KingdomProvision

      We have heard of the Kingdom of God. This week's Sabbath reading portion also caused me to consider the fact that there is an economic system attached to this Kingdom.  We see a glimpse of the place of Kingdom provision in the account of Abraham and his obedience to the voice of God to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, on the Mount in the land of Moriah (root meaning: chosen, seen, foreseen, caused to be shown by the LORD). Abraham had assured his son at the time, "...God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." The Angel of the LORD stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son at the last moment, and miraculously, Abraham lifted his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eyes and saw that a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) ram appeared caught (ahaz - grasp, take hold, take possession, enclose, seize with the hand, to be joined, adhere, cover, shut) by its horns (qeren/qaran - strength, rays of light, horns of the altar, power, mountain peak/to shine, send out rays, shoot out horns, to radiate, emit beams) in a thicket (sebak/sabak - branches interwoven/interweave, entwine, plait). The ram became the sacrifice instead of his son: "And Abraham called the name of the place (root word qum - to be raised up, to rise, arise, become powerful, be fulfilled, come on the scene, be proven), The-LORD (YHWH - Hebrew letters meaning "Behold the hand, behold the nail")-Will-Provide (ra'a - see, appear, show, provide, regard, visions, foresee, have vision, look at, give attention to, look one on another); as it is said to this day, 'In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided (ra'a - see above)." (Gen. 22:1-14). Those who know the Messiah/Christ Jesus will recognize His image in the picture formed by the Hebrew meaning of the words in these verses. This provision came from the LORD, rather than man, and from the place of being "raised up".

     Our Sabbath reading portion for this week is titled B'midbar, which is also the Hebrew title of the Book of Numbers and means "in the wilderness".  The title comes from the first verse of the Book of Numbers: "Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai ("thorny"), in the tabernacle of meeting, on the first day of the second month (also called ziv:  see 1 Kings 6:1, taking place in April/May, meaning "brightness, splendor [of the face], prominent), in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt..." The children of Israel had been released from their bondage in Egypt but had not yet come into the Promised Land. This also reflects our situation as those who know Messiah/Christ. We have been saved and released from the bondage of sin and death but have not yet been called to our heavenly home to be with the LORD. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we are also travelers or sojourners in the earth, which is not our permanent home (Heb. 13:14, 1 Pet. 2:11-12). We also know from scripture that the Israelites, while in the wilderness, were totally supplied by God. He provided water, food, including manna from heaven, and even their clothes and shoes did not wear out (Ps. 78:16-18, Deut. 29:5). Let's look more deeply into the LORD's economy in this week's Sabbath reading portion.

     The first thing that the LORD did was to appoint leaders of the tribes of Israel. These men were described as men of renown (qari - called one, chosen, selected) and princes (nasi/nasa - prince, ruler, king, chief, one lifted up, captain, cloud/to lift, exalt, forgive). (Num. 1:16). These were men whom God had expressed (naqab - to pierce, perforate with violence, bore, pierce through, holes, strike through, to separate, distinguish and specify by name) by their names (v. 17). The Hebrew roots of the names of these princes who were to lead groups of thousands reflect the governing kingdom and economy of God: "My God is a Rock (sur - strength, refuge/to form, lay siege, assault, to bind, to press upon, to cut, to divide)"; another name meant "prosperity, reward, restitution, pay, recompense of God"; another name: "given, granted, pay wages, recompense, lend, yield produce, be provided, be bestowed by God"; another meant: "God is patron of benevolence and protection"; still another name: "benefit, reward, dealt bountifully, bestow, recompense, repay, given by God"; another meant: "Father is judge, Lord, King, husband, prophet, ruler, governor, prince"; another name: "God has added, more, increase, exceed, add to, give more, plentifully, be joined to" (v. 5-15). These names reflect God's government and provision.

     God would be the source of the wealth of the Israelites from His place in brightness, splendorous glory. The apostle Paul wrote of the same thing as the believers in Messiah/Christ gave an acceptable, sweet-smelling sacrifice to the Lord: "And my God shall supply (pleroo - make full, cause to abound, furnish, fill to the top) all your need according to His riches in glory (doxa/dokeo - judgment, splendor, brightness, kingly majesty, majesty reflecting the absolute perfection of deity/opinion, judge) by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Phil. 4:19-20). 

     Where and from whom are we looking for our governance and provision to come? Where has our confidence been placed? Jesus described a world system built upon reliance in wealth as being called "Mammon", a word meaning a Babylonian/Chaldee god, who was wealth personified, and avarice deified, and having the confidence of men. Jesus said that God and Mammon are so opposed in nature that we cannot serve both. Mammon is not the origin of genuine wealth, but of counterfeit wealth. Genuine wealth comes from the lifted-up place of God. The wealth of this false system is gained by the love of money, false scales and weights (see Lev. 19:35-36, Prov. 11:1, Prov. 16:11, Prov. 20:10 and 23, Deut. 25:13-16, Ezek. 45:9-10, Amos 8:4-6) and theft (see Lk. 16:11, 13). The devil claimed to Jesus that all of the authority and glory (doxa - glory, honor, praise, worship, opinion, judgment) of the kingdoms of the world had been delivered to him, and he said that he would give them to Jesus if Jesus would worship him. Jesus rebuked Satan with the Word of God and told him "You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only shall you serve." (Lk. 4:5-8). Who delivered all of the kingdoms of the world and their "glory" to Satan? We, the people of God, did when we placed our confidence in those kingdoms instead of in the LORD. We cannot serve both God and Mammon.

     The LORD records this in another portion of this Sabbath's reading. The LORD said of His unfaithful people: "For she did not know that I gave her grain, new wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold - which they prepared for Baal (supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians, Canaanites and Babylonians)...And I will destroy her vines and fig trees, of which she has said, 'These are my wages (etna/tana - hire, price of a harlot, reward/to hire a prostitute, to present a mercenary inducement, to give presents, to distribute gifts) that my lovers have given me...I will punish her for the days of the Baals to which she burned incense...But Me she forgot,' says the LORD." (Hosea 2:8,12-13). The LORD prophesied that He would destroy all of the false rewards in which His people had placed their confidence.  Revelation shows us the prophetic vision of the world system of wealth and governments, upon which man relies, being destroyed in an hour (Rev. 18:1-20, see also Isa. 21:9, Jer. 51:6-8, Ezek. 27, Dan. 2:31-35, 44-45). Hosea prophesied that after God destroyed the fruits of the Baals from among His people, He would bring His people back into the wilderness in order to revive their relationship with Him, and the LORD would speak comfort to them there. They had previously called God by the name of the Baals, which was "Master", but they would learn to call God "Husband" (ishi - husband, champion, good, great and mighty Man). (v. 14-17). In the wilderness, they would learn once again to place their confidence in God. Most precious to God are His people, and His economy is based upon the redemption of His precious people as we will see. We cannot serve both God and Mammon.

    All kingdoms have their own currency usually carrying the faces of their kings and heroes. The Kingdom of God also has a currency, but it does not carry the picture of an earthly king, but of the King of Kings, and we will see His image below. In this Sabbath portion, B'midbar, or "in the wilderness", God's currency is based upon the redemption of His people. This currency of redemption is referred to as "the shekel of the sanctuary". It is by this shekel that the LORD allowed the first-born sons of Israel to be redeemed. The Levites were to replace the first-born in their obligation of service to the LORD. However, the first-born of Israel were more than the number of Levites. Therefore the LORD allowed the excess number of first-born to be redeemed instead with His currency: "...you shall take five shekels (seqel/saqal- chief unit of weight or measure of gold, silver or copper/to weigh, pay out, weigh out a price, to suspend a balance of a scale, to suspend as on a cross) for each one individually/by the poll (gulgolet/galal - skull [see also Golgotha: Jn. 19:17]/roll away [a large round stone], remove, roll away reproach); you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, the shekel of twenty (esrim/asar - twenty/a unit of the  tithe or tenth, to become rich or wealthy, enrich, make rich, gain riches, to prosper) gerahs (a weight based on a specific number of barley grains or carob beans). And you shall give the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) money, with which the excess number of them is redeemed (peduy/pada - ransom, the preserved, the price of redemption/redeem, ransom, rescue, deliver, to release, preserve, to loose, to set free, to let go, to deliver life from danger), to Aaron and his sons." So Moses took the redemption money...and Moses gave their redemption (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) money to Aaron and his sons..." (Num. 3:46-51). Again, we can see in the meaning of the Hebrew words used in this passage the Person of the Messiah/Christ Jesus, and His role as Redeemer, in the "exchange" currency of the Kingdom of God. This value is eternal and never fluctuates or ends. We can understand more of what Paul was revealing in the verse above from Phil. 4:19-20 in connecting the redemptive work of Messiah/Christ to the foundation of God's riches from which He provides for us. Paul also wrote of our inheritance (kieronomia/kieronomos - inheritance, heirship, possession/one who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship) in glory through Jesus Christ in Eph. 1:7-14, 18-23. If we are looking to Mammon for our provision, we are looking to the wrong place. We cannot serve both God and Mammon.

     In my nation, our currency is no longer attached to any specific value, making it different from the shekel of the God's sanctuary. This fact also makes our currency worthless. The coins that used to be minted by a portioned weight of fine gold and fine silver, are now minted by a press of layers of base metals of manganese brass, copper, nickel and zinc called "clad coins". The paper currency, once backed by a set measure of gold, is no longer backed by anything with a tangible value. Soon the plan is to switch to digital currency, which again, will be backed by nothing. One's labor therefore is given in exchange for a currency of no real value. Therefore, this is a system in which vast wealth is held in such a manner that it is never equitably distributed, even for labor performed. This is the system of Mammon that Jesus described. This system accumulates even more of its hoarded wealth through exorbitant interest charged to those who have sold the fruits of their future labor and wealth into debt to this system for credit now. It is indeed a system of "master" and "servant". This is the currency and economics of temporary earthly kingdoms rather than the economics of provision of God's Kingdom. In whom have we placed our confidence?  We need to seek revelation understanding of God's provision because all signs point to the possibility that the time of earthly kingdoms and their systems of wealth is growing short. We cannot serve both God and Mammon.

     In another portion from this Sabbath, Psalm 28, David calls upon the economic system of the LORD for spiritual justice. Of the wicked, David wrote: "Give (natan - give, bestow, pay wages, yield produce, be provided, sell, exchange, lend) them according to their deeds (po'al/pa'al - work, deeds, labor, wages of work, acquisition of treasure, getting/work, workers), and according to the wickedness of their endeavors (ma'alal/alal - endeavor, invention, work/deal ruthlessly, deal wantonly, abuse); Give them according to the work of their hands; render (sub - return, turn back, pay as recompense) to them what they deserve (gemul/gamal - dealing, recompense, reward, retribution/deal fully with, recompense)." As one who trusted in the LORD's Kingdom and economy, David also prayed: "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed (masiah/masa - anointed one, of the Messiah Prince/to smear, anoint, spread a liquid, rub with oil). Save Your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people and bless Your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) inheritance; Shepherd them also and bear them up forever." 

     This is the difference between God's Kingdom provision and the inequitable hoarding of wealth within Mammon. It is important for us to understand and place our confidence in the lifted-up place of God's provision and the redemption foundation of His economy, because before the LORD destroys the system of worldly wealth, the world will be forced to serve this system according to scripture (see Rev. 13:15-18, Rev. 14:9-12). The spiritual powers of wickedness (see Eph. 6:12-13) know this same truth: man cannot serve both God and Mammon, so man will be forced to choose Mammon for his provision instead of God. God's *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega people are not meant for this bondage, as we read above, and we have been given the knowledge of the truth that makes us free if we will seek it.

     If you would like to know more about the Kingdom of God and His provision economy, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You have made provision for me and You have already supplied all of my needs from Your riches in glory, through Your Son Jesus, my Redeemer. You told Your people to come out from beneath Babylon because her fall would be great. Please give me the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that I need from Your living Word by Your Spirit to place all of my confidence in You, so that I do not rely on my own strength, nor put my confidence in the kingdoms and systems of this world for provision and prosperity. Separate and redeem me from these things by Your glory through Messiah/Christ. Let this become revelation to me so that I will walk in it and be able to show it to others. 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.

     

     

JustJudge

The following is a quote from automaker, Henry Ford: "Money doesn't change men, it merely unmasks them. If a man is naturally selfish, arrogant, or greedy, the money brings that out, that's all." Scripture also says through Paul, "And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Tim. 6:8-10). God does not forbid us to prosper. In fact, the Hebrew word for "salvation", which is yesua/yasa, which is also the root of Jesus' name, includes the meanings: welfare, prosperity, to be spacious, ample", in addition to what we think of when we hear the word "salvation". It also includes the idea of "avenging". The scripture from Timothy above warns us though that we need to have our minds renewed in regard to money. The desire for wealth or money, especially, when that desire is a priority to us, can become a snare that destroys even those in the faith. So money, and our attitudes toward it, is of importnce to God. This week's sabbath reading titled Va-yeitze, meaning "and he left", deals with wealth as it reveals the just and the unjust. Have you ever been cheated, or been taken advantage of, or have you perhaps taken advantage of others? The avenging God of Salvation has His eyes towards you either way because He has vowed to uphold justice. We are continuing in the Book of Genesis, or B'resheit, the book of Beginning, where God will establish His spiritual principles regarding how He will deal with injustice, especially as it is revealed in the acquiring of wealth. In Gen. 28, 29, and 31, we read about Jacob's dealings with his father-in-law, Laban. Jacob is the son of Isaac, and the grandson of Abraham. He was running for his life from his twin brother, Esau, who had despised his birthright, and "sold" it to his younger brother, Jacob (see previous blog entry "Kings"). In his fleeing, Jacob left Beersheba to go towards Haran, the place of his mother's relatives. "Beersheba", which means "the well of the sevenfold oath" is the name of a well established by Abraham, and confirmed to be of his ownership by a covenant that Abraham made with King Abimelech of the Philistines by sacrificing seven ewe lambs in Gen. 21:22-34. When leaving Beersheba, Jacob is leaving a sure provision established by his grandfather by covenant. He is going towards Haran/harar, which means "a place dried up or parched, burned, dried, angry, scorched, to roast, shriveled from drying, kindle (contention)". Not only was Jacob running for his life, but he was leaving behind his guaranteed provision, even a life-sustaining well established by his revered grandfather, Abraham. We can be sure that God is watching this. We know this to be a fact by what happened next. Jacob is given a dream in which he sees a ladder between earth and heaven with angels ascending and descending (Gen. 28:11-12). The LORD stood above this ladder and declared to Jacob: "I am the LORD God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth...and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." (v. 13-15). Jacob, upon waking, said: Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it:, and he was very afraid. He said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven", and he anointed a stone with oil, and called the place "Bethel", meaning "the house/family/descendants of God" (v. 18-19). He swore to give God a tenth of all that the LORD would give to Jacob in the future if the LORD would give him bread to eat and clothing to put on. Notice the similarity to what Paul wrote above in 1 Timothy 6 regarding food and clothing. Finally on his journey, Jacob found himself at another well, and discovered that this well was near his destination of Haran. There was a large, heavy stone across the top of this well, which the people only uncovered once a day when all of the flocks had been gathered. Three flocks were already there waiting, so they remained at the closed well waiting for the fourth flock. Since the meaning of Haran is a place of burning, scorching, melting dryness, we can perhaps guess why they kept the well covered, and opened it only once a day. Evaporation from the intense heat would have dried the water supply in the well. We can see a connection between the heavy stone that covered the well at scorching Haran, and the heavy stone that covered the "well of eternal life", the tomb of Jesus, a provision from God in the middle of a burning, scorched, dying world. Jesus had once cried out with a loud voice at a Feast of the LORD: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (Jn. 7:37-38, Isa. 55:1). Jesus is the well that can never dry up. As that stone was rolled away from Jesus' tomb, came the knowledge that Christ had risen from the dead. At the well in Haran, Jacob met his beautiful kinswoman, Rachel, who was a shepherdess of her father's sheep, and would become Jacob's future wife. Upon meeting this daughter of his mother's brother, Laban, Jacob kissed her and wept. (Gen. 29:9-11). When Rachel took Jacob to her father's house, Jacob told Laban all that had happened to him (v. v. 13). From that moment, Laban did nothing but deceive and cheat Jacob, both in the matter of marrying Rachel, and in his wages as he worked for his father-in-law (v. 20-25, Gen. 31:4-7, 38-41). Laban had been prospered and favored while Jacob had worked for him, and wanted to keep Jacob bound to him. Laban said to Jacob: "Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake." Jacob agreed saying: "For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the LORD has blessed you since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?" (Gen. 30:27-30). However, Laban again cheated Jacob (v. 32-36). The LORD then miraculously provided flocks for Jacob: "Thus the man (Jacob) became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys." (v. 38-43). Jacob's labor for Laban had lasted twenty years. The LORD then spoke to Jacob in a dream and said: "...I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel...where you made a vow to Me. Now, arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family." (Gen. 31:12-13). Jacob took his wives, children, and flocks that belonged to him, and fled from his father-in-law, who chased after him. In a dream, God warned Laban about how he should speak to Jacob (Gen. 31:22-24). Jacob then confronted Laban at Gilead (meaning "hard, stony region"), where Laban had caught up with Jacob. Jacob said to him: "Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night." (v. 42). Jacob then continued his journey home with his wives, children, servants and flocks, and was able to make a kind of peace with his brother, Esau. The other sabbath readings for this week also have something to say about the unjust actions of those who have fallen into the trap of the corrupt desire for money or wealth of some kind. Again, money and wealth are neutral. It is what the desire for it magnifies about a man's soul that becomes a problem in God's eyes. Christ was sold into betrayal for the price of thirty pieces of silver. The silver offered to Judas Iscariot only revealed and magnified the resentment and bitterness that was already in the heart of the betrayer. In some cases as shown in this week's sabbath readings, God has used an oppressive enemy of Israel's love of money to entrap him into his own appointed destruction (1 Kings 20), but God's own people have also fallen into this trap (Hosea 11 and 12). In the end times prophesied in scripture, the single-minded pursuit and love of wealth will be one cause for destruction (Rev. 18, 2 Tim. 3:1-2). In the words from another of this week's sabbath readings appointed for our wisdom, the scriptures say: "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold." (Prov. 22:1). Again the question that was asked in the beginning of this post: Have you been cheated or taken advantage of? Hopefully it was something similar to these words of Jesus: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (see Ex. 21:24-25).' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two...You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust...Therefore you shall be perfect (teleios/telos - finished, perfect, lacking nothing to completeness, fully grown, adult, mature/the end, the goal, the purpose, eternal), just as your Father in heaven is perfect (teleios/telos - same as above)." (Mt. 5:38-48, Lk. 6:27-36). The sabbath readings for this week, to me, require an honest examination of our hearts regarding the question asked at the beginning of this post. Our own welfare and future prosperity will be affected by these issues. After fleeing from home, Jacob was repeatedly cheated for twenty years by the relatives with which he had sought safety, until God miraculously provided wealth for him, and told him to leave and return to his homeland. Would we have reacted in the same way as Jacob did if placed in a similar circumstance of long-term betrayal and greed? God sees the injustices, and turns them against the enemy, and for His people: "...they hired against you Ba'laam the son of Beor...to curse you. Nevertheless the LORD your God would not listen to Ba'laam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you. You shall not seek (daras - search after, require, resort to, demand, ask for, follow, to frequent, consult) their peace (salom/salam - welfare, prosperity, safety, friendship, covenant relationship/reward, repay, restore, restitution, recompense, covenant of peace) nor their prosperity (tob - good, wealth, prosperity, precious, happiness, bounty, cheer, delight) all your days forever. You shall not abhor an Edomite (descendants of Esau and a continual enemy of Israel), for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian (former haven and then slavemasters), because you were an alien in his land." (Deut. 23:5-7). While the LORD is saying not to hate a person or people who have grievously injured us, He also is saying that we are not to search for, nor ask for or demand, their wealth, their peace, their happiness, a covenant relationship, even rewards, restitution or re-payment from their wealth. God's eyes are upon them, and upon us. He is using what is revealed in the heart by the exchange or pursuit of wealth and prosperity in order to make His determinations as the Just Judge. God prospers His people in a time and a manner that will not draw them into traps of destruction, if we will learn His B'resheit or foundational principles, and walk in them. He wrote to His people by the Holy Spirit: "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (2 Jn. v. 2). If you would like to know more about the snare of the love of wealth to our hearts, you can pray with me: "Dear Father, Your eyes are upon my heart, and the hearts of all men. Renew my mind and a right spirit within me regarding the difference between how God's people are to prosper, and how the world pursues prosperity. Let me always be content as You prosper me as You also prosper my soul. Teach me the wisdom and power found in Christ's words regarding the difference between the Kingdom of God, and the kingdoms of this world regarding prosperity, and its acquisition. Fill me with the Spirit of wisdom and understanding that keeps me from temptation, and from the love of money. Fill my heart with the understanding of the Just Judge. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."

Wealth

God's economic system is different from the world's. Most of our lives are spent working for, acquiring and spending money. God understands the value of wealth, but He handles the power behind the getting of wealth very differently than what man understands in the world. Both Abraham and Solomon were the richest men of their respective eras. Both of them in their time made Elon Musk and Bill Gates look like small-time "pikers". Jacob miraculously attained flocks and herds by the favor of the LORD, great enough in number to trade for his and his children's safety from his brother Esau, who sought to kill him. There are other examples in scripture of great wealth in the hands of God's people. The world's system of earning, investing, buying and selling, which is the opposite of God's economy, is so invasive and pervasive, that even we who love God have difficulty viewing wealth in any other way. This week's Sabbath reading gives us a glimpse of God's economic system and is titled Re'eh, which means "See or Behold". We can get a beginning idea of the Foundation of Godly wealth. Let's look at some of the economic instructions given to God's people in this Sabbath reading: "...love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; You shall serve Him and hold fast to Him...that the LORD may...show you mercy, have compassion on you and multiply (raba - increase, much, abundance, enlarge, make great, become numerous, exceedingly great, to produce much) you, just as He swore to your fathers." (Deut. 13:3-4, 17). Moses also relayed to the people that they were not to be drawn away or enticed from the LORD to serve other gods or powers, not even by the words of a prophet showing signs (miracles), or close loved ones, or those living in their cities, or the cities around them (v. 1-16). So multiplication of all things towards us is found in the LORD, and not in anything else. Are we looking for increase from another source? That's what the world does. Another principle in the economy of God is found in giving, rather than getting. The LORD teaches His people the power of the tithe, which is giving in worship to the LORD through His priesthood, the Levites, and the setting aside of portions also for the stranger, the widow, and the fatherless: "...that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do." (Deut. 14:29). The world, on the other hand, pursues getting in order to get more. Our own homes and garages are so full of our "gettings" that we have to sell some of those gettings to make room for new gettings. However, these gettings have removed wealth from our hands, rather than adding wealth. The next instruction from God deals with debt. He doesn't want His people working all of their lives to pay debt. We do not acquire wealth through debt, as we have been told by the world. Only banks acquire wealth from our debt. In the second quarter of 2022, the household debt in the United States, for instance, reached 16.15 trillion dollars, showing a record-breaking increase. In God's economy, however: "At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts...Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the LORD's release (shamat/Shemitah - fling down, overthrow, let rest, throw down, shake, release)." (Deut. 15:1-2). The power of the LORD's release, according to the meaning of the word in Hebrew, overthrows oppressive powers. How many of us when someone owes us an unpaid debt, instead of applying the LORD's release to it, we have grown hurt, bitter and resentful over it? The LORD commanded: "...you shall give up your claim to what is owed by your brother...for the LORD will greatly bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance..." (v. 3-4). Would you rather have the limited funds from the debt owed to you, or the true wealth of the inheritance that God has promised if you follow the LORD's release? There's more to the LORD's release in the seventh year. If a brother Israelite had been working for his debt-holder for six years to pay off the debt, not only is he to be "released" from service in the seventh year, but also "...you shall not let him go away empty-handed; you shall supply him liberally from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your winepress. From what the LORD has blessed you with, you shall give to him...Then the LORD your God will bless you in all that you do." (v. 12-18). This would never happen in the world's economic system, and that system is so powerfully ingrained in our lives that it is difficult to renew our own thinking regarding it. The Word of God however, is wisdom and life to His people if we will love Him, hear His voice, and receive His instruction. The LORD again cautions His people to be a lender to others, and not borrowers: "For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you...you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not reign over you." (v. 6). If a brother is poor, the LORD said: "...you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart...and it become sin among you. You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand." (v. 7-10). The world's programs of assistance to the poor have not been successful. These aid programs do not supply all that is needed, and they still leave the recipient and future generations to continue in poverty. In God's economy, not only are all of the needs of a poor brother met, but according to the promise of the LORD, all of His people will be prospered in all that pertains to them, as well, if they will listen and learn. Are we able to accept God's concept as it is written in these verses? Finally, the LORD reminded His people to come before Him in observance of His feasts: "...because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice." (Deut. 16:1-17). In another part of this Sabbath's reading, we see the LORD's economic teaching again. He instructs His people in the way of honesty and integrity in their economic dealings: "Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice....Honest weights and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are His work (ma'ase - deed, business, thing offered, workmanship, enterprise, accomplishment, deliverance of justice)...How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver." (Prov. 16:8, 11, 16). This is at complete odds with the economic system of the world. We can read the blessing that co-exists with God's economic principles here: "When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." (v. 7). As you know, though the world chases wealth, there is little peace. In the economy of this world, the wealthy build or buy large, ornate houses for themselves that testify of their riches, with secured gates and alarms to protect their goods. The LORD however is building a different kind of house of wealth for His people with the principles of His economy. It is a house that all of the wealth of the world combined could not buy: "For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,' Says the LORD, who has mercy on you. 'O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest and not comforted, Behold, I will lay (rabas - cause to lie down, to stretch out, to make a flock lie down) your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you." (Isa. 54:10-14). These blessings can never be acquired through the world's system of wealth. The LORD's economy includes the Messiah, and His appearance, as Isaiah prophesied this about Jesus, Who was to come: "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, come, buy, and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good. And let your soul delight itself in abundance." (Isa. 55:1-2, see also Jn. 7:37-38). God is not against His people prospering, but teaches His people the correct path in which to walk in order to prosper in His economy. It is an economy that enriches, but adds no sorrow with it (Prov. 10:22). We only have to consider examples of some of the wealthiest people in the world's economy to see the sorrows that the world has mixed with its path to riches. God's economy is established by a heart attitude, and it begins with our loving Him, and Him only as our God, with all of our hearts and souls, as Moses wrote above. If you would like to understand more about God's economy, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You created the world and everything in it, and it belongs to You (Ps. 24:1). Help me to understand and walk in Your economy, rather than the world's economy. Jesus told us that we cannot serve both God and Mammon, a false god of money. This day, I choose You, and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit as I renew my mind in Your Word. Bless our households according to Your promises, as we follow after You. In Jesus' name, I ask. AMEN."

Words&Vision

This Sabbath comes at a very special time of remembrance for God's people called Tisha B'av, or the 9th of the month of Av. The 9th of Av signifies the destruction of the two temples of God in the history of Israel. The first destruction came on that date in 586 BC at the hands of the Babyonians, and the second temple of God was destroyed in 70 AD on the 9th of Av also by the Romans. Other catastrophes for the Jewish people also happened on this date, so the time is marked by repentance, fasting, and another element, which we will discuss. The title of this Sabbath's reading is D'varim/Chazon: the Words and the Vision. D'varim, or the Words, comes from the singular dabar, which has a two-fold meaning. On the one hand, dabar means "to speak, declare, command, promise, warn, sing, appoint, bring into order, to lead or guide especially of flocks or herds to pasture, to speak to a woman in order to propose marriage, to speak kindly, to console". The other side of the meaning of dabar, or word, is to destroy, to threaten, to pronounce a sentence of penalty, put to flight, subdue, to lay snares, to plot against. God's people should seek never to find themselves on the wrong side of dabar, His Word. that side is meant for the enemies of God. We see how the dabar Word of God works in Heb. 4:12. It is described as sharper (tomos - to decisively cut) than a two-edged sword. It is piercing, and within its active power is the ability to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. How that sword of the dabar Word cuts depends upon what it discerns in the heart. Our Sabbath reading portion is from Deuteronomy Chapters 1 through 3. The reading begins: "These are the words (d'varim) which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan....in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month...according to all that the LORD had given him as commandments to them..." (Deut. 1:1-3). These words which Moses is about to speak to the Israelites come at a very important time. The words come nearly at the end of the forty years of wandering commanded by God because of Israel's rebellion. The journey to the Land should normally have taken eleven days (v. 2)! The number eleven, repeatedly used in these verses, can refer to, according to the Hebrew meaning, a choice or discernment between rebellion and submission. "Choice" will play a major role in this reading, as we will see. The Israelites had also just accomplished a military victory over two enemy kings: Sihon, king of the Amorites who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og, king of Bashan who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei (v. 4). Moses later told Joshua, who would become the next leader of the Israelites, to remember the victories over these kings: "Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings; so will the LORD do to all the kingdoms through which you pass. You must not fear them, for the LORD your God himself fights for you." (Deut. 3:21-22). Later, when Joshua became the leader, the LORD would repeatedly tell him not to be afraid. What did these enemy kings represent that Moses would command Israel to remember their defeat? These two kings represent the same rebellious kingdoms that we see in the world today. The meanings of the Hebrew words used to describe the kings and their territories of rulership in Deut. 1:4 describe Sihon as "a warrior, a "sayer", who sweeps away or wipes away by using words (amar- speak, utter, promise, command, to intend, to boast, to act proudly, challenge). Instead of the Word (dabar) of God, this king uses words (amar) from the Heshbon stronghold of reason, understanding, thinking, and calculation to make judgments and to "forecast". He uses the words of men from their own understanding, while rejecting the anointed and true Word of God. We see that today when people prefer to believe any amar words, knowledge and understanding of men over the dabar Word of God. It is a powerful stronghold, but the Word of God has already spoken and defeated it. The second king, Og, is a giant, and his dwelling was connected to a goddess of fertility (Ashtaroth). This king, Og, reached out his arm and grasped the richest pastures for himself, according to the Hebrew meanings, as well as all that yields seed, and breeds to bring increase. This king represents an economic giant with a monopoly grasp on the wealth, and the sources or producers of wealth. The fertility goddess, Ashtaroth, according to the fertility cults of Canaan, was considered both the mother and mistress of the god, Ba'al, who is usually represented by the image of a bull. It was believed by their worshippers that the sexual union of Ba'al and Ashtaroth produced fertility, including economic fertility, for the accumulation of wealth. Worshippers of these false gods or idols would engage in perverse sexual practices believing that this would cause these two gods to also join together sexually. This became a type of religious prostitution in various Canaanite tribes and in even more distant cultures. The worship of the accumulation of wealth and immoral sexual activity still go hand in hand today. The accumulation and concentration of wealth has grown to the extent that there are well over two thousand billionaires in the world today, according to Forbes. Just recently, at the end of July, the Commonwealth Games* were opened in Britain with a display of the worship of a huge mechanical bull with a woman sitting on top of it. This is like a modern representation of the Canaanite god, Ba'al. These Games represented the British Commonwealth, an economic and trade confederation of about 15 nations of former British colonies, encompassing 2.5 billion people. This confederation of nations generates great wealth. It is distressing but not surprising that the Games chose to act out the worship of a large bull in their opening ceremonies. The spiritual powers that were represented by these two kings in Deuteronomy Ch. 1-3, Sihon and Og, are still present today, but God has physically and prophetically defeated these strongholds through Moses and the Israelites, and God promises to bring them to final judgment, along with those who partake of them: "The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her (the Whore of Babylon, who sits upon the Beast) will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning...For in one hour your judgment has come. And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore." (Rev. 18:9-11). As Moses told Joshua, remember the defeat of these two kings when you enter the Land, and do not fear them. Joshua would much later still be challenging Israel in the Promised Land to choose that day whom they would serve: the gods from the other side of the River, the gods of Egypt, or the gods of the Amorites - "But for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Josh. 24:14-15). Again that choice is before all of us. God's d'varim Words have shown us Who is truly the LORD, and there are no other gods before Him (Ex. 20:2-5, Deut. 5:6-9). The other title of this week's Sabbath reading, because it comes at the heavy time of the 9th of Av, is Chazon, or "Vision". This additional reading is found in Isaiah Ch. 1. The vision, or chazon, of Isaiah concerning God's people extended throughout the years of rulership of four kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Isa. 1:1). It is an interesting side note that Hezekiah tried to impress a Babylonian envoy by opening his treasuries and showing off all of his wealth. Although this took place many centuries after the words of Moses in Deuteronomy, the Babylonians worshipped the same gods of fertility and wealth that we read about above, Ba'al and Ashtaroth, and engaged in the same type of immoral acts in order to join those gods together. God prophesied to Hezekiah by Isaiah that because of his foolishness, the people of Judah would be carried away into captivity by Babylon (2 Kings 20:12-18). Concerning the enduring Chazon Vision that Isaiah received from the LORD concerning His people Judah and Jerusalem, it was a prophetic vision that was to be declared far more widely - to the heavens and the earth (v. 2). So it is a vision that will affect not just the people of Judah, but the heavens and earth as well. The meaning of chozan, or vision, is not only a revelation and divine communication, but at its root it means to see God and His divine presence, and to choose for one's self. As Joshua said to the people of Israel above, "Choose for yourself whom you shall serve." In Isaiah's vision, God calls His people "a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters (sahat - to destroy, corrupt, ruin, to pervert, decay, marred, rotted, injured)!" (v. 4). As God looked at His rebellious people spiritually, their corruption appeared to Him as wounds and bruises, and putrefying sores that had not been closed, bound up or treated with ointment (v. 5-6). The LORD caused Isaiah to see their land as desolate and burned, overthrown by strangers (v. 7). This is the spiritual condition for which the Jewish people repent and solemnly pray about on Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av, which saw the destruction of the two temples of God. However, there is also a hope and prayer for redemption on Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av. Isaiah wrote of this redemption that was available if God's people would turn, and worship Him truly, and serve each other, in Godly character and holiness (v. 16-17). If His people will come and speak with Him, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (v. 18). (See also a previous Blog entry titled "theWorm" found under the right hand Archive column under April 15, 2022.). If His people are willing and obedient, God showed Isaiah: "Zion shall be redeemed with justice; and her penitents with righteousness." (v. 27). Both of these verses give promises of our Redeemer, Jesus, and Isaiah was given several other powerful prophetic revelations of the Messiah, as well as His suffering and atonement made for our sins. The LORD uses the term "Zion" here, which has a powerful meaning in regard to His penitent people. It means "sunny mountain, to shine, to be bright, a waymark, sign, monument, signpost, guiding pillar". Those who become Zion are waymarkers and guiding pillars pointing to the way to the Redeemer for others to choose also. We can see that Isaiah's chazon vision did indeed affect the heavens and the whole earth. This Sabbath, we have been given the D'Varim, the Words, and the Chazon, the Vision, and the choice is laid out before us also. If you would like to learn more about the choice before us, you can pray with me: "Lord Jesus, You are my Redeemer, and I choose to serve You, and our heavenly Father. You died for me, and You rose from the dead, so that I can have eternal life with You. Fill me with the Holy Spirit, Who leads me to redemption, and teaches me Your Words and Vision. I desire to be Zion, a shining signpost, a guiding pillar, for those who are also looking for and choosing the way of the LORD. I ask this in Your holy name. AMEN." *Thanks to JP for contributing the information on the Commonwealth Games' opening ceremony.

Provision

"But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
                                                                                                              Philippians 4:19

The word "supply" used above means to fill up, cause to abound, to complete, nothing shall be wanting. The root meaning of the word refers to hollow vessels being filled, also to being covered in every part. Of the soul, it pertains to being thoroughly permeated, perfect.
The place of the provision of our Father is found in the Spirit. The source of the provision of God is His glory, which in this case can mean splendour and brightness, but also means, His opinon, His judgment, and that which is pleasing to Him. These blessings, or riches can certainly manifest in the natural circumstances of our lives, but the natural circumstances of our lives is not the source of those riches, nor is it the complete meaning of these riches.
For example, using most of the same words that He uses in the above verse, the LORD addresses a very rich church in a place called Laodicea in Rev. 3:17-18:

"Because you say, "I am rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing";
and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed;
and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see."

The natural state of this church was abundance and wealth. They thought their safety, esteem, power, and position was in their wealth. They were full of pride and arrogant. Anyone looking at the outward appearance of this church would have said that they were favored and blessed by God, because of their wealth. But the spiritual state of this church, according to the LORD, was extreme poverty and shame. The source of their wealth was not the spiritual place mentioned in the first scripture above, Phil. 4:19, but the source of their wealth was the system of this world. Outwardly blessed, but inwardly bankrupt. They would never be able to accomplish their spiritual purpose, if they remained as they were.
The gold that survives, the gold that remains, that Jesus speaks of according to Rev. 3:18, is gold that has come through the fire of refinement, a place of spiritual cleansing and strengthening. This gold can only be obtained through the LORD, through Christ. The gold that comes from Christ is not from a source that relies upon the worldly systems. The gold that Jesus speaks of has a spiritual source from His Father, and is, therefore, not subject to the eradict conditions of the world. It is from everlasting, and will not pass away. He instructs the church that this is the source upon which they must rely. Even their clothing is first to be spiritual clothing of righteousness (white garments). Our thinking must be in accord with these principles. Our dependence and source must be our Father. If we haven't sought this place in the Father's glory before, the same glory that Jesus has asked us to share with Him, we must begin to turn our hearts towards it. The days of shaking are upon us.
The United States is a very wealthy nation. But if we depend upon our nation, our jobs, our own strengths and talents, our natural inventiveness and ambition to be the source of success, wealth and provision in our lives, we will be like the church of Laodicea.
There is a commercial on television celebrating the State of New Jersey's recovery from the hurricane that caused so much damage to homes and lives. It invites people to come do commerce in the state. The song on the commercial says "We are stronger than the storm".
The source of this outward success, according to their proclamation, is their own strength. They have relied on themselves, the governments of their state and the nation, to rebuild them. In the same way, we also tend to rely on our employers and our government to be the source of our provision. Outwardly we may appear to be successful, but inwardly, we are bankrupt. The fact that we have relied first upon the world economic systems to be our provision, rather than our Father, has left us potentially poor, wretched, blind, naked and miserable, like the church of Laodicea, whether we realize it or not.
We have also judged the calling and success of other people and even other churches by their outward wealth or poverty, which may not be a true indicator of the anointing of God upon them. Many anointed servants of God have been through the place where they have only been able to depend on God for their provision. Man may have abandoned them, or come to them empty-handed. The systems of this world have been of no help. But these servants of God are blazing a trail that many of us may have to walk in the future. We will thank God for these men and women of God who will be able to lead us through in the days ahead where they have already had to travel. If our discernment of the anointing of God is influenced by the outward appearance of wealth, we will be as blind as the Laodicean church. Jesus did not judge a work by its affluence. To the church of Smyna, in Rev. 2:9, the LORD says:
"I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich)..."
He is teaching them that they possess the spiritual wealth that comes from relying upon the Father. This is the first place of provision and blessing.
Relying upon the world for economic provision can be undependable, at best. There are those in our nation who refer to the currency of this country as "the almighty dollar". But the dollar is not almighty. In fact, the dollar is facing one of its greatest perils.  The world has been turning against the continuing use of the U.S. dollar as its "reserve currency". Reserve currency means that the other nations of the world use the dollar to buy and sell. It has been the universal method of exchange, accepted by all nations in doing business. But times have changed. In the last few years, nations are rejecting the dollar as its reserve currency, and have put in place other currencies to use in buying and selling. The International Monetary Fund is even now recommending that the dollar no longer be used as the reserve currency, and a different currency be put in place. If these events continue, the dollar could become useless against our national debt, and even become devalued here in America. The consequences would be that you would need many more dollars in order to purchase what you used to be able to purchase. Inflation would soar. The U.S. economy could suffer a blow that would be difficult, perhaps impossible to recover from.
The riches and provision of the LORD do not have their source in the dollar, or any other natural riches. The riches of the LORD start in a supernatural place in our Father's glory, immersed in the person of Christ. This is a place where our souls sink into the being of Christ and are filled to overflowing. The spiritual overflowing also manifests in the natural overflowing of all blessings in our lives. We would be making a grave mistake to believe that the source of our provision lies in anyone, or anything other than the glory of God.

Our Father is Provision.


"In You Alone"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hzKK36Ayrs

"God, I Look to You"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR5IoWH9OiI

"More Precious Than Silver"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HWf8YpH-3Q

Reference Articles:

"Is the Almighty Doomed?" Time Business
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1889588,00.html

"Dollar Could Be in Danger..." Reuters
http://rt.com/usa/dollar-danger-as-world-currency-977/