Tammuz is the fourth month on the biblical calendar. It’s a month in which we want to see ourselves progressing, but there are snares to be avoided. When the children of Israel got tired of waiting on Moses, they built a golden calf (Exodus 32). Even after witnessing the plagues against Pharoh and the parting of the sea, they reverted to worshipping the true God in a false way.
The Hebrews had to break away from the pattern of Egypt and learn how to worship God in spirit and truth. When they made the golden calf, they had the heart of worship but abandoned the reality of worship.
The month of Tammuz is about getting our sight right. When the spies scouted the promised land, they saw the blessing of the land but didn’t see through the lens of promise. They saw the giants in the land as a problem. Only Joshua and Caleb believed the promise. There will always be challenges, but we must believe the promise and not fear the problem.
The spies saw great goodness in the land but also giants. They decided to focus on the giants instead of remembering all that God had already done and believing God would handle this obstacle as well.
We choose our focus. Hebrews 12:1-2 CJB “So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us, too, put aside every impediment — that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement — and keep running with endurance in the contest set before us, 2 looking away to the Initiator and Completer of that trusting, Yeshua — who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Lamentations 3:21-26 CJB “But in my mind I keep returning to something, something that gives me hope —
22 that the grace of Adonai is not exhausted, that his compassion has not ended. 23 [On the contrary,] they are new every morning! How great your faithfulness! 24 “Adonai is all I have,” I say; “therefore I will put my hope in him. 25 Adonai is good to those waiting for him, to those who are seeking him out. 26 It is good to wait patiently
for the saving help of Adonai.”
Reading Jesus Christ, but Thinking Yeshua the Messiah
Just as the spies could see overwhelming goodness and one obstacle and had their thinking overcome by the obstacle. I think, at times, when we read Jesus Christ in our Bible, we experience a barrier to the fullness of truth. When we read Jesus Christ, we need to be able to think in our minds, Yeshua the Messiah. Jesus came as a Jew, lived as a Jew, taught the Torah, died and rose as a Jew, and is coming back to Jerusalem to set up His Kingdom.
When we understand that we are grafted into the olive tree of Israel, we will have a different spiritual sight. I love the Church, but Christianity is not a new religion. Jesus came to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and said He had other sheep not in this fold (Matthew 15:24, John 10:1-18).
How Should We See
When we go from thinking the woman with the issue of blood grabbed Jesus’ robe to grasping the tassels of His prayer shawl (Tallit), we put the Bible into clearer focus. When we read the Words of Yeshua the Rabbi, instead of Jesus the “Christian,” we will come away with many different insights into the text.
I use the Complete Jewish Bible and Tree of Life Version because they restore the Jewishness of the text by using the names Yeshua, Jacob, Judah, and others, as well as terms like Menorah, shofar, and Cohen. They remind you that the Bible is a Hebrew book.
Seeing And Seizing the Promise
The children of Israel eventually inherited the promised land. Today, Jews worldwide are returning to the land promised to Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and their descendants.
When we focus on the Word of God and walk in His ways, we will bypass the snare of the “golden calf and wait for Moses to come down.” Part of faith is knowing God sees things we can’t see and trusting His direction, timing, and sovereignty.
During this month of Tammuz, I encourage you to check your focus and put your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith. Examine your friendships to see whether they speak faith or fear into your life. But most of all, worship the Lord for His goodness and move forward.
For more information on the Hebrew Calendar, visit chabad.org and consult A Time to Advance: Understanding the Significance of the Hebrew Tribes and Months by Chuck D. Pierce with Robert and Linda Heidler.
Casey D. Bell 
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