Elected

      From the beginning, the LORD was bringing into manifestation the not-yet-seen things that were in Him from before the beginning. One of the greatest promises that existed before the foundation of the world, and would be manifested at the appropriate time, was the promise of the Savior/Messiah/Christ who would rescue mankind from the inevitable consequence of sin, which is death. Titus wrote of that promise from eternity this way: "...in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but in due time manifested His word..." (Titus 1:2-3). Both Peter and John's Book of Revelation also tell us that the sacrificial Lamb, Jesus, was not slain only on a date in history, but was slain in eternity before the world even manifested. (see 1 Pet. 1:18-21, Rev. 13:8). 

     In the same way, the creation in Genesis Ch. 1 reveals that God set the seed of future generations in every living thing, to bring forth after its own kind. The woman, Eve, contained the purpose that would bring forth all living (see Gen. 3:20). However, especially mentioned in the curse upon the serpent, is the Seed which refers to the Savior, Jesus that had been set within Eve that would crush the lying serpent's head. (see Gen. 3:14-15). Not only would the Seed of the woman crush the serpent's head, but there would be an eternal enmity ('eba/'ayab - enmity, hatred, hostility/to hate as one of an opposite tribe, to be an adversary, to persecute as an enemy, to breathe or blow with anger and hatred) between the woman (and her Seed of Deliverance) and the seed of the serpent/Satan, according to the above verses. We will also see this eternal and violent hatred and persecution again below.

     We must start from this point of knowing that the LORD set every seed of life of every generation from before the beginning. Those who know the LORD are assured by scripture that they were known by Him before they were ever born. (see Ps. 139:13-17, Rom. 8:28-31). 

     This understanding will help us with this week's Sabbath reading portion titled Toldot, meaning "Generations", and begins in Gen. 25:19: "This is the genealogy/generations (toldot/yalad - descendants, results, proceedings, generations, account of men and their descendants, birth, history, origin/beget, be born, bring forth, midwife, child, delivered, birth, labor, lineage, declare pedigrees) of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham begot (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac." 

     The Hebrew letters that compose the word toldot, or generation/descendants, are very interesting in meaning, and interestingly placed within the word. The letters are tav-vaw-lamed-daleth-vaw-tav. The repeated letters that mean "cross/covenant" and "nail/peg/joining", tav, and vaw, surround the two letters, lamed-daleth, that mean "the shepherd's staff that urges forward to the door." Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd (who gives His life for the sheep)," and He also said, "I am the Door of the sheep." (Jn. 10:7-11). He goes before, calling His own sheep, and the sheep follow Him in because they know His voice. (Jn. 10:3-4). So within the word toldot, I see a picture of the cross, the Shepherd, Jesus, and the sheep who follow Him. 

     We can see then that Jesus created a kind of "generation" or "line of descendants" through the work of the cross. As Isaiah Ch. 53 prophesied about the Servant of God, referring to a future Jesus, who would give His life for the sins and transgressions of God's people, the prophet also refers to a "generation" and "seed": "And who will declare (*[vaw]-aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) His generation (dor - age, dwelling, evermore posterity, habitation)? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was stricken." (v. 8). The question is asked here, "How will His generation be declared when He has been cut off from life, and therefore there are no descendants?" However, Isaiah also reveals the answer: "...When You (LORD) make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see (ra'a, meaning to prophetically see, discern, perceive, foresee) His seed (zera/zara - seed, child, fruitful, offspring, descendants, posterity of moral character and practitioners of righteousness, harvest, produce of fields/sow, bearing, yielding, to scatter seed), He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand." (v. 10). We who have believed and received Jesus' sacrifice for our sins are His spiritual seed, His spiritual fruit, descendants, posterity.

     There were toldot generations or lines of descendants that were identified as being those that would bring forth the Messiah/Christ even before Israel became a nation in the land. This line of descendants would be challenged severely by the one, the serpent or Satan, who did not want his hated enemy, the Messiah/Christ, to be born from this elected generational line. 

     This Sabbath reading portion will also show us that when the LORD revealed His election of one line of descendants that carried the Messiah/Christ's seed over another, the line not elected would go to war against them. Those who were not elected both coveted and resented the elected.

      In this toldot Sabbath portion, (*Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac married (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Rebekah, and he pleaded to the LORD that Rebekah would conceive because she was barren. The LORD heard Isaac and Rebekah did conceive. However, Rebekah felt the children (twins) in her womb struggling together (rasas - oppressed, broken, break, bruised, crush, struggle, crush to pieces, grievously oppress, "a crushed reed", to treat violently) and so she enquired of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) LORD concerning this. The warfare against the elected one had already begun in the womb. The LORD revealed this about the babies in Rebekah's womb: "Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve ('abad - serve, worshipper, serve as a subject) the younger." (Gen. 25:20-23).

     Although the twins would be born together, the people and nations that came from each would remain separated. The election would go to the younger twin, and the older twin would serve that younger brother. 

     The two brothers were born and the first-born twin was named Esau, and the younger twin was named Jacob. Rebekah knew that Jacob, the younger twin, was the elected one because of the prophecy given to her by the LORD. As the twins grew, they were of different characters. Esau, the older, who despised (baza - despise, contemptible, vile person, scorn, worthless, make light of) his birthright, sold that birthright to Jacob, the younger, for nothing of greater value than a bowl of red lentil stew when he was hungry. (Gen. 25:29-34). 

     Rebekah also managed through deception to gain Isaac's paternal blessing over Jacob rather than Esau. This blessing included the words: "Let peoples serve ('abad - see above) you, and nations bow down (saha - worship, reverence, bow down to royalty or God) to you. Be master (gebir - lord, ruler) over your brethren, and let your mother's sons bow down (saha - see above) to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you!" (Gen 27:29). This is the royal election of the Messiah/Christ, who is both King and God, passed on from Isaac to Jacob, the younger son, as the LORD prophesied previously to Rebekah.

     As a result of his father's blessing of Jacob, "Esau hated (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jacob...and Esau said in his heart, 'The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jacob." (Gen. 27:41).

     Generations later, in another reading portion from this Toldot Sabbath, Esau's descendants, which became the nation of Edom, also sought to destroy Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel, and the judgment of God was rendered against them. The seed of election, the Messiah/Christ, had already been identified as coming down the toldot generations of King David (see 2 Sam. 7:16-18), who was of the tribe of Judah. The LORD condemned Edom for their actions against Jerusalem/Judah: "For violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever...You should not have entered the gate of My people in the day of their calamity...You should not have stood at the crossroads to cut off them who escaped...As you have done, it shall be done unto you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head...But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions...and no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,' for the LORD has spoken." (Obadiah v. 10-18, excerpt).

     Many generations before, Edom had also refused to help Israel when they were in the wilderness after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. (see Num. 20:14-21). Moses had requested that Edom allow Israel to follow The King's (melek - king, royal, prince) Highway (derek - journey, manner, path, direction, course of life, way of living), which passed through Edom. Edom had refused to allow them to do this and gathered an army to keep them out.

     The descendants of Esau were the nation of Edom, as mentioned. However, that nation was also called Idumea. The Herods were Idumean kings that took the throne of Israel. The first Herod, Herod the Great of Judea, sought to kill all of the young male children of Bethlehem in order to kill the Messiah/Christ Child, Jesus, after He was born. This event is known as "The Slaughter of the Innocents." (see Mt. 2:16-18). Again, we see the enmity of the serpent for the woman and her Seed, and the despising for the election of God. This enmity is concentrated upon the Savior Messiah/Christ.

     The hatred of Esau for his brother Jacob did not remain between two individuals as we see above, but it was carried down the toldot generations of Esau against the elected of God, who were identified as those who carried the Seed and the promise of the Messiah/Christ. The hatred is about more than the land. It is the hatred that the serpent/Satan of the Garden of Eden carries for the prophesied Seed (of the woman), and the people who have been elected to carry that Seed. The hope in and prayers for the Messiah/Christ, the King of Israel, are still held in the hearts of Israel.

     From another reading portion from this Toldot Sabbath, the LORD reminds Israel/Jacob that He elected them even as He hated (sane - to utterly hate an odious enemy) Esau the twin brother of Jacob.  However, the prophet Malachi wrote that even though the LORD elected Israel/Jacob, they did not appreciate Him as their Father and Master, and they despised (baza - see above) His name. (Mal. 1:2-3, 6). Israel was elected by the foreknowledge of God, yet they treated Him with the same baza contempt that Esau had regarding his birthright. It is very grievous when the elect despise or take for granted their election.

     What does this understanding of election mean for those, both Jew and Gentile, who believe that Jesus is Messiah/Christ, the Son of God?

     Jesus described our direct attachment to Him and the resulting fruit of that attachment. He used the illustration of Himself as the vine, and us as the branches produced by that vine. So long as we remain attached to Him as our Vine, we will produce much fruit. Without Him as our life-giving vine we cannot produce that fruit (see zera/zara above as being His seed/fruit/harvest). (Jn. 15:1-8). This is what it means to be the toldot spiritual descendants of Jesus.

     Jesus also pointed out that because He chose us, we, like Him, will be hated and persecuted by the world (Jn. 15:18-25), which brings us back to that same enmity between the serpent and the woman who has the Seed. This enmity is eternal and ongoing.

     This enmity continues to manifest against Israel and also those who believe Jesus, the Messiah/Christ. The Book of Revelation gives us the prophetic unveiling of this continuing enmity against the royal woman who gives birth to the promised Seed: "...And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne...the dragon...that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan...persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child...And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Rev. 12, excerpts).

     One reason that the serpent continues to war so continuously against the woman, who I believe are the elect of Israel/Jacob, and those who are Christ's progeny and fruitful seed in the earth, is because both will play a role in the return of Messiah/Christ to rule and reign on earth. Jesus told Jerusalem: "...for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!" (Mt. 23:39). Jesus was not referring to His entrance into Jerusalem when the crowds previously said: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest!" (Mt. 21:9), because His words over Jerusalem above are said after that event.

     They will call out to Him again, He will answer, and they will see Him again.

     The Book of Revelation closes with the words of Jesus and this prayer to Him from His chosen disciple, John: "He (meaning Jesus) who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20).

     The elect, and the seed of Christ are still testifying, and calling out.

     If you would like to learn more about the elect of God in the earth, you can pray with me: "Father, You have elected individuals and generations of descendants in order to fulfill Your gracious plan of Salvation through Your Son, Jesus. Although Satan continues his enmity against You, You have rescued and preserved Your people. You have placed within those whom You elected a purpose and fruitfulness that will yield a great harvest for Your Kingdom, and for Your King of Kings, Jesus. Please Father, I never want to despise Your election, but ask that by Your Word and Your Spirit in me, and Christ in me the hope of glory, that I would show forth the good and miraculous works of Your election through Christ so that others may see them and praise God. Let my testimony and prayers bring Jesus closer to moment of His return. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

RoyalPrincess

      This week's Sabbath reading portion, titled Chayyei Sarah, or "The life of Sarah," is always very interesting. One reason that this Sabbath portion is so interesting is because "the life of Sarah" starts with the death of Sarah in Genesis 23: "Sarah (sara/sar - noblewoman, princess, the wife of a king, of noble birth, queen/prince, chief, ruler, governor, leader, princes of religious office) lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her." (v. 1-2).

     As indicated by Sarah's name, she was a "princess". The LORD had previously prophesied to Abraham that kings would come from him: "I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings (melek/malak - king, royal, Messiah[Christ] as the King of Israel, Jehovah as King of Israel/king, queen, rule, reign, cause to reign, to counsel and advise, ascend to the throne) shall come from you...Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings (melek/malak - same as above) of peoples shall be from her." (Gen. 17:6, 16). As Abraham sought to purchase a burial place for his wife, Sarah, from the Hittites of Canaan, they addressed him, saying: "Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places..." (Gen. 23:6). The Hittites recognized Abraham as royalty. Abraham was not interested in their burial places but wanted to purchase a field that contained a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) cave in order to bury his wife there. (v. 8-9). Although the Hittites referred to Abraham as royalty, Abraham was humble before them and "bowed himself down" (saha - bow down, obeisance, stoop, prostrate oneself before anyone out of honor, to submit oneself) before the people of the land. (v. 12). Royalty does not mean prideful or haughty in the Kingdom of God.

     The covenant household that Abraham and Sarah established in covenant with God was a royal household. This Sabbath portion, "The life of Sarah," will reveal other women in future generations who became part of this royal household. The greatest royalty that would come forth from these royal women would be the Messiah/Christ Jesus, THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. As the meaning in Hebrew of the life of Sarah teaches us, the word "life" is hay/haya which includes the meaning: "have life, restored to life, revive from death, to live forever." This is no ordinary royal household, and this is no ordinary kind of "life." This is a special royal household that has the promise of eternal life in God.

     The Bible follows this royal line and those who belong to it throughout the generations. There are "princesses/queens" in this miraculous and holy account as well.

     From another part of this Chayyei Sarah, "the life of Sarah" Sabbath reading portion, we will see how Abraham acquires a royal bride for his son, Isaac, after the death of Sarah. (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Abraham called his oldest, trusted servant to him, "who ruled over all that he had," to swear to return to Abraham's native land and family (moledet - kindred, born, begotten, issue, relatives, nativity, origin), "...and take a wife for (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) my son Isaac." (Gen. 24:1-4). The servant, who is not named in this passage, is described as being "oldest." This is the Hebrew word zaqen, which means not only old or ancient, but in oriental culture is also "the minister of a king, and is called 'great king father' even if he is young. He is considered a man of very high eminence because of this position." Abraham made the servant swear solemnly that he would never take Isaac back to the land Abraham's family in Mesopotamia, but would bring the bride to the land of Canaan because of God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would inherit this land. (v. 6-9).

     Because the servant had charge over all of Abraham's goods, he took ten camels (gamal - camel, beast of burden/to deal bountifully with, reward, bestowed, recompense, do good to, served) loaded with precious goods to offer to this bride and her family, including substantial gold jewelry, silver, clothing and precious things (migdanot/meged - choice and excellent thing, precious, gem/precious fruit, excellence, distinguished, to be eminent). We know that the servant carried enough of these rich goods to require ten camels. One camel can carry over 900 pounds of goods, although the average weight that is carried by a camel is about 300 pounds. Even if we take the lesser weight, it means that Abraham's servant brought over 3,000 pounds of his master's finest goods to the prospective bride, and it could have been as much as 9,000 pounds! This is not a gift that would be given to an ordinary bride, but it is a suitable gift for a royal princess bride. The future bride and her family would certainly come to this conclusion also. If Abraham could furnish this abundance of finest things to his son's future bride, how much more in natural and spiritual riches has the Father in heaven furnished to His Son, Jesus, to bestow upon His Bride, the believers in Messiah/Christ?

     As Abraham's servant drew near to the home city of Abraham's family, he prayed to the LORD: "O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink' - let her be the one You have appointed for your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master." (v. 12-14). The appointed young woman would not be of the average disposition. She would have a godly noble humility like Abraham (see above). Not many royal princesses today would see ten camels belonging to a stranger and offer to fetch water for them! Would we be this hospitable and humble?

     As soon as Abraham's servant finished praying, a beautiful young woman named Rebekah came to the well and did exactly as the servant had prayed. Not only that, but the servant found out that she was the daughter of Abraham' deceased brother. The LORD had answered the servant's prayer.

     Rebekah invited the servant to bring his camels and to stay with her family. After hearing the servant's story, Rebekah agreed to return with the servant to Abraham's household in Canaan to marry his son, Isaac. Her family agreed to let her go and prayed a blessing over (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Rebekah: "Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the gates ( see Judges 16:2-3 and Mt. 16:16-19) of those who hate them." (Gen. 24:60).

     As the servant's and Rebekah's caravan drew near to Abraham's home, Isaac was out in his field and lifted up his eyes and saw them approach. Rebekah also lifted up (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) her eyes and saw (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac. She took her veil and covered herself. She was not only humble and generous, but she was modest as well. "Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent; and he took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Rebekah as his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death." (Gen. 24:61-67).

     As we can see, Rebekah became designated by the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, the identification of the (royal) household of the Messiah/Christ Jesus, after her agreement to return with Abraham's servant to marry Isaac.

     In the true meaning of a royal bride, Rebekah would establish the Messianic line of Christ as well as the nation and tribes of Israel as she gave birth to her two sons. The LORD had prophesied to her that of her twin sons, the older would serve the younger, so Rebekah did all she was able to ensure that her younger son, Jacob, later renamed Israel, would receive the blessing from her husband, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac, rather than Esau. Then she would provide the means by which Jacob would survive the murderous rage of his brother, Esau, by sending Jacob to her family in Mesopotamia.

     In another reading portion from this Chayyei Sarah, "the life of Sarah" Sabbath, one of David's wives, Bathsheba, in partnership with the prophet of Israel, secured the oath of elderly King David to keep his promise to name their son Solomon as his successor, because another son from a different mother plotted to grab the throne instead before his father's death, which would also put Solomon in danger. (1 Kings 1:28-31). David assured Bathsheba that Solomon would succeed him, and then set the things in motion to accomplish this. David had formerly been promised by God that his household would be the one to bring forth the Messiah/Christ in generations to come. Solomon did become king after his father David, and he is indeed named in the genealogy of Jesus. (see Mt. 1:6). Bathsheba secured the Messianic/Christ royal line that God had prophesied to her husband, King David.

     This Chayyei Sarah Sabbath also brings us the story of Ruth. Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law had a husband named Elimelech (meaning "My God is King") who had died and her two sons were dead also. All she had left as she lived in the nation of Moab was her daughter-in-law, Ruth, whose husband was deceased and had left her with no children. Naomi decided, having nothing left, to return to her homeland and hometown, Bethlehem in Israel. Her faithful daughter-in-law, Ruth, clung to Naomi and begged to go with her to Israel, saying in part, "...your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." After Naomi and Ruth arrived in Israel, Ruth began to glean grain/corn (sibolet/sobel - ears of corn, branches, a flowing stream, a waterflood/flowing skirt or train, train of a robe) as a poor person in the fields of Boaz, a rich kinsman of Naomi's deceased husband, in order to feed herself and Naomi. It is important to understand the meanings of the names of Boaz and Ruth in Hebrew. The Hebrew letters of Boaz' name are beth + 'ayin + zayin and when joined together could have the meaning "House/Household/Family that sees and understands the fountain of the (One) pierced." Ruth's name in Hebrew means "friendship, appearance, mate, female companion", with the root meaning: "feed, shepherd/shepherdess, pastor, tend to, to pasture, teacher, to keep, ruler." The Hebrew letters of Ruth's name are reysh + vaw + tav, which when joined together could mean "The Highest nailed to the cross/covenant." In other words, Boaz and Ruth were made for each other, a foregone conclusion. 

     Ruth says three times in the account (Ruth 2:2, 10, 13) that she while she is gleaning the field, she is really seeking "favor/grace" (hen/hanan/hana - grace, favor, pleasant, well-favored, kindness, acceptance/merciful, gracious, besought, supplication, have mercy on, implore the favor of/dwell, abide, tent, encamp, bow down, inhabit, pitch one's tent" even though she is a foreigner. Ruth is looking for a habitation of mercy and grace. When Naomi heard that Ruth was gleaning in Boaz's field and had received kindness from him, Naomi exclaimed: "Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken his kindness to the living and the dead!" (Ruth 2:20).

     Boaz had heard of Ruth's kindness and faithfulness to Naomi and redeemed the inheritance of all that belonged to his dead relative, which included Naomi and Ruth, and he married Ruth. Ruth became known to him by her royal character. They had a son, Obed (obed/abad - serving/servant, worshipper), who would be King David's grandfather. Naomi treated Ruth's child as her own, and became a nurse to him, and her women neighbors said, "There is a son born to Naomi." (Ruth 4:16-17). Boaz had restored the (royal) line of his dead relative Elimelech by being a "kinsman redeemer". Through the serving and faithful heart of Ruth the Moabitess, the royal line of the Messiah/Christ had been restored. Both Boaz, Ruth, Obed and, of course, David are named in the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah/Christ. (see Mt. 1:5-6).

     How are the women mentioned in this Sabbath reading portion, in which we should also consider the Bride of Christ, connected to our Sabbath title "the life of Sarah"? Sarah, meaning "princess, noblewoman, wife of a king, queen", had also confirmed the direction of the royal Messianic line, or line of Christ, in her lifetime like the women mentioned above when she insisted that Ishmael be removed from the camp because he was mocking, saying to Abraham: "...the son of this bondwoman (referring to Hagar) shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac." This was very displeasing (ra'a - evil, wicked, hurt, harm, break into pieces, evildoer, injurious) in Abraham's eyes because he loved Ishmael, his first born, also. The LORD told Abraham: "...whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed." (Gen. 21:9-13). Abraham obeyed the LORD and did as Sarah had told him.

     Sarah established the royal line of kingship (Ishmael would produce princes according to the promise of the LORD, while Isaac's line would establish kings) which reflected the will and plan of God. Worldly royalty comes and goes, but the royal kingdom of God is eternal. Jesus instructed His disciples as He sent them forth to say to those that they ministered to with healing and miracles: "The kingdom of God has come nigh you."

     Our role as the royal Bride of Messiah/Christ is to affirm and witness His Kingship (see Rev. 17:14, Isa. 9:6-7, Dan. 7:13-14, Jn. 18:36, etc.) while understanding the royal kingdom of which we also have been made a part through Him (Rev. 1:5-6, 1 Pet. 2:9-10).

     If you would like to learn more about how each of us are connected to "the life of Sarah", you can join me in prayer: "Our Father, You have called me to Your Kingdom through and because of Your Son, Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You established His royal line down through many generations, assuring us all that we have a King who has been given all power and authority, who will return to rule and reign over all the earth. Help me, Father, to serve this Kingdom and to establish it in my own heart and in all of the places upon which I set my feet. I declare that the Kingdom of God is here. It is in each of us, dwelling within me and manifesting through me until the moment when our King's feet will touch upon the Mt. of Olives in Israel. Let Your Holy Spirit guide me to follow my King and let Your Word shine as a lamp unto my feet. I ask this in the name of my coming King, Jesus. AMEN.

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

SeeingFaith

     This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled, Va-yeira, meaning, "And He appeared." The title is based upon the first verse of the reading portion in Gen. 18:1: "Then the LORD appeared (ra'a - see, look, appear, behold, consider, perceive, seer, foresee, have vision, discern, gaze at, to be visible) to him (Abraham) by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat (hom/hamam - dangerous heat/hot, burning, enflamed) of the day." Abraham saw the LORD in the form of three men who were standing by him, as Abraham "lifted his eyes." (v. 2). Abraham rushed around in the heat to make provision for the three men that they should rest and be refreshed (sa'ad - comfort, strengthen, hold me up, establish, uphold a throne) in their hearts. Do we realize that we can strengthen, uphold, and establish the throne of the LORD? We do so by ministering to Him. We often ask the LORD to minister favor and grace to us in various forms, but do we minister rest and refreshing to Him? Abraham ran to minister rest and comfort to the LORD. (see v. 6-8). It is at this point that the LORD prophesied that He would return to Abraham, and his wife, Sarah would have a son. Sarah, listening in the tent door, laughed to herself when she heard this promise concerning herself and her husband in their old age. That would indeed be a miracle! (v. 9-12). The LORD knew what Sarah thought in her heart and asked her, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?...I will return to you...and Sarah shall have a son." (v. 13-14).

     We have studied ra'a appearing and sight together previously, and, although I try to avoid any repetitious studies and blog entries, I ended up following a path that brought me back to this topic again in a greater depth. Perhaps, in our present times, with many who are suffering and struggling, we need to take a deeper look at this topic. I hope you will agree.

     There is an expression, "blind faith." However, I found here that the LORD provides help for us in our walk of faith by letting us ra'a "see" Him, as Abraham did above. He gives us the appearance of Himself in a form that assures us that He has spoken, and He has promised. If we receive this gracious strengthening of our faith by the LORD, we are helped to overcome circumstances.

     Later on, after Abraham and Sarah's son Isaac (meaning "he laughs") was born, "God tested (nasa - prove, assay, try, test, put to the proof, to try by smell, to try by the touch) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Abraham." (Gen. 22:1).

     This was the test of Abraham that was commanded by God: "Take now (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your son, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." (v. 2). Let's look at the word, "Moriah" used here. It is translated from the Hebrew as "Chosen by Jehovah", but the Hebrew root words that make up this word are ra'a and yah, which mean "See" (see above) and "the LORD". The Hebrew letters that make up the word "Moriah" are mem, vaw, reysh, yod, heh, which, when joined together could mean: "the water/blood of the Highest's nailed hand/completed work is shown/revealed."

     The trial of Abraham seems very severe indeed, but it was necessary in order to reveal something of earthshaking importance that would be a blessing to the whole earth: the completed work of the Son of God, His only Son, whose bloodied hand was nailed.

     Let us see how Abraham ra'a saw something that strengthened him in faith and trust in the LORD: "So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled (habas - bind up, govern, restrain, to stop, to rule, to bind up a wound, to bind by allegiance, to shut up) his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) donkey, and took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. (v. 3).

     It is clear from the Hebrew meanings of the words that are used for "donkey" (hamor/hamar) and "young men" (na'ar), that Abraham was "troubled, in turmoil, foaming like a raging sea, reddened, feeling emptiness, shaken, violent in commotion, very angry, growling, yelling, crying and roaring like a lion" as he struggled with the command of the LORD concerning Isaac, but he "saddled" these feelings, or restrained them because of his allegiance to God. Did we think that God's command to offer his son of promise Isaac as a burnt offering did not affect Abraham in a profound way? Did we think that because he is named among the giants of faith (see Heb. 11:8-12), that he calmly led Isaac to the place of sacrifice? He was shaken to his core. Hebrews 11:13 explains that Abraham and other giants of faith, saw the promises from afar off and were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. We are not directed by what we see in the natural, visible world, but by the promises that we see from afar off and embrace with our hearts.

     In this same manner, something happens that will drive Abraham forward. He "sees" something:

     "Then on the third day Abraham lifted his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eyes and saw (ra'a - see meaning above) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) place afar off (rahoq - long ago, old, space, far from, of distant time, remote and difficult to get to of place or time, great while to come, dear, precious)." (v. 4).     

     What Abraham ra'a saw caused him to say to his "young men", 'Stay here with the "donkey"; the lad and I will go yonder ('ad - as long, how long whether of space or time, until) and worship, and we will come back (sub - return, restore, refresh, recover, come back, be returned, be brought back, to be converted as a sinner) to you." (v. 5).

     We know the rest of the account. Abraham set up the offering of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) his son, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) his only son, Isaac, but was stopped by the Angel of the LORD at the last moment. "Then Abraham lifted his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eyes, and looked (ra'a - see meaning above) and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, 'The-LORD-Will-See (ra'a)/Provide; as it is said to this day, 'In the Mount of the LORD it shall be seen (ra'a)/provided." (v. 12-14).

     Moriah is also the place that many centuries later, would be referred to as Calvary, or Golgotha, the place of the crucifixion of Christ outside of Jerusalem, as well as the possible place of the temple mount. This encounter of Abraham's, of course, speaks to us of the offering of God's only Son, Jesus, as our replacement burnt offering, just as the ram replaced Isaac. He died in our place, by which we sinners are converted (changed) by belief in Him. Jesus, God's only Son, also rose from the dead as the firstfruits or progenitor of our resurrection. Abraham "saw" this out of time, as Jesus also confirmed (see Jn. 8:56-58). Abraham then moved forward towards the destination in faith. Is our vision coming from this place, Moriah, or from another place?

     Abraham had *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) 'ayin eyes to ra'a see as we read in the verse above. These types of eyes are not exclusive to Abraham. All of those connected to *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Messiah/Christ (see *note below), as Abraham was, have been given 'ayin eyes. However, 'ayin eyes are not just to see physical or natural things only, just as ra'a sight is not limited to the physical or natural. The Hebrew word 'ayin means, "sight, before, to flow, eyes of physical, mental and spiritual faculties, a spring or fountain [sources of fresh or new water, living water]." Are we seeing with those eyes that create a "spiritually seeing faith"? Are our 'ayin eyes springs and fountains of spiritual sight through which God supplies, not only for ourselves, but for others as well?

     We also know that 'ayin eyes see more than the physical realm because they can be darkened, not with physical blindness, but with spiritual blindness by God when His people refuse to "see". Those whose 'ayin eyes are darkened in this manner can no longer perceive the LORD or His works, and they become a people of unbelief rather than faith. They become so spiritually blinded that they cannot even perceive that they are spiritually blind!  How terrible it is to lose our 'ayin eyes! The Lord said this to Isaiah the prophet: "And He (the Lord) said, 'Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing but do not understand; Keep on seeing (ra'a - see above) but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes ('ayin - see above); Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed." (Isa. 6:9-10).

     The LORD also said through Isaiah the prophet: "Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind!...For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your eyes ('ayin - see above)..." (Isa. 29:9-10, excerpt). Even *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega eyes may be closed by God because the eyes of those who are meant to belong to Messiah/Christ refuse to "see".

     Jesus also talked about eyes that have become darkened to spiritual knowledge. (Mt. 6:22-23). In these verses, the eyes are the Greek word and root ophthalmos/optanomai. These Greek words mean: "eyesight, the eyes of the mind and knowing/to look at, behold, to gaze with wide open eyes at something remarkable as opposed to casual vision, watching from a distance, earnest and continual inspection." Jesus also said in another place that the religious leaders who had chosen to be spiritually blind and continued leading others into the same spiritual blindness as their own, were like "the blind leading the blind." Both will fall into the pit that is before them. (see Mt. 15:10-14, Lk. 6:39-42).

     Paul wrote that he prayed for the believers, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of His glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age which is to come." (Eph. 1:16-21). There is an awesome knowledge of the power and dominion of God in Messiah/Christ waiting to be imparted to the eyes of our understanding. Imagine the faith that is created through the opened and enlightened eyes of our spiritual understanding!

     Are we ra'a seeing afar off with our lifted 'ayin eyes, as Abraham did, and believing? Are we seeing it? Have we asked God to give light to our eyes that we may see in this way? It is the LORD who gave us those eyes, and it is the LORD who gave us that sight, and He did so for a reason. Abraham was almost overcome with horror and anger, but then he lifted up his eyes to the place where the LORD commanded him, and he saw.

     Paul wrote that there is no testing/trying/proving/temptation of faith and character that a man may experience from God of which God has not also prepared, produced, appointed, ordained or shown the way out so that we can bear it, especially for those "upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (see 1 Cor. 10:11-13). Abraham was allowed to "see" what he needed to see in order to be able to bear the test that the LORD had placed upon him for our sakes. In these times of testing and refining that come before the return of Messiah/Christ, it is a blessing and a necessity to know that the Lord shows us even the unseen things so that we may overcome. It is the blessing and lesson of this Va-yeira, "And He appeared," Sabbath. 

     The LORD said to Jeremiah, while Jeremiah was imprisoned: "Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name): "Call (qara' - call out, cry out, utter a loud sound, summon, invite, call with the name of God/meet, encounter) to Me, and I will answer you, and show (nagad - declare, show, show forth, make known, be apparent, to be in sight, to be manifest, to bring to the light, to conquer, to overcome, to celebrate with praise) you great (gadol - great, high, greater, mighty, great of magnitude or extent) and mighty things (basar - inaccessible, fortified, secret, mysteries), which you do not know (yada in the negative - not perceived, not known, not seen, not revealed, not observed, not aware)." (Jer. 33:2-3). The LORD then showed Jeremiah the wonderful and miraculous restoration that He had planned for Judah.

     The blessed vision that God has ordained for us that is connected to His overcoming Son, Jesus, is not just for the purpose of seeing the darkness and length of the tunnel, but it is provided to us so that we might be able to see "the light at the end of the tunnel," to coin a familiar and applicable phrase. Now that we know that this sight is available to us, we can ask it of the LORD. Are you struggling or waiting upon the promise of the LORD? He is with us in all circumstances in His supernatural way to help and strengthen us. (see Ps. 124:1-8, Isa. 41:8-10).

     If you would like to know more about faith that "sees", you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father who sees and knows all things, You are not partial nor a respecter of persons. You called Abraham to faith for our benefit, to be a blessing to all the nations and families of the earth, and as our example to follow. Abraham heard Your voice and obeyed. Abraham saw Your appearance, Jesus, and was strengthened by it, and followed the way in which You led him. I pray that I, also, have ears to hear and eyes to see, and a heart to receive what You desire to show me of things that are not yet seen in the natural world, but have already been established and completed in the Spirit. As I am tested, give me eyes to see the way out that You have ordained for me, not just to escape, but in order to strengthen and purify the faith that You have given to me. Show me, Lord, and I will "see." I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.