Showing posts with label Jewish scriptures. Show all posts

Saturday, October 30, 2021

Why Do Jews Leave Rocks or Stones After Visiting a Grave?

Leaving rocks or stones after visiting someone's grave is a Jewish custom.

“... Unique to Jewish tradition, however, is the custom of placing pebbles, stones, and small rocks on Jewish graves. … the origin of mourners leaving pebbles, stones or rocks at the site of Jewish graves is unfortunately lost to time. Many theories exist, however, ...”

The referenced article discusses eight (8) theories. As a student of the Bible, before reading this article, I immediately thought about Theory No. 3: God commanded Joshua to create a memorial in Jordan comprising 12 stones that would represent the "children of Israel for ever." Check out the article to read the other seven (7) theories. It's very interesting.

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Related Post:
Do You Dare Go Dowsing for Graves?

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Who Was Moses? He Was Called Friend of God

Moses, Friend of God: "And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend."

Moses - the name means "drawn from the water" ~ he was the son of Amram and Jochebed (Exo 2: 10-21)

Image credit: Moses On The Nile Spiritual and Religious Bible Wall Decor Art Print Poster (16x20) by Impact Posters Gallery

“Moses lived for 120 years, a period divided into three sections of forty years each:

The first forty years – from his birth until the flight into Midian. As Pharoah's son, Moses learned to be SOMEBODY.

The second forty years – from the flight into Midian to the Exodus. In desert places he learned how to become a NOBODY.

The third forty years – from the Exodus to his own exodus. As the leader of God's hosts he learned that GOD WAS EVERYBODY – the One he could speak to face to face as a man speaks to his friends”

QUOTE SOURCE: Lockyer, Herbert. "Moses." All the Men of the Bible: A Portrait Gallery and Reference Library of More than 3000 Biblical Characters. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House, 1958.

Important People in the Life of Moses

Faithful Christians almost never have to walk alone. Besides the fact that Jesus is always with us, in this life we often have faithful companions. It was the same for Moses, who was a faithful servant of God. Three men were there at times when Moses needed encouragement.

Aaron was the brother of Moses. Because he could speak well, God allowed him to go with Moses before Pharoah and ask for the people to be set free. Even though he held an important position as a leader, he was weakened by the murmuring and complaining of the people. He made a golden calf for the Israelites to worship in the desert. This was a terrible sin of idolatry. They were all punished. Despite this he was Moses' faithful speaker, and the first high priest of Israel.

Jethro was a shepherd and priest who lived in Midian. Moses married one of his daughters, Zipporah, and so he became his father in law. Jethro is also called Reuel. He gave Moses wise counsel on how to properly judge God's people. He told him to judge the hard matters and leave the less difficult cases to able men.

Joshua was a faithful servant to Moses and the son of Nun. He was born as a slave under the bondage of Pharaoh in Egypt. He was one of the 12 spies sent to bring back a report on the land of Canaan. Joshua reported that the land was good. He was a soldier, brave in battle, and a man who prayed and had faith in God. He was chosen to lead the people after the death of Moses. Moses changed his name from Oshea to Hoshea which means “help” to Joshua, which means “God's help” or “salvation”.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons ~ Moses and the Ten Commandments, c. 1896-1902, by James Jacques Joseph Tissot (French, 1836-1902), gouache on board, 10 11/16 x 5 5/8 in. (27.3 x 14.5 cm), at the Jewish Museum, New York c. 1896-1902

The Death of Moses, God's Chosen Prophet, God's Lawgiver, and God's Friend

Moses is honored by many today as a holy man of God, a prophet, the one who gave God's laws to Israel, and the man called God's Friend. Yet unlike many other men who built great tombs so that they would not be forgotten, there is no monument or tombstone to mark his grave. To this day nobody has ever discovered the burial place of Moses. All that is known is that he climbed Mount Nebo, viewed the Promised Land (Canaan) from a distance, and died. The nation of Israel mourned his death for thirty (30) days. His passing is recorded in Deuteronomy 34: 1 – 8.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain, The Death of Moses, as in Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Bible card published 1907 by the Providence Lithograph Company, 1907

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Ten Commandments in Christianity - INTRO (Post Series)

Some think or believe that these Divine edicts were done away with via Christianity. This is false. In Christian Scriptures, these Commandments are restated in the gospels by Jesus Christ and in the epistles by His Apostles.

This is a somewhat complicated study which hopefully is presented in a simplified, easy-to-read and understand format. Blessings!

Scriptural references for the Ten Commandments are found in the Jewish scriptures: Exodus 20: 1 -17 and also Deuteronomy 5: 1 - 21.

Some think or believe that these Divine edicts were done away with via Christianity. This is false. In Christian Scriptures, these Commandments are restated in the gospels by Jesus Christ and in the epistles by His Apostles.

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THE TEN COMMANDMENTS Summarily Restated by Jesus Christ as the 1st and 2nd Greatest Commandments:

MATT 22: 36 - 40 * * * * *

36) Master, which is the great commandment in the law?37) Jesus said unto him, THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND.
38) This is the first and great commandment.
39) And the second is like unto it, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.
40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

THE 2nd COMMANDMENT Also Summarily Restated by Apostle Paul:

ROM 13: 8 - 10 * * * * *

8) Owe no man any thing but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9) For this, THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, THOU SHALT NOT KILL, THOU SHALT NOT STEAL, THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, THOU SHALT NOT COVET; and if there be any other commandment , it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.
10) Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

JESUS DID NOT COME TO DESTROY THE LAW OF MOSES:

MATT 5: 17 - 18 * * * * *

17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law and the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18) For verily I say unto you, Til heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, til all be fulfilled.

MATT 16: 16 - 17 * * * * *

16) The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of heaven and preached, and every man presseth into it.
17) It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.