ThyWill

     

                                                                              "Then God came to Balaam..."

     The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion from Numbers Ch. 22-24 is Balak, who was the king of Moab. His name means "devastator, waster, lay waste, to annihilate, to make empty." All of the nation of Moab was exceedingly afraid and sick with dread because of the people of Israel, who were journeying through the wilderness. Moab feared the Israelites because of their previous victory of the over the Amorites (see Num. 21:21-25). The nation of Moab said: "Now this company will lick up (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-everything-around-us...". And King Balak sent messengers to a famous soothsayer named Balaam (Bil'am - "Not of the people") saying: "Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-face ('ayin - eye, sight, face, presence, fountain, countenance, resemblance) of the earth, and are settling next to me! Therefore, please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me...for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed." (Num. 22:1-6). Notice that both "everything around us", and "the face" of the earth are preceded by the aleph-tav in written Hebrew which designates the identity of Messiah/Christ (see *note at the bottom of the entry). The earth and everything in it belong to Messiah/Christ and has from the beginning. Genesis 1:1 in written Hebrew shows the aleph-tav preceding "the heavens and the earth," which were created by God. We also have the scripture that says: "The earth is the LORD's and all its fulness, the world and those who dwell therein." (Ps. 24:1). Neither the land, nor anything around them, belongs to Moab or its king, Balak, but to the LORD.

     In the last few weeks, we have been learning about the human soul, which, simply put, is composed of the mind, the will and the emotions/desires. While the definition here may be simplified, the creation of the human soul is not simple. Genesis tells us that the living human soul was created by God's own breath. (see Gen. 2:7). This week, the Sabbath reading portions were teaching me about "the will" of man. We will see how the two men, King Balak and Balaam, will be carried to their own destruction by the strength of their own wills. The king's messengers, who were princes (Num. 22:14), traveled to Balaam to deliver the king's request that Balaam should come and curse the Israelites for him. They took with them a "diviner's fee" to give to Balaam: "Then the LORD came to Balaam and said...'You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." (v. 9-12). Balaam obeyed and refused to go with the messengers from the king. The king sent even more highly ranked messengers back to Balaam and increased his offer: "Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; for I will honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore please come, curse this people for me." (v. 16-17). Balaam is promised anything he wants, but he tells the messengers that he cannot go beyond the word of the LORD. Then he invites the messengers to spend the night while he seeks what the LORD will say to him. However, Balaam already knows what the LORD has spoken concerning these men.

     "Then God came to Balaam at night and said to him, 'If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-word which I speak to you - that you shall do.' So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-his-donkey, and went with the princes of Moab." (v. 20-21). Balaam really wanted to go with the men, so he didn't wait for the men to call to him as the LORD had commanded him, but rose early and was already saddled to leave with the men. Balaam's will was to go with the men. 

     God was angry that Balaam left with the men and sent His (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Angel to obstruct Balaam. Although the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-donkey saw (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-Angel and tried to stop, Balaam beat his donkey into continuing: "Then the LORD opened Balaam's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-eyes, and he saw (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the Angel of the LORD standing in the way...And (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-Angel...said to him, 'Why have you struck (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-your-donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you because your way is perverse (yarat - hurl headlong, to be rash, turned over, destructive) before Me...". (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-Angel conceded to the will of Balaam and allowed him to continue to go with Balak's princes, but he was to speak only (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-word that the the LORD will speak to him. "So Balaam went with the princes of Balak." (v. 22-35).

     The account of Balaam and King Balak continues through two more chapters, and Balaam does deliver only the word that the LORD tells him to speak. These words are words and prophecies of blessing towards Israel, including the coming of the Messiah/Christ, rather than the cursing that the king sought. However, Balaam's will was towards the rewards of the king, and he would continue to conspire with the king against the children of Israel. Scripture tells us that eventually Balaam's will for honor and reward would lead to his death as (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-Angel had warned him. (see Num. 31:7-8). Balaam clearly knew from his direct encounters with the LORD in Numbers 22 through 24, what the will of the LORD was regarding the Israelites, and His will concerning Balaam's own way, yet Balaam allowed his own will to prevail against the will of God.

     Why didn't the LORD simply take action to prevent Balaam from going with the men in the first place? The LORD, scripture shows us, does use force to overcome the will or free choice of a person, but He will warn, He will send miraculous signs (like an Angel or a talking donkey), He will set obstacles in the path to dissuade a rash or headlong rush into destructive willfulness, as we saw above.

    

     From another reading portion of the Balak or "Devastator" Sabbath, Joshua, shortly before he died, gave this word to the Israelites: "...Serve (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD! And if it seems evil to you to serve (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD, choose (bahar - choose, chosen, choice, excellent, acceptable, decide, elect, select, join, examine, prove) for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD...And the people said to Joshua, 'No, but we will serve (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD!'...Now therefore,' he (Joshua) said, 'put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-your-heart to the LORD God of Israel.' And the people said to Joshua, '(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-The-LORD our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!" (Josh. 24:14-24).

     As we can see from the Hebrew meaning of the word "choose", the result of "choice" involves becoming "joined" to your choice. We can choose to join our wills to the will of the LORD, or we can choose to join our will to forces like Balak, the devastator. Joshua said that he and his house have chosen to be joined to the will of God. Smart choice. It is the choice of life as opposed to destruction.

     Scripture shows us that the will of man is a most powerful force. The will of man is even more powerful than the will of Satan, which we will see. Imagine the awesome earth-changing power when the will of man becomes submitted to and joined with the will of God! Let's look at some examples in scripture:

The will of man is powerful: The whole of earth had one language (sapa/sop/sup - language, boundary, edge, lip, sweep away, destroy, consume, perish, wind-swept, be scraped barren. laid bare, abrade, carry off/end, conclusion, termination, invading swarm/to come to an end, utterly end) and one speech. The inhabitants of the earth journeyed and settled in the plains of Shinar (sinar - "country of two rivers", land that later became Babylon/Chaldea). They said to one another: "Come, let us make bricks (lebena/laban - brick, tile, pavement/make white, be white, be purified, to purge, to cleanse from the filthiness of sin)...". And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the earth." (Gen. 11:1-4). We see how the will of the inhabitants have become united, and they have decided upon a course that is against the expressed will of God. They wanted to determine their own future. They wanted to assure that their own will would prevail for their lives.

     "But then the LORD came down to see (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-city and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tower which the sons of men had built. And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language (see sapa/sop/sup above), and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose (zamam - to purpose) to do will be withheld from them." (v. 5-6). What they were planning to do by their own will, as we can see by the written Hebrew and its meanings, was to create their own Messiah/Christ identity, or let us say an "antichrist" system, using the work of their own hands to provide a kind of counterfeit salvation by which they would ensure their own planned continuance. The word of the LORD states that only blood, and specifically only the blood of His appointed and anointed Messiah/Christ Jesus can, by faith in His name, cleanse man of his sins and provide man with eternal salvation. (see Isa. 53:7-8 and Jn. 1:24-36). The philosophies, man-made religions and the will and works of man cannot accomplish this. As we see the Hebrew meaning for the word "language", this attempt by the inhabitants of Shinar would have meant the utter end of mankind. The LORD then confused their language so that they could not understand each other and He scattered them abroad. (v. 7-8). Otherwise, the LORD admitted, nothing would be kept from the joined wills of these people. 

The will of man is more powerful than the will of Satan: The prophet Isaiah revealed the will of Lucifer/Satan who said in his heart his will to ascend to the highest levels and be like the Most High. However, Isaiah prophesied the Word of the LORD that Lucifer/Satan would be fallen and brought down to the place of death, the lowest depths of the pit. (Isa. 14:12-19). Unlike the people of Shinar above, about whom the LORD had said that nothing would be withheld from them in their united will, Satan's will and purpose is already defeated and prevented.

     Hundreds of years later, as the seventy disciples returned to Jesus with joy saying that even the demons were subject to them, Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.' In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit... ". (Luke 10:17-21). The disciples did not have this authority in their own strength but because they had been joined to the will of heaven through Jesus Messiah/Christ.

 

The power of the human will submitted to and joined with God's will: Jesus is the perfect example provided for us to see and emulate a will that is by choice joined to God's will. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for the kingdom and will of God to be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Mt. 6:9-10). As He suffered torment before His crucifixion, Jesus submitted to and joined His will to the will of God saying: "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will (thelema/thelo - what one wishes, will, choice, inclination, desire/have in mind), but Yours be done." (Lk. 22:41-42). The great miraculous and powerful work of salvation and resurrection was accomplished through the submitting and joining of Jesus' will with His Father's will.

     We learn from scripture that Jesus knows and perceives us from that spiritual place that exists within His Father's will. Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness/iniquity (anomia/anomos - unrighteousness, transgression of the law, iniquity, contempt and violation of the law, wickedness/without law)." (Mt. 7:21-23). Anything outside of the will of the Father is lawlessness, and Jesus is not part of the place of lawlessness against the will of God.

     The apostle James had some strong words regarding God's will and man's plans. As man decides in his will what he will do and accomplish today or tomorrow, James pointed out that considering life's fragility, we do not know what will happen tomorrow. He wrote: "Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.' But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil." (James 4:13-16). These words cause us to think of how strongly we depend upon our own wills, plans and choices in common everyday life, but these choices may lie outside the will of God, which we have not sought. We either exercise our choices by our own will, or by submitting and joining our will with God's will.

     Paul wrote about a kind of sacrifice of self (which would also include one's will) in order to be transformed: "...that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Rom. 12:1-2). He also wrote concerning choices that we make by our will: "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?...But he that is joined to (see bahar above) the Lord is one spirit with Him." (1 Cor. 6:15-17, excerpt). Choices made outside of the will of God affect that joining in the Spirit with Him. 

     The lesson of this Balak Sabbath reading portion was an important one for me to learn. The peace and perfection of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Messiah/Christ Jesus are found with Him in the will of God.

     If you would like to know more about submitting our will to the will of God, you can pray with me: "Dear Father, You express Your will to us through Your Word and Your Spirit. All of creation is held together by these things. Teach me, Lord, how to join my will with Yours. Keep me, Lord, from following my own will rather than Yours. Let my submitted life and will be used to prove the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, and to accomplish the purpose that You have appointed for my life. You gave me the gift of the freedom of choice when You gave me Your breath and made me a living soul. Let me use this gift of choice to choose to dwell within Your will. I ask this in the name of my Savior, Lord, and godly example, 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. 

     

     

     

 

FierySerpents

      "...I have learned (manthano - to be increased in knowledge, to learn by use and practice) in whatever state I am, to be content (autarkes - independent of external circumstances, to be enough, to be satisfied): I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:11-13

     The title of this Sabbath's reading portion is Chukkat, meaning "Ordinance of". As used in Numbers 19:1-2, the word translated as "ordinance" is huqqa/hoq/haqqaq in Hebrew with the meaning: statute, ordinance, limit, established, defined, right, privilege/enactment, decree, prescribed, assigned, definite/inscribe, carve out, engrave, cut in, decree, stamp violently, to be just, truth, necessity, lawgiver. We think of the statutes of God as being "written in stone", but they are truly meant to be written in our hearts as part of a new covenant (see Jer. 31:31-36/Heb. 8:8-12). In this new covenant prophesied by Jeremiah, the LORD also promised to forgive our iniquity, and remember our sin no more. Psalm 119:11 says: "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Personally, I saw in my mind the ordinances of God (which all have fallen short of) violently stamped into or carved out of (see definition above) Messiah/Christ's flesh for our sakes, which was then lifted up on a cross for all men to see. Having then received the Savior into our hearts, we carry this epistle of Messiah/Christ Jesus for our sakes and forgiveness, and for the forgiveness of others who read it in us. Paul wrote: "...clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart." (2 Cor. 3:3). 

     Paul went on to say in the above passage from 2 Cor. 3: "And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (v. 4-6). These words of Paul agree with his words from Philippians 4 which are written at the top of this page. We are able to trust in God for all things as His ordinances are written in our hearts rather than upon stone.

     All of this sets the foundation for this Sabbath's study. In the last few weeks of Sabbath reading portions, the LORD has been dealing with His people concerning some very powerful and ultimately deadly weaknesses within their souls. Those weaknesses were not just common to the Israelites in the wilderness, but to all of us. This Chukkat or "Ordinance of" Sabbath reading portion deals with the dissatisfaction that lies hidden within the soul. It is a soul that is always wanting and never satisfied. The soul has been defined as the mind, heart and will of an individual. It is what makes you, "you". Before the salvation work of Messiah/Christ Jesus, and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, the soul is carnal and dying. As we read from scripture last week, the carnal mind is at enmity with the Lord. The transforming of the soul, including the renewing of the mind, is a continuing work in progress that we receive by faith and with thanks.

     We will see that the Israelites' repeated dissatisfaction affected their response and relationship with the LORD. In the beginning of the reading portion for this Sabbath in Numbers 20, Moses' sister Miriam has died, and there was no water (mayim - water, watersprings, washing, waterflood, refreshment, also meaning water of danger and violence) for the congregation in their location in the Wilderness of Zin ("flat", to prick). (Num. 20:1-2). From the Hebrew meaning of the place, Zin, it would be a place that could get on your nerves. Its meaning includes monotonous flatness that "pricks" at a person's peace and satisfaction.

     Because there was no water, the Israelites gathered together against Moses and Aaron and contended (rib - strive, contend, chide, debate, complain, quarrel, grapple, wrangle, adversary, rebuke, to pull, contend with blows with hands) with Moses, saying: "If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place?...". (Num. 20:2-5).

     As we know, it was not Moses and Aaron who brought the Israelites out of Egypt by miraculous signs and judgments, nor brought them to their current location. It is the LORD who led the tribes of Israel by the hand continually using a column of smoke during the day and a pillar of fire at night. 

     The contention brought against Moses and Aaron, by the Hebrew meaning of the word rib above, also can include hands-on violence. Also, the dissatisfaction of the people was so consuming that they wished that they had died with those who had previously been killed by the judgment of the LORD. Dissatisfaction (with the LORD) had grown so extreme that they desired and spoke death for themselves.

     Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the door of the tabernacle of meeting and the glory of the LORD appeared and instructed Moses what to do. Moses was to take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-rod and speak (dabar - speak, say, talk, pronounce, command, sing, commune) to the rock before the congregation, and the rock would yield (natan - give, yield, bring, grant, appoint produce, bestow, consecrate, deliver up, utter) its water, enough for (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-congregation and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-their-animals. (Num. 20:6-9).

     Moses, perhaps being pricked with dissatisfaction himself, spoke presumptuously to (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-assembly with words not commanded by the LORD. Then he "lifted (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-his-hand and struck (naka - slay, kill, beaten, stricken, slaughter, wounded, stripes, scourge, chastise, punish, destroy, give a thrust, subjugate, ravage, murderer) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly..." (v. 10-11).

     As we can see, whether within the congregation or Moses, dissatisfaction (ultimately with God) eventually yields violence either to self or to others - violence of words or deeds. In this case, terribly, the Rock, which was Messiah/Christ (see1 Cor. 10:1-5, also Heb. 6:4-8), was tortured and crucified (see naka above) with man's dissatisfaction (with God). Dissatisfaction leads to unbelief for which the LORD told Moses that he would not be allowed bring this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-assembly into the land which the LORD was giving to them. (v. 12). That place in the wilderness was called Meribah, meaning "strife, contention, quarrel, provocation".

     In another incident from this Chukkat, "Ordinances of", Sabbath, the people of God had to travel around Edom by the long route along the Dead Sea and "the soul of the people became very discouraged (qasar - shortened, vexed, grieved, impatient, curtail, cut off, loathe, mourn) on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes (qus - abhor, weary, loathe, sickening dread, vexed, disgusted, to sever oneself from) this worthless (qeloqel/qalal - contemptible worthless, insubstantial/curse, vile, trifling, of little account, to make despicable, dishonor, bring contempt) bread.' So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-people; and many of the people of Israel died." (Num. 21:4-6).

     The bread that they spoke of with loathing was the miracle manna that the LORD delivered to them from heaven. This is what they called "worthless". Dissatisfaction with our circumstances, causes even what the LORD has graciously and sometimes miraculously provided to us to become abhorred, dishonored and cursed.

     Even so, the LORD prevented further deaths by having Moses lift up the curse represented by a bronze serpent (Jesus became a curse for us: Gal. 3:13-14, Jn. 3:14-15) on a pole for the people to look upon and be saved from death. Imagine, even as the people abhorred His provision and care, the LORD placed the sign of the Messiah/Christ in their midst to deliver them.

     What had been a growing dissatisfaction among God's people, had grown into an angry bitterness against God and Moses above. This bitterness was so severe that they wished themselves dead with their brethren who had fallen victim to their own discontent. This angry bitterness released fiery biting serpents in the spirit realm (see also Rev. 9:1-12). The remedy was also spiritual - looking upon Messiah/Christ on the pole/cross.

     Is dissatisfaction really that powerful? There are many scriptures that confirm this, including Proverbs 27:20: "Hell (seol - underworld, grave, hell, pit, place of no return, abode of the dead, extreme degradation in sin, without praise of God) and Destruction ('abeda/'abad - lost, perishing, destruction/broken, void, blot out, be exterminated) are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied." (see also Prov. 30:15-16).

     Paul wrote again: "Now godliness with contentment (autarkeig - a mind contented with sufficiency, a perfect condition of life) is great gain (perismos - source of gain, procuring of furnishing)...And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." (1 Tim. 6:6-8, excerpt). This verse is not saying that the attaining of wealth is wrong. To me, what it is saying is that the source or provision of gain is godly contentment itself. Paul went on to say that those who desire riches for riches' sake, especially out of a discontent with what one already has, fall into destroying temptation and snares, harmful lusts that lead to destruction and perdition (as we read above in Prov. 27:20). We live in a world that makes a great deal of money from encouraging people to be dissatisfied and to want MORE. It can be difficult to separate ourselves from that thinking. What is the healing and deliverance from "I want MORE!"? Look upon Jesus on the cross and say, "Thank You, LORD. You have filled my soul."

     David wrote: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (haser - to lack, be without, decrease, have a need, make lower, be devoid of anything, to cause to want)." David said that the LORD has already prepared the things we need even when surrounded by enemies. He has anointed our heads and caused our cup to overflow. The LORD sends His goodness and mercy to follow after us all of our days. David declares that he will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (v. 5-6).

     From this Chukkat, "Ordinance of" Sabbath reading portion, after delivering a prophetic word from the LORD of troubled times and wickedness ahead, the prophet Habakkuk sings a prophetic song: "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls - Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation (yesa' - [root of the Hebrew name of Jesus] - deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, welfare, prosperity, aid, victory). The LORD is my strength; He will make my feet like hinds feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills." (Hab. 3:17-19).

     God's ways are not the same as the ways and desires of the world. However, His ways are overcoming ways, ways of breakthrough, and ways of transformation for the body, soul and spirit of man. If we are looking for something MORE, we will find it waiting for us in Him. 

     If you would like to learn more about this contentment in God, you can join me in my prayer: "LORD of my life and salvation provision, I PRAISE You! Maker of heaven and earth and all of its living inhabitants, I PRAISE and thank You! I glory in all that You have seen ahead and provided for me and for my family. You know of what I have need before I even ask You. As I look upon the Savior, Jesus, whom You provided to save my soul, I am more than content. You have filled me with all good things pertaining to life and godliness. When I hunger and thirst for Your righteousness, You fill and satisfy me. Blessed by Your name. You graciously give me my daily bread, and it is precious to me as coming from Your hand. My soul and life lack nothing as You shine Your face upon me. I receive Your goodness and mercy as You, LORD, have made a place for me in Your house. Your thoughts toward me are so precious and very many is the number of them. Help my soul to always dwell in contentment and satisfaction for all that You do for me. I ask this in the name above every name, Jesus Messiah/Christ. 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. 

LivingCenser

                                                        A priest with his censer of incense

     The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Korach, meaning "Bald." This title is found in the wording of the verse that opens this reading portion: "Now Korah (qorah/qarah - "bald"/make bald, make a baldness, to make oneself bald, make smooth) the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, 'You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" (Num. 16:1-3).

      So the Sabbath title refers to a man's name, Korah, who was a Levite, the tribe of dedicated servants and priests who ministered in the tabernacle. Moses and Aaron were Levites also. We see that Korah and two hundred fifty renown leaders whom he had persuaded were challenging Moses' and Aaron's spiritual positions and leadership of God's people. The Hebrew letters of the name "Korah,", each having their own meaning are qoph, reysh and heh. When these letters and their meanings are put together, they could form the meaning "Behold, the highest and most important head who is first, has been made the back of the head, the last and the least." We will see that this describes well what is happening here.

     Korah was not challenging Moses and Aaron on behalf of the people, but because of his own ambition, as Moses discerned. He said to Korah: "Hear now you sons of Levi: Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-work of the tabernacle of the LORD...Are you seeking the priesthood also? Therefore you and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-your-company are gathered together against the LORD." (Num. 16:8-11, excerpt). Notice that all of the rebels involved have the written *aleph-tav preceding them. They were identified in some way with the Messiah/Christ (see *note at the end of the entry). Is this surprising? We will read of this kind of attitude again in the New Testament later.

     As we see above, the challenge against Moses and Aaron was really a challenge against the LORD. The LORD will meet this challenge. Like a head that has been made bald, challenging the LORD's position removes a "covering." The LORD will demonstrate this. Once Moses and Aaron had received the challenge to their positions of authority over the people, a position which they had never sought, these were the instructions from the LORD to the rebels: "Do this: Take censers (mahta/mehita/hata - firepans, censer, fire holder, for live coals, removing live coals/destruction, terror, ruin, dismaying, a breaking, dissolution/seize, take away, snatch up coals, destroy) Korah and all your company; put fire in them and put incense (qetoret/qatar - incense, perfume, odor of sacrifice, smoke, fumigation that causes to flee) in them before the LORD tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the LORD chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi." (Num. 16:6-7).

     This is not the first time that the LORD has dealt with people through the use of censers. (see Lev. 10:1-3). As we can see by the Hebrew word meanings for censer and incense, the burning coals have the meaning of a terrifying destruction and breaking. The incense that represents the fragrance of sacrifice (see qetoret/qatar above) placed upon those coals becomes a smoking cloud that covers over that destruction. The cloud of incense also acts as a fumigating smoke that causes (spiritual) undesirables or pests to either leave or be destroyed. Regarding the incense to be used, the LORD said in an earlier place: "You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure and holy...It shall be most holy to you. But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make any for yourselves, according to its composition. It shall be to you holy for the LORD." (Ex. 30:35-37, excerpt). Any who used the incense for any private purpose other than in worship of the LORD would lose their lives (see Ex. 30:38). 

     When the LORD commanded Korah and the other rebels to get out their censers, they should have gotten a clue that this was not going to turn out well for them, and it didn't. They were destroyed in a terrifying manner (see mahta/mehita/hata above) - by earthquake and by fire. (Num. 16:31-35). Then the LORD ordered that: (*Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-The-censers that the rebels "...who sinned against their own souls, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar. Because they presented them before the LORD, therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel." (v. 38). It is not men who made the censers holy but the LORD who made them part of His holiness because they were in His presence.

     In the hands appointed by the LORD, the power of the holy things of God save and deliver, but in the hands of those who presume but have not been so called, appointed and anointed, those same holy things become a death sentence to them. 

     The very next day, when the whole congregation is condemning Moses and Aaron for the deaths of their brethren, the rebels, the LORD, hearing the accusation, broke out in anger against the Israelites. As Moses and Aaron fell on their faces to intercede for the congregation, Moses told Aaron: "Take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-a-censer and put (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-fire-in-it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, merciful, cleansed, pardon, to be covered over, propitiation) for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun." (Num. 16:41-46). As we know, Jesus Messiah/Christ is the Atonement covering for our sins that saves us from the death and destruction of sin.

     As Aaron ministered atonement with his censer, he ran to stand between the living and the dead. The plague stopped at that place. Fourteen thousand seven hundred died before the plague was stopped. That's how fast it had swept through the people. (see v. 47-50).

     Before we assume that the rebellion of Korah is limited to the Old Testament, let's look at some instances where people have made themselves "bald" or uncovered in the same manner as Korah:

Personal ambition: Luke 22:24 says: "Now there was also a dispute among them (referring to the disciples of Jesus), as to which of them should be considered the greatest." Jesus said that the ways of the Kingdom of God were completely different from those of the world. The idea of "greatness" comes in the form as one who serves rather than one who insists upon being served. He Himself came as a servant among them. (v. 25-27).

     The idea of "greatness" in the kingdom arose again as His disciples asked Jesus, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (Mt. 18:1). How can anyone sit before the Greatest, the Son of God, and ask, "Who is the greatest?!" Perhaps they were expecting Jesus to say, Abraham, or Moses, or David. However, Jesus called a little child before Him, and He said, "Unless you are converted (strepho - turn oneself, turn back again, reverse, turn from one's course of conduct) and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me." (v. 2-5). We carry this kind of mindset of being "great" from the world. We have to turn away from it. Again, the qualifications of the Kingdom of God are not like those of the world. However, worldly standards and goals often still have rule over our minds, whether we admit it or not.

     Paul addressed this issue of personal ambition in the Church saying: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." (Phil. 2:3). Paul doesn't say to consider others equal to oneself but better than oneself! Korah the Bald wouldn't like that one. We might have a difficult time with that one also.

Financial Gain: Many warnings appear in scripture about those who preach Messiah/Christ for financial gain. See 2 Pet. 2:3, Titus 1:11, 2 Cor. 2:17, 1 Tim. 6:9-11. I say sincerely, God bless those who humbly and obediently serve the Lord for no other reason than because they love Him and love His people. I thank you for your sincerity and selflessness.

Works Denying the Father: Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness/iniquity." (Mt. 7:21-23). Korah disregarded the leadership of God the Father over Israel and decided that he was more qualified to lead the people than the ones appointed by God. The two Hundred and fifty leaders of renown agreed with him. He and they were wrong. The Father has not ceded His throne to any man and never will.

     We who believe in Messiah/Christ, both Jew and Gentile, have been called by the LORD God to carry the Living (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Censer, Jesus, whose atonement covering, like the incense of the odor of sacrifice, covers and appeases the fiery coals of wrath and destruction.

     If you would like to know more about the Censer of the LORD, you can pray with me: "Most High Father, as priests in Your Kingdom (1 Pet. 2:9-10), You have given us the great privilege of carrying and ministering the Living Censer that is Your Son, Jesus. Lord, let me put aside all selfish and worldly thoughts and ways, and serve and love You with all my heart, mind, and strength. Turn me, Lord, away from the corruption of Korah and his followers, and cause me to embrace Your Kingship, Lordship and reign over my life. Let me be as a little child before You and let me esteem others more than myself. Keep me from challenging You as my Shepherd and King by seeking my own ways instead of Yours. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. 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. 

DifferentSpirit

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Sh'lach L'cha, which means "Send for yourself." The title comes from the first verse of the Sabbath readings: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Send (salah - send, go, send out, stretch out, sow, let loose, shoot forth) men to spy out (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them." (Num. 13:1-2).

     We will see that the LORD was about to expose something in the hearts of His people that we sometimes call "unbelief" or "disobedience" but is really something far more dark and insidious, something of which we should all be aware.

     I will just summarize the account of the twelve spies, leaders among Israel, whom Moses sent to spy out the land which the LORD had promised to give to Israel. Those twelve included Joshua, right-hand-man to Moses who was from the half-tribe of Ephraim, and Caleb, from the tribe of Judah, who was not called a Hebrew in scripture but a Kenizzite, which was one of the Canaanite tribes. (see Gen. 15:17-21, Num. 32:11-12, Josh. 14:6).

     The twelve tribes remained on their mission to spy out the land of promise for forty days. When they returned, while admitting that the land was very fruitful, ten of the spies brought back the evil report (diba/dabab/dobe' - evil report, slander, infamy, defamation, whispering, secret slanderer/to creep about, a slanderer/the languor of death) that giants were in the land and the Israelites would not be able to win against them. In scripture then, according to the Hebrew meaning above, the LORD described their report as infamous slander against Him and the inheritance that He had promised to the fathers of Israel. Only Joshua and Caleb insisted that with the LORD on their side, the Israelites would be able to overcome the current inhabitants of the promised land. They urged the Israelites not to fear the inhabitants and not to rebel (marad - bold and audacious in acts of rebellion or disobedience, contumacious [meaning willfully resisting authority, unruly, intractable, insubordinate]) against the LORD.

     The Israelites reacted with violence to these words of Joshua and Caleb: "And all the congregation said to stone them with stones." (Num. 14:10). The LORD had to directly intervene, and He was not happy, saying, "How long will these people reject (na'as - despise, abhor, blaspheme, deride, reject with contempt and derision, speak evil of) Me?" (v. 10-11). The command of the LORD to send the twelve spies exposed an abhorrence against Him in the hearts of His people to whom He had shown many signs and wonders. This was not only unbelief and disobedience, but derision and despising according to the Hebrew meaning above. Why this extreme reaction against God and against Joshua and Caleb? We will hopefully find out.

     The LORD said this after Moses interceded to Him for forgiveness and mercy towards the people: "...but truly, as I live, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-the-earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD - because all these men who have seen (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-glory and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-signs/miracles which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected (see na'as above) Me see it. But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit (ruah - spirit, Spirit, breath) in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it." (v. 20-24).

     The men and leaders of Israel had witnessed the glory of the LORD and His signs and miracles, but still rejected or despised (see na'as above) Him. However, the LORD vowed on His own eternal existence to fill the whole earth with the glory that had been despised by these men. Caleb, however, had a "different spirit" from these other men who despised and rejected the LORD. In fact, the men who rejected and despised the LORD would later die of the plague that comes with the evil report: "But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-land." (v. 36-38).

     The LORD exposed the very deep despising and violent contempt of man for God and His Messiah/Christ (as indicated by the presence of the *aleph-tav in written Hebrew. See *note below) in this account above, but His answering vow was even greater: to fill the whole earth with His glory. Caleb, the LORD revealed to Moses, was of a different spirit. The Feast of Pentecost has recently passed during which the disciples of Jesus Messiah/Christ received the outpouring of the fire of the Holy Spirit (Ruah HaKodesh in Hebrew). If we take a look at this event on Pentecost more closely, we will see something more about man's violent hatred towards God.

     The Feast of Pentecost, or Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot, is directly connected and timed from Passover. This Feast of the LORD is to occur fifty days after Passover according to the law of Moses as given by God. The New Testament account of this Feast day, occurring after Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension, begins: "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they (referring to the followers of Jesus) were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4).

     The disciples of Messiah/Christ are described as being "all with one accord in one place." It sounds good in English and is even often repeated as a goal to attain, however, the Greek reveals something else that is going on here that is not good. The phrase "in one accord" is the Greek word and roots, homothymadon/thymos/thyo. These are the meanings attached to the Greek: "with one mind, with one passion/boiling up fierceness, passion, anger, to rush, breathe hard/to sacrifice, immolate, slay, kill the pascal (Passover) lamb." Jesus wasn't slain for our sins only because of others' unbelief in Him. He was slain in the fierce and passionate anger of man against God. That same anger towards God, according to these verses was still present in the disciples. All mankind had a hand in slaying the Lamb of God, Jesus. Several times in scripture, violently angry, irrationally angry people tried to kill Jesus for what He was saying, but it was not yet His appointed time to die. 

     The second highlighted phrase from the verses in Acts above, "in one place," is the Greek word and root autos/aer, meaning "themselves, the same/lower air rather than higher rarer air, to breathe unconsciously, to blow the air."

     I know that it may be hard to believe that this kind of anger and fierceness towards God and Christ as noted by the Greek meanings above was present in the disciples who had followed Christ, seen miracles with Christ, seen Him crucified, resurrected and later ascended. However, it is confirmed when we look back into the law concerning the Feast of Weeks/Shavuot/Pentecost: "Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath (from Passover); then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves...They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the LORD." (Lev. 23:16-17). The word "leaven" used here is the Hebrew word hames, which means: "gained by violence and wrong, grieved, cruel, harsh, embittered, sour, oppress, be red or blood-stained, be ruthless, be unjust, violent, to injure." As we can see, the meaning of leaven here is very specific and the hames leaven cannot be a symbol of the Holy Spirit, but just the opposite. The hames leaven of the Feast of Weeks/Shavuot/Pentecost indicates that a violent and unjust cruelty is being lifted up to God as a firstfruits offering. The lifitng up or waving of Jesus on the cross was likewise unjust and atrociously cruel. Jesus sacrificed Himself, in part, to cover and intercede for the very people who were committing this terrible act of hate and violence: "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Lk. 23:34).

     However, a "different Spirit" came upon the followers of Jesus that Day of Pentecost after the Holy Spirit came upon them. It changed the disciples. They were not the same. Paul explained the difference between the (Holy) Spirit-filled man and the carnal man: "...do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity (ekhthrah/ekhthros - hostility, hatred/hating, odious, enemy, foe, opposing as the devil opposes God, hateful) against God...So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God...Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His...But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you...For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." (Rom. 8:4-14, excerpt). Paul said that the carnal mind of man hates and opposes God in the same manner that Satan hates and opposes God. This is another confirmation of man's natural or fleshly and truly irrational hatred of God. This is what sin does to man - to his mind, to his soul. Paul also wrote about men becoming haters of God. (see Rom. 1:28-31).

     Jesus said to His disciples that it was better for them that He goes away to His Father so that He could send the Helper/Comforter, the Spirit of truth. (see Jn. 16:7-15). Even for the disciples of Messiah/Christ on the Day of Pentecost as we see above, and in us today, the Holy Spirit is not just about receiving spiritual gifts, but He is needed and sent by Jesus Christ to work a transformation in our souls. Paul wrote above that to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Caleb, who, as we saw above, was of a "different spirit" was associated with life and peace in scripture. (see Num. 14:38 and Josh. 14:13-15).

     The Holy Spirit was present and necessary in the work of transformation from the beginning. When the earth was buried in deep darkness and emptiness, the Holy Spirit hovered (rahap -gently cherish, fluttering, brooding meaning incubating and hatching) over it. Then the Word of creation spoke forth and transformed the darkness of death into the teaming of light and life. (see Gen. 1:1-2, Jn. 1:1-5). We need this transformation working in each of us. Not only that, but we need to pray and desire that our love for the Lord never grows cold or is lost. Jesus warned in scripture that this is a possibility as lawlessness increases. (Mt. 24:12-13, Rev. 2:4-5).

     This also helps us to understand what we are seeing in the world today - the irrational hatred of God and the people of God. Jesus spoke of this hatred. (see Jn. 15:18-19). However, the LORD vowed on His own Life after the rejection (see na'as above) of His own people for Him: "...all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD." The prophet Joel confirmed this promise. (see Joel 2:28-29). This starts with each of us as His Spirit of glory fills and transforms us.

     If you would like to learn more about being of a "different spirit", and being filled with the transforming Holy Spirit of God, you can join with my prayer: "Beloved Father, Your commandment to us says: 'You shall love ('ahab - love, long for, breathe after, beloved, to produce fruit, to germinate, putting forth) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.' Lord, let Your Word and Your Holy Spirit create and continually revive in me a spiritual mind. Place Your protection around my mind, heart and soul, so that I will always walk in love for You. Let my desire be to love and worship You above all and with all. Holy Spirit, as on the Day of Pentecost, come into my life and fill my soul and spirit with the flames of fire of love for the Lord. Change my carnal mind into the mind of Spirit and of Messiah/Christ. Renew my love for the Lord daily as I pray and declare over my heart, and the hearts of all the earth, the commandment above to love You. I ask and receive these things in the name and by the grace 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.