Walk

This entry is based upon the Torah and Haftarah readings assigned to last week's Sabbath, and this Sabbath. Even those these two sections of scripture are read a week apart, I believe they have a common thread. As is true with all scripture, these scriptures have insights that are very pertinent to our walk with Christ and these current times. We will see the ruling image of Christ in these scriptures as well. Last week's Sabbath section of scripture in the Parshah, or assigned reading, is titled "Noah" or "Rest". God had concluded that because of the thorough wickedness of men, and the evil that was in their hearts continually, He would destroy men from the earth: "And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." (Gen. 6:6-7). Onto this scene of impending judgment and destruction, Noah is inserted: "But Noah found (encountered, acquired) grace (favor, acceptance, mercy, supplication) in the eyes of the LORD. This is the geneology of Noah. Noah was a just (righteous, correct, lawful, cleansed) man, perfect (complete, without blemish, in accord with truth; finished, to be completely crossed over) in his generations (also an age, a period, to dwell). Noah walked (to die, live, manner of life) with God (Elohiym-plural name of God)." (v. 8-9). Last week's Sabbath section of scripture in the Parshah, or assigned reading, is titled "Noah" or "Rest". God had concluded that because of the thorough wickedness of men, and the evil that was in their hearts continually, He would destroy men from the earth: "And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." (Gen. 6:6-7). Onto this scene of impending judgment and destruction, Noah is inserted: "But Noah found (encountered, acquired) grace (favor, acceptance, mercy, supplication) in the eyes of the LORD. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just (righteous, correct, lawful, cleansed) man, perfect (complete, without blemish, in accord with truth; finished, to be completely crossed over) in his generations (also an age, a period, to dwell). Noah walked (to die, live, manner of life) with God (Elohiym-*plural name of God)." (v. 8-9). (*The use of the name "Elohiym" here for God lets us know that, as a plural, the Son and the Holy Spirit are understood also.) From the Hebrew meanings, including root meanings, of the description of Noah, we can see that he was a forerunner in the Spirit of a follower of Christ in his age. As such a follower, he received the characteristics of Christ through grace. He would provide a place of rest in prepartion for the coming judgment. We are called to have a similar walk with God during the approaching judgment of the earth. Not only would the rest be for himself and those immediately with Noah, but there would be a promise of the same rest for Noah's descendants, his future generations. The haftarah portion from Isa. 54 tells us that God was still keeping His covenant promise established with Noah to show His mercy and kindness to Noah's descendants. God called it His covenant of peace with them. As in the case of the description of Noah here in these verses, we also are "predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren." (Rom. 8:28-30), in our age, which is the age of Christ and His Church. We also therefore are called to provide a place of rest against the shakings and coming judgment of God. That place of rest is the same place of rest as in Noah's day, in Christ. In this week's assigned Torah reading, the section of scripture is called "Lech Lechah", or "Go forth yourself!" It begins in Gen 12, as Abram is told by God: "...Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation...and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Gen. 12:1-3). In the same way that Noah was described as "just", which in part means "completely crossed over", Abram would begin a journey, or walk, through which he will become "completely crossed over", spiritually speaking. Like Noah, having made this spiritual journey, he will impact many generations, and all the families of the earth. In these first nine verses, Abram is brought from a place of burning, scorching, parching, anger (Haran), to a place of humbling oneself, the bending or falling to the knees (Canaan), to a place where the back and shoulders are offered (consented to) for carrying a burden, and upon which blows are inflicted (Shechem), to the place of teaching, instruction and the early rains (Moreh), to the spiritual place of intercession: positioned between iniquity, perversity, destruction and ruin (Ai) and the House (tent, family, descendants) of God (Bethel). We can clearly see a journey in Christ in these places where Abram was directed to go. This reflects our journey as well as we are brought from death to life through Christ's sacrifice. The work of our walk also includes intercession as we stand between destruction and the House of God, praaying the mercy of God. In the corresponding Haftarah portion for this week's Sabbath, the prophet Isaiah describes the work that was accomplished through Abram, and the generations to follow him: "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, "You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away...I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isa. 41:8-10). The LORD also declared in this assigned passage for this Sabbath, "Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, am the first; and with the last, I am He." (v. 4). As we see the use of the term "beginning", as well as "first" and "last", we can understand that this reference is to Christ, Who identified Himself in these terms in the Book of Revelation (1:8,11, 17)). Christ's work through our walk with Him, is not just with us, but to establish a relationship with us from which to call future generations to Himself. The journey of Abram was a "walk with God", as it was with Noah. This walk produced the work of Christ in these men, as it is also produced in us. The work is not just a change for one man, but a change impacting many generations into the future. We are assured of this great fruit into the distant future because the generations produced out of this Christ-like work, are generations ordained by Christ Himself, the First and the Last. We can see why this Sabbath's section of the Parsha is titled "Go forth yourself!" We can rejoice in the fruit that the Lord guarantees from every life walked with Him. May you be encouraged in your walk with Christ, and may the Lord bring forth His work of rest out of judgment, and the establishment of His covenant blessing to many generations through us. Our Father has called us to walk with Him in Christ. If you would like to begin to walk with God through His Son, Jesus, Who is the First and the Last, we can pray this life-changing, and life-giving confession of faith: Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me. I believe that You rose again from the dead, and are returning soon to rule and reign on the earth. I confess my sins to You, and believe that You have cleansed me of those sins. I believe I have received the promise of everlasting life in You. Fill me with the Holy Spirit Who will teach me and lead me in this walk to follow You in Your ways of truth and righteousness. I give You thanks for hearing my prayer, and receiving me into the eternal loving covenant family of God. In Your name, I come to the Father. Amen.