Not Reckoned Among the Nations | #hebrew #outsider #othersider

The decline of a society or a nation begins subtly. Paul describes it in Romans 1:21, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.” Where does Paul draw this idea from? Jeremiah 2:5, “This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves.”

The heartfelt desire of every parent is to provide adequately for the needs of their family. The question comes when we attempt to discern where to draw the line between needs and wants. Does a child need food, clothing, and emotional support? Most definitely! But does that same child need the latest designer-label jackets and shoes, or a late-model sports car the day they turn sixteen? Probably not. When we speak of the provision of YHVH, we must be careful to similarly differentiate between our needs and our wants. While we are often confused about the difference, YHVH is not. We must trust YHVH both to identify our needs and to meet them by his gracious provision.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TRUST YHVH’S PROVISION?

Joshua 3:1-10: “Come and listen to what Adonai your YHVH says. Today you will know that the living YHVH is among you.” We most often experience the provision of YHVH when we are following him in obedience.

Exodus 16:4-30: “Then Adonai said to Moses, ‘Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you… Do not keep any of it overnight.’ But, of course, some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. By then it was full of maggots.” YHVH provided for the daily needs of his people. When they struggled it was because greed and disobedience led to problems in distribution.

2 Peter 1:3-4: “As we know Yeshua better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.” YHVH has provided resources from his own character to those who seek him.

John 6:35: “Yeshua replied, ‘I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again.’” Our deepest hunger is met not by bread but by the filling of our hearts with the love and power of Moshiach himself.

Ephesians 1:6-8: “He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven.” Through the riches of his grace YHVH has provided for our greatest need -- forgiveness of sin and salvation in Yeshua Moshiach.

IS THERE A GOOD END TO ALL THAT IS WRONG IN THE WORLD?

WE CAN HAVE FAITH IN YHVH’S GOODNESS DESPITE OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

“There was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless, a man of complete integrity. He feared YHVH and stayed away from evil.” (Job 1:1) As we see calamity and suffering in the book of Job, we must remember that we live in a fallen world where good behaviour is not always rewarded and bad behaviour is not always punished. When we see a notorious criminal prospering or an innocent child in pain, we say, “That’s wrong.” And it is. Sin has twisted justice and made our world unpredictable and ugly. The book of Job shows a good man suffering for no apparent fault of his own. Sadly, our world is like that. But Job’s story does not end in despair. Through Job’s life we can see that faith in YHVH is justified even when our situations look hopeless. Faith based on rewards or prosperity is hollow. To be unshakable, faith must be built on the confidence that YHVH’s ultimate purpose will come to pass.

IN SPITE OF EVIL, YHVH IS WORKING OUT HIS GOOD PURPOSES.

“As far as I am concerned, YHVH turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.” (Genesis 50:20) When Joseph became a slave, Jacob thought he was dead and wept in despair (Genesis 37:30). But eventually YHVH’s plan allowed Jacob to regain not only his son, but his grandchildren as well. Circumstances are never so bad that they are beyond YHVH’s help. Jacob regained his son. Job got a new family (Job 42:10-17). Mary regained her brother Lazarus (John 11:1-44). We need never despair, because we belong to a loving YHVH. We never know what good he will bring out of a seemingly hopeless situation. In Joseph’s life, YHVH brought good from the brothers’ evil deed, Potiphar’s wife’s false accusation, the cupbearer’s neglect, and seven years of famine. Joseph’s experiences taught him that YHVH brings good from evil for those who trust him. Do you trust YHVH enough to wait patiently for him to bring good out of bad situations? You can trust him because, as Joseph learned, YHVH can overrule people’s evil intentions to bring about his intended results.

YHVH’S ABILITY TO DO GOOD IS NOT LIMITED BY OUR UNDERSTANDING.

“When Yeshua heard about it he said, ‘Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of YHVH. I, the Son of YHVH, will receive glory from this.’” (John 11:4) As their brother grew very sick, Mary and Martha turned to Yeshua for help. They believed in his ability to help because they had seen his miracles. We too know of Yeshua’ miracles, both from Scripture and through changed lives we have seen. When we need extraordinary help, Yeshua offers extraordinary resources. We should not hesitate to ask him for assistance. Any trial a believer faces can ultimately bring glory to YHVH, because YHVH can bring good out of any bad situation (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). When trouble comes, do you grumble, complain, and blame YHVH, or do you see your problems as opportunities to honour him?

YHVH IS INVOLVED IN ALL REALMS OF LIFE TO BRING ABOUT HIS GOOD ENDS.

“We know that YHVH causes everything to work together for the good of those who love YHVH and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28) YHVH works in “everything"-not just isolated incidents-for our good. This does not mean that all that happens to us is good. Evil is prevalent in our fallen world, but YHVH is able to turn every circumstance around for our long-range good. Note that YHVH is not working to make us happy, but to fulfil his purpose. Note also that this promise is not for everybody. It can be claimed only by those who love YHVH and are fitting into YHVH’s plans. Those who are “called” are those the Ruach Kodesh convinces and enables to receive Moshiach. Such people have a new perspective, a new mind-set on life. They trust in YHVH, not life’s treasures; they look to their security in heaven, not on earth; they learn to accept, not resent, pain and persecution because YHVH is with them.

LUKE 18:9
Then Yeshua told this story to some who had great self-confidence and scorned everyone else:

ACTS 24:9
Now it was Paul's turn. The governor motioned for him to rise and speak. Paul said, "I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, and this gives me confidence as I make my defence.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:21
When I am with the Gentiles who do not have the Jewish law, I fit in with them as much as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Moshiach. But I do not discard the law of YHVH; I obey the law of Moshiach.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:12
We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have been honest and sincere in all our dealings. We have depended on YHVH's grace, not on our own earthly wisdom. That is how we have acted toward everyone, and especially toward you.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:12
Since this new covenant gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.

2 CORINTHIANS 7:4 & 16
I have the highest confidence in you, and my pride in you is great. You have greatly encouraged me; you have made me happy despite all our troubles.

I am very happy now because I have complete confidence in you.

2 CORINTHIANS 8:22
And we are also sending with them another brother who has been thoroughly tested and has shown how earnest he is on many occasions. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his increased confidence in you.

PHILIPPIANS 1:14
And because of my imprisonment, many of the Moshiachians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Moshiach.

PHILIPPIANS 2:24
And I have confidence from Adonai that I myself will come to see you soon.

PHILIPIANS 3:3 & 4
For we who worship YHVH in the Spirit are the only ones who are truly circumcised. We put no confidence in human effort. Instead, we boast about what Moshiach Yeshua has done for us.

Yet I could have confidence in myself if anyone could. If others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

COLOSSIANS 2:2
My goal is that they will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have full confidence because they have complete understanding of YHVH's secret plan, which is Moshiach himself.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:8
But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armour of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

1 TIMOTHY1:18
Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they give you the confidence to fight well in Adonai's battles.

1 TIMOTHY 3:13
Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Moshiach Yeshua.

2 TIMOTHY 3:6
They are the kind who work their way into people's homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by many desires.

TITUS 1:2
This truth gives them the confidence of eternal life, which YHVH promised them before the world began-and he cannot lie.

HEBREWS 6:18 & 19
So YHVH has given us both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for YHVH to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence.

This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain of heaven into YHVH's inner sanctuary.

HEBREWS 11:20
It was by faith that Isaac blessed his two sons, Jacob and Esau. He had confidence in what YHVH was going to do in the future.

HEBREWS 13:6
That is why we can say with confidence, "Adonai is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"

2 PETER 1:19
Because of that, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. Pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a light shining in a dark place-until the day Moshiach appears and his brilliant light shines in your hearts.

1 JOHN 3:21
Dear friends, if our conscience is clear, we can come to YHVH with bold confidence.

1 JOHN 4:17
And as we live in YHVH, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the Day of Judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we are like Moshiach here in this world.

EXODUS 19:9
Then Adonai said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a thick cloud so the people themselves can hear me as I speak to you. Then they will always have confidence in you." Moses told Adonai what the people had said.

JUDGES 9:26
At that time Gaal son of Ebed moved to Shechem with his brothers and gained the confidence of the people of Shechem.

1 KINGS 1:7
Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence and they agreed to help him become king.

JOB 4:6
Does your reverence for YHVH give you no confidence? Shouldn't you believe that YHVH will care for those who are upright?

PSALMS 40:4
Oh, the joys of those who trust Adonai, who have no confidence in the proud, or in those who worship idols.

PSALMS 118:8 & 9
It is better to trust Adonai than to put confidence in people.

It is better to trust Adonai than to put confidence in princes.

PSALMS 146 :3
Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.

PROVERBS 11:13
A gossip goes around revealing secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

PROVERBS 14:16
The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with great confidence.

PROVERBS 25:19
Putting confidence in an unreliable person is like chewing with a toothache or walking on a broken foot.

ISAIAH 30:15
The Sovereign Adonai, the Holy One of Israel, says, "Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.

ISAIAH 32:17
And this righteousness will bring peace. Quietness and confidence will fill the land forever.

JEREMIAH 17:7
"But blessed are those who trust in Adonai and have made Adonai their hope and confidence.

EZEKIEL 38:11
You will say, 'Israel is an unprotected land filled with un-walled villages! I will march against her and destroy these people who live in such confidence

Thought for Today: Sunday July 06

An ambassador is a representative and a servant of his/her government in a foreign country. They are not free to set their own policies or develop their own message… in other words, they are people under authority. In the same way we are called to live under the authority of Yeshua Moshiach and the authority of the Scriptures. The world today is looking for holy people who live under the authority of the Word of YHVH. Unbelievers will not listen to what we say unless we back it up with the way we live. Be a faithful ambassador for Moshiach today in your home, workplace, on social media or among your friends.

Here's First Fruits Ministries' sermon for the Sabbath on 7/5/2025, called "Elementary Principles of Messiah, Part 15 (Resurrection of the Dead, Part C):"

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