RoshChodesh

 

                                                             Phases of the Lunar Cycle

     This Sabbath reading portion has a double title: Mattot, meaning "Tribes/Staffs", and Massei, meaning "Journeys of." Numbers 32 through 35 are included in this portion in which Moses writes a record of the Israelite tribes' journey through the wilderness with all of its arrivals and departures along the way. This is also a special Sabbath designated as Rosh Chosesh because during the next week, the new moon phase of the lunar cycle will usher in the new month on the Hebrew calendar called Av, which is the Hebrew word for "Father". This is what I will be studying for this entry. The Hebrew calendar is based upon the lunar cycle rather than the solar cycle upon which our calendar is based. Although many tragic events occurred for the Hebrews during the month of Av throughout history, the fact that this month is named "Father" brings focus back upon the divine compassion, comfort and sureness, not just of God, not just of Creator, but of our "Father."

 

     Rosh means "head, highest, most important, beginning, first" and Chodesh means "month" or "new." Just as the Sabbath is observed weekly, Rosh Chodesh is observed as each new moon/month occurs. The new moon is not usually visible to the naked eye from earth. If you look at the chart of the lunar phases at the top of the page, the new moon is depicted in the middle on the right side of the image. If you look closely, you can see that there is only a very obscured depiction of the moon in the new moon phase. You can hardly see it. It is dark because, as we look from earth, the moon appears to be positioned between the earth and the sun, so the light of the sun is not reflected off of the side of the moon that faces us. NASA says that the moon rises and sets with the sun in this phase.

     Although the moon in the new moon phase is not generally observable from earth, it is still there. It does not cease to exist as a celestial body. In the same way, the LORD asks us to perceive the new things that He is doing based upon His assurances that they are there, even if they are not yet evident to the human eye. 

     

     With the new moon comes a whole new cycle of the phases of the moon. In one of this Sabbath's readings, the prophet Isaiah mentions observances of the new moon. In Isaiah 66, the LORD asks His people, "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?..." and also saying that (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-these-things already exist. (v. 1-2). The LORD then goes on to describe a very lackluster, careless, disrespectful worship by His people. The LORD even says that He is being brought abominations: "...and their soul delights in their abominations." (see v. 3). They treat the LORD in the same way that they would treat one of their useless idols according to this Word from Isaiah.

  

     Isaiah also wrote here that what the LORD is looking for is the establishment of His home within the human soul: "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." (v. 2). The idea of a physical building as being the dwelling place of God is "the way things have always been," which removes the newness of the LORD from man's perception and expectation, saying, "This is where we worship, this is how we worship, this is what we do, this is what we understand, this is what we are comfortable with, this is the way it has always been done." Jesus challenged this old way of understanding by bringing a new and revolutionary revelation based upon the promises of the scriptures. Jesus did not bring the revelation to a Jewish religious leader, nor to a respected or honored citizen of Jerusalem where the temple of God dwelt in impressive glory, but He brought this new thing to a Samaritan woman of scandalous reputation. This is not what one would usually "expect." This is not how it is "supposed" to happen. Jesus had sent His disciples away because He knew in the Spirit that the Samaritan woman would be coming to the well, and He was waiting for her arrival. He not only identified Himself clearly as the Messiah/Christ to her, but Jesus also revealed the heart of God: "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father (Av in Hebrew) in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (Jn. 4:21-24). 

    

     As the Samaritan woman expressed her understanding that the coming Messiah (Christ in Greek) would teach all things, Jesus said to her: "I who speak to you am He." (v. 25-26). We don't even know this woman's name, but Jesus purposefully waited for this woman to reveal new things to her, previously unimagined in traditional religious thinking of the time.

     Later, the disciples would be shocked as Jesus prophesied to them that the magnificent temple in Jerusalem, which they reverenced and admired, would be totally destroyed. (Mt. 24:1-2). Jesus does say in His continuing prophetic message to His disciples: "...the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light." (Mt. 24:29). It is possible that Jesus was speaking of a new moon in this part of His prophecy. Soon after, Jesus would be arrested, tortured and crucified during Passover.

     As we continue in the Sabbath reading from Isaiah 66 assigned because this Sabbath precedes a Rosh Chodesh new moon for the coming month of Av ("Father"), Isaiah speaks about a new thing the LORD is bringing to birth. The new birth will involve the delivering of a male child even before the birth pangs (hebel/habal - sorrows [see Mt. 24:8], pain, destruction, travail/destroy, corrupt, offend, take a pledge, to be ruined, to bind, to writhe in pain) begin. (v. 7). The LORD asks, "Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation (goy/geva/gev/ga'a - nation, heathen, Gentiles, people, descendants of Abraham, a body of people/the back, body/back as beaten/to rise up, risen, triumph, gloriously, be raised up) be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor (hul - pain, tremble, wounded, grievous, shake, tremble, be in anguish, to twist or writhe in pain, suffering torture), she gave birth to her (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-children." (v. 8).

     Before the appointed time of terrible sorrow, pain and destruction, a male child will miraculously be brought forth in a surprising way. A nation is born of both Abraham's descendants and Gentiles, a body of people, whose origins are from a beaten back or body, and from a glorious and triumphant raising up. These are Zion's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-children. This is how I would summarize the powerful Hebrew meaning found in verses 7 and 8, above. What or Who do you see in these verses from the Hebrew meanings?

     When God fulfilled His prophecy here, who was able to perceive it, even though it had been obscured from sight (like the new moon), and who did not perceive it because they were happy with "the way things have always been done"? Paul described the Gospel of Messiah/Christ as a mystery of divine truth that had previously been hidden, but had now been revealed. (Eph. 3:1-7, Rom. 16:25-27, Col. 1:24-27).

     The LORD continued, saying in Isa. 66: "Rejoice with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her. That you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom, that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance of her glory." (v. 10-11).

     What started with a people who had dishonored the LORD with indifferent worship, now reveals something new: the birth of the male child and a body of worshipers from all nations that suddenly comes forth afterwards: the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) children of Zion. Rejoice! (see Isa. 66:18-21).

     The reading from Isaiah 66 of this Sabbath before Rosh Chodesh concludes: "For as the new heavens and the new earth (see also 2 Pet. 3:10-13) which I will make shall remain before Me,' says the LORD, 'So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,' says the LORD. 'And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses (peger/pagar - corpse, monument, ruins of men's idols/void of strength, tear down, destroy) of men who have transgressed (pasa' - transgress, rebelled, revolt, break away from just authority, expanding, spreading, multiplying, apostatize, march forward against) against Me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence (dera'on - eternal contempt, aversion, abomination, be repulsed) to all flesh." (v. 22-24).

     Bible Prophecy may have more than one interpretation and/or application and fulfilment. I see here, however, from the Hebrew meanings involved, the promise of the coming of the suffering yet triumphantly resurrected Messiah/Christ, and the Body of both Jews and Gentiles that would come forth from Him, provided by the Av/Father God before the terrible destruction comes. In the last-mentioned verses from Isaiah 66 above, we see the newness created in and through Messiah/Christ, the male child who was born, and the eternal destruction and burning of the old, which had rebelled against all that is God. Revelation 21 tells us the same thing: "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea...Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new.' and He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.' And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega (*aleph-tav in Hebrew), the Beginning and the End. I will give the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Rev. 21:1-8, excerpt).

     Not only does the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Lord Jesus make all things new to a massive extent as stated above, but He also makes us, the individual believer in His salvation and redemption, part of a new thing, a new creation, of new heavens and a new earth, as Isaiah prophesied. Paul wrote this truth: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new." (1 Cor. 5:17).

     There are twelve new moons in a year, one for the beginning of each month on the Hebrew calendar. However, only a few are noted in the Sabbath reading portion cycle. This Rosh Chodesh or new moon for the soon beginning month of Av/"Father" is one of them. As we can see, the meanings we discovered in this Rosh Chodesh reading portion are powerful, to bring us into that newness of the Father whose Word says, "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him.!" (Lamentations 3:22-24). Although we may not see right now all of the newness that the LORD has provided for us, like the Rosh Chodesh new moon, the newness is there and will be revealed. We enter into the newness in the assurance of our faith in our Av Father, and in His Son, Jesus Messiah/Christ. That continuing newness will keep us through the days ahead.

     If you would like to know more about and enter into the newness of our Father, you can join with me in my prayer: "Most Awesome God our Father, You have provided the Way for me to become part of Your new creation, and the newness of Your Spirit, through Your Son, Jesus, my Savior. I desire, Lord, to run into Your newness, to be covered with it, to become it. Forgive me, Lord, when I have clung to old things, old understanding, old ways, an old creation that is passing away, and failed to perceive the newness that You have made for me every day, every month, and every year. I will rejoice in Your newness! Help me, Father, by Your Word and Holy Spirit to bring Your newness through Messiah/Christ to all. The whole creation is groaning for the revealing of the sons of God. (Rom. 8:18-25). I pray for this in the name of Jesus, my Lord. 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. 

I would also like to recommend for additional reading and entry from the Mending The Breach blog, written by The Berean, titled The Blood Moon Bride. 

Vision

      The LORD has a huge vision and plan for the earth and all of its inhabitants. That vision is brought to us in this week's double-titled Sabbath reading portion. Its title is Mattot - Mass'ei, which refers to the tribes of Israel, and the journey of the tribes from their deliverance and departure from Egypt to their entry into the Canaan territory, their promised home. The reading portion starts in Numbers 32. Moses recorded each of their journey's departure points and encampments along the way. (Numbers 33). 

     As the tribes approached the Promised Land from the east, the LORD gave instructions to Moses regarding the current inhabitants of the land: "...When you have crossed the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jordan into the land of Canaan (kana - humiliate, vanquish, bring down low into subjection, humble, fall on one's knees, bring low by enemies), then you shall drive out all (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the inhabitants of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places; you shall dispossess the inhabitants of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess." (Num. 33:51-53). 

     The LORD was uncompromising in His next warning: "But if you do not drive out (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants (sek/sakak - thorn/covering, shut in, to block, overshadow, cover over, screen, hedge in) in your eyes ('ayin - sight, fountain, well, mental and spiritual faculties) and thorns (seninim/sen - thorn, barb, a cactus hedge) in your sides (sad/sarar - side, adversary/enemy, distress, bind up, vex, besiege, trouble, make narrow, harasser, oppress), and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them." (v. 55-56).

     In the thinking of the world today, this sounds very harsh. The LORD was taking the land away from the Canaanites and giving it to the Israelites. However, the land, the earth, is the LORD's (see Ps. 24:1-2), and He does what His will with it. The LORD had given the land of Canaan to the Israelites in a covenant promise that He will not break. The Canaanites were, like all the people of the earth, descendants of Noah and his three sons. Through their forefathers, the Canaanites had knowledge of the LORD God, their Creator, who saved their future lives through the flood by sparing Noah. In written Hebrew, the inhabitants of the land are signified with the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, having the knowledge of the coming Savior and Messiah/Christ. The wickedness of these inhabitants had grown very great, and their rejection of God had caused them to choose demonic gods, idols and abominable worship practices. Human beings became a commodity to them to be trafficked for profit. God waited to dispossess them (see Gen. 15:13-16) until their wickedness had grown so great, and without repentance, so that as the Just Judge, He could wait no longer. Joshua described the inhabitants this way because of their rejection of God as LORD: "...do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them." (Num. 14:9).

     The LORD has set pre-appointed times and boundaries for all of the nations (see Acts 17:26-27), as He set specific appointed boundaries for the Israelites also (Num. 34:1-12). The LORD, and not man, raises up kingdoms and tears down kingdoms according to His will and divine purpose. (Jer. 1:9-10). All nations would do well to remember this. This is just one part of the Vision of God for the whole earth that we can learn in this Sabbath reading portion.

     The fact that the LORD sovereignly and miraculously moved an estimated two million people from "bitter and hard bondage" in Egypt to (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) a land filled abundantly with milk and honey is an earth and history changing event that only the LORD could accomplish as He had promised.

     As we read in another selection from this Sabbath reading portion, the Israelites did not keep the Vision of the LORD. They accepted the idols of the land and lost their 'ayin spiritual perception and eyesight as the LORD had warned above. They gave up their knowledge and trust in God. Jeremiah wrote the Word of a grieving God: "...My people have changed their glory for what does not profit...For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns - broken cisterns that can hold no water. Have you not brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the LORD your God when He led you in the way?...For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before Me," says the LORD God. 'How can you say, 'I am not polluted, I have not gone after the Baals (false god of the Canaanites)?" (Jer. 2:11-23, excerpt).

     The forsaking of God by His people has a far-reaching and devastating effect upon the heavens: "Be astonished (samem - desolate, waste, destroy, astonished, appalled, stunned, stupefied, causing horror, cause to be ruined), O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate,' says the LORD." (v. 12). Much is at stake in the spiritual obedience or disobedience of God's people as we can see.

     Jeremiah also recorded this cry from the heart of God to His people: "If you will return, O Israel,' says the LORD, 'Return to Me; And if you put away your abominations out of My sight, then you shall not be moved. And you shall swear, 'The LORD lives,' in truth, in judgment, in righteousness; The nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him they shall glory." (Jer. 4:1-2). In the same manner, the return of His people to the LORD affects all of the nations of the earth! The nations praise the LORD and are glorified in Him. How can we refuse to return to Him with all of our hearts?

     This leads us to the last part of the Vision of God revealed in this Sabbath reading portion.  This is a special Sabbath because it is the Sabbath before the new month of Av begins. When the new month begins at the appearance of the new moon in the lunar cycle, it is called "Rosh Chodesh," or "Head of the month." Av is an important month because a special day of mourning, fasting and prayer is marked during this month called Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av or August 3rd this year. Several catastrophic events occurred in Israel or to the Jewish people on this date throughout history including the destruction of the first and second temples in Jerusalem, the expelling of Jews from certain European countries, and the date of marked events in the Holocaust.

     To commemorate this date of mourning, Isaiah 66 is read for the Sabbath reading portion. Isaiah 66 contains a great Vision of God for the earth. It begins: "Thus says the LORD: 'Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool...on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." (Isa. 66:1-2, excerpt).

     The LORD mourned over His people, saying, "...Because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight." (v. 4). However, the LORD also then emphasized His Vision for Jerusalem and Zion, His holy mountain. He will judge all flesh, but of Jerusalem and Zion the LORD says: "Rejoice with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her...Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream...and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem...For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,' says the LORD, 'So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,' says the LORD." The LORD's Vision extends to all flesh on the earth, flowing to the world from Jerusalem and Zion. (see also Acts 1:8).

     Also mentioned in this chapter of Isaiah is the Lord's question: "Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or a nation be born at once?" (v. 8). The answer is "Yes!" The LORD caused Israel to be re-established in a day after two thousand years. The earth had to give birth to Israel again at the Word of the LORD.

     This is a special time to draw closer to the LORD. It is a time to consider what is lasting and what is not, what is true and what is not, and whose Vision we will follow - our own, the world's, or the LORD's. It is a time to express our love and thanks for the mercies of God and for His enduring Word for all of the inhabitants of the earth. There is no other King worthy to rule the earth. There is no other Ruler who brings glory out of sorrow and manifests the possible out of the impossible. It is a time to seriously consider these things and choose the LORD God again and again, and His Son, Jesus, our Salvation, and His Spirit who dwells within us. 

     If you would like to know more about drawing closer to our Father, you can join my prayer: "Dear Father, You have guided the steps of my life and given me everlasting life in the light of Your face, and in the name of Your Son. You brought me to Your Son, Jesus, who changed my life. You called me holy and a living temple, and filled me with Your Holy Spirit and with Your glory. You healed me, delivered me, and blessed my loved ones. You hear my prayers and reassure me that You have heard. You gave my life purpose, taught me and said to me, "I am here." I can only thank You with my love, my praise and my life. I offer this in Jesus' name. 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. 

Roads

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Mattot-Mass'ei, which means "the journeys of the tribes", from Numbers 32 through 35. Last week we studied the testimony of the tribes of Israel found in their names. This testimony of the greatness of God was brought with them wherever they traveled and would be brought with them as they settled by tribes in the land promised to them by God. This same testimony was also purposed by God to be their spiritual warfare by which the Canaanite tribes and their false gods were dispossessed from the land before them. We believers in Jesus as Savior, also carry a "tribal" name and identity that carries our testimony of belonging to the Messiah/Christ Jesus. It is the testimony of His name, which in Hebrew is Yeshua or Yehoshua meaning "the LORD of/is Salvation." The whole family (patria/pater - a nation or tribe whose lineage runs back to a common origin, paternal [from the father] descent/father or founder of a family or tribe, the originator and transmitter of anything) of heaven is named for the Father God through His Son, Jesus (Eph. 3:14-19, see also Jn. 1:10-13, Col. 3:3-4).  Our tribal testimony of the name and sovereign power of God to save also serves the same purpose as the testimony of the tribes of Israel as stated above: "...the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 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..." (Eph. 3:9-11). The powers of darkness are dispossessed by the testimony that we, the tribe of God in Christ, carry.

     The importance of this week's Sabbath revelation regarding the tribes, is that their journeys (massa/nasa - pulling up of stakes, breaking camp, setting out, to quarry stones/set out, journey, remove, set forward, cause to spring up, to quarry or to cut out, pluck out, bend a bow), also reveals a truth about our journey in faith. As we can see from the Hebrew meaning of the word that is translated as "journey" above, the same thing that causes one thing to "spring up" also causes another thing to be "plucked out" or "removed" spiritually speaking as well as physically speaking. The journey also includes the meaning of "bending the bow" which points to spiritual warfare.

     The track of the journey of the Israelites was recorded by Moses by the command of the LORD: "These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. Now Moses wrote down the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) starting points (mosa/yasa - place of going out or issuing from, source, spring or watercourse, exit, going forth, proceed, east as the rising of the sun, a fountain of waters, a gate, promulgation of an edict, that which is produced, utterance of the mouth especially of solemn or formal speech/deliver, bring out, draw forth, go forward, to become fair and beautiful and clean, to be freed from) of their journeys at the command of the LORD. And these are their journeys according to their starting points (mosa/yasa - same as above):" (Num. 33:1-2). Part of the meaning of "staring point" in Hebrew is to proceed or go forward. We can see why the threat of the Israelites against Moses of their desire to "go back" to Egypt would be counter to the command of the LORD to record their "starting points." We can also see from the Hebrew meaning how important our "starting points" are as we follow after the Lord. Our "starting point" throughout all of our journey must be the cross of Jesus (see Mt. 16:24-26).

     The journey of the Israelites had its own first mosa starting point of their massa journey in Rameses/Ramses, Egypt (Num. 33:3) with many other "starting points" to follow, all of which were recorded by Moses in Num. 33. In accordance with the meaning, as the Israelites were issuing the proclamation of the deliverance of the LORD, they were "plucking out" the gods of Egypt: "...on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out (yasa - root word of mosa above) with boldness (rum + yad - be lifted up, exalt, high, to rise, become powerful + hand, consecrate, power, dominion, ministry, draw with strength) in the sight of all the Egyptians. For the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had killed among them. Also on their gods the LORD executed judgments." (Num. 33:4). The city of Rameses in Lower Egypt was associated with four gods: Amon-Re (king of all gods), Wadjet (cobra goddess), Seti (god of chaos and destruction), Astarte (goddess of fertility and sexuality). The starting point of the journey of the Israelites became the place of judgment against these false gods of Egypt. The same must also be true of the starting points along our spiritual journey in Christ. 

     In another reading portion from this "Journeys of the Tribes" Sabbath, there came a moment where the road the tribes had traveled together would diverge. At a request approved of by the LORD and enacted by Moses, the tribes of Gad, Reuben and half of the half-tribe of Manasseh claimed their land inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan River rather than the western side where the rest of the tribes would settle in the promised land. At the time, Moses had attained the promise from the three Israelite tribes that they would still fight with the other tribes in the dispossession of the Canaanites from the eastern side of the Jordan. The time came when the battles were done, and the tribes had settled in peace on the eastern side: "Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass." (Josh. 21:45).

     Joshua then called the tribes of Gad, Reuben and the portion of the tribe of Manasseh to him and told them that they had kept their promise to the other tribes to fight with them: "...now therefore, return and go to your tents and to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. But take careful heed to do the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him with all your heart and with all your soul. So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents." (Josh. 22:1-6). The two tribes and the part of the third tribe separated from the other tribes of Israel at Shiloh (silo - place of rest, tranquility and prosperity; an expectation belonging to the kingdom of the Messiah/Christ [see Gen. 49:10]; an epithet of the Messiah/Christ: that which belongs to Him) (Josh. 22:9). This was not a divergence in the road caused by strife and division, but with the approval of God and Moses, at a "starting point" that carried the testimony of the Kingdom of the Messiah/Christ. The three tribes that would inhabit the eastern side of the Jordan River built an altar of witness to testify of their unity in identity and in the worship of the LORD with the tribes that inhabited the western side of the Jordan River (v. 10, 26-27). Roads may diverge, and tribes may separate, but their commonly held love for the LORD and faith in the Messiah/Christ Jesus will always be a point of unity among them (see Eph. 4:1-6, 11-16).

     From another reading portion from this "Journeys of the tribes" Sabbath, the prophet Jeremiah wrote that the Israelites had abandoned the road upon which God had directed them, and chose instead the spiritual roads of foreigners, who worshipped false gods: "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters (see mosa starting point above), and hewn for themselves cisterns - broken cisterns that can hold no water...Have you not brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) LORD your God when He led you in the way (derek/darak - way, road, journey, manner, path, course of life/tread, walk, march, expressing wine or oil by tread, to bend a bow in order to string it by stepping on it)? And now why take the road/way (see derek/darak above) to Egypt, to drink (sata - drinkers, drunkards, to feast) the waters of Sihor (sihor/sahar - dark, turpid, muddy/dim or dark)? Or why take the road/way (derek/darak above) to Assyria, to drink (see sata above) the waters of the river?" (Jer. 2:13, 17-18). God's people were walking along the way of nations who worshipped idols and false foreign gods, seeking success in war, fertility and prosperity that these gods falsely promised. The aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega LORD also said to His people: "But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble; For according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah." (v. 28). The LORD's way had led His people safely "...through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, through a land of drought and the shadow of death." (v. 6, see also Ps. 23:4, Isa. 9:2, Amos 5:8, Mt. 4:16). Chapter four of Jeremiah, also a part of this week's reading, tells us that remaining on the road of the LORD was not just for the sake of the well-being of the Israelites, but had even more far-reaching implications: "If you will return O Israel, says the LORD, Return to Me; And if you will put away your abominations out of My sight, then you shall not be moved. And you shall swear, 'The LORD lives, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness'; The nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him they shall glory." (v. 1-2). As Israel returns to the way, the road of the LORD in their journey, the nations will be blessed as well.

     The way that God was leading them was the way of the aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega LORD (YHWY: "Behold the hand, behold the nail"). Jesus said emphatically: "I am the way (hodos - way, road, journey, route, highway, a progress, mode or means, manner), the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (Jn. 14:6). We are told by Jesus to walk Him as a road. When we veer off of that road for any of the various reasons that the cares and desires of life create, we walk the way of foreign false gods, as the Israelites did above.

     Paul wrote about the road of our journey: "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk (peripateo - to walk, tread all around, to progress, follow as a companion, conduct one's self) in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving." (Col. 2:6-7).

     There is a poem written by Robert Frost titled "The Road Not Taken." It is about the choice a man made when the road he was on divided in the woods. He decided to take the part of the road that few if any had walked, while leaving behind the road that had been worn by the feet of many. His poem ends:

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

   

     Jesus spoke of how narrow is the gate and the way or road which leads to life, and that there are few who find it. (Mt. 7:13-14). However, that road less traveled makes all the difference. It is worth it to take that road, and to stay on that road of life.

     If you would like to know more about the importance of the road of the LORD, you can join me in my prayer: "Father, You have ordained and directed the road by which Your people are to journey. It is a road that not only builds up the faith of Your people and leads them to You, but also pulls down enemy strongholds of spiritual wickedness. This road followed by Your people also brings the knowledge of You and Your glory to all nations. Your road is the road of righteousness, and I pray that I will always walk on this road and follow its path. There are wide roads that many follow to destruction, but then there is the narrow road that few find that leads to life in You, and in Your Son, Jesus. This is the road that I desire to walk with You.  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 Α Ω , 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.

Replaced

This Sabbath's reading portion has a double title, Mattot-Mass'ei, which means "Tribes-Journeys of", and continues in the Book of Numbers, or B'Midbar, in Hebrew, which means "In the wilderness". Most of us think of being in the wilderness, spiritually speaking, as being a type of punishment, or persecution. However, throughout this journey in the wilderness for the Israelites, God pulled down strongholds of spiritual darkness and harm, represented by earthly kings and nations, and replaced them with His kingdom, through His Word, and the obedience of His people to that Word. We have read that the tribes of the Israelites were referred to as armies. These "armies" did not cross the wilderness aggressively, but miraculously defeated enemies who attacked them. We have seen so far in Numbers that the human kings and nations that sought to destroy Israel had names that provided a picture of spiritul wickedness, including demonic worship. In a way, the tribes on their journeys were spiritual bait by which the enemy was drawn into their own destruction. We can see this in another portion from this Sabbath in which the LORD said of His people in the wilderness: "I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal(s) (kelulot/kalla/kalal - betrothal, bridehood/a bride as perfect, young wife, crowned/made perfect and complete, to put a crown upon), when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Israel was holiness to the LORD, the firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them,' says the LORD." (Jer. 2:2-3). As His people kept this covenant relationship of being joined to the LORD, they saw victory over their enemies. When they broke this relationship, they suffered tragic losses in the wilderness. Paul wrote about this kind of spiritual warfare this way: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (sarkikos/sarx/saroo/syro - nature of the flesh, human/of natural or physical origin) but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Cor. 10:4-6). Paul said that the weapons or tools used in this type of warfare are not natural or human. He also wrote in another place that the enemy is not natural or human: "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (methodeia/metahodeuo/hodos - cunning arts, deceit, craft, trickery, lie in wait/with, among, against, travel, journey/way, highway, road, property, a mode or means) of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph. 6:11-12). So this warfare is not against humans, but against angelic royalty of wickedness and darkness, including the devil. We can notice here from the Hebrew meanings of the words that one of the methods that the devil and these angelic princes of spiritual wickedness uses is to travel or journey with/against the people of God, and to usurp property for their rule. We will also see that not only are these spiritual princes, or strongholds, pulled down or dispossessed, but they are replaced by the knowledge of the kingdom of God, which is established through our obedience to Christ, as Paul wrote above. This is true with the Israelites in the wilderness, as well as the believers in Christ. We will see how the journey of the Israelite tribes established the kingdom of God, and even the Gospel of salvation! No wonder the spiritual enemies of God came against them all along this journey in many different "wiles". In Numbers 33, part of this Sabbath's reading portion, Moses makes a record of the starting points of the journey of the Israelites after they left Egypt. Their beginning point came on the day after Passover: "...the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of the Egyptians. For the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had killed among them. Also on their gods the LORD had executed judgments." (Num. 33:1-4). The LORD was judging these gods of wickedness as well. As Moses listed the stops along the journey in this chapter, many of the places are familiar, because we read of them in Exodus, and earlier in Numbers. However, as a student of scripture pointed out to me, there are many places on this list that are appearing for the first time, not mentioned previously, in the journey of the Israelites. Why did the LORD command Moses to make this record of the journey at this point in Numbers, and why are there new stations of encampment added? The meanings and root meanings of the names of many of these never before mentioned places bring to mind our journey in Christ: "to be yoked to, attached", "lifted up, ealted, to rise up", "make white, purify, cleanse from filthiness", "dripping in pieces, to moisten, sprinkle, drops of dew", "assembly, assemble together", "beauty, elegance, goodness, pleasing, to be bright, glisten", "quaking terror that drives out enemies, or the reverential fear of God", "place of assembly, to praise God in choirs", "burdened, oppressed, in exchange for, in place of", "lowly, humble", "sweetness, sweet fountain", "wealthy princes, ambassadors", "bind as a prisoner, chastisement", "sons of twisting, torturous", "cavern, cave, hole, of the slashing place", "to please, accepted, rejoice, make a thing good or right", "passage, servile, pass over, cross over, cease to exist, vanish", "the back(bone) of an exceedingly great man". This was a spiritual journey for the tribes as much as it was a physical journey with a promised and prepared destination at its end. This is also our spiritual journey in Christ. For the Israelites, there were challenges by their enemies all along the way, as there are for us in our journey. However, as they were obedient to the voice of the LORD, those enemies were defeated, and the Israelites replaced the might of an enemy with the kingdom of God and His righteousness (see also Mt. 6:33). We can also see this spiritual dispossession and replacement process again in one of this sabbath's reading portions from Jeremiah 1: "Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me (Jeremiah): "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms (see also Mt. 24:6-7), to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build (bana- build up, repair, restore, have children, establish [a house, a temple, a family], build a foundation [see also Eph. 2:19-22]) and to plant (nata - plant, fastened, fix in place, establish, set upright)." (Jer. 1:9-10). The prophet, by the Word of God, was not only given the calling to destroy, but to build up at the same time. Many are familiar with the aspect of spiritual warfare that pulls down strongholds, but God's plan also requires us to build and plant His kingdom by our obedience to Christ (see above) in replacement. We tend to forget that second half of the formula! If we fail to do that, we just leave a void that can be refilled again by evil. Jesus told a parable about the return of unclean spirits after a house has been swept clean until the latter evil condition ends up being worse than the former evil condition (Mt. 12:43-45). The first of the tribes to be settled were Reuben, Gad, and one half of the half-tribe of Manasseh. These tribes settled on the eastern side of the Jordan River in the territory of Gilead ( (Num. 32:26, 29). Although these tribes settled on the eastern side of the Jordan River, the men were still expected to cross over the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega [Rev. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13]) Jordan (yarden/yarad - descender, flowing down/go down, subdue, bring down, cast down, take down) with the rest of the Israelites to help them subdue the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land of Canaan (Kena'an/kana - merchants, traffickers, the depressed, low/bring low, bring down, into subjection). As the Israelites cross over the Jordan to take possession (ahuzza/ahaz - possess by inheritance, something seized/hold, take, fastened, to be joined, to adhere, to cover) of Canaan, the territory is transformed from a place ruled by the coins of merchants who traffick (including human trafficking), and bring low, into the aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega land that it was ordained by God to be. Taking possession of this aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega land also means becoming fastened or joined to the Aleph-Tav Himself, Jesus. The tribes who settled Gilead, took the land that had belonged to the enemy kingdom of Og (meaning "long-necked" because he was a Rephaim giant), king of Bashan (fruitful), and the enemy kingdom of Sihon (warrior, tempestuous, sweeping away, carrying every thing before him), king of the Amorites, both of whom had been defeated and killed when they previously attacked the Israelites (Num. 32:33, see also Num. 21). The two kingdoms mentioned above were to be aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega kingdoms as written in Hebrew, and therefore they were taken back from these two royal, oppressive rulers who had ascended to the thrones in kingdoms that were ordained to belong to the Messiah and His people. As the Israelites took possession of these aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega kingdoms, they built villages (haua/hava - life-giving, living place/to breathe, declare, show), and changed the names of other cities (Num. 32:34-38). The prophet Isaiah also wrote about this building and planting that is done by the obedient people of God who understand His purpose for them: "Those from among you shall build the old waste places (harba/horeb/hereb/harab - decayed, desolate, dry/parching heat/sword, knife, dagger, axes, destructive cutting instrument, acrid/absence of water); you shall raise up the foundations (mosada/yasad - foundation of a building, of heaven, of earth/establish, appoint, ordain) of many generations; and you shall be called The Repairer of the Breach (peres/paras - gap, breaking, rupture/break down, use violence), The Restorers of Streets (paths) to Dwell In...That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. And they shall rebuild the old (olam/alam - ancient, everlasting, hidden time/secret thing) ruins, they shall raise up the former (rison/risa - first, former, before old time/beginning time) desolations (samen - astonishment, amazed, waste, ravage, horror, desolate, put to silence), and they shall repair (hadas - renew, repair, make anew, produce something new) the ruined cities (ir/ur - city, town, excitement, terror, anguish, anger, fortified/stir up, incite, hot, ardent, arouse a serpent from its hiding place, excite to a brawl, raise up a spear, exposed, make naked), the desolations of many generations." (Isa. 58:12, 61:4). It is very interesting to see the difference between the Hebrew word for "city" used here in Isaiah, and the names of some of the towns and cities that the Israelites built after dispossessing the Amorites in Gilead. Some of the names of the towns and cities mean: "crown", "crown of hidden treasure", "helped by Jehovah", "high, exalted", "house of wholesome, calm water", and "God is raised/ascending". If you would like to know more about how the LORD works in us to dispossess the enemy kingdoms in order to replace them with His kingdom, you can join me in my prayer: Our Father, in Christ, You have made me salt and light. Even as I have been changed into a new creation, I want to bring that same renewal in Jesus' name to my family, my nation, and to all of creation, as it groans for the manifestation of the sons of God. You have placed me on a journey where my steps, in obedience to You, cause spiritual wickedness to be dispossessed, and to be replaced with Your Kingdom of Light. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can be, as Isaiah prophesied, a Repairer of the Breach, and a Restorer of the Paths to Dwell In. Your Word says that "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever." Let this be done in Jesus' name, AMEN."