BigPicture

We have a unique prophetic role to play in spiritual warfare. Nations and people are hanging in the balance, but often we can't see it, because the cares of this world are consuming our time and attention. In speaking to Jeremiah after He touched Jeremiah's mouth, the LORD said, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant." (Jer. 1:9-10). It is true that this is Jeremiah's call to the office of prophet, but we are all called to be prophetic people. In fact, we are told by Paul to covet to prophesy (1 Cor. 14:39)). The root meaning of the word "prophesy" in Greek includes "the Messiah; of men filled with the Spirit of God, who by God's authority and command in words of weight plead the cause of God and urge salvation of men." Rev. 19:10 says, "...brethren that have the testimony of Jesus...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." In another place it says, "And they overcame him (the accuser of the brethren who is cast down) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Rev. 12:10-11). God uses His people to accomplish spiritual warfare against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12). We can learn more about this spiritual warfare through this Sabbath's assigned readings from the Torah and the haftarah. The title of the Sabbath portion for this week is B'shallach, meaning "When he let go". Sometimes we view Pharaoh's finally agreeing to let God's people go from slavery to serve Him, and the later destruction of Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea as the end of the story, the victory won. However, "when he (Pharaoh) let go" is just the beginning of the warfare. A Jewish commentary on this portion of Sabbath reading contends that God fought powers of Egypt both on high and below; not just the natural power of Pharaoh and his army, but the spiritual powers behind them. Isaiah 19:1-3 reveals the spiritual battle against Egypt, including the statement, "The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst...". The word "Egypt" in Hebrew, Mitsrayim, involves much more than a physical nation. The root meanings of the word include: narrow straits, siege, entrenched, limit, distress, confine, bind, beset, show hostility, be an adversary. In the final encounter with the Egyptians at the Red Sea, God leads the Israelites to a position opposite Ba'al Zephon(Ex. 14:2). Ba'al Zephon is the name of Egypt's god of wealth. It also means lord of the north, darkness, destroyer, laid up or concealed, treasure. At the Red Sea, God changed phases of matter, liquid to solid, and solid again to liquid (Ex. 14:22, 26, Ps. 78:13), in order to deliver and then to destroy. After the miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, Moses and the people celebrated exultantly through an inspired song (Ex. 15). It is called "Song by the Sea". The Song declares: "The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God and I will praise Him...The LORD is a man of war (root: make war, devour, to eat, to feed on); The LORD is His name..." In v. 9 of the Song, the enemy makes threats against God's people that begin with the phrase "I will..." (see Isa. 14:13-14) saying: "I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil...I will draw my sword." The Song states that because of what has been accomplished by the LORD in this warfare against Egypt, four other nations will be affected: Philistia/Palestina, Edom, Moab, Canaan (v. 14-15). These four names are connected in meaning with rolling in the ashes in mourning, covetousness and murderous threats, immorality, merchandising/trafficking/humiliation. The Song concludes: Till Your people pass over, O LORD, Till the people pass over whom You have purchased. You will bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which You have made for Your own dwelling, the sanctuary, O LORD, which Your hands have established." (v. 16-17). The accomplishment of the "entering in" of God's people has a direct impact on the outcome for these nations mentioned, and the spiritual strongholds they represent. This is the role we, His people, play in this warfare as we enter into the realm of the throne of God. In the very next chapter of the Sabbath readings (Ex. 16), however, it is one month later, and the people of Israel were in the wilderness of Sin (meaning thorn, clay). The Israelites began to complain against Moses, because they were not happy with their lack of comforts and food. They began idealizing their conditions back in Egypt. They wanted meat, and they wanted bread. Twice it is pointed out that their complaints were not really against Moses, but against God (v. 7-8). The people were in a "thorny" place, and they were immediately affected by their circumstances and conditions. They certainly did not see "the big picture". Their attitude angered God, but not only did God miraculously provide the meat and bread that the Israelites craved, but He provided it in such a way as to allow them to still keep His rest with Him on the Sabbath (Ex. 16:22-23). This would not be the last time in the Exodus account, however, that God's people failed to trust Him. What things are our hearts craving that we think we lack, things we think we need but don't have, that cause us to feel dissatisfied, even resentful? How does this craving and wanting affect the spiritual warfare going on around us? In contrast, Paul pleaded with God concerning the thorn in his flesh (see "clay" in connection with the meaning of the wilderness of Sin) that had been given to him. Paul called that thorn "a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure." God answered Paul that His grace was sufficient (arkeo-to be possessed of unfailing strength, to defend, to ward off, raising a barrier, to be satisfied, to be content; Root: to raise up, to lift up) for Paul, "for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Paul noted tht he will be happy to accept his infirmities, "that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor. 12:7-9). Paul's contentment and satisfaction because of his trust in the power of Christ in him, even in the pain of the thorn in his flesh, is a powerful spiritual weapon in God's hands. This is a great revelation in contrast to the complaints and dissatisfaction of God's people in the wilderness, those complaints still often heard in the mouths of His people today. The Book of Hebrews said of Moses: "By faith Moses....esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt..." (Heb. 11:24-27). Hebrews also says: "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb.12:1-2). Jesus was not just inconvenienced by thorns, but He wore thorns, and did so without complaint, because He saw the "big picture", the spiritual victory being accomplished. Psalm 78, another reading for this Sabbath, tells us that the experiences and attitudes of the Israelites were recorded "That the generation to come might know...that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God...and may not be like their fathers...that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God." (v. 5-8). Of that generation in the wilderness, the psalm says, "...they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy. Yes, they spoke against God; they said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?" (v. 18-19). The psalm says that God had to slay His people before they returned and sought for Him (v. 34). It is a very sad statement about a people who were easily overturned and beset by their own sin, doubt and desires. As we saw above, it only took a month for Israel to forget the miraculous deliverance of God. I think that sometimes it only takes a day, or even an hour to forget. The big picture of God's warfare plan is so important, that spiritual enemies, and even our own flesh do everything possible to knock the people of God off of their prophetic track. If we are to get through some of these severe tests and trials, and the challenges being faced today, we will have to keep "the big picture" in mind. May we remain the prophetic people that God has called us to be in warfare in Christ, undeterred by the challenges and difficulties in front of us. Our Father uses us in warfare. If you would like to be joined to Christ and His victory over all things, you can pray: "Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You knowing that You are my strength and my salvation. I believe that You died for me, and rose from the dead, conquering the grave for Me. I place my trust in You, that you will never leave me nor forsake me. You have forgiven me when I have failed, when I have sinned. Your Holy Spirit fills me and inspires me to sing a song of Your greatness and victory over all my enemies. Teach me to be satisfied, for Your strength overcomes my weaknesses. I give You thanks. Amen."

Lambs

Although Passover is still a few months away, the Sabbath readings from both the Torah and haftarah for this week deal with the LORD's Passover. I found that these readings about the Passover were very pertinent for today, and the times ahead. It was a message about lambs and leaders. A tyrannical Pharaoh is defeated by the power and grace of a lamb. Death has no power over the blood of a lamb. Households are redeemed in each generation since the first Passover by the sign of the lamb, as we will see. All of these singularly remarkable characteristics of Passover are fulfilled by a Person, Jesus, the Lamb of God, for those who receive Him. Because of these things, for us who believe Christ, Passover is not restricted to a certain day, but should live continually in our spirits. As the account begins in this week's reading, Pharaoh had agreed to only release the men of Israel to go and worship the LORD, but not the women and children (Ex. 10:7-11). Therefore the last three plagues, locusts, darkness, and finally, the death of the first born, were released upon Egypt. Up until this point, the territory where the Hebrews lived, Goshen (meaning "drawing near"), did not experience any of the judgments that fell upon Egypt. However, this would not protect them from the last plague, death. Before the final plague, God's people were instructed by Moses to choose a young spotless lamb, and keep it for four days, and then kill and eat it. The blood of the lamb was to be applied to the doorposts and lintels of their houses to protect them from the plague of death that would be sent by the LORD upon Egypt to kill all of the first born of the land (Ex. 12:1-12). Of the blood of the lamb, the LORD said, "Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the lsnd of Egypt." (v. 13). The Passover ministered to each household. Passover was an intimate and individual experience within a family unit, rather than a national experience, or a Jewish group experience. As we know, the children of Israel were spared from the last plague of death, and released from slavery reluctantly by Pharaoh. This miraculous event of Passover was to be observed and taught to future generations of Israel: "So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance."(v. 14). This is the first feast of the LORD that was given to Israel. It was given before the other feasts were revealed to Moses. What makes this feast of Passover so important that it should be the first given of all of the feasts? Passover is a prophetic picture of the Savior sacrificed, the Lamb of God, Jesus, whom Paul called "our Passover" (1 Cor. 5:7). The LORD will repeatedly tell Israel to keep the Passover in order to teach their children about the time when the LORD brought His people out of "the house of bondage" (bayith ebed-dwelling of slavery) (Ex. 13:3). Bondage has a dwelling, and you don't want to live there! The Passover is also to be kept on the hand and between the eyes: "And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, "This is done because of what the LORD did for me when I came up from Egypt. It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the LORD's law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt." (Ex. 13:8-9). Here in this verse, the Passover, although we think of it pertaining to a whole people, is really a personal testimony to one's children: "...what the LORD did for me...". The purpose of this personal testimony of the lamb is for the redemption of our children: "...And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem." (v. 13). Secondly, while we are familiar with the Hebrews wearing the law on their arms and foreheads in items called phylacteries, here, the LORD instructs them to do so specifically regarding the Passover event. The Passover, when it was continued to be practiced in Israel was to be a repeating work of redemption for their firstborn: "Consecrate to me all the firstborn; whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; It is Mine...So it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, "What is this?" that you shall say to him, "By strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." (Ex. 13:2, 14). Now is a good time to mention the title of the assigned Torah/haftarah readings for this Sabbath. The title is "Bo". It means "Enter!", spoken as a command. Goshen was a place to "draw near" God by its meaning, but by the Passover, Israel was to "Enter!". The Passover didn't keep death "out", as we tend to think, but allowed us "to enter in" to a dwelling in God where death has no place. We believers in Christ are also commanded to boldly enter in: "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (Heb. 10:19-22). We can see the importance that the LORD placed upon the Passover for His people, and the corresponding sacrifice of the Lamb of God for believers in Christ, who is the fulfillment of the Passover. However, something strange happened, and it was pinpointed to a specific time in Israel. Josiah was a great and godly king of Judah. The haftarah Sabbath reading in 2 Chron. 35, tells us how Josiah revived the Passover in Israel. It was a very joyous occasion. Then this shocking statement is made: "There had been no Passover kept in Israel like that since the days of Samuel the prophet; and none of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as Josiah kept, with the priests and the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept." (2 Chron. 35:18-19). Not kept like this since Samuel's time? The kings didn't keep the Passover in this manner? Hezekiah did try to keep the Passover as a nation, but most of the people of the Northern Kingdom laughed at him, and refused to come. The Passover ended up being held in the wrong month because "..a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves, nor had the people gathered together at Jerusalem...there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves...yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written..." (2 Chron 30:3, 17-18). Because of not keeping the Passover in the manner that was required, Hezekiah had to pray to the LORD to cover the people with the yearly atonement provision for all who came seeking Him that Passover, even though they didn't keep the Passover as it should have been kept. Passover isn't a ritual to be declared by a king. It is a work of deliverance in the heart of each person. There is no mention of Passover in scripture from the Book of Joshua until the chapters in 2 Chronicles about Hezekiah, and then Josiah. The verses above, pinpoint the time of Samuel. At the time of Samuel, Israel demanded kings. Although the LORD had warned them against it, the people placed their trust in their kings. They sang songs of Saul's thousands, and David's ten thousands, referring to the enemies defeated by their kings. They no longer trusted in the LORD's ability to lead them out. We can see that when your eyes are on the king, they aren't on the Lamb. Even the godly King Josiah, immediately following His revival of the Passover, disobeyed the Word of the LORD, and entered into battle with a king (Necho) who was not at war with him. Pharaoh Necho tried to warn Josiah off, but Josiah refused to listen. Judah needlessly lost a good king that day (2 Chron. 35:20-24). King Josiah ordered and provided for a great national Passover, but personally he took his eyes off the Lsmb. This week's readings made me think of the times in which we live. Our attention has been stolen by political leaders, movements, upheavals. We are incorrectly looking to our "kings" for moral, spiritual and natural solutions and vindication. The Church breaks into zealous political arguments and divisions over who should be our "king", or political leader. Kings or leaders come and go. They may be good or bad, godly or ungodly, meaning well or ill, but deliverance comes from the LORD. God's people today are tempted, as was Israel, to set their trust in their "king". Israel had many kings, but by the time of Hezekiah, they couldn't even prepare a Passover. They had gained a kingdom of successive earthly kings, but they had lost their Lamb. There is a song called "Watch the Lamb", by Ray Boltz. It is about a father who brings his two little sons, and their sacrificial lamb to Jerusalem for the Passover. On the course of their journey, the father tells his sons what the Passover in Jerusalem will be like, and repeatedly instructs them to "watch the lamb" so it doesn't get away in the crowds. As they enter Jerusalem, the father and sons stumble upon a terrifying scene of crucifixion. The sons fearfully ask their father about what is happening. As they see and experience what plays out before them, the father turns his sons to Jesus on the cross, and again tells them, "Watch the Lamb". It is a time for us also to "watch the Lamb". Kings may have a role to play in the course of God's will, but our focus is not to be on them, but on the LORD who delivers us out of the house of bondage, and provides the way for us to "enter" into His house of salvation, redemption, and liberty. May the LORD keep the redemption of the Passover in our hearts, and may we faithfully pass it along to our children. Our Father has commanded us to "Enter!". If you would like to receive Jesus as your Passover Lamb, who delivers you out of the house of bondage, and into the house of life and liberty, you can pray: "Lord Jesus, I believe that you died to save and deliver me, and that You rose from the dead, so that I can live. You have made the way for me to enter into the kingdom of God. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to teach me, and lead me. You have made Your Passover deliverance personal to me and to my household. I believe that You have heard and received my prayer today, asked in Your precious Name. Amen."

2Realms

Dickens wrote "A Tale of Two Cities", but this is a tale of two realms. On the surface, this tale involved a showdown between two men. One was a powerful king, and the other was an exiled shepherd. The king was backed by a powerful army. The shepherd seemingly came to the showdown with only his shepherd's rod. However, these two men represented a confrontation between two spiritual realms. The king was Pharaoh of Egypt, and the shepherd was Moses, a Hebrew who had been raised in the household of a previous Pharaoh. Jewish commentaries on this Sabbath's reading offer some traditional insights that are very interesting. They say that Pharaoh was not only a king, but "a master of the lower spiritual world". In Hebrew, this lower world is called "Yetzirah". This lower world was the realm of the psyche, angels (demons) and souls. We know that Pharaoh had powerful magicians who served him in his palace. Magic and occultism played a strong role in the political power of Egypt. One Pharaoh, Ramses III, was plotted against within the palace using weapons of the occult. The plot was exposed before it could be proven successful or unsuccessful. The occult played an important role in daily Egyptian life as well. The Egyptians also relied upon magic and occultic practices to bring life after death, and for this purpose, the priests used magic from "The Book of the Dead". We can understand now why Moses was reluctant to go before Pharaoh, as the LORD had told him to do. Moses was very familiar with the dark ways of Egypt and its Pharaoh. Moses, though, came in the Name of the One who authored the "Lamb's Book of Life". In this Name, again according to Jewish commentary, Moses came from, and had access to, the "upper spiritual world". This realm is called "Beriah" in Hebrew. It is the realm of Creation, and the Throne of God. The appointed Sabbath portion for this week involves this showdown between Pharaoh and Moses, and the realms they represented, and is titled, "and I appeared" or Va-eirah in Hebrew. In our previous Sabbath portion, God had told Moses His Name was "I AM WHO I AM". We write this name using the English letters YHWH, pronounced Yahway. The Hebrew letters of this Name are yod, hey, vaw, heh, and it looks like this: יְהֹוָה. Each Hebrew letter has its own meaning, and the translation of the letters would be "Behold the hand, Behold the nail". Can you see why this name is so special? One of this week's Sabbath portions begins in Exodus 6. In this reading, we can clearly see the role that the Name "LORD", YHWH, has in the story of Moses and Pharaoh. This is what the LORD said to Moses. "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them (the children of Israel) go and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land. And God spoke to Moses and said to him: I am the LORD (YHWH). I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty (see also Isa. 9:6), but by My name LORD (YHWH) I was not known to them." (Ex. 6:1-3). Up until this point, the Name YHWH had not been revealed to Israel, but as Moses was charged with confronting Pharaoh, he was sent before him in this Name of the LORD. Again in v. 6-8, God says to Moses, "Therefore say to the children of Israel: I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians...I am the LORD." We are familiar with the contest of power that occurred between Moses and Pharaoh that followed, and the increasing severity of the plagues or judgments that God brought to Egypt. We also remember that Pharaoh's magicians tried to replicate the signs that Moses performed in the Name of the LORD. Pharaoh took confidence in the fact that the magic of Egypt seemed to be equal to the wonders that Moses did in that Name. When Moses lifted his rod and struck the waters of the river, and they became blood, "Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed...as the LORD had said. And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. Neither was his heart moved by this." (Ex. 7:20-23). Pharaoh was solely moved by power, and he felt that the occultic powers of Egypt would stand up to this God of the Hebrews named YHWH. He was wrong, as we know. As we saw earlier, the Name YHWH, or LORD, never before revealed to Israel up to this point, carries the image of the crucified Christ. It is the Name of the upper spiritual world, Beriah, and includes Creation (Jn. 1:1-3), and the Throne of God. Jesus told us of the power connected to the Name that carries His image, It is the Name of His sacrifice that gives us access to the Throne of God: "And whatever you ask in My (Jesus') name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (Jn. 14:13-14). And, "... in that day, you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name, Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (Jn. 16:23). The Name has superiority over all, including that "lower spiritual world": "And being found in appearance as a man, He (Jesus) humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:8-11). This Name is not just a name to be used as some sort of talisman. This name represents a Person, who in obedience to His Father, sacrificed all to bring salvation to man. This sacrifice is the power and honor of the Name. Through the Name that carries the image of Christ, YHWH, Moses was able to exhibit the power and authority from the Throne of God before Pharaoh: "So the LORD said to Moses: See I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron, your brother, shall be your prophet." (Ex. 7:1). Moses was a great servant of God, but it was the Name above all other names that made him as God to Pharaoh. You may say that Jesus wasn't crucified before Moses' time, so how could He be the Person of the Name, but He was. The crucified Christ was before Moses. He was before Abraham (Jn. 8:58). He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world! (Rev. 13:8). Did Pharaoh bow his knee to the Name, as the verses in Philippians said all would do? He did, at least for a moment: "And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, I have sinned this time. The LORD is righteous, and my people and I are wicked." (Ex. 9:27). Once the plague was lifted by Moses, however, Pharaoh went back to his hardened ways, but he was forced eventually to let the Hebrews go out of slavery. This lesson from the Sabbath readings for this week, and the revelation of the New Testament scriptures regarding the Name of Jesus, are very important to us today, especially as times grow more trying. Not only do we need a greater understanding of the Name in our daily walk now, but there is a prophetic importance to this understanding. In the end times, there will be another showdown between the two realms. There will come the son of perdition, or the Beast, and his false prophet who serves him, and his demonic religion, called Babylon. Like Pharaoh, they will rely for their power on the "lower spiritual world" (Rev. 13:2, 12-15, Rev. 19:20). With this demonic power, they will conquer the nations of the earth, and persecute the people of faith. Like Pharaoh, they will not win in the showdown, but the wisdom of the people who know their God will play a vital role in those coming times (Dan. 11:32-33, 12:3). Part of knowing our God is in the understanding of His Name, the LORD. May the LORD give us wisdom and understandng in the knowledge of His Name, and its direct relationship with Creation and the Throne of God. Our Father has revealed the mighty Name of His Son for us. If you would like to experience Jesus as Savior, Deliverer, and Redeemer, and LORD, you can pray: "LORD, Jesus, God has given You the Name that is above all names. I believe that You died for my sins, and rose from the dead. I believe that You rule with all authority. You have been given the authority to forgive my sins. Help me to walk in your righteousness through Your Holy Spirit. You only deliver me from the slavery and hard bondage of sin that held me in darkness. I believe that You have heard and answered my prayer to You this day, prayed in Your holy Name. Amen."

Exposed

Reading the Sabbath portions for this week really made me stop and consider my faith, and the challenges to it. I think these issues are especially important for the time in which we live, and the days ahead. This Sabbath's portions are titled "Sh'mot", or "Names". I believe that these portions from the Old Testament, or Tanakh, are very relevant to the conditions of today, and the knowledge necessary for the days ahead, as we will see. Three examples from these readings deal with pivotal servants of God, who must contend with their fear, doubt, and unbelief. In Exodus 3, Moses is called by God to be the deliverer of His people who were suffering not only under hard bondage (Ex. 1:12-14), but the threat of murder of their children (v. 15). Moses, in exile from Egypt, heard the voice of God saying tht He has come down to deliver His people from the oppression of Pharaoh (Ex. 3:7-8). Not only will the LORD deliver them from slavery, but will bring them to "a good and large land". The LORD told Moses that He will send Moses to Pharaoh in order to accomplish this deliverance. Moses is taken aback and asks, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" The LORD assured Moses that He will go with Moses. Still unsure how this great deliverance will be pulled off (Moses is very familiar with the house of Pharaoh, and the greatness of his army), Moses asks God His name, and is told: "I AM WHO I AM" (v. 14). This deliverance is not just a work of God, but it is Who God IS. Do we know God in this way? Or do we just know Him by His works? Of His name, the LORD proclaimed, "This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations." Moses was still full of doubts and is shown amazing confirming signs by God: his shepherd's rod became a serpent and then a rod again, his hand became leprous and then was healed, water poured out became blood. In his fear and doubt, Moses told God that he was incapable of the assignment because he was slow of speech and tongue. Even after God assured Moses that He would "be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall say", Moses asked God to send someone else (Ex. 4:10-13). God became angry. The LORD then told Moses that He will also send his brother, Aaron, to be with Moses. Before Moses could even carefully consider all that God had shown and told him, fear, doubt, even unbelief had jumped in to make Moses resist the expressed will of God, and doubt the possibility of a miraculous deliverance of God's people from the hold of Pharaoh. In another Sabbath portion, God calls Jeremiah to be His prophet (Jer. 1). In this calling, the LORD reveals to Jeremiah that He knew, sanctified and ordained Jeremiah as a prophet to the nations before God formed him in the womb (v. 4-5). Jeremiah's immediate response in fear, doubt and avoidance was, "Ah, LORD GOD! Behold I cannot speak for I am a youth." (v. 6). Jeremiah did go on to serve God as a prophet through three kings' reigns. He not only prophesied the beginning and ending of Judah's 70 year exile, but also the basis of the end time's 70 weeks of years later revealed in detail to Daniel. We never plan to be overcome and respond in fear, doubt, and unbelief, but because they are our constant stalkers until they are exposed by God, they often jump in and respond for us automatically. Like Moses and Jeremiah, we often try to rationalize and make excuses for our fear, doubt and unbelief when they show themselves. In the third example from the Sabbath portion, poor tormented Job is given a wakeup call from God regarding the doubt and unbelief that has filled his heart in the face of his many painful trials. Job, a man used mightily by God (see Job 29), started out strong, but his ongoing, unexplained, unrelenting, tragic suffering caused him to give in to those fleshly stalkers: fear, doubt, and unbelief. Perhaps the door to those staalkers had been opened because Job had come to trust more in his own righteousness than in Who God is, and His name. God hinted at this possibility as He said to Job, "Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified? Have you an arm like God?...Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and array yourself with glory and beauty...Then I will also confess to you that your own right hand can save you." (Job 40:6-14, excerpt). The story of Job teaches us that we must have endurance and patience even in the most dire trials, but there was even more accomplished through the trial of Job. God revealed to us knowledge of the Accuser of the Brethren, who accuses us before God day and night, and God made an open show of him through the trial of his servant Job (Job 2, Rev. 12:10-11). These great servants of God, Moses, Jeremiah, and Job, were vulnerable, as we are, to fear, doubt, and unbelief. In dealing with the lack of belief in Who the Person of God really is to us, what His name really indicates to us, Jesus asked, "...when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Lk. 18:8). We think that of course we trust God, of course we rely upon Him, but Jesus then told the parable of the man who thought himself righteous, more so than others, but the man was in truth, found wanting before God (v. 10-14). It is easy to fall into the trap of believing our own righteousness, believing that we are not vulnerable to fear, doubt, and unbelief, until we are tested, and those silent stalkers become quickly exposed. The testing of God exposes these things in our lives, because they are deadly to us. These destructive companions are lying right behind us to challenge us every step of the way. We face many trials and tests by God. Although it may seem that the challenges come from unjust men, trying circumstances, or even spiritual enemies, it is the Lord who is using these hardships for good- to expose our fears, doubts, and unbelief. Why is it important for these things to be revealed, even through great hardship to us? Our lives, our salvation, our purpose depends upon it. Truths are established, judgments are set, and God's name is revealed by and through the testing of His people: "...My people went down at first into Egypt to dwell there; Then the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. Now therefore, what have I here," says the LORD, "that My people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them make them wail," says the LORD, "and My name is blasphemed continually every day. Therefore, My people shall know My name; Therefore, they shall know in that day that I am He that speaks: Behold, it is I." (Isa. 52:4-6). The testing and trials, whether small or extremely great, are not for God's benefit, but ultimately for ours, by the work that God does through them. We are familiar with the verses from James: "My brethren, count it all for joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (enduring, steadfastness, sustaining, cheerful hope and endurance; to remain, abide, not recede or flee)). But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-4). How can we take joy in the trials that we face, as James tells us? Trials do not produce joy in the heart. However, the trials produce needed perfection. Considering how closely those three silent companions, fear, doubt, and unbelief, follow us, and how quickly they take every opportunity to overtake us, if trials can expose them, then those trials are indeed to our advantage. The endurance or patience produced by the trials of God is absolutely necessary for our salvation: "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved." (Mt. 10:22). "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved." (Mt. 24:12-13). Great tests are coming, and fear, doubt and unbelief that we have not allowed God to reveal will shipwreck us. In the end times especially, endurance or patience rather than fear, doubt and unbelief, is and will be essential in believers for our spiritual survival: "By your patience (endurance) possess your souls." (Lk. 21:19. Even the defeat of Satan and his earthly servants is affected by the endurance of the saints: "He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and faith of the saints." (Rev. 13:10). The judgment of the Beast and those who cooperate with him is affected by the endurance of the saints: "Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." (Rev. 14:9-12). May the hidden companions, the stalkers of fear, doubt and unbelief be exposed, and may the people of God endure in faith in the days ahead. Our Father exposes those things that will destroy our faith. If you would like to begin your journey with God through the salvation and righteousness of His Son, Jesus, you can pray: "Lord Jesus, I understand that I cannot rely upon my own righteousness to be saved. I believe that You died and rose from the dead to become my righteousness, my faith, and my endurance. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to help me, guide me, and teach me in the way of endurance and truth. Forgive me of my sins, and expose in me fear, doubt and unbelief. In Your holy name, which is a memorial to all generations forever, I pray. Amen."

Newness

The old year is passing away, and the new year is beginning. We all know what the secular world is saying about the difficult year that has past, and the deadly projections they have for the near future. Hope for deliverance is being placed in the hands of man and science. However, what should we be saying: the same thing as they are, or something different? There is a promise in scripture that comes with the appearance of the New Jerusalem, which is arrayed as a Bride: "And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them, and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these things are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be His God, and he shall be My son...." (Rev. 21:1-7). These words are very powerful. The promise contained within them is so great, that we can only humble ourselves and bow our heads before its magnitude. These words reflect the glory of God, and remind us all that our deliverance comes from God, not man, and not ourselves. These words cause us to repent before such a loving promise that we could never earn or deserve by our own righteousness. You may say that the verses written above are for a future time, after some terrible things have come upon the earth, even the great tribulation, which will be a time of severe testing and judgment. However, Jesus described Himself above as, "I am...", not "I will be". This has already been spoken, and it has already been written, as John was instructed to do. "It is done!" is the promise, not "It will be done". We can say this prophetic promise in the same way that we say, "Maranatha, come quickly, Lord Jesus." (Rev. 22:17, 20). In another part of scripture, Paul explained, "...from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. Now all things are of God who has reconiled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation..." (2 Cor. 5:16-18). It is not wrong to declare the merciful, miraculous deliverance of God, even in the middle of judgment, is it? I don't think it is. We are a prophetic people. Our Lord is the Spirit of prophecy. The Lord wanted John to write the prophetic promise of Rev. 21 for our benefit with the assurance that it was true and faithful. As often as we speak about how things "are", perhaps we should consider the powerful effect that is created by saying the same thing that Jesus is saying here, especially in times of death, sorrow and destruction. This is the essence of faith. Scripture describes God this way: "God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did..." (Rom. 4:17). In another place it is written, "Now faith is the substance (a setting or placing in order; the substantial quality of) of things hoped for, the evidence (proof, that by which a thing is proven) of things not seen." (Heb. 11:1). It is by faith that we are all here to begin with. God believed for our creation and spoke us into being, before we were seen. We became receivers of the sanctifying blood of Christ and written in the Lamb's Book of Life before the foundations of the world were visible (Rev. 13:8). We were prophetically created, prophetically called, and prophetically assigned the "homologia", or "speaking the same as" (see Heb. 4:14). The Torah and haftarah readings for this Sabbath, the first Sabbath of our new solar calendar year, illustrate a similar principle. These readings are titled, "Va'yechi", meaning, "And he lived". However, these readings deal with, you guessed it, death. Jacob is about to die. He calls Joseph's two sons to him, and tells Joseph that these two grandsons, Manasseh and Ephraim, are now HIS sons (Gen. 48:5). Although Jacob is passing away, he will impart a transformative prophetic word over Ephraim, even though he was the younger son. About Ephraim Jacob prophesied, "...but truly his (Manasseh's) younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations." (Gen. 48:19). In Hebrew, the words used here and translated as "a multitude of nations", are "m'loh ha goyim", which can also be translated, "the fullness of the Gentiles" (Rom. 11:25-26, Lk. 21:24). With this prophetic blessing pronounced by one who was passing away, Jacob called the Gentiles into the people of God, and set in order the time when all Israel shall be saved. Jacob then called his other sons before him, and began speaking over each the prophetic word regarding "what shall befall them in the last days" (Gen. 49:1), as they would each represent a tribe of Israel. Over Judah, the dying man proclaimed, "Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father's children shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up...The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh (he whose it is, that which belongs, tranquility; at rest, prosper) comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people...He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes." (Gen. 49:8-12). As we know, this prophecy spoken over Judah by the passing Jacob is also prophesying the coming and rule of the Messiah from the house of Judah. These are not the kind of words that the worldly man would be saying as he faces his death, but these are the words of a prophetic man of God speaking into being those things that are not yet seen in the natural, but are clearly seen through the eyes of faith. In the haftarah reading, David is getting older, and he announces that Solomon will be his successor, and the builder of the house of God that David had desired to build. In this pronouncement, David cites the prophecy of Jacob regarding the tribe of Judah. Judah is David's tribe, and as David says, God declared through Jacob that it is the tribe of kings (1 Chron. 28:4). In these examples, those who were passing away, spoke not what was, but of what was to be. They spoke things that would directly affect Gentiles, Israel, a future prophetic revelation of Ezekiel (Ch. 37), and the coming of Christ, the King, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. May we speak those things that not only are a relevant part of the natural events of this current time, but more importantly, those life-giving, and life-changing prophetic promises that are not yet seen, but are true and faithful nonetheless. Our Father has called us to be and to declare the passing away of old things and the newness of all things. If you would like to experience the newness which is in Christ, you can pray: "Lord Jesus, You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I believe that You died for me, and that You rose again from the dead, and that You are the King as Jacob had prophesied long ago. Come into my heart and my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit. Make me new, as You have made all things new in Your Father. I speak these words of faith in prayer, in Your name. Amen."