Musing – Why does God keep saying “...for My name’s sake.”?

 Hebraic Musing – Why does God keep saying “...for My name’s sake.”?

Have you noticed that many Christians tend to view God through a “What have you done for me lately?” relationship.  That makes me think back to the famous closing line from President Kennedy’s inauguration speech when he said, “And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, but rather ask what can you do for your country.”  If we substitute the word “God” for the word “Country” in that quote, we get an accurate picture of what our relationship should look like with Our Lord God.

Somewhere along our journey with Christ, some have become misaligned in the expectations of the Father.  We have come to a point of seeing all that He does in our experiences as being done for us.  Wrong!  In 83 verses throughout both Testaments in Scripture, we’ll find the attributions of His actions are “...for My name’s sake.”  His name is holy, and Jews today cannot even write it in complete spelling, using “G-d” to indicate His unspeakable, sanctified name.  In truth, the Father does ALL things that benefit us as actions that glorify and please Him!  And, while we are blessed by Him in so many, many ways, His actions are not solely for our pleasure, deliverance or growth.  His actions are performed so that we respond with worship and praise for Him...for His majesty, greatness and unbounded mercy.

Many Scriptures bear out the Lord’s desire for His recognition and praise.   For example:

·      “For my own name's sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to cut you off.” Isaiah 48:9  

·      “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Acts 9:16  

·      “I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.” 1 John 2:12

·      “You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.” Revelation 2:3  

It has been argued by some over the years that the sole reason He created man was to be worshiped and magnified in His glory.  I don’t know if that is true, but it certainly falls into line with His continually doing His work in our world “...for My name’s sake.”

It’s always about Him.  Always!  No exceptions!  Lest the thought come into our consciousness that God is being selfish, we need only to be reminded of John 3:16-17 and the incredible love that the Father expressed in the sacrifice of His only Son.  But why did He make this sacrifice?  Again, it circles back to Him: We have been bought, restored and cleansed to renew our relationship with Him for HIS benefit as well as ours.  He desires our attention, praise and worship.  And living in sin, we could not afford Him that love.  So He saved us through Christ.  Not for us only, but for His pleasure primarily.

We can marvel at the ingenuity of the Father in His transaction with us.  Yes, He sacrificed His Son to death so that we might live.  And in so doing, He defeated the enemy’s hold on us through mortal death and decay.  BUT...the Father truly lost nothing in this transaction.  He did not lose His Son, because He was resurrected from the grave and lives, now seated at His right hand in heaven.  Father lost nothing.  We gained everything.  What came off the Cross was restored along with our correct relationship with the Father again.  But while we received the immeasurable blessing of eternal, problem-free life, God received back His creation in its proper form and place to resume worshiping Him “in Spirit and Truth.”  We were involved, yes.  But we were not the sole motivation in His act of salvation for humanity.  He wanted it for His pleasure.  And what He wants, He gets.  The Jewish “Shema” is prayed three times a day is a statement of what the Lord expects from us.  “Hear, O Israel, the LORD your God is one. Worship Him with all your heart, soul and strength.”

Points to Ponder

Worship Him always and in all ways. 

We serve Him at His pleasure. 

It’s what He expects from us and why He saved us. Let us not forget that.

“He restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” Psalm 23:3 NIV

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                         August 26, 2025
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by and excerpted from a message in John Dexler’s church’s newsletter.

Musing – Is the Holy Spirit our Helper when words fail?

 Hebraic Musing – Is the Holy Spirit our Helper when words fail?

Have you ever felt that you didn’t know how to pray, words were insufficient?   The Lord has provided a solution to this Problem.  “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.” Romans 8:26-27 NIV

Do Prayers fail because we have one of these Problems?

1. Ignorance.  We just ain’t smart enough to solve it.  How well do we know our Bible?

2. Impotence.  Our flesh doesn’t want to cooperate!   As Jesus told Peter - “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 NIV

3. Interference.  Distractions distract us and we find ourselves fighting in the spirit realm.   “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

What are the Solutions?

4. Birthing or Labor pains.  In our struggles we need to be groaning and interceding to birth the solution. 
 “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.” Romans 8:26-27   Therefore we might need to call on a Heavenly Language!

5. Building an edifice.  Just like home building,

  •  “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.” Jude 1:20

  •  “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:4

  •  “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all” 1 Corinth.14:18, a glimpse into Paul’s prayer life!

6. Becoming more like Jesus.  The Holy Spirit is working on us until we “conform” to Romans 8:27,28,29:

  •  “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.” v.27

  •  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” v.28

  •  “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” v.29

Are we in Partnership?

7. Are we in a Supportive Partnership between God, Us, and His precious Holy Spirit?

  •  Who is praying for us?  “Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8:34 

  •  Jesus is praying for us and the Holy Spirit is interceding for us.  “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”  Romans 8:26

  •  Interceding is arguing or intervening for us.  We are co-workers with the Holy Spirit!  Hallelujah!  
And the Holy Spirit speaks with us with the Language of Heaven!  “For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” Ephesians 2:18

Points to Ponder

How powerful is this partnership?

How to get a heavenly language?  ASK     Ask, Seek, Knock.

♫ Spirit of the Living God, Fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me,
      Spirit of the Living God,  Fall afresh on me.. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                           April 29, 2025            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by Bill Wyatt’s 6/24/25 message to New Hope Assembly, “When Words Fail”

Musing – Why does the Bible mention prayer so often?

 Hebraic Musing – Why does the Bible mention prayer so often?

The Bible mentions “Prayer” – 158x in the NKJV; and “Pray” is mentioned 126x, and “Praying” appears 25x.  That’s over 300 specific mentions, so Prayer must be important to Almighty God!   Google claim there are 650 prayers in the Bible.  Our Sunday School class was asked to name from memory some “prayers of the believers” in scripture.  Our SS class quickly and easily rattled off these 27 examples:

Samson’s mom; Mary’s prayer; Hannah; Balaam, Jabez; Isac’s wife to be; Lord’s (or Disciples) Prayer; Rebekah’s prayer; High priestly (John 17); Jesus in the Garden; Hezekiah; Samson; Simeon in Luke 2; Job’s prayer; Thief on the cross; Joshua for sun to stand still; Psalms (almost all of them); Jacob’s stairway to heaven; Abraham’s; John in Revelation; Moses; Jonah in fish & in Ninevah; Intersession for Lot; David’s re God’s promises; Solomon’s dedication; Daniel et al; etc.

Webster’s definition of “Prayer” or “Pray” is “an address (such as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought; (2) a set order of words used in praying; an earnest request or wish”.   Webster’s definition sounds rather sterile considering that praying or prayer involves conversing with our Almighty God and Father, the Creator of the Universe!!!

How important is prayer?  Here are some classic answers to ponder:
1. Develops our Personal Relationship with God;
2. Provides Guidance and Wisdom;
3. Brings Peace and Comfort;
4. Increases Faith and Trust in God;
5. Allows opportunities for intercession for others;
6. Helps resist Temptation;
7. Aligns our will with God’s will.

BUT, as our SS Class processed the role of prayer, it became obvious that prayer needs to be recognized as a conversation with our Almighty Father God.  What a privilege!  Our Almighty God and Father actually wants to hear from us, His children, and He is standing by 24/7 to converse with each of us. 

Is the purpose of our “prayer time” to tell Almighty God what we want, OR should we stop and listen to what Our Father wants to say to us?  I must confess that all too often my prayers, and prayers of others, sound like “Gimme me, Gimme me”!  If God is not ready to give us the answer to our request that we want, might it be because we cannot handle it, or we’re not ready for the answer (yet), or might we be asking amiss?  “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:3 NKJV

Does Almighty God want his children to come to Him for their needs?  And to call on Him for advice or His opinion?  Are we really seeking His answer, or are we wanting Him to give us the answer we want?

What does His Word tell us to do?  “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 1:16-18

Points to Ponder

Was Almighty God thinking of prayer when He gave us two ears and only one mouth?

How do you feel when your children come to you to ask you for your advice?

♫  Put on the garment of praise For the spirit of heaviness. Lift up your voice to God
        Praise with the Spirit And with understanding, Oh magnify the Lord.  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                         August 12, 2025      
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by Corey Corrick’s Sunday School lesson, August 3, 2025

Musing – How is the “Body of Christ” supposed to “Get along”?

 Hebraic Musing – How is the “Body of Christ” supposed to “Get along”?

Last week’s Musing pointed out that we are NOT to try to “get along” with the World; but Scripture has a lot to say to us Christians about “Getting along” with each other. 

How are the members of the “body of Christ” supposed to “get along”?  In 1 Corinthians, Paul depicts the Body of Christ, His Church, in a familiar parable using human body parts to represent types of church members.  “Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.  If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don't need you” 1 Corinthians 12:14-21 NIV   Meanwhile, some members want to rest and don’t want to be involved while others are prideful of their important “job” in the church!  Key point – All the parts of the human body are necessary, they all need to work together; just as the members of the Body of Christ are all necessary and need to work together!

Paul goes on in vs.22-26 “On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

Can some members of the church (Body of Christ) decide to rest and not contribute?  Or, can some members consider themselves so important that they can function without others?  If so, are they really being a part of the “Body of Christ”?  Each member is to fulfill their unique and important function in the “Body”?  Paul is demonstrating through this Word picture that everyone is important in the body of believers.  When Jesus said in Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”, was Jesus speaking to all of us?  Or just the select few who consider themselves “called”?

In Phillipians 2:3-4 Paul set a standard that goes against the grain of human nature.  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”   We are called to have an interdependence on one another in the body of Christ.  Inter-dependence is much more important than independence!

The idea that you can be self-sufficient and not need others is the philosophy of Satan, and exact opposite of God’s plan.  We need each other as God pointed out in Genesis 4:9 “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?’”  By God’s design, we need each other.  In fact, God uses others to sanctify us. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17   We live in the greatest technological age, yet in this day and age we have the loneliest and most isolated generation in American history. 

It’s time for us to heed Apostle Paul’s admonition to be united in deeper fellowship with one another.  If we are going to stand on the Word of God in the battle for truth, then we need others around us to hold us up while we hold the line.

Points to Ponder

What is your gift?  And how is it being used to build His Church?

Is the Church a trophy case for the righteous? Or a hospital for the sick?

Do Christians focus more on their independence than interdependence?

BTW – How and from whom did you hear the truth?  How did you grow?

♫  Go, tell it on the mountain…That Jesus Christ is born.  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          August 5, 2025    2 of 2           
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by Jason Buss’ message “Against the Grain” - Imanuel Baptist on July 20, 2025

Musing – Does God want us to “Get along” with the World?

 Hebraic Musing – Does God want us to “Get along” with the World?

I don’t think so.  What does James 4:4 call us to do?  And what’s the warning?  “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” NIV   What does the world want us to do?  A – Get along, don’t offend, be nice, keep friends, be sweet, don’t talk about religion, be agreeable, don’t disagree, etc.

God is in conflict with the fallen world system; and He is opposed to the fallen and idolatrous desires of the world.  We are in conflict with God when we make friends with the world’s ways.  God calls it adultery.  He wants to be our lover; we are not to be lovers of the fallen world system.  God is jealous for our affections!

The source of the relational conflict is due to a failure to please God as described in verses vs.2&3, before 4:4: “You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”  Ouch, I took some of that personally!

Do we find ourselves trying to be friends of the world system in rebellion against God?  What did Jesus say about serving two masters?  “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Matthew 6:24 NIV   And we will be convicted of compromise by the Holy Spirit living in us.

Corinth was a very worldly city, prospering at the juncture of major trade routes.  Paul needed to confront their “worldliness”!  Thiers was a divided culture rife with spiritual differences; therefore, the Corinthians didn’t see the need for unity or even the benefit of unity.  They struggled with breaking from worldly ideology (Prosperity, wickedness, temple prostitutes, pagan culture, etc.)   Thus they were unwilling to separate from their cultural ideology(s).  They are asking “if we’re free in Christ, how free are we?”  Just like immature, self-centered and selfish Christians of today, they are always concerned with how much freedom they have.  Paul says “You’re asking the wrong question.”  If you are worried about your freedom, you are on the road to disaster!  Peter said “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.” 1 Peter 2:16

We serve a jealous God.  “They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols.” Deut.32:16;  and if we create and worship idols, “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,” Exod.20:5 (just two of many examples of God’s jealousy!)  Many Christians are counting on God’s grace, BUT grace is never received by the proud.  Grace requires humility.  “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6b

James provides us with the remedy to this challenge we all face.  “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:7-10  To humble oneself, practice self-reflection, acknowledge your limitations, and cultivate empathy towards others.

Points to Ponder

I was taught to “get along” in this world by not discussing religion or politics. 
Later I realized, “What else is important?”

What’s the most lovable thing you can do for your unsaved neighbor?

Do Christians need to be ready to separate themselves from culture and worldliness?
Might we need to “go against the grain” sometimes?

To humble oneself –
practice self-reflection, acknowledge your limitations, cultivate empathy towards others.

♫  Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord  And he will lift you up;.  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          July 15, 2025   (Musing 1 of 2)         
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by Jason Buss’ message “Against the Grain” - Imanuel Baptist on July 20, 2025

Musing – What did Jesus send out His Disciples to do?

 Hebraic Musing – What did Jesus send out His Disciples to do?

If we are one of Jesus’ disciples, then what has He told us to do in Luke 9:1-6?  “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,” (And what were they to do with that power and authority?)  “he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”  (How were they to prepare?)  “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.  Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.  If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.”  (And what did His disciples do?)  “…they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.” NIV   The disciples obeyed Jesus and enjoyed a very effective ministry!

Later, at the Last Supper Jesus reminded His disciples of that experience by asking “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?’ ‘Nothing,’  they answered.  (Then Jesus challenged His disciples.)  “He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.  It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”  Luke 22:35-38 (NIV)  Apparently, we are expected to become a discipler like Jesus (who gave his life for being a discipler)!

Acts 1:8 describes another similar encounter.  When Jesus came back but before His ascension to heaven, he spoke to His disciples.  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”   Has the power of the Holy Spirit also been given to each of us?  Was Jesus’ message to His twelve Apostles (Disciples) for them only, or was it also intended for us disciples as well in the 21^st century?

We may find it difficult to “go out” and bear witness these days for fear of losing a friend, but we don’t have to be confrontative, we can just start a conversation.  The biggest limitation to witnessing is that we might be too focused on our worries!  A worrying person can not be an effective witness about Jesus Christ.  If we have faith, we need to let it shine and demonstrate it.  Would you rather see them in Heaven, instead of Hell?  Speak up!

To quote Johanna Hocker’s personal application:   “We are called to bear fruit. There are a variety of fruits and there are a variety of gifts.  In writing this, I have been convicted that in my contacts with people one to one, I have little fruit to show for it, but, I do get positive feedback on my writings, and from my friends. We can’t be too hard on ourselves because we don’t have a certain gift, use the gifts you have, and ask for Yehovah to bless your contact with others and you will be bearing fruit!

What’s the definition of a Disciple?  A - A person who accepts and helps to spread the teachings of another.

In Matthew, what were Jesus’ final words to His disciples?  “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  Matt.28:19-20   Was Jesus also speaking to you and me?

Question: Was Jesus telling us to make believers?  Or did He tell us to “go and make Disciples?

Points to Ponder

Are you a Disciple of Jesus Christ?

How might Jesus’ instructions to His Disciples also apply to us?

Has the Holy Spirit also given us the power to heal and testify?

Q – What is the most important healing people need?   A – Salvation!

♫  Go, tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born.  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          July 22, 2025           
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing – Do the Appointed Feasts match Human Gestation?

 Hebraic Musing – Do the Appointed Feasts match Human Gestation?

It is amazing the way Human Gestation lines up with the Appointed Times specified in Leviticus 23!  And it gives us a beautiful glimpse into another aspect of our God's ingenuity and omniscience.

·      Egg appears on the 14th day of the first month, Passover.  “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD's Passover.” Lev. 23:4-5 NKJV   In the celebration of Passover, during the Seder meal, it is customary for Jews to use an egg on the Passover table symbolizing new life.

·      The egg must be fertilized within 24 hours.  Lev.23:6 “And on the fifteenth day (Next Day!) of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; ….”  

·      Within 2-6 days the egg will attach itself to the wall of the womb and begin to grow. First fruits is observed anywhere from 2-6 days after Passover. Leviticus 23:9-14.  And Exodus 28:19 “The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God.”

·      Embryo has recognizable body parts at 50 days!  On Shavuot the embryo takes on form of a human. That’s Pentecost!  Leviticus 23:15-22 describes the Feast of Weeks in detail.  Here’s vs.16-17 “Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD.  You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the LORD.”

·      After 7 months, the 1st day, hearing is developed, and we celebrate Yom Teruah, day of shouting and the Feast of Trumpets.  Leviticus 23:23-24 “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.’”

·      On the 10th day of the 7th month, the blood hemoglobin changes from that of the mother to a self-sustaining baby; that’s Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement when blood of a sacrificed animal is taken into Holy of Holies.  “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering (Bloody) made by fire to the LORD.  And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God.” Leviticus 23:27-28   We all needed Atonement as soon as we were self-sustaining!?!?  

·      On the 15th day of the 7th month, lungs become fully developed, capable of self sustaining, making it possible for the baby to survive outside the womb.  The Feast of Tabernacles, a seven-day celebration of a truly joyous feast is described in Leviticus 23:33-43.  Here’s vs.41-43. “You shall keep it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month.  You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”  (BTW – In October 2014, Irene and I celebrated the joyous 8-day Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, truly a joyous occasion!)

·      Birth would be on the 10th day of the 9th month.  And eight days later the son is circumcised.  BTW - Circumcision would happen to be on Hanukkah, exactly 9 months and 10 days after Passover.

Points to Ponder

Does this point to “Intelligent Design”?

Did Almighty God have to consult the medical professionals to figure this out?

Do we serve an Omniscient God?

What do you think? 

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Revelation. 22:13

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          July 15, 2025            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”
Note – Inspired by Zola Levitt, Johanna Hocker and numerous other sources.

On Jun 30, 2025, at 4:55 PM, Johanna Hocker <behockers@bevcomm.net> wrote:

It is amazing that Human Gestation lines up with the appointed times of Leviticus 23!

·      Egg appears 14th day of first month, Passover.  Lev. 23:5 “

·      Must be fertilized within 24 hours, Unleavened Bread.  Lev.23:6 “

·      Within 2-6 days the egg will attach itself to the wall of the womb and begins to grow. First fruits is observed anywhere from 2-6 days after Passover. Lev. 23:9-14 “

·      Embryo with recognizable body parts at 50 days! Shavuot, embryo takes on form of a human. That’s Pentecost!  Leviticus 23:15-22 describes the Feast of Weeks.

·      7 months, 1st day, hearing is developed, Yom Teruah, day of shouting and trumpets.  Lev. 23:23-25 “

·      10th day of 7th month, hemoglobin of the blood changes from that of the mother to a self sustaining baby, Yom Kippur, Day of atonement when blood taken into holy of Holies

·      15th day of 7th month, lungs become fully developed, capable of self sustaining, Sukkot, breath of Holy Spirit,

·      Birth on the 10th day of 9th month, 8 days later son is circumcised, on Hanukkah, 9 months and 10 days after Passover.

Gestation and Biblical Feasts―What's the Connection?

The relationship between the human gestation period and the Jewish Feasts of the Lord. Yes, there really is a connection, and it gives us a beautiful glimpse into another aspect of our God's ingenuity and omniscience.

Please know this is not your average “birds and the bees” talk, but rather a completely new perspective about “the making of a baby.” This topic addresses the relationship between the human gestation period and the Jewish Feasts of the Lord!

I’ll begin with the gestation calendar for pregnancy and will show how it parallels the Jewish feast calendar as part of an apparent and intentional plan.

• The egg appears on the 14th day of the first month. While a woman's body prepares for ovulation during her menstrual cycle, the egg needed to help create the child appears. What also happens on the 14th day of the first month of the Jewish calendar is what we know as Passover (Numbers 28:16)! In the celebration of the Passover, during the Seder meal, it is customary for Jews to use an egg on the Passover table as a symbol for new life.

Boom! That right there (as we say in the south) was enough to hook me and get me excited to read further about the correlations between these times of celebration. (It also made me crave cheesy eggs with bacon because I'm 33 weeks pregnant and am in a serious love affair with breakfast food right now.)

• The newly appeared egg MUST be fertilized within 24 hours, or it will pass on. This would fall on the 15th day of the first month and marks the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6)!

Both leavened and unleavened bread were typical in the ancient Near East. Unleavened bread would be made hastily when serving a meal to an unexpected guest due to the speed at which it was prepared. However, the most common use of unleavened bread would, of course, be used for the celebration itself. This feast commemorates the Jewish people fleeing from Egypt. The Feast of Unleavened Bread signifies anxiety and readiness for an awaited new journey and new life promised to us by God.

• Within two to six days, the fertilized egg travels down the tube toward the uterus before it becomes implanted. This reflects the Festival of First Fruits, the spring planting festival which also does not fall on a specific date but occurs and is observed two to six days after Passover!    Exodus 28:19 ““The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God.”

• At 50 days, our little one is developing slowly. Now, we can recognize the new life of having hands, feet, eyes, and legs―fully embracing its beautiful and recognizable form―a  “complete” anatomy, if you will. Most secular doctors would say that this is when the child can be first recognized as “ taking on human form.” This time period marks Pentecost, 50 days after Passover, the day that the Israelites confirmed their covenant as the people of God. It marks the day God gave His Law (Torah) to His people on Mount Sinai. The Jewish people recognizing God’s law was the recognition of the beginning of them as His chosen people.

• Next is what I would consider to be the COOLEST time during a pregnancy. The baby's hearing fully develops at the beginning of the seventh month. It can recognize and become familiar with her parents’ voices and other distinguished sounds (maybe a trumpet, for instance (; ). The Feast of Trumpets occurs at this time!   Numbers 29:1 ‘And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets.”

• In the second week of the seventh month of the baby's development, oxygen is carried throughout the body by the iron-containing protein, “hemoglobin, " found in red blood cells. The baby’s hemoglobin begins changing to become more like that of adult hemoglobin. This change better adapts the baby to live in the outside world, breathing air rather than living in the womb. This time period correlates to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. During this time, each believer would present a sacrifice with blood that was acceptable and mature to atone for their sins.

• On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the lungs fully develop, making it possible for the baby to survive outside the womb. This incredible development corresponds to the date of the Feasts of Tabernacles. This time celebrates a joyous feast remembering the days that God lived with the Jews in the wilderness. During this time, God’s people lived in temporary booths and worshiped in a portable tabernacle. (Just as the womb is a temporary accommodation for the child) The “Tabernacle” is the House of the Spirit. “Spirit” and “breath” come from the same word, whether in Old Testament Hebrew (ruach) or New Testament Greek (pneuma).

• The average gestation period is 280 days. From Passover to Hanukkah is 280 days; this festival symbolizes victory and a new birth of Israel.   Author Bio:  Alyssa Glander  October 13th, 2023