The Messiah in disguise: parashat Vayigash to greater depths

Last year, I reflected on parashat Vayigash and Yeshua's return. The insights I found made it clear to me that Yeshua HAS to return and confront His Jewish brothers until He reconciles with them.
They first need to fully realize what happened when Yeshua came as one of their peers, how He was treated by a corrupt Sanhedrin and WHY this was HaShem's WILL.

Then His brothers will lament, as announced in Zechariah Chapter 12, verse 10:

"And I will pour upon your Bais ( House) of David and upon the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, the Ruach (Spirit) of Chen (grace) and Tachanunim ( supplications for grace) and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced ( dakar in Hebrew= pierce through)-ref: Yeshayah Isaiah 53:5 (Targum Hashivim); Tehilim ( Psalms) 22:17) and they shall mourn for Him ( Moschiach) as one mourns for his yachid ( only son) and they shall grieve in bitterness for his bechor (first born)." Zechariah 12:10 Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)

Yeshua, a 'goy' to the Jews

To many Jewish people, Yeshua is like Joseph in Egyptian clothes. The many distortions our Messiah underwent because of added lies and mistranslations, from original Hebrew originals ( we can assume that these original exist and have probably been hidden very carefully because of the numerous persecutions Yeshua's first disciples were facing from many sides- people who studied the oldest versions of the Gospels in greek all came to the conclusion that the Greek used in the Gospels was poor Greek and that the thinking emanated from Hebrew brains) into Greek and then into Latin and many other languages, plus the false pagan traditions that papacy made mandatory.
How would Jewish people recognize in Yeshua the Israeli born, Jewish rabbi when Christianity constantly brainwashes people to think He is the white skinned, blue eyed Westerner who invented  the doctrine called 'Christianity'.

How would His Jewish brothers recognize the One who has been depicted as hating them for being killed? How would they recognize their long lost brother whom is presented as the 'person who abolishes Torah?'

It takes a long way to be willing to examine the Gospels in a linguistic and cultural  Hebraic context, and to understand that Yeshua has always been a rabbi who taught Torah, and even in a very halachic way! In many Jewish families, reading the Gospels is forbidden, because it is assimilated with pagan stuff.


The paradox: Yeshua, a 'goy' to the goyim

The great paradox is that many non-Jews also fail miserably in looking at Yeshua as a plain Jewish person.
While many would admit theoretically that 'Jesus' is a Jew', once you explain them what 'being a Jew' actually means, they start denying the very fact that they previously admitted, ending up in a hateful diatribe against the Jews who 'ply under this horrible burden called Torah'.
Many non-Jews also believe that, post Resurrection, Yeshua is not Jewish anymore-which actually doesn't make sense.


What am I trying to explain? I am trying to tell you all that many eyes, be they Jewish or not, are blind to see the REAL YESHUA, the teacher of Torah, the perfecter of our faith; the One who brings peace and Salvation to the world.

When the Son of Man comes back will He find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8

We have reached Messianic times and a lot of prophecies are being accomplished.
Back in the 1st Century, Yeshua raised this important question: when He returns, will He find 'emunah', faith ( in Hebrew) on the earth?
The Hebrew word 'emunah' is very important: it carries the word 'Amen' that people are saying quite mechanically at the end of their prayers without even thinking about it. Having Emunah is being in total agreement with our Torah teaching Messiah. 

How will people understand Yeshua if they do not make the effort to understand His words in context? Because Christianity often depicts Yeshua as sugarcoated, a lot of people think that they have license to sin and that they will be forgiven anyway.

With the increase of evil and debauchery, each and every one is meant to amend their ways.

Yeshua let me see that many eyes on both sides will fail to comprehend who He is at His return-the ones who expect a lamb will see a lion, and vice-versa.

You ought to know that the Day of the Lord will be a day of Judgment.

Let us pray that we all walk in humbleness and readiness to meet our King.

In Yeshua's Name.

Amen

Copyright© by Isabelle Esling

Yosef Karduner - Ma'oz Tzur - מעוז צור

I am with you until the end of age ( from the draft 'Figments of Light')

'I am with you till the end of age' (Matthew 28:20)

Another Shabbat had begun...I was living from Shabbat to Shabbat, in the expectation of heavenly rest. Each week, I was longing to put an end to my activities and to spend time with the King.
In the month of kislev, Shabbat falls very early. In the semi-darkness that was filling my room, I lit my candles, recited the blessing in Hebrew, and spent a few hours in praise.



I read and meditated, sung and felt my awesome King's presence.
The surroundings were supernaturally calm. I sensed the beautiful harmony of soundless sounds from Heaven.
Time to go to bed approached. I prepared myself. My heart was a little bit in anguish.

© 2017 Tiberias by night 

'I am afraid that you could go. Do not leave me, Yeshua... '
'Fear not ', Yeshua said to me, ' I love you forever'.
I sank into sleep, but woke up after an hour. I noticed that I was cold. My room was lacking heating.



'Yeshua, I am cold', I uttered. 'Please keep me warm. Please help me get asleep again. I really need to rest. Please grant me your protection'.

As these words had come out of my mouth, I glanced at some immaculate blanket, whiter than snow. I saw how my whole body was completely wrapped into it. Warmth spread from all sides, but it wasn't the ordinary warmth of some heater. I knew that this was the warmth emanating from a heart of pure love.
As I was sinking more and more into sleepiness , I realized that the blanket was the Spirit. Yeshua had kept His promise and I had felt His loving care all night long.



Yeshua's love is so hard to depict to the skeptic, because His love is something you can truly understand once you experience it.
Many individuals have disappointed me ; but my Savior's love is a precious jewel that never fades in the very depths of my heart.




©2017 by Isabelle Esling

Discovering the hidden power of the Shofar

וַיְהִי בַיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בִּהְיֹת הַבֹּקֶר, וַיְהִי קֹלֹת וּבְרָקִים וְעָנָן כָּבֵד עַל-הָהָר, וְקֹל שֹׁפָר, חָזָק מְאֹד; וַיֶּחֱרַד כָּל-הָעָם, אֲשֶׁר בַּמַּחֲנֶה.

Shemot, Chapter 19, verse 16

"And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount and the voice of a horn exceedingly loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled." Exodus 19:16

The translation of this verse of Shemot, Exodus,  doesn't really explain what the Hebrew version actually says. Instead of the horn, the original version says: " kol shofar", the voice of a Shofar.

When the Torah was given on Mount Sinai, when the Israelites saw and heard the Glory of the Almighty, one of the manifestations occured through the very loud voice of a shofar.

The shofar is a prophetic instrument. I wasn't really aware of that fact until I started playing it-I mean- until real sounds came out of my shofar.

I decided to buy a shofar, last September, on the day of my immersion into the Yarden at Kibbutz Kinneret. I enquired about the right shofar for me, asking a Messianic brother called Shimon. I also specified that I was unable to carry the biggest models, as I had come to Eretz Israel with very little luggage. Shimon showed me the 'easiest' shofar to blow and made a demonstration before me.
I was very eager to try this out at my hotel in Tiberias, but all my attempts were vain: no sound was coming out of my shofar.

Well, just blowing into it will not render any sound! You will have to apply the appropriate technique...and practice a lot.

I was lucky to hear a rabbi blow the shofar in Tsfat before Rosh haShana.

So back home in Paris, quite desperate to get a sound out of my beautiful kosher shofar, I started watching You Tube tutorials on how to blow a shofar. I eventually found an online teacher who had quite efficient techniques: as I started applying them, some shy sounds started to come out of my shofar...at first, they were quite distorted and very short, but this encouraged me a lot.

I then decided to watch confirmed shofar players in action, and here is what happened...I have no explanation for this phenomenon, yet it happens EVERY TIME I am making my shofar sound.

While listening to experienced shofar player, I also blew into my own shofar...and after a few minutes, my sounds were echoing the sound of the professional players. I was in awe in front of the beautiful sounds emanating from my own shofar.
I felt that my confidence was increasing and that the Spirit of the Almighty was very strong inside of me! Actually, playing the shofar is a form of prayer that uses our breath. It is a spiritual exercise of calling, asking and hearing. It links us directly with HaShem.

Well, there is a higher mystery in this instrument than what I can actually comprehend. All I know is that it brings me very close to the Lord and that it increases my confidence while filling me with the Spirit.

I have been told at Yardenit that all the shofars they were selling were kosher, and taken from living animals...which means that no animal has been killed to make the precious instruments.


Most shofars are made of ram horns, the first reason being that the animal is kosher. Secondly it reminds us of Akedat Yitzhak, the binding of Abraham's son. The ram appeared and was sacrificed instead of Yitzhak.

Believers in Yeshua should also know that on His Second Coming our Messiah will appear, blowing the Shofar. Each time, you are playing the instrument with faith, you are also calling upon the Coming of our Messiah.

I could speak about it for hours, but you will have to experience the wonders of the shofar by yourself!


© by Isabelle Esling 2017

What our generation needs to learn from Parashat Noach

The Book of Genesis, Bereshit, Chapter 6, teaches us that mankind had reached a great degree of violence and corruption. It was that great that HaShem intended to destroy His Creation.
However, one man named Noach, who was a tsaddik, found grace in the Almighty's eyes.
Noach walked with HaShem, so Noach and his family were spared from the flood.

Any individual can make a difference


 וְנֹחַ, מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה

But Noach found grace in the eyes of HaShem ( Bereshit, 6:8). The Torah uses this hebrew expression "matza chen beinai HaShem'. The Almighty favors Noach because of his righteousness.
Your attitude, your kindness, your willingness to accomplish HaShem's will are going to make a whole difference in the middle of a corrupt generation.


Rabbi Yeshua tells us that we are the salt of the earth. 
The salt gives savor to our dishes. The salt also prevents from decay.

We must watch our thoughts and actions daily. We must show the example to a corrupt society. We have to do our best to follow Yeshua's blameless example in his conduct.

No matter how much you are surrounded by evil and corruption, you always DO have a choice in your way of acting. It is your responsability to refuse to condone evil practices.

You are totally FREE either to serve HaShem or to follow the customs of the world.
The contemporary world has become far more dangerous than in the days of Noach. A lot of evil is nowadays presented as harmless, especially to the younger generation, that often lack discernment.


A punishment according to the nature of the sin

Usually water and rain are a symbol of blessing from Heavens. The hebrew word rain, geshem, contains the word HaShem partly. If you read Israel's history, you will see how many times Israel was blessed through rain, especially in times of draught.
Water, mayim, is a symbol of life. Whoever possessed a well in ancient times was considered to be a rich man.

So why does HaShem decide to punish the generation of Noach with water?

Rabbi Alon Anava from Tsfat gives us some detailed elements of response in his video about parashat Noach.

Never again. But watch yourselves!

"This is like the days of Noach to me: as I swore that the waters of Noach should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you , and will not rebuke you." Isaiah 54:9

HaShem, in  His immense goodness, promised never to destroy mankind again through floods.
However, mankind keeps testing HaShem more than ever before. Sin is increasing nowadays and is even glorified by some people.
I am telling each and everybody to be very watchful of our times.

Nobody believed Noach when he was speaking of the upcoming flood and building his ark.
In the same way, you will find many mockers when you will warn people about Yeshua's second coming.
Be careful, not to be taken by surprise on the very day of His return.
Do not speculate about the day or the hour, rather work in constant Teshuva on correcting your ways.

Yeshua will be returning at a time very few will believe in His return.

Do not be fooled. This world with its evil customs is meant to pass. Make Yeshua your main priority.

© 2017 by Isabelle Esling

He who tabernacled among us: Yeshua's obvious link with the Festival of Sukkoth

"And the Dvar (word) HaShem took on gufanyiut ( corporealty) and made his mishkan (tabernacle)  among us an we gazed upon his Kavod ( glory), the Shechinah ( cloud of glory) of the Ben Yachid from Elohim haAv, full of HaShem's chesed ( compassion) v' Emes ( truth)."

          Yochanan, OJB, verse 1:14

(John) Yochanan's Gospel transcribed in a Jewish context, like in the Orthodox Jewish Bible version will enlighten details one would not even be able to notice. It is very important to understand the very Jewish concepts that come out in Yochanan's text.



What is Sukkoth about?

Leviticus 23:41-43: " You are to observe it as a feast to HaShem seven days in the year; it is a permanent regulation, generation after generation, kept in the seventh month. You are to live in sukkoth for seven days; every citizen of Israel is to live in a sukkah to that generation after generation of you will know that I made the people of Israel live in sukkoth when I brought them out of the land of Egypt."

The celebration of Sukkoth usually takes place on the 15th of Tishrei (usually between late September and late October, depending on the year.) The feast, that lasts 7 days, strongly contrasts with the preceding one, Yom Kippur, that is about repentance and forgiveness.

Sukkoth is the essence of JOY. 

"For seven days you are to celebrate in the presence of the Lord your God at the place where the Lord will choose; for the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in everything you do, and your joy will be complete." Deuteronomy 16: 15

For seven days you are to celebrate in the presence of the LORD your God at the place where the LORD will choose; for the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in everything you do, and your joy will be complete.

Sukkot customs: "arba minim": the four species

The four spieces used during Sukkoth are:

-etrog ( a big lemon)

-hadas ( myrtle)

-lulav ( date palm)

-aravah ( willow)

These four types of species represent the four types of Jewish people. They are bound together symbolically, meaning that we need all of them.

The etrog, this huge lemon, has both: flavor and taste. It stands for the Jew who studied Torah and who is loving in his actions.

Hadas, the myrtle smells good, so it has a taste, but you wouldn't be able to eat it. It symbolizes the person with good deeds, but who is deprived of wisdom.

Lulav, the date palm, is edible, yet has no smell. It represents a person filled with wisdom, but who lacks good deeds.

Finally, aravah, the willow tree, has zero taste and zero smell, so it refers to a person with no Torah study and no good actions.

The Gospel of John, Chapter 7 pictures Yeshua during Sukkoth

"Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of Salvation "( Isaiah 12:3)
וּשְׁאַבְתֶּם-מַיִם, בְּשָׂשׂוֹן, מִמַּעַיְנֵי, הַיְשׁוּעָה

Once again, it is very important that we read Yochanan, John, in context.

The Gospel of John has often been wrongly used by antisemites to spread their hateful views against Jewish people, especially because the recurrent term that appears in John's text are " the Jews"..."the Jews" seem to always oppose Yeshua. Many people have understood that "the Jews" were actually Yeshua's enemies.

Let us think logically. Yochanan, Yeshua's disciple is a Jew. Yeshua our Messiah Himself is a Jew. So why would Yochanan attack the "Jews" in his gospel? It would be like self-stabbing and it doesn't make sense, right?

The explanation lies in the mistranslation of the term "Jews"...Yochanan did not speak of the Jews, he spoke of the Judeans, the inhabitants of Judea as opposed to the Galileans.

Each time you come across a translated text that says "the Jews" replace the expression by the Judeans and you will see that it truly makes sense.

Do not forget that in John 7, Yeshua traveled from Galilee and came to Judea to secretly celebrate Sukkoth.

"After these things Yeshua went into the land of Galil, continually passing through. For he did not desire to walk into Yehudah since the "Yehudim" (Judeans) were seeking to pu him to death.  The festival of the Yehudim was drawing near-the Festival of Sukkoth.

His brothers said to him,

Arise and go from there to the land of Yehudah, so that your disciples may also see the deeds that you do. For no one who wants to be known does a thing in secret. If you are doing things like this, be shown to the world!

For even his brothers did not believe in him. " Yochanan  7:1-5, Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels


The Judeans are suspicious about Yeshua. Their intentions to kill Him are quite clear. Yochanan is telling us that even Yeshua's brothers did not believe in Him. ( However, at some point, Yaakov and Yehudah, both brothers of Yeshua, became believers...maybe it was post resurrection...)

The Judeans knew that Yeshua was very observant in His practice. They sought Him. 
People were speaking about Yeshua, whether in good or in bad, but always secretly, because they all feared the religious establisment. 

His brothers preceded Yeshua who stayed in the Galil.

The Galil, near Migdal..I took this picture last September, on the way to Tsfat. This picture is subject to copyright. Please ask before using it. Thanks.

Yeshua came halfway through the Festival. Our rabbi offered His teachings in the Temple and, well, the Judeans were amazed at His wisdom.

"Halfway through the festival, Yeshua went up to the Temple and taught. The Yehudim were amazed an said: "How has he become such a scholar not having studied?" Yochanan, Chapter 7, verse 14, Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels

In John, Chapter 7, people start questioning if Yeshua is the Messiah.

"Some of the people who lived in Yerushalayim said: 'Is this not the one they sought to kill? Here he is speaking in public, and they do not reprimand him. Surely our leaders know that  this is the Maschiach! But when the Maschiach comes, no one will know where he is from."  Yochanan 7:25-27

I never paid attention to this verse, but a more attentive examination of it allows me to understand that it mixes a statement of faith ( this is the Maschiach) and an expression of doubt ( but when the Maschiach comes, no one will know where he is from).


Yeshua's link with Simchat beit hashoeivah


What is Simchat beit hashoeivah or the Joyous Water drawing ceremony?

The Joyous Water drawing ceremony is deeply linked with Salvation. You will understand why.

The Jewish custom is for priests to leak living water onto the altar during the six days of the festival while people would join in prayers, reciting the verse of Psalm 118:25:

"We beseech you Lord, save now"

אָנָּא יְהוָה, הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּא;    אָנָּא יְהוָה, הַצְלִיחָה נָּא

During these 6 days people will stand in circle around the altar. They would hold their palms in their hands and sing the verse mentioned above.  On the 7th day of the festival, the worshippers would prepare for the final libation, staying around the altar and shaking their palms while generating a sound of wind and water.

These rituals symbolize the accomplishment of Isaiah's words:

 וּשְׁאַבְתֶּם-מַיִם, בְּשָׂשׂוֹן, מִמַּעַיְנֵי, הַיְשׁוּעָה

Isaiah 12:3

Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of Salvation

To check it more in depth, I invite you to explore the following link.

"On the last, great day of the festival, Yeshua stood  and called out, saying: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink" Yochanan 7:37 Hebrew Delitzsch Gospels

Note that, by making the following statement, Yeshua declares that He is the Source of the Living Water."
The Living Water is the promise for Messianic times. When Yeshua is making this solemn declaration, He is revealing publicly that He IS the Messiah.

This raises, of course, a big controversy within the religious establisment.

Naqdimon, Yeshua's secret disciple and ally from the Sanhedrin, takes His defense:

"Does our Torah judge a man before investigating to know what he has done?" Yochanan 7:51

Yeshua's detractors think that the Messiah cannot come from Galilee.
Their opinion is due partly to the ignorance of Isaiah's prophecies that point at the "Galil of the nations" and also to their ignorance of  Yeshua's place of birth : Bethlehem.

וְאַתָּה בֵּית-לֶחֶם אֶפְרָתָה, צָעִיר לִהְיוֹת בְּאַלְפֵי יְהוּדָה--מִמְּךָ לִי יֵצֵא, לִהְיוֹת מוֹשֵׁל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל; וּמוֹצָאֹתָיו מִקֶּדֶם, מִימֵי עוֹלָם 

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days." Micah 5:1

Rejoice, for Yeshua is the Source of Eternal Life.

May He bring Salvation to the whole nation of Israel and to all who are willing to repent and receive it with humble hearts.

Amen

© 2017 by Isabelle Esling

The secret of the closed mem and the hidden Messiah

If you are reading translated versions of the Bible, you will miss some very important and often capital points. Reading  the Torah and Tanach in Hebrew language will facilitate your understanding of the text in the specific context it was born into. Moreover, studying Jewish thought, especially of ancient times, is mandatory if you want to access the secrets the Word contains.

Closed mem=closed womb

Each Hebrew letter is called oth, which means sign and/or miracle. Each letter has been placed into the texts you are reading for a reason that goes beyond the word itself. In each letter there is a meaningful symbolism that needs to be decrypted.
But, especially when you come across abnomalies inside of a text such as an oversized lamed, a broken vav or a closed mem, you should grant it much attention. It surely contains a secret from Heavens.

Isaiah, Chapter 9, verse 7 shows us a very weird closed mem inside of a word, which is something that should not happen...the usual rule would be to place an open mem inside of a word, so why is there a closed mem inside of Isaiah's scroll? Did the scribe make a mistake? Knowing the strict rules that scribes had to abide regarding writing and copying a text,  this is very unlikely.
So if this is not due to a mistake, we can conclude that the presence of the closed mem was intentional.

We know from ancient sources that the closed mem points at a closed womb and also represents a masculine element. The Targum, the Aramaic translation of Scriptures points at the closed mem in Isaiah as the hidden Messiah.


Hidden and twisted by Rome

If Yeshua ben Yosef was the promised Maschiach, why didn't He reveal His true ID immediately?

There are several reasons to that:

• in the 1st century, the time was not ready for Israel to welcome the Messiah. Like in Yosef's story, Yeshua was " sold out" by his brothers and rejected, so the gentile nations could embrace Him.
• however, due to the estrangement from Jewish communities, the image of the Hebrew Messiah has been completely distorted and perverted by Rome. His real Name, his date of birth and many details have been changed to match pagan customs and pagan divinities such as Ishtar or Tammuz.
• this totally explains why many Jewish people mistake Yeshua for a "goy" because they are confused with Rome's  made-up pagan character.
• after 2000 years of lies and distortions from the pagan world, Yeshua will be given back to Israel. A lot of contemporary events tend to prove that we have reached these times. A lot of rabbis and Jewish people are coming to faith in Yeshua, simply by investigating Torah and Tanach. I firmly believe that we are in Messianic times now.
• The encounter-time of truth when Yeshua will encounter His brothers( when they will realize that Maschiach ben David is the same person that the One who has been hanged on the tree and crucified), they will fear Him and weep bitterly, as the prophecy of Zechariah announces it clearly in Chapter 12, verse 10. They will expect Yeshua's anger, but He will hug them and console them.

Other reasons for Maschiach ben Yosef being hidden:

- Moschiach Melech will not boast about His deeds. He will walk humbly.

This explains why Yeshua would tell evil spirits to shut up about His ID ( Mark 6).

Yeshua is revealed in Shomron ( Samaria) and rejected by His own peers in Nazareth.

-The Gospel of Mark, Chapter 8, verses 28 and 29 teach us that insights about the Messiah come from the Ruach, the Spirit of HaShem. Therefore, Shim'on Kepha would utter the truth about Yeshua.

Yeshua's virgin birth

לָכֵן יִתֵּן אֲדֹנָי הוּא, לָכֶם--אוֹת:  הִנֵּה הָעַלְמָה, הָרָה וְיֹלֶדֶת בֵּן, וְקָרָאת שְׁמוֹ, עִמָּנוּ אֵל.

The verse of Isaiah 7:14 in Hebrew has been the subject of many controversies and disputes.

The Hebrew part that is underlined in red says " hine haalma, hara beyoledet ben.", which means " the young woman shall conceive and bear a son".

1. The first objection that is often used lies in the use of " alma", young woman instead of "betulah", virgin.  One may be tempted to ask: " Why didn't prophet Isaiah use "virgin" straight away?". Well, the word " alma" in Isaiah's precise context, depicts a young, unmarried lady, who happens to be a virgin. All young Israeli women who were unmarried at this time were virgins, due to their strict education in conformity with Torah.
2.  The second objection is that the prophecy was aimed solely at King Hezekiah. I don't think that this objection is valid, because the same prophecy can sometimes be applied to different situations and in different centuries. Some Talmudic sources ( Sanhedrin 94a) seem to indicate that the Messiah is HaShem's secret ( for more info, check the interesting resource provided by Walter Christopher Frederickson in the "Rabbinic Gospel of Mark, footnote p.108)
3. Yeshua's mom's name is Miryam "מרים ". Her name contains both letters, the open and the closed mem. It begins with the open mem and ends with the closed mem.

Let us pray that Yeshua the Hebrew Messiah will be revealed to His Jewish brothers as the fulfillment to all promises to Israel.

Come soon, Yeshua. Amen.

© copyright 2017 by Isabelle Esling

Ellul in the Galil: a mystical romance-available NOW in kindle format!

Dear readers, 

I am very pleased to announce that my most recent e-book, "Ellul in the Galil" is now out for purchase in kindle edition. Follow my adventure and get your copy!

Be blessed by your read,

Isabelle

Day 3: Erev Shabbat at Lake Kinneret

Here is a view of Kinneret around 8:am on September the 12th, taken by me


My dear readers, my dear brothers and sisters in Messiah Yeshua,  I am back from Eretz Israel since yesterday and I have an e-book in the works that will be entitled:

"Ellul in the Galil: a mystical romance
 Second journey to the Holy Land."

I'd like to thank my Messiah for inspiring me this wonderful title:)

I'd like to share an excerpt I've been working on with you all. 

Day 3 : Erev Shabbat at Kinneret

Experiencing Shabbat in Israel is very different from what you would expect elsewhere, especially if you are coming to an aera where people are strong believers.

Come to Israel and you will see : you will never look at Shabbat with the same eyes. The land of Galilee is the land of birth of the greatest rabbis and an inspiration to anybody who is a strong believer.

The Galil and its heights will transport you naturally to HaShem's mystical heights. The connection between Heavens and the waters will be revealed to you as you will develop your hitbonenut, your contemplative skills.

We were experiencing a heatwave in Tiberias. It was literally boiling with 41 degrees C° outside. After coming back from Yardenit, I had to stay inside of my hotel room. I was impatiently waiting for temperatures to cool down. The good thing in the Middle East is that it starts becoming fresh as soon as the sun starts going down.

Shabbat's entry was close and the temperature was going down a little bit. My ears were drawn to the balcony. I heard people singing a song as the music was getting louder. As I approached the balcony, I recognized the well known Shabbat song, « Lecha Dodi ».

As I decided to sit and relax, I saw people from the building facing me hug each other as the melody of « Lecha Dodi » was deepening.

The sun was leaving slowly and I made the decision to step out to watch the sunset. I wanted to be there to welcome Shabbat.

A few streets away from my Galilean place of residence, I found a space called «  The Garden of kisses » that offered a perfect view on lake Kinneret. From there a surprising, mystical encounter awaited me. It resembles no other encounter I've had before.

The ones who are used to observing the Sea of Galilee would probably know that the lake is surrounded with a visible, divine veil that marks the separation between Kinneret and the mountains. This veil is very distinctive, and always there during the day. But what I observed at Erev Shabbat only seems to happen at « Leil Shabbat ». As the sun was saying her last goodbye, the veil dropped at the surface of the lake, covering it completely like a mantle. It was a very visible manifestation of the Ruach, and my eyes recognized it as such.

I repeated several times : « וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם » «  and the Spirit of HaShem was hovering over the waters ».

The Spirit had now became a big mantle covering the surface of the waters. After a while the mantle totally united the Heavens with the waters also becoming one with the mountains that were filled with the lights of the houses upon them.

The spectacle I was witnessing was a majestic piece of art from Heavens, drawn up from the Hand of the Creator.

Sefer Bereshit had revealed one of its secrets to me during my contemplation.

As I looked left, I noticed that during all this time, I had not been alone.

My hitbonenut had been synchrone with the contemplation of an orthodox Jew, sitting a few meters away from me.

This was the splendor of Shabbat revealed to me, the very moment when the King meets the Queen and kisses her tenderly, and then both start dancing in the stars, celebrating the wonders of Creation.

© Isabelle Esling, 2017

Upcoming trip to Eretz Israel

Dear brothers and sisters in Yeshua our Messiah,

Dear friends,

HaShem willing, next Wednesday I will be undertaking a second  trip to Eretz Israel.
I will spend most of my time in Tiberias, starting my exploration of Galilee from there.

Please pray for this trip to be very fruitful. 
May HaShem place the right persons in front of me and may I be a blessing to the dear people of Israel.

Your prayers are very welcome.

Thank you very much. I will keep you updated with my travel.

HaShem bless you all.

Shalom,

Isabelle

Parashat Ekev and the coming of our Messiah

The parasha of last Shabbat (August the 12 th, 2017) is called "Ekev".

The word ekev in Hebrew has a dual meaning:

1.  As a result, because of
2.  Heel, " grab a heel"

Interestingly, the teachings of Kabalah that one of my Facebook contacts made available to me ( he is a true specialist in Torah studies) link parashat Ekev with our rotten generation and the return of our Messiah Yeshua.

Before some ignorant people start boasting arrogantly against me, I'd like to clarify a few things:

• Kabbalah is not sorcery, unlike a widespread opinion. It often gets slated by very ignorant people. As we know, the summum of ignorance is to speak against something you know nothing about. Therefore, one should always have heart to examine things carefully before speaking out. So, what is exactly kabbalah? The word kabbalah (קבּלה) in Hebrew comes from (לקבּל) to receive. The word (קבּלה) is also used in modern Hebrew and means " reception desk". Over the centuries, there have been misuses of the secret teachings of Torah, hence the assimilation with "sorcery". 
• There are four degrees of interpretation of Torah that correspond to the Hebrew word "pardes"(פּרדס): -pshat , remez, drash and sod, sod (סוד=secret) being the secret, so kabbalah teachings.
• Third point: fyi: I am not into kabbalah and I don't recommend anybody who doesn't have a prior Jewish background to delve into these complex teachings. First of all, not anybody is meant to receive them. Secondly, without basic Torah knowledge, they can be very dangerous.

This being said, I'd like to share the few notions I've been acquainted with recently, because they enlighten some important points regarding our relationship with HaShem, His Covenant with the people of Israel and the return of our Messiah.

But let us summarize a few, very important points regarding parasha Ekev at first.

  כָּל-הַמִּצְוָה, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם--תִּשְׁמְרוּן לַעֲשׂוֹת:  לְמַעַן תִּחְיוּן וּרְבִיתֶם, וּבָאתֶם וִירִשְׁתֶּם אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה, לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם

All the commandment which I command you this day shall you observe to do, that you may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD swore unto your fathers.

        Deuteronomy 8:1

Ekev is first and foremost a reminder of HaShem's alliance with the people of Israel and their obligation to fulfill the mitzvoth if they want to inherit the soil of Israel.

The children of Israel are being reminded of HaShem's strong deliverance, of their 40 years in the desert, their spirit of rebellion and disobedience. 

It also contains a very strong warning against the practices of idolatry.

I'd also like to point out that no matter if you are Jewish or not, HaShem deeply dislikes any kind of idolatry. In no way one should follow pagan customs ( such as Christmas, Halloween or Easter celebrations. Everything related to a foreign divinity should be avoided.

The key to entering the Kingdom of Heaven is the absence of idolatry.

HaShem will bless the obedient  children of Israel. The promise of the gift of Eretz Israel will be fulfilled.
It is very important to understand that there is a renewal of the Covenant in chapter 10. The 10 Commandments are rewritten from HaShem's hand on new tables of stone.

The circumcision of the heart: closeness and committment

וּמַלְתֶּם, אֵת עָרְלַת לְבַבְכֶם; וְעָרְפְּכֶם--לֹא תַקְשׁוּ, עוֹד

Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked

Deuteronomy 10:16

It is important to note the expression "circumcision of the heart". While the physical circumcision called brith mila that is usually performed on the 8th day, marks the entry into HaShem's alliance for the males, the circumcision of the heart concerns males and females.
It is an act of committment that will erase the ego. A person with a circumcised heart will accept to be taken under HaShem's wing and to do His will.
A person with a circumcised heart knows that she is set apart and holy, and as such, refuses to compromise with the world ( which implies no pagan celebrations and away from sinful ways).

A person with a circumcised heart will cling to HaShem, should she stand alone. This implies respecting and applying the Commandments.

Clinging to HaShem also means having pleasure in true intimacy with Him. This type of intimacy is not always expressed in formal prayer. It can be simply resting in HaShem, contemplating the beauty of His works or smiling to a stranger in the street...and letting the Spirit lead you at all times-whether you are resting, studying Scriptures, praying aloud or silently. It is the beauty of knowing that your friend is here, next to you, watching you and listening to you. So, dear friend, CLING to HaShem with all your heart!

The heel of the Messiah: a few glimpses of kabbalistic teaching ( from the Zohar)

Ekev corresponds to the 46th section of Torah

( credit to Eric El -Baze who is the true specialist- he is the author of a few books regarding Kabbalah.)

The heel of the Messiah or the waters of knowledge

Parashat Ekev describes our contemporary society where the ego is inflated. This aera is called in hebrew "Yeridat hadorot" ( literally the descent of the generations), the downfall of the generations. The generations will fall off so badly that they will be close to the Messiah's heel.

This is also called " Ikvata Dé  Mechikha" ( this expression seems aramaic to me and it means " at the Messiah's heel."

Interestingly, the Zohar interconnects the ego with the Nachash Qadmoni, the ancient serpent, that is also incarnated in the character of Esau, Yaa'kov's brother.

The word "ekev", heel, which is of great importance, appears in two different verses of Bereshit ( Genesis)


 וְאֵיבָה אָשִׁית, בֵּינְךָ וּבֵין הָאִשָּׁה, וּבֵין זַרְעֲךָ, וּבֵין זַרְעָהּ:  הוּא יְשׁוּפְךָ רֹאשׁ, וְאַתָּה תְּשׁוּפֶנּוּ עָקֵב

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; they shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise their heel." 

Bereshit 3:15


  וְאַחֲרֵי-כֵן יָצָא אָחִיו, וְיָדוֹ אֹחֶזֶת בַּעֲקֵב עֵשָׂו, וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ, יַעֲקֹב

"And after that came forth his brother, and his hand had hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob"

Bereshit 25: 26

• In Bereshit, Chapter 3, HaShem speaks to the serpent. The word "ekev" appears at the end of the word, mentioning the enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent.
• In Bereshit, Chapter 25, it is spoken of Yaa'kov's birth. Yaa'kov was holding Esau's heel...we notice that not only the word "ekev" appears in the verse, but also that "ekev" is contained in the name Yaakov- actually "ekev" is Yaa'kov without the yod.

From the point of view of the Kabbalah, there is an intense struggle between Yaa'kov and Esau. Yaa'kov represents the spiritual being, the one who is longing for HaShem and Esau, the worldly individual that seems soulless.

Ekev is Yaa'kov with the loss of the yod. In gematria, yod has the value of 10. So this loss is in relation with the 10 Sephirot, but also the loss of the 10 Commandments. The struggle consists of reestablishing the holiness by readding the yod to ekev.

While the downfall of the generations will be unavoidable, it will also accelerate the return of the Messiah and push mankind to increase their spiritual knowledge.
When our Messiah will return the waters of knowledge will spread to all mankind.

My conclusion: our responsibility as spiritual beings is to spread light and love, in a constant aspiration to reach the character of Yaa'kov.
Many conflictual, political situations, especially in the Middle-East, will be solved with Yeshua's glorious return. Let us work on good deeds and make our paths straights for Him.

Come Yeshua! Come soon!

Amen

Copyright© by Isabelle Esling