Cycle of Life
We witness a pattern of rhythms and routines in creation! From the planets’ orbit in our solar system to the rhythms and cycles of our season, the ocean tides, sunrise and sunset!
We live our lives in cycles, from birth to growing, learning how to talk, walk, then school, bar and bat mitzvahs as children transition into young adults, maturity, marriage, children, careers, then grandchildren, great grandchildren, then death and the transition in spirit back to Adonai God (If one knows and receives Yeshua) every individual choice. This cycle continues on L’Dor V’dor, generation to generation!
The physical body exhibits a multitude of cycles, sleep to awake, the rhythm of breathing cycles, eating cycles, spiritual cycles of weekly gathering, worship, prayer! We also see biblical cycles throughout scripture! Adonai gave a very specific command to King Saul in:
I Samuel 15:3. Now go and attack 'Amalek, and completely destroy everything they have. Don't spare them, but kill men and women, children and babies, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"
But here is what Saul actually did:
I Samuel 15:8-11. He took Agag the king of 'Amalek alive; but he completely destroyed the people, putting them to the sword. 9 However, Sha'ul and the people spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, and even the second best, also the lambs, and everything that was good - they weren't inclined to destroy these things. But everything that was worthless or weak they completely destroyed. 10 Then the word of ADONAI came to Sh'mu'el: 11 "I regret setting up Sha'ul as king, because he has turned back from following me and hasn't obeyed my orders." This made Sh'mu'el very sad, so that he cried to ADONAI all night.
Saul had a deep character flaw that kept him from obeying, from follow Adonai’s orders! The results are not good (I’ll get to that in a minute). If you’re life is a big mess there’s a very high probability you haven’t been doing what Adonai’s been commanding you to do or worse you haven’t inquired, you haven’t asked Him! So many well-intentioned believers just stumble through life without seeking daily guidance and instructions from Adonai! If you will repent, perform Teshuvah, seek Him, and start making right choices, Adonai will give you the ability to transform, your life will turn around for the good!
But be prepared, because when you start making a concerted effort to be submissive and obey, your flesh isn’t onboard with your decision to serve Adonai! Rebellion resists authority! It is a daily struggle within each and every one of us between the flesh and the spirit. Struggling with the flesh is a common battle all Spirit filled believer’s encounter! Sha’ul was no exception to this struggle and speaks with great transparency his own battle in his letter to the congregation in Rome:
Romans 7:15-20. For I do not understand what I am doing—for what I do not want, this I practice; but what I hate, this I do. 16 But if I do what I do not want to do, then I agree with the Torah—that it is good.17 So now it is no longer I doing it, but sin dwelling in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me—that is, in my flesh. For to will is present in me, but to do the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do; but the evil that I do not want, this I practice. 20 But if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I doing it, but sin that dwells in me.
The struggle is real and unfortunately the hyper, counterfeit grace theology makes this worse by teaching obedience isn’t necessary, that you’re under grace so one can do whatever the flesh desires. The danger of this doctrine of demons is that Adonai removes His presence with its associated blessings from the rebellious and disobedient. If He blessed disobedience, it would lead to more disobedience. Rebellion and disobedience cause Adonai’s presence to depart, which results in the loss of His Dunamis Power upon us! I don’t think there’s a single person who would say they don’t want or need Adonai’s dunamis power in their life. So what happened to Saul? He was confronted by a deeply grieved Sh’muel:
I Samuel 15:19-23. Why did you seize the spoil instead of paying attention to what ADONAI said? From ADONAI's viewpoint, you have done an evil thing." 20 Sha'ul said to Sh'mu'el, "I did too pay attention to what ADONAI said, and I carried out the mission on which ADONAI sent me. I brought back Agag the king of 'Amalek, and I completely destroyed 'Amalek. 21 But the people took some of the spoil, the best of the sheep and cattle set aside for destruction, to sacrifice to ADONAI your God in Gilgal." 22 Sh'mu'el said, "Does ADONAI take as much pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying what ADONAI says? Surely obeying is better than sacrifice, and heeding orders than the fat of rams. 23 "For rebellion (m’riy {mer-ee'}: rebellion against God, disobedience of God, to be contentious, bitterness) is like the sin of sorcery, stubbornness like the crime of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of ADONAI, he too has rejected you as king."
See here is the first issue when confronted with his disobedience! Saul genuinely answers "I did too pay attention to what ADONAI said, and I carried out the mission on which ADONAI sent me. I brought back Agag the king of 'Amalek, and I completely destroyed 'Amalek”! Then he throws his people under the bus: “But the people took some of the spoil, the best of the sheep and cattle set aside for destruction, to sacrifice to ADONAI your God in Gilgal.". He said to YOUR God, not OUR GOD! Clearly there is a deep issue here, Saul is supposed to be in charge which is why Adonai gave him the command and not the people! But he just can’t find it within himself to submit and obey! Because Saul rejected the word of Adonai, Adonai rejected him! Rebellion is not just an outward behavior, but it’s an attitude problem, a matter of the heart. Adonai hates, He despises rebellion, and says it “is as the sin of sorcery, witchcraft and like the crime of Idolatry in I Sam 15:23. Scripture defines the characteristics and fruit of rebellion. Rebellion grieves the Holy Spirit and causes Him to be their enemy and fight against them:
Isaiah 63:10. However, they rebelled, they grieved his Holy Spirit; so he became their enemy and himself fought against them.
If one defies, rebels against the word of God, spurning His counsel it causes one to sit in darkness, in death dark gloom (The shadow of death):
Psalm 107:10-11. Some lived in darkness, in death-dark gloom, bound in misery and iron chains, 11 because they defied God's word, scorned the counsel of the Most High.
If you rebel against the commandments of the Lord, the hand of the Lord will be against you
I Samuel 12:14-15. If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. 15 However, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.
Obedience and submission are required for the land to produce sustenance and safety.
Leviticus 26:3-6, 15-21. “If you live by my regulations, observe my mitzvot and obey them; 4 then I will provide the rain you need in its season, the land will yield its produce, and the trees in the field will yield their fruit. 5 Your threshing time will extend until the grape harvest, and your grape harvesting will extend until the time for sowing seed. You will eat as much food as you want and live securely in your land. 6 "'I will give shalom in the land—you will lie down to sleep unafraid of anyone. I will rid the land of wild animals. The sword will not go through your land.
Adonai makes covenants with both the land and the people! There is a direct connection!! When the people serve Adonai in submission and obedience there is Shalom in the land, the absence of conflict! When the people rebel, if they loath and reject His rulings it gets bad for them and the land that’s also has a parallel reaction:
Leviticus 15-21. if you loathe my regulations and reject my rulings, in order not to obey all my mitzvot but cancel my covenant; 16 then I, for my part, will do this to you: I will bring terror upon you -wasting disease and chronic fever to dim your sight and sap your strength. You will sow your seed for nothing, because your enemies will eat the crops. 17 I will set my face against you - your enemies will defeat you, those who hate you will hound you, and you will flee when no one is pursuing you. 18 If these things don't make you listen to me, then I will discipline you seven times over for your sins. 19 I will break the pride you have in your own power. I will make your sky like iron, your soil like bronze - 20 you will spend your strength in vain, because the land will not yield its produce or the trees in the field their fruit. 21 "'Yes, if you go against me and don't listen to me, I will increase your calamities sevenfold, according to your sins.
This continues, the punishment gets worse and worse until at last in verse 33 Adonai states: “You I will disperse among the nations, and I will draw out the sword in pursuit after you:” Scripture reveals that the obedient are blessed and redeemed while the rebellious:
Psalms 68:6. God gives homes to those who are alone and leads prisoners out into prosperity. But rebels must live in a parched wasteland.
Many biblical figures people rebelled throughout scripture and paid a great price for doing so, some their lives and their families. Moshe rebelled and struck the rock so he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Korach, Datan, and Aviram and 250 leaders in Israel, key members of the council, men of reputation and rebelled against Moshes authority and Adonai. All of them including their families were swallowed up into the ground and they all went to She’ol!
Aaron rebelled by not trusting Adonai and crafting the golden calf so he was not allowed into the Promised Land. David was not allowed to build God’s Temple because he had spilled much blood. Saul was removed from being king and the presence of Adonai withdrew from him because of his rebellion. Lucifer was cast out of Heaven for rebellion. Jonah was swallowed by a great fish for his rebellion of Adonai’s commands to him. The lives of Ananias and Sapphira were taken because of rebellions and disobedience. Those who commit rebellion will be delivered to their enemy:
Nehemiah 9:26-28. "'Yet they disobeyed and rebelled against you, throwing your Torah behind their backs. They killed your prophets for warning them that they should return to you and committed other gross provocations. 27 So you handed them over to the power of their adversaries, who oppressed them. Yet in the time of their trouble, when they cried out to you, you heard from heaven, and in keeping with your great compassion, you gave them saviors to save them from the power of their adversaries. 28 But as soon as they had gotten some relief, they went back to do evil before you. So you left them in the power of their enemies, who came down hard on them. Yet when they returned and cried out to you, you heard from heaven many times and saved them, according to your compassion.
What is being described by Nehemiah is the very rebellious and disobedient behaviors that resulted in our removal from the land exactly as prophesied in Leviticus 26:33 “You I will disperse among the nations, and I will draw out the sword in pursuit after you:” It’s a leadership failure of Y’hoshua who didn’t have a plan for succession like his mentor and previous leader Moshe did! It was a seamless transition of power shift from Moshe to Y’hoshua as the latter had been Moshes faithful and loyal #2 for 40 years! Y’hoshua failed to do the same. The result is both a collective memory loss and rebellion:
Judges 2:8-11. When Y'hoshua the son of Nun, the servant of ADONAI, died, he was 110 years old; 9 and they buried him near the boundary of his property in Timnat-Heres, in the hills of Efrayim, north of Mount Ga'ash. 10 When that entire generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation arose that knew neither ADONAI nor the work he had done for Isra'el. 11 Then the people of Isra'el did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective and served the ba'alim.
So, by now I’m sure you’re beginning to wonder how I came this far starting out talking about the cycles of life? As Nehemiah shared, we begin to see a cycle develop of what Israel experienced without strong, sound biblical based moral leadership:
Judges 2:18-19. When ADONAI raised up judges for them, ADONAI was with the judge and delivered them from the hands of their enemies throughout the lifetime of the judge; for ADONAI was moved to pity by their groaning under those oppressing and crushing them. 19 But after the judge died, they would relapse into worse behavior than that of their ancestors, following other gods to serve and worship them; they abandoned none of their practices or stubborn ways.
How bad did this repetitive cycle become for Israel without leadership? Complete Chaos:
Judges 21:25 (TLV). In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
We see a parallel path with this cycle and our own nation today. The book of Judges provides a vivid account of interspersed cycles of Strong, Godly leaders then periods with no leaders over time coupled with depraved, sinful human behavior which is rebellion against Adonai! Judges describe a cyclical pattern that is repeated over again and again and again! Here's the pattern:
Rebellion: When things go well (Post WW-II America enjoyed one of the greatest periods of peace and prosperity ever recorded in history, Post Vietnam with President Regan we experienced great prosperity and peace through the 1990’) people drop their guard and cease praying and seeking Adonai. Peace time brings a greater chance of rebellion than wartime. This proved true with the 60's rebellion against all authority. AS the 90’s ended we experienced 9/11 and even more in our current state! Both times before our, Israel’s, removal and exile from the land it was our most prosperous!
Repression: Repression follows rebellion. Whether God sends an enemy or people cause their own misery (America is currently suffering both right now) they endure tyranny, hardship, calamity, invasion, natural disasters, shortages, division, social unrest, terror attacks like the foes of Retzin in Isaiah 9. Poor life choices result in Judgment and retribution.
Repentance: Extreme hardships often trigger community wide repentance which leads to awakenings, revival, moves of Adonai. Individuals begin to refocus on what's really important and purify their motives and behavior. Nations see economic downturns, cut budgets, downsize, and check egos. This is the period we need to be entering into as a nation!
Restoration: Purification leads to restoration. When people begin to obey God once again, peace and prosperity returns to the land once more-Erine-Shalom, a state of national tranquility!
The cycle of fallen human behavior has run its full course and is doomed to repeat itself. It can be turned around by submission and obedience! Adonai has a solution for rebellion. There is a deep profound scripture that states:
Psalm 37:3-6. Trust in ADONAI, and do good; settle in the land, and feed on faithfulness. 4 Then you will delight (anag {aw-nag'}: to be soft, pliable) yourself in ADONAI, and he will give you your heart's desire. 5 Commit your way to ADONAI; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will make your vindication shine forth like light, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
If you will be pliable in His hands, if you allow God to mold your heart, and do with you, in you and through you what He wants to do, then He will give you the desires of your heart! Trust, obey, and submit unto Him and He will act! Remember Shmuel’s words in I Samuel 15 "Does ADONAI take as much pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying what ADONAI says? Surely obeying is better than sacrifice, and heeding orders than the fat of rams.” Adonai takes more pleasure in your obedience, and submission then religion, rituals, and rebellion-the three “R’s” that cause His presence to depart!! In doing so we break these repetitive rebellion cycles and dwell in His presence!!
Blessings and Shalom,
Rabbi Eric S Carlson
We live our lives in cycles, from birth to growing, learning how to talk, walk, then school, bar and bat mitzvahs as children transition into young adults, maturity, marriage, children, careers, then grandchildren, great grandchildren, then death and the transition in spirit back to Adonai God (If one knows and receives Yeshua) every individual choice. This cycle continues on L’Dor V’dor, generation to generation!
The physical body exhibits a multitude of cycles, sleep to awake, the rhythm of breathing cycles, eating cycles, spiritual cycles of weekly gathering, worship, prayer! We also see biblical cycles throughout scripture! Adonai gave a very specific command to King Saul in:
I Samuel 15:3. Now go and attack 'Amalek, and completely destroy everything they have. Don't spare them, but kill men and women, children and babies, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"
But here is what Saul actually did:
I Samuel 15:8-11. He took Agag the king of 'Amalek alive; but he completely destroyed the people, putting them to the sword. 9 However, Sha'ul and the people spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, and even the second best, also the lambs, and everything that was good - they weren't inclined to destroy these things. But everything that was worthless or weak they completely destroyed. 10 Then the word of ADONAI came to Sh'mu'el: 11 "I regret setting up Sha'ul as king, because he has turned back from following me and hasn't obeyed my orders." This made Sh'mu'el very sad, so that he cried to ADONAI all night.
Saul had a deep character flaw that kept him from obeying, from follow Adonai’s orders! The results are not good (I’ll get to that in a minute). If you’re life is a big mess there’s a very high probability you haven’t been doing what Adonai’s been commanding you to do or worse you haven’t inquired, you haven’t asked Him! So many well-intentioned believers just stumble through life without seeking daily guidance and instructions from Adonai! If you will repent, perform Teshuvah, seek Him, and start making right choices, Adonai will give you the ability to transform, your life will turn around for the good!
But be prepared, because when you start making a concerted effort to be submissive and obey, your flesh isn’t onboard with your decision to serve Adonai! Rebellion resists authority! It is a daily struggle within each and every one of us between the flesh and the spirit. Struggling with the flesh is a common battle all Spirit filled believer’s encounter! Sha’ul was no exception to this struggle and speaks with great transparency his own battle in his letter to the congregation in Rome:
Romans 7:15-20. For I do not understand what I am doing—for what I do not want, this I practice; but what I hate, this I do. 16 But if I do what I do not want to do, then I agree with the Torah—that it is good.17 So now it is no longer I doing it, but sin dwelling in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me—that is, in my flesh. For to will is present in me, but to do the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do; but the evil that I do not want, this I practice. 20 But if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I doing it, but sin that dwells in me.
The struggle is real and unfortunately the hyper, counterfeit grace theology makes this worse by teaching obedience isn’t necessary, that you’re under grace so one can do whatever the flesh desires. The danger of this doctrine of demons is that Adonai removes His presence with its associated blessings from the rebellious and disobedient. If He blessed disobedience, it would lead to more disobedience. Rebellion and disobedience cause Adonai’s presence to depart, which results in the loss of His Dunamis Power upon us! I don’t think there’s a single person who would say they don’t want or need Adonai’s dunamis power in their life. So what happened to Saul? He was confronted by a deeply grieved Sh’muel:
I Samuel 15:19-23. Why did you seize the spoil instead of paying attention to what ADONAI said? From ADONAI's viewpoint, you have done an evil thing." 20 Sha'ul said to Sh'mu'el, "I did too pay attention to what ADONAI said, and I carried out the mission on which ADONAI sent me. I brought back Agag the king of 'Amalek, and I completely destroyed 'Amalek. 21 But the people took some of the spoil, the best of the sheep and cattle set aside for destruction, to sacrifice to ADONAI your God in Gilgal." 22 Sh'mu'el said, "Does ADONAI take as much pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying what ADONAI says? Surely obeying is better than sacrifice, and heeding orders than the fat of rams. 23 "For rebellion (m’riy {mer-ee'}: rebellion against God, disobedience of God, to be contentious, bitterness) is like the sin of sorcery, stubbornness like the crime of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of ADONAI, he too has rejected you as king."
See here is the first issue when confronted with his disobedience! Saul genuinely answers "I did too pay attention to what ADONAI said, and I carried out the mission on which ADONAI sent me. I brought back Agag the king of 'Amalek, and I completely destroyed 'Amalek”! Then he throws his people under the bus: “But the people took some of the spoil, the best of the sheep and cattle set aside for destruction, to sacrifice to ADONAI your God in Gilgal.". He said to YOUR God, not OUR GOD! Clearly there is a deep issue here, Saul is supposed to be in charge which is why Adonai gave him the command and not the people! But he just can’t find it within himself to submit and obey! Because Saul rejected the word of Adonai, Adonai rejected him! Rebellion is not just an outward behavior, but it’s an attitude problem, a matter of the heart. Adonai hates, He despises rebellion, and says it “is as the sin of sorcery, witchcraft and like the crime of Idolatry in I Sam 15:23. Scripture defines the characteristics and fruit of rebellion. Rebellion grieves the Holy Spirit and causes Him to be their enemy and fight against them:
Isaiah 63:10. However, they rebelled, they grieved his Holy Spirit; so he became their enemy and himself fought against them.
If one defies, rebels against the word of God, spurning His counsel it causes one to sit in darkness, in death dark gloom (The shadow of death):
Psalm 107:10-11. Some lived in darkness, in death-dark gloom, bound in misery and iron chains, 11 because they defied God's word, scorned the counsel of the Most High.
If you rebel against the commandments of the Lord, the hand of the Lord will be against you
I Samuel 12:14-15. If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. 15 However, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.
Obedience and submission are required for the land to produce sustenance and safety.
Leviticus 26:3-6, 15-21. “If you live by my regulations, observe my mitzvot and obey them; 4 then I will provide the rain you need in its season, the land will yield its produce, and the trees in the field will yield their fruit. 5 Your threshing time will extend until the grape harvest, and your grape harvesting will extend until the time for sowing seed. You will eat as much food as you want and live securely in your land. 6 "'I will give shalom in the land—you will lie down to sleep unafraid of anyone. I will rid the land of wild animals. The sword will not go through your land.
Adonai makes covenants with both the land and the people! There is a direct connection!! When the people serve Adonai in submission and obedience there is Shalom in the land, the absence of conflict! When the people rebel, if they loath and reject His rulings it gets bad for them and the land that’s also has a parallel reaction:
Leviticus 15-21. if you loathe my regulations and reject my rulings, in order not to obey all my mitzvot but cancel my covenant; 16 then I, for my part, will do this to you: I will bring terror upon you -wasting disease and chronic fever to dim your sight and sap your strength. You will sow your seed for nothing, because your enemies will eat the crops. 17 I will set my face against you - your enemies will defeat you, those who hate you will hound you, and you will flee when no one is pursuing you. 18 If these things don't make you listen to me, then I will discipline you seven times over for your sins. 19 I will break the pride you have in your own power. I will make your sky like iron, your soil like bronze - 20 you will spend your strength in vain, because the land will not yield its produce or the trees in the field their fruit. 21 "'Yes, if you go against me and don't listen to me, I will increase your calamities sevenfold, according to your sins.
This continues, the punishment gets worse and worse until at last in verse 33 Adonai states: “You I will disperse among the nations, and I will draw out the sword in pursuit after you:” Scripture reveals that the obedient are blessed and redeemed while the rebellious:
Psalms 68:6. God gives homes to those who are alone and leads prisoners out into prosperity. But rebels must live in a parched wasteland.
Many biblical figures people rebelled throughout scripture and paid a great price for doing so, some their lives and their families. Moshe rebelled and struck the rock so he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Korach, Datan, and Aviram and 250 leaders in Israel, key members of the council, men of reputation and rebelled against Moshes authority and Adonai. All of them including their families were swallowed up into the ground and they all went to She’ol!
Aaron rebelled by not trusting Adonai and crafting the golden calf so he was not allowed into the Promised Land. David was not allowed to build God’s Temple because he had spilled much blood. Saul was removed from being king and the presence of Adonai withdrew from him because of his rebellion. Lucifer was cast out of Heaven for rebellion. Jonah was swallowed by a great fish for his rebellion of Adonai’s commands to him. The lives of Ananias and Sapphira were taken because of rebellions and disobedience. Those who commit rebellion will be delivered to their enemy:
Nehemiah 9:26-28. "'Yet they disobeyed and rebelled against you, throwing your Torah behind their backs. They killed your prophets for warning them that they should return to you and committed other gross provocations. 27 So you handed them over to the power of their adversaries, who oppressed them. Yet in the time of their trouble, when they cried out to you, you heard from heaven, and in keeping with your great compassion, you gave them saviors to save them from the power of their adversaries. 28 But as soon as they had gotten some relief, they went back to do evil before you. So you left them in the power of their enemies, who came down hard on them. Yet when they returned and cried out to you, you heard from heaven many times and saved them, according to your compassion.
What is being described by Nehemiah is the very rebellious and disobedient behaviors that resulted in our removal from the land exactly as prophesied in Leviticus 26:33 “You I will disperse among the nations, and I will draw out the sword in pursuit after you:” It’s a leadership failure of Y’hoshua who didn’t have a plan for succession like his mentor and previous leader Moshe did! It was a seamless transition of power shift from Moshe to Y’hoshua as the latter had been Moshes faithful and loyal #2 for 40 years! Y’hoshua failed to do the same. The result is both a collective memory loss and rebellion:
Judges 2:8-11. When Y'hoshua the son of Nun, the servant of ADONAI, died, he was 110 years old; 9 and they buried him near the boundary of his property in Timnat-Heres, in the hills of Efrayim, north of Mount Ga'ash. 10 When that entire generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation arose that knew neither ADONAI nor the work he had done for Isra'el. 11 Then the people of Isra'el did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective and served the ba'alim.
So, by now I’m sure you’re beginning to wonder how I came this far starting out talking about the cycles of life? As Nehemiah shared, we begin to see a cycle develop of what Israel experienced without strong, sound biblical based moral leadership:
Judges 2:18-19. When ADONAI raised up judges for them, ADONAI was with the judge and delivered them from the hands of their enemies throughout the lifetime of the judge; for ADONAI was moved to pity by their groaning under those oppressing and crushing them. 19 But after the judge died, they would relapse into worse behavior than that of their ancestors, following other gods to serve and worship them; they abandoned none of their practices or stubborn ways.
How bad did this repetitive cycle become for Israel without leadership? Complete Chaos:
Judges 21:25 (TLV). In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
We see a parallel path with this cycle and our own nation today. The book of Judges provides a vivid account of interspersed cycles of Strong, Godly leaders then periods with no leaders over time coupled with depraved, sinful human behavior which is rebellion against Adonai! Judges describe a cyclical pattern that is repeated over again and again and again! Here's the pattern:
Rebellion: When things go well (Post WW-II America enjoyed one of the greatest periods of peace and prosperity ever recorded in history, Post Vietnam with President Regan we experienced great prosperity and peace through the 1990’) people drop their guard and cease praying and seeking Adonai. Peace time brings a greater chance of rebellion than wartime. This proved true with the 60's rebellion against all authority. AS the 90’s ended we experienced 9/11 and even more in our current state! Both times before our, Israel’s, removal and exile from the land it was our most prosperous!
Repression: Repression follows rebellion. Whether God sends an enemy or people cause their own misery (America is currently suffering both right now) they endure tyranny, hardship, calamity, invasion, natural disasters, shortages, division, social unrest, terror attacks like the foes of Retzin in Isaiah 9. Poor life choices result in Judgment and retribution.
Repentance: Extreme hardships often trigger community wide repentance which leads to awakenings, revival, moves of Adonai. Individuals begin to refocus on what's really important and purify their motives and behavior. Nations see economic downturns, cut budgets, downsize, and check egos. This is the period we need to be entering into as a nation!
Restoration: Purification leads to restoration. When people begin to obey God once again, peace and prosperity returns to the land once more-Erine-Shalom, a state of national tranquility!
The cycle of fallen human behavior has run its full course and is doomed to repeat itself. It can be turned around by submission and obedience! Adonai has a solution for rebellion. There is a deep profound scripture that states:
Psalm 37:3-6. Trust in ADONAI, and do good; settle in the land, and feed on faithfulness. 4 Then you will delight (anag {aw-nag'}: to be soft, pliable) yourself in ADONAI, and he will give you your heart's desire. 5 Commit your way to ADONAI; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will make your vindication shine forth like light, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
If you will be pliable in His hands, if you allow God to mold your heart, and do with you, in you and through you what He wants to do, then He will give you the desires of your heart! Trust, obey, and submit unto Him and He will act! Remember Shmuel’s words in I Samuel 15 "Does ADONAI take as much pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying what ADONAI says? Surely obeying is better than sacrifice, and heeding orders than the fat of rams.” Adonai takes more pleasure in your obedience, and submission then religion, rituals, and rebellion-the three “R’s” that cause His presence to depart!! In doing so we break these repetitive rebellion cycles and dwell in His presence!!
Blessings and Shalom,
Rabbi Eric S Carlson
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Posted in June 2026
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Rabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner Sheva Moedim HaAdonai, the seven Feasts of the LordSend on your behalf – Sh’lach l’Cha & the “One New Man”Rabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner May 2022Word Omer and Yeshua’s AscensionTHE TALLIT Phrases and PurposeRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner June 2022What is a Bar/Bat Mitzvah?Rabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner July 2022Truth DecayThe ShofarRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner August 2022The ShemaThe Biblical Wedding Rabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner September 2022Etrog & LulavThe Wedding Kiddushin & NisuinRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner October 2022Fall Feasts (Moedim)The Shelamim OfferingRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner November 2022AnointingThe MezuzahRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner December 2022HanukkahWhat is ShabbatRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner January 2023God’s Covenant SignsWhy Is Torah For Today?Rabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner February 2023DiversityEchadRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner March 2023Pesach is a Sign of RevivalShalom in the StormRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner April 2023Pesach is a Sign of RevivalFestival of MatzahRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner May 2023ShavuotMothersRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner June 2023Father’s DayFreedom Juneteenth 2023Rabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner July 2023Independence DayT’shuvah is Topical & RelevantRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner August 2023Danger of PrideElul - 40 Days of Prayer & FastingRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner September 2023Yom TeruahSUKKOTRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner October 2023TransitionRestorationRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner November 2023Prophetic IsraelThanksgivingRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner December 2023What do we do with Christmas?Hanukkah Culture WarRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner January 2024HopeSeed’s and Tare’sRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner February 2024Mishpocha (Family)Rebuilding Rabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner March 2024Bondage to FreedomPurimRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner April 2024DeceptionPesach (Passover)Rabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner May 2024RiversInjusticeRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner June 2024Fathers Day 2024ShavuotRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner July 2024Attention to DetailCourage in Adversity The foundation of RevivalRabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner August 2024Hindering Spirits