AppointedTimes

The title of this sabbath's reading is Mikketz, meaning "At the end of", from Genesis Chapters 41-43. Genesis is the Book of Beginning, or B'reshiet in Hebrew. We have read about many beginning principles of God so far in this first Book of the Bible, and we have another beginning principle in this sabbath's readings also. TThis week's readings are timed to take place during the Feast of Dedication, the Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah. This year, the sabbath also falls on Christmas Eve. Our reading begins with Joseph who was forgotten in Pharaoh's prison: "Then it came to pass, at the end (qes/qasas - extremity, border, end/cut off, hew off, chop off, cut in two) of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river." (Gen. 41:1). We read here that two full years had passed since Joseph was forgotten by the man whose dream Joseph had interpreted while the man was imprisoned with Joseph. Suddenly, Pharaoh had a strange set of dreams. In the first dream, seven fat, healthy cattle arise from the river. Then seven thin, ill-favored cattle rose up after them and "ate up" (akal - eat, devour, consume, burn up) the healthy cattle. In the second dream of Pharaoh, seven plump and good heads of grain appear on one stalk. However, seven thin heads, blighted (sadap - scorch, burn up) by the east wind sprang up afterwards. The blighted heads then "devoured" (bala - swallow up, engulf) the good heads of grain. We should keep in mind that at the end of a two year time period, the time is "cut off" or "chopped off", according to the Hebrew meaning. Joseph's life is about to change dramatically. Pharaoh was troubled by his two dreams, and called in both his magicians, and the wise men of his realm to interpret these dreams, but no one knew the meanings. Both man's natural knowledge and wisdom, and the dark "knowledge" of the occult, were insufficient. Then Pharaoh was told about a Hebrew in his dungeon named Joseph, who had the proven ability to interpret dreams. Joseph was brought up out of the dungeon, shaved and given clean clothing in order to appear before Pharaoh. Pharaoh told Joseph that he had heard about his ability to interpret dreams, and that his magicians and wise men had not been able to help him (Gen. 41:15). Pharaoh had the power to throw Joseph right back into the dungeon, or set him free, yet Joseph answered him: "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace." (V. 116). Pharaoh told Joseph the dreams he had had, and Joseph began to bring the interpretation saying: "The dreams of Pharaoh are one. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do." (v. 25). Joseph told Pharaoh that the seven fat cattle and the seven full heads of grain signified seven years of abundance. However, a seven year severe famine, represented by the ill-favored cattle and blighted heads of grain, would follow the seven years of plenty. (v. 29-31). He concluded by saying to Pharaoh: "And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass." (v. 32). Joseph advised Pharaoh to appoint a wise man to set aside part of the abundance Egypt would experience, and store it away for the time of the famine to come (v. 33-36). "So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said..."Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?' Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.' And Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.' Then Pharaoh took (sur - depart from, come to an end, put aside, be removed, withdraw from) his signet ring (taba'at/taba - signet ring of authority used for sealing/sink down, pierce, to impress a seal, dip into, immerse, plunge) off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen (ses/sayis - linen, marble, bleach, white/alabaster, bleach, white, marble) and put a gold chain (rabid zahab - golden, shimmer, brilliance, splendor of the sun and heavens/ bind a neck collar) around his neck." (v. 37-42). Instead of wearing the yoke of slavery on his neck, Joseph now wore a golden neck piece instead. The signet ring mentioned is the seal of authority, and by the Hebrew meaning of the word, it is also associated with a plunging, or immersion, such as baptism. Paul wrote this concerning the anointing of the Holy Spirit in the believer: "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed (sphragizo/sphragis - to set a seal upon, mark by the impression of a seal or a stamp in order to prove, attest, confirm, authenticate, place beyond doubt regarding a thing/a signet ring) us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." (2 Cor. 1:21-22, see Eph. 1:13-14, Rev. 7:2, Rev. 9:4). The fine linen given to Joseph to wear by Pharaoh (meaning "great house") is like the fine, white linen given to the saints, representing the righteousness of God (Rev. 19:5-9). In this Book of Genesis, we are seeing a beginning teaching of the changing role that the Holy Spirit played in Joseph's life, not just to bring Joseph glory, although He does, but to bring God glory out of Pharaoh's own mouth. The purpose of the Holy Spirit is not to exalt a believer for his own sake, but to bring God glory. The appointed time had come to make a shift in Joseph's life, s well as Egypt's future, and for the survival of Israel, which was able to be buy food in Egypt from Joseph in the middle of the terrible famine when it arrived (see Gen. 42-43). This was about so much more than Joseph's personal destiny. It also set the precedent of beginning in our lives as believers. The appointed time arrived in which the Holy Spirit came into our lives, sealed us, and changed our garments, neck-yokes, lives and destinies, and the destinies of those with whom our paths cross. Again we will see the connection of the Holy Spirit with the abrupt changing of time. In Zechariah 4, the prophet is awakened by the return of an angel "as a man who is wakened out of his sleep". (Zech. 4:1). The Hebrew meanings of the key words in this phrase can also mean "like a man raised from the dead", or "like a man stirred up after a long, old, dry period of time". The angel is about to show Zechariah something that will affect a work in the prophet's present time, but also the eternal meaning of the work. As with Joseph, the appointed time had come. During the prophet's time, Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah, after the people of God returned to Israel from their captivity in Babylon. Zerubbabel was overseeing the rebuilding of the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the work was not progressing well. It had taken many years just to complete the foundation of the temple. The appointed time to break through the spiritual darkness that was impeding the work had come. The angel gave Zechariah a vision of the eternal golden Lampstand, from which the lampstand of the earthly temple had been copied. This golden Lampstand had a perpetual supply of oil attached to it in the form of two olive trees directly feeding their oil into the bowls of the Lamp. This Lamp of the angelic vision represented a message for Zerubbabel, the governor: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone/headstone (eben rosa - top most, highest stone of the corner), with shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'" (v. 6-7). Zerubbabel was concerned with building a work - the Temple of God. However, God was building an eternal connection in this moment of time between the Kingdom of heaven and a living temple on earth through His Salvation, according to the Hebrew meanings found in verses 8-14 of this same chapter. We know that Jesus is described as "the chief cornerstone" (see Ps. 118:22, Mt. 21:42-44). Paul explained: "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Eph. 1:19-22). These sabbath reading portions were about Joseph and Zerubbabel, but they were also about the stirring force of the Holy Spirit Who begins, continues, and completes the eternal work of God in us and through us. We cannot force it to fruition ourselves. We cannot force a beginning ourselves, nor change the times ourselves. It is by His Spirit. How can we apply these things to Christmas? The eternal work accomplished through the birth of Jesus Christ only happened by the Spirit, at an appointed time. Mary conceived the holy Seed of Christ, not by the will of man, but by the Spirit of God: "And the angel answered and said to her (Mary), 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." (Lk. 1:34-35). Knowing this, Paul also wrote: "Even so we...were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'" (Gal. 4:3-6). Zerubbabel was to bring out the capstone shouting "Grace, grace" to it by the Spirit of God. We, by the Spirit, cry out "Abba, Father!". The birth of Christ was determined by "the fullness of time", according to Paul. Not only His birth, but His death was determined by the Holy Spirit: "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time/at the right time Christ died for the ungodly...But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:5-8). Jesus did not die according to the timing of a hateful mob. He died, as He was born, at the appointed time, by the eternal work of the love of God through the Holy Spirit. Even Christ's resurrection, and ours, was accomplished by the Holy Spirit! (see Rom. 8:11-14). Paul wrote again regarding our appointed time: "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:1-2). When will your appointed time, like Joseph's, come to accomplish God's work? God has the answer: "...humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time (kairos - a fixed and definite time, opportune and seasonable time, the right time), casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7). Have a blessed Hanukkah and Christmas, for they come at the appointed time of God. If you would like to learn more about the Lord's appointed times, and the work of His Holy Spirit in our lives, you can pray with me as I pray for myself: "Heavenly Father, I see in Your Word that events are not by the power or might of man, nor by the will and knowledge of man, but by Your Spirit. All of the events in the life of Jesus were quickened and accomplished by Your Holy Spirit. Baptize and fill me with Your Spirit, and arrange the days of my life according to Your appointed times. I thank You for the birth of Your precious Son and our Savior, Jesus, who is the Light, the Menorah, of the world, and has called me to be the light of the world in Him. I ask for these things in His name. AMEN."