Pesach (Passover)
The feasts of YHVH, vs. Feasts of the world – by Roxzaan Botha
Passover vs. Easter & Valentine’s Day vs. Passover
Matt 26:18 “My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with My disciples”
Lev. 23:4 “These are the appointed times of יהוה, set-apart gatherings which you are to proclaim at their appointed times.
Lev 23:5 ‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between the evenings, is the Passover to יהוה.
On the 14th it is a full moon. Elohiym (God) lights up all the nights of the happy feasts for joyous celebration.
Ex 12:2: “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.”
With this YHVH (Father God and Spirit Mother) established the biblical calendar. But in Israel there are two calendars in operation: The Biblical and the secular.
Let’s begin by asking the following questions:
What is the real story behind Easter, and why do people blindly follow these customs?
Where does the fable of the Bunny and eggs originate from?
Why do Christians partake in these customs, even though there is no mention of them found in the Scriptures?
It is once again that time of the year, almost everyone is preparing for ‘Easter’. People are making use of colorful displays; planning abundant food preparations and decorative eggs are being painted before being hidden in the garden in order to amuse the children. Without really questioning where these customs originate from.
The response I usually receive to the above questions:“But my motive is good and it is great fun for the kids”
But at what cost? .
Dear Reader; it is not only decorated eggs your child will discover behind the bush, but our children are being entertained with utter nonsense and pagan customs. The traditions are still being followed with faithful dedication, not truly realizing what the hidden messages are behind all of these customs. We are being deceived and motivated by tactics like – it’s fun’ it’s time for holiday – and we will almost belief and take part in any custom (do almost anything) in order to take time out. The media are always a few steps ahead of us, prepared to convince us off the new trends in order for us to ‘keep up with the Joneses’ when following these feasts. And still people are convinced that these customs are being promoted for the purpose of educating our children and for the purpose of devotion to the kingdom of God.
Let us rather take a closer look……..
Why we should not have any part in Easter celebrations:
“Easter comes from the goddess Ishtar, or Astara/Eastre. She was the GODDESS of Spring. Easter was celebrated by the Assyrians, Phoenicians and the Philistines LONG BEFORE the Christians adopted these customs. It involved the “Rites of Spring” near the Equinox of Venus, when pagans believed the Earth Mother was impregnated by the sun. They engaged in ritual sex acts and used symbols of FERTILITY like eggs, rabbits and “hot cross buns”. This “cross” indicated the Equinox, when the Earth’s orbit “crossed” the celestial equator. To ensure a prosperous growing season, pagans rolled eggs decorated with the bright colors of spring on their fields, hoping to transfer fertility. The eggs were then hidden from “evil spirits” in rabbits nests, also a symbol of fertility.” (Fossilized Customs” –Lew White)
Jer 10:2 Thus said יהוה , “Do not learn the way of the gentiles,1 and do not be awed by the signs of the heavens, for the gentiles are awed by them.“For the prescribed customs of these peoples are worthless…” ‘(Maak julle nie gewend aan die weg van die heidene NIE…”)
But still even after reading this truth, some people choose to still stay true to these pagan customs.
Even the famous ‘hot cross bun’ has its origin from pagan customs.
‘Hot cross buns’ – has been around since1500v.C. It was known as “bouns” and was used in the worship of the “Queen of Heaven” (Astarte). Even the shape of the bun and the cross on top (symbol of the cross) symbolized the sun inside of Astarte’s circle. This symbol was well known in the Babylonian sun god (similar meaning and origin of the well known birthday cake).
In die Britannica Encyclopedia we find the following definition: – “Easter (es’ter). Astara, or Eastre, was die Goddess of Spring in the religions of the ancient Angles and Saxons. Every April a festival was celebrated in Her HONOR. With the beginning of Christianity the old gods were put aside. From then on the festival was celebrated in honor of the resurrection of Christ, but was STILL KNOWN AS EASTER After the old GODDESS.
How then can we make use of these customs in order to celebrate and commemorate the liberation of the Children of God who were led out of Egypt (slavery) by Moses (symbolic of our Messiah).
How can we honor our Yahushua Ha Messiah with these pagan customs?
This brings me to another important matter I would like to bring to everyone’s attention:
The copy cat feast of Pesach presented to us by the world
It is known to us as ‘Valentines day’. This is the direct copy cat of the feast of love (Passover)
Attached – my writing on this subject. (Afrikaans)
Die Ware Liefdes fees – deur. Roxzaan Botha (2009)
Ek het reeds verduidelik hoedat die ‘pierced heart’ van Valentynsdag ons bind/ontneem van die voorreg om ons Maker – met ons hele hart, siel, krag en verstand te kan dien en lief hê, omrede ons meer gehoorsaam bly aan die ‘lust of our eyes, lust of our flesh and the pride of our lives’. Ons bly dus meer gehoorsaam aan die feestelike genot en bou van one eie koninkryk (ons ‘eie’ naam, ‘eie’ huis en ‘eie’ wil). Ons is meer gefokus daarop om ons eie vlees te bevredig, as om gehoorsaam te raak aan Sy perfekte wil. Maar die ware ‘Passover’ as fees, bied aan ons die geleentheid om deel te kan neem aan die besnydenis van die hart (besnydenis van die ego), dit bied aan ons die simboliese geleentheid om deel te word van Sy ware liefde wat alle slawerny kan oorwin.
Hiermee weet ons dan met duidelikheid; dat elke fees wat deur YHVH ingestel is, presies net so deur die vyand nageboots word. Om sodoende ons as ‘diensknegte’ te verhoed om uit te kom by ware oorwinning en vrymaking vanuit slawerny. Met dit in gedagte moet ons met duidelikheid begin begryp dat alleenlik gehoorsaamheid tot Sy wil ons waarlik sal kan verlos.
Die wyse waarop die vyand die feeste naboots, maak dit vir ons soveel makliker om te begryp en te verstaan waarheen ons op pad is (uit slawerny – Volume 3 van die Uitnodiging). Ons weet die Woord leer ons om nie onbekend te bly aangaande die planne van die vyand nie. Dit spyt my om na sulke wonderlike insigte steeds te hoor dat sommiges onder ons, steeds glo dat ons reeds totaal en al vrygekoop is van alle vloeke. In Hom vind ons die voorreg om vrygekoop te wees maar, dit is belangrik om te onthou YHVH Self het die vloeke daar gestel; oor die wat nie Sy gebooie en verordeninge gehoorsaam en onderhou nie. Hoe dan kan ons gevrywaar wees van hierdie vloeke, as ons dan steeds ‘n aandeel daarin wil geniet. Gee ons bekering en wedergeboorte dan aan ons ‘n lisensie; om aan enige onheil deelagtig te bly en dan steeds skoon daarvan af te kom. Dit is tragies hoedat ons, ons eie opinies wil oprig teen die Almagtige Woord van YHVH, wat duidelik stipuleer dat Hy ons nie kan beskerm daarvan as ons in ongehoorsaamheid bly rond woeker nie, of onder Sy wolk van beskerming wil uitbeweeg nie.
Ons is gehoorsaam, of ons is nie, dit is ons vrye keuse!
Ons kan nie bly reken ons het Hom aangeneem en nou is ons verewig vrygekoop nie.
Introspeksie:
Glo jy met jou hele hart tot geregtigheid en is dus bereid om ‘n lewe van geregtigheid te lewe, selfs dinge wat Hom nie behaag nie neer te lȇ?
Is jy alreeds deur die ‘besnydenis van die hart’ of neem jou ego steeds voorkeer?
Lewe jy ‘n lewe van ‘n gehoorsame dienskneg of doen en maak jy steeds soos jy dink goed is?
Doen jy waarlik dit wat jou Skepper van jou vra, of is jy die een wat Hom vra om dinge vir jou te doen?
Bedoel ek jy moet gehoorsaam wees aan die boodskap wat ek hier deurgee? Nee glad nie, maar dat ons gehoorsaam moet wees aan die Woord en Getuienis wat vanuit Sy woord oorsprong kry. Ek rig ‘n laaste vraag aan u: Hoekom is dit vir ons so moeilik om te aanvaar dat ons dinge vir ons Maker in liefde moet prysgee? Waaroor wil ons redeneer? Hy het Sy seun se lewe gegee, maar sommige van ons wil nie eens ons ou ‘pagan’ feeste opgee nie. Wat offer jy vir Sy koninkryk?
Sy Woorde kan nooit leeg terugkeer nie. En daar kan geen woord daaraan bygevoeg of weggeneem word nie. Ons redenasies kan nie Sy Woord manipuleer of verander nie.
Redenasies maak plek vir boosheid, waarheid maak plek vir vryheid!
Kom ons staan dan vandag eers stil by die ‘Passover’. En so sal ek per geleentheid aangaande elke fees uitbrei, sodat ons duidelike riglyne vanuit die Woord kan ontvang (simboliek kan verstaan).
Passover (2010) deur Roxzaan Botha
Die ‘Passover’ verwys na die besnydenis. En spesifiek met hierdie besnydenis word daar verwys na die ‘besnydenis van die hart’.
‘Cutting away the flesh of our old nature!’
Ons weet mos nou dat ons die fees van aardse liefde ‘valentines’ nie moet eerbiedig nie, en geen aandeel daaraan mag geniet nie. Maar dat ons die ware liefdes fees moet deelagtig word. Dit is in hierdie fees (Passover) waar ons kan herdenk hoedat die perfekte ‘Lam’ geslag/geoffer is vir ons a.g.v. Sy liefde vir ons. Dit is ‘n asemrowende geskenk gevul/vervul met ewigheids waarde, wat geen ‘deity’ of ‘afgod’ ooit kan naboots of vervang nie. Dit is waarlik ‘n geskenk van Liefde vanuit Sy Vader hart – vir my en vir jou (vir diegene)wat bereid is, om aan die volle waarheid gehoorsaam te wees – tot die dood toe.
Deut. 30:6 “YHVH your Elohiym will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul and live.”
We Gentiles are called “uncircumcised” by Paul and need the circumcision of the heart to become Believers in Him.
Eph 2:1-13 “And you were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, as also the rest. But Elohiym, who is rich in compassion, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah – by favour you have been saved – and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Messiah יהושע, in order to show in the coming ages the exceeding riches of His favour in kindness toward us in Messiah יהושע. For by favour you have been saved, through belief, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of Elohiym, it is not by works, so that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah יהושע unto good works, which Elohiym prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Therefore remember that you, once gentiles1 in the flesh, who are called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called ‘the circumcision’ made in the flesh by hands, that at that time you were without Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Yisra’ĕl and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation and without Elohiym in the world. But now in Messiah יהושע you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.
Vanuit hierdie skrif kan ons met duidelikheid verstaan, vir die persone wat deur die besnydenis van die hart gegaan het, en in die verbond staan met hul Maker, ‘n uitnodiging oorhandig word om die ‘Passover meal’ by te woon (deelagtig word).
Formerly this applied to Israel for the greatest part. But now, through the blood of Yahushua we have become circumcised (as ons in gehoorsaamheid staan) of the heart and have been brought near to the covenant and may also partake. Ons word geroep as ’n ‘priestersdom’, to be a Set-Apart Nation / People.
Wat behels hierdie fees dan?
What is Passover?
Passover speaks of freedom from bondage and a new beginning, and isn’t that what Yahushua came to give us? Passover is a beautiful revelation of Yahushua. Of all the Biblical Feasts there are more references to Passover in the New Testament/Renewed Covenant than any other Feast.
The Festivals are like a cycle of sanctification that we go through year after year and it starts with Passover.
The Passover was instituted in Egypt, just before YHWH smote the firstborn of Egypt. Israel had to take the blood of the Passover lamb and apply it to the doors of their houses, so that YHWH would pass over that house when He saw the blood and not let the destroyer enter.
Wanneer ons dan met besnydenis van die hart voor ons Maker staan, sal ons onder Sy beskerming wees. En in die gehoorsaamheid tot Sy instellings sal geen kwaad ons kan hinder van Sy Almag nie (die bloed van Yahushua moet oor jou hart vloei).
Exodus 12:3 “Tell the whole community of Israel that on the 10th day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.”
Let us read the account as Moses relates it in Exodus 12: 3; “Tell the whole community of Israel that on the 10th day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.”
The idea was to scrutinize the lamb as it had to be spotless. The family also had to care for it away from the other animals. It became like a dear pet in the house which they got to love and then it had to be sacrificed. Just like Yahushua who was so dearly loved by the huge crowds who followed Him and al whom He healed and delivered. ……
12; on that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn – both men and animals –and I will bring Judgment on all the gods of Egypt, I am YHVH.
13; the blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destruction plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
14; this is the day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to YHVH –a lasting ordinance……
23; When YHVH goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass. Over that doorway, and He will not permit the destroyer to enter your house and strike you down.
24; obey these instructions as a lasting ordinace for you and you descendants.
28 and the Israelites did just what YHVH commanded Moses and Aaron.
Historically Passover (Pesach) is all about the sacrifice of a spotless lamb whose blood covered and protected the Israelites from the judgment of YHVH, when the Angel of Death “passed-over” them. So they came out of bondage or slavery into freedom through the blood of a spotless lamb and obedience.
Passover encompasses the three feasts:
Passover, Unleaven Bread and the First Fruits.
According to the scriptures Passover starts on the 14th of the first month (Aviv or Nisan) and Unleavened Bread starts on the 15th of Aviv. Passover lasts for 1 day while Unleavened Bread lasts for 7days. First Fruits falls on the 16th of Aviv.
Because Israel follows the lunar calendar, and we the solar calender, our dates differ from year to year. Biblical Feasts: by Marinda du Preez
Passover and Feast of unleavened bread: (Teaching 2017)
“Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.” (Exodus 12:15)
With Passover (the Festival of Unleavened Bread) beginning on Friday night, all over Israel, every man, woman and child is busy cleaning their closets, shelves, drawers and vehicles in order to be ready for this most important celebration.
Preparing for Passover is the ultimate in spring cleaning!
In obedience to the eternal commandment that YHVH gave to the children of Israel to remove leaven (yeast) from their houses, every nook and cranny must be emptied, sorted and wiped in order to make sure that each dwelling place is free of chametz (leavened products) before Passover begins (Exodus 12:15).
Rabbinical Judaism has taken this single commandment and transformed it into a system that would weary the hardiest of women. All dishes, cutlery, pots and pans, even dishrags used during the feast must be “Kosher for Passover.”
Because the kitchen is cleared of products that contain leaven or may be contaminated with it, preparing for Passover is both labor intensive and expensive. Just prior to Passover, grocery stores in Israel begin to stock foods that are specially prepared and guaranteed leaven-free. The Hebrew signs on the shelves above read “Kosher for Passover.”
Many women completely clean their kitchen to such a degree that it sparkles like it did when it was new.
Furthermore, in the weeks prior to Passover, Israeli supermarkets begin to sell products marked with a special “Kosher for Passover” stamp.
These products, which are guaranteed to be free of leaven, are not only consumed during Passover, they are eaten in the days before.
Matzah (unleavened bread), however, is first eaten during the Passover Seder, which is a special ceremonial meal where the story of the Exodus from Egypt is recounted. It is eaten every day throughout the festival.
But please make sure to take this feast to HEART – we are not following Jewish traditions, but need to understand the symbolism and make it an act of the heart. Circumcision of the heart and cleaning sin from our hearts.
The Haggadah, the text that sets the order of the recounting of the deliverance of the Jewish People from Egypt, is read during the Passover Seder. The pierced, striped bread of affliction in the bottom right corner is called matzah (unleavened bread).
Why Fuss over a Little Leaven (Yeast)?
“A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” (Galatians 5:9)
In the Bible, yeast symbolizes sin.
It is also a powerful metaphor for learning about YHVH and living a life of holiness.
Yeast is a single-celled fungus that causes dough to rise by consuming the sugars and excreting carbon dioxide as a by product.
And it doesn’t take much yeast to start the process. Yeast is in the air. It is so pervasive that even if dough is left on the counter, yeast will attach to the surface of the dough. It will then make its way throughout the whole loaf.
So, just like yeast (leaven) eats away at the sugars in the dough, sin eats away at us. And sin causes us to become separated from YHVH.
“But your iniquities have separated you from your Elohim; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)
Although it is not known when yeast began being used to bake bread, the earliest records of using it come from ancient Egypt.
Leaven and the Sin of Pride
“Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?” (1 Corinthians 5:6)
When it comes to leaven as a metaphor, Scripture especially narrows in on the sin of arrogance, boasting, conceit and pride. In the same way that a little yeast affects the whole batch of dough, causing it to become puffed up, a little bit of pride and arrogance in our hearts causes us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought.
We must deal with the leaven in our own hearts, knowing that arrogance is not pleasing to YHVH, and pride often precedes our own downfall.
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
Leaven is also a metaphor for the corrupting influence of false teaching. The traditional Bedikat Chametz (search for leaven) is a ceremony used to cleanse the home of leaven. Using a feather and a spoon to remove it. The chametz (leavened products) will be burned the next morning in the Bi’ur Chametz ceremony.
Meaningful Jewish Custom: The Search for Leaven (Bedikat Chametz)
At Passover, the Jewish People practice a beautiful custom called bedikatchametz (search for leaven). The eve before Passover, the leader of the household, usually the father, holds a candle and guides his family around the house. With the lights extinguished, they search for any remnant of chametz (leavened products) by the light of this single candle. The children search every nook for crumbs of bread that have been carefully wrapped and hidden ahead of time by the mother.
Each crumb of bread is found with exclamations of delight, “Oh! There it is. I found one!”
This instructive search continues until the very last crumb of leaven is removed. Using a feather, these bits are swept away into a bag to be burned the next morning. On the morning of Erev Pesach (Eve of Passover), which is Friday morning, there will be a multitude of small fires burning all over Israel as each family burns their small pile of chametz.
A special prayer is recited in case any has been missed. This special ceremony (bedikat chametz) demonstrates how the light of YHVH’s word, symbolized by the candle, searches our hearts for any pride or arrogance that may be lurking, hidden in the darkness.
The feather symbolizes the work of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) sweeping sin and error away.
The bi’ur chametz fire shows how YHVH destroys this leaven, for YHVH is a consuming fire!
Passover in the New Testament (New Covenant)
Just as an overgrowth of yeast in the body may become a systemic infection and must be dealt with before it causes serious physical problems, the “leaven” or sin within the Body of Messiah (the Church) must be dealt with accordingly.
“Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Messiah, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.
“Therefore let us keep the Festival [Passover], not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:7–8)
The Leaven of False Teachings
In the New Covenant (New Testament), leaven (yeast) can also represent false teachings. Yahushua warned people to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. By this, Yahushua was not referring to bread, but to their teachings that did not align with the Word of YHVH (Matthew 16:11–12)
Passover, Leaven, and YHVH’s Plan for His people
Arrogance and pride can prevent us from understanding YHVH’s plans and purposes for the Jewish people, Israel, and the role of the Church. As Passover approaches, let’s remember that only a temporary blindness has come upon the Jewish People in order that salvation would come to the Gentiles, and after that to the nation of Israel
.
“Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.” (Romans11:11)
YHVH can and will lift the veil from the Jewish People’s eyes to see their Messiah Yahushua, and when the Jewish People accept Yahushua as their Messiah, it will mean resurrection and life for the entire world!
“For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15)
During this time when Jewish People are cleansing their homes from leaven, please pray that they will recognize that Yahushua is indeed the Promised Messiah of Israel. And Christian followers will be honoring pagan believes – also pray that they will rediscover the true meaning and date of Pesach.
And may we also search our hearts for the leaven of sin, making them “Kosher for Passover,” so that we may walk in humility, with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
“I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against Me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against Me.” (Jeremiah 33:8)
Terug na Afrikaans:
So, wat moet ek en jy dan hierdeur besef: Ons moet die bloed op ons deur kosyne smeer, maar my Liewe Leser hierdie is vir ons die simboliek van die besnydenis van die hart. Die ou lewe, jou lewe, jou wil moet gekruisig word, soos ‘n gewillige lam – sodat jou hart deur die ware besnydenis kan gaan. Dan sal die bloed oor jou wees en geen ‘oordeel’ sal oor jou kom nie. Net so wil die vyand jou dus van hierdie fees beroof, deur jou gehoorsaam te hou aan die feeste van die wêreld. Om jou te bind deur sy koophandel van sy feeste wat direk in opstand is teenoor YHVH se feeste en opdrag.
(Opsomming van die wêreld se feeste teenoor YHVH se Feeste word in hoofstuk 8 van Volume 1 van Die Uitnodiging behandel – deur Roxzaan Botha).
Mag elkeen in hierdie tyd hul ware hart voor hul Vader gaan plaas. Mag ons nie alleenlik ywerig raak om te dink dit handel alleenlik oor die feit dat ons hierdie feeste moet begin terug bring nie, maar die belangrikste hiervan is: Hierdie fees moet in jou binnekamer, in jou hart en siel gevier word (die simboliek moet nagestreef word). Dit vra van jou om Sy verbond te herdenk, om nederig jou hart en lewe voor Hom te kan kruisig/offer – soos die van ‘n gehoorsame lam. Om sodoende met jou hele lewe, hart, siel en verstand Sy perfekte wil na te streef, as ‘n gehoorsame kind van die Lig.
Mag ons dan verklaar en bid:
MORE OF YOU, AND LESS OF ME.
MORE OF YOUR WILL AND LESS OF MY WILL.
MORE OF YOUR PLANS AND LESS OF MY PLANS.
MORE OF YOUR NAME AND LESS OF MY NAME.
Blessings
En ‘n geseënde Passover / Pesach vir almal!
