MyServant

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-yeishev, which translated into English means, "and he settled". The title comes from the first verse of the reading portion: "Now Jacob dwelt (yawshav - dwell, abide, inhabit, remain, continue, to cause to be inhabited, to marry in order to give a dwelling to, endure establish, to sit down, be seated, thrones, where judges sit) in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan." (Gen. 37:1).  As we can see from the Hebrew meaning of "settled/dwelt", it means more than to live in a place. What the meaning also tells us is that a seated place of authority is being established, like the throne of a king, or the judicial chair of a judge. This idea is also used as scripture tells us that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. It is a position of high authority. Paul wrote of Christ's seated position: "...and what is the exceeding greatness of His (God's) power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He (God) worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He (God) put all things under His (Christ's) feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all." (Eph. 1:19-23, see also Ps. 110:1-2, Acts 2:32-33 and 36, Heb. 1:3-4).

     As the verse above speaks about the physical dwelling place of Jacob, something even more powerful is being established in Jacob's yaw-shav "dwelling/settling place" - a seat of spiritual authority that will be established in Jacob's generations to come. Verse 2 says: "This is the history (toldot - establishing generations, origin of generations) of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) his brothers. And the lad was with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the sons of Bilhah and (*vaw-aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad (ra' - wicked, evil, hurt, mischief, bad, harm, grievous, ill) report (diba - slander, defamation, whispering, spread a rumor) of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) them to his father."

     These sons were Jacob's sons by his wives' two maids. Those sons would also become part of the twelve tribes of Israel along with the sons of Leah and Rachel. So we also see a very important family of sons who will also dwell/settle in this land. These sons are also signified as having spiritual importance by the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega (*see note below) directly modifying them in the written Hebrew and connecting them with the identity of the Messiah/Christ (see *note below). Joseph brought an evil, false or slanderous report against these particular sons to his father according to the Hebrew meaning of the words above.

     It is important to understand that when God is establishing a powerful foundation in the earth that will change the toldot history of generations, we should not speak evil against it, including false accusations or unsubstantiated rumors.

     Joseph, the second youngest of Jacob's sons would then have dreams in which his eleven brothers and his father, Jacob, would bow down to him. (Gen. 37:5-11). As Joseph ran to tell them of the dreams, his father and brothers were offended by the dreams which Joseph shared, but his father kept the dreams in mind.

     Joseph's prophetic dreams would come to pass at the appointed time later in his life, but Joseph would have to learn to exercise his prophetic gifting and office from the position of a most humbled servant first, tried by extreme and bitter circumstances, before the LORD would exalt him into his prophesied position of rulership in Egypt. Joseph had to learn that his rulership would not come about because of how important he thought he was, but because of his submission as a servant to God. Even as he would rule in Egypt with the favor of God, acknowledging God's power (see Gen. 41:15-16), making a way of survival for both Egypt and his father and brothers through a long-lasting famine, he would still do so as a servant to Pharaoh and Egypt (see Gen. 41:39-46), and ultimately as a servant of God, for the rest of his life. Even Pharaoh would discern the glory of God upon Joseph's life and rename him Zaphnath-Paaneah, thought to mean "God speaks and He lives", also "Salvation, Savior of the Age/World." (Gen. 41:44-45). Not only was Joseph elevated in position because of the spiritual gift which God had given to him, but it would also be made evident to Egypt that the LORD was alive and all-powerful.

     Why is it so essential that God is glorified by the giftings given to us, rather than an individual such as Joseph? God must receive back to Himself the glory of our service to Him in these spiritual giftings so that Israel, and the world can know with absolute assurance that God is more powerful than any other god, or any man. Jesus, the perfect Servant according to Isa. 52:13-15, Isa. 53:11-12, spoke and prayed that God would glorify Himself through Jesus. (see Jn. 12:27-30, Jn. 13:31-32, Jn. 17:1-5). Even the glory that Jesus has given to us is for the purpose of revealing and glorifying Himself and the Father to the world. (see Jn. 17:22-23). This revealing of the LORD by His servants assures the world that God IS, and He is able to deliver the individual, the family, the nation, the world out of any difficult circumstance, heal any disease, redeem out of every wickedness and debt owed, and save any soul that believes His power and authority to do so. The LORD intends everyone to know that it is He who can forgive sins, raise the dead and grant eternal life, through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. The Book of Hebrews says: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him (God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Heb. 11:6). The spiritual gift does not testify only of the individual who has it, but, more importantly of God, Who gave the gift and operates through it. We, as servants, are a living testimony by word and deed through the gifts that have been given to us that God IS.

      I am calling this study 'The Tale of Two Prophets' because a second prophet will learn from a young age the servant principle that Joseph only learned through extreme hardship. We will see a difference between the two prophets from their beginning. I think it is a difference that impacts our lives also as we walk in and with Christ.

     Our second of two prophets comes from another part of the Va-yeishev Sabbath reading portion. This is the prophet Samuel, who was not only a prophet, but the judge of Israel. He was an anointer of kings over Israel, including David, from whose royal line the Messiah/Christ would descend.

     Because his birth was an answer to his mother's prayers, Samuel's mother dedicated him from the time that he was weaned as a servant of God. He was the child of her vows. (see 1 Sam. 1:9-11). Little Samuel ministered before the LORD in the tabernacle at Shiloh and served Eli the priest there. Eli was very old, and his sons who also served in the priesthood were corrupt and led God's people into transgression through their own greed and lusts. Eli made a weak attempt to correct them, but they ignored their father. A prophet, name unknown, had come to Eli earlier and warned him that the LORD would judge Eli's house. The LORD also said through this prophet: "Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed (masiah/"maw-shee-akh" - Messiah [Christ in Greek], anointed One) forever." (1 Sam. 2:35).

     Eli was old and his eyes had grown dim. The light of the Lamp of the LORD, which stood before the ark of God was about to be extinguished in the tabernacle. It was supposed to be kept lit by the priests throughout the night. The LORD began to call young Samuel during the night. Samuel had not yet heard the LORD speaking to him, so he thought Eli was calling him. Three times Samuel went to Eli that night to see what Eli needed. We can see Samuel's servant heart here. Finally, Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling Samuel, and Eli instructed him to answer the next time he was called: "Speak, LORD, for Your servant ('ebed/'abad - servant, bondservant, slave, worshipper of God/to serve, to do, service, work, serve as subject) hears", and Samuel did so. (1 Sam. 3:9-10).

     The LORD spoke to Samuel and again prophesied His judgment against Eli's house because he did not restrain (kaha - dim, utterly darkened, restrained, grow dim, rebuke, used of a lamp about to go out, eyes that become dim, a spot on the skin) his vile (qalal - light thing [as opposed to being heavy], lighter, light, lighten, curse, vile, treat with contempt and dishonor) sons. God's spiritual light and Lamp, and the light of His servant priesthood were allowed to grow dim until becoming in danger of being extinguished, but the vileness of his sons had been allowed to continue by Eli.

     Samuel did not exalt himself upon hearing the Word of the LORD to him. We read: "So Samuel lay down (sakab - lie down, lay self down [see Jn. 10:15], lodge, be poured out, lie down in rest or death, to prostrate self before) until morning, and opened the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) vision." (v. 15). Unlike Joseph running to tell his brothers and father of the prophetic dreams that exalted him, Samuel did not run to tell Eli of the judgment that the LORD had spoken against Eli's house. He did not disclose the Word of the LORD until Eli insisted. (v. 17-18).

     Immediately afterward, scripture says: "So Samuel grew, and the LORD was 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 (ra'a - see, look, behold, show, appear, seer, perceive, discern, distinguish, foresee, heed, consider, have vision, cause to gaze at, to be visible) again in Shiloh. For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. (v. 19-21). Samuel prophesied and was recognized for it by all Israel, but it is the LORD who became ra'a (see above) seen, perceived again in Shiloh because of His spiritual gift in the hands of His trusted and faithful servant, Samuel.

     The Sabbath reading portion from 1 Sam. 3, above mentions the Lamp of the tabernacle, and how the corrupt priesthood under Eli neglected that Light until it was almost extinguished. This weekend, begins the Festival of Lights, also called the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah), which Jesus observed in John 10:22-25. This Feast commemorates the miracle of God which kept His Light burning in the temple for eight days, well beyond the short supply of oil available to keep it lit. The Lamp, or Hanukkah menorah, has eight candles, instead of the usual seven, representing those eight miracle days. There is also a ninth candle set apart from and set above the other candles in the Hanukkah menorah. This ninth candle is the first to be lit, and from this candle, the other candles of the menorah are lighted. This ninth candle is called the shamash. "Shamash" means "the helper" or "servant". It is not extinguished after it lights the other candles, but stays lit, ready to "serve" in case one of the other candles blows out. The shamash ninth candle uses its gift of light to make other lights shine also. It is always ready to preserve the sanctity of the other eight miracle lights, as expressed by rabbis. 

     As you light the Hanukkah menorah, or see one in use, pay special attention to the lone candle that serves as "the servant" to the other candles. To me that servant candle represents Jesus, the Light of the world, but us as well, whom Jesus also called "the light of the world." The purpose of this light, as Jesus said was so that men would see not just us, but our good works and glorify the Father in heaven. (see Mt. 5:14-16).

     If you would like to know more about the role of servant to the LORD, you can join my prayer: "Father of heaven and earth, blessed Son and Holy Spirit, You have called us and gifted us to be Your servants, bearing witness not to ourselves, but to You, as the one true Savior of man. Our service bears witness to the fact that You ARE, You APPEAR, You SPEAK, and You HEAR, unlike the idols created by men. Your true servants know Your mind and Your heart. Help me, Lord, to be a faithful and true servant for the glory of God. Help me, Lord, to be a servant light that lights others in Your name. Help me, Lord, to keep Your Lamp lighted and lifted up for the whole world to see and believe, being able to discern and distinguish Your great presence and appearing among men. I ask this in the name and after the likeness of Your faithful Servant/Son, Jesus. AMEN."

SendForth

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Va-yishlach which means, "And he sent." The title comes from Genesis 32:3: "Then Jacob sent (salah [pronounced shaw-lakh] - go, send forth, stretch out, sow, loose, set free, shoot forth as branches, spread, reach forth, appoint, send a messenger, send words, to command anything of anyone, to stretch as a hand from on high, to send away) messengers (malak - angel, messenger, ambassador, deputy, messenger of God [see also Mal. 3:1-3], king, prophet, priest, one sent) before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom." 

     As we can see from the meaning of the word "sent", or salah in Hebrew as used above, a powerful purpose is ordained, and a powerful result is expected. We will see that what is "sent" to Esau is saves Jacob's life, as well as that of his large family.

     Jacob was sending messengers with words of greeting to let his twin brother Esau know that he was back in the land after being away for twenty years. Before Jacob had left his home, Esau had vowed to kill him. This was a humble gesture on Jacob's part, reaching out to Esau, in order to prepare the way for a peaceful return. The messengers returned from their mission to Esau and told Jacob that Esau was coming to meet him, and he was bringing four hundred men with him, leaving Jacob afraid and distressed. He divided all of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people that were with him, including wives and children, so that it would make it more difficult for Esau to attack all of Jacob's people at one time. (v. 6-7).

     Jacob then sent (salah - see above) by his servants word messages and gifts to Esau ahead of his arrival of many goats, sheep, camels, cattle, and donkeys. Jacob told his servants: "I will appease (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, pacify, to pardon, to cover over, atone for sin, to expiate, merciful, to obtain forgiveness, to make expiation for an offender, to inanimate things which were accounted to be defiled, to receive pardon) him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me." (v. 13-20).

     The gift that Jacob sent to Esau was to act as an atonement for sin and an outpouring of mercy according to the Hebrew word kapar used above. Before we find out the conclusion of the meeting between Jacob and Esau, a very strange but important encounter will occur first.

     After sending his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) two wives, his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) two women servants, his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eleven children and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) what he had across the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) brook at Jabbok (yaboq/baqaq - "emptying"/make void, empty, lay waste, pour out, devastate, depopulate; spread out as a fruitful vine, be luxuriant, be profuse and abundant), Jacob was left alone: "...and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day." (Ge. 32:22-24). When the Man saw that He did not prevail against Jacob, He touched the socket of Jacob's hip and put Jacob's hip out of joint. However, Jacob would not let the man go until the Man blessed him.  So the Man told Jacob: "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel (yisrael/sara - "God prevails"/contend, have power as a prince, persist, exert oneself, to set in order, a noble, a prince); for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed." (v. 25-28). The King James Version of the Bible states that the Man's description of the name Israel was: "for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." After prevailing over the Man, Jacob was changed. Even his name was changed by to reflect this transformation. After experiencing this encounter, could Jacob then prevail over his brother Esau as well? It won't be a physical wrestling match with Esau, but a spiritual one.

     Jacob named the place of his wrestling, Penuel/Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God (elohim - God, angels, divine ones) face to face, and my life is preserved." Jacob then also crossed over the brook from that place. Jacob understood that he had been wrestling with God. The revelation that Jacob/Israel obtained during this strange wrestling encounter will affect his reunion with his brother, Esau. If Jacob could see God's face and not only survive but prevail, how much more could he prevail seeing Esau face to face?

     The conclusion of the encounter with Esau is that after seeing Jacob's gifts that were sent ahead and seeing Jacob's family, Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept together. (Gen. 33:4). Jacob remained wary of Esau and treated his encounter with him very cautiously.

     We see how his encounter with God at Penuel ("Facing God") gave Jacob/Israel the prevailing strength to face Esau. As Esau intended to refuse Jacob's gifts that had been sent ahead, Jacob/Israel said to Esau: "No, please, if I have 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 (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) my 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. 33:10-11).

     Jacob's new name, Israel, is "one who struggles with God and men and prevails." The kapar atoning, reconciling appeasement gift (see kapar above) that Jacob sent to Esau spared Jacob's life. 

     Paul wrote about the same kind of blessing that was given to Jacob by the Man he wrestled mentioned above, and the power of kapar atoning reconciliation or appeasement in this way: "What then can we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered (paradidomi - incl. the meaning "to give into the hands of another, to give over into one's power or use") Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors (hypernikao/nikao - to gain a surpassing and decisive victory, to vanquish beyond/to subdue, to conquer, to overcome, to prevail) through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8:31-39).

     Jesus taught that before we bring a gift/offering to God, we must be reconciled with our brother who has something against us. He said: "...First be reconciled (diallasso - to change the mind of anyone, to reconcile, to renew friendship with one/to change or to transform thoroughly, to make different, to conciliate) to your brother (adelphos - natural brother, countryman, a fellow believer, associate, any man), and then come and offer your gift. Agree (eunoeo - to wish one well, of a peaceable spirit, reconcile) with your adversary (antidikos/dike/deiknyo- opponent, enemy, even arch-enemy Satan/vengeance, punish, judgment/to show or teach, give evidence or proof)  quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge..." (see Mt. 5:23-26, excerpt).

     Both Jacob and Esau had sinned against each other. While Esau voluntarily sold his birthright to Jacob, from Esau's point of view, Jacob tricked his father Isaac into giving him his paternal blessing instead of the elder and favored son, Esau, as Isaac had planned to do. Esau sinned, speaking and planning the revenge murder of his brother. However, the kapar appeasing atonement gift sent by Jacob to his brother changed Esau's plans thoroughly. Instead of using his four hundred men to attack and kill Jacob, Esau ran to Jacob, hugged his neck, kissed him and wept. In this case, we see that Esau was changed or transformed completely from his original intentions, which is also part of the kapar atonement reconciling appeasement gift (see diallasso above).

      We see this idea in the New Testament also. We also know that Jesus was sent and given by the Father in heaven as a gift of reconciliation and appeasement to the world. (Jn. 3:16-17). Paul also referred to Jesus as a gift: "For the wages of sin is death, but the (free) gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 6:23).  We also see, as part of the process of reconciliation, a thorough change or transformation (see diallasso above): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled (katallasso - to change mutually, to reconcile) us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation (katallage - restoration to divine favor, reconciliation, atonement), that is, that God was in Christ reconciling (katallasso - see above) the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation/atonement (katallage - see above)...be reconciled (katallage - see above) to God." (2 Cor. 5:17-20, excerpt).

     Reconciliation is directly tied to its root meaning in Greek, which includes atonement. A complete change or transformation in state must also result from and accompany our supernatural reconciliation to God through Christ. As important in the verses above is that this same transforming and atoning gift of reconciliation that we received, now is placed into our hands to minister to others. In Word and prayer, we minister the gift that changes individuals and reconciles them to God through the gift of Jesus Christ. Do we want to see "change" in the world? The ministry of reconciliation that has been given to us is a powerful place to start.

     The following verses use a different but related Greek word for "reconciliation": "For it pleased the Father that in Him (Jesus) all the fulness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless (note the change in condition), and above reproach in His sight - if indeed you continue in the faith..." (Col. 1:19-23). The Greek word used in these verses meaning to reconcile is the word apokatallasso. This word means "to reconcile completely, to reconcile back again, to bring back to a former state of harmony."

     The portrait of the gifts of appeasement which Jacob sent forth to Esau, and the resulting reconciliation between those brothers, to me presents the greater truth of the reconciliation of man back to God through the gift of Jesus Messiah/Christ to all who will accept the gift. Jacob pleaded with Esau to accept his gift, and lives were spared from death that day, and circumstances were transformed. (Gen. 33:10-11). How much more powerful and eternal is the ministry of reconciliation through Messiah/Christ that the Lord has placed into our hands than the sheep, camels, cattle and donkeys which Jacob gave to Esau?

     If you would like to learn more about the transforming, reconciling, atonement gift, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, even while I was separated from You by my sin, You sent forth a gift to me that would save me and change me, which is the gift of Your Son, my atonement and my reconciliation. As I look at a lost and suffering world, help me to see it through Your eyes. You gave Your own and only Son because of Your love for this inhabited world. Teach me and help me through Your Holy Spirit to pray and speak the Word of Reconciliation/Atonement - a Word that changes and transforms those who will hear, believe and receive it - a Word that reunites all creation back to Yourself through Jesus, the Lord of all creation. I ask this in the name of 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. 

Bethel

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Va-yeitze, meaning, "And he left". The title speaks about the moment when Jacob had to leave his home and parents because his brother, Esau, threatened to kill him. The reading begins in Genesis 28:10: "Now Jacob went out (yasa - go out, go forth, come out of, proceed toward something with a purpose or for a result) from Beersheba and went toward Haran." Haran was the place of his mother Rebekah's family where she told Jacob to go until his brother's anger had cooled. Jacob didn't know at the time that he would be away from home for twenty years.

     After Jacob left his home, "...he came (paga - meet, reach, make intercession, entreat, encounter, to reach the mark, to strike upon, pain, inflict, to strike a covenant, to assail with prayers) to a certain place (root word qum - rise, arise, stand, endure, be proven, to persist, be fulfilled, ordain, establish, ratify, confirm, build, set up, bring on the scene) and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took (laqah - take, receive, married, fetch, seize, take a wife) one of the stones ('eben/bana - a stone used to build, a natural stone, plummet, headstone, slingstones/to build, establish, build up, repair, obtain children) of that place and put it at his head, and he laid down in that place to sleep." (v. 11).

     We can say, perhaps, that Jacob not only came to a physical place, but, because of the meanings of the Hebrew words in the above verse, Jacob also came to a spiritual place. It was a spiritual place of intercession and covenant, but also a place where these things are established and built. There is a stone connected to both what is being entreated or interceded for, and what is being fulfilled or completed.

     As Jacob slept, he had a revelatory dream of a ladder which was set up on the earth, and reached up into heaven with angels of God ascending and descending that ladder. Jacob saw the LORD standing above the ladder who spoke to him and said: "I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad...and in you 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. 13-14, see also Mt. 28:18-20, Heb. 13:5-6).

     This was a very powerful revelation, as the LORD spoke directly to Jacob in his dream, and Jacob saw the movement of the angels between heaven and earth in order to fulfill God's will. Jacob also recognized the importance of what he experienced: "Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 'Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.' And he was afraid and said, 'How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!' Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar (masseba/nasab - image, pillar, garrisons, monument, altar/to station or stand  [see also Eph. 6:10-18] in an upright position, establish, erect), and poured oil on top (ro's - head, beginning, chief, top, summit) of it. And he called (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the name of that place Bethel (bet-el [2x]/bayit - "house of God"/house, dwelling, habitation, family, descendants as an organized body, palace, temple); but the name of that city had been Luz (meaning "almond tree", former city of the Hittites located on the border of the Israelite tribe of Benjamin) previously." (v. 16-19).

     The stone became the anointed head stone over a pillar that was built from it, and Jacob pronounced the place's name as the House of God, or the Temple of God. This is the same way in which the Messiah/Christ (the anointed One) Jesus built His assembly of believers, both Jew and Gentile. It is not a physical place, but a spiritual place built upon the revelation that He, Jesus, is the Messiah/Christ, the Son of God (see Mt. 16:13-19). He is the Head Stone or Chief Stone (see ro's above) of this House of God which is being built from Him. Jesus also described the authority and power that would be given to this spiritual place being built from Messiah/Christ: "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." In the same way that Jacob "saw" a ladder that connected heaven and earth, the spiritual building being established or built from the anointed Head Stone of Messiah/Christ connects heaven and earth. As Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He included in the prayer to the Father in heaven: "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Mt. 6:9-15). Again we see in this prayer that was taught by Jesus Messiah/Christ the idea of a direct connection between heaven and earth through prayer or intercession (see paga above) in establishing the will of God, and not our own will. Jacob was terrified and reverent in the face of this revelation at Bethel. Do we understand what has been entrusted to us as this spiritual House of God?

     The apostle Paul wrote of this spiritual House of God, which we are: "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Eph. 2:19-22).

     Paul wrote this to a group of believers in Ephesus, a city dedicated to, and revolving around the temple of the Roman goddess of Diana the huntress that was in its midst. We will see more about the spiritual battleground that tries to destroy the pillar (see masseba/nasab above), the spiritual House of God built from the anointed Stone of Christ.

     The apostle Peter also wrote to the believers of Asia Minor who were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus about the living Stone who is Jesus, and the spiritual House of God that they were being built into: "Coming to Him (Jesus) as to a living stone, rejected by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ..." (see 1 Pet. 2:4-10).

     The story of Bethel is not complete without mentioning its cautionary history. We can understand the spiritual danger that encompassed Bethel because of its great spiritual significance in the life of Jacob. Bethel would later belong in the territory of the Israelite tribe of Benjamin. The ark of the covenant was kept at Bethel at one time also, and the LORD was worshipped there. (Judges 20:27). Both Elijah and Elisha, the prophets of Israel traveled through Bethel. However, when the nation of Israel became divided, the northern kingdom of Israel, also referred to as Ephraim in scripture, went to war against the tribe of Benjamin in the south, they took Bethel away from Benjamin and it became incorporated into the northern kingdom. After the split of northern Israel from southern Israel, which was called Judah, the king of the north, Jeroboam made two calves of gold at Bethel, and also Dan, and told the people, "Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt." (1 Kings 12:26-29). Bethel is also mentioned in the Book of Amos the prophet. The Word of the LORD by the prophet told His people to seek Him and live, and not to seek Bethel. An unquenchable fire would devour Bethel the LORD said because of the idolatry there. (Amos 5:4-7). The priest of Bethel, Amaziah, told the king of Israel to forbid Amos to prophesy in the northern kingdom because of his prophecies of judgment there. (Amos 7:10-17). How sad the story of Bethel became in their idolatry. The "House of God" built upon the head stone anointed by Jacob worshipped the golden calves of the false god, Ba'al. 

     There is no mention of Bethel in the New Testament. However, there is mention of the House of God in Jerusalem, the Temple, which Jesus rebuked and cleansed from the idol of wealth, money-changing, merchandizing and profiteering. The House of God, both physical and spiritual, will always be a target for the corruption of false gods and the lusts of man because of the Name of God and the anointing that it represents.

     Paul wrote to the rich church at Corinth about the danger of uniting the spiritual House of God with darkness and idolatry: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial (apistos - unbelieving, faithless, without trust in God, disbelieving, infidel)? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (2 Cor. 6:14-16). The danger of corruption still exists for the House of God in the form of the believers in Messiah/Christ Jesus.

     However, in another portion of this Sabbath's reading, Hosea urges God's people to return to Him. The door of return would be offered to Israel, not because of the physical existence of Bethel, but because of the promise made to Jacob by the LORD at Bethel: "Yes, he (Jacob) struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept and sought favor with Him. He found Him in Bethel, and there He spoke to us - That is, the LORD God of hosts. The LORD is His memorable name. So you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, and wait on your God continually." (Hos. 12:4-6). The Words and promises of God are eternal.

     Bethel is not a physical place. It is a spiritual place - the House of the LORD - where His Name and His Word prevail forever, where heaven and earth connect to one another, based upon the revelation of Messiah/Christ Jesus as being the anointed Living Stone from which a whole spiritual house, a pillar, is being built, and we are the living stones from which it is being built and established. That anointing oil pours down from our Head Stone, Jesus, to cover all of the stones of the House.  That House calls for all to return and seek God and live. That spiritual House prays always, declaring the kingdom of God, and His will accomplished on earth as it is in heaven. Blessed be His holy Name.

     If you would like to know more about the House of God, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, help me to understand and to live in the manner that You have appointed for Your living, spiritual House, a House built upon Your Son, Jesus, the Living Stone, the Head Stone. As Your House, cleanse me, Lord Jesus, from unrighteousness and idolatry so that I will bring honor and glory to Your Name, Jesus, and to the Name of the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Your spiritual House is a House of prayer to which all nations may come and find You. I thank and bless You for creating this living House of Your Name. In Jesus's Name, I pray. 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. 

Elected

      From the beginning, the LORD was bringing into manifestation the not-yet-seen things that were in Him from before the beginning. One of the greatest promises that existed before the foundation of the world, and would be manifested at the appropriate time, was the promise of the Savior/Messiah/Christ who would rescue mankind from the inevitable consequence of sin, which is death. Titus wrote of that promise from eternity this way: "...in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but in due time manifested His word..." (Titus 1:2-3). Both Peter and John's Book of Revelation also tell us that the sacrificial Lamb, Jesus, was not slain only on a date in history, but was slain in eternity before the world even manifested. (see 1 Pet. 1:18-21, Rev. 13:8). 

     In the same way, the creation in Genesis Ch. 1 reveals that God set the seed of future generations in every living thing, to bring forth after its own kind. The woman, Eve, contained the purpose that would bring forth all living (see Gen. 3:20). However, especially mentioned in the curse upon the serpent, is the Seed which refers to the Savior, Jesus that had been set within Eve that would crush the lying serpent's head. (see Gen. 3:14-15). Not only would the Seed of the woman crush the serpent's head, but there would be an eternal enmity ('eba/'ayab - enmity, hatred, hostility/to hate as one of an opposite tribe, to be an adversary, to persecute as an enemy, to breathe or blow with anger and hatred) between the woman (and her Seed of Deliverance) and the seed of the serpent/Satan, according to the above verses. We will also see this eternal and violent hatred and persecution again below.

     We must start from this point of knowing that the LORD set every seed of life of every generation from before the beginning. Those who know the LORD are assured by scripture that they were known by Him before they were ever born. (see Ps. 139:13-17, Rom. 8:28-31). 

     This understanding will help us with this week's Sabbath reading portion titled Toldot, meaning "Generations", and begins in Gen. 25:19: "This is the genealogy/generations (toldot/yalad - descendants, results, proceedings, generations, account of men and their descendants, birth, history, origin/beget, be born, bring forth, midwife, child, delivered, birth, labor, lineage, declare pedigrees) of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham begot (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac." 

     The Hebrew letters that compose the word toldot, or generation/descendants, are very interesting in meaning, and interestingly placed within the word. The letters are tav-vaw-lamed-daleth-vaw-tav. The repeated letters that mean "cross/covenant" and "nail/peg/joining", tav, and vaw, surround the two letters, lamed-daleth, that mean "the shepherd's staff that urges forward to the door." Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd (who gives His life for the sheep)," and He also said, "I am the Door of the sheep." (Jn. 10:7-11). He goes before, calling His own sheep, and the sheep follow Him in because they know His voice. (Jn. 10:3-4). So within the word toldot, I see a picture of the cross, the Shepherd, Jesus, and the sheep who follow Him. 

     We can see then that Jesus created a kind of "generation" or "line of descendants" through the work of the cross. As Isaiah Ch. 53 prophesied about the Servant of God, referring to a future Jesus, who would give His life for the sins and transgressions of God's people, the prophet also refers to a "generation" and "seed": "And who will declare (*[vaw]-aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) His generation (dor - age, dwelling, evermore posterity, habitation)? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was stricken." (v. 8). The question is asked here, "How will His generation be declared when He has been cut off from life, and therefore there are no descendants?" However, Isaiah also reveals the answer: "...When You (LORD) make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see (ra'a, meaning to prophetically see, discern, perceive, foresee) His seed (zera/zara - seed, child, fruitful, offspring, descendants, posterity of moral character and practitioners of righteousness, harvest, produce of fields/sow, bearing, yielding, to scatter seed), He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand." (v. 10). We who have believed and received Jesus' sacrifice for our sins are His spiritual seed, His spiritual fruit, descendants, posterity.

     There were toldot generations or lines of descendants that were identified as being those that would bring forth the Messiah/Christ even before Israel became a nation in the land. This line of descendants would be challenged severely by the one, the serpent or Satan, who did not want his hated enemy, the Messiah/Christ, to be born from this elected generational line. 

     This Sabbath reading portion will also show us that when the LORD revealed His election of one line of descendants that carried the Messiah/Christ's seed over another, the line not elected would go to war against them. Those who were not elected both coveted and resented the elected.

      In this toldot Sabbath portion, (*Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac married (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Rebekah, and he pleaded to the LORD that Rebekah would conceive because she was barren. The LORD heard Isaac and Rebekah did conceive. However, Rebekah felt the children (twins) in her womb struggling together (rasas - oppressed, broken, break, bruised, crush, struggle, crush to pieces, grievously oppress, "a crushed reed", to treat violently) and so she enquired of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) LORD concerning this. The warfare against the elected one had already begun in the womb. The LORD revealed this about the babies in Rebekah's womb: "Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve ('abad - serve, worshipper, serve as a subject) the younger." (Gen. 25:20-23).

     Although the twins would be born together, the people and nations that came from each would remain separated. The election would go to the younger twin, and the older twin would serve that younger brother. 

     The two brothers were born and the first-born twin was named Esau, and the younger twin was named Jacob. Rebekah knew that Jacob, the younger twin, was the elected one because of the prophecy given to her by the LORD. As the twins grew, they were of different characters. Esau, the older, who despised (baza - despise, contemptible, vile person, scorn, worthless, make light of) his birthright, sold that birthright to Jacob, the younger, for nothing of greater value than a bowl of red lentil stew when he was hungry. (Gen. 25:29-34). 

     Rebekah also managed through deception to gain Isaac's paternal blessing over Jacob rather than Esau. This blessing included the words: "Let peoples serve ('abad - see above) you, and nations bow down (saha - worship, reverence, bow down to royalty or God) to you. Be master (gebir - lord, ruler) over your brethren, and let your mother's sons bow down (saha - see above) to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you!" (Gen 27:29). This is the royal election of the Messiah/Christ, who is both King and God, passed on from Isaac to Jacob, the younger son, as the LORD prophesied previously to Rebekah.

     As a result of his father's blessing of Jacob, "Esau hated (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jacob...and Esau said in his heart, 'The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jacob." (Gen. 27:41).

     Generations later, in another reading portion from this Toldot Sabbath, Esau's descendants, which became the nation of Edom, also sought to destroy Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel, and the judgment of God was rendered against them. The seed of election, the Messiah/Christ, had already been identified as coming down the toldot generations of King David (see 2 Sam. 7:16-18), who was of the tribe of Judah. The LORD condemned Edom for their actions against Jerusalem/Judah: "For violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever...You should not have entered the gate of My people in the day of their calamity...You should not have stood at the crossroads to cut off them who escaped...As you have done, it shall be done unto you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head...But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions...and no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,' for the LORD has spoken." (Obadiah v. 10-18, excerpt).

     Many generations before, Edom had also refused to help Israel when they were in the wilderness after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. (see Num. 20:14-21). Moses had requested that Edom allow Israel to follow The King's (melek - king, royal, prince) Highway (derek - journey, manner, path, direction, course of life, way of living), which passed through Edom. Edom had refused to allow them to do this and gathered an army to keep them out.

     The descendants of Esau were the nation of Edom, as mentioned. However, that nation was also called Idumea. The Herods were Idumean kings that took the throne of Israel. The first Herod, Herod the Great of Judea, sought to kill all of the young male children of Bethlehem in order to kill the Messiah/Christ Child, Jesus, after He was born. This event is known as "The Slaughter of the Innocents." (see Mt. 2:16-18). Again, we see the enmity of the serpent for the woman and her Seed, and the despising for the election of God. This enmity is concentrated upon the Savior Messiah/Christ.

     The hatred of Esau for his brother Jacob did not remain between two individuals as we see above, but it was carried down the toldot generations of Esau against the elected of God, who were identified as those who carried the Seed and the promise of the Messiah/Christ. The hatred is about more than the land. It is the hatred that the serpent/Satan of the Garden of Eden carries for the prophesied Seed (of the woman), and the people who have been elected to carry that Seed. The hope in and prayers for the Messiah/Christ, the King of Israel, are still held in the hearts of Israel.

     From another reading portion from this Toldot Sabbath, the LORD reminds Israel/Jacob that He elected them even as He hated (sane - to utterly hate an odious enemy) Esau the twin brother of Jacob.  However, the prophet Malachi wrote that even though the LORD elected Israel/Jacob, they did not appreciate Him as their Father and Master, and they despised (baza - see above) His name. (Mal. 1:2-3, 6). Israel was elected by the foreknowledge of God, yet they treated Him with the same baza contempt that Esau had regarding his birthright. It is very grievous when the elect despise or take for granted their election.

     What does this understanding of election mean for those, both Jew and Gentile, who believe that Jesus is Messiah/Christ, the Son of God?

     Jesus described our direct attachment to Him and the resulting fruit of that attachment. He used the illustration of Himself as the vine, and us as the branches produced by that vine. So long as we remain attached to Him as our Vine, we will produce much fruit. Without Him as our life-giving vine we cannot produce that fruit (see zera/zara above as being His seed/fruit/harvest). (Jn. 15:1-8). This is what it means to be the toldot spiritual descendants of Jesus.

     Jesus also pointed out that because He chose us, we, like Him, will be hated and persecuted by the world (Jn. 15:18-25), which brings us back to that same enmity between the serpent and the woman who has the Seed. This enmity is eternal and ongoing.

     This enmity continues to manifest against Israel and also those who believe Jesus, the Messiah/Christ. The Book of Revelation gives us the prophetic unveiling of this continuing enmity against the royal woman who gives birth to the promised Seed: "...And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne...the dragon...that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan...persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child...And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Rev. 12, excerpts).

     One reason that the serpent continues to war so continuously against the woman, who I believe are the elect of Israel/Jacob, and those who are Christ's progeny and fruitful seed in the earth, is because both will play a role in the return of Messiah/Christ to rule and reign on earth. Jesus told Jerusalem: "...for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!" (Mt. 23:39). Jesus was not referring to His entrance into Jerusalem when the crowds previously said: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest!" (Mt. 21:9), because His words over Jerusalem above are said after that event.

     They will call out to Him again, He will answer, and they will see Him again.

     The Book of Revelation closes with the words of Jesus and this prayer to Him from His chosen disciple, John: "He (meaning Jesus) who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20).

     The elect, and the seed of Christ are still testifying, and calling out.

     If you would like to learn more about the elect of God in the earth, you can pray with me: "Father, You have elected individuals and generations of descendants in order to fulfill Your gracious plan of Salvation through Your Son, Jesus. Although Satan continues his enmity against You, You have rescued and preserved Your people. You have placed within those whom You elected a purpose and fruitfulness that will yield a great harvest for Your Kingdom, and for Your King of Kings, Jesus. Please Father, I never want to despise Your election, but ask that by Your Word and Your Spirit in me, and Christ in me the hope of glory, that I would show forth the good and miraculous works of Your election through Christ so that others may see them and praise God. Let my testimony and prayers bring Jesus closer to moment of His return. 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. 

RoyalPrincess

      This week's Sabbath reading portion, titled Chayyei Sarah, or "The life of Sarah," is always very interesting. One reason that this Sabbath portion is so interesting is because "the life of Sarah" starts with the death of Sarah in Genesis 23: "Sarah (sara/sar - noblewoman, princess, the wife of a king, of noble birth, queen/prince, chief, ruler, governor, leader, princes of religious office) lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her." (v. 1-2).

     As indicated by Sarah's name, she was a "princess". The LORD had previously prophesied to Abraham that kings would come from him: "I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings (melek/malak - king, royal, Messiah[Christ] as the King of Israel, Jehovah as King of Israel/king, queen, rule, reign, cause to reign, to counsel and advise, ascend to the throne) shall come from you...Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings (melek/malak - same as above) of peoples shall be from her." (Gen. 17:6, 16). As Abraham sought to purchase a burial place for his wife, Sarah, from the Hittites of Canaan, they addressed him, saying: "Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places..." (Gen. 23:6). The Hittites recognized Abraham as royalty. Abraham was not interested in their burial places but wanted to purchase a field that contained a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) cave in order to bury his wife there. (v. 8-9). Although the Hittites referred to Abraham as royalty, Abraham was humble before them and "bowed himself down" (saha - bow down, obeisance, stoop, prostrate oneself before anyone out of honor, to submit oneself) before the people of the land. (v. 12). Royalty does not mean prideful or haughty in the Kingdom of God.

     The covenant household that Abraham and Sarah established in covenant with God was a royal household. This Sabbath portion, "The life of Sarah," will reveal other women in future generations who became part of this royal household. The greatest royalty that would come forth from these royal women would be the Messiah/Christ Jesus, THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. As the meaning in Hebrew of the life of Sarah teaches us, the word "life" is hay/haya which includes the meaning: "have life, restored to life, revive from death, to live forever." This is no ordinary royal household, and this is no ordinary kind of "life." This is a special royal household that has the promise of eternal life in God.

     The Bible follows this royal line and those who belong to it throughout the generations. There are "princesses/queens" in this miraculous and holy account as well.

     From another part of this Chayyei Sarah, "the life of Sarah" Sabbath reading portion, we will see how Abraham acquires a royal bride for his son, Isaac, after the death of Sarah. (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Abraham called his oldest, trusted servant to him, "who ruled over all that he had," to swear to return to Abraham's native land and family (moledet - kindred, born, begotten, issue, relatives, nativity, origin), "...and take a wife for (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) my son Isaac." (Gen. 24:1-4). The servant, who is not named in this passage, is described as being "oldest." This is the Hebrew word zaqen, which means not only old or ancient, but in oriental culture is also "the minister of a king, and is called 'great king father' even if he is young. He is considered a man of very high eminence because of this position." Abraham made the servant swear solemnly that he would never take Isaac back to the land Abraham's family in Mesopotamia, but would bring the bride to the land of Canaan because of God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would inherit this land. (v. 6-9).

     Because the servant had charge over all of Abraham's goods, he took ten camels (gamal - camel, beast of burden/to deal bountifully with, reward, bestowed, recompense, do good to, served) loaded with precious goods to offer to this bride and her family, including substantial gold jewelry, silver, clothing and precious things (migdanot/meged - choice and excellent thing, precious, gem/precious fruit, excellence, distinguished, to be eminent). We know that the servant carried enough of these rich goods to require ten camels. One camel can carry over 900 pounds of goods, although the average weight that is carried by a camel is about 300 pounds. Even if we take the lesser weight, it means that Abraham's servant brought over 3,000 pounds of his master's finest goods to the prospective bride, and it could have been as much as 9,000 pounds! This is not a gift that would be given to an ordinary bride, but it is a suitable gift for a royal princess bride. The future bride and her family would certainly come to this conclusion also. If Abraham could furnish this abundance of finest things to his son's future bride, how much more in natural and spiritual riches has the Father in heaven furnished to His Son, Jesus, to bestow upon His Bride, the believers in Messiah/Christ?

     As Abraham's servant drew near to the home city of Abraham's family, he prayed to the LORD: "O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink' - let her be the one You have appointed for your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master." (v. 12-14). The appointed young woman would not be of the average disposition. She would have a godly noble humility like Abraham (see above). Not many royal princesses today would see ten camels belonging to a stranger and offer to fetch water for them! Would we be this hospitable and humble?

     As soon as Abraham's servant finished praying, a beautiful young woman named Rebekah came to the well and did exactly as the servant had prayed. Not only that, but the servant found out that she was the daughter of Abraham' deceased brother. The LORD had answered the servant's prayer.

     Rebekah invited the servant to bring his camels and to stay with her family. After hearing the servant's story, Rebekah agreed to return with the servant to Abraham's household in Canaan to marry his son, Isaac. Her family agreed to let her go and prayed a blessing over (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Rebekah: "Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the gates ( see Judges 16:2-3 and Mt. 16:16-19) of those who hate them." (Gen. 24:60).

     As the servant's and Rebekah's caravan drew near to Abraham's home, Isaac was out in his field and lifted up his eyes and saw them approach. Rebekah also lifted up (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) her eyes and saw (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac. She took her veil and covered herself. She was not only humble and generous, but she was modest as well. "Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent; and he took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Rebekah as his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death." (Gen. 24:61-67).

     As we can see, Rebekah became designated by the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, the identification of the (royal) household of the Messiah/Christ Jesus, after her agreement to return with Abraham's servant to marry Isaac.

     In the true meaning of a royal bride, Rebekah would establish the Messianic line of Christ as well as the nation and tribes of Israel as she gave birth to her two sons. The LORD had prophesied to her that of her twin sons, the older would serve the younger, so Rebekah did all she was able to ensure that her younger son, Jacob, later renamed Israel, would receive the blessing from her husband, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac, rather than Esau. Then she would provide the means by which Jacob would survive the murderous rage of his brother, Esau, by sending Jacob to her family in Mesopotamia.

     In another reading portion from this Chayyei Sarah, "the life of Sarah" Sabbath, one of David's wives, Bathsheba, in partnership with the prophet of Israel, secured the oath of elderly King David to keep his promise to name their son Solomon as his successor, because another son from a different mother plotted to grab the throne instead before his father's death, which would also put Solomon in danger. (1 Kings 1:28-31). David assured Bathsheba that Solomon would succeed him, and then set the things in motion to accomplish this. David had formerly been promised by God that his household would be the one to bring forth the Messiah/Christ in generations to come. Solomon did become king after his father David, and he is indeed named in the genealogy of Jesus. (see Mt. 1:6). Bathsheba secured the Messianic/Christ royal line that God had prophesied to her husband, King David.

     This Chayyei Sarah Sabbath also brings us the story of Ruth. Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law had a husband named Elimelech (meaning "My God is King") who had died and her two sons were dead also. All she had left as she lived in the nation of Moab was her daughter-in-law, Ruth, whose husband was deceased and had left her with no children. Naomi decided, having nothing left, to return to her homeland and hometown, Bethlehem in Israel. Her faithful daughter-in-law, Ruth, clung to Naomi and begged to go with her to Israel, saying in part, "...your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." After Naomi and Ruth arrived in Israel, Ruth began to glean grain/corn (sibolet/sobel - ears of corn, branches, a flowing stream, a waterflood/flowing skirt or train, train of a robe) as a poor person in the fields of Boaz, a rich kinsman of Naomi's deceased husband, in order to feed herself and Naomi. It is important to understand the meanings of the names of Boaz and Ruth in Hebrew. The Hebrew letters of Boaz' name are beth + 'ayin + zayin and when joined together could have the meaning "House/Household/Family that sees and understands the fountain of the (One) pierced." Ruth's name in Hebrew means "friendship, appearance, mate, female companion", with the root meaning: "feed, shepherd/shepherdess, pastor, tend to, to pasture, teacher, to keep, ruler." The Hebrew letters of Ruth's name are reysh + vaw + tav, which when joined together could mean "The Highest nailed to the cross/covenant." In other words, Boaz and Ruth were made for each other, a foregone conclusion. 

     Ruth says three times in the account (Ruth 2:2, 10, 13) that she while she is gleaning the field, she is really seeking "favor/grace" (hen/hanan/hana - grace, favor, pleasant, well-favored, kindness, acceptance/merciful, gracious, besought, supplication, have mercy on, implore the favor of/dwell, abide, tent, encamp, bow down, inhabit, pitch one's tent" even though she is a foreigner. Ruth is looking for a habitation of mercy and grace. When Naomi heard that Ruth was gleaning in Boaz's field and had received kindness from him, Naomi exclaimed: "Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken his kindness to the living and the dead!" (Ruth 2:20).

     Boaz had heard of Ruth's kindness and faithfulness to Naomi and redeemed the inheritance of all that belonged to his dead relative, which included Naomi and Ruth, and he married Ruth. Ruth became known to him by her royal character. They had a son, Obed (obed/abad - serving/servant, worshipper), who would be King David's grandfather. Naomi treated Ruth's child as her own, and became a nurse to him, and her women neighbors said, "There is a son born to Naomi." (Ruth 4:16-17). Boaz had restored the (royal) line of his dead relative Elimelech by being a "kinsman redeemer". Through the serving and faithful heart of Ruth the Moabitess, the royal line of the Messiah/Christ had been restored. Both Boaz, Ruth, Obed and, of course, David are named in the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah/Christ. (see Mt. 1:5-6).

     How are the women mentioned in this Sabbath reading portion, in which we should also consider the Bride of Christ, connected to our Sabbath title "the life of Sarah"? Sarah, meaning "princess, noblewoman, wife of a king, queen", had also confirmed the direction of the royal Messianic line, or line of Christ, in her lifetime like the women mentioned above when she insisted that Ishmael be removed from the camp because he was mocking, saying to Abraham: "...the son of this bondwoman (referring to Hagar) shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac." This was very displeasing (ra'a - evil, wicked, hurt, harm, break into pieces, evildoer, injurious) in Abraham's eyes because he loved Ishmael, his first born, also. The LORD told Abraham: "...whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed." (Gen. 21:9-13). Abraham obeyed the LORD and did as Sarah had told him.

     Sarah established the royal line of kingship (Ishmael would produce princes according to the promise of the LORD, while Isaac's line would establish kings) which reflected the will and plan of God. Worldly royalty comes and goes, but the royal kingdom of God is eternal. Jesus instructed His disciples as He sent them forth to say to those that they ministered to with healing and miracles: "The kingdom of God has come nigh you."

     Our role as the royal Bride of Messiah/Christ is to affirm and witness His Kingship (see Rev. 17:14, Isa. 9:6-7, Dan. 7:13-14, Jn. 18:36, etc.) while understanding the royal kingdom of which we also have been made a part through Him (Rev. 1:5-6, 1 Pet. 2:9-10).

     If you would like to learn more about how each of us are connected to "the life of Sarah", you can join me in prayer: "Our Father, You have called me to Your Kingdom through and because of Your Son, Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You established His royal line down through many generations, assuring us all that we have a King who has been given all power and authority, who will return to rule and reign over all the earth. Help me, Father, to serve this Kingdom and to establish it in my own heart and in all of the places upon which I set my feet. I declare that the Kingdom of God is here. It is in each of us, dwelling within me and manifesting through me until the moment when our King's feet will touch upon the Mt. of Olives in Israel. Let Your Holy Spirit guide me to follow my King and let Your Word shine as a lamp unto my feet. I ask this in the name of my coming King, 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. 

SeeingFaith

     This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled, Va-yeira, meaning, "And He appeared." The title is based upon the first verse of the reading portion in Gen. 18:1: "Then the LORD appeared (ra'a - see, look, appear, behold, consider, perceive, seer, foresee, have vision, discern, gaze at, to be visible) to him (Abraham) by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat (hom/hamam - dangerous heat/hot, burning, enflamed) of the day." Abraham saw the LORD in the form of three men who were standing by him, as Abraham "lifted his eyes." (v. 2). Abraham rushed around in the heat to make provision for the three men that they should rest and be refreshed (sa'ad - comfort, strengthen, hold me up, establish, uphold a throne) in their hearts. Do we realize that we can strengthen, uphold, and establish the throne of the LORD? We do so by ministering to Him. We often ask the LORD to minister favor and grace to us in various forms, but do we minister rest and refreshing to Him? Abraham ran to minister rest and comfort to the LORD. (see v. 6-8). It is at this point that the LORD prophesied that He would return to Abraham, and his wife, Sarah would have a son. Sarah, listening in the tent door, laughed to herself when she heard this promise concerning herself and her husband in their old age. That would indeed be a miracle! (v. 9-12). The LORD knew what Sarah thought in her heart and asked her, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?...I will return to you...and Sarah shall have a son." (v. 13-14).

     We have studied ra'a appearing and sight together previously, and, although I try to avoid any repetitious studies and blog entries, I ended up following a path that brought me back to this topic again in a greater depth. Perhaps, in our present times, with many who are suffering and struggling, we need to take a deeper look at this topic. I hope you will agree.

     There is an expression, "blind faith." However, I found here that the LORD provides help for us in our walk of faith by letting us ra'a "see" Him, as Abraham did above. He gives us the appearance of Himself in a form that assures us that He has spoken, and He has promised. If we receive this gracious strengthening of our faith by the LORD, we are helped to overcome circumstances.

     Later on, after Abraham and Sarah's son Isaac (meaning "he laughs") was born, "God tested (nasa - prove, assay, try, test, put to the proof, to try by smell, to try by the touch) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Abraham." (Gen. 22:1).

     This was the test of Abraham that was commanded by God: "Take now (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your son, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." (v. 2). Let's look at the word, "Moriah" used here. It is translated from the Hebrew as "Chosen by Jehovah", but the Hebrew root words that make up this word are ra'a and yah, which mean "See" (see above) and "the LORD". The Hebrew letters that make up the word "Moriah" are mem, vaw, reysh, yod, heh, which, when joined together could mean: "the water/blood of the Highest's nailed hand/completed work is shown/revealed."

     The trial of Abraham seems very severe indeed, but it was necessary in order to reveal something of earthshaking importance that would be a blessing to the whole earth: the completed work of the Son of God, His only Son, whose bloodied hand was nailed.

     Let us see how Abraham ra'a saw something that strengthened him in faith and trust in the LORD: "So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled (habas - bind up, govern, restrain, to stop, to rule, to bind up a wound, to bind by allegiance, to shut up) his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) donkey, and took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. (v. 3).

     It is clear from the Hebrew meanings of the words that are used for "donkey" (hamor/hamar) and "young men" (na'ar), that Abraham was "troubled, in turmoil, foaming like a raging sea, reddened, feeling emptiness, shaken, violent in commotion, very angry, growling, yelling, crying and roaring like a lion" as he struggled with the command of the LORD concerning Isaac, but he "saddled" these feelings, or restrained them because of his allegiance to God. Did we think that God's command to offer his son of promise Isaac as a burnt offering did not affect Abraham in a profound way? Did we think that because he is named among the giants of faith (see Heb. 11:8-12), that he calmly led Isaac to the place of sacrifice? He was shaken to his core. Hebrews 11:13 explains that Abraham and other giants of faith, saw the promises from afar off and were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. We are not directed by what we see in the natural, visible world, but by the promises that we see from afar off and embrace with our hearts.

     In this same manner, something happens that will drive Abraham forward. He "sees" something:

     "Then on the third day Abraham lifted his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eyes and saw (ra'a - see meaning above) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) place afar off (rahoq - long ago, old, space, far from, of distant time, remote and difficult to get to of place or time, great while to come, dear, precious)." (v. 4).     

     What Abraham ra'a saw caused him to say to his "young men", 'Stay here with the "donkey"; the lad and I will go yonder ('ad - as long, how long whether of space or time, until) and worship, and we will come back (sub - return, restore, refresh, recover, come back, be returned, be brought back, to be converted as a sinner) to you." (v. 5).

     We know the rest of the account. Abraham set up the offering of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) his son, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) his only son, Isaac, but was stopped by the Angel of the LORD at the last moment. "Then Abraham lifted his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eyes, and looked (ra'a - see meaning above) and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, 'The-LORD-Will-See (ra'a)/Provide; as it is said to this day, 'In the Mount of the LORD it shall be seen (ra'a)/provided." (v. 12-14).

     Moriah is also the place that many centuries later, would be referred to as Calvary, or Golgotha, the place of the crucifixion of Christ outside of Jerusalem, as well as the possible place of the temple mount. This encounter of Abraham's, of course, speaks to us of the offering of God's only Son, Jesus, as our replacement burnt offering, just as the ram replaced Isaac. He died in our place, by which we sinners are converted (changed) by belief in Him. Jesus, God's only Son, also rose from the dead as the firstfruits or progenitor of our resurrection. Abraham "saw" this out of time, as Jesus also confirmed (see Jn. 8:56-58). Abraham then moved forward towards the destination in faith. Is our vision coming from this place, Moriah, or from another place?

     Abraham had *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) 'ayin eyes to ra'a see as we read in the verse above. These types of eyes are not exclusive to Abraham. All of those connected to *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Messiah/Christ (see *note below), as Abraham was, have been given 'ayin eyes. However, 'ayin eyes are not just to see physical or natural things only, just as ra'a sight is not limited to the physical or natural. The Hebrew word 'ayin means, "sight, before, to flow, eyes of physical, mental and spiritual faculties, a spring or fountain [sources of fresh or new water, living water]." Are we seeing with those eyes that create a "spiritually seeing faith"? Are our 'ayin eyes springs and fountains of spiritual sight through which God supplies, not only for ourselves, but for others as well?

     We also know that 'ayin eyes see more than the physical realm because they can be darkened, not with physical blindness, but with spiritual blindness by God when His people refuse to "see". Those whose 'ayin eyes are darkened in this manner can no longer perceive the LORD or His works, and they become a people of unbelief rather than faith. They become so spiritually blinded that they cannot even perceive that they are spiritually blind!  How terrible it is to lose our 'ayin eyes! The Lord said this to Isaiah the prophet: "And He (the Lord) said, 'Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing but do not understand; Keep on seeing (ra'a - see above) but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes ('ayin - see above); Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed." (Isa. 6:9-10).

     The LORD also said through Isaiah the prophet: "Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind!...For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your eyes ('ayin - see above)..." (Isa. 29:9-10, excerpt). Even *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega eyes may be closed by God because the eyes of those who are meant to belong to Messiah/Christ refuse to "see".

     Jesus also talked about eyes that have become darkened to spiritual knowledge. (Mt. 6:22-23). In these verses, the eyes are the Greek word and root ophthalmos/optanomai. These Greek words mean: "eyesight, the eyes of the mind and knowing/to look at, behold, to gaze with wide open eyes at something remarkable as opposed to casual vision, watching from a distance, earnest and continual inspection." Jesus also said in another place that the religious leaders who had chosen to be spiritually blind and continued leading others into the same spiritual blindness as their own, were like "the blind leading the blind." Both will fall into the pit that is before them. (see Mt. 15:10-14, Lk. 6:39-42).

     Paul wrote that he prayed for the believers, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of His glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age which is to come." (Eph. 1:16-21). There is an awesome knowledge of the power and dominion of God in Messiah/Christ waiting to be imparted to the eyes of our understanding. Imagine the faith that is created through the opened and enlightened eyes of our spiritual understanding!

     Are we ra'a seeing afar off with our lifted 'ayin eyes, as Abraham did, and believing? Are we seeing it? Have we asked God to give light to our eyes that we may see in this way? It is the LORD who gave us those eyes, and it is the LORD who gave us that sight, and He did so for a reason. Abraham was almost overcome with horror and anger, but then he lifted up his eyes to the place where the LORD commanded him, and he saw.

     Paul wrote that there is no testing/trying/proving/temptation of faith and character that a man may experience from God of which God has not also prepared, produced, appointed, ordained or shown the way out so that we can bear it, especially for those "upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (see 1 Cor. 10:11-13). Abraham was allowed to "see" what he needed to see in order to be able to bear the test that the LORD had placed upon him for our sakes. In these times of testing and refining that come before the return of Messiah/Christ, it is a blessing and a necessity to know that the Lord shows us even the unseen things so that we may overcome. It is the blessing and lesson of this Va-yeira, "And He appeared," Sabbath. 

     The LORD said to Jeremiah, while Jeremiah was imprisoned: "Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name): "Call (qara' - call out, cry out, utter a loud sound, summon, invite, call with the name of God/meet, encounter) to Me, and I will answer you, and show (nagad - declare, show, show forth, make known, be apparent, to be in sight, to be manifest, to bring to the light, to conquer, to overcome, to celebrate with praise) you great (gadol - great, high, greater, mighty, great of magnitude or extent) and mighty things (basar - inaccessible, fortified, secret, mysteries), which you do not know (yada in the negative - not perceived, not known, not seen, not revealed, not observed, not aware)." (Jer. 33:2-3). The LORD then showed Jeremiah the wonderful and miraculous restoration that He had planned for Judah.

     The blessed vision that God has ordained for us that is connected to His overcoming Son, Jesus, is not just for the purpose of seeing the darkness and length of the tunnel, but it is provided to us so that we might be able to see "the light at the end of the tunnel," to coin a familiar and applicable phrase. Now that we know that this sight is available to us, we can ask it of the LORD. Are you struggling or waiting upon the promise of the LORD? He is with us in all circumstances in His supernatural way to help and strengthen us. (see Ps. 124:1-8, Isa. 41:8-10).

     If you would like to know more about faith that "sees", you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father who sees and knows all things, You are not partial nor a respecter of persons. You called Abraham to faith for our benefit, to be a blessing to all the nations and families of the earth, and as our example to follow. Abraham heard Your voice and obeyed. Abraham saw Your appearance, Jesus, and was strengthened by it, and followed the way in which You led him. I pray that I, also, have ears to hear and eyes to see, and a heart to receive what You desire to show me of things that are not yet seen in the natural world, but have already been established and completed in the Spirit. As I am tested, give me eyes to see the way out that You have ordained for me, not just to escape, but in order to strengthen and purify the faith that You have given to me. Show me, Lord, and I will "see." 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.