CONGREGATION MELECH YISRAEL OF TORONTO

{15:18} The ishah (woman) also with whom an ish shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be tamei until the even. {15:19} If an ishah have an issue, [and] her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whoever touches her shall be tamei until the even. {15:20} everything that she lies on in her impurity shall be tamei: everything also that she sits on shall be tamei. {15:21} Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be tamei until the even. {15:22} Whoever touches anything that she sits on shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be tamei until the even. {15:23} If it be on the bed, or on anything whereon she sits, when he touches it, he shall be tamei until the even.

Either HaShem wants us to live very orderly, disciplined, holy lives or this is just an impossible request! If the latter is true then is it any wonder that most Pentecostal believers in Yeshua profess to be no longer under the “Law!” However, I believe the former to be true. HaShem wants us to live orderly, disciplined lives! Therefore the purpose, or at least one of the purposes of these mitzvot and the others like it which deal with tamei and tahor is to teach us order, discipline and holiness. Besides, there are some mitzvot which defy explanation! It is these very mitzvot and our willingness to obey them without having to understand or analyze them, which test our faithfulness and blind, unquestioned obedience to HaShem.  

We all know disorderly and unorganized people. They tend to be messy and slovenly in their personal lives, business lives as well as in their spiritual lives. A disorganized person, puts things off, misplaces things and tend to disrespect or disregard authority preferring to do things his own way and on his own time. An organized person however is focused, determined and tends to work within the parameters and deadlines set by authority.
           
If you were to characterize the creator of heaven and earth, which of the two types of people described above would you think He would be like?  Yes, our G-d is a G-d of order! Everything in the universe which He created is totally and completely orderly right down to the smallest atom. So it is obvious that HaShem would want His creatures (us) to be orderly beings. However because of free will you still have that choice.
           
Mitzvot about a man’s semen and a woman’s menstrual period are mitzvot which require a person to be determined and orderly. To be tamei does not make you unholy, however it does exclude you from participating in certain religious functions (I use the word religious in the Biblical sense not in a human “religious” sense). Therefore a man needs to plan his sexual encounters with his wife so as not to interfere with his obligation to G-d. This requires discipline and an orderly life. A woman likewise is required to know her monthly cycle and is to plan and prepare her life accordingly so as to fulfill her obligation of separation.
           
Yes these are difficult mitzvot, but they accomplish two things in the life of a committed believer. First, they require discipline and order the likes of which will be reflected in everything else you do, especially how you relate to HaShem and second, they put you totally and completely at the mercy of Yeshua who accomplished the Law in the flesh, and gives you the power and ability to accomplish it in the flesh as well. One more point before I close!
           
Devarim {30:19} I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your seed;
           
In this passage from our Parsha HaShem sets before you life and death, blessings and curses. Receiving one or the other is all dependant upon your obedience to His mitzvot. Did not Yeshua Adoneinu (our Lord) come to give you life and life more abundantly? Well He gave you life when He saved you; the abundance comes when you are organized and orderly so as to fulfill seemingly impossible mitzvot through Him.
           
Pilifim / Philippians {4:13} I can do all things through Mashiach (Messiah) which strengthens me.
           
Choose life and be blessed!

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Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber