The Hebrew word and root for "ram" means the ram as food, the ram as a sacrifice, the skins dyed for the tabernacle. It means a pillar, door post, door jambs, pilaster (support). It means strong man, leader, chief, mighty tree like a terebinth, oak, or palm. In architecture, it is the term that refers to the projecting ledge or covering that surrounds the top and two sides of a door (Jesus said, "I am the door of the sheep." Jn. 10:7) on a building, often adorned with columns. It means powerful, mighty, strength, strong God. The Hebrew word for ram makes up the root of the name "El", which is part of the name of God. So the ram is identified with the Father, God.
The horns of the ram in Hebrew has the meaning to radiate, emit beams, shine, rays of light.
The ram was used as a sacrifice in the worship of the tabernacle as a peace offering(Lev. 9:4, 18, 16:3), a trespass offering (Lev. 19:22), as the ram of consecration (Ex. 29:15-22, 27, 31, 32), and as the ram of atonement (Num. 5:8).
As we know, God provided a ram caught in a thicket (entwined or braided branches, as a sukkah, or tabernacle) as a sacrifice in place of Abraham's son, Isaac (Gen. 22:13). We say that this ram represents Jesus, but I believe that the ram depicted in this encounter is the Father. Abraham travelled with Isaac to "the land of Moriah". What does "Moriah" mean? The Concordance says it means "Chosen by Jehovah". But the Hebrew words mean "to see, look at, perceive, consider, to be visible, to appear, to be shown, to look at each other, to face, Jah (Jehovah)", or the Father God. Abraham is brought to a place where he will see God face to face. He will perceive and consider God, Who is making Himself visible in this place, and in this situation, a situation of sacrifice.
I am saying that the ram in scripture is a depiction of the Father. A ram, as an animal, is a father, or sire, to its offspring, which are lambs.
I would also like to expand this thought by looking at the unconditional faithfulness and fealty of the relationship between Jesus and His Father:
"Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loved the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these that you may marvel." Jn. 5:19-20
The above statement is very emphatic and clear and many times Jesus emphasizes the fact that He only says and does the things that He sees His Father doing (Jn. 8:38, 10:32, 37-38, 14:31, etc.).
I believe that one reason the Son is so determined to serve His Father so faithfully is because He saw His Father sacrifice Himself. Perhaps you may think this is a radical statement, but I believe the Son's relationship with the Father may very well be based upon this. Let us look at the following scripture:
"Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up (crucify) the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." Jn. 8:28-29
The Son is emulating the Father, including even in His death. Why should we think that the crucifixion, or sacrifice, is excluded from the acts the Son sees the Father, Himself, doing?
Jesus makes it clear to us that no one takes His life from Him, but He freely gives it up:
"Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." Jn. 10:17-18
Jesus told us in Jn. 5:19-20, (see above) that whatever the Father does, the Son does in like manner (likewise: equally, in the same way). Can't we therefore assume that the Son willingly lays down His life because He saw His Father do it also?
We may ask how the Father can sacrifice Himself, laying His life down, when He is not flesh, but Spirit? When He is eternal and everlasting? We can only say that Jesus sacrificed Himself before He became flesh, while He was Spirit, so this is possible:
"All who dwell on the earth will worship Him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev. 13:8
The Lamb, the offspring of the Ram, was slain before He was ever born in the flesh on earth. Before the foundation of the world, Jesus and the Father were one, the Father being in the Son (Jn. 17:20-26), when also the Lamb was slain in the Spirit.
A father does not ask a son to do something he has not done himself, or is not willing to do himself.
A son who only does what he sees his father doing, does not give up his life, unless he has seen his father do the same.
This only begotten Son emulates His Father in all ways. Even when He sacrificed Himself, He was taking us to the place, Moriah, where He could show us the Father.
"...Lord, show us the Father...He who has seen Me, has seen the Father." (Jn. 14:8-9).
Our Father is the Ram of sacrifice.
"Now Behold the Lamb"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CK1R1suY6U
"Worthy Is The Lamb"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAplJ0_jDFc
Recently we have been studying the three fall feasts of Israel, and it has been a blessing and revelation for us. The last feast of the series is the Feast of Tabernacles, also know as the Feast of Ingathering. It occurs during the ingathering of the fall harvest. Much can be written about the Feasts, and their importance to Christians, even as they have been practiced by generations of Jewish people. The Feasts are as much apart of our faith as the Word of God. Jesus observed the feasts faithfully. I cannot go into full detail of the feasts, and Tabernacles specifically, as it could fill a book, and I am no expert on the subject, but I would like to look at a particular aspect of it that I thought was extremely precious and important. Tabernacles, being the final feast, seems especially important to the End Times in which we live.
Part of the observance of Tabernacles is the building of a structure called a "sukkah". It is a four-sided structure that can have an opening on one side. Another part of the feast is gathering together, or bundling, of four types of vegetation called the "lulav". It is taught that the lulav represents the four-lettered Name of the LORD, yod, he, vaw, he. To me, even the sukkah, because it has four sides, can also represent this holy Name. Any time there is a grouping of four in scripture, we should pay special attention to its revelation of God's Name, known as the Tetragrammaton. I believe that when we hold that lulav in our hands, we are holding onto the Name of the LORD. I believe that when we enter into the sukkah, we are entering into the Name of the LORD. This is very important in these times.
It is said that the four components of vegetation that make up the lulav should represent our attitude and practice toward God. I think these same four items can also represent God's character and promises towards us.
In our study we learned that the lulav bundle is made up of the following:
Etrog, a citrus branch and fruit, represents the heart-our love for Him, and His love for us. It is a love that bore, and continues to bear, the fruit of salvation.
Lulav, is a straight date palm frond, and represents the spine, uprightness or righteousness, steadfastness in our relationship with God, and His faithfulness, righteousness and the steadfastness of God's promises to us.
Hadas, three myrtle branches, whose leaf shape represents the eyes, the vision and discernment. Our eyes are always to be lifted up and open to Him, as His eyes are always seeking us out, and seeing ahead to provide for us.
Aravah, two willow branches kept moist (willows grow by the water). They represent victory over the enemy, and, by shape, the lips, particularly when used by us in prayer. Likewise, God's lips are continually speaking into our lives, and Jesus' lips are continually making intercession for us.
It is so important as we enter these perilous End Times, that we understand the power of holding onto, and entering into, the Name of the LORD, as symbolized in these practices of the Feast of Tabernacles.
Scripture tells us the provision that has been given to us within the Name of the LORD:
"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe." Pro. 18:10
"May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you."
"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God." Psalm 20:1, 7
"Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth." Psalm 124:8
"And it shall come to pass: That whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, Rom. 10:13
"So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him." Isa. 59:19
There are so many more scriptures about the power and defense found in the name of the LORD, and in the name of Jesus.
In the End Times, many will be desperate to enter into a name, any name, and to be covered by something, anything:
"And in that day, seven women shall take hold of one man saying, "We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by your name to take away our reproach."
Isa. 4:1
"And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!" Rev. 6:15-16
But for those who have understanding, they will run to another name, to the greatest name, the name that saves and defends, the name that is above every name. They will run into the covering (sukkah) of the name of the LORD:
One will say, "I am the LORD's; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob; Another will write with his hand "The LORD's", and name himself by the name of Israel." Isa. 44:5
Like the lulav, let us hold His name in our hands. Let us run into His name, and be enveloped and covered by His name, like being covered within the sukkah, in this Feast of Ingathering, in this Feast of Tabernacles.
Our Father's name is in the lulav and sukkah of Tabernacles.
"Sukkot Song-Call Upon His Name"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vrrlktOvU4
"We Will Run"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqgHd7mXYVQ
"The Name of the LORD is a Strong Tower"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9jf0RNfUFc
"Names of God"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5-6gwssX0Y
"Sinnerman"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn5tiuZU4JI
