When YHWH Keeps You (Numbers 24)

The verse on my mind is from Numbers 24:11. It occurs during the story of Balaam and Balak. The talking donkey has a tendency to overshadow the rest of the story, but I think this retort of Balak after he had hired Balaam to curse Israel and that kept not happening speaks a lot. Balaam was essentially trying out for an important position in Balak's world. A big paycheck, an impressive job title, fame, and gratitude and respect from Balak's people were all his if this tryout went well. But what Balak hired Balaam for was not happening. He was essentially fired with this statement:

"I sought to promote you to honor; but YHWH has kept you back from honor." -Numbers 24:11

Most of us have probably at one time or another endured a disappointment and blamed it on YHWH. Maybe that was getting passed over for a promotion, a lower than hoped for test score, relationship hurts, or an unsuccessful business. And when that happens we wonder, "Why didn't YHWH ______?" 

Or how about being frustrated feeling like resting on the Sabbath 'limits' us or holds us back? I've had to turn down job opportunities because they wanted me to work on the Sabbath. And plenty of times I've skipped friend get-togethers, bridal showers, and events because they landed on Shabbat. While that can be disappointing, the choice is ours to choose to say that YHWH is keeping us back from opportunities or fun with friends or to believe that he has something better for us.

To make that choice we need to remember that YHWH doesn't see honor like the world does. Oftentimes what the world calls honor is not at all YHWH's definition of it, and that's why he keeps us out of that. Society says that celebrity and fame are the best things that can happen to someone, and we should stop at nothing to achieve that. But looking at the suicide and divorce rates for celebrities should make us grateful that YHWH has kept us back from that. When YHWH keeps us back, YHWH is keeping us.

Balaam was after the honor and praise of this world. That calls to mind Yahusha's warning about doing things for public praise.

"Beware of doing your kind deeds before men, in order to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in Heaven. So when you do a kind deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do, in the congregations and in the streets, to be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward." -Matthew 6:1-2

Are you doing a good deed so you can impress someone? Then that's the only reward you will get for that. Is getting noticed by others what you are after? Well they might be impressed, but that doesn't mean YHWH will.

We should be so grateful that YHWH often holds us back from honor among men, because it doesn't compare to honor in his eyes! We can deduce from the Messiah's words that if our actions aren't motivated by impressing society, then we have a reward coming to us from him. There may be disappointments when things don't go the way we hope, but Romans 8:28 reminds us that YHWH uses even those unfair circumstances for our good. Be thankful when YHWH keeps you back. They have their reward. We are waiting for ours.

Kosher For Passover Explained

Exodus 12:15 gives additional dietary instructions for Passover and the Feast of Matzah.
"For seven days you are to eat matzah—on the first day remove the leaven from your houses. For whoever eats hametz [leavened bread] from the first to the seventh day is to be cut off from Israel."

This is where the term 'Kosher for Passover' comes from. While it is fine to eat hametz the rest of the year, it is forbidden during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Hametz or chametz is often translated as "leaven" but that is misleading. Yeast should not be eaten during Passover but that's not explicitly what hametz refers to. Hametz refers to grains that have come into contact with water. It is related to chometz, meaning vinegar, and chamutz meaning sour. Meaning fermented grain products should not be consumed during the Feast of Matzah.

What are these grains? Scripture doesn't specify, though wheat is the best guess. I would encourage you to study and pray about the grains to avoid. Traditional Judaism avoids:

Wheat
Barley
Spelt
Oats
Rye

Please note that since it is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, unleavened bread is still perfectly okay to consume! Traditional matzah is made from wheat. You can purchase it Kosher for Passover or make your own.

An interesting hametz product that doesn't immediately jump to mind is vinegar. Vinegar is distilled from wheat that has obviously fermented and become hametz. This makes it's way into lots of condiments that should be avoided during Matzah Week. Unless a vinegar is specified as a wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, consider it hametz.

So what all should be avoided during the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
Bread, croissants, biscuits, etc.
Flour tortillas
Pasta and noodles
Breakfast cereals such as Cheerios, Shredded Wheat, Raisin Bran, etc.
Baked goods with flour such as cookies, muffins, cake, etc.
Beer
Condiments with vinegar such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, salad dressings, salsa, soy sauce, and pickled vegetables.
Barley - soup or risotto
Oats and oatmeal
Spelt products
Rye
Also watch out for oatmeal in soaps and bath products.

If this is your first year keeping Kosher for Passover, this can sound a little overwhelming, but hang in there! There are still plenty of things you can eat.

What can we eat during the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
Matzah/unleavened bread
Any vegetables
Any fruits
Lentils
Beans - black, pinto, Cannelini, kidney, chickpeas, etc.
Potatoes
Winter squash - butternut, acorn, spaghetti, etc.
Any Biblically clean meat or fish
Dairy - yogurt, cheese, milk, butter, sour cream, etc.
Eggs
Corn tortillas
Nuts
Salad dressings made with balsamic or apple cider vinegar
Gluten free soy sauce, called tamari
Ice cream
Desserts like cheesecake, creme brulee, flourless chocolate cake, and macarons

Meal ideas:
Beef or chicken fajitas with corn tortillas, black beans, guacamole, and onions and bell peppers
Stir fried broccoli, carrots, cabbage, peppers, etc. over fried rice with tamari
Baked salmon with roasted butternut squash and spinach salad with balsamic vinaigrette
Scrambled eggs with mushrooms and goat cheese served with matzah
Baked potatoes with broccoli and cheese
Spaghetti squash with marinara sauce
Coconut curried vegetables over lentils
Matzah spread with cream cheese, topped with smoked salmon, arugula, and cucumber slices
Lettuce salad topped with chicken, hard-boiled eggs, nuts, carrots, tomatoes, etc. and salad dressing from apple cider vinegar
Lots of soups: black bean, vegetable, lentil, potato cheese, etc. served with matzah
Fruit smoothies
Apples with peanut butter
Hummus with veggies and matzah
Yogurt with fruit or jam
Trail mix with mixed nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate chips

Here's more than 40 recipes that are Kosher for Passover.

Exodus 12:15-20 explains that the Festival of Matzah is an ongoing instruction that should be celebrated by every generation of YHWH's people. Matzah doesn't have to be the only thing we eat, but it does say that we should eat it so have some each day and make it a central part of the Feast!

Have a wonderful Feast of Unleavened Bread!