Bread from the Basket: Your Daily Slice

Tammuz 29

Deleted

“‘But the being who does WHATEVER defiantly, whether he is native or a stranger, he reviles יהוה, and that being shall be CUT OFF from among his people. Because he has despised the word of יהוה, and has broken His command, that being shall certainly be CUT OFF, his crookedness is upon him.’ ” (Num 15:30-31 ISR, emphasis mine)

Did y’all know that the word ‘delete’ is not found in the pages of our Scriptures, and I searched through about a half a dozen different translations. The word ‘delete’ means “to strike out or remove (something written or printed); cancel, erase; expunge.”[1] I like Noah Webster’s definition also: “To blot out.”[2] These are definitions that are found within the pages of Elohim’s Word, and it is well worth looking at them.

However, let us look first at the actual explanation of the word itself. When something is deleted or erased, all trace of its presence is gone, as if it never existed in the first place. I have an excellent example of this: I purchased my very first computer back in the early 1990’s. While learning the in’s and out’s, I accidently deleted my entire hard drive, and needless to say, it would no longer function. Period. I ended up taking it to a friend that knew more about computers than I did, and he was able to restore everything, complete with a new operating system, etc. But imagine, if you will, that black screen, with nothing on it. And imagine, if you will, that could possibly be you, or me, if we do not line up with how the Scriptures say we should be.

The Hebrew word that has been translated as ‘cut off’ in our opening verses is the word kârath

(Strong’s H3772), and it also carries an alternative meaning dealing with the cutting of the sacrificial offerings when making a covenant. However, in the majority of its use throughout the Scriptures, it means total annihilation, cut off, and blotted out. Rûm (Strong’s H7311) is the Hebrew word that has been translated as ‘defiantly’ – the KJV uses ‘presumptuously’ – and has to do with self-exaltation, pride and arrogance. When we look again at our opening verses, we can see flashing yellow lights everywhere.

These verses from the book of Numbers deal with transgression, sin, or wrong-doing that was done deliberately; in other words, something (in our opening verse, the word used is ‘whatever’) was done with the full knowledge that the particular action was completely against and violated what has been written down in Torah. It was a deliberate action, knowing that it was wrong. Any individual that continues to engage in this type of activity, without genuine teshuva and tikkun (restitution and restoration), will be kârath, or cut off.

We have recounted for us in the book of Daniel the story of a ruler who ate grass like an animal, but many of us have never really looked closely at the ‘rest of the story’. We learn, in Dan 4:2-3, that Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar acknowledged YHWH as Elohim; however, his pride and arrogance revealed itself in an attitude of “look what Elohim has done for me.” The sovereign was given a dream as a word of warning, and the dream did disturb him greatly. Daniel was able to interpret the dream, and counselled Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar to turn away from all of his wrong doing (see 4:27), or suffer the consequences. Twelve months later, the sovereign was still as he had been, and the Word from YHWH was “executed” (see 4:32). Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar was reduced to eating grass like a cow, and was effectively “cut off” for his transgressions. It was after the season had been fulfilled that Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar was restored to his right mind, at which time he acknowledged Elohim for who and what He is (see 4:34-37).

It is a universal law: for every cause, there is an effect. Elohim said it: “whatever a man sows, that he shall also reap” (Gal 6:7), and He “shall render to each one according to his works” (Rom 2:6). Brethren, we cannot, we must not, continue to live in the realm of self-rule while calling ourselves Torah observant. The two are not compatible. We cannot willfully transgress the dictates of Torah, and respond that “Elohim is love; He knows my heart.” Yes, our Father is a God of love, but He is also an Elohim of justice. If we do not turn, do teshuvah, (and tikkum, if it is required), then the ‘Word must be executed’. We will find ourselves kârath, cut off, and deleted.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’” (Mat 7:21-23 ISR)