Shalom, A Rood Awakening family!

This week we continue our journey through the Torah with Shoftim — “Judges,” from Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9.

In these chapters, Yehovah teaches Israel about justice, righteous leadership, the responsibilities of judges and kings, and the importance of hearing and obeying His Word. These ancient instructions still have much to teach us about how Yehovah desires His people to live today.

We invite you to visit this week’s Shoftim page at A Rood Awakening, where you’ll find teachings and resources to help you dig deeper into this portion of Scripture.

Visit the Shoftim page and continue exploring the Torah with us this week!

Shabbat Shalom!

Don't forget to make the challah! Happy prepping Torah Fans!

THE SABBATH SHOWDOWN: THE FINAL SUBPOENA By Executive Producer ~Mike Molinar~. 

Please comment if you have enjoyed these!

WHEN HEALING IS A CRIME !!

Imagine being born completely blind. For your entire life, you’ve lived in pitch darkness, begging by the roadside. Then, Yeshua (Jesus) spits on the ground, makes mud with His saliva, applies it to your eyes, and tells you to wash in the Pool of Siloam. You wash—and suddenly, for the very first time in your life, YOU CAN SEE! (John 9:1-7).

You would expect the local religious leaders, the rabbis who claimed to represent the God of Israel, to weep tears of joy and throw a massive celebration for this incredible, heavenly miracle.

Did they rejoice? NOPE. Do you know what the very first thing this man saw after his eyes were opened? Instead of a community full of love and celebration, the first thing he sees is a Rabbinic Subpoena. He is dragged straight into a religious court interrogation (John 9:13).

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### The Interrogation and the "Mud-Making" Loophole

Why were they furious instead of ecstatic? Because Yeshua deliberately chose to do this on Shabbat, right in front of their man-made legal systems.

According to the oral traditions later recorded in the Mishnah (*Seder Moed, Shabbat 7:2*), there are 39 categories of forbidden work (*Melachot*) on the Sabbath. Two of these strictly forbidden categories are:

1. **Kneading (*Lash*):** Combining a liquid and a powder to form a paste or dough. By mixing saliva with dirt, Yeshua technically violated their rabbinic restriction against "making mud."

2. **Smeating/Scraping (*Memachek*):** Spreading a paste or salve over a surface (like putting mud on eyes).

Because Yeshua chose compassion over their man-made codes, the leaders immediately blinded themselves to the miracle. They literally stated: “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath” (John 9:16). They called the Messiah a "sinner" simply because He bypassed their extra rules to deliver a human being from darkness!

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### Spiritual Blindness & The Broken Family

The pure malice of this religious system didn't stop there. The leaders were so desperate to protect their authority that they dragged the healed man's parents into court to interrogate them too (John 9:18-23).

The parents were absolutely terrified because the leaders had already decreed that anyone who confessed Yeshua as Messiah would be excommunicated and thrown out of the synagogue (*Cherem*). Think about the psychological cruelty of that system: they cared so little about human restoration that they threatened to destroy a family's social and spiritual standing just to keep their control.

When the healed man stood his ground and boldly pointed out the obvious—*“Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing”*—they snapped. Their response? “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out (John 9:30-34).

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### The Weightier Matters of Sinai

This is the ultimate proof of a broken religious mindset. When legalistic systems value their own "fences" and traditions over justice, mercy, and love, they develop a profound spiritual blindness. They would literally rather keep a man blind than see their man-made rules broken.

Moses explicitly commanded us in Deuteronomy 4:2 and Deuteronomy 12:32 never to add to or subtract from God's Word. The simple covenant at Mount Sinai was built on loving God and loving your neighbor. It didn't include thousands of pages of loopholes that make healing a crime.

Stop letting organized religious systems and human commentary dictate your walk with the Creator. Get back to the unfiltered Word. Get back to Mount Sinai. Obey Moses, and obey Yeshua!

8. What time of day were the Israelites instructed to eat the Passover meal? Post your answer in the comments below

Greetings, Torah fans... Some of the prayer requests that get posted on the Prayer Wall are very heart-wrenching. For instance...

Inga Sithembu

I am in emotional pain and I am worried. Please pray for me to be fertile and have 100% clean reproductive organs. Please pray for me to have my own biological children. Please pray for me to h@ve healthy reproductive organs. Please pray for me to become pregnant.

If you click on her name, it will bring you straight to the wall. And be sure to click the "I prayed...." tab. It will let her know that someone is standing in the gap for and with her. Sometimes just knowing that we have someone in our corner makes all the difference. Thanks in advance, prayer warriors. Shalom and Ahava.🙏❤️‍🩹

Encouraging Word of the Week ✨

Praise YAH for Healing!

Hebrew: "Rapha"

Psalm 103:1-5

Bless Yahovah, O my being, And all that is within me, Bless His set-apart Name!

Bless Yahovah, O my being, And do not forget all His dealings,

Who forgives all your crookedness, Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving-commitment and compassion,

Who satisfies your desire with the good, Your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Event 92-The issue of blood:  The Chronological Gospels Bible
~Michael Rood~
Would love to hear what Ruach is showing you in this narrative! Please leave your comments.