What did it teach me? Discernment between appetite, emotion, desire, intellect and the Ruach - a disciple is disciplined. No - I think, I feel, I want like a wild animal. A disciplined heart ruled by the Ruach of Truth - It is written. My beast flesh is not to control, but to be controlled.
And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am YHVH. Ez 20:38
Moving from the comfort of my home into a sukkah, a temporary “booth/tent” is not easy where I live, which is not in the land. It is usually cold and sometimes snowy, so we put up make shift structures to try and get a feel for fulfilling this commandment. Some of us even sleep and eat in it a night or two and we may even get a tiny taste, a morsel, of what is intended, but comfort is never more than an indoor bathroom, refrigerator, and hot bath or shower away.
I was in temporary dwellings this year during sukkot. Some quite nice and comfortable, others not so much. I traveled to Israel for the express purpose of experiencing Sukkot in the land. I tried not to have expectations. I was aware that I would be staying mostly at the archeological dig site of Tamar Park and staying in a “caravan” or what we call a trailer or camper in the desert.
The Park is situated in the Aravah region of Israel about 30 miles south of the Dead Sea on the 90. It is about a 2 hour drive to Eilat at the southern most tip of Israel. The Aravah is the desert region just west of Jordan. The western region is called the Negev. Until this visit I thought the entire south desert was the Negev.
Our first night of Sukkot was at Tamar park. There are caravans equipped with a bedroom for two in each end with a shared bathroom between. Some are newer equipped with a bathroom to each double occupancy bedroom. There is a dining hall where meals are prepared and an attached, covered outside area, we called our sukkah.
Tamar tel is being slowly uncovered as funds are available, so there are ruins dating back many centuries. It is run by an organization in the US called Blossoming Rose and receives no monies from Israel. Anything they find is turned over to Israel Antiquities and stored until a proper display center is available at Tamar.
Just a few miles north of Tamar is Beit Hoglah on the outskirts of Jericho where the Israelites entered the covenant land. Something here resonates with me. So much so that even thinking about it produces inner trembling. Why? I am not sure. I am asking Abba. Tamar is on the lower eastern border of the land allotted to Judah. Judah has been accredited with preserving the Torah and the priest functions. This fits with my calling and purpose. Jericho is on the northern border of the territory of Benjamin, and was absorbed into Judah.
Judah is devoted to building and preserving covenant relationship with YHVH. It emphasizes the special role of Torah in Israel. Judaites aware of their distinctive identity and are not willing to conform to anything which they see as inconsistent with the Truth of Scripture. Truth is paramount to their function. Their purpose is not swayed by what others think. Their love for Truth, purity and holiness leads them and generally results in high degree of life discipline. Hatred of spiritual compromise often leads to declarations of correction or direction. They are not afraid of opinions of men.
Their heart is to move people from wherever they are in YHVH to somewhere closer to the
intimacy of the eternal throne. Their reference point is the final eternal goal, not the present
corporate dynamic. Their burden is not how well are things functioning corporately now, but what does an assembly or individual need to change to keep moving toward the eternal standard.
The Judah Stream is not an option for a healthy, spiritually mature, and obedient body. Although they can seem abrasive and harsh, their dedication to YHVH and love of Truth cannot be denied. Their function keeps compromise and deception at a minimum, which increases discernment and intimacy with the Father. The skeleton that has been my purpose seems to be getting some muscle and sinew.