequently passed along orally. The ordinances of God reflect Who He is, what He does, and how this should mold our lives and understanding. We will see examples of that in this reading portion. Moses' father-in-law offered him this counsel from God: "And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do." (Ex. 18:20 KJV). Let's look at some of the contentions that opposed the ordinances of God in this Sabbath reading portion from Num. 20. Numbers 20 opens with important information: "Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was buried there." We already are told that this involves "the children of Israel", so why does the LORD further tell us it was "the whole congregation"? The Hebrew word used is eda, with the root words ed, and ud. The meanings include: witness, testimony, evidence (of things), a recorder, prince, commander, legislator, to return, repeat, do again, go round and round, say again and again, give warning, to restore, relieve. "The whole congregation" were to be witnesses, and those who say again and again, who were to give evidence of something, to give warning, to restore something. They were to be witnesses to the ordinances of God. It turned out, however, that they "spoke again and again" something completely different, as we will see. We are also dealing here, according to that first verse, with the time of "the first month". This would have been the month of Passover, as commanded by God to Moses (Ex. 12:1-14). In fact, the LORD described the keeping of Passover in the first month as an everlasting ordinance (v. 14). It was by the Passover that the Israelites were delivered from deth miraculously by the blood of the Passover lamb, and brought out of slavery in Egypt. However, did the Israelites really understand the ordinance of Passover- not just as an appointed feast for a specific day- but as a continual way by which to walk with the LORD? We will see that they did not. Then we are told in Numbers 20 that the Israelites were camped in the Wilderness of Zin (meaning flat, to prick). The word "wilderness is midbar, and can mean a desert, a pasture, mouth and speech. The root word of midbar, or wilderness, is dabar, which has a deep meaning: to speak, say, promise, utter, command, declare, put to flight, destroy, subdue, to be a spokesman. The individual Hebrew letters (Mem, Daleth, Beth, Reysh) in midbar, or wilderness when placed together could mean "mighty (water) source which is a door, a path, a way of life that moves one into the house or family of the Highest". The wilderness could be a desert or a pasture based upon the witness and repeated spoken testimony of the people of God. In the wilderness, the people of God had the opportunity to know the way of life, or ordinances, that would lead them into the house of the Highest. Another event that occurred at this time was the death of Miriam, Moses' sister. Although Miriam committed a grave error, and suffered for it (Num. 12:1-15), she was also called a prophetess, who led the women of the congregation in celebration and praise of the greatness of God (Ex. 15:20-21). Her death would have probably caused a great spiritual change within Israel (see Num. 12:15). It is a truth that every soul that enters or leaves the earth is of importance, and changes the earth (see Gen. 1:26-28, Gen. 2:7, Ps. 139:13-17, Jn. 1:3-5). The Wilderness of Zin, where the people were encamped, was located in a place south of Palestine known as Kadesh, meaning "holy, sanctuary, dedicate, consecrate, purified". This is what the people of God, these witnesses, said or testified to in this place of holiness, sanctification and dedication during the first month, which contained Passover: "...the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: 'If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink." (v. 3-5). Their witness and spoken declaration is that they wished they had died with the others who had been killed previously in the rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16). This is not a testimony that reflects the ordinances of God that can change a desert wilderness into a pasture for God's people. The people spoke the testimony that they had been brought to a place that was without grain, figs, grapevines or pomegranates. However, God had tried to bring them into such a fruitful land, but they had refused to go because of their fear of the giants and hostile Canaanite tribes there (Num. 13:23-24). The ordinances of God would have led His people into the way of truth that God is greater than any giant, especially in the face of His covenant promises. Above we read that the people also contended with Moses because they didn't have water in the wilderness. As Moses and Aaron sought the LORD regarding the need for water, the LORD gave them this instruction: "Take the rod; you and your brother, Aaron, gather the congregation (witnesses, give testimony, give evidence of a thing, say again and again) together. Speak (dabar - see above) to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals." (v. 8). As Moses, Aaron and the congregation gathered before the rock, again the ordinance of God was not kept. Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses spoke to the people: "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" (v. 10). Then again another ordinance of God was not kept: "Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals draank." (v. 11). Moses did not walk in the ordinances of the LORD before the people. He did not speak to the rock, but struck it. This is the word naka, which means "smite, slay, kill, murderer, slaughter, wound, stripes, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage, chastise, send judgment upon". This is the same manner in which men would later seek to destroy their Living Water of Salvation, Christ the Messiah. Not only did Moses strike the rock, but it is written that he struck it twice (pa'am - beat persistently, to impel, to disturb, to agitate, to trouble). The LORD then said to Moses and Aaron: "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." (v. 12). Moses' unbelief, and failure to obey the ordinances of God given to him, affected what God had planned to accomplish among His people through the event, and would change Moses' life. Earlier we read that Moses' father-in-law had instructed him to teach Israel not only the Law, but the ordinances also, and how to walk and work in them. He did not teach them the ordinances here. Instead of becoming a place and situation where God could hallow Himself before the people, it became a place called Meribah, or "Contention". How and what are we speaking in our wilderness? Is our testimony and witness in agreement with the ordinances of God? Are we speaking and working obediently in a manner that allows God to hallow Himself before the people? In another part of this Sabbath's reading, we are shown how to "speak" as witnesses to the ordinances of God: "Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with Psalms. For the LORD is the great God, and the great King above all gods...Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand." (Ps. 95:1-3, 6-7). We can see the great difference here between a song/psalm that follows the ordinances of God, contrasted with the people who got caught up in contention instead. The Apostle Paul wrote: "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances (paradosis - the substance of a teaching, the transmission of a precept; to deliver to one something to keep, use, take care of, manage)), as I delivered them to you." (1 Cor. 11:1-2). Paul passed along to the churches the ordinances of Christ, which are His precepts, His ways. Paul was diligent to pass the ordinances to those whom he called "brethren", or adelphos, meaning "Christians, as those who are exalted to the same heavenly place". Christ's ordinances exalt Him, His Word, His ways, and those who follow Him (see Mt. 4:18-22, Mt. 16:24-25). As witnesses in the wilderness who testify and deliver the evidence of the ordinances of God, we can do so with these scriptures in mind: "He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and dry land into watersprings. There He makes the hungry dwell, that they may establish a city for a dwelling place, and sow fields and plant vineyards, that they may yield a fruitful harvest. He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly..." (Ps. 107:35-38, see also Isa. 41:17-20 and Isa. 58:10-12). If you would like to know more about walking in the ordinances of God, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, Your ordinances bring life and transformation even in the driest places. Make me a witness of Your testimony, giving evidence by the words of my mouth, so that I speak and walk in Your ordinances, and follow the ways of Christ with all of the brethren. You are the Rock of my Salvation, and You fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I may remember Your Words and am led in Your ordinances. Let the wilderness become a well-watered pasture for me, and for Your people, as we humble ourselves, seek Your face, repent, turn from wickedness, and obediently follow the paths of Your righteousness. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."

Sand

The headlines recently have exposed sexually exploitive and abusive behaviors that have existed for decades in the film industry, other businesses, and politics. Many knew of this behind-the-scenes behavior, of course, but never spoke out against it. Now, we are hearing about the vile things that happened to people in past decades, up to today. Now, the public is in an uproar over what has been decided to be unacceptable behavior. Hollywood has begun a "movement" to demand an end to it. What was seemingly "acceptable", and "business as usual" then, was never right, and will no longer be tolerated, they say.
The problem is that man-made rules about what is right or wrong are rules that stand on nothing but shifting sand. Today, something is acceptable, tomorrow, it is not. Yesterday, something was deemed unacceptable, but today, it is acceptable in order to stay relevant with current trends of society. Society enforces these shifting rules, but men's hearts remain the same. We can see the disparity between what society arbitrarily determines, and the true condition of the heart of man, by the sincere incomprehension on the faces of some who have been accused of unacceptable behavior. We hear comments like, "That was just locker room talk", and "I thought she liked me", and "Nothing happened that wasn't consensual". Then we hear the vague, confused apology: "If I ever did something that offended or hurt anyone, I am deeply sorry."
All of this damage and confusion is the result of relying upon man to tells us what is moral, immoral, acceptable, and unacceptable, because all of those determinations shift with the winds of time and opinion. In doing this, we build our houses on sand, and then we are shocked when that sand sinks and swallows up the house, or causes its collapse. What the sands of the desert look like one day, will look completely different the next day, as the ever-blowing winds continually rearrange the sands and dunes. To build anything on those sands is foolishness.
God, however, does not build houses upon the sand. He builds upon rock-the rock of His Word. His house does not shift and fall with the changing sands beneath, but it stands forever. Jesus also told the parable about building a house upon the rock, as opposed to unstable sand:
"Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."   Mt. 7:24-27
God says about Himself and His word that what was true yesterday, is still true today, and will continue to be true tomorrow. It doesn't change with the fashions and fads of man's thoughts:
"For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed , O sons of Jacob."
                                                                                                            Mal. 3:6
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."  Heb. 13:8
God specifically warns us not to be carried about on the shifting winds, equating that kind of instability with being infants:
"...we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things unto Him who is the head- Christ." Eph. 4:14-15
God's word does not equivocate. His word does not hesitate to take a stand, and it does not seek to speak on both sides of an issue. It is not reliant upon the shifting opinions of society.
God's word on the issues in today's headlines can be found very easily:
"You shall not commit adultery."   Ex. 20:14
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.  Ex. 20:17
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles, who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness."   1 Thess. 4:3-7
The Lord did not declare these principles for arbitrary or antiquated reasons, as some might insist, but because this type of immoral, abusive behavior harms one's self and others, as noted in the above scriptures.
It has been mentioned that the exploitative behaviors in today's headlines stem from the issue of abuse of power, where those who are in positions of power, use that power to intimidate those with lesser power into doing their will.
Jesus was all over that issue:
"But Jesus called them (His quarreling disciples) to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."  Mt. 20:25-28
The word of God is not outdated. It is all up into today's headlines. Issues of morality go on and off like a light bulb over the heads of society, depending upon the mood of the day, but God shined an eternal light on the truth of moral principle, righteousness, equity, justice, defending those who have no one to defend them, revealing the corrupt power of the wealthy over the poor, and the strong over the weak, and revealing those evil, abusive things that man has done to each other under the cover of secrecy. When men's justice has failed, God's justice has prevailed. Where men's truths have been revealed to be lies, God's truth has stood from time and eternity.
The state of our confusion on these and other fundamental issues regarding how we should treat each other attests to our having turned away from the word of God a long time ago. We are seeing the consequences of that now. We have been building on shifting sands, and the house is falling. It will do no good to rebuild that house, if the plan is to rebuild on these same sands again.

Our Father's word is the Rock upon which we can build.

"My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less"

"In Christ Alone"