The Messianic Torah Observer

In this solemn and timely teaching, we explore Tisha B'Av — the ninth of Av — and its connection to Yeshua's tears over Yerushalayim. Drawing from Luke 19, Matthew 23, Lamentations, Jewish tradition, and the historic destruction of the Temples, this episode calls believers to recover lament as a necessary and righteous discipline of covenant faith. This is Part 1 of a two-part teaching leading into Tisha B'Av.

In this episode of The Messianic Torah Observer, we examine Ezekiel 38 in light of the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and the renewed speculation surrounding Persia's prophetic role. We identify the nations in Gog's coalition, consider the Russia-centered and historical-geographic interpretive views, and return to the central purpose of the prophecy: that the nations may know that He is YHVH. This is a sober, text-first teaching for saints who desire to watch, pray, discern, and live faithfully in prophetic times.

In this installment of The Messianic Torah Observer, I pick up from Parashat Massei (this past Sabbath's reading) and invite you slow down and take another look at Numbers/Bemidbar 33. What first appears to be a simple travel log of our 42 wilderness encampments is, in fact, a powerful witness that Abba Yah records every stop in our covenant journey. From Rameses of Mitsrayim to the plains of Moab, Yah had Moshe write down the goings out of His people by His command. And if Yah recorded every encampment of our wilderness sojourning, then we should take comfort in knowing that He also records the stops, struggles, failures, waiting seasons, and forward movements of our Faith walk today. This teaching also draws out a stunning Messianic connection between the 42 wilderness stations of Numbers 33 and the 42 generations in Matthew 1, showing how Yehoshua HaMashiyach is not only the destination of our journey, but the One who walks with us through every encampment on our way to the Kingdom of the Heavens.

In this installment of The Messianic Torah Observer, Rod Thomas offers a biblically grounded and Torah-centered reflection on Artificial Intelligence and its place in the life of Yah's covenant people. Rather than approaching AI through fear, hype, or sensationalism, this episode asks how disciples of Yehoshua Messiah should think about AI in ministry, study, creativity, and spiritual discernment.

The episode explores why AI may serve as a helpful research and organizational tool, but must never replace prayer, Scripture, Spirit-led study, or the authority of the Ruach Kodesh. Rod also addresses common concerns about whether AI is becoming too powerful, whether it is dangerous, and how believers should engage it wisely without surrendering their discernment.

Most importantly, this teaching reminds listeners that no machine, regardless of its intelligence, can worship, repent, receive Yah's Spirit, walk in covenant, or bear the image of Elohim. AI may imitate creativity and conversation, but it can never replace the life, relationship, purpose, and spiritual calling given by the Most High to His people.

Beloved, in this final installment of our "What Torah Can and Cannot Do for Us" series, we examine what Torah cannot do: it cannot save us, justify us, or cancel the certificate of indebtedness that stands against us because of sin. Only Yehoshua HaMashiyach can satisfy that debt and call us back to faithful, obedient covenant living.

In Part 4 of What Torah Can Do for Us, we explore what Torah does for the redeemed believer. Torah does not save or justify us apart from Yeshua Messiah, yet it reveals Yehovah's character, points us to Messiah, makes us wise unto salvation, grounds us in truth, and strengthens us for covenant faithfulness and spiritual warfare.

• Yah's everlasting covenant with Israel
• God has not rejected His people
• Grafted into the commonwealth of Israel
• The meaning of "neither Jew nor Greek" in context
• The oracles of God entrusted to Israel
• Why Torah does not sanction contempt