The Torah Revealed is a commentary series that explains how the back half of the Bible is really a renewal of the
promises made in the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. The Hebrew phrase “Brit Chadasha,” often translated “New
Testament,” literally means “renewed covenant.” The New Testament is a recounting, or a repetition, that reveals the
glorious promises and precepts of the Torah portions. By reading through both sections of Scripture you can
learn the truth of YHWH’s word and all that is hidden in Messiah Y’shua.
Parasha Tetzaveh
By Daniel Rendelman of Emet Ministries
Many years ago, Thomas Edison was working on a crazy contraption called a "light bulb" and it
took a whole team of men 24 straight hours to put just one together. The story goes that when
Edison was finished with one light bulb, he gave it to a young boy helper, who nervously carried it up
the stairs. Step by step he cautiously watched his hands, obviously frightened of dropping such a
priceless piece of work. You've probably guessed what happened by now; the poor young fellow
dropped the bulb at the top of the stairs. It took the entire team of men twenty-four more hours to
make another bulb. Finally, tired and ready for a break, Edison was ready to have his bulb carried up
the stairs. He gave it to the same young boy who dropped the first one. That's a true second
chance.
One message from the Torah portion “Tetzaveh” is that YHWH is loving and longs to give us
opportunities to experience the best in life. YHWH is all about second chances. Adam might have
been kicked out of the garden but he still lived a very long life. The flood didn't destroy humanity or
the antelope. Moses was chosen as the redeemer even after he killed someone in cold-blood. The
tabernacle was provided for Israel though it would later be captured, desecrated, and forgotten.
Our weekly reading appoints Aharon and His sons as priests over the set apart tabernacle.
Don't skip over the significance of this. Notice the names the Torah records…“have Aharon your
brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and
Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests,” Exodus / Shemot 28:1. The next chapter of Shemot goes
into even more details of the consecration and ordination of Aharon and his boys. How special they
must have felt to be chosen to serve before the very Creator of the Universe in the mishkan of
YHWH. How awesome it must have been to fashion the holy garments, grind the olive oil, and craft
the furnishings of the tabernacle. Surely anyone involved in such preparation and worship would be
sold out to YHWH and committed to obedience?
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Well, its not much later in Torah that the sons of Aharon find themselves deep in trouble.
“Now Aharon’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and
they offered before YHWH strange alien fire, which He had not commanded them. And fire came
forth from YHWH and consumed them; thus they died at the instance of YHWH,” Leviticus / Vayikra
10:1-2. One day Aharon’s sons are the prime example of priesthood and sometime later they are
just a memory. Why would YHWH choose them to serve Him and then fry them for not doing it
right?
In the Newer Testament a similar event occurs. Messiah chooses His disciples from the
humblest of places. Ordinary fishermen become emissaries of the Most High. Peter, or "Kefa" in
Hebrew, is handpicked from the population of the entire world, much like Aharon and his sons. And
like Aharon's kids, Kefa will mess things up. “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A
servant approached him and she said, “You were with Y’shua the Galilean too.” But he denied it in
front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” When he had gone out to the gateway,
another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Y’shua the Nazarene!”
And again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” After a little while those standing there
approached and said to Kefa, “You certainly are one of them, since even your accent gives you
away.” Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man!” Immediately a
rooster crowed, and Kefa remembered the words Y’shua had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you
will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly,” Matthew / Mattit’yahu 26:69-74.
The similarities between Kefa and Abihu end here. Peter isn't struck dead for his sins. Unlike
Nadav and Abihu who were killed immediately, this disciple lives to face another day. Why? What is
so different between Peter and Moshe's nephews? The Sages of Judaism have taught us that Nadav
and Abihu’s sin was deeper than just a mistake at a religious rite. They weren’t struck dead because
they simply slipped at their duties. We are told that Nadav and Abihu acted in utter disregard for
YHWH. Normally the Almighty would ignite the altar fire, which marked His divine acceptance of the
priest’s offering. When the brothers offered the strange fire they attempted to take control from
YHWH and exalt their own efforts and agenda. In essence they were doing the right things (temple
worship) but they were doing them the wrong ways and with the wrong motives.
Kefa messed up many times, but His heart was pliable and soft towards YHWH’s will. His
heart was set towards YHWH and therefore forgiven and given future chances to change. His
motives were pure. YHWH gave him second, third, fourth and countless opportunities to learn from
his mistakes and alter his behavior. He does the same for us. We have been given much grace to
do soul correction and seek YHWH. Job 33:29 says, “YHWH gives each of us chance after chance.”
The Kefa seen within the first few chapters in the book of Acts is different than the one who
denied Y’shua. He learned from his errors. No longer is he the unstable or sinful disciple. By the
Holy Spirit’s work Kefa has been transformed into a rock. At Shavuot / Pentecost he raises his voice
and presents the good news of salvation in a fascinating manner. All of his second chances finally
paid off. “But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Men of
Judah and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words.
For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning…Men of Israel,
listen to these words: This Y’shua the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by Elohim with
miracles, wonders, and signs that YHWH did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know.
Though He was delivered up according to YHWH’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used
lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. YHWH raised Him up, ending the pains of
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death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it… “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be
baptized, each of you, in the name of Messiah Y’shua for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who
are far off, as many as YHWH will call.” And with many other words he testified and strongly urged
them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”
Peter isn’t the only person who learned from his mistakes and tried again. Throughout the
pages of the Bible you can read of many do-overs. Jonah 3:1 says that “the word of YHWH came to
Jonah the second time, saying..” The prophet didn’t listen the first time but YHWH didn’t give up on
him. The same is true with King David who sinned by lusting after Bathsheba and then plotted to
have her husband killed so he could take her as a bride. When convicted of His sin the King said to
Nathan the prophet, “I have sinned against YHWH.” Then Nathan said to David, “YHWH also has put
away your sin; you shall not die.” The Almighty gave these guys occasions to repent because their
character was correct, even though their actions didn’t always match. Just think about Sha’ul of
Tarsus who persecuted the first believers. Paul / Sha’ul was zealous against Y’shua until YHWH
forgave him and used him to take the good news throughout the known world. YHWH’s ability and
even uncanny desire to forgive and forget is to His glory. It’s how he rescues us from sin and self.
The Torah even records how YHWH gave a second Passover for those who are unclean or
unavailable to keep the first Pesach. YHWH loves second chances! “I, even I, am He who blots out
your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins,” Isaiah 43:25.
Perhaps the difference between Kefa and Nadav, the difference between the righteous and the
unrighteous, is the purity of heart. Those who seek peace and desire to abide with YHWH, will
certainly fall but will learn from their ways. Failure is only failure though if we don’t learn from what
happened. Proverbs 24:16 says, “for a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But
the wicked are overthrown by calamity.” Because YHWH is an elohim of second chances we too
must forgive and love others. We are to offer others the same grace that we receive from above;
the same grace Y’shua showed Kefa. “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Master, how often will
my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Y’shua said to him, “I do
not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven,” Matthew 18:21-22.
In His eternal foreknowledge YHWH understood the tabernacle would only suffice Israel for a
short time, yet He still gave them His dwelling place. He knew what Nadav and Abihu would do and
yet he chose them anyway. YHWH was aware that hundreds of years later the tabernacle’s beautiful
menorah would be damaged and the holy place vandalized by Antiochus Epiphanies, but He still
blessed Israel with the Tent of Meeting. This is grace in action and a great illustration of YHWH’s
forgiving spirit (even better than what Edison did with the first light bulb.) YHWH is all about the
second chance. Are you?
For more teachings from this author visit www.emetministries.org
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