An encounter with Yeshua: The Messianic dimension of Psalm 118

An encounter with Yeshua: The Messianic dimension of Psalm 118: Psalm 118 is an important portion of Scripture. It is part of the Hallel in the Book of Tehilim (Psalms). It goes from Psalm 113 to Psal...

The Messianic dimension of Psalm 118

Psalm 118 is an important portion of Scripture. It is part of the Hallel in the Book of Tehilim (Psalms). It goes from Psalm 113 to Psalm 118. This prayer is sung during the three Festvals ( Pesakh, Shavuot and Sukkot)-and also during Rosh Hodech (new moon) and the days of Hannukah.

The New Testament mentions Yeshua and His disciples singing the Hallel before Pesakh. Psalm 118, when examined in Hebrew, is reinforced in its very Messianic dimension. Interestingly, the Name Yeshua appears three times here. The Psalm also prophecies about our Messiah's rejection. The rejected Maschiach has become the cornerstone ( rosh pina) .


The three occurences of Yeshua's Name in Psalm 118


For some obvious reasons of  clarity and Hebrew cultural heritage, I've chosen the OJB ( Orthodox Jewish Bible) translation.


Yeshua first appears in the context of the righteous person being harrassed by numerous enemies. Yeshua is described as the personal rescuer in verse 14:


 עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ;    וַיְהִי-לִי, לִישׁוּעָה

Hashem is my oz (strength) and zimrah (song) and He has become my Yeshua.

Please also note that the Name Yeshua is written here in its plain form : ישׁוּעָה. The letter ה us of importance. ה symbolizes the breath of life.


The second occurence of the Name Yeshua appears in the following verse. If we are daring enough to replace "Salvation" by Yeshua, here is what we are obtaining:

The voice of rejoicing and Yeshua  is in the ohalim ( tents) of the tzaddikim ( righteous).
Yeshua's place of residence is in the tent of the righteous.

קוֹל, רִנָּה וִישׁוּעָה--בְּאָהֳלֵי צַדִּיקִים;    יְמִין יְהוָה, עֹשָׂה חָיִל

Finally, verse 21 projects Yeshua in praise in an answered prayer:

 אוֹדְךָ, כִּי עֲנִיתָנִי;    וַתְּהִי-לִי, לִישׁוּעָה

I will praise you because you answered my prayer and you have become my Yeshua ( my personal Savior).

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone (rosh pina)

אֶבֶן, מָאֲסוּ הַבּוֹנִים--    הָיְתָה, לְרֹאשׁ פִּנָּה

Interestingly, verse 22 carries the very prophetic message of the Messiah's rejection.
One has to remember ( as an invitation to humilty) that the rejection of Maschiach ben Yosef happened for the sake of the nations' Salvation. In many ways, Yeshua's Suffering has been a stumbling stone to many Jewish people who expected the glorious Maschiach Ben David straight away. 
Maschiach ben Yosef is hard to understand unless one has some clear insights about Hashem's Salvation plan.

Many people missed Yeshua's first coming. Some of them were Scripture-savvy. 
But NOW is the time for eyes to recover from their former blindness.  Israel will rejoice in Yeshua the Messiah as the fulfilling of the Torah's promises. Tongues will profess again " Baruch ha ba b'Shem Adonai." Then Maschiach ben David will return in glory.

Make sure to keep humble before His eyes, so you will be able to recognize Him and rejoice will all children of light when He returns. 



Come soon Lord Yeshua. Come and restore peace where the enemy is destoying souls intentionally.

I will praise your Name, Yeshua Messiah of Israel and of the Nations. I will lift up your Name and sing your loving kindness for ever and ever. Amen.

Copyright© by Isabelle Esling

Day to Praise – Psalm 118

"Yeshua, mercy my son": a strong exorcism as reported in the Book of Matthew

I had just finished my article about the mustard seed parable when Yeshua brought me back to the very episode I had been reflecting on.
Chapter 17 of the Book of Matthew, verses 14 to 21 actually unveil interesting details that emerge from the Hebrew structure of some expressions.
(All excerpts that I am using here are taken out of the Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels.)

"Have compassion", there is much more behind this expression than you ever thought


"As they came to the crowd of people, a man approached him and got down on his knees across from Him. He said:

"My Master, please have compassion of my son, because he is truck by the moon, and his illness is severe. Often he falls into the fire, and often into the midst of fire. I brought him to your disciples, but they were not able to heal him."

Welcome to the feminine dimension of Hashem's love

When the father asks Yeshua to have compassion of his son, the man actually uses the following expression in Hebrew " rachem na"= רחם נא

The root " rachem" points at רחמים, rachamim ( this is the word that is actually written in Hebrew on the picture, above, not racham), mercy. The word " mercy" in Hebrew actually describes a womb.

In his version, André Chouraqui translates  " have mercy" by " matricie moi", the word " matrice" also means womb in French.

So when we are asking for our Lord to have mercy in Hebrew language, the word " compassion" covers a broader meaning. When Hashem has compassion of somebody, He envelops the person securely into a mantle of protection in the same way an unborn child is protected into the womb of his mother.

We have to open our mind in order to place this expression in the perspective of the healing episode depicted in Matthew chapter 17. Being the object of Yeshua's mercies in a healing perspective can compare with being replaced into a mother's womb. Inside of the womb ( the source of mercies), the suffering person is being re-created. This is what literally occurs through the wonderful action of the Holy Spirit.

The man asking Yeshua for compassion about his son's healing is quite desperate. He has witnessed the disciples inability to  get the demon out of his son's body.
He is humbled and begs Yeshua to help him out.

Why is Yeshua so harsh on the disciples?

Yeshua answered and said:

"Alas, o crooked generation that lacks faith! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear you? Bring him here to me."

In this verse Yeshua is clearly blaming His disciples for their lack of faith. At first sight, I thought that He was maybe a bit harsh with them over the faith issue.
It also humbled me very much, because I know that Yeshua's disciples were men of faith. When I look at myself, I've been lacking faith so often, but Yeshua forgave me and always showed me great compassion. So I kept asking myself: why is Yeshua pointing an accusatory finger at them during this precise circumstance? I then remembered that this story seems to have occured just after the Transfiguration on mount Thabor. Although only Shim'on Kepha ( Peter), Yochanan and Yaakov ( the sons of Zebedee) were present on the mountain and actually saw His glory, they must have told it to their fellow disciples.

Yet the remaining disciples still lacked faith, despite a clearer knowledge of who Yeshua actually was.

Demons are not what most people think they are

Yeshua reprimanded the demon, and it left him and the young man was healed from that hour.

The disciples approached  Yeshua when He was alone and they said: "Why were we not able to drive it out?
Yeshua said to them: "It is because if the lack in your faith (Chouraqui translates by " adherence"). For amen, I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, and you tell the mountains, "Be moved from there to there", it will be moved from its place. There is nothing that will be impossible to you".

But this type only comes out with prayer and fasting."


I already underlined the link between the Book of Exodus and  the parable of the mustard seed.
Now let us have a look at the exorcism.

Very often, I have heard some people boast about their ability to chase demons away. It is only when I was myself confronted with some real demons, over 20 years ago, that I understood I wasn't dealing with something easy.

The story is very personal and I am not keen getting into much detail. Let me just summarize the situation I experienced. I was confronted with a man who even claimed to be " legion". This man was speaking of Yeshua all the time and he was blaspheming His beautiful Name as often as he could.

He brought some devilish entities into my apartment. I mean, I've seen several types of fallen angels right before my eyes. And this is not easy to deal with. Remember that you are not dealing with creatures of flesh, but with some powerful entities in the spiritual world.

I wasn't saved at this time, but I believed in Yeshua. I knew there was much power in His Name.
However, I was like paralyzed in front of these horrible creatures. They were smelly and I remember the cold sweat running from my back.
I also remember that some of them could drive out some laser-alike light from their eyes.

In the end, and despite the fact I was unsaved, Yeshua delivered me from this person and the entities he was calling into my life.

The reason why I am telling you this story is to make you conscious that evil entities are draining your energy out.

Believing in Yeshua is not enough. Sometimes just being a follower is not enough.

It is not about uttering Yeshua's Name from your mouth. It is rather about HOW you pronounce it: I mean with total faith.

Where does faith come from? Faith comes from closeness with Yeshua.

Also, to be able to cast out evil creatures, a spiritual approach is necessary. Fasting also brings us much closer to Hashem. When our nourishment comes from Him, when our Lord is the fundament of our life, darkness will FLEE.


Copyright© by Isabelle Esling

The parable of the mustard seed: a rabbinic perspective on moving mountains

Rabbi Yeshua digs the wisdom of His teachings in the treasure of the Torah. His parables are among the most complex sayings, because the key meaning of His words have often been lost. After having been distorted for centuries, mistranslated, willingly or unwillingly taken out of context, Yeshua's words need to be put back where they truly belong, to their very original Hebrew culture.

Is there a link between a mustard seed, Torah teachings and moving mountains?


A powerful God who can move mountains

וַיּוֹצֵא מֹשֶׁה אֶת-הָעָם לִקְרַאת 
הָאֱלֹהִים, מִן-הַמַּחֲנֶה; וַיִּתְיַצְּבוּ, בְּתַחְתִּית הָהָר

בְּתַחְתִּית=underneath

Exodus 19:17 

"And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount."

Many people often think that Hashem only speaks figuratively and that it would be quite naive to give some verses a too litteral interpretation. However the verse above that is taken out of the book of Shemot (Exodus) in the Torah seems to tell us rather the contrary: well, at least, it leaves an open door for a litteral interpretation as the preposition betachtit ( underneath in Hebrew) seems to imply.

I think that it would be logical to ask ourselves if Hashem can physically lift up a mountain, because the Hebrew text states that the Israelites stood underneath the mountain and that Hashem had to lift it up for them to be able to receive the Torah. 
Is Hashem almighty? Yes, the God of Israel IS, and if He is He can also literally move a mountain above people or make it move from one place to another.

Of course, there are always diverse possibilities of interpreting the same verse. It could also be seen in a more figurative sense,  For instance, the mountain could represent a big problem that can be solved by emunah אמוּנה.
In the word emunah, faith you will find the words amen אמן ( yes, in truth) and by extension אמת emet, the truth. Acknowledging the truth and reality of Hashem will allow us to lift up the mountain. And yes, even physically, I do believe SO. Everything is POSSIBLE if you believe.

So what does Yeshua say in Hebrew, in Matthew 17:20?

מפני חֹסר אמוּנתכם כּי אמן אֹמר אני לכם אם־ישׁ בּכם אמוּנה כּגרגר החרדל ואמרתם אל־ההר הזה העתק מזה שׁמה ונעתק ממקוֹמוֹ ואין דבר אשׁר יבּצר מכּם

"It is because of your lack of faith. For amen, I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed and you tell this mountain, "Be moved from here to here", it will be moved from its place. There is nothing that will be impossible to you." Matthew 17:20 Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels

-Wait a minute: rabbi Yeshua just stated " a mustard seed"!

You might not be aware of it, but growing mustard seeds is forbidden by rabbinic laws. Mustard seed is being considered as a weed. If you grow it, it will invade everything and there will be no space left for anything else.

Some people have tried to disprove Yeshua's saying trying to make our Lord look like a fool. Some others have tried to slate the Torah, making it look foolish as well ( you know, the usual argument: the heavy burden of the Law and Yeshua going against it.)
Either ways these arguments are pointless. Why?
Simply because Yeshua's wisdom IS Torah-based.
Yeshua's intent is never to contradict Torah, but to open up on broader Torah perspectives.

However, I didn't understand what Yeshua exactly meant. But our Lord is very faithful with His servants and He just revealed me the very meaning that is contained in the wonderful mustard seed parable.

So here is what rabbi Yeshua showed me.

The mustard seed's growth is forbidden. It should not be there. But look at the mustard seed's character. If you are just using one tiny mustard seed and let it grow, it will break through and impose itself to the point of becoming the ONLY element. If you have this type of faith, you will erase any existent obstacle or doubt by letting your faith grow to into a mustard tree!

So rabbi Yeshua's question to you all is:

"Do you believe?"

Copyright© by Isabelle Esling

שעה של שירים שלווים לפני השינה HOLY RELAXATION BEFORE SLEEPING

Jewish Scriptures clearly describe Yeshua Moschiach as "Ben Elohim"

Corrupt priest Caiaphas knew when he pointed an accusatory finger at Yeshua that the Maschiach's ID was " Ben Elohim" and asked Him: "Are you the Son of the Blessed One?" (Mark 14:61).

If we take the time to research and to read it carefully, the whole Tanakh is filled with precious clues about our Messiah's character. He is being called a Son to Hashem ( not with the usual sense  of "ben Elohim" -I mean, we are all sons to our Creator. Regarding Yeshua, the Maschiach, the expression "Ben Elohim" is a title that is meant to be read in a Messianic perspective. The Scriptures speak about the King Messiah, Ben Elohim, High Priest after the order of Malki Tzekeq).

Yes, Hashem has a son. The Tanakh says so.

Yeshua is Maschiach Ben Elohim. This is a statement that deranges many people.

I've often heard "Yeshua is nowhere to be found in the Tanakh. He didn't fulfill any prophecy."
Rather the contrary is true. The attentive reader will discover that Hashem actually declares that Yeshua our Messiah IS His Son.
In order to prove my point, I am going to pick some very specific parts of Scripture in the Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB). Why choose the OJB version? The reason is simple: the Hebrew words or concepts that are mentioned in the OJB version leave no space for misinterpretation. The Hebrew words in each different verse will allow you to understand that we are speaking of the Messiah here.

Psalm 2, for instance, completely enlightens the relationship Hashem has with our Moschiach ( Yeshua our Messiah). The beginning of the Psalm underlines Hashem's Anointed's role among the nations;

"Why do the Goyim ( nations) rage and the Amim ( people) imagine a vain thing?
The Malchei Eretz ( the kings of the earth) rise up in rebellion, and the rulers counsel together against Hashem and against His Moschiach, saying, "let us break their chains asunder and cast against their fetters from us.
He that sits enthroned in Shomayim (Heaven) laughs; Adonai had them in derision."

Psalm 2: 1-4, OJB

Verses 6 to 8 clearly declare that Yeshua IS Hashem's begotten Son:

"I have set my Malki ( my King) upon Tziyon, my har kodesh ( my holy mountain).
I will declare the chok ( decree), Hashem has said unto me, you are Beni ( My Son, i.e Ben Ha Elohim Moschiach, Hayom ( today), I have begotten you."

Proverbs 30: 1-5 are asking the reader a question in the form of an enigma. The Bible codes have revealed the answer , that one can read as he would read some crossword ( see picture above).

The answer reads Hashem Yeshua ( the Name is Yeshua, in Hebrew)

"Who has ascended into Shomayim ( Heaven) or descended.
Who had gathered ruach ( the Spirit) in the hollows of His hand?
Who had bound the mayim (waters) in a cloak?
Who had established all the aftsei aretz ( the ends of the earth).
What is Smo (His Name) and what is His Son's Name?

In Psalm 110, verse 1, there is a very clear reference to the Messiah as well:

"Hashem said to Adoni ( i.e Moschiach Adoneinu) Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. ( verse 1)


Yeshua our Messiah is High Priest in eternity

Verse 4 of Psalm 110 confirms Yeshua in His role of priest and the Book of Zechariah also declares that Yeshua is a kohen gadol, a high priest according to the order of Melkitzedek.

: "Hashem had sworn and will not relent: you Moschiach are kohen l'olam ( priest in eternity) at divrati Malki-Tzedek (kohen forever in respect to the order of Malki-Tzedek)"

Astonishingly the Book of Zechariah, Chapter 6, verses 11 and 12 reveal the very Name of our Messiah in its full form ( Yehoshua), Yeshua being the shortened, Aramaic version of Yehoshua, a name that has been revealed to rabbi Kaduri, a well respected rabbi in Israel. Although some people have tried to make his encounter with the Messiah a lie ( out of fear that this could be the "Christians' Messiah. When people will start looking more at Yeshua instead of Christianity, they will understand that He is the One who has been announced for centuries to Israel and that He deserves to be revered as the Jewish Messiah).

Here is what the Book Of Zechariah states:

3 Then take kesef ( silver) and zahav ( gold) and make atart ( crowns) and set them upon the rosh ( head Yehoshua ben Yehotzadak, the Kohen Ha Gadol. And speak unto Him, saying, thus said Hashem Tva'os: "Hinei Ish ( here is the man) Tzemach Shemo Yehoshua is said to be the namesake of the coming Moschiach Ben David, and out of his place yitzmach ( will come out) he Moschiach shall sprout up and He shall build the Heikhal Hashem ( the Temple of Hashem).

Ironically "Hinei Ish" or " ecce homo" in Latin are the words that Pilate pronounced when he presented Yeshua ben Yosef to the crowd.
The same expression is used in the Book of Zechariah to describe Moschiach Ben David.
To Him, the priesthood and the kingship in eternity, Amen.




Copyright© by Isabelle Esling

Micah 7, Yishmaeni Elohai (My God Will Hear Me)

Who is this King of Glory (Mi Zeh Melech HaKavod (Who is this King of Gl...

SALMO 130 EN HEBREO - CANTA HAIM ISRAEL - MIMA AMAQUIM

Yeshua's presentation at the Temple: a place where a face to face encounter with Adonai had been made possible

" At the fulfillment of the eight days for the boy he was circumcised, and they named Him Yeshua, just as the angel had called Him before He was conceived in the womb.
When the days of their purification were fulfilled according to the Torah of Mosheh, they brought Him up to Yerushalayim to place Him before Hashem- as it is written in the Torah of Hashem, " every male that opens the womb will be called holy before Hashem.", and to bring korban according to the mitzvah in the Torah of Hashem" two turtledoves or two young pigeons."

There was a man in Yerushalayim whose name was Shim'on. He was a righteous and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Yisrael , and the Holy Spirit was upon him. To him it had been revaled by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he saw the Maschiach of Hashem. He came by the Spirit to the Temple, and when his parents brought the boy Yeshua to do him what the statute of the Torah says, he took him up in the arms and blessed God. He said:

" Now you may let your servant pass away according to your word, my Master, in peace..
For my eyes have seen your Salvation, that you have prepared before all the peoples: light to illuminate the eyes of the nations and the majesty of your people Yisrael."

His father and his mother were amazed at the words that he spoke about Him. Shim'on blessed them and said to His mother Miryam:

"See, this is affixed as an obstacle and restoration for many in Yisrael and as a sign of contention.
And a sword will pierce your soul, so that the hearts of many will be revealed.

A woman who was a prophetess was there: Channah bat Penuel, from the tribe of Asher. She was elderly abd had lived with her husband for seven years after her virginity. She had been a widow for eighty-four years and had not departed from the Temple. She served God through fasting and supplications night and day. She arose at that hour and approached to give thanks to Hashem. She spoke about Him in the ears of all who were waiting for the redemption in Yerushalayim.

They completed everything after the Torah of Hashem. Then they returned to Galil, to their town in Netzeret. The boy grew and became strong in spirit and was filled with wisdom. 
The kindness ( Hesed) of God was with Him."

Luke 2: 21-39 Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels

A Torah-observant family

I sometimes smile when I see people asking on the internet: was Yeshua an orthodox Jew?
Anybody who reads the Gospels with an attentive eye will understand that Yeshua our Messiah comes from a Torah-observant family ( not only Miryam and Yosef, but also Zechariah and Elisheva, the parents of Yohanan the Immerser, John the Baptists were all obedients of the laws of Hashem).


The importance of the Brith mila

If you have assisted to a brith mila at the synagogue, you will probably know that a Jewish child receives his name on the very day of his circumcision. Nobody is allowed to reveal his name before the brith mila has been done. The child enters the alliance of Hashem on the day of the brith mila.

Presentation of the first born at the Temple and observance of the purification laws

The Torah establishes very clear and precise rules of conduct after the birth of a child, especially when for the first-born male in a family.

Exodus 13:2 states: " Consecrate every firstborn male to me, the firstborn from every womb among the Israelites, both man and domestic animal; it is mine."

About the sacrifice of purification, the Book of Leviticus specifies:
"If she cannot afford a lamb,  then she shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean." ( Leviticus 12:8)

This part of Scripture indicates us that Yeshua's family was of modest social condition.




Hebrew wordplays that point at a face to face encounter with the Lord


Names of individuals are always very important, especially in Hebrew culture.


The Hebrew words that come out of Shim'on's mouth at the Temple leave space for a dual translation. In fact, a subtle wordplay is created on the Name Yeshua:

כּי־ראוּ עיני את ישׁוּעתך

Ki ra'u einei at yeshuatekha

Because my eyes have seen your Salvation ( or your Yeshua).

Shim'on's eyes have been granted to see Hashem's Yeshua and this is not just a figure of style: it is a physical encounter with the Messiah.

Also the name שׁמעון, Shim'on in Hebrew has a profound meaning. It comes from the verb לשׁמוע, to listen, to to hear. It means "The Lord has heard our prayers". The same root, shin mem, ayin שׁ,מ,ע is present in the Shema Israel.
Shim'on's prayers have found a favorable ear in Hashem and he was able to see the Messiah before he died.

Hannah ( or  as spelt in the Delitzsch Gospels as Channah) is the daughter of Penuel, a name that means Face of the Lord ( פנוּאל). Hannah is led by the Spirit and her eyes are granted to see the One who will save people from their sins, Yeshua our Messiah.

Shim'on's bitter sweet prophecy regarding Yeshua

crucifixion scene by Marc Chagall

Shimon's prophecy indicates that our Messiah has a role to play with the Gentile nations and with Israel. He is Salvation to whoever repents and believes in Him. Yeshua loves each and everyone unconditionally.

Yeshua is described as  " or goyim", a light to the nations from Shim'on 's mouth and also in the Book of Isaiah, chapter 49, verse 6. He is the " majesty to Israel', the King of the Jews.

Shim'on foresaw Yeshua's tremendous Suffering and His mother's pain. He also underlined that our Messiah's character would raise controversy among people.
Yeshua is still the object of division and disputes within families and different assemblies.

Following Yeshua our Messiah can be very demanding.

Some people abandon everything to be able to follow Him.

To the persons who would still be tempted to doubt that Yeshua has ever been raised as a Jew, please note that the Bible says: " they completed everything after the Torah of Hashem ( where you translation says " Law" it is meant "Torah" in Hebrew.)

Copyright© by Isabelle Esling

King David's Harp - Live!

Is the divine nature of our Messiah also a Jewish concept?

The recent objections of somebody who pretended that our Messiah is a simple human being and that anybody who believes in the Messiah's divine attributes  cannot be walking in truth left me somehow perplexed. This lead me to dig deeper in order to understand if it was possible to find a description of the divine nature of the Messiah within the Tanakh.

The Kingdom of the Messiah has been established from the days of eternity

Micah 5:2: " But you, Beit Lechem Ephrata-though you be little among the Alphei Yeshudah ( thousands of Yeshudah) yet out of you shall He ( Moschiach) come forth  unto Me (Hashem) that is to be Moshel ( the ruler) of Yisrael whose goings forth ( i.e origins) have been mikedem ( from everlasting) mi yemei olam ( from the days of eternity).

If we look at this exerpt of Micah 5:2, taken out of the orthodox Jewish Bible, we will understand straight away that this verse establishes the Kingdom of the Messiah since the days of eternity. There is no inch of doubt about it.

But let's study another part of Scripture, which is Malachi 3:1. Let us confront the same verse in two different versions: the New Living Translation and the Orthodox Jewish Bible. Surprisingly, it is the OJB version that unveils the more about the divine nature of the Machiach, who is described as the "Lord Messiah".
Also note that in both versions, the Messiah is the "Messenger of the Covenant".

So here are both versions:

" Look! I am sending my messenger and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to His Temple. The messenger of the Covenant, whom you look for so eagerly is surely coming, says the Lord of Heavens' armies."  NLT version


"Hineni, I will send malachi ( a messenger) and he shall prepare the derekh ( the way) before me and HaAdon ( the Lord Moschiach) whom you seek shall suddenly come to His Heikhal ( Temple), even the Malakh ha Brit ( the Messenger of the Covenant) in whom you have chafetz ( delight): hinei He is coming, said Hashem Tzva'os." OJB version

The hebraisms contained in the OJB truly define the Messiah and it appears clearly that we are not talking about a simple human being here.

Also, as I underlined it  in a recent article, the verses of Daniel, Chapter 7, verses 13 and 14, taken out of the Orthodox Jewish Bible are very clear about the divine nature of our Messiah:

"I was beholding in visions of the night, and hinei, one like bar enosh ( Ben Adam i.e Moschiach) came with the clouds of Shomayim (Heaven) and came to the Atik Yomin ( Ancient of Days i.e Hashem) and before Him He was brought. Ans there was given Him ( Moschiach) dominion, and honor and sovereignty that all people, goyim ( nations), tongues shoould they serve reverence as deity Him (Moschiach).
His dominion is an everlasting Kingdom, which shall not pass away and His Messianic Kingdom that shall not be destroyed." Daniel 7, verses 13 and 14, OJB


Yeshua: a good candidate for Messianship?

The Suffering Messiah, the same Messiah who is described in Isaiah 53, whom were inflicted the same pains Yeshua underwent during His crucifixion is mentioned in the Yom Kippur prayer.
This is no coincidence. It is because only Yeshua our Messiah can atone for our sins, which does away with the supposition that Isaiah 53 speaks about Israel.
Anyway, how could Israel die for the sins of Israel?

-Yeshua was born in Bethlehem ( Beit Lechem) according to prophet Micah's prophecy
-Yeshua is of the tribe of Judah
-the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 states that the Messiah should come to Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Yeshua fulfilled this prophecy in the 1st Century.
According to Daniel's prophecy ( Daniel 9:24-27), the Messiah was supposed to appear before the destruction of the Second Temple, which corresponds to Yeshua's ministry in Galilee.

"The scepter will not depart from Judah nor the ruler's staff from his descendants until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor." Genesis 49:19

Rabbi Simkha Pearlmutter was an orthodox Jew who wanted to disprove Yeshua.
He found out that Yeshua was pursuing him in the Tanakh. While some haters rebuke his testimony and falsely accuse the man of " having converted to Christianity" ( which is a lie, rabbi Simkha Pearlmutter did not even read the New Testament and has never been baptized as far as I know).
And no he did not self-proclaim himself  an orthodox Jew. He was a practicant orthodox Jew who discovered that Yeshua is the Messiah of Israel. This doesn't make him any less Jewish.
Some people have tried to put dirt on this man because of the Name of Yeshua. May they realize what they've done and come to Teshuva.

Anti-missionaries' hatred for believers in Yeshua is so great that they often distort facts. I'd like gently remind these people that Lashon hara לשון הרע ( speaking badly about people) is a sin in the eyes of Hashem.
Jewish people who believe in Yeshua are as Jewish as the ones who don't. Believing that Yeshua is the Messiah of Israel is not against Torah, unlike a common opinion.

Even centuries ago, many rabbis came to faith in Yeshua. When these rabbis have the courage to step up publicly, they are automatically discarded and  spoken badly of by some corporate religious leaders who fear for their own interests. Too often, Yeshua the true Messiah gets assimilated with Christianity. The truth is that Yeshua should be reclaimed by Jewish people as their own, even if they don't believe in  Him. After all, isn't He Jewish, born and raised in Israel, and a prominent teacher of Torah? Doesn't He at least deserve to be reintegrated into His land and original culture?

"Bail Him out", said rabbi Pearlmutter and he was so right about it.

Learn more about rabbi Simkha Pearlmutter's sayings here.


Our Messiah is present in the whole Tanakh. Most difficulties for people to clearly see Yeshua in Ancient Testament Scriptures is precisely due to the dual nature of the Messiah ( ben Yosef and ben David). While some prophecies about Yeshua have been fulfilled during His time on earth as Maschiach ben Yosef, the Suffering Messiah, the Lamb of God, some others like the gathering of Jewish people in the land of Israel are in the process of being accomplished soon, because Maschiach ben David, the lion of Judah, will return very soon. There have never been as many olim returning to Israel as of today.

Check the Scriptures and ask Hashem for insights. Yeshua keeps asking any and each of you: " WHO do you say that I am?"

Copyright© by Isabelle Esling

Yeshua's first sign: water changed into wine by Isabelle Esling

Yeshua's first sign: water changed into wine by Isabelle Esling: 'On the third day, there was a wedding in Kanah which is in the Galil and Yeshua's mom was there. Yeshua and his disciples were also among those invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the moth...

5 false ( catholic) myths about Yeshua's mom-why you should confront them with Scriptures

Please check my most recent Linkedin article.

Applying Torah with kindness of heart

A dispute in the fields- Matthew 12:1-8

"At that time, Yeshua passed through the standing grain on the day of Shabbat. His disciples were hungry so they started to pluck head of grain and they ate.

The Prushim saw this and said to Him:

"Look! Your disciples are doing what is not to be done on Shabbat."


"Have you not read what David did when he and his men were hungry- that he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the presence, which neither he nor his men are permitted to eat, but only the priests?

Have you not read in the Torah that on the Shabbatot, the priests desacrate the Shabbat in the Temple, yet do not have iniquity?
I tell you that there is something greater than the Temple here.
If only you knew what is said: "I have desired kindness and not Sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent.

For the Son of Man is even the Master of Shabbat."

Please bear in mind that you are in front of a difficult text. If the symbolism of Yeshua's words are not replaced into their authentic cultural and cultual Hebrew context, they will not make sense at all and you will miss the very meaning of rabbi Yeshua's Torah and Tanakh-based teaching.

Studying this part of the Gospels imply that we study Torah. I may not have all the knowledge required on this subject matter, but I will trust on the Spirit's faithful guidance.

How does the Torah rule out this matter?

" When you enter your neighbor's standing grain, then you MAY pluck the head's with your hand, but you shall not wield a sickle in your neighbor's standing grain."

Deuteronomy 23:25

The Torah plainly justifies the disciple's behavior. However, some major difficulty arises in the application of the verse, because this happens on Shabbat day- actually not just any Shabbat, but as Luke 6:1 specifies it, the scene occurs on the first Shabbat after the Festival of Unleavened Bread ( Passover).

So the seriousness of the matter is often overlooked. The dispute is actually about BREAKING SHABBAT because of doing something that is assimilated to work.
The Pharisee's accusation is serious, because desacrating Shabbat is dishonoring Hashem's commandment to honor the 7th Day.

From the Pharisees' point of view, picking on the grain is interpreted as an action of reaping or harvesting, which would be fully prohibited on Shabbat Day.

Yeshua's pleading in favor of His disciple's behavior makes mention of a prior event: the story of King David reported in  1 Samuel 21: 2-7
David's actions are justified because he is on mission for Hashem. In the same way, Yeshua our Messiah has been sent by Hashem and the disciples are on a sacred mission.
The attentive reader will understand that His words reveal Him as the Messiah

The Book of Matthew unveils Yeshua's divinity through His words:

1. I tell you there is something greater than the Temple here.
2. For the Son of Man is even the Master of Shabbat

The Breads of Proposition are called "Lekhem hapanim" in Hebrew

Lekhem hapanim means " Bread of the faces". A real strong connection pointing at the divine Presence prevails here.

Quoting the following website ( out of which the image above is taken, all credits to steinsalz.org):

" According to the Gemara on Menalot 7, shulhan lehem hapanim has two sets of 6 shelves upon which the fresh loaves are placed every Shabbat while the loaves that are replaced are eaten by the kohanim."


Kindness in applying Torah

What is Yeshua pointing at when He refutes the Pharisees' arguments?

Yeshua is quoting Hosea 6:6

"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice."

Rabbi Yeshua is actually pointing at the word "Hesed" which means " loving kindness". 
The Prushim ( Pharisees) apply rules in a very rigid manner and lack kindness.
Our Messiah often opposed their way of applying Torah, because they privileged traditions of men and placed them above Hashem's commandments.

However, a lot of people are pointing an accusatory finger at the Pharisees' manners, sometimes intentionally forgetting that many Christian leaders and assemblies have done much worse, by merely placing pagan traditions of men over Hashem's commandments. During Centuries, millions of people have been misled through their wrongdoings. My question to these people is: don't you fear Hashem in the least for daring to spit at Pharisees, who by the way, were justified by Yeshua as " being seated on the seat of Moshe"?

May you always have heart to walk in obedience and Hashem's loving kindness. Amen.




Copyright© by Isabelle Esling

"Ashrei": a happy move into the direction of righteousness

A few psalms contain the hebrew expression אשׁרי " Ashrei". Some of these psalms are used daily in Jewish liturgy ( click on the following link to listen to a prayer in Hebrew.)
The first Psalm actually begins with the word "Ashrei".

So what is the meaning of this expression?

"Asher" in Hebrew means " happy or blessed". "Ashrei" would translate by " Happy are" or " Blessed are". Interestingly, in his French Bible translation, André Chouraqui, who was really Hebrew savvy, rendered "Ashrei" by " Debout", so "Stand up". This additional  nuance is important in my opinion, because it presents people walking on the path of righteousness in movance with Hashem's flow ( or with the Spirit's flow if you prefer.)

Numerous paths, but one single way to righteousness

1. I love psalm 1, because it opposes the path of the wicked, the sinners and the  path of the mockers to the path of the righteousness.
2. "Happy or blessed" is the man who does not walk the first path, but who willingly chooses the path of righteousness.
3. The righteous man pleases himself in the Torah night and day.

This person flourishes in his ways. Everything he does PROSPERS. 
So here we have a clear message. If you delight yourself in the Torah, Hashem will make you prosper.
The text in Hebrew clearly says " Torah", so please understand that righteousness is linked with obeying the Torah.

"Ashrei" in the perspective of the Sermon on the Mount

           Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God


"O the gladness of the poor in Spirit! For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
  O the gladness of those who mourn!
  For they will be comforted.
  O the gladness of the humble!
  For they will inherit the earth.
  O the gladness of those who hunger and thirst for tzedakah
  For they will be satisfied.
  O the gladness of the compassionate!
  For they will be shown compassion.
  O the gladness of the pure heart!
  For they will behold God.
  O the gladness of those who pursue Shalom
  For they will be called sons of God.
  O the gladness of those who are pursued on the account of tzedakah!
  For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
  O your gladness if they insult you and pursue you, falsely speaking all kinds of evil about you 
  for my sake!
  Be happy and rejoice, because your reward in Heaven is great, for they pursued the prophets 
  who were before you."

  Sermon on the Mount, Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels, Matthew 5:3-12

Especially regarding rabbi Yeshua's Sermon on the Mount, André Chouraqui's translation makes sense, because it puts the blessed person who obeys Yeshua's words in perfect harmony with the Spirit's perpetual flow. The crowd of the righteous is in perpetual movement in accordance with Hashem's law which underlines the following points:

• The Sermon on the Mount is not just the passive discourse of a dreamer. It is a clear call to action. Stand up and follow the Way.
• It gives you directions for your life, what the Hebrews call "Halakha" from the Hebrew root הלך, to walk.
• Obeying Torah garantees you success. However, do not expect it in to be to the world's standards.

Copyright© by Isabelle Esling