Midwives

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Sh'mot, which means "Names." The title, Sh'mot, is also the Hebrew name for the Book of Exodus. The title comes from Exodus 1:1: "Now these are the names (sem [shem]- name, memorial, monument, conspicuous position, a mark of individuality, by implication honor, authority, character; to mark with a sign, to designate) of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob:" 

     Some who will be named in this reading portion are Moses, who was named by Pharaoh's daughter (Ex. 2:10), the Hebrew midwives, who intervened to spare the lives of Hebrew male babies (Ex. 1:15-20), and the LORD Himself, who revealed His name to Moses as I AM WHO I AM (Ex. 3:13-15), written in Hebrew as YHWH (each Hebrew letter may be interpreted as "Behold the hand, behold the nail").

     The two Hebrew midwives named in Exodus chapter 1 are Shiphrah (sipra/sapar - fair, brightness, beauty, most splendid, related to God's Spirit/pleasing, beautiful, bright, glistening, shine, brilliancy of sound as with a sopar/shofar trumpet) and Puah (splendid, to glitter, brilliancy, mouth). They had been brought before Pharaoh and directly commanded by him that when the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Hebrew women came to them to give birth, the midwives were to kill the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) male Hebrew babies as they were born, but to spare the female babies. How unusual it was for the Pharaoh himself, the most powerful ruler in the world at the time, to have Hebrew midwives come into his royal presence and issue to them his direct command. The two Hebrew midwives ignored Pharaoh's command: "But the midwives (yalad - beget, born, bring forth, midwife, delivered, act as a midwife, help to bring forth, declare one's birth) feared (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) God, and did not do as the king had commanded them, but saved the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) male children (yeled/yalad - child, son, young man/beget, born, bring forth, midwife, delivered, act as a midwife, help to bring forth, declare one's birth) alive (haya, haya - live, alive, save, quicken, revive, life, live forever, restored to life, preserve alive, keep alive)." (v. 17). The Hebrew word for "alive" includes the idea of restored to life and eternal life. As we can see from the Hebrew for "male child", the root word is the word for "midwife". The two are directly connected. There is no live delivery/deliverance without the midwife.

     Because of their actions: "...God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. And so it was, because the midwives feared (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) God, that he provided households (bayit/bana - house, dwelling habitation, family, descendants as an organized body, temple, door/obtain children, build up, establish, made permanent, cause to continue) for them." (v. 20-21). 

     The Jewish Talmud (Sotah 11b), or Rabbinical Judaism, states that Shiphrah and Puah were close ancestors of Moses. It is a fact that directly after the account of the midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, in Exodus 1, comes the account of Moses' birth in Exodus 2. From the midwives who delivered children alive, God would bring forth the Deliverer of Israel, Moses.

     One of the interesting thoughts that I came across regarding this Sabbath reading portion and the Book of Exodus in general was that the LORD was birthing something. Because part of the meaning of "Egypt" in Hebrew is "double straits: narrow passage of water, narrow passageway, affording little space, confined in area, shut in, cramped, enclose, shut up, compress, limit, hemming in, fenced," the multiplying of the family of Jacob into the nation of Israel, coming forth from Egypt, is likened to being birthed through a narrow, confined birth passage.  The LORD told Moses regarding His people: "I have come down to deliver (nasal - draw out, pull out) them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land..." (Ex. 3:8).

     We see a similarity as Jesus teaches about the narrowness of the new birth into the kingdom of God and His righteousness: "Enter by the narrow/strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow/strait is the gate and difficult/narrow (thlibo - compressed, strait, contracted, narrow, to press hard upon) is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Mt. 7:13-14).

      In this understanding, Moses, the Deliverer, leading the Israelites out of Egypt, can be perceived in the role of a spiritual midwife. Later, as the Israelites constantly complained and cried to Moses with their dissatisfaction and distress, Moses would cry out to God saying: "Why have you afflicted your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that You have laid (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) nursing child', to the land which You swore to their fathers?...For they weep all over me...the burden is too heavy for me." (Num. 11:10-14). Moses was not always happy being a spiritual midwife to the birthing process of a nation.

     In Judaism, God is credited with having the heart and purpose of a midwife, as they cite Psalm 22: "But You are He who took Me (Messiah/Christ) out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother's breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb You have been My God." (v. 9-10).

     In speaking about Jerusalem, the LORD speaks of finding Jerusalem as a cast off birth and who had not been tended by a midwife: "...your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you to do any of these things for you...but you were thrown out into an open field...loathed on the day you were born." (Ezek. 16:4-5). The LORD then said, "And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!'. Yes, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!" (v. 6). The LORD midwifed the newborn Jerusalem, having pity on her. The spirit of the world on the other hand, like Pharaoh, will not assist in spiritual birth but will cast it off as unwanted.

     In Judaism the midwife is called meyalledet, or one who causes or helps with birth.  A Jewish midwife during a birth might traditionally recite prayers known as Tkhines which focus on asking God for a safe and easy delivery, for the well-being of both mother and child, and often include pleas for the baby to be born whole and healthy, with blessings for a good life; key themes of prayer also include invoking the compassion of God, referencing the stories of the midwives Shiphrah and Puah from the Exodus, as we read above, and expressing gratitude for the miracle of new life.           

     What does this have to do with us?

      The entrance into the Kingdom of God requires a new birth: "Jesus answered and said to him (Nicodemus, a rabbi), 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again (anothen - from above, from the beginning, anew), he cannot see the kingdom of God...unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (Jn. 3:3, 5).

     Peter refers to believers as those who have been "begotten again" by God, and "having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God..." (1 Pet. 1:3, 23), and writes about us being "newborn babes" (1 Pet. 2:2).

     As we look at the Hebrew word and meaning for midwife again: yalad - "beget, born, bring forth, midwife, delivered, act as a midwife, help to bring forth, declare one's birth", we can see the importance that the role of the spiritual midwife, both male and female, plays in the kingdom of God. Whether we are able to directly aid in the spiritual rebirth of someone, or whether we serve as spiritual midwives through prayer, the godly and faithful midwife is honored and valued by the Lord, as He honored Shiphrah and Puah in Exodus.

     In these times before the return of Jesus, spiritual midwives, whether male or female, play a special and beautiful role according to the prophet Daniel. Let's remind ourselves of the meaning of the names of the midwives in Exodus, Shiphrah and Puah: "fair, brightness, beauty, most splendid, related to God's Spirit, pleasing, beautiful, bright, glistening, shine, brilliancy of sound as with a sopar (shofar) trumpet, splendid, to glitter, brilliancy, mouth."

     Daniel describes special people of God, particularly associated with the latter days, in the following manner: "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever." (Dan. 12:3). There is a special brightness that accompanies those who lead others into the (narrow) way of righteousness. The way is made narrow by the fact that there is only one name under heaven by which we may be saved - Jesus. (Acts 4:10-12).

     Jesus said that He is the light of the world and called us to be the light of the world also, telling us to "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (see Mt. 5:14-16). Part of being a shining light is to understand what it means to be a spiritual midwife. In Genesis, a picture is given of a seemingly reborn earth. Before this rebirth of earth, God called forth light. The Holy Spirit lovingly and tenderly moved over the dark and void earth to be in the position to usher the earth and all that would inhabit it into that glorious light. (Gen. 1:1-5). As it was for the rebirth of the earth, it is the same for the rebirth of each soul that comes to the Kingdom of God. There is a guided movement or transition from darkness into light: "...you are...His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called (kaleo - utter in a loud voice, invite, call by name, to bear a name or title, to proclaim 'today') you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10, excerpt).

     To learn more about being a spiritual midwife in the Kingdom of God, you can join me in my prayer: "Father in heaven, You called me to be reborn in Your Son, Jesus, and I ask that I may also pray, teach, and lead others into this spiritual rebirth by Your Holy Spirit. Let me serve as a godly midwife, cleansing, applying salt, and wrapping in the white linen of Your righteousness those who are being reborn into Your Kingdom of light and life. As a shofar trumpet, let me sound or proclaim the day of rebirth in each new spiritual life, and let me speak and pray the blessing of God to keep and nurture that new life. I bless and glorify Your name for the mercy You showed to me and countless others in calling us to Yourself through Your Son, Jesus. AMEN."

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

     

Fathers

      This week's Sabbath portion is titled Va-y'chi, meaning, "and he lived." The reading portion begins in Gen. 47 and continues through the beginning of chapter 50. The title comes from Gen. 47:28: "Jacob lived (haya - live, alive, save, revive, life, recover, be quickened, restored to life, keep alive, remain alive, revive from death, breathing) in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob's life was one hundred and forty-seven years." As we look at the full meaning of the Hebrew word used here for "lived", we can see that scripture is talking about much more than the natural days of a lifespan here on earth. Built into the meaning of the word is the promise of life from the dead, resurrection life, everlasting life. Jesus defined this truth when He said to Martha, the sister of Lazarus who had died: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? She said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, I believe You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." (Jn. 11:25-27). Jesus then called her brother, Lazarus, to come out of his grave, and he came out, and he haya lived.

     What we will see in this week's Sabbath reading portion is the impact of a father's faith and words on his child and on future generations. We have lost this understanding in our modern times. A child is blessed if he or she has a father who understands the importance of imparting eternal knowledge to them. Perhaps this is why the presence of fathers in their children's lives has come under so much spiritual attack.

     Jacob, nearing his time of death, understood the promise of eternal life given to his grandfather, Abraham, when he made Joseph swear solemnly that Joseph would take Jacob's body out of Egypt and back to the specific place in Cannan near Mamre of Abraham's and Isaac's burial. Jacob said to his son, Joseph: "Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place. And he (Joesph) said, 'I will do as you have said.' The he said, 'Swear to me.' And he swore to him. So Israel (Jacob) bowed himself on the head of the bed." (Gen. 47:29-31).

     It was vitally important to Jacob to be buried with Abraham and Isaac. Abraham had received the prophetic knowledge and rejoiced in the promise of Messiah/Christ, which included the promise of resurrection life (see Jn. 8:56-58). Why would we think that the LORD would hide this knowledge from His friend Abraham (Gen. 18:17-19), who later made very special burial provisions for his wife, Sarah, when she died, for himself and for his descendants. Scripture tells us that Abraham even knew about the eternal city of New Jerusalem (Heb. 11:8-10), which would descend from heaven (Rev. 21:1-3). This knowledge was handed down from father to son, and Jacob would have been well aware of it.

     The knowledge of resurrection in the form of a Person was not only delivered to Abraham, but is found in what is called the oldest book of the Bible, the Book of Job. Job declared his resurrection knowledge: "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God." (Job 19:25-27). Job even associated persecution with this knowledge contained within him (see v. 28) as Jesus also taught (see Mt. 5:11, 24:9). Resurrection from the dead was ancient prophetic knowledge passed from father to son, and fulfilled not by false religious rituals, as the Egyptians practiced, but by the Person of the Son of God, Jesus, the prophesied Messiah/Christ, who received His knowledge and authority to give life from His Father in heaven. (See Jn. 5:19-21). This also is the knowledge that today's fathers must pass to their sons and daughters and therefore throughout generations to come.

     Joseph kept his solemn oath to his father Jacob. When Jacob died, a period of mourning was observed in Egypt, and then Pharaoh granted Joseph's request to return to Canaan in order to bury his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) father. All of Pharaoh's court and his chariots accompanied Joseph on this journey and openly wept with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) mourning (ebel - mourning as for an only son) for Jacob as they came to the border of the Promised Land at the threshing floor of Atad (meaning thorns, to pierce, thorn tree with firmness of roots). Then Joseph and his brothers returned to Egypt. (Gen. 50:6-14).

     Before Jacob died, he also prophesied over his sons. These prophetic words were not for Jacob's sons' present generation, but for thousands of years into the future, even for our time: "And Jacob called (qara - call by name, cry out with a loud voice, summon, proclaim, called out, chosen) his sons and said, 'Gather together (asap - gather in, receive, assemble together, to collect) that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last ('aharit/ahar - end, latter, posterity, after part, latter or future time, the very last/afterwards [of time], delay, tarry, bring late, remain behind) days..." (Gen. 49:1). Jacob prophesied to each son, each to become a tribe of many thousands and settling in the Promised Land. To his son Judah, "a lion's whelp", Jacob prophesied the Messiah/Christ: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh (silo - safety, rest, prosperity, tranquility, an epithet of the Messiah/Christ to be born from the tribe of Judah) comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people...He washed His garments in wine, and His clothes in the blood of grapes..." (Gen. 49:10-11).

     What and how do fathers speak to their sons and daughters? A father's words do not only speak to their immediate children, but to all of the children and children's children and continuing generations contained within the son and daughter. It is a father's calling to speak eternal truths that implant the knowledge of eternal promises into their children. Fathers, what are you speaking? A father's words have prophetic impact.

     In another reading portion from this Va-y'chi, "and he lived" Sabbath, King David, when he grew old, imparted words and instructions to his son and successor, Solomon: "Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged (sava - command, give orders, appoint, commission, ordain) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Solomon his son, saying: 'I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) charge (mismeret - watch, safeguard, preserving, custody, observance) of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the LORD may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,' He said, 'you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel." (1 Kings 2:1-2).

     Solomon was appointed above by his father to keep charge of, to safeguard, to preserve "the LORD your God." David said this is done by observing and doing the Word of God in all of its purposes. As King Solomon, known as one of the wisest kings in the world, would later write the knowledge, wisdom, understanding and prudence of the LORD God in the Book of Proverbs, he would address the writing to his own son: "My son, hear the instruction (musar - instruction, correction, chasten, doctrine, discipline, restraint, check, correction of children by their parents, admonition) of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother." (Prov. 1:8). Throughout Proverbs, Solomon addresses his words to "my son." Solomon also wrote that he received his instruction from his father, David: "When I was my father's son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, he also taught me, and said to me: 'Let your heart retain my words; keep my commandments and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not turn away from the words of my mouth." (Prov. 4:3-5). The words Solomon received from his father would preserve him, keep him, and bring him honor. (v. 6-9). While Solomon would become careless in his walk with the LORD, he later returned to God, perhaps because of the eternal words his father, David, imparted into his life. As Solomon himself would write in the Book of Proverbs: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Prov. 22:6). 

     This week's Sabbath reading portion also tells us that not only did David charge his son to keep the ways of the LORD, he also gave his son the greatest vision and purpose from the LORD to be achieved during Solomon's reign. The LORD said to David: "It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father." (1 Chron. 28:6). Solomon did build the house of the LORD, as his father had charged him to do - a magnificent temple in Jerusalem.

     The way of passing musar instruction (see above) from father to son as David and Solomon practiced, came directly from the ancient pattern established by God for the musar instruction of His sons and daughters. This week's Sabbath reading brings us again to the Book of Job: "Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise the chastening (musar - see above) of the Almighty...He shall deliver you in six troubles, yes, in seven no evil shall touch you. In famine He shall redeem (pada - ransom, rescue, deliver, redeem, to sever, release, preserve, to loose, set free) you from death (mavet - death, dying, realm of the dead, place of death), and in war from the power of the sword...You shall laugh at destruction and famine, and you shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth....You shall know that your tent is in peace; you shall visit your dwelling and find nothing amiss...You shall come to the grave at a full age, as a sheaf of grain ripens in its season. Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear it, and know for yourself." (Job 5:17-27, excerpt). 

     In the Father - son/child instruction from God, our lives are preserved. In the same pattern of earthly father - son/child instruction, if we will follow it, lives are also preserved even to the redeeming or setting free from death. In these dangerous days, there is nothing more important for our children than the role and instruction of a godly father.

     If you would like to learn more about the importance of a father's role in imparting eternal things to his son/child, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father of all, You have shown us by example the way to pass on eternal knowledge of the things of God to our children in order to preserve their lives. Teach me Your Word and fill me with Your Holy Spirit of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and prudence so that I am able to equip my children and my children's children with the way of life, including eternal life in Jesus Messiah/Christ. I pray for the fathers. I pray for those fathers who need to receive the heart of God towards their children, and I pray for those fathers who desire and sacrifice to give their children the very best in life. Bless the fathers and guide them, Lord. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

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

Unexpected

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-yiggash, which means "and he drew near." The reading portion begins in Genesis 45. In this portion, there are unexpected "twists" in the story of Jacob/Israel and his sons. Sometimes we think that we have God all figured out, as well as the path and purpose for our life in Him. When the unexpected turn comes up, we might view it as something other than the will of God. Perhaps we have a difficult time fitting the unexpected into our set view of God.  However, while our viewpoint tends to be fixed in the present, God's viewpoint looks to the everlasting, because He is the everlasting. He has already declared the end from the beginning, and He has assured us that His thoughts are not our thoughts: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:8-9). These two verses happen to follow verses in which the LORD tells "everyone who thirsts" to seek Him, to call upon Him, to return to the LORD and forsake their evil thoughts and ways. The LORD promises to have mercy on them, because He will abundantly pardon (see v. 6-7). 

     Paul also repeated scripture as he wrote: "But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit..." (1 Cor. 2:9-10). Are we viewing God's ways through the flesh rather than the Spirit? In any case, it may be wise to expect the unexpected when considering the LORD's plans and viewpoint.

     One unexpected event that happens in this portion is the fact that Joseph's brothers, who sold him into slavery, found out that Joseph was now ruling in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh (Gen. 45:3-8). Another unexpected event is that Jacob was told that Joseph, the son he thought dead and had mourned for many years, was alive and well in Egypt (v. 25-28). Another unexpected event: Joseph tells his brothers to hurry and to go get their and his father Jacob, pack up all that they have, leave the land of their covenant inheritance from God through Abraham and Isaac, and come and live in Egypt with him. He told them, "Draw near to me." (Gen. 45:4). In Egypt, as they are near to him, Joseph will provide for them in the middle of the seven-year famine. (v. 9-13). After Jacob hears his sons' amazing report that Joseph is alive, he immediately agrees to go and see Joseph in Egypt. At this point, scripture reports the actions, not of Jacob, but of Israel, the name that Jacob was given by God: "So Israel took his journey (nasa - break camp, pull up tent pegs) with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, 'Jacob, Jacob!' And he said, 'Here I am.' So He said, 'I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes." (Gen. 46:1-4). Jacob arose (qum - stood, arise, raise up, to be raised up, to persevere, to be confirmed, to cause to come forth) and his sons brought all of the children/grandchildren, and all of their possessions, and relocated to Egypt (v. 5-7).

     It was only after Israel/Jacob began his unexpected journey and drew near to God with sacrifices that the LORD spoke to him and assured him of His will. Would we be as quick to make this sudden and unexpected total change in our lives, especially if we knew that we were currently dwelling in the covenant land that God had promised us?

     As another portion from this Sabbath's reading says: "Israel also came into Egypt, and Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham (ham/hamam - hot, name for Egypt, descendants of Noah's son, Ham, occupying southern regions/enflame self, burning). He (the LORD) increased (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) His people greatly, and made them stronger than their enemies." (Ps. 105:23-24). It was in Egypt that the Israelites would greatly multiply as God built them into a nation right in the house of their enemy (sar/sarar - adversary, trouble, distress, foe, oppressor, tight place, anguish, tribulation/enemy, bind up, afflict, besiege, press hard upon, be narrow).

     After Joseph's lifetime and under a different Pharaoh who had not known Joseph, Jacob's descendants would be placed into hard bondage in Egypt. Had Jacob been wrong to leave the land of promise to go to Egypt? No. There in Egypt a small handful of Israelites grew into over a million. Some say the number was over two million. It was in Egypt that the twelve tribes of Israel would be completed as their number would also include the descendants of the two (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) sons of Joseph, Manasseh ("causing to forget" [the suffering of Joseph's slavery and imprisonment]) and Ephraim ("doubly fruitful"). (see Gen. 48:1). Not only this, but God through Jacob's residence in Egypt also introduced to the world God's concept of spiritual adoption through His salvation, which we will see. Regarding the two sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, Jacob said to Joseph: "And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance." (Gen. 48:5-6). Jacob also spoke this blessing over the two half-Egyptian sons of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Joseph, whom he fathered with his wife, the Egyptian (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) daughter of the Priest of On (Heliopolis): "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the lads;  Let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." (v. 15-16). Although they were Jacob's grandsons, they would now be his sons, equal in his eyes to the other sons that he had. This is how the two grandsons became part of the tribes of Israel in the Promised Land.

     In this same manner, the apostle Paul wrote to the Jewish and Gentile believers in Rome about our spiritual adoption by the Father through His Son, Jesus Messiah/Christ: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (Rom. 8:14-17). This principle is necessary for our understanding of the deep work of salvation in us that we have obtained through Messiah/Christ. We, who were not a people of God, became not only His people, but His sons, joint heirs with Jesus in His inheritance from the Father, God.

     We also know that the enslaved Israelites would be delivered centuries later from their slavery through Moses, as the LORD worked terrifying plagues and wonders before that Pharaoh to cause him to let God's people leave Egypt. One of those signs and wonders would be the prophetic covering of the blood of the lamb, or Passover, as God protected His people from the plague of death. It would be revealed centuries later that Jesus is that Passover Lamb of God, sacrificed on Passover to deliver us from death. (see Jn. 1:29-35).

     These unexpected but powerful precedents and foundational truths came to us out of Joseph's and his family's long sojourn in Egypt.

     However, there would be an even more powerful prophecy affecting the kingdoms of the earth and eternity to come out of the time that the Israelites spent in Egypt as we will see. Who could have foreseen all that God would accomplish by sending Jacob and all of his household into Egypt?

      In another reading portion from this Va-yiggash, "and he drew near" Sabbath, Joseph and his son, Ephraim's descendants will play a role in a powerful end time prophecy given by the LORD to His prophet, Ezekiel. Before the Babylonian exile, the nation of Israel had been divided into two separate kingdoms, the northern kingdom was called "Israel", and the southern kingdom was called "Judah". The tribe of Ephraim was located in the northern kingdom. During the exile, Ezekiel prophesied that the land would no longer be divided into separate peoples and separate kingdoms. Ezekiel was instructed by the LORD to take two sticks. On one stick, the prophet was to write, "For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions." On the other stick, the prophet was to write: "For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions." (Ezek. 37:15-16). 

     The LORD told Ezekiel to take the two separate sticks and join them together into one stick in his hand (v. 17). The following is the unexpected prophetic work that God would accomplish by this action of the prophet (see v. 21-28):

• The children of Israel would be brought back to their own land from the nations to which they had been disbursed. They will dwell in the land that God gave them forever.
• They would no longer be divided into two kingdoms, but the LORD would make them one nation, with one king, never to be divided again.
• They would be delivered of their idols and transgressions and cleansed by the LORD. They will be His people, and He will be their God (repeated twice).
• The King who will rule over them will be "David My servant" (meaning the Messiah/Christ, a descendant of David). He will be their Prince forever.
• They will walk in, observe, and do the judgments and statutes of God.
• The LORD will make a covenant of peace with them that will be an everlasting covenant.
• The LORD will set His sanctuary in their midst forever. His tabernacle shall also be in their midst.
• The nations (goy/geva/gev/ga'a - heathen, people, foreign nations and therefore Gentiles/the back, behind the body/the back as beaten or lashed, casting sins behind His back/to rise up, gloriously, be exalted in triumph, lifted up, raised up, to rise, to increase) will know that the LORD has sanctified (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Israel, because of the presence of His sanctuary in their midst forever.

     Those represented prophetically above by Joseph and his son, Ephraim, as well as the people of Judah, will play miraculous roles in the restoration, unification and sanctification work of God, the establishing of the reign of the Prince forever (Messiah/Christ), and the everlasting covenant. All nations will take note of this miraculous work that the LORD does in and through Israel.

     Who would have expected this from the long-ago journey of a family of shepherds into Egypt? Expect the unexpected.

     If you would like to learn more about the unlimited work of God, you can join me in my prayer: "LORD of all, I am amazed at Your workings and Your eternal vision and plans. I want to be open to Your voice and direction in my life. Nothing is impossible with You. By Your Holy Spirit and Your living Word, keep me from limiting You. Your Word says that all things work together for good for those who love You and are called by You for Your purpose. (Rom. 8:28). By Your Son Jesus, and by a work of Your Spirit, You not only saved me but adopted me as Your son/child and made me Your heir. Reveal to me by Your Spirit what it means to be Your heir and joint-heir with Christ. Teach me to understand how to live and walk according to this truth. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

     

Spirit

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Mikketz, meaning "at the end of". This reading comes on the Sabbath after Hanukkah, and also after Christmas this year. 

     Have you ever been "at the end of " yourself where trying circumstances have wearied and discouraged you? When the promise of God seems to be out of reach? One of the people written about in this Sabbath portion might have been feeling that way. His name was Zerubbabel.

     Judah and Jerusalem had been held in captivity in Babylon for seventy years when they were released and allowed to return to Jerusalem, which is also what the prophet Jeremiah had prophesied would happen. The first returnees had come back to Jerusalem and had a huge re-building project ahead of them because Jerusalem had been left in ruins when the Babylonians had laid siege to it. Zerubbabel was in charge of building the (second) temple of the LORD.

     Zerubbabel was among the captives who first returned to Jerusalem. He was also the grandson of the nineteenth and last king of Judah, named Jehoiachin. Jehoiachin became king when he was eighteen years old, and three months into his reign, the Babylonians took Jerusalem, and the king along with many inhabitants of Jerusalem were taken into captivity to Babylon (2 Kings 24:8-12, 15). Jehoiachin was imprisoned there for thirty-seven years until it was discovered that he was a king, and he was not only released from prison, but exalted above all other kings who were held captive (2 Kings 25:27-30). Now, at the end of this time of captivity, this king's grandson, Zerubbabel, had returned to Jerusalem with the other miraculously freed captives.

     The building of the temple, of which Zerubbabel was in charge, was experiencing extremely slow progress. There was great opposition from the local population of adversaries outside of Jerusalem who did all that they could to halt the restoration work (see Ezra 4:1-5). Then there came a stunning prophecy from Zechariah that we read in this week's Mikketz Sabbath portion. This prophecy not only empowered Zerubbabel's building of the temple, but it will give us insight into Jesus' all-powerful anointing, as well as having an impact on end time events before the return of Christ.

     Perhaps Zerubbabel's struggle to build the temple in Jerusalem, and his eventual spiritual empowerment is reflected in the meaning of Zerubbabel's name. The general meaning is "sown in Babylon". However, if we break the name down into its parts, we find the word zarab, which means "to make narrow [like a stream that dries up], perish, pour out, flow off, dry up, flow away." The second half of his name is the word babel, which means "confusion, to mix, fade away." However, the root word, according to the Concordance, balal, means, "fresh oil, to overflow with oil, anoint." From his name, perhaps Zerubbabel was a man who was spiritually drained and overwhelmed, maybe even discouraged, but there is a root pointing to the anointing (of oil) of God. Isaiah wrote this about the anointing of God: "It shall come to pass in that day that his (the Assyrian's) burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke (ol - yoke, of servitude and calamity) from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil." (Isa. 10:27). The title given to Jesus of "Messiah/Christ", for example, refers to "the anointing, the anointed One", and He does indeed break the yoke of sin and death off of our lives. The anointing of God changes everything, even the whole world, as we will see.

     The prophecy of Zechariah, which would have an impact on Zerubbabel's work and the future, began with an unusual vision from the LORD: "Now the angel...wakened me...and he said to me, 'What do you see?' So I said, 'I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. The two olive trees are by it (see also Ps. 52:8), one on the right of the bowl and the other at its left.' So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked to me, saying, 'What are these, my lord?' Then the angel...answered...'Do you not know what these are?' And I said, 'No, my lord.' So he answered and said to me: 'This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) capstone with shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!' Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 'The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. For who has despised the day of small things?..." (Zech. 4:1-10, excerpt).

     According to the vision, there are two living olive trees that continually supply the seven lamps on the golden candlestand, or menorah, with oil. This Sabbath reading portion comes in the middle of the celebration of Hanukkah, or Festival of Lights, a miracle involving the multiplication of the oil for the menorah in the temple many generations previously. The seven lamps represent the seven eyes of the LORD which scan/run to and fro throughout the whole earth (v. 10). To us, the oil of the Lampstand represents the Holy Spirit who searches all things of God. Paul wrote: "But God has revealed them (the hidden wisdom) to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God...Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God...Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God." (1 Cor. 2:10-12, see also Jn. 14:26).

     This prophetic word from Zechariah to Zerubbabel is one of the prophecies credited in scripture as being the reason for the successful building of the temple no matter what rose up to try to block it: "So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo (meaning "His witness"). And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia." (Ezra 6:14).

      As we saw how the spiritual anointing (of oil) revived and empowered Zerubbabel to complete the building of the house of the LORD, scripture tells us that Jesus was this anointing and was filled with this anointing (and light) of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist said this about Jesus after he saw the Spirit rest upon Jesus in the form of a dove (see Mt. 3:16-17): "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaiming the Father’s own message]; for God gives the [gift of the] Spirit without measure [generously and boundlessly]!" (Jn. 3:34 Amplified Version).

 

     Paul also wrote of Jesus, warning the church not to be deceived by the philosophies of men: "For in Him (Jesus) dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; and so you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." (Col. 2:8-9). The Godhead spoken of here by Paul also includes with the Son, Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit. As Paul also indicated, this same fulness dwells in us as we are in Jesus. Jesus Himself gave to His disciples the Holy Spirit prophetically (Jn. 20:21-23), and then in manifestation in the Upper Room after His resurrection and ascension (Acts 2:1-4), and it wasn't just for the original twelve disciples but for every believer in Christ (Acts 19:1-7).

     .

     Do we understand what this gift received from Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, of the anointing of the Holy Spirit really means in our lives? Some believers are actually taught that the full anointing of the Holy Spirit is not for them, and that it is no longer needed. How sad and wasteful of the power of God! Some believers believe in the receiving of the Holy Spirit but limit the meaning of the receiving of the Holy Spirit's anointing to operating in spiritual gifts. However, it means even more than that. The anointing is the same anointing that destroys the yoke of which Isaiah prophesied. It is the same anointing and Holy Spirit that destroyed every obstacle standing in the way of the will of God, as it did for Zerubbabel, and created a headstone out of that same obstacle with joyful shouts of "Grace, grace!" to it. I believe that same "headstone" of the temple/house of God built by Zerubbabel with "grace" attached to it was a prophetic reference to the Messiah/Christ, Jesus, as Peter said (Acts 4:11-12 ), and is also named as the Head over all things, and over all things pertaining to His Church of believers (Eph. 1:22). Why would we want to limit the fulness of the Holy Spirit in our lives? Christ certainly did not limit the Spirit. It is even the same Spirit that raised Him from the dead! (see Rom. 8:9-11). I hope in the same resurrection for myself, don't you? Then we need to thank the Holy Spirit Who is to dwell in each of us, and the One Who baptizes us in the Holy Spirit, Jesus the Anointed One (Mt. 3:11-12).

     From this same prophecy of Zechariah's also comes a time-changing and world-changing event in the days before the return of Jesus, which, according to what we are seeing happening now, could be very soon.

     

       The prophet Zechariah received an explanation from the angel who brought him the vision regarding the two olive trees and the two olive branches that drip oil into the receptacle of the golden lampstand:  "Then he answered me and said, 'Do you not know what these are?'   And I said, 'No, my lord.' So he said, 'These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth."  (Zech. 4:"12-14).

     The Book of Revelation mentions the coming of two witnesses, who are also prophets, who are sent to testify in the last days before Christ's return: "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.' These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth." (Rev. 11:3-4).

     The purpose of these two witnesses, who are associated with the olive oil anointing, is so important that they are given great power and authority, and able to do signs and plagues. Although the beast of the bottomless pit will make war against them and kill them, after three and one-half days: "the Holy Spirit/breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them...And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them." (v. 7-12). 

     This anointing that destroys the yoke, as Isaiah described it, gave the two witnesses power and authority from heaven, and we see the power of resurrection from the Holy Spirit raise them up as well. The witness of these two prophets will be one of the last chances that dwellers on earth in those days will get to hear and receive the Gospel that will save them.

     The LORD is building His spiritual house of living souls redeemed by His Son (see Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:5-8) and nothing will stand in the way of that, as Zerubbabel found out.

     If you would like to find out more about the anointing that destroys the yoke, and the work of the Holy Spirit in us, you can pray with me: "Our Father, You sent Your Son, Jesus the Anointed One, to save me and baptize me with Your Spirit. Help me, Lord, not to limit the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, but to walk in that infilling according to Your Word. Remove any self-righteous spirit from me that takes pride in the humbling gift of Your Spirit in me. As David prayed, "Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me" (Ps. 51:11). Help me not to grieve the Holy Spirit by walking in sin. Give me ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to me in order to teach and guide me in the Words of Jesus. I ask 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. 

     

Settled

      This Sabbath's reading portion is titled Va-yeishev, meaning "And he settled", and begins in Gen. 37. It is also the Sabbath reading portion before Hanukkah and Christmas, which occur on the same day this year. The title of this Sabbath portion comes from the first verse in Chapter 37: "Now Jacob dwelt/settled (yasab - dwell, inhabitant, sit, abide, remain, continue, to marry and give a dwelling to, have one's abode, sitting on a throne or seat of judgment) in the land where his father was a stranger in the land of Canaan."

     This Sabbath portion is going to tell us not just where a physical dwelling might be, but where a spiritual dwelling must be.

     The second verse of Gen. 37 begins: "This is the history/generations (toldot - descendants, results, generations, proceeding) of Jacob. Joseph being seventeen years old..." For a mysterious reason, the report of Jacob's generations is going to begin here with Joseph, his second youngest son. Why do the generations of Jacob begin with Joseph? It is important to note that when the Hebrew word toldot is used for "generations", an important spiritual precept or revelation, a foundational precept, is being established at this moment that will be carried down the generations.

     Let's continue with v. 2: "...Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad/evil (ra'/ra'a  - evil, wickedness, mischief, hurt, bad, trouble, sore, affliction, ill, grievous, hurtful, unkind or vicious/evil, evil doer, break, harm, injurious) report of them to his father."  (v. 2)

     This verse does not say that the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, who were Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher, had done something evil, but that the report that Joseph brought to his father was an evil report. In fact, the Hebrew word used here for "report" is the word diba, which means "evil report, whispering, slander, infamy, defamation, defaming, spread slander, spread a rumor, that which glides stealthily." These brothers of Joseph were the sons of his father's two concubines, although the word "wives" is used here. Could it be that Joseph as the son of one of Jacob's wives, Rachel, resented, or thought less of the sons of his father's concubines? Imagine how these four brothers felt when Joseph gave their father, Jacob, the evil report? 

     Although these four sons were not from either of Jacob's two recognized wives, they are listed among the twelve tribes of Israel and would be among the tribes that would settle the Promised Land and establish the nation of Israel. Joseph was yet young, and although he would rise to a high position and save a nation from famine, he would have a great deal to learn along the way. The LORD would humble Joseph before He eventually raised him into a high position second only to Pharaoh in Egypt. While it's true that Joseph had a prophetic gift, especially in the realm of dreams and interpretation, he would have to learn wisdom and discretion in operating in this spiritual gift from God.

     I think that the record of Jacob's toldot history/generations started with Joseph in Gen 37 is for the purpose of revealing where Jacob yasab "settled" or abided spiritually. This is shown in what Jacob did after receiving Joseph's evil report about his brothers: "Now Israel (Jacob) loved (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic (kutonet/katep -  tunic, undergarment, usually of linen, to cover/shoulder, shoulder blade, to clothe) of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him." (v. 3-4).

     The English phrase "of many colors" used to describe this special tunic given to Joseph by his father, Jacob, has nothing to do with colors, many or otherwise. The phrase translated as "many colors" is the Hebrew word pas/pasas, meaning "palm, sole of the foot, long tunic reaching to the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet/to disappear, vanish, do away, blot out [especially sins]." This gift of the tunic from his father, Jacob, represented a covering of grace that blotted out the sin of his beloved son, Joseph. Proverbs 6:16-19 describes the six things that God hates, and the seven that are an abomination to Him. Among that list are: a lying tongue, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. According to the Hebrew words used in these verses from Gen. 37, Joseph would have been guilty of these things that God hates.

     This is where Jacob spiritually dwelt and this is where he abided - in the ministry of the atonement covering of sins (by the Messiah/Christ), and this is the spiritual precedent that was set that his toldot generations should follow. This atoning or spiritual covering would save Joseph's life when his angry brothers had determined to kill him.

     As Joseph journeyed through testing and trying circumstances that would cause him to become the person whose habitation is with God, then he would walk in the purpose that God had set him apart from his brothers to fulfill. 

Instead of murdering Joseph, as they had originally planned, his brothers sold him into slavery, and he was then taken to Egypt. The brothers took the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) tunic that his father had made for Joseph, smeared it with blood, and used it as evidence to convince Jacob that Joseph was dead (Gen. 37:32). 

     In Egypt, Joseph was purchased from Ishmaelite traders by a man named Potiphar, who was an officer of Pharaoh. (Gen. 39:1). Then scripture says: "The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man...and his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him...the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field." (v. 4-5). Because Joseph's master saw the favor of the LORD upon Joseph, he put Joseph in charge of all that he had.

     Joseph was then falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, and thrown into Pharaoh's prison: "But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison." (Gen. 39:21). Because of the favor of the LORD, the keeper of the prison gave Joseph authority over the prisoners, and the prison keeper: "...did not look into anything that was under Joseph's authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper." (v. 22-23).

     Physically, Joseph dwelt/settled in the household of an Egyptian as a slave, and then he physically dwelt in Pharaoh's prison, but spiritually, Joseph's habitation was with the LORD. Although he could not physically wear the tunic that his father had given him, the spiritual covering or habitation of grace that the tunic represented still operated in Joseph's life. When Pharaoh raised Joseph up into a position of authority in Egypt, he changed Joseph's name to Zaphnath-Paaneah, which has been translated as meaning "God lives and He speaks", also "Treasury of the Glorious Rest". Pharaoh also clothed Joseph in garments of fine linen (ses/sayis - bleached white, fine linen or silk, fine Egyptian linen, whiteness/alabaster, to bleach, to whiten, white marble). (See Gen. 41:42, 45). This is what Pharaoh saw in the life of Joseph, a man who dwelt in God, and a man in whom God dwelt. It is also granted to the Bride of Christ to be clothed in "fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints." (Rev. 19:8).

     From another reading portion of this Va-yeishev Sabbath before Hanukkah and Christmas, the young child, Samuel, will discover what it means to dwell with God. Samuel's birth was a miracle, and his mother dedicated him to the service of the LORD at the tabernacle: "But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe (me'il - robe, coat, a covering), and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer yearly (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) sacrifice." (1 Sam. 2:18-19). Samuel ministered to the LORD in the tabernacle at Shiloh under Eli the priest even though he "did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him." (1 Sam. 3:1, 7). We see again a loving parent who covered her miracle child with a gift of a special little robe in order for him to serve before the LORD. We can also see the empty religion of a priest with this precious child protege under his tutelage in the tabernacle of the LORD, but he had not taught the child to know the LORD. However, Samuel had been covered by grace.

      The child Samuel began to hear the prophetic Word of the LORD in the days when the Word and revelation of the LORD were rare. (1 Sam. 3:1). The Word of the LORD began to call to Samuel when the lamp of God was so neglected by the indifferent and corrupt priesthood that it was just about to go out in the tabernacle, but the LORD "came and stood and called out" to Samuel...So Samuel grew, and the LORD was (haya/hava - to be, to arise, to appear, to come, to be established, to abide, to remain, exist, to breathe) with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD. Then the LORD appeared again in Shiloh. For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD." (v. 19-21).

     Both Samuel and the priest, Eli, physically dwelt in the tabernacle at Shiloh, but it was Samuel who spiritually dwelt with the LORD in His covering of grace. The LORD was with Samuel.

     From another reading of this Sabbath, scripture says to bind the Word of God received from your father and mother to yourself as if you are wearing (perhaps like the coat or tunic that Jacob gave to Joseph, and Samuel's mother gave to him), and dwelling with it: "Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck. When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep they will keep you; and when you wake they will speak with you." (Prov. 6:21-22). The Word of God through the parent is to be treated as if it is your closest family member. (Prov. 7:1-4). This is part of the miracle of dwelling with God.

     The LORD gives this prophetic promise to Zechariah in this Sabbath's reading portion: "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the LORD. Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst..." (Zech. 2:10-11). The promise is not just to know the LORD, but to dwell, abide, and remain with Him.

     Jesus described how God, the Father, dwelled with Him: "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves." (Jn. 14:10-11).

     If we can understand how Jesus and the Father dwelled within each other, we can then understand the meaning of what Jesus wanted for us. He said: "Abide (meno - abide, dwell, remain) in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me...If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you...As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love." (Jn. 15: 4, 7, 9).

     Both Joseph and Samuel received special robes as a covering. Isaiah prophesied about the garments we receive with salvation: "...He (the LORD) has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered (ya'at - to clothe, to cover) me with the robe of righteousness...." (Isa. 61:10). This is fulfilled in Messiah/Christ, as Paul wrote: "For as many of you were baptized into Christ have put on (endyo - be clothed, clothed in, clothe with, as if sinking into a garment) Christ." (Gal. 3:27).

     The blessing contained in the phrase "The LORD was with him" as used above, is fulfilled if we dwell with and in Jesus Messiah/Christ.

     If you would like to know more about being clothed in Christ, you can join my prayer: "Father in heaven, You have clothed me in a robe of Your righteousness and grace through Your Son, Jesus Christ. I have been joined together with Jesus, and He is joined together with You. The command of Christ is to abide or dwell in Him. By Your Holy Spirit, teach me, lead me and help me to remain in my dwelling place in Jesus, my Savior and Lord. Help me to mature and grow in the understanding of this powerful precept of dwelling in grace. Let this dwelling place in Christ that I inhabit witness to others as both of the lives of Joseph and Samuel gave evidence to others that the LORD was with them. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

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

Sent

     This week's Sabbath reading portion, which begins in Genesis 32, is titled Va-yishlach, meaning "And he sent". The title is based upon the Hebrew word, salah, which means "to send [out], send [forth], sow, stretch out, loose, send a messenger, send an angel, weapon [Arabic]."

     In this Sabbath portion, Jacob sent (salah - see above) messengers (malak - angel, messenger, ambassadors, representatives, king, deputy, one sent, messenger of God, prophet, priest, teacher), and then eventually gifts, to his brother Esau as Jacob returns with his family to his homeland from Assyria. When Jacob left twenty years earlier, Esau had sought to kill him. How would Esau receive his brother's return? Jacob was afraid and distressed, and prayed to God on behalf of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people (see v. 7) with him: "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you...Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children." (Gen. 32:9-11).

     As Jacob sent (salah - see above) presents (minha - gift, tribute, present, sacrifice, offering to God, to apportion) ahead to Esau, who was coming with four hundred men, Jacob bowed before Esau seven times as they neared each other. Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, fell on his neck and kissed him. Esau questioned Jacob about the gifts that he had sent ahead, saying to Jacob, "I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself." Jacob answered him: "No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. Please, take my (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.' So he urged him, and he took it." (Gen. 33:1-11). Jacob apportioned (see minha above) to Esau some of the increase that he had gained over his years of service to his father-in-law Laban. The blessing which Jacob brought to his brother Esau was connected to the Messiah/Christ, signified by the presence of *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega in written but untranslated Hebrew before the phrase "my blessing". This is the source of the divine power that delivers from death found in salah "sent".

     The gifts that Jacob had salah "sent" ahead after praying to God, had the power to calm the murderous rage of Esau, and the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) servant Jacob, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the women and his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) children came out of the encounter preserved alive. 

   

      Above, Jacob compared seeing Esau with seeing the face of God. Jacob had just had a wrestling encounter with "a Man", demanding a blessing from him, at a place that Jacob would name Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." (Gen. 32:24-31). Jacob had also then seen his brother face to face and his life was preserved. At this time of this wrestling match with "a Man", Jacob's name was changed to "Israel", meaning "God prevails, he will rule as God, contender, soldier for God, have power, persevere, prevail, contend with, have power as a prince, set in order, be a leader, a commander, a prince, a noble." Having had this previous encounter with "the Man" and persevered against him, was God showing Jacob that he would also persevere against Esau successfully?

     From another Va-yishlach Sabbath reading portion, the LORD prophesied that He would send His messenger: "Behold, I send (salah - see above) My messenger (malak - see above), and he will prepare the way before Me, and the LORD, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,' says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire, and like launderer's soap...He will purify the sons of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering (minha - see above) in righteousness." (Mal. 3:1-3).

     Although three of the same words: salah, malak, minha, are used in the verses above, we are not dealing with a vengeful Esau here. We are dealing with the Holy God and the pure offering/gift due Him from His priests on behalf of His people. A Messenger will be sent by God and the purpose of the Messenger will be to purge and cleanse a negligent priesthood on the day of the LORD so that they do not perish before His face. The LORD is going to appear suddenly, and if they wish to remain alive, they had better accept the Messenger that the LORD will salah send to them.

     We see another example of the preservation power of the salah sent in Psalm 107: "Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted...and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He sent (salah - see above) His word (dabar - spoken, talk, speech, word, utterance, thing, decree, message, answer, commandment, promise, provision, power, portion) and healed (rapa - to heal, repaired, cure, make whole, mend by stitching, stitch together) them, and delivered (malat - save, deliver, preserve) them from their destructions (sehit - pit, pit-fall, sink down). Oh that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" (Ps. 107:17-21). When God's people were about to perish because of their own wickedness, God sent His spoken Word, and they were preserved from death. We will see who this spoken Word was that was sent by God to heal His people. Jesus is described as the spoken Word (logos in Greek) of God (see Jn. 1:1-5, 14). Jesus also described Himself as having been "sent" by God in order to preserve life: "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him (the Son) might be saved." (Jn. 3:17, see also Jn. 5:37-38, Jn. 6:44, Jn. 8:16 and 18). Jesus repeatedly described Himself as being sent (Greek apostello - send out, send forth, to order one to go to a place appointed) by His Father, God. He was sent to save us from destruction, in the same way as we read in the Psalm above.

     The apostle John also wrote: "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 Jn. 4:9-10).

     Again, we see that the thing or Person that is sent by the will of God is for the preservation of life. While we can immediately see without difficulty this truth in the sending of Jesus by the Father for the preservation of life, we need to also see the following mystery that was revealed by Jesus concerning us.

     Jesus sent out His disciples: "And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits...So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them." (Mk. 6:7, 12-13, see also Lk. 9:1-2, 6). Even before the cross, the disciples, being ones who were sent by divine will, brought salvation, deliverance and healing life to many.

     After the resurrection, Jesus said to His disciples: "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive/remit (aphiemi - to send away, to send forth, to bid going away, forgive, keep no longer, give up a debt) the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain (krateo - hold, keep, take hold, hold fast, get possession of, seize, to have power over) the sins of any, they are retained." (Jn. 20:21-23). In the very same way that Jesus was sent, He then sends us, as His disciples. With our being sent by divine ordinance goes the authority to bring life with the forgiveness of sins, rather than death by the retaining of sins. Jesus was sent that we might have life and that more abundantly (Jn. 10:10), and we are sent by Him with the same purpose. 

     As Jesus sent out His disciples after His resurrection, He also said of all those who believe: "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will be no means hurt them; and they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mk. 16:17-18).

     Some may think that the only ones that Jesus sent were His immediate disciples. However, the New Testament makes clear that all believers in Christ are sent by Him. The apostle James wrote: "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man avails much...he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a/his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." (James 5:14-20, excerpt).

     Jesus commanded us to be salt, as a preservative of truth and life, and light, as showing the way through darkness, so that men would see our works and glorify God (Mt. 5:13-16). This Sabbath's reading portion, Va-yishlach, or "And he sent", brings us into the understanding of what it means in our lives to be sent, filled with the Holy Spirit, by the will of the Father and the Son.

     

     If you would like to know more about being sent by Christ, you can pray with me: "Father in heaven, You sent Your only Son, Jesus, to become life to those who were perishing in their sins. In the same manner, Jesus sent His disciples, and those who would believe because of them, into the world to bring preservation and life through Christ to others. Help me to fulfill this purpose given to me by Jesus Christ as He sends me in His name to be salt and light. Fill me with the Holy Spirit who will guide me and teach me how to live effectively in the commission by which Christ sends me, and to prove with my life "that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Rom. 12:1-2). I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

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

      

Leaving

      The title of this Sabbath's reading portion is Va-yeitze, which means "And he left." The title comes from the first verse of the reading portion: "Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran." (Gen. 28:10). The Hebrew word for "went out" as used above is yasa, which has a very rich and full meaning: "out, forth, proceed, go, depart, go forward, proceed to something, go forth with purpose, to deliver, be brought out, break out, bring forth, lead out, be risen, to germinate and expand like a plant, water flowing or gushing out of a fountain, running through a boundary, the end of a period of time." Up until this point, the only guidance that Jacob has had from the LORD is through the advice of his mother, Rebekah, who received prophetic revelation from the LORD regarding her two sons. According to the meaning of yasa above, Jacob would now be going forth from something and proceeding toward something else. Old boundaries would be overrun. Like gushing waters breaking out, however, the journey will not be controlled by Jacob, but by his own personal interaction and revelation from the LORD. The only guidance he has in leaving his familiar home and the murderous rage of his brother, Esau, is his parents' instruction to go find a wife from among Rebekah's relatives in Haran (see Gen. 28:1-5).      

     As we will see, the LORD takes us out of our familiar circumstances, sometimes having to push us out, in order to bring us into a deeper place with Him. He brings us into a time when He will give us a prophetic promise, and then the test comes as to whether we will hold on to that promise through both good and trying circumstances. We read in the Psalms: "He sent a man before them - Joseph - who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him." (Ps. 105:17-19). Upon receiving the prophetic Word of the LORD will we hold on to it through all testing circumstances? Peter wrote: "And so we have the prophetic word (regarding the prophesied appearing of Jesus as the Son of God) confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;" (2 Pet. 1:19). The interaction with the LORD, which is often prophetic, is the light that continues to be present even in the darkest days, until those days become light within us. The light within us cannot help but manifest outside of us as well.

     As Jacob travelled north from Beersheba, he came to "a certain place" and spent the night as it had gotten dark. This "certain  place" will turn out to be about the first tenth along the way of the journey to Haran, his destination. "And he took one of the stones (eben/bana - a stone especially associated with building or repairing, obtaining children) of that place (maqom/qum - rise up, establish, stand, confirm, continue, abide, sure, accomplish) and put it at his head (as his pillows: (mera'asot/mer'asot/ros - bolster, pillow, at his head/place at the head, dominion, headship, principality/head, chief, beginning, captain, first, choicest, height, top), and he lay down (sakab - lie down, rest, sleep, in death, death bed, be poured out, of those who are dying, in speaking of the death of kings) in that place to sleep (sakab - see previous)." (Gen. 28:11).  By placing that stone at his head, Jacob built or established something for himself and his future children which would be his ruler, his chief, his prince. We will see later who this stone represents. We also see a parallel with the sleep of death here as well. Receiving the prophetic direction or revelation of the LORD into our lives, we must go through a certain kind of death to self and death to the things of this world followed by an awakening to a new understanding and acceptance. We have to bow our knee to the higher, far superior God of all.

     While sleeping, Jacob had a special dream. He saw a ladder "set up on earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it..." (v. 13). In the dream, the LORD confirmed to Jacob His covenant promise made to Abraham for the land and the multiplication of his descendants. The LORD again repeated to Jacob the covenant made with Abraham: "...and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (v. 14). The LORD added to the promise: "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. 15). Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 'Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." (v. 16). Jacob woke from sleep and was afraid (yare - fear, afraid, tremble, dreadful, inspire reverence or godly fear or awe, stupendous) and declared, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" (v. 17). It is almost as if Jacob had experienced a spiritual resurrection from death after experiencing this remarkable sight in his dream.

     Jacob immediately created a memorial in that place: "Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) stone that he had put at his head, set it up (sum - set up, ordain, mark, appoint, establish, transform into, make for a sign, call a name, convey, preserve, purpose) as a pillar (masseba - monument, personal memorial, column, standing image, something set upright), and poured oil (semen/saman - olive oil, as medicine or unguent, for anointing, fruitful, fatness that breaks the yoke: see Isa. 10:27/to shine, to cover with fat) on top of it. And he called the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) name-of-that-place Bethel ("house of God - bet'el/bayit/bana - temple, family, dwelling habitation, shelter or abode for animals, family of descendants, sepulchre, eternal home/build, establish, cause to continue, built up, repair, obtain children); but the name of that city had been Luz ("almond tree/hazel" - the first tree that awakens in spring after winter sleep) previously." (v. 18-19).

     To me, the aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega stone mentioned above that is anointed with olive oil is a prophetic picture of the Messiah/Christ to come, who also, as the ladder mentioned in Jacob's dream, reconciles together all things created in heaven and earth. (Col. 1:15-20). Once the promise or prophecy is made by the LORD, His presence will not leave the person as the LORD said to Jacob. (see also Deut. 31:8, Mt. 28:19-20). In another verse of scripture, the LORD says to Joshua in a later generation: "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you." (Josh. 1:5). This is the light that Peter wrote of above that rises within us as we hold onto the prophecies and promises of the LORD to us. 

     Jacob left again on his journey to his relatives from that *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega place of Bethel as a changed man. However, there has been a change. When the scriptures say that "So Jacob went", we have a different Hebrew word and meaning after Jacob's encounter with the LORD. The word used here for "went" is nasa, meaning: "to lift, carry, support, sustain, endure, be lifted up, exalted, rise up, be carried, forgive, furnish, grow, increase, set up a banner, raise up and carry like the ark of the covenant." Jacob would not be going on his journey alone any longer, but with the presence of the LORD that goes with His prophetic promise.

     Although the prophetic promise of the LORD given to Jacob tested him (see Ps. 105 above) for twenty years, through some trying circumstances and disappointments, the light of the favor of the LORD was discernable in his life. His relative and father-in-law, Laban, became aware that he personally prospered after Jacob came into his family, and was very reluctant to allow Jacob to leave to return home. 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...Name your wages, and I will give it." (Gen. 30:27-28). That light of favor becomes apparent if we treasure the prophetic promises of God within us.

     From another of this Sabbath's reading portions it is written: "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold...By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life." (Prov. 22:1, 4). It is not by the ways of the world, but by the ways of the LORD that we live and are sustained.

     From another of this week's reading portions concerning yasa or "leaving", the king of Syria, Ben-Hadad, with thirty-two other kings mustered up a large army together to come against Samaria, in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. They were coming for the gold, silver, and royal household of the King of Israel. King Ahab, the king of Israel who was rebellious towards God, was facing certain defeat against this large enemy coalition army. King Ahab consulted with his advisors, who told him not to give the King of Syria what he was demanding. The huge enemy army had just been commanded by their drunken leaders to get ready to attack: "Suddenly a prophet approached Ahab, king of Israel, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the LORD... Then he (King Ahab) mustered the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) young leaders of the provinces...and after them, he mustered all the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people, all the children of Israel - seven thousand." (1 Kings 20:1-13). "So they went out (yasa - see above) at noon...The young men of the provinces went out (yasa - see above) first. These young leaders of the provinces went out (yasa - see above) of the city with the army which followed them....Then the king of Israel went out (yasa - see above) and attacked the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter." (v. 16-21).

     The army of King Ahab, led by (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) young lads "went out", with the prophetic promise of the LORD, against a huge enemy army. The prophet came back after the successful battle and warned King Ahab to "take note and see what he should do", because the same king of Syria would be back again to come up against him in the spring. When the time came in the spring, the LORD again sent a prophet to direct King Ahab by the prophetic Word of the LORD, which the king only partially obeyed (1 Kings 20:42-43). This would lead to Ahab's eventual downfall.

     The prophetic Word of the LORD works powerfully through His *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Messianic/Christ people. The Book of Revelation says: "...I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit (pneuma/pneo - Holy Spirit, a life-giving spirit, life, spirit, breath, breeze/to breathe, blow, the wind) of prophecy." (Rev. 19:10). 

     Jacob had to leave his home behind for many years, but he was accompanied by the presence of God and the Word of prophetic promise. It is breath and life-sustaining power in us from the One who IS the prophetic Word. It becomes the light within us that sustains us and others with us through the darkness.

     If you would like to know more about the role of the prophetic promise of God in our lives, either through His written Word, or by the revelation of His Spirit, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father from Whom all perfect gifts flow, I treasure and rely upon Your prophetic promises to guide my leaving and my arriving in my natural and spiritual travels. Your Word becomes light and favor that all can see as You promise to be with me. Let me not rely upon my own strength nor my own will in determining my course but direct my path according to Your great godly wisdom and knowledge. Let that prophetic promise that You have placed within me always guide me back to You if I wander off of the path that You have set for me. I ask these things for myself and for my household 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.