Introduction
   Yahweh said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Yahweh created man in His own image, in the image of Yahweh He created him; male and female He created them. Yahweh blessed them; and Yahweh said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then Yahweh said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. Yahweh saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day, Genesis 1: 26 – 31.

Yahweh Loved His Creation
   He established a personal relationship with His creation in the beginning, in the garden, in the earth. He had created man in His image and given man control over the earth. Yahweh trusted His created beings to care for the whole of His creation. Yahweh turned over the keys to the new creation to Adam. The relationship here was strong. Yahweh gave control of the new creation to Adam with only one restriction:
   Yahweh Elohim took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. Yahweh Elohim commanded the man, saying, “From any tree in the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die,” Genesis 2:15 – 17.

A Loving Relationship
   Mankind was given all the provisions one would ever need to occupy the land and have a very fulfilling life.
   Then Yahweh Elohim said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him,” Genesis 2:18.
   A simple, wonderful existence — walking and talking with the King of the Universe and trusting one another to do only good for each other. A truly good friendship. The only caveat in this scenario was to not eat from that tree or, “Friend,“ you will not like the consequences of your actions. If you eat, you will die.
   They trusted each other in the beginning.

Obedience is the Key With Yahweh
   Obedience is truly the key with Yahweh.
   Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of Yahweh, and went on the mission on which Yahweh sent me, and have brought back Agag, the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to Yahweh your Elohim at Gilgal.” Samuel said, “Has Yahweh as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, He has also rejected you from being king.” Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of Yahweh and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship Yahweh.” But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of Yahweh, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel,” 1 Samuel 15:20 – 26.
   Saul was given specific instructions and he chose to do things his way rather than Yahweh's way. It seems that Saul didn't trust Yah to be giving him the proper instructions.

Trust is the Key to Obedience
   Trust is the key to obedience. If we don't trust someone we have a tendency to hesitate when they tell us something or delay if they want us to do something. Suppose you are a happily married individual. You are in love with your spouse. You trust your spouse implicitly. You have had no trouble at all in your relationship.
   Suppose a trusted friend, a relative, a member of your assembly; anyone that you are comfortable with as being truthful, approaches you and says that they have knowledge that your spouse is now and has for some time been having an affair. This is not true!! But you have been told by a trusted source.
   Has your opinion of your spouse been compromised? Even though it's not true do you feel betrayed? Something in your relationship has changed. Even though it's not true, and your spouse would never dream of betraying you, and your spouse loves you dearly. Still something inside of you has changed; because of a lie.
   The trust that once existed between you and your spouse has been broken. Confrontations and discussions on this matter will ensue; your spouse will doubt your fidelity and question you because “how could you think such a thing?”
   Remember, it was all a LIE. Lies have power, the power to break trust and that broken trust can call a loving relationship into question.

Where Does This Lead Us?
   Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which Elohim had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has Elohim said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, Elohim has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will surely die.'“ The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For Elohim knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like Elohim, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings, Genesis 3:1 – 7.
   Adam and Eve trusted Yahweh. They had a loving relationship with Yahweh and they believed what was told to them. The serpent questioned that relationship. Did He restrict you in any way? Why would He hold back from you in a loving relationship? You surely will not die, he says. He knew that when you eat from that tree you will become like Him, and He can't allow that, can He?
   Something happened in the garden. Something happened to Eve and Adam. They trusted all of Yahweh's creation. Why would they not trust the serpent? They listened. The serpent told them a lie about their relationship. Something happened to their relationship with Yahweh.
   Now there is doubt... mistrust... Why? Was it because they believed a lie?

Adam’s Descendants Distrusted Yahweh
   Then Elohim spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying “Now behold, I myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth,” Elohim said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. It shall come about when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between Elohim and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And Elohim said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.” Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem and Ham and Yapheth; and Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated, Genesis 9:8–19.
   Yahweh promised a new beginning for the sons of Noah. This was to be a fresh start for their relationship and renewed covenant. The sons of Noah had seen the hand of Yahweh; they had seen the mighty power. Still, there was something, a hint of doubt! Could they really trust the Creator? He had just destroyed the world around them. Even though He said He would never do that again, could they trust Him?
   Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth,” Genesis 11:1 4.
   Rather than returning to the relationship that once existed before the serpent, the sons of Noah opted to strike out on their own and build their own name rather than accept and serve the name of Yahweh. The trust had not returned. They were still wary of the Creator. They can serve themselves and that would be the way of the world. Ha satan’s lie had lived on in the children of Noah. They would be their own object of worship. Of course, other elohim crept into their lives over time, but there was something that had changed about Yahweh. Something inside that they could not overcome.

Did Yahweh Cast Israel Aside?
   NO. Yahweh tried to re-establish that relationship. He tried to regain the trust that was lost due to the lie of ha satan. He tried through many trials when the children of Abraham were caused to be slaves in Mitsraym. It was time to try to reestablish the relationship again. Yahweh contacted Moshe (Moses), telling him about his special task. Moshe was hesitant to approach the pharaoh as a representative of the Most High. Perhaps Moshe didn't trust Yahweh?
   Then Moshe said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, 'Yahweh has not appeared to you.'“ Yahweh said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said “A staff.” Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; Moshe fled from it. But Yahweh said to Moshe, “Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail” so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand - “that they may believe that Yahweh Elohim of their fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Issac, and the Elohim of Yaacob, has appeared to you.” Yahweh furthermore said to him, “Now put your hand into your bosom,” and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. Then He said, “Put your into your bosom again.” So he put his hand into his bosom again, and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. If they will not believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe the witness of the last sign. But if they will not believe even these two signs or heed what you say, then you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.” The Moshe said to Yahweh, “Please, Yahweh, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Yahweh said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.” But he said, “Please Yahweh, now send the message by whomever You will.” Then the anger of Yahweh burned against Moshe, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do. Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as elohim to him. You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.” Then Moshe departed and returned to Yethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please, let me go, that I may return to my brethren who are in Mitsraym, and see if they are still alive.” And Yethro said to Moshe, “Go in peace,” Exodus 4: 1 – 18.
   Moshe did not want to trust Yahweh. He did not want to do what was required of him. He argued with Yahweh. Something was missing in Moshe's character. But, he went.
   After Yisrael was brought out of Mitsraym they moaned and complained and found fault at every turn. They lost their trust in the One Who delivered them from slavery. They doubted the Creator and longed for their former life in mitsraym. Yisrael waited at the base of Mt. Sinai for Moshe to return from speaking to Yahweh. They feared and lost faith. Their trust was in their own hand. They demanded that Aaron make them a golden calf that they might appeal to Yahweh in the ways that they knew in Mitsraym.
   Then Yahweh spoke to Moshe, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you have brought up from the land of mitsraym, have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them, they have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshipped it and have sacrificed to it and said, 'This is your elohim, oh Yisrael, who brought you up from the land of mitsraym!' Yahweh said to Moshe, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation,” Exodus 32:7 – 10.
   Moshe pleaded with Yahweh to spare the people for Yahweh's sake; that His name be held in esteem. The people did not trust their Elohim. But, Moshe was seeing Yahweh differently.

Conclusion
   We are a sad lot. Our relationship has been broken and the doubt of our Creator carries on, by and large, to this day. We continue to doubt Yahweh. Our hope is to believe He is Who He says He is and to restore our relationship with Him.
   Yahweh sent an emissary to help us to renew our trust and to renew the covenant we had with Him. He sent Yahshua ha Mashiach to restore that which had been lost.
   Men that knew Yahshua had a change of heart. They found a new faith and trust in the Creator.
   When they had brought them, they stood them before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Yerushalyim with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” But Peter and the emissaries answered, “We must obey Elohim rather than men. The Elohim of our fathers raised up Yahshua, Whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a stake. He is the One Whom Elohim exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Yisrael, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Ruach Ha Kodesh, Which Elohim has given to those who obey Him,” Acts 5:27–32.
   They found a renewed, trusting relationship with the Creator of the Universe. Through long-suffering Yahweh was realizing the renewal of the way it was to be in the beginning, before the lie.
   Peter, an emissary of Yahshua Messiah, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of Elohim the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Ruach, to obey Yahshua Messiah and be sprinkled with His blood; may favor and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Blessed be the Elohim and Father of our Master Yahshua Messiah, Who according to His great compassion has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Yahshua Messiah from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in the heavens for you, who are protected by the power of Elohim through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, 1 Peter 1:1 – 5.
   Surely, if we trust our Elohim to be Who He says He is and to accept the work of renewing the relationship that Yahshua did, we are no longer a “stiff-necked” people as in the days of old. We welcome the return to the former thing, the renewal of the covenant between Yahweh and His people. Yisrael shall once again become heir to the promises and dwell in the land that Yahweh has given us.