What Path are You Walking On?
Shophtim (Judges) 5:6
In the days of Shamgar the son of Anat, in the days of Ya’el, the highways were unused, and those walking walked in crooked paths.
This is a damning indictment of those of whom it is speaking. This is one of the things recorded in the book of Shophtim all too often, of which the following passage is just one example.
Shophtim (Judges) 17:6
In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Why did every man do what was right in his own eyes? Every man did what was right in his own eyes because, as far as they were concerned, there was no king in Israel. However, this was not accurate thinking, because there was a King in Israel. These people just did not recognize His Kingship. This would ultimately lead to the people outright rejecting YHWH as their King.
Sh’muel Aleph (1st Samuel) 8:7
And YHWH said to Sh’muel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be king over them.”
I know of no path more crooked than the path that leads a people or person to have once accepted YHWH/Yeshua as King in his own personal life, then later on rejects Him as his King. Yet this is exactly what we see happening in the book of Shophtim. In the days of Ya’el, we see that the people had already rejected the highways and had begun walking the crooked paths away from the highway, or the straight and narrow.
We see in the book of Dani’el that this will be true in the latter days as well.
Dani’el 12:4
“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”
Notice that YHWH tells us through the prophet Daniel that in the latter days many will be running to and fro. Surely, we see this today in our fast paced world. There are so many things available today for people to be occupied with that most people give little or no time to considering the really important things in life, like the life to come. People are running from one thing to another, never considering what it is they are truly looking for; and when someone suggests to them that what they are really looking for and what they really need in their lives is Mashiach Yeshua, they dismiss it with the wave of the hand as they run off in pursuit of some other frivolous activity with which to keep themselves occupied.
This is one of the contrasts between those who live in Babylon and those who live in Israel. Those who live in Babylon look upon the way of the believer in Mashiach Yeshua as a way that is much too difficult, when, in fact, this way is actually much easier than it appears from the outside. One of the names of this path is found in the following passage.
Yeshayah (Isaiah) 35:8
And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but is shall be for the redeemed; the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein.
YHWH has declared that this way is only for those who have accepted Him as their Master. Fools do not accept YHWH as their Master and thus are not allowed to travel this road, as it is only for the redeemed. It is only for those who have accepted Mashiach Yeshua and all the precious work He has done in securing our redemption.
From wherever a person finds himself, there is a straight line from him to YHWH. Yeshua described this path as a strait and narrow path.
Matithyah (Matthew) 7:14
“For narrow is the gate, and strait is the way, that leads to life, and few are they that find it.”
Once a person steps onto this path he can remain on this path by simply keeping his eyes focused upon Yeshua.
Ivrim (Hebrews) 12:2
Fixing our eyes on Yeshua, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim.
When a person keeps his eyes upon Yeshua, then everything will be just as it should be and nothing is impossible. However, when a person takes his eyes off of Yeshua, then one sinks into the mire of life and is overcome by the floods of this present world. Kepha discovered this truth firsthand, when he climbed out of the boat and was walking on the water towards Yeshua.
Matithyah (Matthew) 14:29-31
29 And he said, “Come.” And Kepha went down from the boat, and walked upon the waters to come to Yeshua.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Adoni, save me.”
31 And immediately Yeshua stretched forth His hand, and took hold of him, and says to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
It is only when we keep our eyes upon Yeshua that we will be able to walk the path laid out in front of us as an overcomer.
Yeshayah (Isaiah) 30:21
“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it’; when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.”
Many people who are walking on the one true path to eternal life often get stressed out when a long period goes by and they have not heard from YHWH, via His Spirit. However, this should not stress one out, but rather, this should be a witness to him that he is actually learning to walk properly before YHWH! Notice in the above passage that, it is when one strays off the path, that YHWH will speak telling him which direction to go to get back on the path. The very strong implication is that, as long as he is walking on the path, one does not need to hear these words of correction from Him.
The way of Babylon is to run from one thing to another, which is a very crooked path indeed. The way of Babylon is to walk in a way that seems right in one’s own eyes. The way of Babylon is not to use the strait and narrow. The way of Babylon is not to walk upon the highway of holiness.
As seen in this next passage, the way of walking in this world is full of folly.
Kepha Bet (2nd Peter) 2:12-19
12 But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,
13 suffering wrong as the hire of wrong-doing; men that count it pleasure to revel in the day-time, spots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions while they feast with you;
14 having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing those who are steadfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing;
15 forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Bala’am the son of Be’or, who loved the hire of wrong-doing;
16 but he was rebuked for his own transgression; a dumb ass spoke with a man’s voice and stayed the madness of the prophet.
17 These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved.
18 For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;
19 promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.
The enticements of this world are many and varied. But they all have the same end and that is death and destruction.
However, the one who has a genuine desire to walk according to the ways of YHWH will walk according to His ways. He will walk the strait and narrow. He will walk the highway of holiness. He will walk with his eyes fixed upon Yeshua as his Mashiach. Furthermore, as one walks, he will not allow his attention to be drawn away from his Master to the things of this world, which are all passing away.
Let us be diligent to walk in the way as Yeshua our Mashiach has taught us to walk, that those who are also walking in the proper way may also be encouraged and lifted up by the good and righteous conduct of our lives, day by day, as we walk with Him.
ABBA YHWH, keep our feet on the path walking directly to You at all times; in the name of Yeshua our Mashiach. Amein.
Shabbat Shalom
Zerubbabel ben Emunah
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