The Question:
"Did G-d Give Moses Two Covenants or One?"
Part 3
I asked our L-RD to give me a picture of the two covenants from His Word. I believe He gave me the following:
Joshua is in type, Messiah Yeshua in the Word. He had to bring Israel (and all who joined themselves to G-d's people) into the land. He had to perform the Torah in Sinai and come out alive. He did! However, Joshua did not come out alone. Caleb, the righteous gentile grafted into Judah was with him, as well as all the children of Israel who were under 20 years of age. Joshua fulfilled the Torah of Mt. Sinai, as did Caleb and the rest of Israel who were alive that day in Moab (the seed of the father). This is a clear picture for us to see. It happened only because of the GRACE of G-d. It was free to Joshua and Caleb because of the "faith in G-d's Word" that they had in the L-RD. Grace is always FREE, no work is needed; we must only believe the WORD of the L-RD. That is why John tells us: "This is the work of G-d, that you Believe on Messiah whom G-D has sent," John 6:29.
Joshua and Caleb stood on the L-RD'S side in the Sinai and found favor (grace) in the L-RD'S eyes. Moses had to die in the wilderness because he struck the ROCK twice, and that was not the picture G-d wanted to convey to His people Israel. Joshua was commanded of the L-RD to circumcise again the children of Israel. The Word of G-d indicates that Joshua did the circumcising. This is a picture of Yeshua Messiah circumcising the heart of the Believer. Let's read the account:
Joshua 5: 2-9
2 "At that time the L-RD said to Joshua, Make for yourself sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill (top) of the foreskins.
4 This is why Joshua circumcised again: All the people that came out of Egypt that were males, even all the men of war, had died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
5 Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.
6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt were dead, because they obeyed not the voice of the L-RD: to whom the L-RD sware that He would not show them the Promise land, which the L-RD sware to their Fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
7 And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, all of them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camped until they were healed.
9 And the L-RD said to Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach (disgrace) of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal (rolling away) to this day.
G-d through Joshua (he shall save) rolled away from Israel all the disgrace, and all the shame of those 430 years of being in Egypt (a type of the World). Praise G-d forevermore! That is just what Yeshua (he shall save) does for all those who come and receive circumcising of heart by His hand! Can you see the picture in the Word of G-d? I can!
So the question is: Do we observe the Torah of Mt. Sinai in an attempt to obtain righteousness by it, or do we observe the Torah of Moab and of the Fathers? What does the New Covenant tell us about the Torah as a righteous document?
By the mouth of two witnesses let a thing be established. So we are going to use Mayim Hayim's New Hebrew Mindset Interpretation [HMI] of the book of Galatians (an unpublished work of Rev. Barbara Di Gilio), along with the AGI (Adah Guzman's Interpretation) as the witnesses.
Rabbi Saul is speaking here:
Galatians 2:11-12
[11] But when Kefa came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood self-condemned.
[12] For until certain people came from Ya'akov, he used to eat with those Gentiles from the Nations; but after they came, he drew back. He concealed himself and kept separate for fear of the circumcision faction. -- HMI
11 But when Simeon Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain men came from Yacov (James), he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and disassociated himself, fearing them which were of the Circumcision (Jews). -- AGI
Witness 1. G-d does not want us to separate or disassociate ourselves from other Believers who may think differently from us. We have not been given the ability by G-d to read anyone's HEART, which is His job. However we are called to LOVE those in the Body of Messiah who believe the doctrine that is given in the New Covenant. Sha'ul's heart is the heart of the Messiah. At times, Peter acted as if he were still in bondage. He did the legalistic deeds of the Torah, instead of remembering that observing the Torah is a DELIGHT, because G-d's curses are no longer attached. What Messiah Yeshua had done by nailing the curses to the Tree (Cross) was set us free to observe the Torah without fear of the death penalty it held. Praise G-d forevermore; this is the truth of the New Covenant!
Galatians 2:14[14] But when I saw that they were not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, the good message, I said boldly to Kefa before them all: "If you, though a Yehudah, live after the manner of the Gentiles and not like a Yehudah, how can you force the believing Gentiles to live like Yehudim?" HMI
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the Truth of the Gospel (the New Covenant), I said to Kefa (Simeon Peter) before all of them (the Jewish Believers from Jerusalem), If you, being a Jew, live after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why burden you the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? AGI
Witness 2. Like Rabbi Sha'ul is saying in the Scripture above, we should not force what we believe on anyone. We should lead all people to the Word of the Living G-d, and because the Holy Spirit is in all Believers, He will teach them what they should know and do. The Messianic vision we have, the way we worship G-d, may not be for all groups. Only G-d knows who He wants to walk this way. We need to know no man after the flesh, but by the Spirit of the Loving G-d alone. One of the Believers highest rules must be to LOVE!
Galatians 2:21[21] I do not abolish or nullify the Grace of G-d (Elohim); for if right standing, righteousness or justification comes through Torah (G-d's teaching, guidance, and instruction) given to Moses, then Messiah died for nothing. HMI
21 I do not beat the Grace of G-d: for if righteousness comes by the Torah, then Messiah's death was useless! AGI
Witness 3. The Torah is good and just! However right standing with G-d only comes from the Living Torah, which is Spirit and not the letter of the Law, which was written on tables of stone. The second Covenant is higher then the first because its on our hearts.
Galatians 3:17-29[17] My point is this: the judicial part of Torah (G-d's teaching, guidance, and instruction), which came (through Moses) 430 years later, does not annul a Covenant previously ratified by G-d, so as to nullify the Promise.
[18] For if the inheritance comes from the Torah (G-d's teaching, guidance and instruction) given to Moses, it no longer comes from the Promise; but Elohim granted it to Avraham through the Promise.
[19] Why then was the legal part of Torah ((G-d's teaching, guidance and instruction)given to Moses? It was given because of transgressions until the Seed, the rightful offspring, would come to whom the Promise had been made; furthermore, it was handed down through messengers (angels) and a mediator.
[20] Now a mediator involves more than one party; but Elohim (G-d) is Echad (One).
[21] Is the Torah (G-d's teaching, guidance and instruction) given to Moses opposed to the Promises of G-d? Absolutely not; may it never be! For if a teaching (torah) had been given that could "give life," then right standing would indeed have come through the Torah (G-d's teaching, guidance and instruction) given to Moses.
[22] But the Scripture has concluded, really imprisoned, ALL things placed beneath the power of sin, so that what was Promised through "trusting faith" in Yeshua Messiah, might be freely given to those who have trusted.
[23] Now before "trusting faith" came, we were guarded by the Torah (G-d's teaching, guidance and instruction) given to Moses until "trusting faith" would be revealed.
[24] Therefore the Torah (G-d's teaching, guidance and instruction) given to Moses was our tutor, our custodian until the Messiah came, so that we might be justified by "trusting faith."
[25] But now that "Trusting Faith" has appeared, we are no longer under that tutor, that custodian,
[26] for in "Messiah Yeshua" you are all children of Elohim through (your) "trusting faith."
[27] For as many of you who were immersed (baptized) into the Messiah, have clothed yourselves with the Messiah.
[28] There is no longer Jew or Gentile; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for "ALL" of you are "Echad" (One) in Messiah Yeshua,
[29] and if you belong to the Messiah, then you ARE Avraham's descendants, heirs according to the Promise. -- HMI
17 And this I say, that the Covenant that was confirmed before of G-d in Messiah, the Torah, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot render void that it should make the Promise of none purpose.
18 For if the inheritance be of the Torah, it is no more of Promise: but G-d gave it to Abraham by Promise (Oath).
19 Then what service is the Torah? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the Promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but G-d is One (Echad).
21 Is the Torah then against the Promises of G-d? Heaven forbid: for if there had been a Torah given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the Torah.
22 But the Scripture has concluded all are under sin, that the Promise by faith of Yeshua Messiah might be given to them that Believe.
23 But before Faith (a name for Messiah) came, we were kept underneath the Torah, shut up to the Faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the Torah was our instructor to bring us to Messiah, that we might be justified by Faith (Messiah).
25 But after that Faith (Messiah) is come, we are no longer underneath that instructor.
26 For you are all the children of G-d by reliance in Messiah Yeshua.
27 For as many of you as have been immersed into Messiah, you have put on Messiah the Torah.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all One (EchaD) in Messiah Yeshua. (This is a Spiritual thing spoken of here.)
29 And if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham's descendants and inheritors, heirs according to the Promise. -- AGI
Witness 4. What we have is a New Covenant Teacher, i.e., Yeshua Messiah. We do that which Yeshua CODIFIED for us in both the Hebrew and New Covenant Scriptures. He is the Way (the walk), the Truth (the Word made flesh), and the Life (the Resurrection). He is G-d! Those are not my words, but those of Yeshua: Yeshua said to him (Thomas), "I am the Way (the Door by which sinful mankind may enter), the Truth (God's Living Word working for you), and the Life: and no one comes to my Father in Heaven except by my doing because I am the great go-between for mankind, and I make supplication, intercession and prayers for all who love God and are called. If you had known Me, you should have known My Father also: and from this time forth you know (yada, a most intimate term in Hebrew) Him, and have seen Him." John 14:6-7. -- HMIYeshua is telling us very clearly that He is G-d, that He and the Father are One. Yes, this is a great mystery in His Word, yet it is very plain. Can you see it? Can you hear Yeshua's cry? I can!
This is the TRUTH, now pray about it and ask yourself these questions? Do I, who call myself a Messianic Believer or a Christian, want to be judged by the Torah of Mt. Sinai, or do I want the Living Torah Messiah Yeshua, a life-giving Spirit, to judge me? I chose the second! This second Covenant, the one spoken of in the seed of the Father (Moab) is the Covenant with the Promise that a new heart would be given to Israel by the L-RD Himself. This Covenant is for all; to the Jew first and then the Greek (Nations).