All posts by John (HFJ Director)

Sloth / Laziness, Unteachable / Foolish, Wise

Choose Wisdom Over Carelessness (Ecclesiastes 10:16-20)

October 18, 2026 John (HFJ Director) Leave a comment

Are you managing the responsibilities God has given you with wisdom and diligence, or allowing comfort, distraction, and careless decisions to undermine what matters?

Key Verse

“Through laziness the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.” — Ecclesiastes 10:18 (NASB)

Background Context

Throughout Ecclesiastes 10, Solomon has been contrasting wisdom and foolishness in everyday life. In verses 1–7, he warned that even a little foolishness can damage a reputation built through years of wisdom. In verses 8–15, he emphasized the importance of preparation, recognizing risks, and using wisdom before acting rather than relying only on effort.

Now, in Ecclesiastes 10:16–20, Solomon turns his attention toward leadership, responsibility, laziness, money, and speech. Although these observations address different situations, they share an important theme: foolishness often reveals itself when people neglect responsibility in favor of personal comfort or immediate pleasure.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 10:16-20

16Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning. 17Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for drunkenness. 18Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks. 19Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything. 20Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 10:16–20:

Solomon begins by contrasting two kinds of leadership. One brings trouble upon a nation because its rulers lack maturity and devote themselves to indulgence. The other brings blessing because its leaders act with dignity, self-control, and proper priorities.

In verse 17, Solomon describes rulers who feast “at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.”

The issue is not that eating, drinking, or enjoying life is inherently wrong. Earlier in Ecclesiastes, Solomon repeatedly encouraged people to receive life’s good gifts with gratitude toward God. The problem arises when pleasure becomes more important than responsibility.

Wise leaders understand that enjoyment has its proper place. They do not allow personal indulgence to interfere with the duties entrusted to them.

That principle applies far beyond government. Parents, employers, ministry leaders, and anyone entrusted with responsibility must decide whether they will prioritize what is right or simply what is enjoyable and convenient.

Solomon then provides a vivid picture of the consequences of neglect: “Through laziness the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.”

A house does not usually collapse because someone neglects one small repair for a single day. Damage often develops gradually. A problem is noticed but ignored. Maintenance is postponed. What could have been addressed early becomes more difficult and costly over time.

The same pattern can appear in our spiritual lives, relationships, finances, and work. Small responsibilities left unattended can eventually become serious problems.

A marriage may suffer because communication is repeatedly neglected. A family may struggle because important conversations are continually postponed. Our relationship with YHWH may weaken when prayer, Scripture, and obedience are repeatedly pushed aside for less important activities.

Proverbs 24:30–34 presents a similar warning through the neglected field of a lazy man. Its broken walls and overgrown condition illustrate how a lack of diligence produces consequences over time.

Wisdom recognizes that faithfulness often involves doing ordinary things consistently, even when they are not exciting or immediately rewarding.

Verse 19 then makes an observation that can be misunderstood: “Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.”

Solomon is not teaching that money literally solves every problem or that wealth should become the center of our lives. That would contradict much of Ecclesiastes, where he has repeatedly shown the limitations of wealth and pleasure.

Instead, the verse reflects the practical role money plays in ordinary life, particularly in a passage discussing rulers, feasting, and the management of responsibilities. Money can accomplish many practical things, but it cannot replace wisdom, righteousness, or a right relationship with God.

A person may have enough money to repair a neglected house, but wealth does not excuse the laziness that allowed it to deteriorate. Likewise, resources cannot make foolish leadership wise or turn careless decisions into righteous ones.

Solomon closes with a warning about speech. He cautions against cursing the king or the rich even in private because words may travel farther than we expect.

His colorful expression about a bird carrying our words reminds us that private conversations do not always remain private. What we say in anger, frustration, or carelessness may eventually reach people we never intended to hear it.

This does not mean we should never identify wrongdoing or speak truthfully about those in authority. Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to confront injustice and speak truth. But there is a difference between responsible correction and careless, bitter, or malicious speech.

James 1:19 encourages believers to be “quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”

That is wisdom we can apply regardless of whether anyone else hears our words.

Taken together, these verses challenge us to consider how we handle the responsibilities YHWH has entrusted to us. Are we disciplined or indulgent? Diligent or neglectful? Careful with our resources or dependent upon money to solve problems our choices have created? Thoughtful in our speech or careless with words?

Wisdom is not demonstrated only through what we know. It is revealed through how we live.

Application

Put responsibility ahead of personal indulgence. Enjoy God’s blessings without allowing comfort or pleasure to displace what He has entrusted to you.
Address small problems before neglect allows them to become larger ones, especially in your relationships, work, and spiritual life.
Use money as a practical resource rather than treating it as the answer to every problem or a substitute for wisdom.
Guard your words, even in private conversations. Speak truthfully and responsibly rather than allowing frustration to lead to careless or destructive speech.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for the wisdom You provide through Your Word. Help me recognize the responsibilities You have entrusted to me and approach them with diligence and self-control. Guard me against laziness, carelessness, and the temptation to choose immediate comfort over what is right. Teach me to use the resources You provide wisely and never place my confidence in money rather than in You. Help me also to guard my speech, speaking truth with humility and restraint. May my daily decisions reflect wisdom that honors You rather than foolishness that brings unnecessary harm. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Faithful, Fear / Reverence for God, Protector / Deliverer, Psalms, Strong in Our Weakness, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Give God the Glory for His Strength (Psalm 68:28–35)

October 17, 2026 John (HFJ Director) Leave a comment

When God works powerfully in our lives, do we give Him the credit, or do we gradually begin to rely on our own strength and accomplishments?

Key Verse

“The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!” — Psalm 68:35 (NASB)

Background Context

Psalm 68 celebrates YHWH as the mighty King who rises against His enemies, protects the vulnerable, leads His people, and carries their burdens. In the earlier sections, David recalled God’s victories and His faithfulness to Israel, calling the people to praise Him for His power and deliverance.

In Psalm 68:28–35, the psalm concludes by looking beyond Israel’s immediate victories. David calls upon YHWH to display His strength, envisions rulers bringing tribute to Jerusalem, and summons the kingdoms of the earth to sing praises to God.

The closing verses remind us that YHWH’s authority extends over every nation and that the strength His people possess ultimately comes from Him.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 68:28-35

28Your God has commanded your strength;
Show Yourself strong, O God, who have acted on our behalf.

29Because of Your temple at Jerusalem
Kings will bring gifts to You.

30Rebuke the beasts in the reeds,
The herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples,
Trampling under foot the pieces of silver;
He has scattered the peoples who delight in war.

31Envoys will come out of Egypt;
Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.

32Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth,
Sing praises to the Lord,

Selah.

33To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times;
Behold, He speaks forth with His voice, a mighty voice.

34Ascribe strength to God;
His majesty is over Israel
And His strength is in the skies.

35O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary.
The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people.
Blessed be God!

Reflection on Psalm 68:28–35:

David begins this final section by calling upon God to demonstrate the strength He has already exercised on behalf of His people. He remembers what YHWH has done and asks Him to continue working with that same power.

This is an important pattern in prayer. Remembering God’s past faithfulness should strengthen our confidence in Him when we face new challenges. David does not assume that yesterday’s victory means Israel can now succeed independently. Instead, he continues looking to YHWH as the source of strength.

We can fall into the opposite pattern. When facing a difficult situation, we may pray earnestly and depend upon God. But after the difficulty passes, we can begin to take credit for the outcome or assume that our own abilities will be sufficient for whatever comes next.

David’s prayer reminds us that dependence upon YHWH is not something we outgrow as we become more experienced or successful.

The psalm then describes kings bringing gifts and nations acknowledging God’s authority. David calls for the rebuke of hostile powers, using the imagery of wild beasts to describe those who delight in conflict and threaten others. His prayer looks toward a world in which human pride and aggression are brought under the authority of YHWH.

There is a broader lesson here about how we view earthly power. Nations may possess armies, wealth, influence, and impressive leaders, but none of these things places them beyond God’s authority. The same is true of individuals. Whatever position, resources, or abilities we possess, they should never become reasons to imagine that we are independent of Him.

David then calls upon the kingdoms of the earth to sing praises to God, describing Him as the One who rides upon the highest heavens and whose voice is mighty.

This is not merely a celebration of Israel’s national strength. David recognizes that YHWH’s glory and authority extend far beyond Israel. The God who delivered His people is worthy of worship from every nation.

That theme appears throughout Scripture. Isaiah 45:22 declares, “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.”

YHWH’s purpose has never been limited to receiving praise from one nation while the rest of the world remains outside His concern. His work through Israel is part of His larger purpose to make Himself known among the nations.

The psalm ends by returning to the relationship between God’s power and His people. David declares that God is awesome from His sanctuary and that He gives strength and power to Israel.

Notice the direction of that relationship. God does not become powerful because His people are strong. His people receive strength because He is powerful.

This should shape both our confidence and our humility.

We can face difficult responsibilities knowing that YHWH is not limited by our weaknesses. At the same time, when He enables us to accomplish something meaningful, we should resist the temptation to take His provision for granted or claim the glory for ourselves.

Paul expresses a similar principle in 2 Corinthians 12:9, where the Lord tells him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

Our limitations do not prevent God from working through us. In fact, recognizing those limitations can help us depend more fully upon Him rather than upon ourselves.

Psalm 68 began with God arising and His enemies being scattered. It ends with the nations called to acknowledge His majesty and His people receiving strength from Him.

Throughout the psalm, the message remains consistent: YHWH is the One who delivers, sustains, protects, and empowers His people.

Our proper response is to trust Him, depend upon Him, and give Him the glory.

Application

Remember YHWH’s past faithfulness when facing new challenges, and continue depending upon Him rather than assuming you can succeed on your own.
Give God the credit for the strength, abilities, opportunities, and victories He provides.
Keep earthly power and influence in perspective, remembering that every nation and ruler remains under YHWH’s authority.
Let your worship extend beyond gratitude for personal blessings to praise for who YHWH is and His authority over all creation.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for being the source of strength and power for Your people. Help me remember Your faithfulness and continue depending upon You, even when life seems to be going well. Guard my heart against pride and the temptation to take credit for what You have enabled me to accomplish. Remind me that every nation and every ruler remains under Your authority, and that You alone are worthy of the highest praise. Strengthen me to serve You faithfully, and may my life bring glory to Your name. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Humility, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Study the Word, Submitted / Servant

Don’t Just Know About God, Seek Him (Matthew 2:1–12)

October 16, 2026 John (HFJ Director) Leave a comment

Is it possible to know what Scripture says about God and still fail to respond to Him? What separates those who merely possess knowledge of God’s Word from those who act upon it?

Key Verse

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And after they came into the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary; and they fell down and worshiped Him.” — Matthew 2:10–11 (NASB)

Background Context

In Matthew 1, we saw how YHWH fulfilled His promises through generations of imperfect people, bringing forth Yeshua, the promised Messiah. We also saw Joseph respond in obedience when an angel revealed that Mary’s child had been conceived through the Holy Spirit. Yeshua was given His name because He would save His people from their sins, and Matthew identified Him as Immanuel, meaning “God with us.”

Now, in Matthew 2:1–12, Yeshua has been born in Bethlehem. Wise men from the east arrive in Jerusalem seeking the one born King of the Jews. Their arrival creates a striking contrast between people who actively seek the Messiah and those who either oppose Him or fail to respond despite knowing what Scripture says.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Matthew 2:1–12

The Visit of the Magi

1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:

6‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH,
ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH;
FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER
WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’”

7Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” 9After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

Reflection on Matthew 2:1–12:

The wise men arrived in Jerusalem asking, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” They had observed a star and understood that something significant had happened. Their response was not simply to discuss what they had seen or speculate about its meaning. They traveled to find the child and worship Him.

We are not told exactly how much these men understood about YHWH or the coming Messiah. They came from outside Israel, yet they were willing to make a significant journey in response to what they had learned.

Their arrival troubled King Herod, who gathered the chief priests and scribes to ask where the Messiah was to be born. The religious leaders knew the answer. They pointed to the prophecy in Micah 5:2, identifying Bethlehem as the place from which the ruler of Israel would come.

Consider the contrast. The religious leaders possessed the Scriptures and knew the prophecy. The wise men had traveled from a distant land seeking the Messiah. Yet Matthew records no effort by the religious leaders to accompany them to Bethlehem.

We should be careful not to assume that every religious leader responded the same way or that none later sought Yeshua. Matthew simply does not describe them taking action here. Nevertheless, the contrast is striking.

Knowing the correct answer about God is not the same as responding to Him.

That distinction remains important today. We can study Scripture, memorize passages, understand prophecy, and participate regularly in worship while allowing that knowledge to have little influence on how we actually live. Biblical knowledge is valuable, but it should lead us toward faith, obedience, and a deeper relationship with YHWH.

James 1:22 warns, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves.”

Herod presents another response entirely. He understood that the birth of a king could threaten his position. Rather than welcoming the Messiah, he secretly questioned the wise men and instructed them to report back after finding the child, claiming that he also wanted to worship Him.

But Herod’s words concealed his true intentions, as the following passage will reveal.

Herod wanted to protect his own authority rather than submit to the King YHWH had sent. His response reminds us that recognizing God’s authority and willingly submitting to it are very different things.

The wise men, meanwhile, continued their journey. When they saw the star, they rejoiced greatly. Upon entering the house, they saw Yeshua with Mary, fell down, and worshiped Him. They also presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Their worship involved more than words. They invested their time and resources, traveled a considerable distance, humbled themselves before the child, and offered valuable gifts.

Their response raises a question for us: How much are we willing to change our plans, invest our time, or surrender our priorities in order to seek and honor YHWH?

It is easy to say that God is important while arranging our lives around everything else. The wise men remind us that genuine worship involves action.

There is one final detail worth noticing. After worshiping Yeshua, the wise men were warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod. They obeyed and departed for their own country by another route.

They had come seeking the Messiah, responded in worship when they found Him, and then followed God’s direction even when it changed their original plans.

Their example is not that we should follow mysterious signs or attempt to reproduce their unusual experience. Rather, it is that we should respond faithfully to the truth YHWH has revealed.

Matthew’s account places three responses before us: Herod resisted the Messiah, the religious leaders knew where He would be born but are not shown seeking Him, and the wise men traveled to find and worship Him.

The question for us is not simply whether we know about Yeshua.

It is whether we are actively seeking Him, submitting to His authority, and responding to what YHWH has revealed.

Application

Do not confuse knowledge of Scripture with obedience to it. Let what you learn about YHWH shape your decisions and priorities.
Examine whether you are genuinely seeking God or merely fitting Him into the parts of your life that are convenient.
Be willing to humble yourself before Yeshua as King rather than resisting His authority when His instructions conflict with your preferences.
Let your worship involve action, including your time, resources, obedience, and willingness to follow God’s direction.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for revealing Yeshua as the promised Messiah and King. Help me not to become satisfied with simply knowing about You while failing to seek You and obey Your Word. Give me the humility of the wise men, who traveled to worship Yeshua and responded when You directed them. Guard my heart against the pride of Herod, who wanted to preserve his own authority rather than submit to Yours. Teach me to make You the center of my life, not merely one priority among many. May my knowledge of Your Word lead to genuine faith, faithful obedience, and worship that honors You. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Faith / Trusting God, Humility, Seeking God, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Keep God’s Light Burning (Exodus 27:9–21)

October 15, 2026 John (HFJ Director) Leave a comment

Are you faithfully tending your relationship with YHWH, or have you allowed other priorities to crowd out the time and attention you give Him?

Key Verse

“You shall command the sons of Israel that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually.” — Exodus 27:20 (NASB)

Background Context

In Exodus 25–26, YHWH gave Moses detailed instructions for the tabernacle, where He would dwell among His people. In Exodus 27:1–8, He described the bronze altar, where sacrifices would be offered before the sanctuary.

Now, in Exodus 27:9–21, YHWH describes the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle, including its boundaries, entrance, and furnishings. He then gives instructions for providing oil to keep the lamp burning in the tent of meeting.

Together, these instructions show that worshiping YHWH involved both approaching Him according to His established pattern and faithfully maintaining what He had entrusted to His people.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 27:9–21

Court of the Tabernacle

9“You shall make the court of the tabernacle. On the south side there shall be hangings for the court of fine twisted linen one hundred cubits long for one side; 10and its pillars shall be twenty, with their twenty sockets of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be of silver. 11“Likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its twenty pillars with their twenty sockets of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be of silver. 12“For the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits with their ten pillars and their ten sockets. 13“The width of the court on the east side shall be fifty cubits. 14“The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits with their three pillars and their three sockets. 15“And for the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits with their three pillars and their three sockets. 16“For the gate of the court there shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver, with their four pillars and their four sockets. 17“All the pillars around the court shall be furnished with silver bands with their hooks of silver and their sockets of bronze. 18“The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits of fine twisted linen, and their sockets of bronze. 19“All the utensils of the tabernacle used in all its service, and all its pegs, and all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze.

20“You shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually. 21“In the tent of meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the LORD; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout their generations for the sons of Israel.

Reflection on Exodus 27:9–21:

YHWH begins by describing the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle. Its dimensions, curtains, pillars, bases, and entrance were all carefully specified. The courtyard established a defined place where Israel could approach the sanctuary, with the bronze altar standing within it.

These boundaries served a purpose. The tabernacle was not an ordinary gathering place, and the presence of YHWH was not something Israel could approach casually or according to personal preference.

Yet the courtyard also provided an entrance. YHWH was not merely establishing barriers to keep His people away. He was providing an orderly way for them to draw near and worship Him.

That balance is important. God is holy and establishes boundaries, but He also desires a relationship with His people. We should not mistake His instructions for unnecessary restrictions, nor should we assume that His desire for relationship gives us freedom to disregard what He has commanded.

The final verses shift attention to something that might seem less significant than the construction of the sanctuary: the regular supply of olive oil for the lamp.

Israel was commanded to bring clear oil from beaten olives so that the lamp could burn continually. Aaron and his sons would tend it from evening until morning before YHWH. This was not simply a suggestion for maintaining the appearance of the tabernacle. It was a continuing responsibility established by God.

The lampstand itself had already been described in Exodus 25. Now YHWH explains how its light would be maintained. A beautifully constructed lampstand would accomplish little if no one supplied the oil or tended its lamps.

There is a useful lesson here about faithfulness.

We sometimes become excited about beginning something for God but pay less attention to the ongoing responsibility of maintaining it. We may establish a habit of prayer, begin studying Scripture regularly, or commit ourselves to serving others. Yet as time passes, competing priorities can gradually crowd out those commitments.

Faithfulness is not demonstrated only in dramatic moments of obedience. It is also revealed through the ordinary, repeated choices that keep our relationship with YHWH at the center of our lives.

The Israelites who supplied the oil were participating in the worship of YHWH, even though their contribution might have seemed ordinary compared with the work of constructing the sanctuary. The priests who tended the lamps were likewise carrying out an important responsibility through regular, consistent service.

This does not mean that the tabernacle lamp should be treated as a direct symbol of our personal devotional habits. Its immediate purpose was to provide light in the holy place according to YHWH’s instructions. But the principle of faithful stewardship applies beyond the tabernacle.

Yeshua later taught in Luke 16:10, “The one who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much.” Our willingness to honor God in ordinary responsibilities matters, even when those responsibilities receive little attention from others.

There is also a connection to the light Yeshua brings. In John 8:12, He declared, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

We do not produce that light through our own efforts. Yeshua is the source. But those who follow Him should continually seek His truth, walk in His ways, and resist allowing the distractions of life to draw them away from Him.

The tabernacle courtyard reminds us that YHWH establishes the way His people are to approach Him. The instructions concerning the lamp remind us that worship also requires ongoing faithfulness.

It is not enough merely to begin well. We should seek to remain faithful in the responsibilities YHWH has given us, day after day.

Application

Approach YHWH with reverence, respecting the boundaries and instructions He has established rather than defining worship according to your own preferences.
Examine whether prayer, Scripture, and obedience remain consistent priorities in your life or have gradually been crowded out.
Be faithful in ordinary responsibilities, recognizing that seemingly small acts of obedience matter to God.
Remember that Yeshua is the Light of the world. Seek His truth and follow Him rather than relying on your own understanding.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for inviting Your people to draw near to You while teaching us to honor Your holiness. Help me respect Your instructions rather than replacing them with my own preferences. Teach me to be faithful not only in significant moments but also in the ordinary responsibilities You have given me. When distractions threaten to draw my attention away from You, help me return to prayer, Your Word, and obedience. Thank You for Yeshua, the Light of the world. May I walk faithfully in His light and honor You each day. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Justice / Judgment, Loving / Kind, Repenting from Sin, Salvation, Seeking God

Come to God on His Terms (Exodus 27:1-8)

October 14, 2026 John (HFJ Director)

What does it take for sinful people to draw near to a holy God? Can we approach Him simply because we desire to, or must we come according to the way He has established?

Key Verse

“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits.” — Exodus 27:1 (NASB)

Background Context

In Exodus 25–26, YHWH gave Moses detailed instructions for constructing the tabernacle, where He would dwell among His people. We studied the ark of the covenant, the table of the bread of the Presence, the golden lampstand, and the curtains and structure that formed the sanctuary. The veil separating the Most Holy Place reminded Israel that access to God’s presence was not something sinful people could take for granted.

Now, in Exodus 27:1–8, YHWH turns His attention to the bronze altar. This altar would stand in the courtyard outside the tabernacle, where sacrifices would be offered before the priests entered the sanctuary.

The placement is significant. As Israel approached the dwelling place of YHWH, the altar would stand before them, reminding them that approaching a holy God required dealing with sin according to His instructions.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 27

The Bronze Altar

1“And you shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. 2“You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze. 3“You shall make its pails for removing its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze. 4“You shall make for it a grating of network of bronze, and on the net you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners. 5“You shall put it beneath, under the ledge of the altar, so that the net will reach halfway up the altar. 6“You shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. 7“Its poles shall be inserted into the rings, so that the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar when it is carried. 8“You shall make it hollow with planks; as it was shown to you in the mountain, so they shall make it.

Reflection on Exodus 27:1–8:

YHWH’s instructions for the bronze altar are remarkably specific. It was to be made of acacia wood, overlaid with bronze, square in shape, and equipped with horns at its four corners. God also specified the utensils used in connection with the sacrifices, the bronze grating, and the poles by which the altar would be carried.

These details remind us of a principle we have encountered repeatedly in the construction of the tabernacle: YHWH determines how He is to be approached and worshiped. Israel was not invited to invent its own altar or establish its own sacrificial practices according to personal preference.

God provided the pattern, and Israel was expected to follow it.

But the altar was more than another carefully constructed piece of tabernacle furniture. It would become the place where sacrifices were offered to YHWH. The instructions for those sacrifices would be developed more fully in Leviticus, including burnt offerings, sin offerings, and other sacrifices associated with worship, atonement, and fellowship with God.

The altar therefore confronted Israel with an uncomfortable truth. YHWH desired to dwell among His people, but His holiness could not be separated from His righteousness. Sin mattered, and approaching Him required more than good intentions.

Leviticus 17:11 later explains, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.”

Notice that YHWH says He had given the blood upon the altar for atonement. The sacrificial system was not something Israel invented to persuade an unwilling God to forgive them. It was a provision established by God Himself.

This is an important distinction. The same God who revealed His holiness also provided a way for His people to approach Him. His requirements were not evidence that He wanted to remain distant. He had already declared His desire to dwell among Israel. But that relationship would be established according to His righteousness rather than through human efforts to redefine what was acceptable.

The bronze altar also helps us better understand the sacrifice of Yeshua.

Hebrews 10:1–14 explains that the sacrifices offered under the earlier system could not ultimately take away sins. Their repetition pointed to the need for something greater. Yeshua offered Himself as the once-for-all sacrifice that accomplished what repeated animal sacrifices could not.

We should be careful not to assign a symbolic meaning to every measurement or construction detail of the altar. Scripture does not require us to interpret every horn, utensil, or dimension as a hidden reference to Yeshua. Yet the larger connection between sacrifice, atonement, and Messiah is clearly established in the New Testament.

The altar reminds us that sin is serious, forgiveness is costly, and reconciliation with YHWH comes through the provision He establishes.

There is also an important application for how we approach God today.

Sometimes people assume that sincerity is enough to make any form of worship or approach to God acceptable. Others emphasize freedom in Messiah in a way that suggests God’s revealed instructions no longer deserve careful attention.

But the tabernacle teaches us something different. Where YHWH has spoken, we should not replace His instruction with our preferences. Nor should we add requirements of our own and treat them as though God commanded them.

We must distinguish between what God has actually required and what people have added or assumed.

Most importantly, we must recognize that we cannot establish our own path to forgiveness. We cannot make ourselves righteous through good intentions, religious activity, or personal effort. We need the redemption YHWH has provided through Yeshua.

Israel had already been delivered from Egypt before these instructions were given. The altar was not a means of earning that deliverance. It was part of learning how a redeemed people should live in relationship with their holy God.

Likewise, our obedience does not purchase salvation. Rather, those who have received God’s grace should respond with faith, reverence, repentance, and a sincere desire to follow His ways.

The bronze altar reminds us that drawing near to YHWH is a tremendous privilege. We should never treat it casually, but neither should we overlook His desire to welcome us through the way He has provided.

Application

Remember that sin is serious before a holy God. Do not minimize the need for repentance and forgiveness.
Approach YHWH through the redemption He has provided in Yeshua rather than trusting in your own goodness or religious efforts.
Honor God’s revealed instructions for worship and obedience rather than substituting personal preferences or assumptions about freedom.
Be thankful that YHWH not only calls His people to holiness but also provides the way for them to draw near to Him.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for desiring to dwell among Your people and for providing a way for sinful people to approach You. Help me never to take Your holiness lightly or minimize the seriousness of sin. Thank You for the sacrifice of Yeshua, through whom You have provided forgiveness and reconciliation. Teach me to approach You with reverence, gratitude, and humility. Keep me from replacing Your instructions with my own preferences, and help me respond to Your grace through faithful obedience. May my worship and my daily life honor You according to the truth You have revealed. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Faith / Trusting God, Guide, Obeying God, Purposeful / Intentional, Submitted / Servant

Obey God Even When His Plan Disrupts Yours (Matthew 1:18-25)

October 13, 2026 John (HFJ Director)

What do you do when following God means accepting a path very different from the one you expected?

Key Verse

“And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife.” — Matthew 1:24 (NASB)

Background Context

Matthew opened his Gospel by identifying Yeshua as “the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” In Matthew 1:1–17, we saw YHWH faithfully carry His promises through generations of imperfect people until the genealogy finally reached Joseph, “the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born.”

That wording was deliberate. Matthew did not say Joseph fathered Yeshua as he had described the preceding generations.

Now in Matthew 1:18–25, Matthew explains why. Before Joseph and Mary came together, Mary was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Joseph initially intended to end their betrothal quietly, but YHWH revealed to him what was actually happening and gave him clear instructions about what he should do.

Joseph then had a choice: continue according to what had seemed reasonable based on the information available to him, or change his plans in response to what God had revealed.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Matthew 1:18-25

Conception and Birth of Jesus

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” 24And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

Reflection on Matthew 1:18–25:

Joseph’s initial decision makes sense from his perspective. Mary was pregnant, Joseph knew the child was not his, and he had no apparent reason to conclude that anything miraculous had happened. Matthew even describes Joseph as a righteous man who did not want to disgrace Mary publicly. He intended to separate from her quietly.

Then YHWH gave Joseph information he could never have discovered on his own.

An angel appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”

God did not condemn Joseph for acting upon the information he previously had. Instead, He revealed truth Joseph did not know. What matters is what Joseph did once God’s direction became clear.

He obeyed.

Joseph could have focused on the potential consequences. What would people think about the timing of Mary’s pregnancy? Would anyone believe their explanation? What would this do to his reputation? This was certainly not the marriage or beginning to family life that Joseph had anticipated.

Yet verse 24 simply tells us that Joseph “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.”

There are times when following YHWH takes us in a direction we never would have chosen for ourselves. Those moments can be particularly difficult because obedience may require us to surrender not only a decision, but also the future we had already pictured in our minds. Our plans may have seemed reasonable and responsible, yet God may lead us somewhere we did not anticipate.

As we repeatedly choose to trust YHWH over our own plans, however, submission can become more natural. Looking back, we may even recognize God’s hand most clearly in those places where the path was obviously not one we would have designed for ourselves. What initially felt like an unwelcome disruption may eventually become one of the clearest places where we can see that God was directing our steps.

Joseph certainly experienced that. What must initially have appeared to be a devastating complication became an invitation to participate in something far greater than anything he could have planned for himself. Joseph and Mary would be entrusted with raising Messiah.

There is an important caution for us, however. An unexpected or unusual path is not automatically evidence that it comes from God. We should not assume that every surprising idea, strong feeling, or change in circumstances is the leading of the Spirit simply because it differs from our plans. Joseph received unmistakable revelation from God. We have God’s revealed Word by which our choices and perceived direction must be tested.

But when YHWH has clearly spoken, Joseph provides a strong example of what faithfulness looks like. Obedience should not depend upon whether God’s instruction fits comfortably within our plans.

Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Joseph had to trust God’s understanding over what his circumstances appeared to tell him.

Yet Joseph’s obedience is not the greatest thing happening in this passage.

The angel tells him to name the child Yeshua—Jesus—”for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew then connects His birth with Isaiah’s prophecy: “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel,” which Matthew explains means, “God with us.”

These two descriptions tell us why His birth matters.

He came to save His people from their sins, and He is Immanuel—God with us.

That is especially meaningful after what we recently studied in Exodus. At the tabernacle, YHWH declared His desire to dwell among His people. Yet the veil also reminded Israel that sin created separation and that sinful humanity could not casually enter the presence of a holy God.

Matthew now introduces Yeshua as “God with us” and tells us that His mission involves dealing directly with the problem of sin.

Joseph did not yet know everything that obedience would require of him. He simply knew what God had told him to do next. Sometimes we want God to explain the entire path before we are willing to take the next step. Joseph reminds us that faithful obedience does not require knowing everything that will happen afterward.

We do not know what YHWH may be doing on the other side of an obedience that presently feels disruptive. When He has clearly spoken, our responsibility is to trust Him enough to follow.

Application

When YHWH’s direction conflicts with the future you had planned, be willing to surrender your plans rather than demanding that God fit within them.
Test perceived spiritual direction against God’s Word rather than assuming that something unusual or unexpected must necessarily come from Him.
When God has clearly spoken, obey what He has revealed without requiring Him to explain every future consequence first.
Look back at times when YHWH redirected your plans and consider whether His hand became clearer because the path was one you would not have chosen yourself.
Remember that Yeshua came not merely to improve our circumstances, but to save His people from sin and bring us into restored relationship with God.

Closing Prayer

Father, help me trust You when Your plans differ from what I expected. When following You requires me to surrender a future I had already pictured for myself, give me humility and courage to submit to Your direction. Give me discernment so that I do not confuse my own desires with the leading of Your Spirit, and help me test what I believe against the truth You have revealed in Your Word. When You have clearly spoken, teach me to obey without requiring You to explain everything that comes next. Thank You for Joseph and Mary’s example of trusting You through an extraordinary change in their plans, and thank You most of all for sending Yeshua to save His people from their sins. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Evidence in Scripture, Grace / Forgiveness, Humility, Intgegrity / Honesty, Repenting from Sin

God’s Word Doesn’t Hide Human Failure (Matthew 1:1-17)

October 12, 2026 John (HFJ Director)

Have you ever considered how unusual it is that the Bible tells us so much about the failures of the very people we might expect it to make look good?

Key Verse

“Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, and Hezron fathered Ram.” — Matthew 1:3 (NASB)

Background Context

Matthew 1:1–17 establishes Yeshua as the Messiah, the son of David and son of Abraham, tracing the family line through generations of Israel’s history. In our previous devotional, we focused on how that genealogy demonstrates YHWH’s faithfulness to His promises despite human failure, national judgment, and the passage of many generations.

But there is another striking feature of Matthew’s genealogy worth considering.

Matthew does not present a carefully polished family history that hides uncomfortable people or events. Instead, he deliberately includes names that remind anyone familiar with Scripture of some very messy stories.

And Matthew is following a pattern found throughout the Bible: Scripture is remarkably candid about the failures of its own people.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Matthew 1:1-17

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah

1The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

2Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. 3Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. 4Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon. 5Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. 6Jesse was the father of David the king.
David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah. 7Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa. 8Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah. 9Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. 10Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah. 11Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

12After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. 13Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor. 14Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud. 15Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. 16Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

Reflection on Matthew 1:1–17:

If someone were creating propaganda to glorify a nation, establish a royal family, or invent an impressive history for a religious leader, we might expect that person to emphasize the heroes and quietly remove the embarrassing parts.

Matthew does not do that.

He specifically mentions Tamar. Anyone familiar with Genesis 38 would remember Judah’s failure to fulfill his responsibility toward her and the sexually immoral circumstances through which Perez and Zerah were conceived. The story does not make Judah look impressive.

Matthew mentions Rahab, whose earlier life as a prostitute in Jericho was already preserved in Scripture. He mentions Ruth, a Moabite rather than an Israelite by birth. Then, when Matthew reaches Israel’s celebrated King David, he does something particularly striking.

He does not simply write that David fathered Solomon.

He says David fathered Solomon “by her who had been the wife of Uriah.”

Matthew could have avoided drawing attention to that episode. Instead, his wording reminds us of it. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then arranged circumstances that led to the death of her husband Uriah. Second Samuel records the entire shameful episode rather than protecting the reputation of Israel’s great king.

This kind of honesty appears throughout Scripture.

Abraham’s failures are recorded even though he is the father of faith. Jacob’s deception is recorded even though Israel bears his name. Moses’ disobedience is recorded even though he led Israel out of Egypt. David’s adultery and Uriah’s death are recorded even though he was Israel’s greatest king. Solomon’s unfaithfulness is recorded despite his extraordinary wisdom. The failures of Israel and Judah are documented repeatedly rather than rewritten to make God’s people appear righteous.

The New Testament continues the same pattern. The disciples misunderstand Yeshua repeatedly. They argue about which of them is greatest. Peter denies Yeshua three times. The disciples abandon Him when He is arrested. Thomas doubts the testimony that Yeshua has risen.

The people through whom these accounts were preserved did not consistently portray themselves as heroes.

We should be careful not to overstate what this proves. The presence of embarrassing or unflattering details does not by itself demonstrate that every statement in Scripture must therefore be historically true. Fictional stories can certainly contain flawed characters.

But the Bible’s consistent candor is meaningful evidence when considering its historical character. Its writers frequently preserve information that would have been easy—and sometimes advantageous—to omit if their primary purpose had been to manufacture flawless heroes, glorify Israel, or create a polished religious legend.

The Bible does not read like a book desperately trying to convince us that God’s people were wonderful.

Quite often, it tells us exactly the opposite.

That is because the ultimate hero of Scripture is not Abraham, Judah, Moses, David, Peter, or any other human being.

It is YHWH.

Their failures do not weaken Scripture’s central message. In many ways, they help reveal it. Human beings repeatedly sin, fail, misunderstand, rebel, and need redemption. YHWH remains faithful, righteous, merciful, and true.

There is also a personal challenge in that honesty. If Scripture does not hide David’s sin, Judah’s failure, Peter’s denial, or Israel’s rebellion, why should we believe spiritual maturity requires pretending that our own failures never happened?

Biblical faith does not require us to rewrite our history so that we look righteous. It requires us to deal truthfully with our sin before God.

David provides a powerful example after his sin was exposed. In Psalm 51:4 he prayed, “Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.” He stopped hiding and agreed with God’s judgment concerning what he had done.

YHWH’s answer to our failure is not pretending it never occurred. He calls us to confession, repentance, forgiveness, and transformation.

That makes Matthew’s genealogy both evidence worth considering and encouragement worth receiving. Yeshua did not enter a family history populated by flawless people. He entered the real human story—filled with sin, brokenness, faith, failure, judgment, mercy, and redemption.

The Bible does not need to hide that truth.

Neither do we.

Application

When reading Scripture, notice its willingness to record the failures of its own heroes rather than assuming the Bible presents them as flawless examples.
Let the Bible’s candor strengthen your confidence that its writers were concerned with preserving truth rather than simply protecting reputations.
Be equally honest with YHWH about your own failures instead of protecting an outward appearance of righteousness.
When you repent, remember that your past does not have to be erased for YHWH to redeem your life and use you for His purposes.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You that Your Word speaks truthfully about human weakness and failure rather than presenting people as better than they really were. Help me approach Scripture honestly and take seriously what You have preserved for us. Give me the same honesty about my own life. Keep me from hiding, excusing, or minimizing my sin simply to protect my reputation. Lead me instead toward confession, repentance, forgiveness, and transformation. Thank You that the failures of people throughout Scripture ultimately point beyond themselves to our need for You and to the redemption You provide through Yeshua. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Faithful, Grace / Forgiveness, Promises

Trust God to Keep His Promises (Matthew 1:1-17)

October 11, 2026 John (HFJ Director)

When God’s promises seem slow in coming, can you trust that He is still working—even when you cannot see how the pieces fit together?

Key Verse

“The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:” — Matthew 1:1 (NASB)

Background Context

Matthew opens his Gospel in a way that modern readers may be tempted to skip: with a genealogy. But for Matthew’s original audience, these names established something important about the identity of Yeshua. He introduces Him immediately as “the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

Those names connect Yeshua with promises YHWH had been carrying forward for generations. God promised Abraham that through his seed the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:18). He later promised David that his kingdom and throne would be established through his descendant (2 Samuel 7:12–16).

Matthew traces the generations from Abraham to David, from David through the Babylonian exile, and from the exile until the birth of Yeshua. What looks at first like a list of names is actually a compressed history of YHWH’s faithfulness.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Matthew 1:1-17

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah

1The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Reflection on Matthew 1:1–17:

Matthew’s genealogy begins with Abraham and moves toward Yeshua, but the path between them is anything but neat. It contains faith and failure, kings and ordinary people, Israelites and foreigners, obedience and terrible sin. There are generations in which God’s promises appear to be advancing and others in which they might appear to be falling apart.

Yet the genealogy keeps moving toward Messiah.

Several of the people Matthew deliberately draws attention to are especially interesting. Tamar’s story involves Judah’s serious failures. Rahab had been a prostitute in Jericho and was not born among Israel, yet she responded in faith to what she had heard about YHWH. Ruth was a Moabite widow who committed herself to Naomi and to YHWH and was eventually redeemed through Boaz. Each became part of the family line Matthew traces toward Yeshua.

Then there is David. Matthew rightly identifies him as “David the king,” but he does not sanitize David’s history. He writes that “David fathered Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.” Behind that short statement is one of the darkest episodes of David’s life—his adultery with Bathsheba and his arrangement of Uriah’s death.

These are not perfect people through whom a perfect plan unfolded. They are flawed people through whom a faithful God continued accomplishing His purposes.

That should encourage us. We can sometimes look at our own history and see primarily the things that went wrong: bad decisions, failures, painful circumstances, family problems, or years that seem wasted. None of those things should be minimized, and sin should never be excused. But Matthew’s genealogy reminds us that human failure does not leave YHWH unable to accomplish His purposes.

The Babylonian exile makes that lesson even stronger. Jerusalem had fallen. The temple had been destroyed. Judah had experienced God’s judgment, and the descendants of David no longer appeared to be ruling from David’s throne. From a human perspective, someone living through that period might reasonably have wondered what had happened to God’s promises.

Matthew puts the exile directly into the genealogy.

The story did not end there.

Generations continued. Some of the names after the exile are barely known to us. They did not all perform famous miracles, lead nations, or become heroes whose stories filled chapters of Scripture. Yet YHWH continued working through generation after generation until Matthew finally arrives at “Jesus who is called the Messiah.”

That is an important perspective when God’s work seems slow. We often measure God’s faithfulness by what happens this week, this year, or within our lifetime. Scripture shows us a God who can carry His purposes faithfully across centuries.

There is also something significant about Matthew tracing this line through Joseph. Matthew will immediately make clear that Joseph was not Yeshua’s biological father. Verse 16 carefully describes Joseph as “the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born.” Yet Joseph’s genealogy establishes Yeshua’s legal place within the Davidic family line. Matthew preserves both truths as he prepares us for the miraculous conception he will describe next.

The genealogy therefore does much more than tell us who Yeshua’s ancestors were. It announces that the arrival of Messiah is not an isolated event. Yeshua stands at the culmination of a story YHWH had been unfolding through Abraham, David, exile, restoration, and generations of imperfect people.

We may not always understand what God is doing in the middle of the story. Abraham could not see David. David could not see the generations after the exile. Those living through the exile could not yet see Yeshua.

But YHWH could see the whole story.

When we cannot see how God’s promises will be fulfilled, Matthew’s opening words remind us that He has been faithful across generations. We can trust Him with ours.

Application

When God’s promises seem slow, remember that His faithfulness is not limited by the timetable you can presently see.
Do not assume your failures or difficult family history leave YHWH unable to redeem what has happened and accomplish His purposes.
Resist judging God’s faithfulness only by your present circumstances; the middle of the story may look very different from its conclusion.
Remember that Yeshua’s coming demonstrates that YHWH keeps His promises even across generations.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness across generations. When I cannot understand what You are doing or Your promises seem slow in coming, help me trust that You see the whole story when I can see only a small part. Thank You for showing through the genealogy of Yeshua that human weakness, failure, and difficult circumstances cannot defeat Your purposes. Help me repent where I have sinned, walk faithfully with You today, and trust You with the results I may not yet see. Thank You for keeping Your promises and for sending Yeshua as the Messiah and Redeemer. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

Father / Yahweh, Obeying God, Purposeful / Intentional, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant

Make God’s Presence the Center of Your Life (Exodus 25-26)

October 10, 2026 John (HFJ Director)

God desired to dwell in the midst of Israel. Is living in His presence truly at the center of your life, or have other things gradually taken that place?

Key Verse

“Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.” — Exodus 25:8 (NASB)

Background Context

In Exodus 19–24, YHWH brought Israel to Mount Sinai, established His covenant with them, gave them His commandments and further instructions for how His redeemed people were to live, and called Moses farther up the mountain.

Then, in Exodus 25–26, the focus shifted toward the tabernacle. YHWH called for willing contributions and gave Moses detailed instructions for the ark and mercy seat, the table of the bread of the Presence, the golden lampstand, the curtains and coverings, the supporting structure, and finally the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

These details all serve a larger purpose. The God who rescued Israel from bondage did not intend merely to give them laws from a distance. He desired to dwell among them. At the same time, the tabernacle taught Israel that having YHWH in their midst required them to recognize His holiness and approach Him according to the way He provided.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 25-26

Reflection on Exodus 25–26:

The most important statement in these two chapters comes near the beginning: “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.” Before we consider the gold, curtains, furniture, measurements, or construction details, we need to understand that purpose. The greatest gift Israel was receiving was not an impressive sanctuary. It was the presence of YHWH among them.

That continues the story Exodus has been telling from the beginning. God heard Israel’s cries in Egypt, remembered His covenant, revealed His name to Moses, demonstrated His power through the plagues, redeemed Israel through the Passover, brought them through the sea, provided for them in the wilderness, and brought them to Himself at Sinai. Redemption was never merely about getting Israel out of Egypt. YHWH was bringing a people into relationship with Himself.

The tabernacle made that relationship visible in the center of Israel’s community.

Each part we have studied contributes something to that larger picture. The people willingly brought materials God had already placed in their hands. The ark contained the testimony of God’s covenant instruction. Above it was the mercy seat, reminding us that the holy God who establishes His standard also provides a way for sinful people to approach Him. The table continually held the bread of the Presence, while the lampstand provided light within the sanctuary. The curtains, coverings, frames, bases, and crossbars demonstrate that even details which might appear unimportant were constructed according to God’s revealed pattern.

Again and again YHWH told Moses what to build and how to build it. Exodus 25:40 summarizes the principle: “See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain.” Moses was not being invited to decide which instructions mattered and which could be changed according to personal preference.

That remains an important lesson for us. We should not add human requirements and pretend God commanded them. But neither should we create an assumption of freedom where God has established restrictions. Where He has clearly spoken, our responsibility is not to redefine His instruction according to what our culture, traditions, or preferences find more acceptable. It is to trust Him enough to obey.

Then Exodus 26 ends with the veil.

That veil introduces an important tension into everything we have just studied. YHWH wanted to dwell among His people, yet the people could not simply walk into the Most Holy Place. God’s presence was near, but access remained restricted because His holiness could not be treated casually and sin could not simply be ignored.

This helps us appreciate the larger biblical story. When Yeshua died, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). Hebrews later explains that through Yeshua’s blood we have confidence to draw near to God by the way He has provided (Hebrews 10:19–22).

The torn veil does not mean God’s holiness ceased to matter. It means God dealt with the problem that prevented us from drawing near.

That brings the message of these chapters directly into our lives. God did not redeem us merely so that we could receive His blessings while continuing to build life around ourselves. He calls us into relationship with Him. His presence should affect our priorities, our worship, our obedience, our use of what He has entrusted to us, and even the parts of our lives that no one else sees.

We can easily become more interested in what God can give us than in God Himself. The tabernacle redirects our attention. The gold was valuable. The craftsmanship was beautiful. The furnishings were significant. But none of those things was the greatest treasure inside Israel’s camp.

YHWH was.

The same should be true for us. The greatest blessing God gives His people is ultimately not prosperity, comfort, success, or even deliverance from difficulty. It is the privilege of knowing Him, drawing near to Him, and living faithfully in His presence.

Application

Make your relationship with YHWH central rather than allowing Him to become one part of a life built primarily around other priorities.
Value God’s presence more than the blessings, provision, or opportunities He gives you.
Follow what God has actually revealed, neither adding human requirements nor creating freedom to disregard boundaries He has established.
Draw near to God through Yeshua with gratitude and reverence, remembering that the access we enjoy was provided at tremendous cost.
Let faithfulness extend into the unseen details of your life, not merely the portions of your faith that others can observe.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You that Your desire has always been more than simply rescuing Your people from trouble. You desire relationship with us and have provided the way for us to draw near to You. Help me make Your presence the center of my life rather than becoming more interested in Your blessings than in You. Teach me to take Your holiness and Your instructions seriously, obeying what You have revealed without adding to it or taking away from it. Thank You for Yeshua and for the access to You that His sacrifice has provided. May the visible and unseen parts of my life reflect that knowing You is my greatest treasure. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Father / Yahweh, Holy, Holy / Set Apart, Humility, Seeking God

Don’t Take God for Granted (Exodus 26:31–37)

October 9, 2026 John (HFJ Director)

Do we recognize what an extraordinary privilege it is to draw near to YHWH, or has access to Him become so familiar that we approach Him casually?

Key Verse

“The veil shall serve for you as a partition between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.” — Exodus 26:33 (NASB)

Background Context

In Exodus 25, YHWH explained that Israel was to build a sanctuary so that He could dwell among them. He gave Moses instructions for the Ark of the Covenant and mercy seat, the table of the bread of the Presence, and the golden lampstand.

In Exodus 26:1–30, God described the curtains, coverings, frames, bases, and crossbars that would form and support the tabernacle. Now, in Exodus 26:31–37, He completes the chapter by describing two additional curtains. A screen marked the entrance into the tabernacle, while a special veil inside separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

Behind that veil would stand the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat. YHWH intended to dwell among Israel, but His presence remained holy, and access to Him was restricted.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 26:31–37

The Veil and Screen

31“You shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. 32“You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, their hooks also being of gold, on four sockets of silver. 33“You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies. 34“You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the holy of holies. 35“You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side.

36“You shall make a screen for the doorway of the tent of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver. 37“You shall make five pillars of acacia for the screen and overlay them with gold, their hooks also being of gold; and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.

Reflection on Exodus 26:31–37:

The veil was beautiful. It was made from blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it. Yet its primary purpose was not decoration. Verse 33 tells us plainly that it divided “the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.”

That separation communicated something Israel needed to understand about YHWH. The God who had rescued them from Egypt genuinely desired to dwell among them, but His desire for relationship did not make His holiness less important. Sinful people could not simply walk into His presence whenever and however they chose.

Later, Leviticus would explain just how restricted access beyond this veil was. The high priest could enter the Most Holy Place only at the appointed time and only according to God’s instructions, bringing sacrificial blood for atonement. The veil therefore stood as a continuing reminder that something still separated sinful humanity from unrestricted access to a holy God.

This is part of what makes the death of Yeshua so remarkable. Matthew records that when Yeshua died, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). What had stood for generations as a barrier before the Most Holy Place was torn apart, and significantly, Scripture describes it as being torn from the top downward.

Hebrews helps us understand the significance. Because of Yeshua’s sacrifice, believers have confidence to enter the holy place “by the blood of Jesus,” through the new and living way He provided (Hebrews 10:19–22). The access that we now enjoy was not created by God simply deciding that holiness and sin no longer mattered. It was made possible at tremendous cost through Yeshua.

That distinction is important. Grace does not mean God lowered His standard until sinful humanity could comfortably approach Him. God provided atonement so that we could be reconciled to Him.

The veil should therefore change how we think about prayer and our relationship with God. We can speak to YHWH anywhere. We do not need to travel to a physical sanctuary or wait for a priest to enter God’s presence on our behalf. Because that access is freely available to us, however, we can begin treating it as though it were ordinary.

Imagine an Israelite standing outside the tabernacle looking toward a place he could never enter. Even the priests serving in the Holy Place could not simply walk through the veil. Yet through Yeshua, we are invited to “draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22).

That should produce confidence, but it should also produce reverence.

There is also an important balance here with a theme we have repeatedly encountered in Exodus. We do not approach God according to whatever way seems meaningful to us. YHWH established the tabernacle, the veil, the priesthood, and the sacrifices according to His instruction. Ultimately, He provided Yeshua as the way through which we are reconciled to Him. Access is God’s gift, provided God’s way.

We should therefore neither stay far away as though Yeshua had not opened the way, nor approach casually as though opening that way cost nothing.

The veil reminds us what separation from God’s presence looked like. Its tearing reminds us what Yeshua accomplished.

Our response should be to draw near—gratefully, confidently, and reverently.

Application

Draw near to YHWH confidently through Yeshua rather than living as though you must somehow make yourself worthy enough to approach Him.
Refuse to treat prayer and access to God’s presence casually; remember the tremendous cost through which that access was provided.
Take God’s holiness and His instructions seriously rather than assuming grace gives us freedom to approach Him on whatever terms we choose.
When you think about the torn veil, let it deepen both your gratitude for Yeshua’s sacrifice and your desire to spend time with God.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for desiring to dwell among Your people and for providing the way for us to draw near to You. Help me understand what an extraordinary privilege it is to come before You in prayer and relationship. Keep me from taking that access for granted or treating Your holiness casually. Thank You for Yeshua, whose sacrifice opened the way that I could never open for myself. Teach me to draw near with confidence, gratitude, obedience, and reverence, valuing the relationship with You that came at such great cost. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Sharing God's word through devotionals and other resources. Helping you study the Bible and apply it to your life. Helping young children to enjoy the Bible at our Kid Zone.

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Sharing God's word through devotionals and other resources. Helping you study the Bible and apply it to your life. Helping young children to enjoy the Bible at our Kid Zone.