SabbathMystery

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading is Va-yakheil, which means "And he assembled". This comes from the first verse of this week's reading portion in Ex. 35: "Then Moses gathered (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said to them, 'These are the words which the LORD has commanded you to do: Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath (sabat - produce of the Sabbath year, to cease, to rest, exterminate, destroy, remove, cause to fail, desist from exertion, be completed, day of rest of heart as in the propitiation of the Deity [meaning to appease and gain the favor and good will of God as by the atonement sacrifice of Jesus Christ], intermission) of rest (sabaton - Sabbath observance, Day of Atonement, Feast of Trumpets, Great Sabbath, solemn Sabbath) to the LORD. Whoever does (asa - execute, work, maker, accomplish, bring about, appoint, institute, bruise, provide, prepare to build) any work on it shall be put to death (mut - slay, dead, kill, die prematurely by neglect of wise moral conduct, perish, be destroyed). You shall kindle (ba'ar - burn, brutish, fierce, barbarous, burn up, consume by fire, God's wrath, be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive, to feed upon, eat up, de-pasture a field or a vineyard, remove, exterminate) no fire (es - fire, burning, fiery, flaming hot, God's anger, the fire of God, any destruction, conflagration destroying or endangering crops) throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day." (v. 1-3).

     This is the fourteenth and last mention of the LORD's law dealing with the Sabbath day in the Book of Exodus only. The Sabbath, to me, is a mystery that is not satisfied with the religious rules of men that have surrounded it, obscured it and smothered it. The heavy emphasis that the LORD places on the Sabbath throughout all of the scriptures, and especially in the Book of Exodus, tells me that there is more here concerning the meaning of the Sabbath than meets the eye, and I seek here to have my understanding of that meaning deepened.

     I can start with the verses above. First, I can see that the repetition of the LORD's command regarding the Sabbath is for ALL of the people who are identified with Messiah/Christ, both Jew and Gentile, as indicated by the presence of the Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega identity of Christ (see note below). This is borne out by Jesus when He taught that the Son of Man, speaking of Himself, is LORD of the Sabbath, because the Sabbath was created by God for the benefit of man, and not man for the benefit of the Sabbath. (see Mk. 2:27-28). We also see the identity of the Messiah/Christ in the fact that the Hebrew meaning of Sabbath includes the rested state of the heart/soul because atoning propitiation has been made (By Jesus Christ) to appease the wrath of God and turn it into His favor towards us instead. With this favor through the propitiation blood atonement also comes the right to be called sons/children of God because they have been born anew by the will of God (Jn. 1:10-13) and to receive eternal life as promised in scripture (Jn. 3:14-17). We can then also understand why death comes to those who do not receive the Sabbath and its holiness in the eyes of God, who gave His beloved Son for this atonement purpose. 

     We see this again in the Book of Hebrews, chapters 3 and 4, where the belief in the Son of God allows the believer to enter into God's rest, His Sabbath, while God had previously told His people that they could not enter His rest because of their unbelief. (Heb. 3:16-19, Heb. 4:1-3, Ps. 95:6-11).

     The Apostle John revealed this: "He who believes in Him (the Son of God) is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned (krino - pronounce judgment, to be judged, summoned to trial, examined and to have judgment passed, to separate, put asunder, to contend at law) already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (Jn. 3:18-19). Here is the death that God referred to in the verses above from Ex. 35. It is the death that comes from the condemnation of unbelief. The rest of the soul has not been entered because of the rejection of the atoning blood of the Messiah/Christ Jesus in rebellion against God.

     Next in our journey of understanding the Sabbath, we can see from the Hebrew meaning of the word Sabbath its connection to "produce", specifically the produce provided not by man but by God during the Sabbath. In fact, man's work to "produce" is strictly forbidden. Not only is there an appointed physical produce represented by this definition, but also a spiritual produce, which the LORD creates in His Sabbath.

     The Sabbath provision of "produce" by the LORD is ample, even a double portion, and we will see this ample provision that comes after Moses declared the law of the Sabbath for this fourteenth (7 X 2) time in Ex. 35:1-3 above. This reminder of the importance of the Sabbath comes just before the people of God begin to bring their offerings forth for the building of the tabernacle. They brought forth so much that the master builders who had been given (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) all of the offerings had to come to Moses and asked him to command the people to stop bringing the offerings: "So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, 'Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.' And the people were restrained (kala - restrict, restrain, withhold, shut up, keep back, forbid) from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done - indeed too much." (Ex. 36:2-7, excerpt). The Word of God also says that the LORD is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us..." (Eph. 3:20).

    In God's command to Moses in Ex. 35 to give to the people of Israel, God includes a new thought into the observance of the Sabbath as we see above: "You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings (mosab/yasab - habitation, dwelling, seat, assembly, situation, location, territory, habitable places of the land/dwell, abide, inhabit, sit, to marry, seated on thrones of judges and kings, seated at the King's right hand) on the Sabbath day." (Ex. 35:3).

     The Sabbath rest of God produces more than enough for what is needed. Do we understand the real meaning of the Sabbath? Or do we think that it is just a particular day of the week? The Sabbath is not fulfilled with religious rules created by men, but the Sabbath reflects the character, heart and purpose of God.

     We see above that one's "dwelling" can extend from far beyond the personal dwelling and into the wider territory beyond. One's "dwelling" also includes the concept of being seated at the right hand of the King, and having the authority of a king or a judge seated on a throne. There are many references in scripture to the fact that the resurrected Jesus is seated at the right hand of God the Father (Ps. 110:1-2, Heb. 1:3-4, Acts 2:33, Acts 7:54-56, Rev. 3:21, Mt. 22:41-46, 1 Pet. 3:21-22). Not only does Jesus occupy the right hand of God, but we do also as we are in Him. (Col. 3:1-3, Rev. 3:21).

     The idea of kindling a fire within a dwelling may, or course, be taken literally, as many do, but if we look at the meaning of the words in Hebrew, we will discover a very important principle of the Sabbath. The word "kindle" in Hebrew is ba'ar, which means "burn, brutish, fierce, barbarous, burn up, consume by fire, God's wrath, be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive, to feed upon, eat up, de-pasture a field or a vineyard, remove, exterminate". Who would have thought that these extremely destructive thoughts and behaviors would be associated with this word?! God's Sabbath includes the blessing of produce, however, thus kindling consumes those pastures and fields of produce by fire.

     Included in the meaning of "fire", which is the Hebrew word es, is "fire, burning, fiery, flaming hot, God's anger, the fire of God, any destruction, conflagration, destroying or endangering crops". We can see how this kindling of fire would be everything opposite of what is intended by the Sabbath of God.

     One way that we kindle this kind of fire is with the words that we speak. The Apostle James wrote: "Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell....no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God." (James 3:5-9). How awful and pervasive is the absence of the Sabbath in our mouths!

     Even the great prophet, Isaiah, when gazing prophetically upon the glory of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the Lord, the Messiah/Christ in His (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) temple, cried out, "Woe is me, for I am undone (dama - cut off, cease, perish, destroy, cut down, ruined, made silent in death)! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the King, The LORD of hosts." (Isa. 6:1, 5). Here also is the "death". Then one of the angels came to him with a coal from the altar and touched the lips of the prophet to cleanse them. (v. 6-7).

     When Jesus was rejected by a Samaritan town because He intended to head to Jerusalem, His disciples asked Him in pride of their spiritual authority if they should command fire to come down from heaven and consume them. Jesus rebuked them saying: "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." (Lk. 9:51-56). We carelessly kindle fires of destruction with our words thinking that we are doing God a favor, but the Lord of the Sabbath rebukes us as being of another spirit.

     Isaiah wrote the Word of the LORD concerning His Sabbath: "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken." (Isa. 58:13-14).

     This is one of the mysteries of the Sabbath revealed by the LORD in order to deepen our knowledge in Him. If you would like to learn more about the depths of the Sabbath, you can pray with me: "Our Father, You sent Your Son to be Lord of the Sabbath for us, and You called us to walk after Him and to be seated with Him in heavenly places. By Your Holy Spirit, help me to understand the depths and blessings of Your Sabbath which You have commanded us to keep holy. By that same Spirit, help me to guard the words of my mouth, not kindling the consuming fires of destruction, but bringing forth instead the fire of Your Spirit, with which I was baptized in the name of Jesus. Let the Lord of the Sabbath be pleased with the words of my mouth, and His Spirit within me. Let the words of my mouth lead others into the rest of God. 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.

RulingWisdom

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

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

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

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

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

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

     As God gave Joseph the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams involving seven years of abundance to be followed by seven years of severe famine, Joseph was able to tell Pharaoh how to prepare so that his country and other people may not only live through the famine, but prosper. "Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word...See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." (Gen. 41:39-41). Joseph was also recognized as "a man in whom is the Spirit of God." (v. 38). Joseph, when he later saw his brothers who had betrayed him as they came to Egypt for food, would say to them: "...do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life." (Gen. 45:5). God's purpose here through all of Joseph's difficulties, which was the preservation of life, could only be perceived through godly wisdom, and Joseph was a man who served successfully in rulership by godly wisdom.

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

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

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

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

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

Balak

This week's Sabbath reading is titled, Balak, and refers to the name of an enemy king of Israel. His name in Hebrew means "devastator, empty, void, to lay waste, annihilate, make empty". These meanings make me think of the character and identity of Satan immediately, and I also think of the condition of the earth before the creation as described in Gen. 1:2: "The earth was without form and void...". God alleviated this condition of devastation by speaking to it as we read the account of creation. In our Sabbath reading from Numbers 22, Balak is the name of the king of Moab who sought a man, Balaam (bal/am - foreigner, not of the people; nothing, not, else, become old, wear out like a garment, to fall away; grow dark; not of the people, not of the flock) to speak a curse against the vast number of the children of Israel, who were encamped by his land. King Balak sent messengers from the elders of Moab (meaning seed, progeny of a father) and Midian (meaning strife, contention, quarrel, brawling, discord), to bring this request to Balaam: "Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face 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. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed." (Num. 22:6). We can see that King Balak, who represents the qualities of Satan, needs someone to speak the words of cursing over Israel. He can't do it himself. He has to find a man who is gifted in this prophetic speech. Both nations of Moab and Midian are familiar with God. Moab is descended, through an act of incest, from Abraham's nephew, Lot. Moses' father-in-law, who provided him with godly counsel, came from Midian. He was a priest of Midian, in fact (see Ex. 2:15-21, Ex. 18:6-24). So both of these nations had a relationship by blood or marriage to the Israelites, and had been at least familiar with God. Now both nations sought to have a curse spoken over the Israelites. Balaam, whom King Balak sought to hire in order to speak the curse, had a known skill in divination (Num. 22:7), and was paid with the rewards of divination. Divination here is the Hebrew word qesem, meaning "witchcraft, false prophet, to determine by using a magical scroll"). He also operated in sorcery (Num. 24:1). In addition, Balaam lived in Pethor meaning "soothsayer". Although Balaam used divination and sorcery, he was also familiar with the God of Israel, and understood that the Word of Israel's God was greater than any words of witchcraft, and His Words would prevail in any situation. So Balaam answered King Balak's request saying: "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less, or more." (Num. 22:18). However, God had already told Balaam: "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." (v. 12). As King Balak continued to send more impressive messengers to Balaam, the soothsayer finally told them: "Now therefore, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me." (v. 19). Balaam already knew what the LORD had commanded him, but he intended to press the LORD into saying something "more". As Balaam agreed to go to King Balak against the command of the LORD, the LORD even sent the Angel of the LORD to stand in the narrow path in order to obstruct Balaam (v. 24-27). Balaam had to strike his donkey to try to force the animal to continue. Again we see the will of a man trying to force its way past God. The capitalization of the words "Angel of the LORD" in my version of the Bible would indicate that the Angel is a pre-incarnate form of Christ, especially as the Angel confronted Balaam on an increasingly narrowing path (see Mt. 7:13-15). As Balaam accompanied King Balak to three different locations from which to try to curse God's people, he was shown, instead, the prophetic presence of the Messiah to be born among them: "The LORD his God is with him (Jacob), and the shout of a King is among them...a people rises like a lioness, and lifts itself up like a lion..." (Num. 23:20-24), and "...his King shall be higher than Agag (meaning "I will overtop", and future king of the Amalekites), and His Kingdom shall be exalted...he lies down as a lion, and as a lion, who shall rouse him?" (Num. 24:7-9). Balaam also prophesied concerning the latter days and the Messiah saying: "I see Him. but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel...Out of Jacob, One shall have dominion..." (Num. 24:14-19). As Balaam looked upon the Israelites camped by tribes, the Spirit of God came upon him, rather than the usual spirit of sorcery, he pronounced the third blessing of God over Israel. Seeing Israel camped by tribes around the tabernacle in the order commanded by God, Balaam would have seen the shape of a cross formed by the encampment. Balaam was not able to curse the Israelites as King Balak had requested, and said: "God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Num. 23:19-20). Later, the Apostle Peter wrote of those who are like Balaam: "...those who walk according to the flesh...have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness." (2 Pet. 2:15). Balaam got involved and tried to force the Word of God to change, because there would be great rewards to him from King Balak for doing so. This also applies today. There is still, like King Balak, a "devastator, waster, and annihilator" among men, Satan, who is looking for someone to curse God's people for him, because, although he can lie and accuse, he cannot curse the people of God himself. Where better to find such a Balaam to do it than among those of whom Jesus said: "Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth, will be loosed in heaven" (Mt. 18:18), and "...whoever...believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says...whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them..." (Mk. 11:23-24). Because we are part of Him, Jesus gave this authority to believers. It is a great blessing in the earth, but has it been misused as a cursing by those who name themselves after Jesus? Jesus also said this: "...I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you." (Lk. 6:27-28). The Apostle Paul wrote: "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." (Rom. 12:14). The Apostle James wrote that this was a serious problem among believers: "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity...it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell...every kind of beast...has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude (likeness) of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so." (James 3:6-10). Perhaps if King Balak were alive today, he would not have to look too far or too long to find his willing Balaam. If you would like to know more about speaking by the Spirit of God, rather than by the soul of man, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, forgive me when I have spoken in an unrighteous manner towards anyone. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit who will teach me how to correctly use the authority that Jesus has put in my mouth and prayers. Teach me how to bless and not curse, so that I may be trusted with the Words and thoughts of God. Isaiah said that he was a man of unclean lips, and that the lived among a people of unclean lips. I ask in Jesus' name that my lips, and the heart from which they speak, would be cleansed. AMEN."

Fire

My mother used to have a little wooden plaque hanging over the kitchen sink. I read that plaque many times as a child and onward. On the little plaque was a proverb that read:

"It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool,

than to open it and remove all doubt!"        

Perry's Nut House
Belfast, ME

Many years later, my own family was travelling through Maine, when we passed a place called, "Perry's Nut House". I had to stop there and go in. As well as selling nuts, sure enough, they also had on their walls for purchase plaques of proverbs in all different sizes. NOW I knew where my Mom had found her little plaque all those years ago.
The years have proven my Mom's plaque to be a true proverb. Our Book of Proverbs in the Bible also has numerous verses regarding the pitfalls of the tongue, and the words out of our mouths. Here are just a few, including one that must have been the inspiration for the words on my mother's plaque:
"He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive."   Prov. 17:27-28
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." 
                                                                                                    Prov. 18:21
"A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart...A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul."   Prov. 18:2, 7

How many times I remember something I have said, and wince at the stupidity of it. I say to myself, "You should have kept your mouth shut." I used to be talkative, but after hearing my own words played back in my mind, as well as the words of others, I became much more reticent to open my mouth.
To multiply the problem of careless words, the world is full of unfortunate "Tweets" and regrettable Facebook posts. We don't realize what our outpouring of words reveals about ourselves. Regardless of a desire we might have to be careful in our speech, often, it seems, the words pour out of our mouths, seemingly beyond our ability to stop them. Jesus said that what we say reflects what is in our hearts, and many times, it isn't a pretty picture:
"Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things."  Mt. 12:34-35
"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man..."   Mt. 15:18-20
We may think that because we know and sincerely love the Lord that we are not the ones for whom Jesus meant these words, but for unbelievers only. Not so. Jesus also heard what came out of His own disciples' mouths, and discerned that the source of the words spoken were evil spirits, and even Satan himself (Mt. 16:23, Lk.9:54-56). One of these instances concerned the disciples' suggestion that they call down fire from heaven in judgment, while thinking that they were speaking righteousness according to the will of God. What have we spoken that we thought was righteous, but might cause Jesus to say to us, "You don't know what manner of spirit you are of "?
Paul wrote:
"Let no corrupt (rotten, unfit for use, of poor quality, worthless) word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification (building up), that it may impart (give, deliver, bestow a gift, furnish, supply) grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor (loud quarreling), and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another..."   Eph. 4:29-32
Jesus said that the end times would be like the days of Noah. In the days of Noah, evil and violence totally pervaded the hearts of men (Gen. 6:5), and we know that out of the heart, the mouth speaks. We only have to hear a small portion of the news to see this same level of evil and violence flowing out of people's mouths, and filling their actions. This evil is spreading like a fire, because of the times in which we are living. We are not immune to these spirits, especially if we are careless and unwatchful.
In discussing the danger of the words that we speak, we must go to the Book of James:
"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath...If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless...Even so, the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course (a circuit of physical effects, to incur extreme peril which requires the exertion of all one's effort to overcome) of nature ("genesis": nature, course of life, existence, lineage, human origin, generation-the whole multitude of men living at the same time); and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."    James 1:19, 26, James 3:5-8

We are literally setting the world, a whole generation of the living and their progeny, on fire with our tongues. The Greek language used in these verses does not limit the devastating consequences of reckless words to the spiritual realm, which is serious on its own, but the Greek specifies effects to the natural realm on a huge scale as well. And James was writing to the brethren, the believers. As I see out-of-control fires destroying homes and taking lives, I never realized that these raging fires could be a manifestation of the words out of man's mouth, out of my mouth.
I did not expect to make this discovery when I started this entry, but I should have known not to take the scriptures lightly on this topic, or any other. As we saw above, Jesus took this topic very seriously and warned:
"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."   Mt. 12:36-37
And David, a man after God's own heart, prayed:
"Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips."  Ps. 141:3
I don't want my words to kindle fires, spiritual or natural.

Our Father is urging us to bridle our tongues.

FakeNews

During the last few months, we have heard a great deal about "fake news". False news stories are planted on the internet, and are spread from there. Sometimes, these fake news items even end up on mainstream news outlets.
It used to be that the six o'clock news was a "must see" in this country, and we all relied upon, and took for granted, that our newsmen, and eventually newswomen, would bring us the truth about current events. Anchorman Walter Cronkite was known as "the most trusted man in America". These perceptions may or may not have been accurate, but this is what we often thought. If it was on the news, it must be the truth, because reporters were supposed to investigate fully before reporting. Eventually, we became aware that not all reporters and news organizations were unbiased, or careful and thorough.
Now, it seems, for various reasons, people are creating false news stories, and spreading them by whatever means are available to them.. The confusion that these false reports can cause can be devastating. Once the lie is out there, it seems to take on a life of its own.
How can people make wise choices for themselves, and their nation, if they don't know if what they are reading or hearing is the truth or a lie? Will we believe everything, or will we believe nothing? Both options are deadly. We live in a time when we almost expect a lie, even from national leaders, and we have become de-sensitized to it. However, God is aware of the danger of the lie:
"These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look, a lying tongue... a false witness who speaks lies..."   Prov. 6:16-19
Of all evil, why is lying considered especially hateful to God? We will see later.
While lies have always been with us, even from Genesis, it seems that they have a new force and power behind them. Jesus called the devil "the father of lies":
"You are of your father, the devil, and the desires of your father, you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar, and the father of it."   Jn. 8:44
Jesus went on to condemn His listeners that day for rejecting what He was telling them, simply because He was telling truth. They preferred the lie. Who were these people that preferred lies, and were of their father, the devil? They were all identified as those who believed in Jesus! (Jn. 8:31).
The Father, and His Son are of Light and Truth, and His Son was manifested to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8), including lies. We, the followers of Christ, should not prefer lies, even if the truth does not please us.
God identified the overtaking power of lies among His people, Israel:
"For her rich men are full of violence,
Her inhabitants have spoken lies,
And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth."     Micah 6:12
God exposed this pervasive climate of lies as an unclean spirit, even in prophets of Israel at the time:
"...I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land. It shall come to pass that if anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother who begot him will say to him, "You shall not live, because you have spoken lies in the name of the LORD..."  
                                                                           Zech. 13:2-3
Idolatry among God's own people opened the door for the unclean lying spirit (v. 2). Additionally, pride and haughtiness in God's people are connected to the lies and deceit that filled the land (Zeph. 3:11-13).
Are we in the Church exempt from this condition? No:
"...who suppress the truth in unrighteousness...although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful,...therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness...who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature, rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever. Amen."   Rom. 1:18, 21-25
Idolatry and an unclean spirit are again connected in the above Scriptures to lies. When we spend more time and money being concerned about, desiring and attaining created things rather than the Creator, we are idolaters.
Idolatry also involves the envy of others, or what others have. Self-seeking (also identified as strife) is also idolatry, and results in an atmosphere where lies pervade:
"But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking (strife) in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there."                                                                      Ja. 3:14-16
If we say we have fellowship with the Father and the Son, but we fellowship and walk instead with darkness, we lie, and do not practice truth (1 Jn. 1:3, 6). If we fellowship with darkness, we fellowship with lies. We are not just telling lies, but we have become a lie.
Why should we, the Church, be especially concerned with the spreading spirit of lies in the world today? Besides its reflection of our own personal sin and flaws, out of this widespread lying spirit arises the antichrist, according to Scripture. Antichrist is birthed out of, and inhabits this spirit (1 Jn. 2:18-22). He comes with unrighteous deception among those who perish because they did not receive the love of the truth (2 Thess. 2:10-11). The fact that lies have overtaken us today should be a loud warning siren in our ears.
At this time, under God's eyes, we are called to be part of Zion, a city of light, a sign post, a way marker, a monument, a guiding pillar, pointing to the way of truth, showing for all to see the difference between the truth and the lie.
As John wrote:
"Little children, it is the last hour..."  1 Jn. 2:18

Our Father hates the lying spirit, which has no part of Him.

"The Voice of Truth"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaVg0cWkgAw

"Lead Us to Truth" (flash mob-eastern Europe)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OprsvFGUbrU

Wisdom

 



One of the most mysterious qualities of our Father, is His wisdom.
When we think of "wisdom", we think of a quality that incorporates intelligence, common sense, a certain talent for understanding. It does include these things, but the wisdom of God far exceeds the ideas we may have concerning wisdom, as we find it in man.
The quality of supernatural wisdom is directly connected with justice, judgment, and the power of creation. In the Old Testament, one of the meanings of "wisdom" in Hebrew, and the primary power of the word, is in regard to judging. In 1 Kings 3, Solomon asks God for a gifting of wisdom. In verse 9, Solomon says to the LORD, "Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" The LORD answers him saying, "Behold I have done according to your words; see I have given you a wise and understanding heart..."
Similarly, in the New Testament, the word "wisdom" is defined as "the wisdom of God as evinced in forming and executing counsels in the formation and governing of the world, and the scriptures. So wisdom can be very much about justice, judgment, and governing.

Even more mysterious, is the role that wisdom played, and continues to play in the creation power of God. We can see this wisdom in Prov. 8. The person of Wisdom is speaking throughout this chapter:

"The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way,

Before His works of old.

I have been established from everlasting,

From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.

When there were no depths I was brought forth,

When there were no fountains abounding with water.

Before the mountains were settled,

Before the hills, I was brought forth;

While as yet, He had not made the earth or the fields (outer places),

Or the primal dust of the world.

When He prepared the heavens, I was there,

When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,

When He established the clouds above,

When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,

When He assigned to the sea its limit,

So that the waters would not transgress His command,

When He marked out the foundations of the earth,

Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;

And I was daily His delight,

Rejoicing always before Him,

Rejoicing in His inhabited world,

And my delight was with the sons of men.”

                                  Prov. 8:22-31

Before, during, and after the completion of creation, Wisdom was present and participating. Even from everlasting, the person of Wisdom was with the Father.

And the delight of Wisdom, and of the Father, was seeing the inhabited creation, especially the sons (children) of men. They celebrated and rejoiced as that life was brought forth.

We know that wisdom also includes the concept of judgment and justice, and government. So what judgment was being accomplished with Wisdom present at the dawn of creation? What caused the great rejoicing at the bringing forth of an inhabited world?

The previous condition of the earth was emptiness, darkness and chaos, according to Gen. 1:2. By establishing light, and life, our Father was also establishing His judgment on those forces that had created such previous turmoil, and destruction. By establishing a creation teeming with life, our Father  was judging darkness and death. By this judgment, He was re-establishing His government, His Kingdom, in the midst of the void. And by the presence of Wisdom, the re-newed creation was brought forth.  The grace, beauty, joy and power of wisdom, the Wisdom that exists with the Father, are being revealed in the scriptures above.

The partnership of creation and wisdom are revealed in other parts of scripture as well. Master craftsmen were appointed by Moses to build the beautiful pieces of furniture used in the Tabernacle of God, among the congregation of Israel. The talent and artisanship of these craftsmen were attributed to the fact that these men and women were filled with the Spirit of wisdom (Ex. 28:3, Ex. 31:2-4).

And yet, the gift of wisdom is not just for God, kings, and craftsmen. In James 1, we can read:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Just as our Father answered Solomon’s prayer for wisdom, so He will answer our prayer for wisdom as well. Why is it so important for the people who are the called by God, to desire and attain wisdom?

Ephesians 3:9-11 tells us:

“and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden on God who created all things through Jesus Christ (the Word of Christ is all wisdom-Col 3:16), to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord…”

The same purpose that we read in Gen 1 is commanded above to His church: establishing the judgment of God, the government of God, to the powers of darkness that would try to rule the earth. They did not succeed the first time, and they will not succeed this time – it is against the purpose, will and wisdom of God.

While the wisdom of our Father carries His judgment and government, and His creative power, yet the qualities of that wisdom are wrapped in His nature of love:

“For the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

                                                         And

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”

                                                      James 3:17, 13

In this age, it is desperately needed for those who know God to seek and attain His wisdom, and all that His wisdom entails. Our Father says in the verses from Ephesians above, it is to be done now, manifesting through the church (His called out assembly). All we have to do is ask.

Our Father is Wisdom.

“The Perfect Wisdom of Our God”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSnzYnOe6kI