We Hold These Truths...

When I think of Independence Day, I can't help but remember all those brave men in my family who served our country in part because they believed these words from the Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

So what is the meaning of unalienable as pertains to rights given to all people by God?  Here is a definition:

"Unalienable: incapable of being alienated, that is, sold and transferred." Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, page 1523:
You can not surrender, sell or transfer unalienable rights, they are a gift from the Creator to the individual and can not under any circumstances be surrendered or taken. All individuals have unalienable rights.

We take a lot for granted but in many countries slavery, oppression, lack of freedom of religion and free speech rule the day.  Human life is seen as having little or no value and even in THIS country, the rights of the unborn are not fully considered under this protective banner.  Did you know that in the U.S. abortion due to the sex of the child is LEGAL whereas even in China such a practice is restricted?

The point is that GOD ALMIGHTY has given all people such rights and even in the Bible, slavery was highly regulated with people being allowed to go free after a period of 7 years or at the Jubilee Year, whichever came first.  If a slave was injured or otherwise mistreated, they could go free immediately with compensation.
We really can't criticize slavery's presence in the Bible when we condone abortion in modern times.  The Bible in fact sees an unborn child as just that, a valued human life.  Here is the penalty under Mosaic Law for harming or killing an unborn baby:

"If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman's husband demands and the judges allow. 

But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life,"  Exodus 21:22-23
 
See what it says?  Life for Life.  So the Bible extends the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness even to the unborn and lays a heavy penalty to those who accidentally cause harm.  Remember the men are fighting with each other, not the woman.  Yah sees that life as precious as shown in this Psalm:

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb." Psalm 139:13

We need to remember that our unalienable rights can not be given or taken away by man or governments, no matter what laws they may pass or uphold.  I can think of nothing so cruel as to deliberately hurt and kill an innocent child who had nothing to do with his or her own conception.  Please pray for our country to live up to its creed this Independence Day. All people, including the unborn have inherent value as each is created in the image of God our Father.

God is SO Generous!

A large bushel of oysters, Yah's bounty from the sea!

Generous, benevolent, magnanimous, beneficent and truly AWESOME is Yahuwah Yireh, our provider!  The scriptures say it correctly when it speaks of our Heavenly Father's giving nature and care of His creation:

You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. Psalm 145:16

Sometimes we forget that our needs will NEVER be greater than Yah's capacity to provide for them.  When we look to other people or things to provide for us, we often don't see that there is but ONE GOD who gives to all.  In other words, rather than looking to another person or institution as our hope, we need to trust God who is Sovereign over all.

When Yahuwah sent manna to supply the needs of the children of Israel in the desert, He didn't say, "You can only gather so much per person."  Now while our Heavenly Father does not condone greed, He allows us to choose how much and when to partake of His bounty.

"This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.'" Exodus 16:16

An "omer" was about equivalent to 1/2 to 3/4 of a gallon in US measure.  Still the Bible recounts that some gathered much and some gathered little, all according to his or her eating.  We also have to remember that the manna could not be kept over from the previous day.  It would spoil and become wormy except when it was gathered prior to Shabbat or the Sabbath their day of rest.

So didn't God just let them gather enough for the whole week at once?  Well the lesson here is the same for us today.  When we are able to physically "see" our abundance, the focus can tend to shift from the one who provided it to the material things themselves.  We put more of our confidence in these gathered resources rather than the One who provided them in the first place. Paul said:

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17

So next time you are worried about what tomorrow will bring financially just remember that Yah is a RICH and generous provider.  We can put our full confidence in HIM, not material things which are so temporary. 


Prayer: Oh Yah, Maker of all things, thank you for what You have already done starting with the generosity of this day's provisions. I know that if I but first seek the Kingdom, as Yahushua taught, all other things will be added to me.  I have all things in Messiah and bless You for all that You have done, are doing and will do for me.  Amen