Message

       The Sabbath reading portion for this week is titled Va-y'chi, meaning, "and he lived". This reading portion covers Genesis chapters 47 through 49. The Sabbath reading gave me much food for thought, especially considering the fact that we have just finished celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, and we are looking at the end of one calendar year, and the beginning of a new one. In this week's reading, some great old patriarchs of our faith were passing away and leaving a message of instructions for their sons. 

     Our first father in this lesson is Jacob, who, at the age of 130, came to Egypt during a severe famine to be reunited with his son, Joseph. As Jacob was introduced to the Pharaoh that Joseph served, Pharaoh asked him, "How old are you?" Jacob answered: "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few (me'at/ma'at - littleness, little worth, small matter/diminished, nothing, bring to nothing, gather least) and evil (ra/ra'a - wickedness, trouble, affliction, grievous, malignant, misery, sorrow, unhappy/bad, evil, harm, evil doer, broken in pieces) have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers (which included Abraham and Isaac) in the days of their pilgrimage." (Gen. 47:7-10). This sad testimony was Jacob's message before the king. If we consider the time of "Jacob's Trouble" that comes during the end times, it is prophesied as a time of darkness with an increase of wickedness and sorrows. However, Jacob was a man who had seen a ladder between heaven and earth with God enthroned at the top of it, and angels ascending and descending upon it. Jacob had also been renamed "Israel" (meaning "God prevails, he will rule as God, contender, soldier of God; have power as a prince, persist, to be leader, commander, to be noble") by God (see Gen. 32:28). This is a man to whom God spoke several times. His son, whom he thought was dead, was joyously revealed to be alive and ruling in Egypt, saving multitudes from the famine.  All of these events and more showed the miraculous hand of God in Jacob's life, yet his testimony to Pharaoh was that the days of his years had been small and evil compared to his fathers. Perhaps Jacob's message to Pharaoh regarding his life reflected the prophetic times of great tribulation ahead. Both Jacob, and later, his beloved son Joseph, gave instructions regarding their burials to their sons before dying, and those requests were obediently carried out by their descendants. Jacob also delivered a prophetic message over each of his sons, and the sons of Joseph as well, before he died. His prophetic message over his son, Judah, would call forth the Messiah many generations later.

   In another reading portion from this Sabbath, King David, as he aged, passed a message to his son, Solomon, who would rule Israel after him. He assembled all of the elders and rulers of Israel to bear witness to this message. David told them that it had been his heart's desire "to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it." (1 Chron. 28:1-2).  However, the LORD had told David that he could not build this house because, as a man of war, he had shed blood (v. 3). The LORD said instead: "It is your son Solomon (selomo/salom - peace, peaceable/completeness, welfare, soundness, prosperity, contentment, perfect such as be at peace) who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father." (v. 6). David then provided to Solomon all of his building plans for the house of God, instructions for the service of the priests and Levites, and all of the gold and silver necessary to construct the furnishings of worship for the house: "All this', said David, 'the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans." (v. 19). He then said to Solomon: "Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God - my God - will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service for the house of the LORD..." (v. 20, see also Deut. 31:6-8, Josh. 1:9, Mt. 28:20, Heb. 13:5-6). And David prayed to the LORD for his son, Solomon, and for God's people (v. 18-20). When Solomon later completed the house of God after his father's death, he prayed that all could come to it to pray for God's relief, forgiveness and healing (2 Chron. 6). This is the message that David passed to his son, which his son obediently carried out.

     We who believe in Christ are also each being built into the spiritual house of God, and this house is also being built upon a message: "...you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4-5). Peter passed this additional message to those who are obedient: "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." (v. 9-10, see also 1 Cor. 6:19-20: Glorify God). Here is another part of the message given to us: "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of the darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. 4:6). Jesus also prayed to His Father about the message to be contained in us: "And the glory which you gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." (Jn. 17:22-23). This message given to us is so that "the world may know". Pharaoh represented the world before Jacob, but Jacob's message to him was a very different one, a message of smallness, diminishing glory and evil. We are to bring a different message. Solomon wrote a Psalm about the rule and reign of the Messiah (Christ). In part it proclaims: "...And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed...And blessed be His glorious name for ever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen." (Ps. 72:17-19). As this Psalm of Solomon concludes, scripture makes the notation in v. 20: "The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended (kala - finished, accomplished, determined, be completed, be fulfilled)." The Psalm of Solomon completed the prayers and message of his father, David.  

     We have just been through the observance of Christmas when we celebrate the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ/Messiah. As I read the very familiar account of the birth of Jesus in the Gospels, where the angels were delivering a message to all mankind, I thought that it is a message that I, as a believer, should be carrying and living, not just at Christmas, but eternally. The message is very similar to the scriptures we read above: "And behold, an angel of the LORD stood before them (the shepherds), and the glory of the LORD shone around them. Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and goodwill toward men!" (Lk. 2:9-14).

     I don't want to live as if this message is meant for only one day out of the year. I think this is THE message for all eternity. This message tells all people that though they may be surrounded by the darkness of the night, as the shepherds were, a Savior has come in shining glory. Though we may be in sin, a Savior has come to bring us back to His Father's heart if we will receive Him. Though our hearts may be filled with unrighteousness and unrest, we can come and find the Babe who was sent to die on a cross and rise again by the will of the Father for His glory and for our righteousness. For all of us who will receive THE message, come to the house of God's glory and presence, and be reconciled with your Father through THE message hand-delivered to us all by His Son, Jesus. As Solomon wrote THE message in the Psalm:

                                              "Let the whole earth be filled with His glory!"

     If you would like to walk in the message of praise and glory to God, you can pray with me: "Dear Father in heaven, how You have put a message in my heart and spirit! I want to walk in it, live in it, and show it before all. Like the good fathers of faith in scripture, who handed down their message and instructions to their sons, You also have handed down Your message and instruction to Your sons and daughters, born of Your Spirit. As Your spiritual house, I open my doors to any who seek to be reconciled with You through belief in Your Son, Jesus, to any who desire to be brought out of darkness and into Your light, to any who are not a people, but desire to obtain Your mercy and become the people of God who proclaim Your praises. As David drew up plans for the house of God by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, fill me also with Your Spirit so that my life may conform to the plans for Your living house. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."

DrawNear

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Va-yiggash, meaning "and he drew near". The reading portion includes Gen. chapters 45 through 47. Joseph, who had been rejected and betrayed by his brothers because of their hateful envy of him, was now ruler of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself. His brothers came from Canaan to Egypt because, thanks to Joseph's wise leadership, it was the only country that had food available to be purchased in the middle of a severe famine. As his brothers, who would be the patriarchs of some of the twelve tribes of Israel, stood before him, Joseph revealed (yada - to know, show, tell, teach, declare, to see, discern, be revealed, be wise) himself to them, saying: "I am Joseph; does my father (Jacob) still live?" (Gen. 45:3). 

     We see a prophetic parallel here between the events of Joseph's and Jesus' life. Jesus was also rejected by those of His own flesh and blood (Isa. 53:3, Jn. 1:10-11), placed into the pit (intending death), brought up from that pit alive, brought to and accepted by people who were not His own people whom He saved from destruction, and then, as scripture has prophesied, He will be revealed to, and re-united with, His brethren as their own by a prophesied work of the Spirit of God (Zech. 12:10, Rev. 1:7) Even long after he was dead, Joseph's bones were faithfully, lovingly and respectfully brought back to the land of his own people by the descendants of his brothers as they were delivered out of slavery in Egypt (Gen. 50:25, Ex. 13:18-19, Heb. 11:22).

     When Joseph made himself known to his brothers as they came before him, he wept aloud (natan - to give, to suffer, to recompense, to bestow, to pour). Joseph's tears were a poured out gift to his brothers, according to the Hebrew meaning above. We see this also in the life of Jesus as He drew near to Jerusalem and wept over it (Lk. 19:41-44). As Joseph wept and revealed himself to his frightened brothers, Joseph said to them: "Please come near (nagas - draw near, approach, to approach one another, joined one to another) to me.' So they drew near." (Gen. 45:4). Jesus also welcomed those who desired to draw near to Him (Mt. 19:13-15), and asked that we allow Him to draw near to us (Rev. 3:20), as Joseph did with his estranged brothers. Again, Joseph would say to his brothers: "...you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children's children...and all that you have. There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine." (Gen. 45:10-11).

     Joseph told his brothers how the plan of God had been established despite their evil plan for him: "And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity (se'erit/sa'ar - residue, remnant, what is left, portion that escapes, final surviving portion , survivor after a slaughter/to remain left alive, to let remain) for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here (by selling him into slavery), but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." (v. 7-8). Joseph was sent by God to preserve a surviving portion of His people from death, in this case, by famine. Eventually, Messiah (Jesus) would come forth from one of these saved sons of Jacob, Judah (see Gen. 49:1, 8-12), and God's prophetic timeline and the events leading to the salvation of men and the renewal of creation would come through His people Israel, the posterity of Jacob and his sons (Rom. 3:1-2, Rom. 11:1, 11-12). In another selection from this Sabbath reading portion, it is written in scripture: "He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth. He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac, and confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, 'To you I will give the land of Canaan as the allotment of your inheritance..." (Ps. 105:7-11). Israel, the people preserved by Joseph, is still playing its purposed prophetic role.

     As Joseph told his brothers of his purpose from God to preserve a posterity (remnant) of Jacob, scripture promises that God will always have a surviving believing remnant, no matter what evil powers intend (see Gen. 7:1, 1 Kings 19:14-18, Rom. 11:4-5). Jesus told His disciples to watch and pray in order to be accounted worthy to be part of that believing remnant that survives to escape and stand before Him in the terrible day of the LORD (Lk. 21:34-36).

     In another reading portion from this Sabbath, the prophet Ezekiel wrote the Word of the LORD describing the drawing near in proximity, and the joining, of two separate sticks representing the posterities of Joseph and Judah. From this joining, a single kingdom will be restored: "Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God. David My servant (meaning the Messiah/Christ) shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. My servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them...My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people..." (Ezek. 37:15-28, excerpt). The people of Joseph are just as important to the fulfilment of this prophecy as the people of Judah. It is a moment of drawing near to each other and God, and reconciling.

     This Sabbath reading of Va-yiggash, meaning "and he drew near", falls just before we observe Christmas, the birth of our Savior, Jesus. One of the most powerful details in scripture of this birth, is when heaven draws near to earth, and when God, through His only begotten Son, draws near to us, and invites us to draw near to Him: "Now there were in the same country (near Bethlehem) shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!' So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said, 'Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.'" (Lk. 2:8-15). 

     The shepherds did not just receive a miraculous message, but went to draw near, and see the Babe, Jesus, whose name in Hebrew, Yeshua, means "God is salvation", and rejoiced in seeing Him. They became a necessary part of the miraculous event as the angels of God reached out to them from heaven. I think that they must have driven their flocks there also, hundreds and thousands of sheep, because, as shepherds, they would not have left the flocks behind, unprotected. We also are invited to draw near and see this miracle of God.

     If you would like to draw near to Jesus this Christmas to see the wonderful thing that God has done, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, all heaven broke out in praise as it shared the news of the birth of our Savior with men on earth. As Christmas draws near, my heart's desire is to draw near to You, to look upon Your dear Son, and to be filled with heaven's wonder and joy. I marvel at the small Babe, and my heart is touched with love. You gave this gift to all men to receive, and You gave this gift to me. I give You thanks and praise for this priceless gift of salvation and eternal life, and reconciliation between God and man. In Jesus' name, I pray. AMEN." 

     

RulingWisdom

      The apostle Paul said of the Church at Corinth: "...you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 1:4-8).

     This sounds like a wonderful church, coming short in no gift, enriched in all knowledge and utterance by Christ. However, there was an oversetting problem in this church that affected everything they did. They were walking in the wisdom of this world, rather than the wisdom of God. Because of this, their church was riddled with divisions and contentions. Paul wrote this example: "Now I say this, that each of you says, 'I am of Paul', or 'I am of Apollos', or 'I am of Cephas (Peter)', or 'I am of Christ'. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Cor. 1:10-13).  Paul assured the Corinthian church that the message of the cross is not a message of worldly wisdom: "For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.' Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" (v. 18-20).

     Paul described how this church had allowed worldly wisdom and understanding to guide almost everything they did. This even included their handling of the Communion, or The Lord's Supper! (see 1 Cor. 11:17-22). Paul then had to explain to this gifted church the godly wisdom of The Table of the Lord (see v. 23-31). In these verses, Paul especially equates this expression of godly wisdom with the ability to judge rightly (v. 31). By joining wisdom and judgment, Paul is expressing the meaning of the Hebrew word for wisdom: hakma/hakam - wisdom, skill in war, quality ascribed to a ruler, to a king [including the Messiah], and to God/become wise in mind, word, or act, show oneself to be wise, to make wise, teach wisdom, instruct, to judge-hence to rule. Again, Paul reflects this definition of the Hebrew word with this statement that while the idea of Christ crucified is foolishness to some: "...to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God...of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God - and righteousness and sanctification and redemption - that it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.'" (1 Cor. 1:23-24, 30-31).  The ruling Messiah, Jesus, personifies the true rulership, wisdom and judgment of God.

     Again, Paul wrote about the importance of godly wisdom to the Corinthians: "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, 'The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.' (1 Cor. 3:18-20). If the Corinthian church was riddled with destructive worldly wisdom, then it may be necessary to consider if we also have based our rulership as kings and priests in Christ upon the same worldly wisdom that is really foolishness with God. It seems an easy trap to fall into while not even realizing that we are trapped.

     The apostle James, whose Hebrew name was Jacob, wrote even more emphatically: "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness (prautes/praus - gentleness of spirit, mildness/humble, meek, the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest stemming from trust in God's goodness and control over a situation, a work of the Holy Spirit and not of human will) of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are from there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (James 3:13-18). How closely are we willing to look at ourselves through the lens of these strong words of an apostle of Christ, inspired by the Holy Spirit for our consideration and obedience? The attaining of godly wisdom, according to James, must be accompanied by humility, and humility is in short supply.

     The Sabbath reading portion for this week, which happens to take place during Hanukkah (Feast of Lights and Dedication) this year, is titled Mikketz, meaning "At the end of", and it deals with godly rulership-wisdom and judgment.  "At the end of" deals with a period of time here, but in this reading portion, it can also mean being "at the end of" one's own self-importance, as we will see. This portion is from Gen. 41 through 43, and involves details from Joseph's life in Egypt. At the start of this reading, Joseph had been in Pharaoh's prison because, after being sold into slavery by his envious brothers, he was serving as a slave in Potiphar's house in Egypt when he was falsely accused of a crime. "Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream...." (Gen. 41:1). Joseph had been in prison for at least two years. To understand what happening in Joseph's life, we have to go back to his youth. From seventeen years old, Joseph had had prophetic dreams. He, like the Corinthian church, was gifted by God, but he exercised that gift in worldly wisdom. In his youthful "enthusiasm", Joseph told his brothers and father of his dreams of rulership over them, and even his father, though aware of his son's prophetic gift, was offended by him (Gen. 37:10-11). We will find out that the point of these dreams was not Joseph's rulership, but God's miraculous and merciful "sabbath" (seven years of plenty) provision for multitudes of people, including His covenant people, in the midst of a severe seven-year famine to come. In order to enact His plan, God would have to train Joseph up in godly wisdom. Joseph's first lesson would come from the betrayal of his brothers. His next lesson would be to serve as a slave in a foreign household. Then would come false accusation and resulting imprisonment. Then Joseph would learn how to serve even while in prison, receiving the favor of God and the trust of the prison-keeper (Gen. 39:20-23). Then while in prison, he was forgotten by someone for two full years for whom he had accurately interpreted a dream which came to pass "on the third day". (Gen. 40:20-23). We often view trials as the work of evil, but God uses them to purify our faith and to produce godly fruit in us, such as wisdom perhaps. It is at that same time that Pharaoh had two disturbing dreams which he felt had a prophetic significance: "...he (Pharaoh) sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dream, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh." (Gen. 41:8). Those of worldly wisdom could not help. Joseph was then remembered as a dream-interpreter, and Pharaoh ordered this Hebrew slave prisoner to be brought out of the dungeon to offer an interpretation of his dreams. Joseph had been cleaned and clothed, and came before Pharaoh, but we see that Joseph had changed inwardly. When asked for the interpretation, Joseph answered Pharaoh saying: "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace (see James' words above)." (v. 16). We can see here that Joseph has learned the difference between the worldly wisdom of self-assertion and godly wisdom through his time of service. Messiah/Christ Jesus, the personification of ruling, godly wisdom (see references above), told His disciples about the godly wisdom of service, in which He also walked, as contrasted with the worldly wisdom by which others ruled (Mt. 20:25-28). 

     As God gave Joseph the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams involving seven years of abundance to be followed by seven years of severe famine, Joseph was able to tell Pharaoh how to prepare so that his country and other people may not only live through the famine, but prosper. "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...See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." (Gen. 41:39-41). Joseph was also recognized as "a man in whom is the Spirit of God." (v. 38). Joseph, when he later saw his brothers who had betrayed him as they came to Egypt for food, would say to them: "...do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life." (Gen. 45:5). God's purpose here through all of Joseph's difficulties, which was the preservation of life, could only be perceived through godly wisdom, and Joseph was a man who served successfully in rulership by godly wisdom.

     Another reading from this Sabbath's Mikketz portion is from 1 Kings 3. The new king, Solomon, son of King David, had a dream while in Gibeon (Levitical hill city in the territory of Benjamin/gabia - large bowl of wine; flower-shaped bowls of oil on the holy lampstand), the place where the tabernacle was kept in those days. In his dream, the LORD asked Solomon, "What shall I give you?" (1 Kings 3:5). In the dream, Solomon answered the LORD in part: "I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. Your servant (referring to himself) is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega/see Rev. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13) people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people of Yours?" (v. 7-9). It is interesting, and part of the Hebrew meaning of "wisdom", that Solomon requested this from God in order to judge God's people justly in rulership. Solomon could have asked for many things. His rise to the throne had been a dangerous and controversial one, because one of his older brothers had already claimed the throne while their father, David, was still alive. However, "THE SPEECH PLEASED THE LORD, THAT SOLOMON HAD ASKED THIS THING." (v. 10). In fact, the LORD is so pleased with a request for godly wisdom that scripture says that if any lack it and ask for it, He will honor that request (James 1:5).

     God said to Solomon in the dream: "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor..." (v. 11-13). The LORD also promised to lengthen Solomon's days as his father David's IF Solomon walked in the LORD's ways and kept His commandments (v. 14). Often we pray for what we think we need, but perhaps God is waiting for us to also request those things, like wisdom, that will make us more like our Father and His Son.

     Even from the first time that Solomon was called upon to administer judgment (1 Kings 3:16-27), he gained a reputation for the wisdom of God and for justice: ""And all Israel heard of the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared (yare - fear, reverence, in awe of, honor, respect, to tremble) the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice. So Solomon was king over all Israel." (v. 28, 1 Kings 4:1). 

     Solomon also wrote three Books of the Bible, one being Proverbs, the Book of Wisdom. As in the Hebrew definition of "wisdom" (see above), those who have the wisdom of God also teach and instruct others in that wisdom. The prophet Daniel, describing the events of the latter days, wrote: "And those people who understand (sakal - wisely understand) shall instruct many...Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament. and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever...none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand." (Dan. 11:33, 12:3, 9). There is a godly wisdom, through the Messiah/Christ Jesus, available to us that must accompany our spiritual rulership and just judgment. It is dangerous to try to do either without that wisdom. 

     If you would like to pray for godly wisdom, you can join me in my prayer: "Dear Father, Your Son, Jesus, is the wisdom of God, as well as being our righteousness, our healing, and our salvation. Your Word says that if any lack wisdom, they may ask You for it. I ask for Your precious wisdom to fill my life, and direct my thoughts, words and deeds. Let Your wisdom cause me to discern between good and evil, and to have wise understanding. Let Your wisdom in me allow others to see the wisdom of God, rather than my "self". Forgive me, Lord, for neglecting to seek and ask for Your wisdom. Help me, by Your Holy Spirit to see when I am following the wisdom of this world, which is foolishness, rather than the wisdom of God. I ask these things in the name of my Lord and Savior, Your Son and Wisdom, Jesus. AMEN."

GreatLight

      Isaiah perceived a great spiritual darkness upon the land. God's people were seeking the words of wizards and mediums, instead of seeking God. Isaiah wrote the Word of the LORD: "To the law and the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them...they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they shall be driven into darkness." (Isa. 8:19-22, excerpt). There is no doubt that we can say that Isaiah's prophecy is still working today in our time. The prophets wrote of the great darkness that will precede the day of the LORD, and His appearing in the last days. Jesus also prophesied: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven..." (Mt. 24:29-30). Even before the absence of natural light, there will also be spiritual darkness and deception (Mt. 24:9-12). As this darkness spreads, the light of the gospel of the kingdom of God will be preached to all the world (v. 14).

     It looks like a time of spiritual darkness is now covering the earth and its people, as we have turned away from God, and His Word. However, Isaiah then wrote this prophecy: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined." (Isa. 9:1-2, excerpt). The LORD will not allow darkness to rule His creation. His light will rise up. Sometimes, we are so intent upon looking at the darkness that we forget that we have been called to be light, which we will see later.

     Jesus physically changed His dwelling place from Nazareth to Capernaum, in order to show the fulfillment of this prophecy of Isaiah (see Mt. 4:12-17). Also, using the foundation of Isaiah's prophecy above, a heavenly Jesus called Saul of Tarsus, renamed Paul, into salvation and ministry to the Gentiles:  "...to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." (see Acts 26:15-18, excerpt).

     Hanukkah begins this week. It is also called the Feast of Lights, or the Feast of Dedication. Believers in Christ generally ignore this feast, although Jesus observed it (Jn. 10:22-30). It was during this feast that Jesus was asked to say plainly whether He was the Christ, The Messiah, The Anointed One, promised by God. He answered plainly that He was, and had demonstrated that He was, but they had not believed Him.

     This Sabbath reading portion titled Va-yeishev, meaning "And he (Jacob) settled (yasab - dwell, inhabit, abide, remain, tarry, continue, settle, marry, sit down)", as found in Gen. 37:1. Perhaps what we will learn in this Sabbath's portion will cause us to re-examine the importance of Hanukkah to us, the Believers in Christ. This portion covers Gen. 37 through 40.

     Last week we read about "Jacob's trouble". This week, while dwelling in Canaan (meaning "lowland, merchant, trafficker/bring anyone low, humble, bring down, vanquish, humiliate, fall to one's knees, depressed"), Jacob's troubles and sorrows increase and darken to such an extent that he will not be able to be consoled. He will say, on the occasion of what he believes to be the death of his most favored son: "For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning." (Gen. 37:35). Here are some of the terrible troubles that came into Jacob's life: 

• The sons of Jacob conspired to kill their brother Joseph because they envied him for receiving their father's favor, and because Joseph told them of his dreams of rulership which offended them. The brothers would eventually sell Joseph to slave traders for twenty shekels of silver, and tell their father that Joseph had been killed by a wild beast. Jacob was crushed in spirit.
• One of Jacob's sons, Judah, left the family camp and married a Canaanite woman, Shua ("wealth, to be rich/to cry for help or freedom from some trouble"). Judah had three sons with Shua but two were killed by the LORD for their wickedness. 
• Judah mistook his widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar, for a harlot, and had twin sons with her. One of Tamar's sons by Judah, Perez, was the forefather of the line of David and Jesus.

     Jacob's favorite son, Joesph, hated by his brothers, sold into slavery in Egypt, was meanwhile falsely accused and thrown into Pharaoh's prison and forgotten by one who owed him a favor. However, to all who encountered Joseph in Egypt, he would be the rising light of revelation that not only raised him to rulership in Egypt, but saved that nation, and provided food and rich land for his father and brothers in Egypt during a time of great famine. Though deep darkness covers the land and people, the LORD raises a light.

     In another reading portion from this Sabbath, Israel is caught in a period of spiritual darkness. The priests are corrupt and apathetic. That darkness is described this way: "And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation." (1 Sam. 3:1). Into this darkness, the boy Samuel, a miracle birth, was brought to the house of God to minister to the LORD, serving Eli the priest. As the result of a vow made by his mother, Samuel served in the house of God even though he was not a Levite. He was from the tribe of Ephraim (1 Sam. 1:1-2).  The spiritual condition of the house of God under the priesthood of Eli and his sons was growing dark: "...while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim (kehe/kaha - dim, be dark/be darkened, grow weak)

 that he could not see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered 'Here I am!'".  (1 Sam. 3:2-4). According to the statutes of the Law of Moses, the priests were to make sure that the golden lampstand (menorah in Hebrew) of the LORD remain lit throughout the darkness of the night hours (Ex. 27:20-21, Lev. 24:1-4). However, in this case, Eli, his eyes darkened, and resting during the night, neglected the keeping of the Lamp of the LORD. It is in this condition of darkness that the LORD raised up the boy, Samuel, who became a judge and prophet of Israel, and through him, the prophetic Word of the LORD and His revelation was restored to Israel. Samuel would eventually anoint Saul as the first king of Israel, and later David, who would replace the rebellious Saul.

     The feast of Hanukkah, itself, is observed as a memorial to a time in the history of Israel, when an enemy desecrated the temple of God in Jerusalem before being defeated by the Maccabee family. The Lampstand of the LORD in the re-dedicated (cleansed, purified, sanctified) temple was about to be extinguished because there was only one cruse of pure oil on hand, which would keep the Lamp lit for only one day. By a miracle of God, the Lamp remained lit for eight days, while the new supply of special oil could be prepared for it. (see The Miracle of Hanukkah, Talmud). The LORD would not allow His Light to go out.

     In another reading for this special Sabbath during Hanukkah, the prophet Zechariah wrote of a vision given to him of the Lamp pf the LORD supplied by an unending source of oil. The vision of the Lamp and the oil brought this Word of the LORD for Zerubbabel, the governor presiding over the difficult re-building of the Temple of God in Jerusalem: "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 with shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!...The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.'" (Zech. 4:1-9). According to the vision of Zechariah, the eternal light produced by the Lamp of the LORD is continually supplied by the oil of the Holy Spirit. In this light, nothing is impossible, and darkness cannot prevail. We see a similar description as the vision of Zechariah applied to the two witnesses in the Book of Revelation who will have a testimony to deliver in a time of spiritual darkness (Rev. 11:3-14).

      Jesus identified Himself as eternal Light: "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (Jn. 8:12, see also Jn. 1:1-5, and 14, and Gen. 1:1-2).  He is a light that is from above, and not of this world (Jn. 8:23). We should not be surprised then that Jesus observed the Feast of Lights/Dedication, or Hanukkah. It is especially important to observe the powerful meaning of this feast as we see spiritual darkness trying to cover the earth. Jesus told us that we, being part of Him, were also the light of the world - not just any light, but light that is set high on a Lampstand, or menorah: "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.". This light that we are, by the oil of the Holy Spirit, in the manner of Christ, is the light of the Kingdom of God, and the same light into which we were saved (1 Peter 2:9).

     Each night, as a Hanukkah candle is lit, this prayer is said: "Blessed are You, O LORD our God, King of the Universe, who makes us holy with Your commandments (see also Jn. 17:17, Prov. 6:20-23), commanding us to kindle (light) the Hanukkah lights."  Here is another prayer offered during Hanukkah, which is especially needed today: Al HaNissim. The other prayers spoken while lighting the Hanukkah candles praise God for His miraculous salvation, as you can see in this video: Lighting the Hanukkah Menorah. David also wrote about the connection between the LORD's light and His salvation: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" (Ps. 27:1). For me, the observance of Hanukkah is for all who desire to proclaim and praise our Father of Lights (James 1:17), and especially for those who believe in His Son, Jesus, the Light of the world.

     Isaiah wrote this Word of the LORD: "Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around and see...Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy..." (Isa. 60:1-5, excerpt).

     If you would like to know more about our purpose in the Kingdom of God as the light of Christ in the present time of spiritual darkness and trouble, you can pray with me: "Dear Father, how You have blessed us with Your light, and the light of Your Son, Jesus! This would have been enough of a miracle, but You also told me that I am of the same light, made to shine into the darkness. During this season of Lights and Dedication, let me dedicate myself to sanctification in Your Word of truth. Fill me with the oil of Your Holy Spirit so that I can shine with Your testimony. Darkness is here, but You will never allow the darkness to overcome Your eternal light of salvation. Instead of fearing the darkness, let me light a candle. I ask these things in Jesus' name. AMEN."

     

Troubles

     What are the reasons for troubles in a life? Some people will even justify their lack of belief in God based upon troubles. There are several causes for trouble given in scripture, but perhaps this week's Sabbath reading portion will offer an additional view that we may not have considered.  We will see that Jacob, as well as experiencing God's blessings and witnessing supernatural angelic activity several times, had troubles. The Hebrew word for "trouble" that we are going to look at here is sara/sar/sarar, meaning "straits, distress, trouble, vexer, rival wife, affliction, adversity, anguish, tribulation/enemy, oppressor, adversary, foes, narrow, tight, sorrow, a stone [as being hard]/to bind, besiege, shut up, show hostility, be scant, harass".

     This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-yishlach, which means, "And he sent". This reading portion covers Genesis chapters 32 through 35. Jacob, with his wives and children, and all of his possessions were returning to his homeland in Canaan after being in exile for over twenty years in Mesopotamia. He will have to face his brother, Esau, who had sworn to kill him. With humility and gifts, Jacob, whom God had renamed Israel (Gen. 32:24-29), met his brother, Esau, and both men embraced and wept. (Gen. 33:3-5).  The threat and danger were still evident with Esau, but Jacob and his wives and children successfully avoided it. After settling peacefully near Shechem (sekem/sakam - back, shoulder, the back of both shoulder blades, the place of burdens/rise up early, see Isa. 9:6), Jacob/Israel built an altar to the LORD and called it El Elohe Israel, meaning "God, the God of Israel".

     At this place, however, Jacob suffered a tragedy involving his daughter Dinah, and the prince of Shechem, a Hivite, who violated Dinah, but desired to marry her. Two of Jacob's sons, after lying to the people of Shechem, killed all of the males of the city in revenge. Jacob was greatly troubled by what his sons had done (Gen. 34), and God told Jacob to "arise" and return to Bethel where God had first spoken to him, build an altar there, and dwell there. God again spoke a blessing to Jacob/Israel there (Gen. 35:10-15).

     Although God told Jacob/Israel to dwell at Bethel, or "house/household/family/temple/descendants of God", we read that Jacob and his family left Bethel and journeyed toward Ephrath (fruitfulness, increased, branched off, to bear fruit, to bear [a burden]), later called Bethlehem. Jacob's beloved wife, Rachel, "labored in childbirth, and she had hard (qasa - severe, fierce, harsh, make burdensome, cruel, grievous, show stubbornness, afflicted) labor...And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called (the child's) name Ben-Oni ("son of my sorrow"); but his father called him Benjamin ("son of the right hand'). So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is Bethlehem).  And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day." (Gen. 35:16-20). This must have been a sorrowful and troubling event for Jacob.

     Then Jacob/Israel and camp travelled to the tower of Eder (migdal-eder: "tower of the flock"; shepherd's watchtower near Bethlehem): "And it happened, when Israel (Jacob) dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah (bilhah/balah/bahal - the mother of Jacob's two sons Dan and Naphtali, "troubled"/to trouble/trouble, vexed, dismayed, afraid, be anxious, terrified) his father's concubine; and Israel heard about it." (Gen. 35:21-22). Here is more trouble and heartbreak for Jacob/Israel. Up to this point, Jacob has experienced murderous plans of a brother, exploitation and deception by an uncle (Laban), a devastating death in birthing the son of sorrow/son of the right hand, and the intimate betrayal of a son. Later in scripture, Jacob will experience more trouble and heartbreak.

     The prophet Jeremiah gave us a look into the reason for the troubles that happened to Jacob. Jeremiah wrote: "For thus says the LORD: 'We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all   turned pale? Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it." (Jer. 30:5-7).  The phrase "Jacob's trouble" would bring to mind to the people of Israel all of the dangers and heartbreaks that Jacob suffered. Jeremiah was telling us that the troubles of Jacob were prophetic. Jesus also prophesied of this future time of suffering saying, "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be." (Mt. 24:21).

     In another reading portion from this Sabbath, Jeremiah refers directly to an event in Jacob's life that the LORD uses prophetically: "Thus says the LORD: 'A voice was heard in Ramah (ramah/rum - hill, high place, town in Benjamin near Jerusalem/heave offering, exalt, rise up, to raise children), lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.' Thus says the LORD: 'Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded', says the LORD, 'and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future', says the LORD, 'that your children shall come back to their own border." (Jer. 31:15-17). The LORD used Rachel's tears of grievous trouble to prophesy hope and restoration to her descendants when all would appear hopeless for them.

     There are other examples in scripture where a troubling situation has been used to establish a prophetic warning or promise to the people of God. Isaiah the prophet had to walk naked for three years to prophesy the future shame of Egypt and Ethiopia when they would be marched naked into captivity. Isaiah's trouble was also a warning to Israel. Israel would rely on a military alliance with Egypt to protect them from the attack of a powerful Assyrian Empire. They would rely on this alliance instead of listening to the warnings of the prophets calling them back to God, to Jacob's "Bethel". Ezekiel had to cook his meal over a human/later cow dung-fueled fire to prophesy of how God's people would eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles where the LORD would drive them. Jeremiah was imprisoned in, and then rescued from, a waste-filled cesspit. Hosea had to marry and have children with a harlot, and then repeatedly had to buy her back, or redeem her, from the men to whom she had sold herself so that God could show His people how they also had been a repeatedly redeemed harlot in their relationship with Him. Elijah fled in terror and hid in a cave from an evil king and queen so that God could teach him and His people about His "still, small voice", and about a remnant that remains faithful to Him. Jesus told the parable of the wheat and the tares about a man who suffered trouble at the hands of an enemy. However, the man's trouble had a prophetic application. The man's field represented the prophetic time of harvest into the kingdom of God, when the tares would be gathered and burned, but the wheat would be gathered into the barn (Mt. 13:24-30 ). On another occasion, Jesus assured His disciples that a certain man wasn't born troubled by blindness because of anyone's sin, as the disciples had assumed, but for the glory that would be given to God years later on the day of that man's healing and deliverance (John 9). The religious people of the day did not rejoice and give God glory for this miracle, but we do when we read his account. It is still prophesying to us.

     While we know some of the reasons why troubles may be visited upon men, as God's prophetic people, we should also keep in mind that the LORD may use the troubles in a believer's life for good - to teach and prophesy to His people. One thing that we may be sure of, as the LORD told Jacob, we can return to the place in the Spirit called "Bethel", the house of God, where we can rest in His appearance and miracles. Many times it is written in God's Word that He can deliver His people out of their troubles regardless of what created those troubles: "Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses." (Ps. 107). "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him." (Ps. 91). Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me." (Jn. 14:1).

     If you would like to know more about God's prophetic purpose through us, you can pray with me: "LORD God, by Your Word, Jesus, and by Your Holy Spirit, help me to learn and understand more about Your prophetic purpose through the events of my life. You have ordained everything concerning my life for Your glory, and to reap the praises of men. Use even the troubles that may come for Your purpose and glory, and remind me, Lord, to return to "Bethel" where You first spoke to me. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."