It takes a while to sort out scriptural truth from the doctrine and traditions we’ve been taught our entire lives… Even when we learn truth in scripture, the life-long ideas and concepts of church culture are hard to change. Reading scripture and having an academic understanding needs to then translate into a change of how we think and behave.  That transition is difficult…

I’ve been doing a great deal of study regarding the idea of being unequally yoked.  Not just in relationships, as most people tend to think of this term, but also with regard to fellowship. I’ve also been studying the idea of disobedience to the Word, and the consequences of disobedience.

Our general mainstream doctrine has taught us that we are to be seeker-friendly.  I don’t know who coined this phrase, but we don’t find it anywhere in scripture. In Acts, we see there is a minimum commitment required to be “in the fellowship,” with an expectation that Torah will be learned and implemented on a weekly basis.
We are taught the idea that ALL are called and MANY are chosen (and some, like Rob Bell of the emergent church movement, will say ALL are called AND all are chosen), but what does scripture say?

Matthew 22:14
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 7:13-14­
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

OK, we’ve already reached an Ugly Truth.
Am I saying that NOT everyone is called? Am I saying that NOT everyone can be part of the Kingdom of Heaven?
No, I’m not saying it.
Scripture says it.
Is it easy or is it difficult to be in the Kingdom?
Yeshua (Jesus) Himself tells us the path leading to life is difficult.

Am I sure about this?
That seems awful…

Matthew 15:21-26
²¹ Now Yeshua left from there and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² And behold, a Canaanite woman from that district came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, O Master, Ben-David! My daughter is severely tormented by a demon.” ²³ But He did not answer her a word. And when His disciples came, they were urging Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” ²⁴ But He responded, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” ²⁵ So she came and got down on her knees before Him, saying, “Master, help me!” ²⁶ And answering, He said, “It’s not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

We see in this story that Yeshua, our Messiah, has no interest in this woman.
She is a Canaanite.
He would not answer her.
He would not even acknowledge that she existed.
The apostles asked Yeshua to send her away, as she was annoying.
Does that sound seeker-friendly to you?
Yeshua said He came ONLY for the lost sheep of the House of Israel, which apparently, did not include her.
Not my idea or my words, but this is what we actually see in scripture, the very words of our Messiah and the apostles.

How is it possible that the Son of Yehova, our Messiah, our Savior, could ignore this woman?
Well, let’s check scripture…

Genesis 24:1-3 (Abraham speaking to his servant, regarding Isaac)
Now Abraham was old, advanced in years, and Adonai blessed Abraham in everything. ² Then Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household who managed everything that belonged to him, “Now put your hand under my thigh, ³ so that I may make you take an oath by Adonai, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from among the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling.

Genesis 28:1 (Isaac speaking to Jacob)
So Isaac called for Jacob, blessed him, commanded him and said to him, “Don’t take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.”

Why is this precedent set? Why is this so important?

We get the answer in Deuteronomy 7:1-6
“When Adonai your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out many nations before you—the Hittite and the Girgashite and the Amorite, the Canaanite and the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, seven nations more numerous and mightier than you—² and Adonai your God gives them over to you and you strike them down, then you are to utterly destroy them. You are to make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. ³ You are not to intermarry with them—you are not to give your daughter to his son, or take his daughter for your son. ⁴ For he will turn your son away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of Adonai will be kindled against you, and He will swiftly destroy you. ⁵ Instead, you are to deal with them like this: tear down their altars, smash their pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their carved images with fire. ⁶ For you are a holy people to Adonai your God—from all the peoples on the face of the earth, Adonai your God has chosen you to be His treasured people.

Whoa, an angry, hateful, genocidal God of the Old Testament on display???
No.
If you look at the details, we find these people worshiped false and evil gods. Not only was Israel instructed to destroy these un-holy people, they were told to destroy their pagan alters, pillars, Asherah poles, and their carved (graven) images.
These people were identified as being evil, and not part of the Kingdom. These other people groups were known to sacrifice their own children to their gods, as we see in Deuteronomy 12.

Deuteronomy 12:2-3
You must utterly destroy all the places where the nations that you will dispossess served their gods—on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. ³ You are to tear down their altars, smash their pillars, burn their Asherah poles in the fire and cut down the carved images of their gods, and you are to obliterate their name from that place.
Deuteronomy 12:30-31
Do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods? I will do the same.’ ³¹ You are not to act like this toward Adonai your God! For every abomination of Adonai, which He hates, they have done to their gods—they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

Yehova instructed Israel to destroy these people groups so that they themselves would not be corrupted. Israel was instructed to not intermingle with these people, as it would result in their corruption.
As we know from reading scripture, Israel did not obey this command, the Canaanites (and other people groups) lived on, and they intermingled with Israel, resulting in Israel’s destruction, and the scattering of the ten tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel.

Some people are not welcomed by Yehova?  How could this be?  Isn’t ALL of Creation good and holy?
We can go further back in Genesis, nearly to the beginning, to get another hint…
Genesis 3:15
I will put animosity between you and the woman—between your seed and her Seed. He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel.

I don’t know all the fine details of this concept, but it seems there are people groups on the earth that are her Seed, and people groups that are his seed. I’ve heard a number of theories about this, but I don’t buy into all of them…  Some people believe this refers to physical genetics, others believe it refers to a person’s spiritual nature only.
It doesn’t matter, though.
The important idea to come away with is the fact that there are those who are called, and those who are not called, just as Matthew 22:14 alluded to (“For many are called, but few are chosen.”).  

There are people of her Seed (Creation of YHVH), and people of his seed (not the Creation of YHVH).  If that sounds very strange to you, do some research regarding the Nephilim mentioned in Genesis 6:4, Numbers 13, and various other places in scripture (I’m sure you’ve heard of Goliath, right?). The Nephilim lead me to believe the issue is at least partially physical genetics…

I got side tracked with that idea, but let’s get back to the ideas of being unequally yoked and disobedience to the word.
We are given many, many warnings in scripture about disobedience, and what the consequences are of disobedience.

For whatever reason, I tend to write about these warnings more than anything else. Spiritual calling, or personal interest??  Either way, it is what I do, and not everyone likes it.  In fact, some hate it.

Everyone loves the pleasant scriptures, promising blessing and hope and love, and rightfully so. They are wonderful, uplifting promises given to those who are in covenant with Yehova, and who have the testimony of Yeshua.

But — there are many serious and harsh warnings in scripture, and many of these warnings carry severe consequences if we fail to heed those warnings.
I research and write about these things, not out of hatred for others, but out of love for others.
I don’t do it to be discouraging.
I don’t do it to condemn others.
I don’t do it to be legalistic.
I don’t do it to criticize others.

I do it to educate and to encourage, and to keep people I care about from suffering the consequences of these warnings. I don’t do it due to a lack of compassion for others. I do it because of compassion for others.
I am willing to do the difficult things. I am willing to learn about these warnings and communicate them to others who are violating those warnings.
People don’t seem to like that.  In fact, they seem to hate it.
It is much easier to shut my mouth and smile and wave…
But that is not loving. We are to love our neighbor as ourself, and sometimes that includes saying hard things.

For one example, I know people in ‘Torah Observant’ fellowship who do not keep and honor the Sabbath.
Some have jobs that require them to work on the Sabbath. As in every Sabbath, for months and years, with no obvious intention to make any changes.
Others observe the Sabbath in general, but will sometimes go to college football games or the movies, travel on flights, or whatever…  Scripture does not tell us to honor and keep the Sabbath when convenient.  Scripture does not say to honor and keep the Sabbath, unless you have a job that requires you to work Saturdays.
Scripture tells us to fiercely guard the Sabbath.

In Exodus 31:13, we are told to keep the Sabbath.
“Speak now to Bnei-Yisrael saying, ‘Surely you must keep My Shabbatot, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so you may know that I am Adonai who sanctifies you.

The Hebrew word used for ‘keep’ is ‘shamar’.
Does shamar mean to casually observe something, when it is convenient to you? Does shamar mean to eventually observe something, when it fits in better with your life someday?

Here is what Blue Letter Bible gives us for a breakdown on the Hebrew word of shamar:
to keep, have charge of
to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
watch, watchman (participle)
to watch for, wait for
to watch, observe
to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
to keep (within bounds), restrain
to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
to keep, preserve, protect
to keep, reserve

Do you get a better feel for the word and the concept?
We are to keep, guard, protect, watch, treasure, preserve, and celebrate the Sabbath.
Does that give it more significant meaning?
Does that give us a better emphasis on the importance of keeping the Sabbath?

What else do we know from scripture regarding the Sabbath?
Exodus 31:14
14 You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.

Did you catch that?
“Shall surely be put to death”
“Shall be cut of from his people”

The consequences of not keeping and honoring the Sabbath are quite serious.
Death.
Cut off.
Want some of that?
Ummm, no thanks!!

Are there more details in scripture that reveal the importance of the Sabbath?
Again from Exodus 31:13
“…for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations”

The Sabbath is not a random, strange command given in ancient times that has no relevance to our culture today.
It is literally a sign between Yehova and His people.
Do you want to have this sign, or do you want to go without this sign?

What is the function of a sign?
It is to place a label on something.
Signs identify.
Signs provide vital information.

Yeshua says this in Matthew 7:23
“Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’”

Is it possible that Yeshua does not know these people because He cannot recognize their “sign”?  This verse identifies them as being lawless.
The command to keep and honor the Sabbath is given to us in Torah, in what is commonly referred to as ‘the law’.
Is this a scary thought?
If we do not keep and honor the Sabbath, and therefore do not display the sign of Yehova’s people, it may result in Yeshua not knowing us.
This is not a good thing.
This is, in fact, the ultimate of worst things.
What could be any worse, than to be rejected by Messiah?

Do you see how study of scripture indicates some very harsh consequences for disobedience? Do you see how communicating concerns about these warnings is actually loving, as opposed to showing a lack of compassion?
Communication of unpleasant things is born out of compassion and concern and love.
Even though it is difficult to engage people and tell them things they don’t want to hear, it is the loving thing to do.

The Sabbath is just one example of many.
When people study and learn Torah, and proclaim to be “Torah Observant,” but openly reject doing the things of Torah, the consequences will not be good.

Yehova says in Deuteronomy that He places before us life or death, blessing or curse.
It is our decision to choose which one we want. And the evidence of our choice is on display for all to see, through our actions. What we do and what we don’t do.
But it doesn’t matter if it is on display to me or to you…
What matters is how Yehova perceives our lack of obedience.
There are so very many warnings in scripture regarding this idea.

Please remember that if you read my writings and think I’m being negative, take a second to think about it.
Is it loving to share truth and to warn of possible consequences?
Or is it love to smile and keep our mouths shut?

If we care about people, we speak up.
We disciple, we teach, we remind them, we hold them accountable to the Word.
If a warning given out of love is rejected, so be it.
But we have to try.

Please do not consider my thoughts as criticism.
My thoughts, and the scripture I post to support my thoughts, are intended to help.
Maybe it is painful, but sometimes the truth hurts.
And sometimes the truth is ugly.

Let’s end this on a positive note, though…
Back to the Caananite woman that Yeshua would not speak to…
Do you know how that story ends?
She showed great faith before Yeshua.
And how did He respond?
He said, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”
So what do we learn here?
We learn that the uncalled can have faith in Yeshua, and be accepted by Him. No further details are given about this woman, but we see that Yeshua delights in her faith, just as we see with the Roman centurion in Matthew 8.
As harsh as it sounds that there might be “UNCALLED” people in the world, it is awesome to see evidence in scripture that the uncalled can be included, if they have faith.

And this is what is expected of us:
Matthew 22:37
And He said to him, “‘You shall love Adonai your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 

And how do we accomplish this?
Matthew 22:40
⁴⁰ The entire Torah and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

John 14:15
 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Please recognize that my evaluation and discussion of the warnings in scripture are meant to be helpful.
I am not criticizing and hating.
I am snatching loved ones out of the fire, just as Jude tells us to do:

Jude 1:22-23
And have mercy on those who are wavering— ²³ save them by snatching them out of the fire; but on others have mercy with fear—hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Should we accept or reject the input of others, when they are using scripture to look out for our well being?

From Proverbs 5
“How I hated discipline!
How my heart spurned reproof!
¹³ I would not listen to my teacher’s voice
or incline my ear to my instructors.
¹⁴ I was almost in utter ruin amid
the community and congregation.”

Proverbs 6:23
For the law is a lamp, Torah a light,
and corrective discipline the way of life,

Proverbs 9:7-8
Whoever corrects a scoffer is asking for insult.
Whoever reproves a wicked man gets abuse.
⁸ Do not correct a scoffer or he will hate you.
Rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

Proverbs 10:13
Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of one lacking sense.

Proverbs 10:17
One who heeds discipline is on the path of life,
but whoever ignores correction goes astray.

Proverbs 10:21
The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of understanding.

Proverbs 15:10-12
Stern correction awaits one who forsakes the way.
One who hates reproof will die.
¹¹ Sheol and Abaddon are before Adonai—
how much more the hearts of people!
¹² A mocker dislikes one who corrects him;
he will not go to the wise.

Proverbs 15:31-33
One whose ear heeds
a life-giving reproof dwells among the wise.
³² Whoever avoids correction despises himself,
but whoever heeds reproof acquires understanding.
³³ The fear of Adonai is the discipline of wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 24:24-26
Whoever tells the guilty,
“You are innocent,” people curse him and nations revile him.
²⁵ But for those who convict the guilty there will be delight—
good blessing will come upon them.
²⁶ An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

Proverbs 27:5-6
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
⁶ Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
but excessive the kisses of an enemy.