Leigh Caruthers "The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs: The connection of sickness and sin" -A series "Examining the Testament of Re'uven"

photo by Leigh

Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs: The connection of sickness and sin.

Leigh Caruthers

Sickness and sin, is there a connection?

It is not so difficult to think there is a connection between sickness and sin. I have worked as a Nurse for over 20 years and looking back I most definitely can recognize sinful behavior that resulted in consequences or illness in many of my patients. Is it any surprise that the instructions given in scripture from the mouth of Yahuah are details of specific sins to avoid and the details of what happens when we do not obey? Food laws are provided, not to restrict us from good things, but to protect us from food that will bring about sickness, illness, and even a slow death from obesity, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, strokes, and heart attacks. Yet the world rebels against these instructions and even creates false interpretations that these food laws do not pertain any more, nailed to the cross.  However, the unclean animals are still not healthy, they still cause disease and illness and people die every day related to breaking these dietary laws. If only we were warned they were bad. What other sins do we see in society being pushed as totally acceptable behavior? We see a society without Yahuah being their own guide to destruction.  

Examining the Testament of Reu'ven

The first book in the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs is Re'uven, the firstborn son of Ya'aqov (and Le'ah). This story is one of lust and consequences that stretch far beyond just disgracing his "father's bed" and family. It came at a personal cost to his health and even mental well-being. In his words of warning to his sons and his sons' sons on his deathbed, he describes in painful detail these consequences related to lack of self-control. 

Chapter 1:6-8 of the Testament of Re'uven: And behold I call to witness against you this day the ELOHIYM of heaven, that ye walk not in the sins of youth and fornication, wherein I was poured out, and defiled the bed of my father Ya'aqov. 7 And I tell you that he smote me with a sore plague in my loins for seven months; and had not my father Ya'aqov prayed for me to YAHUAH, YAHUAH would have destroyed me. 8 For I was thirty years old when I wrought the evil thing before YAHUAH, and for seven months I was sick unto death.  

There is no question about what sin Re'uven succumbed to. Lust. Lust can come in the form of just about anything that we have a weakness for. Right now the Torah portion Yithro/Jethro contains the point of history where Moshe received the 10 Devariym/Words/Commandments that are in effect to this day. In this story of Re'uven we will see him break several of the commandments. He will pursue "lying with" his father's wife Bilhah and will break the commandment of "you shall honor your Father and Mother." He will break the commandment of "thou shall not covet." Not only did he break these commandments of Yahuah, but he destroys his relationship with his father and the relationship between his father and Bilhah. Yahuah smote Re'uven with a "sore plague" in his loins for seven months. A direct and painful consequence of his sexual sin. This "sore plague" was painful enough that he reports he was "sick unto death." Sin will always have a consequence. Most people will not connect the sickness as a consequence of any sin committed. Instead of turning to Yahuah in repentance and sinning no more they simply go to the Doctor and get a shot or pills to overcome the physical affliction and then return to sin. Although there are sexually transmitted diseases now that curse the body even unto death and the people taken up with lust still do not see their sin in their sickness. 

Proverbs 26:11  As a dog returns to his vomit, 

so a fool returns to his folly.

Proverbs 26:12  See a man wise in his own conceit? 

There is more hope of a fool than of him.

The repentance of Re'uven

Chapter 1:9-10 The Testament of Re'uven: And after this I repented with set purpose of my soul for seven years before YAHUAH. 10 And wine and strong drink I drank not, and flesh entered not into my mouth, and I eat no pleasant food; but I mourned over my sin, for it was great, such as had not been Yashar'el. 

Is our repentance as loud as our sin? Are we holding ourselves accountable or putting the blame on others? It's the other person's fault. One lesson we learn from the repentance of Re'uven is that he did not downplay his indiscretion. He claimed it. He owned the responsibility and his repentance was as loud as his sin had been. He put his body and spirit through a detoxification of sorts that lasted for 7 years. Very interesting knowing that most of our cells regenerate every 7 years (skin cells daily and muscle cells longer at 15 years). He detoxified both his physical body and his spiritual soul.  He walked through this season of his life stripping away anything that might dull his senses, forging forward, sober and humble, denying himself even pleasant food to eat. He mourned over his sin. He gives us notice of seven ruachoth (spirits) of deceit that he saw as he repented. I believe these words are for us today to understand so that we can avoid them. 

Ephesians 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, 

but against principalities, against powers, 

against the rulers of the darkness of this world, 

against spiritual wickedness in high places.

photo by Leigh

I believe it is here where man is deceived. People have forgotten that we live in a spiritual world and that we are spiritual beings. We have a nephesh or soul. The Hebrew term nephesh (chayyah) is often translated "living soul". With a soul is a spiritual aspect of life. There is much we do not see or aren't aware of in our daily life, but I promise they are there. It is these principalities I believe Re'uven warns us about. Let's take a look

Chapter 2:   Testament of Re'uven. 2 Seven ruachoth therefore are appointed against man, and they are the leaders in the works of youth. 3 [And seven other ruachoth are given to him at his creation that through them should be done every work of man. 4 The first is the ruach of life, with which the constitution (of man) is created. The second is the sense of sight, with which arises desire. 5 The third is the sense of hearing, with which comes knowledge. 6 The fourth is the sense of smell, with which tastes are given, to draw air and breath. 7 The fifth is the power of speech, with which comes knowledge. The sixth is the sense of taste, with which comes the eating of meats and drinks; 8 and by it strength is produced, for in food is the foundation of strength. The seventh is the power of procreation and sexual intercourse, with which through love of pleasure sins enter in. 9 Wherefore it is the last in order of creation, and the first in that of youth, because it is filled with ignorance, and leads the youth as a blind man to a pit, and as a beast to a precipice. 

Through this insight from Re'uven we begin to understand that these seven ruachoth are appointed against man from the beginning. We see they are initially appointed to benefit us but also can be used against ourselves if we are operating in our flesh. What it all boils down to is whether we are capable of controlling our own urges, desires, and flesh. All you have to do is look on social media or watch a commercial or a movie to see that society is currently being led by these "works of youth." Every one of these ruachoth is ruling the flesh of those who are in rebellion against the word of Yahuah, which in this current year of 2024 is a vast majority. The world is sick, and the cause is overwhelming sin. Sin is the transgression of the law. 

1John 3:1  BEHOLD, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, 

that we should be called the sons of Elohiym: 

therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not.

1John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of Elohiym, 

and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, 

when he shall appear, we shall be like him; 

for we shall see him as he is.

1John 3:3  And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, 

even as he is pure.

1John 3:4  Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the Torah: 

for sin is the transgression of the Torah.

1John 3:5  And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; 

and in him is no sin.

1John 3:6  Whosoever abides in him sins not: 

whosoever sins has not seen him, neither known him.

1John 3:7  Little children, let no man deceive you: 

he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

1John 3:8  He that commits sin is of the devil; 

for the devil sins from the beginning. 

For this purpose the Son of Elohiym was manifested, 

that he might destroy the works of the devil.

1John 3:9  Whosoever is born of Elohiym does not commit sin; 

for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, 

because he is born of Elohiym.

1John 3:10  In this the children of Elohiym are manifest, 

and the children of the devil: 

whosoever does not righteousness is not of Elohiym, 

neither he that loves not his brother.

What I believe Re'uven is trying to warn us of is that we should not be subject to our flesh being led by the leaders of youth but to walk in obedience to Yahuah. We read in 1 John that sin is the transgression of the Torah. All of us are sinners, yet by the blood of Yahusha Ha'Mashiach we are saved. Without Yahusha we are sick in our sin, even unto death. That sickness can and will manifest in our flesh. The Torah is given to us as instructions on how to live a happy and healthy life. Yahusha is given to us to save us from the weakness of our flesh. He took our death sentence owed by each of us due to our transgression of the Torah. In that knowledge, we ought to walk like Mashiach as he walked in his flesh, in obedience to Yahuah following the narrow path. 

Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the Kingdom of Elohiym, 

and his righteousness; and all these things 

shall be added unto you.

Romans 8:1  THERE is therefore now no condemnation 

to them which are in Mashiach Yahusha, 

who walk not after the flesh, but after the Ruach.

Romans 8:2  For the Torah of the Ruach Chayiym 

in Mashiach Yahusha has made me free 

from the Law of sin and death.

Romans 8:3  For what was impossible under 

the Law for the flesh to do, Elohiym did in sending his own Son 

in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, 

condemned sin in the flesh:

Romans 8:4  That the righteousness of the Torah 

might be fulfilled in us, 

who walk not after the flesh, but after the Ruach.

Join me next time as I continue to examine the Testament of Re'uven and the connection between sickness and sin. We will be reading Re'uven's disclosure about the eight ruach of sleep and their effects on our flesh. Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts!

photo by Leigh

Scripture referenced from Cepher

https://www.cepher.net/shop.aspx?itemid=2406&prodid=97023&pagetitle=%d7%90%d7%aa-Cepher-Scriptures-Millennium-Edition-2022-

The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs found in Cepher Bere'shiyth

https://www.cepher.net/shop.aspx?itemid=2408&prodid=14749&pagetitle=Bereshiyth

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