Wound healing is one of the essential aspects of regeneration of the tissues and bones which is necessary for life. Recently a paper was published which reports a study on salamanders (axolotl) whose whole limbs are capable of regeneration after amputation and while also being exposed to non-sterile environments. This is significant as our current understanding in regeneration, we know that a balanced inflammatory response is key as inflammation is essential for regeneration where excessive inflammation will result in tissue destruction and inefficiencies in the prevention of infection, etc. One of the key aspects of this research is to understand the differences in mammal and amphibian regeneration, and how ultimately what is learned may lead to facilitating this same tissue enhanced repair in mammals using pharmaceutical therapies.
- Ryan J. Debuque et al, Distinct toll‐like receptor signaling in the salamander response to tissue damage, Developmental Dynamics (2021). DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.340
This study, led by a team of scientists at the MDI Biological Laboratory in Bar Harbor Maine, unraveled some of the differences in molecular signaling that promotes regeneration in salamanders. The study compared the salamander signals to that of the adult mouse, which has a limited regenerative ability. Mice, as is typical for mammals, generally form a scar at the site of a bodily injury. Scaring creates a physical barrier to regeneration. So the idea that led to this research was to discover why the salamander does not have scarring and why the salamander does not respond to injury in the same way that the mouse and other mammals do. These Axolotls salamanders do not scar which allows regeneration to take place. If we would be able to prevent scarring in humans, we could significantly enhance quality of life. Take for example someone who has had damage to feet, legs, or arms, one could perform an amputation and the body could regenerate an entirely new arm or leg. This is not limited to the appendages, as the axolotl salamander can regenerate almost any body part, including the heart, brain, lungs, ovaries, spinal cord, skin, tail, and more.
The research paper reports on comparisons of the immune cells called macrophages in the salamander to those of mice with the goal of identifying the cells that promote regeneration. Earlier studies by this team of researchers revealed that when the macrophages are depleted, scarring forms instead of regeneration in salamanders. One interesting discovery when salamanders and mice were exposed to bacteria, fungi, and viruses the macrophages responded the same way between amphibians and mammals. When exposed to injury the macrophage signaling promoted the growth of new tissue whereas in the mouse it promoted scaring. Specifically, the signaling response of a class of proteins known as toll-like receptors (TRLs) are the suspected pathway which allows macrophages to recognize a threat of infection or tissue injury. This protein helps the macrophages to respond appropriately in amphibians, such as providing a pro-inflammatory response in amphibians which leads to regeneration. It is at this point in immune response in which there is an unexpectedly divergent behavior comparing the salamander to the mouse. This new finding provides a new research opportunity to study the underlying mechanisms governing regeneration in salamanders. This research is foundational to understanding and developing regeneration technologies (Pharmaceuticals and therapies) that could lead to regeneration in humans. Gaining these new insights places us closer to understanding the exact mechanism of regeneration in salamanders and brings us closer to developing methods for reproducing this in mammals (humans and animals). The continued research at MDI Biological Laboratory is to map out the critical nodes in TLR signaling pathways that regulate this regeneration vs. scarring behavior.
The Spiritual Insights that we receive from this type of research is related to this biological pathway for regeneration. This reminds me of Parashat Reah (Devarim / Deuteronomy 11:26-28).
ספר דברים פרק יא
כו רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה: כז אֶֽת־הַבְּרָכָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁמְע֗וּ אֶל־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם׃ כח וְהַקְּלָלָ֗ה אִם־לֹ֤א תִשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם לָלֶ֗כֶת אַחֲרֵ֛י אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְדַעְתֶּֽם׃
11:26 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 11:27 the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; 11:28 and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known. (NASB)
Here Moshe says רְאֵ֗ה (see) I am setting before you (אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם) today (הַיּ֑וֹם) a blessing and a curse (בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה). He goes on to describe what he means saying, אֶֽת־הַבְּרָכָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁמְע֗וּ אֶל־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם׃ וְהַקְּלָלָ֗ה אִם־לֹ֤א תִשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם “the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God.” When we lay the scientific research down alongside these scriptures, we draw out the idea of a mechanistic approach. (Note this is how some interpret these verses.) We note also how this remains today a valid warning וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם לָלֶ֗כֶת אַחֲרֵ֛י אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְדַעְתֶּֽם to not turn from the way of God to follow after other gods. As we read according to the Torah, we obtain God’s blessing (בְּרָכָ֖ה) when we obey His holy Word. Our decision to obey manifests the blessed state of walking before the Divine Presence. Do these verses draw out the idea of man earning his salvation by working his way into heaven? The modern theologies today would suggest this approach to these Scriptures. I have heard it taught that God let’s down a chain of 613 commands and man is trying to climb his way up into heaven. This is an example taken right out of modern theology 101, and is totally a biblical misconception (Error in theology)! Fortunately for us, this is not what Moshe is teaching and the Scriptures make this clear. Moshe is speaking of how we are to live as being a holy people who have been separated as an am segola (treasured people) by the power of God. What Moshe is warning us about is how we are to live our lives here on earth, sanctifying our lives through the choices we make to always set the Lord God of Israel before us and it is in this way that the path of true blessing (בְּרָכָ֖ה) comes. On the other hand, the curse (וּקְלָלָֽה) comes when we close our eyes and forget what the Lord God in heaven represents, life, truth, righteousness, and holiness, and what He wants for our lives. When we forget about who the Lord is, this invariably leads to idolatry of self, property (materialism), and seeking other gods. We know what the outcome is when we truly seek the Lord (בְּרָכָ֖ה, blessing) as opposed to turning from God and His ways (וּקְלָלָֽה, curses). The blessing and the curses spoken of here by Moshe comes from our own inward decision making and choices which are influenced by the presence of God in our lives. When we choose to set our feet upon the path God intends for our lives according to the Scriptures, the Lord God Almighty establishes the path we have chosen. This is facilitated by our dwelling in God’s presence through faith and living by that faith. This is why we read David and Solomon saying what they do according to Tehillim / Psalms 16:5 and Mishley / Proverbs 16:9.
ספר תהילים פרק טז
ה יְהוָה מְנָת-חֶלְקִי וְכוֹסִי אַתָּה תּוֹמִיךְ גּוֹרָלִי:
Tehillim / Psalms 16:5
16:5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. (NASB)
ספר משלי פרק א
ט לֵב אָדָם יְחַשֵּׁב דַּרְכּוֹ וַיהֹוָה יָכִין צַעֲדוֹ:
Mishley / Proverbs 16:9
16:9 The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. (NASB)
David writes that God is his portion-possession (מְנָת-חֶלְקִי), his cup (וְכוֹסִי), and He takes hold of his lot (אַתָּה תּוֹמִיךְ גּוֹרָלִי). This suggests something about our relationship with God, He is significantly involved in our lives and God Himself is our possession. Not only this, His taking hold of our lot suggests the Lord God makes the outcome of our situations in life work out according to His will. We just have to trust in Him! Notice how the NT text describes this in the way in which the disciples chose a 12th member according to Acts 1:12-26 as Matthias was chosen by lot to replace Judas. This game of chance is believed to be guided by God based upon these Scriptures.
We note what Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 42:10 ‘If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you up and not tear you down, and I will plant you and not uproot you; for I will relent of the disaster that I have inflicted on you. 42:11 Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you are now fearing; do not be afraid of him,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I am with you to save you and rescue you from his hand. 42:12 I will also show you compassion, so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your own soil. (NASB) This speaks to the blessing (בְּרָכָ֖ה) that follows the one who trusts in the Lord by listening and obeying. Remember, trusting in God requires faith which is then followed through by one’s actions. Notice how the Lord says through Jeremiah that we don’t have to be afraid, He will cause our enemies to have compassion on us. So again this speaks of God’s blessing (בְּרָכָ֖ה) as following us no matter where we go, as long as we are walking in God’s will. In this case from Jeremiah, the people were told to trust in the Lord God Almighty and remain in the Land. Next let’s look at what happens to those who choose not to walk in God’s ways.
44:4 ‘Yet I sent you all My servants the prophets, again and again, saying, “Oh, do not do this abominable thing which I hate.” 44:5 ‘But they did not listen or incline their ears to turn from their wickedness, so as not to burn sacrifices to other gods. 44:6 ‘Therefore My wrath and My anger were poured out and burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, so they have become a ruin and a desolation as it is this day. 44:7 ‘Now then thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, “Why are you doing great harm to yourselves, so as to cut off from you man and woman, child and infant, from among Judah, leaving yourselves without remnant, 44:8 provoking Me to anger with the works of your hands, burning sacrifices to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you are entering to reside, so that you might be cut off and become a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth? 44:9 “Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? (NASB)
Notice how the Lord God explains through Jeremiah how He was calling His people to turn from their wicked ways. In this particular situation, the people of Judah were fleeing from Israel in the hope of getting away from the sword, the famine, and the plague. Their feeling however did not get them away from the consequences of their sin, they brought their sinful ways with them. Walking in wickedness literally leads to harm to self and those around us. We note that if the people had not gone to Egypt, God most likely would not have caused Babylon to come against this nation. Jeremiah 44:30, כט וְזֹאת־לָכֶ֤ם הָאוֹת֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה כִּֽי־פֹקֵ֥ד אֲנִ֛י עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם בַּמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה לְמַ֙עַן֙ תֵּֽדְע֔וּ כִּי֩ ק֨וֹם יָק֧וּמוּ דְבָרַ֛י עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם לְרָעָֽה׃ ל כֹּ֣ה׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה הִנְנִ֣י נֹ֠תֵן אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֨ה חָפְרַ֤ע מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ בְּיַ֣ד אֹֽיְבָ֔יו וּבְיַ֖ד מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י נַפְשׁ֑וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֜תִּי אֶת־צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֗ה בְּיַ֨ד נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֧ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל אֹיְב֖וֹ וּמְבַקֵּ֥שׁ נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ 44:29 ‘This will be the sign to you,’ declares the Lord, ‘that I am going to punish you in this place, so that you may know that My words will surely stand against you for harm.’ 44:30 “Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I am going to give over Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt to the hand of his enemies, to the hand of those who seek his life, just as I gave over Zedekiah king of Judah to the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and was seeking his life.’” (NASB) We note again how the actions of one man, or a group of people, our choices can lead to the destruction of an entire nation. This destruction can come from within or from without. A modern day example may be found in the LGBTQ and liberal ideologies that are so prevalent today leading many to live in grievous sin before God calling evil good! As a result of this, the people of the USA and elsewhere are adopting socialism ideologies and have the desire to give all of their freedoms, rights, and liberties to the government in the name of socialism and truly believe this is the best choice and will succeed. If we note what Paul wrote in Romans 1, this foolishness is a great deception brought by God to those who reject His word and His ways! Because of this, people ignorantly and self deceptively disregard how all socialized governments have failed and the logic that this same thing will happen here in the USA as well if implemented in government! This is why what we are reading about in Jeremiah applies to us even today as truth, showing us how we are to draw near to the Lord in His word, trust in Him and His promises, and live our lives according to His Word. Doing so, God will work in the hearts and minds of our enemies and even increase and strengthen our own faith! On the other hand, turning from the ways of the Lord will lead to just the opposite, the curse (וּקְלָלָֽה). Note again what Devarim / Deuteronomy 11:26 states, רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה were the word לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם means “before you” and this implies that we are being given a choice. We have the freedom of choice which works in conjunction with the revelation of God’s Righteousness and Holiness, and His presence in our lives. This is where the concept of reward and punishment are revealed to us in the Scriptures. Note also the idea of reward is meaningless if God simply decreed who was to be redeemed and who was to be destroyed (i.e. Calvinism’s idea of predestination). Each of us has a choice to make. This is why we read throughout the history of Israel how God always sent prophets and men of God to God’s people and the nations (i.e. Jonah) calling people to repentance (Teshuvah) to turn to God and His holy ways, to believe the good news, to trust in God, etc. (Mark 1:15, Acts 2:38, 2 Peter 3:9. Revelation 2:5)
What these things speak to us concerning faith, righteousness, and the blessing and the curse (בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה) is related to God’s sovereignty and our responsibility before God. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:12-13 saying, “Work out (κατεργάζεσθε) your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you (θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν), both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” As we choose to believe and step out in faith, trusting in the Lord, He will strengthen us in our resolve, he will provide us with the strength to overcome this world just as Yeshua overcame this world. This is the promise of God in our lives when Yeshua said to obey him and to remain in him and to walk in God’s ways of truth and life. The promise and the power of God is accomplished through faith in Yeshua by our Father sending His Holy Spirit into our lives who gives us strength to persevere in the midst of anything that comes our way in this life. (see John 14:26 and 15:26) In light of what the Torah states, the prophets in the Tanakh, and the NT text, the central command remains, to trust in the Lord, to obey His Word, and to walk in His ways, and the love and grace of God will be with us every step of the way through His Son Yeshua. We are told by the Lord God almighty according to Jeremiah that He will never leave us nor forsake us if we remain in faith trusting in the Lord and in Yeshua. Yeshua continues to call out to us according to the words in Revelation 3:20 saying, “Behold, I have stood at the door and knocked. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” The question is “what are we going to do with this request?” According to Moshe, we are to שָׁמ֤וֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע֙ בְּקוֹל֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ “diligently listen to the voice of the Lord our God.” (Devarim / Deuteronomy 28:1) If we believe in Yeshua, seek the presence of God in our lives, receive the Holy Spirit and walk in the footsteps of Yeshua, we will receive what is promised according to the Torah as Moshe said in Devarim / Deuteronomy 28:1, א וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁמ֤וֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע֙ בְּקוֹל֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לִשְׁמֹ֤ר לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־כָּל־מִצְוֺתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם וּנְתָ֨נְךָ֜ יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ עֶלְי֔וֹן עַ֖ל כָּל־גּוֹיֵ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ׃ 28:1 “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the EARTH. (NASB) These truths are derived from the Torah, just as we read according to Devarim / Deuteronomy 18.
ספר דברים פרק יח
א וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁמ֤וֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע֙ בְּקוֹל֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לִשְׁמֹ֤ר לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־כָּל־מִצְוֺתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם וּנְתָ֨נְךָ֜ יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ עֶלְי֔וֹן עַ֖ל כָּל־גּוֹיֵ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ׃ ב וּבָ֧אוּ עָלֶ֛יךָ כָּל־הַבְּרָכ֥וֹת הָאֵ֖לֶּה וְהִשִּׂיגֻ֑ךָ כִּ֣י תִשְׁמַ֔ע בְּק֖וֹל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ ג בָּר֥וּךְ אַתָּ֖ה בָּעִ֑יר וּבָר֥וּךְ אַתָּ֖ה בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃ ד בָּר֧וּךְ פְּרִֽי־בִטְנְךָ֛ וּפְרִ֥י אַדְמָתְךָ֖ וּפְרִ֣י בְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ שְׁגַ֥ר אֲלָפֶ֖יךָ וְעַשְׁתְּר֥וֹת צֹאנֶֽךָ׃ ה בָּר֥וּךְ טַנְאֲךָ֖ וּמִשְׁאַרְתֶּֽךָ׃ ו בָּר֥וּךְ אַתָּ֖ה בְּבֹאֶ֑ךָ וּבָר֥וּךְ אַתָּ֖ה בְּצֵאתֶֽךָ׃ ז יִתֵּ֨ן יְהוָ֤ה אֶת־אֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ הַקָּמִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יךָ נִגָּפִ֖ים לְפָנֶ֑יךָ בְּדֶ֤רֶךְ אֶחָד֙ יֵצְא֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וּבְשִׁבְעָ֥ה דְרָכִ֖ים יָנ֥וּסוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃ ח יְצַ֨ו יְהוָ֤ה אִתְּךָ֙ אֶת־הַבְּרָכָ֔ה בַּאֲסָמֶ֕יךָ וּבְכֹ֖ל מִשְׁלַ֣ח יָדֶ֑ךָ וּבֵ֣רַכְךָ֔ בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃
28:1 “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the EARTH. 28:2 “All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God: 28:3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the COUNTRY. 28:4 “Blessed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground and the offspring of your beasts, the increase of your herd and the young of your FLOCK. 28:5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading BOWL. 28:6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go OUT. 28:7 “The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven WAYS. 28:8 “The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you. (NASB)
We serve a powerful God, and we do not have to worry, we can trust that God is able to do all things through faith, life, and truth!