Dear Friend,
Do you know how big God is?
As I’ve been delving deeply into the Hebrew Bible (The Tanakh) over the past year, more intensely than ever before, I’ve been struck by the profound passion and conviction in the Jewish belief in God. Regardless of whether they are Messianic or not, there is an undeniable sense in the Jewish mindset of how vast and powerful our God, יהוה (Yahweh), is—something we 'Gentile' Christians can truly learn from.
Imagine this: Your entire nation, after witnessing the supernatural event of Passover, finds itself trapped between a pursuing Egyptian army and the Red Sea. Suddenly, the sea parts, allowing you to walk through on dry land. Such an event would be unforgettable!
Even after rebelling against this mighty God in the desert, He faithfully fulfilled His promise, bringing your beloved nation of about two million people into the Promised Land—a land flowing with milk and honey, reminiscent of Eden. While claiming this land, your enemies fell before you as God fought your battles in miraculous ways, like the walls of Jericho collapsing after a silent march followed by a mighty shout.
These memories are deeply engraved in the collective mindset of the Jewish nation. Each generation has witnessed manifestations of God’s power and majesty, reinforcing their belief in His greatness. Today, many still wail at the crumbled wall of the Second Temple, fervently petitioning God to return to them.
I have a message for you my Jewish friends:
I fervently petition HaShem to reveal His truth to you. That He did indeed return to you, 2,000 years ago, but as HaMaschiach Ben-Yosef, and not Ben-David. That title is coming so soon now! All the 'goyim' will bow the knee to Him, and you will too, when it becomes obvious that He (Jesus) really is ישוע Yeshua.
Now back to you my Christian friends:
Think about it, how many Christians do you know, who 2,000 years after the destruction of their local church, would still be praying at its ruins for restoration? Wailing at all that remains—a crumbling wall?
It's abundantly clear to me, that the Jewish people have a heartfelt history with יהוה Yahweh, literally pumping in their bloodline.
So let's dig deeper into Jewish vs. Christian Faith Mindsets
Consider these familiar words:
Our Father who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your name!
We often recite these precious words, without even a second thought. But let’s focus on two words - "in Heaven". The Greek word οὐρανοῖς, translated as "Heaven," is actually plural and more accurately means "skies".
Now, compare this to King Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Jerusalem Temple, which is very similar in reverence to the Lord’s Prayer for us:
“יהוה Yahweh, God of Israel, there is no God like You in the skies above or on the land. You keep covenant with Your servants and show them favourable grace, provided they live in Your presence with all their heart.”
2 Chronicles 6:14
But verse 18 challenges it:
“But can God actually live with human beings on the earth? Why, the sky itself, even the sky of skies, cannot contain You. So how much less this house I have built?”
2 Chronicles 6:18
Did You See That?
Our English Bibles in the Lord's prayer, imply that God is contained in Heaven. But the Jewish understanding, as expressed by King Solomon, sees God as so immense that nothing can contain Him.
Titles like "God, the God Most High (El-Elyon)" and descriptions like "Enthroned above" fill the Hebrew Bible, highlighting God's boundless nature.
So when Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer as an example for us, His words in Aramaic might have sounded more like,
Our Father who is above the skies,
Matthew 6:9
Gloriously revered is Your name!
Embracing the Magnitude of God
With this in mind, as I work on the Fear of God Bible, my goal is to magnify the mystery of how great יהוה (Yahweh) and ישוע (Yeshua) are, even when it challenges our understanding of the space-time continuum. If our concept of Heaven could contain יהוה, then Heaven would be greater than יהוה, its Creator.
Therefore, one of my missions is to ensure that He must increase, while we as Adam (mankind) must decrease.
I invite you to join me in spreading the word about this Bible project. The New Testament is now complete and being edited as of February 2024.
God bless you, my fellow believers.
