Yahowah desires a loving, personal, relaxed, conversational, engaged, especially friendly family oriented, relationship with us. While those who live and die outside of these familial bonds will bow down to Him in judgment, those He has redeemed will sit by His side and call him Father.

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

 Yada Yah

Book 4: The Way Home

…How We Were Saved

6

Yashuw’ah – Salvation

 No Greater Love…

Before we delve further into the nature of the Sacrifice Yahowsha’ was predicted to make on our behalf, it may be instructive to dispel an egregious myth—that God wants to be worshiped. Scripture paints an entirely different picture. In fact, God knelt down to us so that we could stand with Him.

While you may consider this foray into one of religion’s greatest misconceptions a detour from our quest to understand how Yahowah saved us, it isn’t. And that is because religious worship is the very thing God is saving us from.

The 23^rd Psalm is one of countless passages that covey the familial nature of the relationship God wants to achieve with man. Since we reviewed it at the end of the last chapter, I’d like to examine the passage which some mistakenly believe suggests otherwise, that God wants people to “bow down” to Him. The most often quoted is Yasha’yahuw / Isaiah 45:23, and that is only because it is removed from its context and then erroneously restated by the false prophet Paul in Romans 11:4, 14:11, and Philippians 2:10. As a result, Christian pastors and priests refer to it frequently, albeit always unrelated to the prophetic story Yahowah is presenting through His actual prophet Yasha’yahuw.

The reason I see this as crucial, is that bowing down is completely incompatible with a loving family—which is the entire purpose of the Covenant. It is the only reason for creation, for life, for the Torah, for the prophets. Without the Covenant, there would be no need for Passover and thus the crucifixion depicted in the 22^nd Psalm.

Bowing down is the antithesis of engaging in the beryth / family-oriented relationship Yahowah described in His conversations with Abraham, where He asked the patriarch to: “walk away from human corruptions,” “to trust Him and to rely upon Him,” “to walk to Him, thereby becoming perfect,” “to observe, closely examining and carefully considering this one and only Covenant,” and “to circumcise our sons so that we and they remember the Covenant’s conditions and benefits.” Moreover, bowing down alters the purpose of the supreme sacrifice we just read about in the Psalm, changing it from love to control.

Before we begin this investigation, please understand that I see Yahowah as He depicts Himself in Scripture, as head of the family. It’s His family, and it’s His home—it’s even His universe. He sets the rules, and He is in charge. His existence, power, and mercy are limitless. I am nothing without Him. But that said, everything I read in His Word suggests that Yahowah desires a loving, personal, relaxed, conversational, engaged, especially friendly family oriented, relationship with us. While those who live and die outside of these familial bonds will bow down to Him in judgment, those He has redeemed will sit by His side and call him Father.

To understand that it is the proud who will bow down, I’d like to review Yahowah’s prophetic proclamation in context. Yasha’yah / Isaiah 45 is prophetic, historical, and enlightening. It begins by announcing the selection of Cyrus as Yahowah’s implement to subdue the nations, and in particular, Babylon, the seat of Satan. In this light, it’s particularly interesting that Cyrus wouldn’t be born for a couple of centuries and that Babylon at the time was the world’s lone superpower.

To appreciate Yahowah’s willingness to use Cyrus army destroy Babylon, while at the same time condemning his religion, we have to begin our investigation in the previous chapter, in Isaiah / Yasha’yahuw 44:24.

“This is what (koh) Yahowah (efei – hwhy), your Redeemer (ga’al – your Savior), who fashioned and formed you (yatsar) from the womb (min beten), says (‘amar – promises and affirms, claims and declares): ‘I am (‘anky) Yahowah (efei – hwhy) who made (‘asah – who acted to perform and engaged in the work necessary to fashion and create) everything (kol), spreading out (natah – stretching, extending, expanding, and curving) the heavens (samaym – the universe and the spiritual realm) alone, by Myself (la bad – alone at the time and without any assistance). I reached out to stamp out (raqa’) the material realm (‘erets – matter, the earth, and land) unassisted,…” (Yasha’yahuw / Salvation is from Yah / Isaiah 44:24)

Continuing to speak through His prophet, Yahowah said that He was the one who “…nullifies (parar – thwarts and revokes, frustrates and makes ineffectual) the signs, examples, accounts, and miracles (‘owt) of boastful liars and false prophets (badym – prideful orators whose speech deviates from the truth), and makes fools of, shining light on and exposing (halal) those who divide spiritually, allotting a portion to themselves (qasam – diviners in league with Lord / Ba’al, religious officials who dissimulate (i.e., those who change things to create a false appearance), those who claim communicate with the dead (i.e., prayers to Mary and other so-called saints)), who turns (suwb) learned sages and wise men (hakam) back (‘ahor – refuses association) and renders their understanding (da’at – wisdom and knowledge, perceptions) foolish and perverse (‘ewyl – speaking of one who while wrong mocks that which is right, a person who is quarrelsome, licentious, disdainful, and evil (from 1QIsa because the MT has “wise”))…” (Yasha’yahuw / Salvation is from Yah / Isaiah 44:25)

Simply stated: God is anti-religious because religion causes death and separation. He is committed to exposing and condemning the religious and political, both scholar and spiritualist, wannabe prophet and miracle worker.

We can place our trust in the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms because Yahowah is the one who “…stands up for, establishes, and confirms (quwm – carries out) the Word (dabar) of His servant (‘abedow – singular and masculine (i.e., the Suffering Servant, a.k.a., Ma’aseyah)) and the counsel (‘esah – advice and plans) of the messengers (mal’ak – spiritual envoys) He fulfills (salem – restoring through redemption),…” (Yasha’yahuw / Salvation is from Yah / Isaiah 44:26)

Yahowah goes on to predict that Yaruwshalaim (Jerusalem, from yarah meaning “source from which teaching, direction, instruction, and guidance flow” and shalowm meaning “reconciliation and redemption”) shall be inhabited and that the cities of Yahuwdah (Judah, from Yahuw and dah, meaning relate to and related to Yah) shall be rebuilt on their ruins, something which has occurred twice.

He went on to say that He would use Cyrus as an implement to negate the negative influence of Babylon. “Thus says Yahowah to His chosen implement (mashyach – His set-apart servant), to Cyrus (Kowresh – the Persian king who conquered Babylon and allowed the Yisra’elites to return to Yaruwshalaim), whom I have grasped by the right hand to subdue in the presence of his nation. And the loins of the kings I have bared, to open the doors to his presence, and the gates shall not be shut.” (Yasha’yahuw / Salvation is from Yah / Isaiah 45:1)

And as part of this mandate, and Babylon’s ill-gotten booty, Yahowah says: “I will give (wa natan) to you (la) the treasury of darkness (‘owtsar choshek – the storeroom, repository, arsenal, wine, and food of ignorance and confusion) and (wa) the hidden wealth in secret places (matmown mictar – secret and hidden cache, reserve, and stockpile) so that (ma’an) you may know (yada’) that indeed (ky) I (‘any), Yahowah (efei – hwhy), the One (ha) who calls you (qara’ – summons you) by name (ba shem), am the God (‘elohym) of Yisra’el (Yisra’el – of individuals who engage and endure and who are empowered by the Almighty).

For Ya’aqob (Ya’aqob – firmly established by supplanting his heels), my servant’s sake (ma’an ‘ebed – for the benefit of My associate), and Yisra’el (Yisra’el – individuals who contend and strive with God) my chosen one (bachyr – preferred and selected for the favor or a special relationship based upon affection), I have called you (qara’ – summoned you) and He established you with a name (la ba shem – personal designation (from 1QIsa, the MT reads “I have given you a title”), though you do not know Me (wa lo’ yada’).

I am (‘any) Yahowah (efei – hwhy). There is none (‘ayn) besides Me (‘owd), and there are no (zuwlah ‘ayn) gods (elohym). I will help you (‘azar) even though you do not know Me (lo’ yada’).” (Yasha’yahuw / Salvation is from Yah / Isaiah 45:3-5 as presented on the Great Isaiah Scroll found in Qumran)

Babylon is synonymous in Scripture with the “babel – corruption and confusion” associated with religion. And so here, Yahowah is providing us with an accounting of the “‘owtsar choshek – repository of intoxications and poisons which comprise the arsenal of ignorance and confusion.” This, the “treasury and storeroom of darkness,” is “matmown mictar – the secret cache” of evil.

Satan, under the title and names Lord / Ba’al / Bel, in league with cleric and king, convinced the Babylonians to worship him as the sun god. Their religion, rife with secret rites, became known as “Mystery Babylon.” Its myths still serve as the foundation of Christianity and Socialist Secular Humanism. So in this chapter discussing Satan’s most effective religious disguise, Yahowah puts the Adversary in his place.

And by examining this passage, we have our first clue in our quest to know whether or not Yahowah wants His children, the descendants of Ya’aqob, to bow down before Him – or whether prostration is intended for the purveyors of corruption. Bachyr, which was used in conjunction with Yisra’el, is the opposite of bowing. Yahowah chooses relationships based upon mercy and affection. But this relationship is not for everyone; God is selective. There are two distinct groups of people and spirits presented throughout this prophecy. Their status and fates differ markedly.

“That they may know (ma’an yada’) from the rising (min mizrach – place of sunrise, east) and from setting (wa min ma’arab – place of sunset, west) sun (shemesh), that (ky) there is in the end nothing (‘ephec – everything ultimately ceases) apart from (bal’ady – disassociated from) Yahowah (efei – hwhy). There is no other (‘ayn ‘owd). (Yasha’yahuw / Salvation is from Yah / Isaiah 45:6)

Everything ceases to exist without the One who caused everything to exist. I suppose that’s why His name means “I Exist.” Relying on nations even as strong and mighty as Babylon (or America), and relying upon religious institutions as strong and mighty as was the Babylonian Mystery Religion (or Judaism, Christianity, Islam, or Socialist Secular Humanism), leads in the end to a state of nonexistence. Disassociated from Yahowah we are no more.

Moving on, I’m embarrassed to say that it took the seventh edit pass through this chapter before I finally figured out how to properly translate this next passage. Recognizing that nothing is more important to Yahowah than His Covenant, and that loving relationships require freewill, I simply assumed that God created evil as an alternative to good, so that we’d have the option to trust His Towrah – Teaching (good) or rely on any one of a wide variety of human institutions (bad). But on further examination, I discovered that the word translated “create,” bara’, had more than one meaning. And with that meaning in mind, this next statement becomes especially profound:

“I form (yatsar – I fashion and shape) light (‘owr) and separate from (bara’ – cut down, cut off, and disassociate from) darkness (choshek – the absence of light). I engage in (‘asah – I do, perform, and cause) that which is good and beneficial (towb – pleasing, joyful, favorable, and right (from 1QIsa, the MT reads “well-being”) and cut ties with (bara’ – cut off, cut down, disassociate and separate from) evil (ra’ – that which is improper, harmful, violent and troubling, malignancy, wickedness, and the Adversary).

I (‘any), Yahowah (efei – hwhy), engage in (‘asah – act upon, cause, and perform) all of this (kol ‘eleh).” (Yasha’yahuw / Salvation is from Yah / Isaiah 45:7)

If you’re paying close attention, you may have noticed in the 3^rd verse, Yahowah used choshek in association with ‘owtsar to describe the repository of ignorance and confusion which comprised the arsenal of darkness that would be taken away from Babylon. He is, therefore, reinforcing this process whereby the Lion of Babylon eventually becomes a toothless tiger.

As for this passage, I learned an important lesson. Just because I might think I know what a word means, like bara’, I shouldn’t assume that there isn’t more to learn about it. Turns out that all but one of the twelve lexicons I typically consult, listed “cutting (off, out, down, away, and ties), paring, and separating” as appropriate definitions for bara’, which also means “create,” especially in the sense of “initiating a process.” So here, since the context overwhelmingly favors “separate” and “cut ties with” over “create,” these definitions are required. Otherwise, by failing to choose them, this would be the only passage in Scripture which associates darkness and evil with Yahowah.

Also, so that you know, in Yahowsha’ / Joshua 17:15 and 18, “cut down” in reference to trees, is the only acceptable translation of bara’, as it is in Yachezq’el / Ezekiel 23:47, where those “cut away, separated, and disassociated” are those in opposition to Yah.

These things known, in the first of these three statements, God is saying that He “yatsar – fashions and forms” light, the manifestation of energy most representative of His spiritual nature. Therefore, not only does He separate Himself from darkness, not allowing the evil, ignorance, and corruption it represents into His home, but also that by being separated from His light, we are cut off from Him, from enlightenment, and from life.

In the second statement, we find Yah “‘asah – engaging in” that which is good, beneficial, pleasing, and right” while cutting ties with that which is harmful and troubling. In this regard, the Covenant, which is the ultimate good, requires both parties to engage for it to be meaningful. God’s participation is to provide its benefits, something He accomplished by His actions on Passover, Unleavened Bread, FirstFruits, and Seven Sabbaths.

With this understanding, the parting line now makes perfect sense. While God does not “do” evil, He does engage, and He initiates the process of separating from darkness while cutting ties with evil. With this understanding and otherwise challenging passage is resolved with a modicum effort.

I also find it interesting that “yatsar – I form” light, and “‘asah – I engage in” that which is good and beneficial, were both prefixed in the first person masculine singular, which means that Yahowah, who is speaking here in first person, is personally associating Himself with these two things. There are no personal references associated with bara’ either time it was deployed.

These things known, the existence of good and evil was still part of Yahowah’s plan for establishing credible choice. Without a choice there could be no real love. So God set good and evil in the context of existence and nonexistence to underscore the nature of the life and death choice we are all encouraged to make. In this verse Yahowah is also warning us not to fall for man’s most prevalent folly—relying upon and reveling in the creation rather than the Creator.

The opening verb of the next verse in the Dead Seas Scrolls is “Shout out,” rather than the rabbinical “Drip down,” so we’ll go with that. In fact, the Masoretes were so heavy-handed with Yasha’yah / Isaiah 45, to understand Yahowah’s message we are going to have to rely on the Qumran manuscripts. In the fourth, fifth, and eighth through eleventh verses, there are more differences than there is commonality between the 2^nd-century scrolls and the Masoretic Text. This is a significant problem because while the King James Version is a revision five times over of Catholicism’s Latin Vulgate and not a translation of any Hebrew text, more recent translations claim to be based upon this highly flaw and often arbitrary rabbinical script produced in the 11^th-century CE. So if you are verifying these translations, you’ll have to look twelve centuries beyond the Masoretic.

“Shout out (heydad – cheer) spiritual realm (shamaym – heavens as the abode of God) from above (min ma’al – from the higher and greater dimensions) and also earnest seekers (shachar – those focusing upon and strongly desiring the relationship). Let that which is just, fair, honest, and right (tsedeq – that which is accurate, proper, and in accord with the standard, even vindicating) stream down (nazal – flow down and gush out).

The One (ha ‘echad) says (‘amar) to the earth (‘erets – material realm), ‘Let salvation (yasha’) blossom (nets) and let vindication (tsadaqah – truthfulness and innocence, righteousness and prosperity) sprout and grow (tsamah).’” (Yasha’yahuw / Salvation is from Yah / Isaiah 45:8 also from 1QIsa)

If you are looking for vindication, justice, and truth, if you are searching for salvation, you know where to find these things. They come from the Creator, not from His creation.

And while this stream comprised of the right stuff is streaming down from heaven, while salvation is blossoming, and vindication is growing, only earnest seekers partake. The answer is easy to find because it is presented at the beginning of the most prolific and credible book ever written. But just because it is available, doesn’t mean that there are many takers.

The Adversary’s problem was identical to mankind’s dilemma. We get ourselves into trouble when our pride gets in the way and we think we are smarter than God. Politics and religion are comprised of this stuff—especially Socialist Secular Humanism where man replaces God.

“Woe (howy) to them who oppose and contend (ryb – are hostile to and who quarrel) with (‘eth) those who formed them (yatsar – who fashioned and forged them), being clay among the clay of the ground (chres ‘eth chres ha ‘adamah).

What is it with (ha – as an interrogative) someone who actually says (‘amar – who consistently states (qal imperfect)) to (la) the one who formed Him (yatsar – who fashioned, shaped, and forged him), ‘What (mah) are you doing (‘asah – are you engaging in)? Or (wa) does that which you have acquired through your work (po’al) come to be without hands (la ‘ayn yad)?’” (Yasha’yahuw / Salvation is from Yah / Isaiah 45:9)

Yahowah’s question in this passage drives to the heart of an important issue. Sunday worship, Halloween, Christmas, Lent, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday were designed to replace the Sabbath, FirstFruits, Tabernacles, Atonement, Unleavened Bread, and Passover because the Catholics thought they had a better plan. A self-aggrandized, dictatorial clergy acting as intermediaries and promoting the myth of hell fire and bowing down in submission to a god who should be feared, replaced Yahowah’s personal and loving, familial relationship. Pride and self-reliance caused them to oppose their Maker and quarrel with His Word and plan.

If you don’t know and appreciate the Miqra’ey, you won’t understand that they are prophetic signs pointing to Yahowsha’, or that they are basis of Yahowah’s plan of redemption. And that understanding is required to comprehend this statement.

“Thus says (koh ‘amar) Yahowah (efei – hwhy), the Creator of the signs (bara’ ‘owth – the one who initiated and set apart the miraculous and distinguishing means to communicate [the Masoretic says: the Holy One of Israel, and His Maker.]): Ask Me (sa’al) concerning My children (‘al beny) and concerning the work and acquisition of My instructive hands (wa ‘al po’al tsawah yady).” (Yasha’yahuw / Salvation is from Yah / Isaiah 45:11 from 1QIsa)

It is interesting to note that the first letter in Yahowah’s name is formed by drawing an outstretched hand: i. This is instructive because it reveals that Yah is reaching down and out to His children, which are in turn depicted by the two individuals reaching up to Him: ee. These individual stand either side of the Hebrew Wah f, drawn as a tent peg to depict the work of Yahowah which is to help us grow while protecting us.

The miracle of redemption as outlined in the seven Miqra’ey explains that all who chose to participate in the Covenant Yahowah become His children. While we experience a marvelous change of state through this process, and are able to maneuver in time, becoming immortal, the real blessing of the signs is becoming part of Yahowah’s family, living in His home, and receiving His inheritance. Understanding this transformation, restoration, and reward should be at the top of our agenda.

The reason Yahowah ties “the miraculous signs” to “His work” “on behalf of His children” is that the seven Miqra’ey Invitations, like the seven days of Creation, collectively explain the what, when, why, and how of the seminal events in His plan of adoption will unfold. An astute reader in Yasha’yah’s day would have been able to pinpoint the Ma’aseyah’s arrival in Yaruwshalaim (Dany’el 9’s 173,880 days from Abyb 1, 444 BCE, correlated to our Georgian calendar sets the arrival at March 28, 33 CE, four days before Passover), the day of His Passover sacrifice (Miqra’ #1, Pesach, Friday, April 1, 33 CE; known to God as Abyb 14, 4000 Yah), the day His soul descended through Gehenna and into She’owl during Unleavened Bread (Miqra’ #2, Matsah, a Sabbath, April 2, 33 CE), the day of His reunification with God on FirstFruits (Miqra’ #3, Bikuwrym on the first day of the week, April 3, 33 CE), the day the Spirit would enlighten and empower those who were called-out to share the message of Seven Sabbaths (Miqra’ #4, Shabuw’ah, May 22^nd, 33 CE), the day He will return for His children to harvest saved souls on Trumpets (Miqra’ #5, Taruw’ah, Tishri 1, falls in late September or Early October on our pagan calendars and will be fulfilled on or prior to its occurrence in 2026), the first day of the Tribulation (November 14, 2026), the day of His return in power and glory to reaffirm His Covenant on the Day of Reconciliations (Miqra’ #6, Yowm Kippurym, Monday, October 3^rd, 2033; known to Yahowah as Tishri 10, 6000 Yah) and the first day of the Millennial celebration of Shelters (Miqra’ #7, Sukah, the Sabbath of October 8, 2033—40 Yowbel from the fulfillment of the first four Miqra’ey in 33 CE).

Speaking of the Son, Yahowah says: “I (‘any) will arouse Him (‘uwr – awaken) with the truth leading to vindication (ba tsedeq – with honesty and fairness justly doing what is right, thereby acquitting Him). And all of His ways (wa kol derek) I will consistently cause to be right (yashar – I will always be upright and straightforward (piel imperfect)).

He (huw’) will rebuild and restore (banah) My city (iyr – the inner room of My Temple and Home) and He will reach out, freeing (shalach) My exiles (galuwth – those of Mine who have been sent away as captives) without payment (ba lo’ machyr – without money or compensation) says (‘amar – promises) Yahowah (efei – hwhy).” (Yasha’yahuw / Salvation is from Yah / Isaiah 45:13)

Biblical scholars will tell you that “the Lord” is addressing Cyrus here but that’s not possible. Cyrus was a sun-god-worshiping pagan idolater. He was never truthful nor upright, much less vindicated. He didn’t rebuild or restore Yaruwshalaim / Jerusalem. And Babylon’s punisher didn’t even issue the decree that freed the Yahuwdym from captivity so that they could rebuild the city. It was a declaration from Artaxerxes which started Dany’el’s countdown to the Ma’aseyah. Moreover, Cyrus did it expressly for the money, unlike Yahowsha’.

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