FROM THIS WEEK’S TORAH PORTION – B’SHALLACH:

This is true faith through obedience:

“And on the day that the Dwelling Place was raised up, the cloud covered the Dwelling Place, the Tent of the Witness. From evening until morning it was above the Dwelling Place like the appearance of fire. Thus it was continually: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. And whenever the cloud was taken up from above the Tent, after that the children of Yisra’el would depart. And in the place where the cloud dwelt, there the children of Yisra’el would camp. At the mouth of YHWH the children of Yisra’el departed, and at the command of YHWH they camped. They remained camped as long as the cloud dwelt above the Dwelling Place. Even when the cloud lingered many days above the Dwelling Place, the children of Yisra’el guarded the Charge of YHWH, and did not depart. And so it was, when the cloud was above the Dwelling Place a few days: according to the mouth of YHWH they camped, and according to the mouth of YHWH they would depart. And so it was, when the cloud dwelt only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they departed. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they departed. Whether two days, or a new moon or a year that the cloud lingered above the Dwelling Place to dwell upon it, the children of Yisra’el camped, and did not depart. But when it was taken up, they departed. At the mouth of YHWH they camped, and at the mouth of YHWH they departed. They guarded the Charge of YHWH, at the mouth of YHWH by the hand of Moshe.”

“And it came to be, whenever the ark set out, that Moshe said, ‘Rise up, O YHWH! And let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You!’ And when it rested, he said, ‘Return, O YHWH, to the countless thousands of Yisra’el!”

“Then Yeshua said to His taught ones, ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his [tent] stake, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he gains all the world, and loses his own life? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Adam is going to come in the esteem of his Father with His messengers, and then He shall reward each according to his works.’”

“And passing by, he saw Lewi the son of Alphai sitting at the tax office, and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And having risen he followed him. And it came to be, as he sat at the table at his house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat with Yeshua and his taught ones, for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to his taught ones, ‘Why does he eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ And hearing this, Yeshua said to them, ‘Those who are strong have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.’”

“And a certain ruler asked him, saying, ‘Excellent Teacher, what shall I do to inherit everlasting life?’ So Yeshua said to him, ‘Why do you call me excellent? No one is excellent except One – Elohim. You know the commands, Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Respect your father and your mother…’ And he said, ‘All these I have watched over from my youth.’ And hearing this, Yeshua said to him, ‘Yet one you lack: Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.’ But when he heard this, he became intensely sad, for he was extremely rich. And when Yeshua saw that he became intensely sad, he said, ‘How hard it is for those who have money to enter into the Kingdom of Elohim! For it is easier for a camel to enter through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Elohim.’ And those who heard it said, ‘And who is able to be saved?’ And he said, ‘What is impossible with men is possible with Elohim.’ And Kepha said, ‘See, we have left all and followed you!’ And he said to them, ‘Amein, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of Elohim, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come everlasting life.’”