This will be a difficult one for me. Many of the people on the earth today either do not believe in their actions as sin or think all you should need to say is “I’m Sorry” with a pretended truth to the words.
There are those that have faith that on their death bed, no matter how bad, if they just ask for forgivness, it will be fixed and they will go to heaven(where ever heaven is.) so “keep on keepin’ on”. As it has been said in many forms.
Is that right? Is that Justice? No matter how bad you have been, an “I’m Sorry” is atonement? How about those that beat their chest, while reciting sins which they did not do or which are not actually a sin. (Sin being defined as breaking a Law of THE ALMIGHTY, Written by the Hand of Moses.)
On human terms I think Newton’s First and Third observed laws would apply to sin.
Let’s see.
Newton’s First Law: I. Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.
Newton’s Third Law: III. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/newton3laws.html
So imagine, if you can, standing beside a large body of water. The water is calm with a surface like a mirror, perfectly smooth. Now with this as a image, you pick up a stone at your feet, and toss it into the water. Waves form and make more waves, the rock falls to the bottom and lies still. The actions on the surface will take for what seems to be a long time before it appears to have calmed down to return to the original state. The actions under the surface will continue for a longer time yet. If this is the effect of a simple toss, what reactions would take place if you had skipped the stone instead of just tossing it.
This seems a great example of sinning. In simple terms, GOD can forgive the sin or forget the stone, and yet your sin has an effect on this world. Depending upon the sin, it could be permanent or lasting only three or four generations. “Exodus 20:4 . . . I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me.” This last statement is about your relationship to GOD, and not this earth.
I follow the Writings of Moses(The what and whys of the LAW) and the other prophets(with warnings and examples of consequences) of the Living GOD of Israel. So what information is published there? What can we learn about, how The ALMIGHTY wants us to deal with our actions.
Genesis 9:4 Only flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. 5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it; and at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made He man. [This seems straight forward/]
Genesis 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner, that is not of thy seed. 13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised; and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covenant.'[In this one, if your parents do not keep this covenant(contract) then you are not in this deal.–CUT OFF FROM THE NATION. There is more to this contract than just being circumcised or not, Genesis 17:. . . . an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee. (HE is my GOD and I am HIS CHILD) To remove your sons from this covenant can have long range ramification for your family.]
I will show you something great, which has effected the descendants for thousands of years. The story of the binding of Isaac. Contrary to most teachings, I know this to be one of only three times Abraham got it right. I will not include the whole story for you to read in my writings here,(Simply click on the Genesis 22 to read the whole story.) but I give a synopsis and what is usually left out. Abraham is given a test by GOD, in that Abraham is told to take his son Isaac and to sacrifice him in a place GOD will show Abraham. Isaac is not sacrificed and GOD gives a ram for the offering, fulfilling what Abraham told Isaac while on the way.
This is where most telling and acknowledgement stops. But, in: Genesis 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: ‘By Myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, 17 that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast hearkened to My voice.’ I made bold and italicized this last, because it is where we see the blessing pass to Isaac(Thy Seed, remember “only son”) because Abraham did what GOD said to do without question. That blessing and all prior blessings still in effect today even as it was on the day they were pronounced.
So how do you make something right, where you have wronged another person(s). These are in the Written Law by the Hand of Moses. This is a great reason to know the Written Law, so that you understand how to make amends for your actions.
These are examples of possessions:
Exodus 21:37 If a man steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it, he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
Exodus 22:4 If a man cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall let his beast loose, and it feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
Exodus 22:6 If a man deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, he shall pay double.
7 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto God, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods.
8 For every matter of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, whereof one saith: ‘This is it,’ the cause of both parties shall come before God; he whom God shall condemn shall pay double unto his neighbour.
Examples of your actions:
Exodus 22:15 And if a man entice a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife. 16 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
Making distinctions about a death.
Exodus 21:12 He that smiteth a man, so that he dieth, shall surely be put to death.
13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God cause it to come to hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he may flee. (man slaughter)
14 And if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from Mine altar, that he may die.(There is no safe haven.)
Stealing someone’s life:
Exodus 21:16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
Injury due to fighting but not death. Responsible for outcome, and then atonement(correcting).
Exodus 21:18 And if men contend, and one smite the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keep his bed;
19 if he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.
Exodus 21:33 And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein, 34 the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money unto the owner of them, and the dead beast shall be his.
(You can extend this to a person instead of an animal and then you end up with some one’s life and death issues.)
Okay, last examples for this writing.
What happens when you do a kindness even to an enemy?
Exodus 23:4 If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
Exodus 23:5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under its burden, thou shalt forbear to pass by him; thou shalt surely release it with him.
In these two commandments, we are given the opportunity to do something seemingly for the animal and yet a direct kindness to your enemy, which may present an opportunity to heal a breach in the community, just by keeping the law.
All of the Exodus quotes are part of the LAW or Covenant sealed in Exodus 24 by Moses between US and The ALMIGHTY, sealed in blood. So these are not little examples given the LORD’S view on BLOOD, in the Written Torah.
Atonement! The word is used in the Tanakh(Old Testament) a total of 34 times. Only five times outside of the Writings of Moses.
Exodus 29:[ The High Priest Aaron and his sons: 33 And they shall eat those things wherewith atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them; but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy.](The things which are to be eaten are holy to GOD.)
Exodus 30: 14 Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the offering of the LORD.
15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when they give the offering of the LORD, to make atonement for your souls.
16 And thou shalt take the atonement money from the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD, to make atonement for your souls.’
Exodus 32: 30 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people: ‘Ye have sinned a great sin; and now I will go up unto the LORD, peradventure I shall make atonement for your sin.’ [An interesting thing here, after the golden calf event Moses offers himself if the LORD will forgive the peoples sins. GOD REFUSES. So what is it that GOD will not forgive? 33:. . . . ‘Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book.’ It would appear that a direct sin against GOD, atonement cannot be made. ]
I said the Prophets so I will give a couple of references on righteous vs sinner.
I recommend reading each chapter referenced here, for the LORD spends much ink attempting to get us to learn and to return. It really is worthy knowing this information, for the LIFE of your own soul.
Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
22 None of his transgressions that he hath committed shall be remembered against him; for his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD; and not rather that he should return from his ways, and live?
Malachi 3:7 From the days of your fathers ye have turned aside from Mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts
Zechariah 1:3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Return unto Me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.
4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Return ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings; but they did not hear, nor attend unto Me, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 4:1 If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, yea, return unto Me; and if thou wilt put away thy detestable things out of My sight, and wilt not waver.
Jeremiah 25:4 And the LORD hath sent unto you all His servants the prophets, sending them betimes and often–but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear–
5 saying: ‘Return ye now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers, for ever and ever;
6 and go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke Me not with the work of your hands, and I will do you no hurt.’
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the man of iniquity his thoughts; and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have compassion upon him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
This is only a few of the many in the Prophets. Moses also declares these things throughout the Written Torah.
Is anyone listening? You still have breath and life, you can return and repair your deeds. You just need to Do It while you have time.
I can not save you, no one can., you must Return and do that which is Right.
I can show you the way, if you want to know.
IT is to our benefit to HEARKEN until the LIVING GOD OF ISHRAEL/ISRAEL, and to our pain and shame to do otherwise.
My prayer is that The LORD grant you eyes that see, ears that hear and an understanding heart, then you return unto HIM soon!(Isaiah 6: 9 And He said: ‘Go, and tell this people: hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they, seeing with their eyes, and hearing with their ears, and understanding with their heart, return, and be healed.’)
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Shalom,
Yaakov