Consecration

This week's Torah Portion, Tzav צַו (Command), based on Leviticus 6:1-8:36, focuses on the consecration of Aaron and his sons before they are allowed to enter the tent of meeting to serve Adonai. Giving Aaron the title of High Priest and his sons, Nadav, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar the title of Priests was not sufficient. They had to set themselves apart, or become holy, before they could enter God's presence in the tabernacle. These chapters cover all the intricate things done to accomplish this goal. A similar and modern ritual to accomplish this today is called Hannukah חֲנֻכָּה or the Feast of Dedication. It mirrors this ritual in many ways including the duration which is exactly 8 days.

Hannukah comes from the Hebrew word Hanak חָנַךְ and it means dedication. That is the same word on this famous and often misunderstood verse:

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

The word translated here as "train up" comes from the same root Hanak and it means "dedicate" so another proper translation would be "Dedicate a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." If this statement is true, then how come we are seeing record numbers of children reaching adulthood and abandoning the faith? That is the part where this verse is "misunderstood". We think of dedication as a one time act, but in Hebrew, Hanak means a continuous dedication. It means that we need to involve our children in the things of God continuously as it is instructed after the Shemah prayer:

"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:6-9

This type of dedication is done throughout ones life and is to be included in the most mundane daily tasks. It should flood our vision and lifestyle and if done correctly the child "will not depart from it."

It also illustrates a fundemental lesson that answers another mystery of life: why do we need a "Millenial Kingdom" of Christ on earth? If we have been saved and became new creatures, then why not just disappear after accepting Christ and showing up in heaven and eternity? A friend of mine who I respect and enjoy sharing conversations with often, Doug, often says this when we talk about salvation, "if being saved is all we needed, then after you give your life to Christ the best thing I can do for you is to kill you. That way you are guaranteed to enter heaven", he says with a smile that only he can pull off. Then he adds, "but that is not God's plan. His plan is for us to remain on earth and learn from each other and help others reach that same 'salvation'".

Wise words indeed. I agree with Doug in this statement. God saves us, but after salvation we enter the phase of "dedication" or the phase of knowing God and His rules so that when we enter heaven we will do so without sin. God and sin cannot co-exist. That is why Jesus will establish His kingdom on earth and teach us the pure Word of God that is without corruption form mankind and our traditions. Only then, after we spend another thousand years practicing and being fully dedicated we can enter the Holy of Holies into God's presence for all eternity. Remember how I began this blog? I made these statements, "Giving Aaron the title of High Priest and his sons, Nadav, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar the title of Priests was not sufficient. They had to set themselves apart, or become holy, before they could enter God's presence in the tabernacle." The same is said of each of us. Giving ourselves the title "Christian" is not enough. We need to set ourselves apart and become holy before we could enter God's presence in eternity.

The number 8 in both rituals is also significant. It represents eternity and only in the 8th day of this process they are ready to enter the tabernacle. Similarly, only on the eight millenial will humanity, the ones who followed the consecration process, will be ready to enter eternity with God. In scripture, NOTHING is arbitrary. His Word is perfect and complete.

What do you think God meant when He commanded us to be Holy? If He commanded it, it is possible.

"Be holy for I am holy" is a command God gives us over and over again. It is echoed in Leviticus 11:44, 11:45, 19:2, 20:7, and 1 Peter 1:16. God never gives us a command we cannot fulfill. It will take time (about 1 thousand years as estimated by His Kingdom, but with the help of Jesus' atonement and the Holy Spirit we will achieve it). I'm not talking about salvation, but about consecration.

This week, I challenge you to think about what this word means to you in our modern society and how you can set yourself apart from the rest of the world as you try to get closer and closer to your Creator. I love you all. Shalom VeShavuah Tov.