Chapter 3 - 3.5.a Universal consciousness and knowledge about G-d
At section 3.4.a we have read that the Messiah brings awareness and knowledge about G-d to the Jewish people. He teaches the people to return to G-d, to His statutes and laws, to return to the Holy Land, how to rebuild the Temple, and how to study and teach Torah. For they are and will be a light of the nations - לְא֥וֹר גּוֹיִֽם (Isaiah 42:6)
We have also read that the construction of the Temple creates an awareness among the nations about the Faithfulness of the Eternal One. This awareness will be increased and the nations will long to learn more about G-d. They want to learn about who G-d is and what He wants from mankind. It will create a thirst for knowledge and they will start searching for it. They will cling to each Jew to gain knowledge as the Prophet Zechariah teaches:
כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ יְ־הֹוָ֣ה צְבָאוֹת֒ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔מָּה אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַחֲזִ֙יקוּ֙ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה אֲנָשִׁ֔ים מִכֹּ֖ל לְשֹׁנ֣וֹת הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וְֽהֶחֱזִ֡יקוּ בִּכְנַף֩ אִ֨ישׁ יְהוּדִ֜י לֵאמֹ֗ר נֵֽלְכָה֙ עִמָּכֶ֔ם כִּ֥י שָׁמַ֖עְנוּ אֱ־לֹהִ֥ים עִמָּכֶֽם׃
“Thus said the LORD of Hosts: In those days, ten men from nations of every tongue will take hold—they will take hold of every Jew by a corner of his cloak and say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ( Zechariah 8:23)
The Jewish people will be full of Holy Spirit, they will have the power of prophecy and will be able to teach the nations from wisdom.[1]
All nations, the whole world will become aware of the Eternal One, they will have the ability to come to an understanding of knowledge about the Eternal One. We read in Isaiah 11:9:
ִּֽי־מָלְאָ֣ה הָאָ֗רֶץ דֵּעָה֙ אֶת־יְ־הֹוָ֔ה כַּמַּ֖יִם לַיָּ֥ם מְכַסִּֽים׃
“For the land shall be filled with devotion to the LORD, as water covers the sea.”[2]
3.5.b Contemporary significance for Noahides
The basis of the first Noahide Commandment ( the prohibition of idolatry) is: "to know that there is One G-d." The knowledge of G-d is the basic foundation and is included in the first commandment. In addition, the first principle of righteous faith is to know that there is one Primary Being that created everything that exists. All entities in the spiritual and physical domains arise only from the truth of His Being. This Being is the G-d of the universe and the Master of the whole earth. He controls everything we know and everything that exists. This G-d is One, and there can only be One; not two or more. [3]
This obligation, which applies to all times, is the commandment and obligation that all people — after all, we are all descendants of Noah — must maintain. At the time of the First and Second Temple there were Noahides, these people were called G-d-fearing people. After the destruction of the Second Temple and the restraining order by many governments between Jews and non-Jews, there have been very few Noahides for centuries. The fact that in this day and age this group is slowly, but steadily increasing, can be seen as a sign of the messianic era.
Brought By Angelique Sijbolts
Angelique Sijbolts is one of the main writers for the Noahide Academy. She has been an observant Noahide for many years. She studies Torah with Rabbi Perets every week. Angelique invests much of her time in editing video-lectures for the Rabbis of the Academy and contributes in administrating the Academy's website in English and Dutch. She lives in the north of the Netherlands. Married and mother of two sons. She works as a teacher in a school with students with special needs. And is a Hebrew Teacher for the levels beginners en intermediate. She likes to walk, to read and play the piano.
Sources
[1] Joel 3:1-2.
[2] See Isaiah 40:5 en Isaiah 52:8. [3] The Divine Code written by Rabbi Moshe Weiner.
With thanks to dr. Michael Schulman
With thanks to Whitney Ann Sieverink-McNair
Picture from: Paintation
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