The time for Christ-mass festivities has begun, and I've read many social media posts asking a variety of questions like how to tell relatives they aren't participating any longer without offending relatives, including an unbelieving spouse, or should a person put up decorations, etc. I know The Most High knows your dilemma and hears your prayers. Don't lose heart! Thankfully, everything changes and when you walk in His ways, HE will steer you in the right path.
Prov 3:6-8 "Trust in El־Yahuah with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes: fear Yahuah, and depart from evil. It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones."
I could testify about His goodness and direction in my life since my family and I left the man-made traditions and have been Torah-observers for over 20 years, however, I want to bring up the real reason to stay away from the season. Read and ponder the original sin of Yarov'am (Jeroboam), see 1 Kings 11-14, you'll read why The Most High judged the House of Israel (10 northern tribes). The bottom line is... Yarov'om (Jeroboam) had committed evil more than any before him! Yikes! How so? by making other elohim and molten images that provoked The Most High to anger, and then Yarov'oam cast YHUH behind his back. Ponder that phrase, and if you look up the Hebrew, it means the same thing.
1Ki 14:7-18 "Go, tell Yarov`am, Thus says Yahuah Elohai of Yashar’el, Forasmuch as I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Yashar’el, and rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it you: and yet you have not been as my servant David, who guarded my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in my eyes; But have done evil above all that were before you: for you have gone and made you other elohiym, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and have cast me behind your back:
A deeper look at Yarov'oam's life will take you back to 1 Kings 11 where the prophet Achiyau (Ahijah) prophesies to Yarov'am that The Most High will make him a king over 10 tribes of Israel because of their idol worship and not walking in His Ways. What exactly did Yarov'oam do? Well, in 1 Kings 12:25-33 explains the sin. He made 2 golden calves and accredited them for the deliverance out of Egypt! Setting them both in the towns of Beyt־El (Beth-El) and Dan. Then, Yarov'oam created his own priesthood and feasts, so the 10 tribes would NOT return to Yerushalyim (Jerusalem) to celebrate Sukkot (7th mo, 15th day). Instead, he made a similar feast on the 8th mo, 15th day. WHAT!?
Do you see how similar his celebrations were to The Most High's ways? Yet, his motives and observances were not innocent. He provoked our Father that his actions brought judgement on the 10 tribes, so that we are feeling the effects of those behaviors today. Only Yeshua can reunite us back with Yehudah (Judah). Thankfully, by His blood, we can choose to walk in His ways. Howbeit, we must repent and return to the ancient paths outlined in Lev 23 & Deut 16. Much more detail on these kadosh (holy) feasts are described throughout the TNKH.
As you consider your own faith and convictions about this season, I hope you are strengthened by these biblical passages and can stand a little stronger as you navigate your own circumstances. Choose wisely, achot (sisters).
