In the January 18, 2006 edition of industryweek.com an interesting article entitled Continental Drifter -- The Arrogance Of Ignorance, A new generation of the serenely clueless is ready, willing and able to destroy your company, Mark Gottlieb warns of an emerging threat to companies from confident but ignorant employees: "The threat you face derives not from any external factors that may affect your company. Instead, it comes from your own employees. The deadliest business hazard of our time is the result of a sea change in the American approach to education that occurred early in the 1970s. Across the United States, conventional educational standards were tossed out the window, replaced with feel-good theories like "whole-language learning" that emphasized personal fulfillment over the accumulation of hard knowledge. As a result, we now have two generations of men and women who expect gold stars not for succeeding, but simply for trying; and, sometimes, merely for showing up." Within our Messianic community we can experience this threat of ignorant arrogance as too many people often are more familiar with the words of popular religious music or even religious traditions than the clear understanding of Scripture. Ignorant arrogance is not bliss! God has given clear instructions which bring blessing when studied and applied His way!

In our Torah portion for this week G-d lays out clear instructions regarding how the people were to bring sacrifices for the various kinds of offerings. There were essential rules that governed what would make an offering acceptable or unacceptable. These rules dictated some seemingly insignificant items and details. Leaven, a very small item, is explicitly forbidden on the altar, while other "seasoning" items, salt and olive oil, are actually required. Why does following these small details matter if sacrifice is really just the barbequing of an animal? The answer has to do with the innermost heart motivations of the one bringing the sacrifice! Certainly for G-d the humility of the one bringing the offering is demonstrated by their willingness to pay attention to the small details required for their sacrifice. The objective of the sacrificial system was to encourage the people to humbly recognize their sin and then in obedient submission offer their sacrifice to God as He required. In doing this they would receive forgiveness for their sins. It was because of the humble acknowledgement of G-d's rules and the obedience in faith thereof that the one making the offering received atonement for their sin.

In our Haftarah portion G-d commanded Saul to wipe out the wicked Amalekites. Saul mostly followed G-d's instructions and did almost all of what G-d said. Was it enough? No! Acting arrogantly by not fully obeying G-d's command, he justified his actions and then blamed others for his disobedience. Because of his arrogant disobedience G-d removed Saul as king. Let us be honest, there are things within G-d Scriptures that make us uncomfortable, choices we know G-d wants us to make that we just don't want to. Should we expect G-d's blessing for not following Him. Never! As our text shows, G-d expects humility and obedience. Disobedience and arrogance will always bring G-d's judgment.

In our Brit Chadashah portion we read of the Good News of G-d's plan to redeem His world through our Messiah Yeshua. His sacrificial death brings for all those who consciously choose to accept it forgiveness of sin and a restored relationship with G-d. What a gracious gift G-d has provided! Without faith in Messiah Yeshua's atoning sacrifice there can be no relationship with G-d. Those who reject G-d's instructions are judged for not trusting! Unfortunately most people don't accept Yeshua's sacrifice. In arrogance they demean Messiah's death by thinking to acquire atonement through their own merit. There is no excuse for ignorance as Yeshua himself said that those who do what is true will come to the light. If anyone will humbly seek G-d they will find Him, and receive forgiveness. Obedience and Humility bring atonement and blessing.

Let us avoid both individually and congregationally the life of ignorant arrogance. Let us live humbly before our G-d, studying and applying His Scripture with the willingness to choose to follow God's instructions even if we are uncomfortable with the details!