Shaleeakh Issue 102 November 11, 2006

By Rabbi Yaakov benYosef ABOUT-Torah.org

Many people are convinced that HaShem's mercy allows them to continue living a lifestyle of disobedience. Because of this false understanding, a new believer will often live exactly as he or she was living before committing his or her life to Yeshua. The problem with this type of thought is that it does not demand accountability. Unfortunately, believers who reject accountability will seldom be led to live a Torah observant life. The desire to reject accountability among believers has caused many believers to deny the fact that serving the L-rd demands obedience. Despite an individual's rejection of accountability, the scriptures teach us that HaShem demands accountability from His people. HaShem wants His people to become the righteous symbol of accountability in a world where accountability no longer matters. To make His point, HaShem judges His followers with the same judgment that He uses to judge the world. In fact, judgment of the world begins with the House of G-d. 1Peter 4:17 states, "it is the time of the beginning of the judgment from the house of God, and if first from us, what the end of those disobedient to the good news of God?" This equality in judgment demonstrates to the world HaShem is not a respecter of persons. Romans 2:5-11 states, "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasures up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God." A believer's hope is not in avoiding the accountability HaShem requires. A believer's hope should be founded on the understanding that HaShem's people are protected from the consequences of judgment. Protection from the consequences of judgment is not the same as denial of accountability. Protection from the consequences of judgment requires action by the believer. Denial of accountability justifies a believer's current lifestyle. A believer should not deny accountability; instead, a believer should seek protection from the consequences of judgment. The only two ways to seek protection from the consequences of judgment are teshuvah (repentance) and obedience as Devarim 4:30-31 states "When you are in tribulation, and all these things are come on you, even in the latter days, if you turn to the LORD thy God, and shall be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swore unto them." When a believer is repentant and walks in obedience the believer is protected from the consequences of judgment. In Vayera, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah are good examples of how teshuvah and obedience protect HaShem's people from the consequences of judgment even though they are still accountable.

HaShem issued a warning to Lot and his family before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The warning HaShem gave to Lot and His family, gave them the opportunity to repent, become obedient and leave Sodom and Gomorrah. B'resheet 19:12-14 states "And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? Son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. And Lot went out, and spoke unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law." Even though Lot's sons in law were given a chance to repent and become obedient, they preferred to remain disobedient. Lot's sons in law did not realize that they would be accountable for their actions. Therefore, they rejected HaShem's warning. Lot's sons in law passed up the only opportunity that they were given to be obedient. As a result, Lots sons in law perished when Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed. In a similar rejection of accountability, the message of two prophets in tribulation will also be refused. Revelation 11:3-10 states "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeded out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth." It is human nature to reject accountability. Similar to Lot's sons in law seven thousand people will perish in the coming tribulation. Revelation 11:13 states "the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven." The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the loss of seven thousand lives in the tribulation are similar because in both instances people preferred to believe HaShem does not demand accountability.

Despite humanities desire to continue living disobediently HaShem is merciful. Therefore, HaShem always warns His people before judgment. B'resheet 19:15-17 states "when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid, hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed." Unfortunately, many people refuse to listen to HaShem's warnings, because continuous rejection of accountability makes it is hard to change. This is true even when our lives count on it. B'resheet 19:26 states "his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." Lots wife was not obedient to HaShem's commandment to "not look back." Lots wife did not realize she would be accountable for her actions. As a result, she received the same punishment that Sodom and Gomorrah received. Because of HaShem's mercy, we are also given a warning. Mathew 24:15-18 states "When you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then those in Judea-let them flee to the mounts; he on the house-top-let him not come down to take up anything out of his house; and he in the field-let him not turn back to take his garments." When believers see this warning sign, Yeshua commands His followers to flee obediently and not turn back. Turning back will result in loss of our protection. Therefore, anyone who looks back will be held accountable for his or her actions.

Many believers continue living the same lifestyle of disobedience; they lived before becoming followers of Yeshua. As a result, these individuals are in danger of facing the same punishment that the rest of the world will receive. Protection from the punishment of disobedience can only occur when a believer realizes that HaShem demands accountability from His people. The only way to become accountable is to live a Torah Observant lifestyle and walk in continual repentance. Living our lives this way guarantee, that HaShem will remember the covenants that He has made with our forefathers and protect us from the consequences of judgment.
 

ABOUT-Torah.org | Newsletter | Portion Archives

Printer Friendly Version