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Chain of Command? Did YHWH
Allow, Does He Now Allow Leaders-Judges Over Us? Almost all who have fought their way out of christianity, new testament, rabbinic teaching etc. have had to be strong willed people. Those who have come out and remained out of false religion have a deep seated determination to not be misled or drawn back into deception. That is good. What we must be extremely cautious about is that we do not slip from a strong willed determination into rebellion. We may ‘think’ all we wish, that YHWH always personally chose the people who were to be in positions of authority but that doesn’t make it true according to Torah. Some may feel that unless they see YHWH Himself pouring out ‘anointing oil’ upon someone’s head, that if they take a leadership position of any type, they are taking this position in opposition to YHWH. There are those who say YHWH says to never place yourselves under the authority of man. Others say it is alright to allow a man appointed by YHWH to be in a position of power. What does Torah tell us? Are the only approved leaders those who are directly appointed by YHWH to a certain position?
If I am reading this correctly, YHWH said right along with the admonitions concerning the set apart feast days, you (those in leadership with Moshe and Aharon) set in place judges and officers for your tribes. They also were to choose those who would make righteous judgments. I see nothing here that says a voice said from the heavens, “Choose him, choose him, choose her” and no mighty hand from the heavens poured oil upon the heads of those chosen. We read in Shemot about Moshe’s father-in-law making the suggestion that Moshe should delegate authority so that minor matters of the people might go to these ‘minor judges’. In verse 23, Yitro tells Moshe if Elohiym says go ahead, then he, Moshe. should appoint men to help judge the people. Shemot (Exod) 18:23-26 Yitro speaks: 23 If you shall do this thing and YHWH commands you so, then you shall be able to endure and all the people shall also go to their place in peace. 24 So Moshe listened carefully to the voice of his father in law and did all that he had said. 25
And Moshe chose able men out
of all 26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought to Moshe, but every small matter they judged themselves. In these verses, I see that while YHWH gave His approval to Yitro’s advice, Moshe did the actual selecting and appointing these judges who were to help him judge Yisrael. Divrei Yamim Bet (2 Chr) 19:4-7 4
And Yehowshaphat dwelt at Yerushalayim: and he went out again
through the people from 5
And he set judges in the land (Yehowshaphat)
throughout all the fenced cities of 6 And said to the judges, Be careful and conscientious in what you do: for you do not judge for man, but for YHWH, who is with you in the judgment. 7 Wherefore now let the fear of YHWH be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with YHWH our Elohiym, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. Please take note here that Yehowshaphat was a just and faithful king who obeyed YHWH. He was a mighty advocate for worshipping YHWH only and destroyed many pagan high places. He, Yehowshaphat set these judges in place and charged them to judge with righteous judgment such as YHWH would do. If he had done wrong, would we not at least, see some indication that he had done the wrong thing? We read in Vayikra that we may even allow a brother sell himself to us if he has become poor and cannot care for himself and his family. We are told to treat him as though he were a hired worker and that you should not rule/have dominion over him and treat him cruelly or with severity. Why, out of reverence for and fear of YHWH. He does not say you are doing wrong to rule over this man but that you are not to treat him cruelly. Vayikra (Lev) 25:39-43 39 "'If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave. 40 He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 Then he and his children are to be released, and he will go back to his own clan and to the property of his forefathers. 42
Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of 43 Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your Elohiym. In Mishlei we read that by YHWH, kings, princes, nobles and all judges reign. It neither says they all rule righteously nor that YHWH personally hand picked and appointed each one. It does say that without Him allowing it no one could do anything. Mishlei (Prov) 8:15-16 15
By me, king’s reign and
princes decree justice. 16
By me, princes and nobles rule,
even all the judges of the land. Shemuel Bet (2 Sam) 23:3 3
The Elohiym of They will rule. Men will rule over their home, their tribe, their nation as well as over other nations. Can we possibly believe that YHWH comes personally and actively chooses each one in a position of leadership? In Devariym we read about one being a false witness against
another: 17 the two men involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of YHWH before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. 18 The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, 19 then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you. 20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. In verse 17, it is quite clear that when you stand in front of those in authority to defend yourself from a false accusation, that authority consists of YHWH, the priests and the judges. Priests come from a family line but judges are appointed. Both are charged to obey and do the will of YHWH but the judges are honest men chosen by honest men.
While the human leaders (Moshe, Aharon, Yehowshua etc) chose the judges and officers these leaders were enjoined by YHWH to be just and equitable in their decisions. Yehowshua, at the time of the blessings and cursings at Mounts Gerizim and Ebal called all the people together. Among them were the elders, officers, judges and priests as well as the strangers among them. These were human leaders, officers and judges chosen by human leaders. Yehowshua (Josh) 8:33 Also as well, stood the stranger and he that was born among them Half of them stood over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal as Moshe the servant of YHWH had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. Please see if we have any evidence here in verse 33 that anyone other than Moshe or perhaps Yehowshua had appointed these officers and judges. Then in Yehowshua 23, we see the instructions to the leaders of 3 And you have seen all that YHWH your Elohiym has done to all these nations because of you; for YHWH your Elohiym has fought for you. 4 Look, I have divided by lot to you these nations that remain.
They are to be an inheritance for your tribes, with all the nations that
I have eliminated, from 26 And whosoever will not obey the law of your Elohiym, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it is a sentence to death, to banishment, to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. There should be no doubt that Ezra set these leaders in place after the Babylonian captivity while still acknowledging the Most High position of YHWH. Are there Scriptures showing YHWH directly appointing human beings to be in positions of power and leadership? Of course there are and I think none of us would question that. The point I am striving to acquire is that we are not acting against Torah to choose leaders from among us, for our benefit. Rather, we are benefited hugely but we must take care that the people we choose to help us understand and therefore obey the commands of YHWH are themselves obedient to Him. We are never…I emphasize…NEVER to accept
what anyone tells us about the Scriptures without studying and searching
the subject at hand to be certain that it is based in Tanakh. We sat there (at our Sukkot gathering) and if someone had not agreed to pay for, shop for, cook and serve our food, make the arrangements for our campground, present studies etc, we would not have been there. Let us look with open minds and hearts at this subject and always remember that taking the leadership in any area, although it may be seen as a privilege, is also a great responsibility. YHWH will not hold guiltless those who accept leadership of any kind and then lead the flock astray for their own benefit. Let us pray for wisdom, strength and YHWH’s mercy for those in
any position of leadership among us.
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