Aaronic Benediction Explained

Dear Friends,

Myles & Katharine Weiss

Messianic Jews have consistently experienced a presence of peace with Arab, Egyptian, and Persian Believers. The continued failure of political peace efforts is underwhelming and completely predictable. Any of us who are involved with world ministry, especially those in Israel, can recount mountaintop experiences of supernatural fellowship that supersedes human failure and historical precedent.

This is based on the power of blessing that comes directly from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is not merely a New Testament phenomenon. Blessing is a characteristic that winds throughout His-story including the Tanach (Old Testament). From the very time it was instituted in the Word, we see that Abraham could bless whomever he wanted. One of the most famous rabbis in Jewish history observes that if Abraham could bless whomever he wanted, doing so becomes a privilege that God gave to us as the children of Abraham. In fact, it is commanded. In Numbers chapter six, God told Moses to have Aaron and his sons stand before the people and “You will bless the Sons of Israel in this way….”

Climbing Jacob’s Ladder

“He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” — Genesis 28:12

The Torah portion for this week, Vayetze, is from Genesis 28:10–32:3 and Hosea 12:13–14:10.

The Jewish Sages teach that when Jacob was on his journey to the city of Harran, he ended up somewhere that he had not intended to go. But it was late, and so Jacob found a few stones, made a pillow, and went to sleep. As providence would have it, the place where Jacob slept was the holiest place on earth.

There, he had his famous dream in which Jacob saw a vision of a ladder resting on earth, stretching up to heaven. Angels were going up and down on it. When Jacob woke up he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it” (Genesis 28:16). Jacob had unintentionally, but providentially, stumbled upon a virtual stairway to heaven.

The Long Miles

Written by Gail Morris

Do you find it hard to hear God in the busyness of the day to day? Take today’s lesson “Listening to God” to help refocus your attention.

“After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.” (Genesis 5:22)

One morning during my walk, I came across something that made me shake my head. I heard a noise behind me. It sounded like an engine, but not car-like. Through the darkness, I could only determine a vague outline of a moving object. While I kept my pace, the noise came closer. I glanced over my shoulder again and watched as a golf cart cruised by me.

Do You Know Your Hebrew Name & Birthday?

It's a Sister Thing

Michelle McKinney Hammond

WOMEN HAVE THE ABILITY TO NURTURE ONE ANOTHER IN A WAY THAT MYSTIFIES MEN. BUT A DESPERATE NEED FOR ATTENTION WILL TURN THAT CARING INTO COMPETITION.

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Whether you call it connecting or bonding, women do it remarkably well. Certainly, this has been my experience. A recent shopping trip overwhelmingly confirmed my theory.

"Oooh, that looks lovely on you. You should get it!" my admirer told me. It was 7:30 a.m., and my favorite store was having a knock-down, drag-out sale. Take 80 percent off everything!

Oooh, Mama, I was in my glory! And so were my sisters--women I had never seen before in my life.

"Mmm, it's pretty, but you looked slimmer in the other outfit."

"That color is very becoming."