Infinite&Innumerable

   

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is B'midbar, meaning "In the wilderness." B'midbar is also the title in Hebrew of the Book of the Bible that we call "Numbers." I think that the Hebrew title, B'midbar, "In the wilderness" is probably a more spiritually accurate description of this fourth Book of scripture. It is true that the Israelites will be numbered in a few different ways, but this Book is also about the depth of teaching that the LORD brings forth for His people in this wilderness setting. The wilderness setting is not an easy place, but the LORD gives His people truths that, if they will listen to Him, will cause His people to thrive even in this challenging place. God's people were meant to just pass through the wilderness on the way to their destination, the inheritance of the land promised by God to their forefathers. However, because of unbelief, pride, and disobedience, they fell victim, in a manner of speaking, to the testing of the wilderness. What could have been an eleven-day journey through and out, turned into a forty-year long period of challenges, and the death of a whole generation. Even Moses' obedience would be tested, and he would end up being forbidden by God from leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. The Book of Numbers, or B'midbar, opens with the LORD organizing His people into armies - both physically and spiritually, because the trials of the wilderness are spiritual. This Book bears important lessons for all of us to learn, and is given to us, like all other scripture is given as Paul wrote: "...by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof (elegchos - that by which a thing is proven or tested, evidence, proof of, to call to account, by conviction to bring to the light, to expose, to show one his fault), for correction (epanorthosis - restoration to an upright or right state, improvement of life or character, straightening up again), for instruction (paideia - whole training and education [as of children], cultivation of mind and morals, instruction aimed at increasing virtue, chastening) in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

     The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is found in the beginning of B'midbar or the Book of Numbers: "Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai (meaning "thorny"), in the tabernacle of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying: 'Take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-a-census/sum (ro's - head, chief, top, beginning, company, band, captain, sum, summit, total, height, choicest, best, excellent, first, principal, ruler) of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number (mispar/sapar - number, sum, account, abundance, infinite, innumerable/scribe, tell, number, declare, accounted, count, recount, rehearse, celebrate) of names, every male individually/by their polls (gulgolet/galal - head, skull [also Golgotha, "the skull",]/roll away, remove, to roll as a stone), from twenty years old and above - all who are able to go to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number (paqad - number, visit, appoint, set, muster, pass in review, assign, to seek, to look for, care for) them by their armies." (Num. 1:1-3).

     There is no doubt according to the verses above, that the LORD commanded that His people, the Israelites, be numbered in the wilderness. The purpose of this numbering was to muster the individuals, families, and tribes into armies (the Hebrew meaning also includes the heavenly hosts or armies of angels) for battle. However, the presence of the *aleph-tav, which is found in the written Hebrew of this verse, connected to the census or sum in Num. 1:2 indicates that this "sum" is identified with the Messiah/Christ (see *note at the bottom of this entry). We will see that while the LORD is speaking about the Israelites in the wilderness, He is also prophetically speaking of people directly connected to Messiah/Christ. 

     There are three different Hebrew words used in the above verses for the "numbering" of the Israelites. These three words are different for a reason, I believe. The first is ro's, used for census/sum. This word ro's refers to a ruler who is the highest, and most excellent. He was the Beginning and in the beginning. Jesus fills this description as well as being the Captain (see ro's above) of the heavenly hosts, and the Captain of our salvation. (see Mt. 26:52-53, Heb. 2:10-12).

     The next Hebrew word used in the above verses for "number" is mispar/sapar. While it means the number or sum of something, it includes the meaning of abundance, infinite and innumerable. The number that is to "declare, to tell, account for, rehearse and celebrate", according to the Hebrew word meaning, can also be beyond any number that can be counted. How could Moses count the uncountable? How could he count a number that is beyond numbers? Moses could "number" them by those contained within The Seed (Messiah/Christ). Abraham was promised by God that (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-his-seed/descendants could be numbered if the stars can be numbered or if the grains of sand on the shore can be numbered, or (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-dust of the earth can be numbered, because Abraham had done (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-this-thing: Abraham had not withheld (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-his-son, even (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-his-only son, from the LORD. (see Gen. 13:16, Gen. 15:5-6, Gen. 22:16-17, Heb. 11:11-12). This number is not limited to natural descendants, because it cannot be counted, but extends into eternity and infinity according to its definition. Through faith in Messiah/Christ Jesus, who is the blessed Seed of Abraham, both Jews and Gentiles are included in this infinite and impossible to number faith-descendants of Abraham, as Paul explained, who was a Jew both by flesh and by faith in Messiah/Christ, and a Pharisee trained under Gamaliel. (see Gal. 3:14, Gal. 3:16, Gal. 3:27-29).

     We are given an awesome look at this infinite and innumerable number associated with Messiah/Christ in John's Book of Revelation: "After these things I looked and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the Lamb (Jesus), clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out in a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!" (Rev. 7:9-10).

     We also see that each man is to be counted in the numbering individually, or by "the skull", which is gulgolet/galal in Hebrew. Written in English, gulgolet becomes "Golgotha, the skull", the name of the mount upon which Jesus Messiah/Christ was crucified according to all four Gospels. (Mt. 27:33-35, Mk. 15:22-25, Lk. 23:32-33, Jn. 19:17-18). Each of us was counted individually as we received the crucifixion of Messiah/Christ for our sins. We also died then and there with and in Him. (see Rom. 6:3-8, Gal. 2:20). The song asks, "Were You There?" Through our belief in Christ, we were counted as being there as He died for each one of us, as well as for all of us. The root word of gulgolet is galal, which means "the rolling away of the stone". As we were part of His crucifixion, we are also part of Messiah/Christ Jesus' resurrection (see Rom. 6:5, Eph. 2:4-7, Col. 2:11-12, Col. 3:1-4), when the stone was rolled away three days later, and the tomb of His burial was found to be empty.

     The final Hebrew word that is translated as "number" used in the above verses from Numbers 1, is the word paqad. As we see above, the meaning of this Hebrew word includes: to number, visit, appoint, to set, muster (meaning to gather, to summon, to assemble), assign, to seek, to look for, to care for. Not only does this definition apply to the then Israelites under Moses' leadership, but I believe that Moses is also being commanded to appoint, summon, to seek, look for, care for, and assemble an infinite and innumerable group of people who were not physically there with them yet, but were to be prophetically included: the people of the Messiah/Christ, who are to be a part of the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega census/sum of Numbers 1:2. The LORD does not just see the "now", but He sees the end from the beginning. He is the eternal and He sees the eternal at the same time as He sees the present. Paul wrote that God saw us and foreknew us in Christ: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself..." (Eph. 1:3-5, see also Rom. 8:28-30 and 2 Tim. 1:8-9). God does nothing without revealing it to His servants the prophets (see Amos 3:7-8), so why would He not reveal to His great prophet Moses this hidden assembly of people, both Jew and Gentile, the infinite and innumerable, who belonged before time, belong now, and will belong to Messiah/Christ? 

     Many believers think that "a wilderness experience" is something miserable from which one is to pray to God to escape. However, there are many important and exciting things happening in the wilderness, as we can see. As we also see, these exciting things include the prophetic vision and Word of the LORD that we are to declare, tell, rehearse and recount (see mispar/sapar above). We who are the people of Messiah/Christ Jesus have a special and earth-changing purpose to be completed in the wilderness. The Word given to the prophet Isaiah, and at least partially fulfilled by John the Baptist, speaks comfort to the people of God (Isa. 40:1-2), but also extends even farther than that: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken....O Zion, you who bring forth good tidings, get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, you who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, 'Behold, your God!' Behold, the LORD shall come with a strong hand, and His arm (zeroa/zara - [stretched out] arm, shoulder [of the sacrifice], force, mighty, help, power, strength/sow seed, scatter seed, yielding seed, conceive, pregnant) shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young." (Isa. 40:3-9, excerpt). 

     If you would like to learn more about being part of the infinite and innumerable assembly in Jesus Messiah/Christ, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father of glory! You have called an assembly of people before the beginning of time and You have manifested them in the fruit brought forth through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus. You gave the vision of this assembly in Messiah/Christ to Your prophets to carry into time. Lord, You have a purpose for this assembly, and I ask You to help me to fulfill this purpose in my own life. Your Son gave His life to bring me and innumerable others forth, and I want to stay true to Your vision whether I am in the wilderness or on the mountain top. Fill me with Your Word and Your Holy Spirit so that I can walk in Your vision for the whole earth. 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. 

OnTheMount

     This week's Sabbath reading combines two titles: B'har, meaning "on the Mount", found in Leviticus 25:1, and B'chukkotai, meaning "in My statutes", found in Leviticus 26:3. The two titles would seem to have a connection to each other anyway because the LORD delivered His statutes to Moses on the Mount: "And the LORD spoke (dabar - speak, declare, command, commune, promise, warn, sing, to arrange in order, to subdue, to lead and guide flocks or herds to pasture, to follow behind, the hinder part) to Moses on Mount Sinai ("Thorny"), saying ('amar - speak, say, utter, intend, say in one's heart, desire, to avow, appoint), 'Speak (dabar - see above) to the children of Israel, and say ('amar - see above) to them: 'When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the LORD. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-its-fruit; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the LORD..." (Lev. 25:1-4).

      As was often the case when the LORD was uttering His statutes, He would start with a concept connected to the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a powerful foundation to the Kingdom of God, which should not be ignored. It is not about religious designation of this day or that day, but it is a set-apart day, week or year(s) that renews, restores and revives life in the LORD.

     It is also interesting to see that the meaning of "say", or 'amar in Hebrew (see above), includes the truth that the things or desires that we say only in our own hearts carry the same weight as if we have spoken them aloud. Jesus proved this many times when He knew by divine insight and addressed what others were thinking in their hearts but had not spoken aloud. (see Mt. 9:1-4, Mt. 12:22-28, Lk. 6:6-10, Lk. 9:46-48, Jn. 6:64). It is a warning to us that although we may hold our tongues against speaking something, it still manifests in the Spirit as we only think it. In a good way, this is also the power found in godly prayer spoken in the heart. We can't have it one way and not the other as well.

     The LORD orally gave His statutes as He continued His discourse with Moses on the mount. He also said: "If you walk in My statutes (huqqa/haqaq - statute, ordinances, limit, enacted, something prescribed, appointed, manner, that which is established or defined, a right or privilege/cut out, cut into, cut upon, engrave, to stamp violently, portray, lawgiver, justice, truth, decide to be just, necessity, obligation) and keep (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit....You shall...dwell in your land safely. I will give peace in the land...and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil + beasts (ra' + hay/haya - any evil or wickedness that brings hurt, trouble, affliction, distress, calamity, evildoer that comes against life, against sustained life, prosperity, restoration to health or life, or against revival from the dead) , and the sword...You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall...I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-covenant with you....I will set My tabernacle among you...I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people...I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright." (Lev. 26:3-13, excerpt). On the other hand, ignoring the statutes of God will bring the opposite of these blessings.

     Between chapters 25 and 26 in Leviticus, from which these two combined Sabbath reading portions, B'har, "On the Mount", and B'chukkotai, "In My statutes", are taken, the LORD spoke to Moses on the mount about the Sabbath of the land in the seventh year, and the Jubilee of restoration that was to come after seven sabbath years (in the fiftieth year after at the completion of forty-nine years). The LORD gave His statutes regarding the redemption of property from debt, the redemption of those forced into indentured servitude by debt, or their release from debt at Jubilee ("Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" [Mt. 6:8-13]), and the merciful treatment of those who have become slaves. These statutes are about mercy and restoration and the release of yokes and burdens, both physical and spiritual. These are statutes of the Kingdom of God and His *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega-covenant.

     Jesus preached the Kingdom of God and signs, wonders and miracles followed His preaching to confirm its truth: "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel (euangelion - good tidings, glad tidings of the Kingdom of God, glad tidings of salvation through Christ, the proclamation of the grace of God, a good message, to bring good news, the joyful tidings of God's kindness) of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people." (Mt. 4:23, see also Mk. 1:14-15, Lk. 4:43, Mt. 24:14). He taught the statutes of God His Father, in a way that amazed the people who heard because God's statutes had never been taught to them in this manner. (see Mt. 7:28-29, Mk. 1:21-28, Jn. 7:14-17 and 44-46). The statutes came to life through His Words and parables.

     As Moses was changed by his experience on the Mount with the LORD, his face shining with light afterwards (see Ex. 34:29-30), the disciples of Christ were changed inwardly when Jesus would lead them into an "On the Mount" experience.

     These are some examples of the experiences that the disciples had with Jesus "On the Mount":

     "And seeing the multitudes, He (Jesus) went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them the statutes of God, saying: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven." (Mt. 5:1-12, see also Micah 6:8).

     There are several instances when it is recorded in scripture that Jesus would go up on a mountain by Himself to pray, or with His disciples, to rest away from the crowds. (Mt. 14, Lk. 6, Jn. 6). As His disciples saw that the way that Jesus prayed was different from what they were used to seeing, as Jesus ceased praying, one of the disciples asked Him: "Lord, teach us to pray..." (Lk. 11:1). Jesus told them not to pray as the hypocrites do, with great public show, but to find a private "alone" place to speak to their Father in heaven, who dwells in the secret place. He then taught His disciples what we call "The Lord's Prayer". (Mt. 6:5-15). We will see, as Jesus knew, that general crowds are not found on mountain tops. You may find yourself alone there with Him, but that's alright.

     In Mt. 14:22-33, Jesus had sent His disciples ahead by boat, while He stayed on the mountain to pray all night. A wind storm broke out on the sea, and Jesus came, walking on water, to get to His disciples. Peter got out of the boat and walked on the stormy water to get to Jesus. When they entered the boat, the wind quieted. Those on the boat said to Jesus, "Truly, You are the Son of God."

     In Luke 6:12-17, Jesus had gone to the mountain alone to pray. He then called all of His disciples to Him there and chose the twelve, whom He called apostles. They all came down with Him and Jesus healed the multitude.

     In John 6:3-14, Jesus and His disciples together went up on a mountain. Jesus looked and saw a great multitude of people coming to them. He then told His disciples to feed all of the multitude, which they had no way of doing. It is here that Jesus then miraculously fed the multitude with the five loaves and two fish that they had on hand and which He miraculously multiplied to fully feed all.

     Being on the Mount in the Spirit with Jesus is a place to experience Jesus, the Word or statutes of God, and to be transformed by it. Isaiah wrote that in these last days, many, even nations, would come to the mountain of the LORD, where His house is, to be taught, and those nations would be transformed. (see Isa. 2:1-5).

      Jesus took only three of His disciples to a certain place: "Now after six days Jesus took (paralambano - to take with or join to one's self, to receive something transmitted, to associate with oneself in any familiar or intimate act) Peter, James, and John, and led (anaphero - to bear, carry, bring or lead up [to a higher place], to bring up to the altar, to offer up) them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured (metamorphoo - to change into another form, to transform) before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses and they were talking with Jesus." (Mk. 9:2-4). The three disciples who were present on this mountain with Jesus did not understand what was happening before their eyes at the time, but I'm sure that they came to understand later on.

     Apostle Paul later wrote of the importance to the believer of being both spiritually and physically transfigured in Jesus Christ: 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Cor. 5:17).

"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep (sleep/die), but we shall all be changed (allasso - change, change form, make different, exchange one thing for another) - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (see allasso above). For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." (1 Cor. 15:51-53).

     There was another mount where Jesus did one of His greatest works, but according to the scriptural account, only one of His appointed disciples was there with Him. That great work was on Mount Calvary, or Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified and died, until three days later, when He was resurrected in the tomb. Only John from among the appointed disciples, who profoundly referred to himself in this account as "the disciple whom (Jesus) loved", as well as several of the women who followed Jesus, were present that day with Him on that mount. (Jn. 19:25-27). Although Jesus invites us to follow Him there (see Mt. 16:24-27), as we can see above with the lack of disciples present, Mount Calvary is not a popular destination. There are no seats of honor there, nor the blowing of trumpets before men to commend our works, nor the religious honors of men to be found there. However, it is important to note that it is the perfect viewing place of the Garden of Resurrection, which is very nearby. (see Jn. 19:41-42).

     There is another mount, The Mount of Olives (elaion/elaia - olive orchard, Mount of Olives/the fruit of an olive tree), from which Jesus ascended into heaven before the eyes His disciples whom He had gathered there, and is the same mount upon which Jesus will descend to the earth upon His return, and where He spoke to His disciples/apostles and gave them direction. (Acts 1:4-14, also Zech. 14:3-4).

     The Body of Christ has many eyes, seeing different things from various positions and locations. However, from this Sabbath's B'har ("On the Mount") and B'chukkotai ("In My statutes") reading portions, I learned that there is something very special and particular about the view and Presence found on the spiritual Mount of Messiah/Christ. The mountains tended to be lonely places as we saw, but Jesus was there. These mountains were not a place to be seen and praised by men, but Jesus was there. These mountains, that in history were used by men for purposes of idolatry and false worship, were transformed into places that became the ground under the feet of Jesus Christ and His disciples for the glory of God, rather than men.

     If you would like to know more about being with Messiah/Christ on the Mount, you can join my prayer: "Father, Your Son, Jesus, my Lord and Savior, brought His disciples to the various mountains of His Presence: in prayer, in the life-giving statutes of God, in miracles, in transformation, in death to self, in ascension and return. Your Word says: "I will lift up my eyes to the hills - from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth." Lord Jesus, give me spiritual eyes to see from this place on the mount. Give me a heart that desires to follow You to this place on the mount because You are leading me there. Lord, give me ears to hear the voice of the statutes of God coming to life on the mount of Your Presence. I ask this in Your name, 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. 

Appointment

    

      

     If the LORD made an appointment to meet with you and reveal Himself to you, and fellowship with you, would you keep that appointment? Most of us would surely say, "Yes! Of course!" The LORD has provided these appointments, but most of us fail to show up, or if we do show up, the people of God have changed the appointment into something that is done according to tradition or religious obligation, leaving no room for the expectation in faith of encountering the presence of the living God. 

     These appointments with the LORD are composed of the holy saving blood, the cleansing and refreshing of holy water, the holy voice and breath of the LORD, the consuming power of holy fire, the sacrifice of the holy offering, and the glory of His holy presence. They were never meant to be treated as a time of customary ritual.

     This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Emor, which means "Say". The title comes from Leviticus 23:1-2: "And the LORD spoke (dabar - speak, say, promise, pronounce, declare, warn, primary power is to arrange in order, to lead, to guide to pasture, to follow behind) to Moses, saying ('amar - say, speak, command, to be called, to say in one's heart, to avow, to bid, appoint, desire, require, show and declare, to bear forth, to bring light), 'Speak (see dabar above) to the children of Israel, and say (see 'amar above) to them: The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim (qara'/qara' - call and endow, proclaim, appoint, named, invited, bidden, gave, renowned, preach, utter a loud sound, be summoned, be called out, be chosen/meet, encounter, cause to meet) to be holy convocations (miqra/qara' - assembly, calling, calling together, reading, reciting, a rehearsal/see qara' above), these are My feasts (mo'ed/ya'ad - feast, congregation, sacred season, appointed time-meeting-place-sign, solemn, tent of meeting/meet, assemble, appointed, time, agreed, appointment, to be set or fixed, to espouse, betrothed for marriage)."

     We see in the above two verses that there are three different Hebrew words used for something spoken: "speak, say, proclaim", and each of those words has its own powerful emphasis. The LORD is leaving no room for misunderstanding. The letters of the Hebrew word emor, meaning "say", which is the title of this Sabbath, are aleph + mem + reysh. Each letter has its own meaning in this language and can give us an even deeper understanding of what is meant. These three letters when joined together can mean: "Adonai/the Lord is the First, the mighty and massive origin of the water and the blood, the Highest, the Head, the Beginning, the most important." This is the One who is "saying" and issuing the proclamation regarding His feasts.

     This isn't a religious practice that is determined by a man, but it is a command, appointment, invitation, calling, declaration, summons, encounter, desire in the heart of the LORD.

     All of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-Feasts (written Hebrew in Lev. 23:44) spoken of by the LORD in Leviticus 23 are: the Sabbath, the LORD's Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD, the Feast of Firstfruits, the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot, Pentecost) which will occur later this month, the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah, Rosh Hashanah), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot, Feast of Ingathering), and The Eighth Day (Simchat Torah: "Rejoice in the Torah/Word of God").

     It is revealed in the New Testament that the identity of Jesus, and His appearing and purpose to mankind are found within all of the feasts of the LORD named in Leviticus 23. 

     Jesus directly associated Himself with at least four of the feasts (Sabbath - see Mk. 2:27-28; Passover and Unleavened Bread - see Mk. 14:12-25; Tabernacles [incl. water-drawing ceremony/Nissuch Ha-Mayim] - see Jn. 7:37-39). The apostles also wrote of Messiah/Christ's identification with the Feasts of the LORD mentioned in Lev. 23 including Passover, First Fruits, Trumpets, Atonement, Feast of Weeks/Pentecost (Christ's identity is hidden in the Greek root words of Acts 2:1), and Tabernacles. So the feasts are not limited in observance and understanding to Israel or the Jewish people only, but to all who call upon the name of the LORD and receive His Person, His Word and His Voice because these are the Feasts of the LORD.

     Other readings assigned to this week's Emor, or "Say", Sabbath portion record how the LORD moved upon His people in connection with their heart-felt keeping of His feasts. Nehemiah records what happened immediately following the Israelites' keeping of the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles and The Eighth Day (Simchat Torah) observance that had not been kept for centuries, since the days of Joshua. (see Neh. 8:16-17). The next day, on the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month, the people of God assembled themselves, separating themselves from the foreigners in their midst, and began to repent and confess their sins as the Book of the Law was read to them. The Levites began to sing the song of the LORD, and the people renewed their covenant with God. (Neh. 9 and 10). There was great spiritual revival and commitment among the people.

     In another reading portion, during the Feast of the LORD in the seventh month, which the rabbis teach was the Feast of Tabernacles, Solomon assembled the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-elders and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-heads-of-tribes in Israel, and had (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-ark brought up from the City of David, which is Zion, and placed in the Holiest Place in the newly built temple in Jerusalem. The Levites began to play their instruments and sing as one sound, praising and thanking the LORD, saying, "For He is good, and His mercy endures forever." In that moment, the house of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the glory of the LORD filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-house of God. (2 Chron. 5:2-14 KJV).

     The prophet Ezekiel's prophetic vision of a temple that would be built included the glory of the LORD: "Also He brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple; so I looked, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-house of the LORD; and I fell on my face." (Ezek. 44:4).

     As we saw earlier above, the Hebrew word for "feast" is mo'ed which also includes the meaning "the tent of meeting". The tent of meeting was the place where Moses met with God and spoke to Him: "Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, and called it (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that every one who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp...And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses...All the people saw the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-pillar...and all the people rose and worshipped...So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend..." (Ex. 33:7-11).

     Because of Jesus' sacrifice for our salvation (Passover, Day of Atonement), and His sending the Holy Spirit to each of us (part of the Feast of Weeks/Pentecost), we also may meet with the Lord in our spirits, speaking to Jesus and directly to the Father (see Jn. 16:23-24) as speaking face to face with a friend within our tents or tabernacles of meeting, which are our own bodies, as Paul wrote. (see 1 Cor. 3:16-17). These tents of meeting, which are our bodies, have also been filled with the glory of the Lord, according to the Words of Jesus (see Jn. 17:22-23) and Apostle Paul (see Rom. 8:28-30, 2 Thess. 2:13-14).

     The Feasts of the LORD should not be a foreign concept to us as believers in Jesus, because they are the stories of our lives in Jesus Messiah/Christ, as He has manifested His presence and glory within us, as He came the first time, and as He will return again.

     If you would like to know more about how the Feasts of the LORD reflect our walk with Jesus Messiah/Christ, you can pray with me: "Father of the Feasts, You have spoken to Your people and commanded them to keep Your Feasts. You have placed the identity of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus, in the origin and meaning of each Feast.  In Your Feasts, You have shown Your people how to meet with You in Your holy presence through the way provided by Your Son. As I observe Your Feasts at their set times, help me to understand that they are not just tradition or custom, or a date on the calendar, but an appointment with You, and a continuing work of Your Holy Spirit as they reflect the Way of Salvation from its beginning in Passover to its culmination in Your Presence and glory of Tabernacles and The Eighth Day. These Feasts are Your story, Father, Messiah/Christ's story, the Spirit of God's story, and my story in You. As I observe Your Feasts, Lord, let the Holy Spirit continue Your work of perfection and completion in me. Let me draw ever nearer to You, Father, in worship and communion through Jesus. I ask these things in the name of Jesus Messiah/Christ. 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. 

BeHoly

      This week's Sabbath reading portion has a double title: Achariei Mot (see Lev. 16:1), which means "After the death" and K'doshim (see Lev. 19:1-2), meaning "Holy Ones". The LORD spoke to Moses saying: "Speak to all (kol/kalal - everything, all, whosoever, whatsoever, the whole, the totality/to complete, perfect, make perfect, finish, a crown, crowning of the bride, nuptials, to put a crown upon) the congregation of the children of Israel (yisrael = sara + el: have power as a prince. royal, to prevail, to fight + God), and say to them: 'You shall be holy (qados/qadas - sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart, pure, clean, free from defilement/consecrate, sanctify, prepare, be holy, be separate, dedicate, clean, purify, declare holy), for I the LORD your God am holy (qados/qadas - see above)." (Lev. 19:1-2, see also Lev. 11:44-45, Lev. 20:26). Holiness is identified as the quality of the LORD who is called (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-The-Holy-One-of-Israel in the scriptures such as Isa. 1:4; 5:19, 24; 10:17, 20; 12:6, 17:7; 29:19, 23; 30:11-12, 15; 41:14, 16, 20; 43:3, 14, 45:11; 47:4; 48:17. All of these references to The Holy One of Israel are just those found in the Book of Isaiah. There are many more throughout scripture.

     This is quite a concept: The LORD is stating that His people are to be equal in holiness to God's holiness! From this statement, some may believe that we are to achieve this perfect holiness, for there is no partial holiness or almost holiness, by our own strength and methods. However, to me, this statement is saying something different. To me it is saying that this is not possible in the strength of flesh, using man's religious ideas, interpretations, and efforts. This is a far more powerful concept than any religion's efforts. Jesus said that a man is defiled by what proceeds from his own heart: Mt. 15:16-20, Mk. 7:20-23, see also Jer. 17:9-10. Our own ideas are the very things that defile us in the first place, so we cannot rely upon our own hearts and ideas to purify ourselves to the degree of the holiness of God, but should seek the more powerful way to and of His holiness that has been provided to us by God Himself. What is this way provided to the holiness of God?

     If we look at the two titles that have been joined together for this Sabbath, we see an idea: "After the death...the holy ones." There is a death that leads to holiness. This idea begins to lead us to the Rock who is higher than ourselves, who pours out the water of refreshing and cleansing, even the waters of holiness.

     It is written in the Book of Hebrews that Christ's death fulfills God's will, which includes our holiness as stated above in Leviticus, and perfects the sanctified: "By that we will have been sanctified (see qados/qadas above) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (see Heb. 10:4-10).

     Apostle Paul also wrote: "....that no flesh should glory in His (God's) presence. But of Him (God) you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God - and righteousness and sanctification (see qados/qadas above) and redemption - that as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Cor. 1:30-31).

     Paul also wrote: "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He (Jesus) has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy (hagios/hag - holy, saints, Holy One, sacred, pure, blameless, consecrated, clean [see similarity with Hebrew qados/qadas above]/feast of the LORD, sacrifice), and blameless, and above reproach in His sight - if indeed you continue in the faith...not moved away from the hope of the gospel...which was preached to every creature under heaven." (Col. 1:21-23).

     Paul again wrote: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace..." (Eph. 1:3-7). The blood of Christ which achieved all of these things for us, came to all of mankind through His death. There is nothing here that suggests that these results were achieved through my efforts to be holy, but instead by the will of the Father through the death of Jesus Christ. 

     Paul wrote in Ephesians: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loves the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5:25-27).

     Does this mean that nothing is required of us to be holy as the LORD is holy? Well, no. First, we must remain in the faith of the Gospel that declares that Jesus died to make us holy, as Paul wrote above. It is through the eyes of faith that we can see and receive this truth that sanctifies us. (see also Jn. 17:19). Then we remember our hint from above: "After the death...the holy ones." Christ's death established us in holiness, but there is another death involved in the path of holiness. Paul wrote: "For I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal. 2:20). This refers to a type of death for each of us by which we give up our own imperfect will, ideas, and desires. Now, instead, the holy Christ lives in us and we in Him.

     Paul gives us more detail of this concept in Romans: "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His (Jesus') death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord...present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." (Rom. 6:5-13).

     "After the death...the holy ones."

     In these words from scripture above, we are not being asked to die physically, but to become united into the death and resurrected life of Christ as He lives. Paul wrote in the above verse from Galatians 2:20, "...it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me...". This is how God makes us holy if we will accept it - by making us one with His holiness, with His life through the death and life of His Son, Jesus.

From the K'doshim, or "Holy ones" Sabbath reading in Lev. 19, the LORD gives us a thought-provoking look into this holiness. The LORD says: "Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father." (v. 3). Why does this reflect holiness? All of us are to come before the Lord like little children, without pride and self-importance, with child-like faith, love, joy, and the reverence that comes as a child naturally depends upon a parent for all things, knowing that the parent will provide for every need. (see Mt. 18:1-5).

     The LORD then commands: "...keep (samar - keep, observe, preserve, watch, save, wait for, retain, guard) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-sabbaths: I am the LORD your God." (v. 3). Why does the LORD's holiness fill His sabbaths? The sabbath represents and contains the completion and perfection of God's restoration, reconciliation and renewal plan established before the beginning for all of creation, but especially for man. For this reason, it is holy in the eyes of God. The sabbath was made to bring this completion to man, Jesus said. Jesus also said that the sabbath has a Lord to reign over it, to be the Master and Administrator of its fulfilment in the completion of God's will to provide for and renew man, and that Lord of the sabbath is Jesus Messiah/Christ. (see Mk. 2:27-28).

     As we look at the other reflections of holiness in verses 4-18, with which the LORD identifies Himself by repeating, "I am the LORD your God" six additional times, we can see the holy heart of God towards man, which He also wants to see in our thoughts and works, as well as man's reverence towards his holy God. We can see by this that we are only able to love God with all of our hearts, soul and mind, and love our neighbor as ourselves, which fulfills all the law and the prophets, if we do so out of a heart filled with the holiness belonging to the LORD our God. (see Mt. 22:36-40). These are holy manifestations that appear out of a holy heart.

     If you would like to learn more about walking in the holiness of God, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, through the death and resurrection of Your Son Jesus for all of the world, You opened the door into Your heart of holiness. You called us to be worshippers, but You also called us, and made the way for us, to be partakers of Your own glorious holiness. This is a love and power towards us that is too great to fully comprehend, but You have entrusted us with Your own holiness. Lord Jesus, I never want to reject what You have accomplished for me by the sacrifice of Yourself, including my being made holy in You with the holiness of God. Help me, Lord, through Your Word and the Holy Spirit whom You have placed within me, to perceive and receive this divine gift of holiness. Let the holiness of God be manifested through my life, rather than my own thoughts and will. Let me not live by my own desires but let me live instead by and with Christ in me. There is no greater honor in my life, nor known to man, than Christ, the Holy One, in me. I ask this in Your name, 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. 

RevolutionaryHope

      When an angel came to Mary with the announcement that she would bear a Son, who was in fact, "the Son of the Highest", Mary was very bewildered by such a possibility. The angel explained and concluded by saying, "For with God nothing will be impossible." (Lk. 1:35-37). 

     This Sabbath reading portion is a double-titled portion: Tazri'a-M'tzora. Tazri'a means "She bears seed", and M'tzora means "infected one". One of the infections from which the LORD offers a remedy in this Sabbath reading portion is the leprosy infection: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'This shall be the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest." (Lev. 14:1-2). The priest would accept the sin offering, "and make atonement for him who is to be cleansed from his uncleanness." (v. 19). The verses 3-9 describing the cleansing offering and practice to be done are full of *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, too many to document here. The presence of the *aleph-tav in written Hebrew indicates the presence of Jesus to us, because He identified Himself with the *aleph-tav in the Book of Revelation (see *note at the bottom of the page for details). This is also confirmed by the healing of lepers by Jesus many generations later as recorded in the Gospels.

     There is an important thing to know about this cleansing of leprosy which the LORD prescribes to the one afflicted in the Law given to Moses: leprosy was an incurable disease. This is the modern definition of leprosy: "Leprosy- lepra tuberculosa - a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacillus leprae and characterized by the formation of growths in the skin, mucous membranes, peripheral nerves, bones and internal viscera, producing various deformities and mutilations of the human body and usually terminating in death." Death is still the usual outcome according to this definition even though leprosy is now treated with medicine.

     The first documentation of the disease was recorded in ancient Egypt and was attributed at the time to the infection of the waters of the Nile River.  It is believed to have spread to other nearby nations from there. Leprosy is one of the oldest recorded diseases. Today, it is estimated that 2-3 million people are permanently disabled because of leprosy, with India having the greatest number of cases.

     Even though leprosy was a sure death sentence at the time of Moses, the people of God were able to be cleansed through *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega offerings as given in the Law and ministered through and under the oversight of the priest. Before this, the world had never known this hope and promise regarding the cleansing of leprosy, and the deliverance from certain death.

     There was a prophet in Israel, Elisha (meaning "God is salvation"), who had received a double portion of the anointing that his spiritual mentor, Elijah, had upon his life. Elisha lived in Samaria in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Both Elisha and his mentor, Elijah, were not prophets in the sense that they received the prophetic Words of the LORD and recorded them in a book as Isaiah and Jeremiah did. Instead, these prophets prophesied primarily through the deeds that they did from the hearing of the Word of the LORD to them. Elijah and Elisha brought the Kingdom of God into the earth by doing His works.

     At this same time, there was a great and mighty man of valor, Naaman (na'aman/na'em - pleasantness/pleasant, beautiful, sweet, delightful, lovely, show gracious favor toward), a man of integrity, who was the commander of the enemy Syrian army. He was also a leper. Naaman had an Israelite slave in his household who had been brought back as a captive to Syria as a young girl after the Syrians had gone on raids into Israel. (2 Kings 5:1-2). This Israelite slave girl said to Naaman's wife: "If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy." (v. 3). Even his captive slave admired Naaman and cared what happened to him. It was as a consequence of this true statement of a little captive slave girl from Israel that Naaman, the Syrian commander, received the news of hope.

     Naaman went to his master, the king of Syria, and told him what the captive Israelite slave girl had said. The Syrian king told Naaman to go to Israel to seek out this prophet, and the king would send a letter to the king of Israel. Naaman took with him large amounts of gold and silver, as well as clothing, prepared to pay for his healing. This letter from the Syrian king to the king of Israel told the king of Israel to heal his servant, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Naaman, of leprosy. The king of Israel was shocked by (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-letter and went into mourning, tearing his clothes and saying, "Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy?...see how he seeks a quarrel with me." When Elisha heard about the distress of the king of Israel, he told the king not to tear his clothes but to send the Syrian, Naaman, to him, "and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." (v. 4-8). Elisha was telling the king not to be a messenger of hopeless mourning regarding this event.

     When Naaman came to Elisha's house with his horses and chariot, Elisha would not even come out of his house to speak with him! The prophet sent a servant out to give Naaman this message: "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean." (v. 9-10). It is interesting to know that the cleansing of leprosy according to the Law given to Moses, requires that the one suffering from leprosy to be sprinkled seven times. (see Lev. 14:7).

     At first, Naaman was offended and "furious" by the strange instructions and the manner that the instructions had been given to him, but his servants respectfully suggested to Naaman that he might as well do it: "So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." (v. 11-14). Naaman and all of his aides returned to Elisha, and Naaman said to the prophet: "Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant." However, Elisha refused the gift, saying: "...I will receive nothing." 

     The miraculous healing of Naaman the Syrian's leprosy could have been a turning point in the enmity between Syria and Israel. However, the corrupt action of Elisha's servant seems to have impacted upon that possibility as we will see.

     As Naaman left, Elisha's servant, Gehazi (gehazi/gay'/geva - "valley of vision"/steep valley/pride, lift up), pursued (radap - pursue, chase, persecute, harass, pursue ardently, run after a bribe) Naaman and asked for silver and garments on behalf of the prophets, which Naaman gladly gave to him. Elisha perceived in the Spirit what his servant had done and asked Gehazi: "Is it time ('et/'ada - a fit or proper time, an opportunity, a certain time/adorn oneself, to attack in a hostile manner) to receive (laqah - lay hold of, take in the hand, take possession of, take in marriage, accept, receive, capture, seize, procure) money and to receive clothing, olive groves, and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants?" Elisha then said to his servant, Gehazi: "Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.' And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow." (v. 15-27). Considering the meaning of the Hebrew laqah above, could it be possible that receiving the wealth of the Syrian commander also meant receiving or "being married to" the means by which that wealth, as Elisha described it above, was acquired? Abraham, generations earlier, also refused to accept the spoils that were offered to him that were captured in battle by the king of Sodom because it would rob God of the glory He had in Abraham's life. (see Gen. 14:21-24). Perhaps these deeper issues require careful and obedient discernment through the Holy Spirit.

     At a moment that was meant to glorify God for His gracious deliverance of Naaman from the death sentence of leprosy, a moment powerful to pull down spiritual strongholds over a man and even possibly over his nation, Gehazi used that moment to enrich himself.

     From Elisha's question to his servant, it also seems that this miraculous healing came at a pivotal time and purpose in the will and plan of God that would affect something very important. Not long after this miracle healing took place and the inappropriate acceptance of Naaman's gift by Gehazi, it is recorded in scripture that the king of Syria went to war against Israel (see 2 Kings 6:8) and besieged Samaria in a severe and desperate famine (see 2 Kings 6:24-25). 

     The healing of leprosy was a revolutionary, powerful and gracious provision of God beyond all worldly knowledge that was placed into the hands of Israel, for their benefit and even for the benefit of those outside of Israel as the LORD would use it. It was even more importantly a prophetic representation of the ministry of Jesus Messiah/Christ, who healed the unhealable and cleansed the uncleanable, thereby giving hope to the hopeless. All of these things were foretold by the prophets of God. (Ex. 4:6-7, Ps. 51:1-2, 7, Ezek. 36:25, Acts 10:15). As His servants, we are called to have a deeper discernment and understanding regarding this treasure of hope that has been given to the world through Jesus Messiah/Christ, especially at this time.

     If you would like to learn more about our revolutionary hope in Jesus Messiah/Christ, you can pray with me: "Father of all life, You miraculously and sovereignly injected hope into the world that was filled with hopelessness. You provided this hope to point us to the coming of Your Son, Jesus, regarding whose birth the angel said: "...with God, nothing will be impossible." Help me, Lord, to be guided by Your Holy Spirit in discerning Your miraculous works. Help me, Lord, not to question or speak against or judge Your works of salvation, healing and deliverance that You have brought to someone's life. Each one that You touch is part of Your plan for salvation in the earth. I never want to call common what You have sovereignly made clean, but I want to be instead a living "AMEN!" of celebration. 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. 

     

LightofGod

     Last week we studied the Sabbath portion titled Sh'mini, which means "Eighth Day". The Hebrew word not only includes the number eight as well as numbers built upon the number eight like eighteen, eighteen thousand and so on, but the meaning of sh'mini or semini/samen/saman includes so much more. It includes the idea of "plenteous, fat, robust, rich/to shine with oil, to cover with fat or oil." The idea is the overflowing riches of the anointing and shining with the oil of anointing. 

     In keeping with the understanding of the word semini, the Sabbath portion also includes Atz'ma'ut, a recognition of the anniversary of the restoration and independence of the modern nation of Israel. Atz'ma'ut in the Hebrew means "to become an entity". God prophesied that He would restore Israel as a nation, and approximately 2,000 years after its demise, Israel was restored as an independent nation on May 14, 1948. This was a great miracle and fulfilment of prophecy. However, the miracle doesn't end there. While the nation of Israel prospers greatly and is the premier military power in the area, the promise of semini goes so much further. If we limited the fulfilment of God's promises to the 1948 physical re-establishment of the nation of Israel, we would be robbing Israel of the great prophetic semini promises of God for the spiritual riches and anointing that He has for Israel that will impact the world. Because of this, God's semini promises for Israel are important for all of the people and nations of the earth.

     If the Atz'ma'ut anniversary of Israel does not occur until May 14, why does a March/April Sabbath reading portion include it? It was decided that the month of Nisan, which is the month of Passover, is the perfect time to examine the great miracle of this restoration, and God's semini prophecies for Israel.

     The first Atz'ma'ut anniversary reading portion from the Sh'mini Sabbath is from the prophet, Micah, whose Hebrew name Michayahu means "Who is like the LORD (Yahweh)?":

     "Now it shall come to pass in the latter ('aharit/'ahar - after part, end, latter time, future time, posterity, remnant/afterwards, seeing, in the background, hinder parts) days that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore....'In that day,' says the LORD, I will assemble the lame, I will gather the outcast and those whom I have afflicted; I will make the lame a remnant, and the outcast a strong nation; so the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on, even forever." (Mic. 4:1-7, excerpt, also Isa. 2:1-4). Isaiah, who earlier in time wrote this same Word of the LORD added: "O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the LORD." (Isa. 2:5).

     How wonderful is the semini shining oil of the anointing that will flow out of Jerusalem, as the LORD, Himself, teaches all people and nations! How wonderful is the shining anointing that causes the end of war among the nations of the whole world! How wonderful is the shining anointing that creates a nation from the lame and the outcasts that no one valued! This is not an Atz'ma'ut celebration remembrance that is limited to the physical restoration of the nation of Israel, miraculously brought back from non-existence in 1948, but a Sh'mini celebration of the shining anointing of the LORD, that will change the world. Believers in Messiah/Christ view this prophetic vision of Micah's as the reign of Messiah/Christ Jesus on earth after His return.

     Another Atz'ma'ut (anniversary) reading portion from this Sh'mini Sabbath is from Isaiah 60: "Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness (hosek/hasak - darkness, misery, destruction, sorrow, obscurity, wickedness, of Hades/become dark, grow dim, confuse) shall cover the earth, and deep darkness ('arapel - heavy thick darkness, gloom, heavy dark cloud) the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and the kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up (nasa - lift up, arise, to carry, forgive, hold up, obtain, cast eyes upon) your eyes ('ayin - sight, a fountain, look well, regard) all around (sabib/sabab - on every side, in a circle/walk around, march around, turn oneself, change, transform), and see (ra'a - see, look, consider, seer, discern, perceive, foresee, have vision, to be visible): They all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see (ra'a, see above) and become radiant (nahar - flow together, lightened, to shine, to beam, be radiant), and your heart shall swell with joy...The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you...And they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD...For the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. Also your people shall all be righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation. I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time." (Isa. 60:1-6, excerpt, 20-22).

     As Isaiah wrote the LORD's prophecy above, it must have reminded him of His vision of the Lord on His throne in the temple of God in heaven, and the seraphim angels that cried out to each other: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" (Isa. 6:3).

     Even when all around is a thick, deep darkness, the LORD is asking above for Israel to "see" with spiritual sight, to turn in place and look all around them and "see into being or visibility" what the LORD has declared over Israel. This goes beyond the establishment of the nation of Israel in 1948, as miraculous as that was. This is a vision of radiant beaming light that shines out from Israel. Nations and people will be drawn out of that crushing darkness towards this beaming sh'mini oil of shining. Israel and all of us who value the Word of the LORD are to prophetically "see" this vision. 

     In the 1930's and 40's a thick darkness of lies and oppression did attempt to cover the earth and to subject all of the people, especially Jewish people, to the point of extinction. However, out of this time of darkness, the nation of Israel was born in 1948. We are living in a time when a great spiritual darkness from hell of destruction, wickedness and misery is again trying to overcome the world. Even now, Isaiah's words from the LORD are again calling out to Israel and to all of us who believe to look up and look all around us and "see" this promise of the manifestation of the light and glory of the LORD coming forth to the world from this restored nation. "All around", or sabib/sabab in Hebrew, includes the meaning of to change, to transform (see above). Seeing with ra'a prophetic sight, brings the invisible into visibility (see ra'a meaning above) and transforms the nations and people even beyond the borders of Israel as the shining light overwhelms the darkness.

     Darkness cannot be destroyed with military strategies or bombs. It is a spiritual power. As Isaiah wrote, darkness, even the thick darkness of Hell, is only overcome with the eternal and gloriously radiant Light of God from within His people whom He has raised up: "Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you," Isaiah wrote.

     At the current time of great darkness, we are called to lift our eyes all around us and ra'a see the glory of the Kingdom of God, and the glory of the Messianic/Christ's Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven, and to be that same glory of beaming radiance, the same sh'mini shining with the oil of anointing, that overcomes the darkness. 

     John wrote: "This is the message we have heard from Him (Jesus) and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 Jn. 1:5-7, see also Jn. 1:4-5, Jn. 8:12, Col. 3:1-4, 2 Pet. 3:13-14, Lk. 21:28). The prophecy of Isaiah above is still powerful, still working, still being fulfilled in the earth. To both the nation of Israel, and to the Jewish and Gentile believers in Messiah/Christ, who are the light of the world as Jesus is the Light of the world, let this Light so shine. (see Mt. 5:14-16).

     The vision of the LORD didn't end in 1948, and the intention of the vision is to beam this shining light into the darkness. The prophet Daniel spoke of those who shine. Jesus spoke of that shine and told us all to be it. He is the source of that shine because He is Messiah/Christ, the Anointed One, anointed with the sh'mini shining oil of Kingship. If you can ra'a see and be the shine, then you will also see Him as the source of it.

     When David wrote of the LORD as his Shepherd in Psalm 23, he said: "...You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over," he was speaking in a way that incorporates the meaning in Hebrew of the Sh'mini (see above) Sabbath.   

     The Hebrew word, Atz'ma'ut, the anniversary of Israel's independence included in the Sh'mini Sabbath, also has in its root meaning the word "bone." Israelites use this meaning to point to the prophecy regarding the valley of dry bones of "the whole house of Israel" that come to life again as Ezekiel obediently prophesied the Word of the LORD over those dry bones, which have been long imprisoned in death. (Ezek. 37:1-14). This was written while Ezekiel and the Israelites were still kept in captivity in Babylon. The LORD promises that He will "...open (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-your-graves" and bring you into the land of Israel...Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-your-graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. Then I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land." (v. 12-14).

      (*Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) resurrection from death, the voice that opens graves (see Jn. 5:24-25), did come to the nation of Israel generations after their captivity in Babylon ended and they were returned to the land. From that nation of Israel, the news of the Resurrection and the Life, the Messiah/Christ (see Jn. 11:23-27), was spread by Israelite believers to other people and nations, changing/transforming millions and millions of lives over two thousand years.

     God's wondrous and miraculous plan for the nation of Israel and its impact on the world was not begun and completed in 1948 but began in eternity and will continue into eternity, including playing a key role in the return of Jesus to earth to rule and reign forever. In the meantime, Arise, shine against the darkness. Look up and all around and "see" it according to the Word of the LORD.

     If you would like to learn more about the battle of Light against darkness, and our "seeing", "being", and "shining" role in it, you can join with me in prayer: "Heavenly Father of Light! You have prophesied to Israel and to all of us the truth of Your purpose and plan to overcome the kingdom of darkness that attempts to cover the earth and all of the people. You sent Your beloved Son, Jesus, to be the Light of the world, and He called me and those who believe on Him to be the same Light. Father, I want to be that Light. Your Word is Light. Let Your Word, who is Jesus, and Your Spirit, who is truth, dwell within me and shine from me. Anoint my head with Your pure oil, Father, and transform me into Light and transform also those who see Your Light in me. Father, let darkness recede from before Your Light as I turn all around and "see" and believe that the whole earth is filled with the glory of God. I ask this in the name of Your Son, my Savior, 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. 

Consecrated

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Sh'mini, which means "the eighth day." This title comes from Leviticus 9:1, which says: "It came to pass on the eighth (semini/samen/saman - eight/plenteous, fat, robust, rich/to shine with oil, to cover with fat-oil) day (yom - time, day, daily, year, ever, continually, full, always, whole, day as opposed to night) that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel." At this point, Aaron and his sons had spent seven days in the tabernacle until their consecration had ended. (see Lev. 8:31-36). They spent those seven days of consecration (millu'/mala' - installation of priests, setting stones/gems, dedicatory sacrifice, sacrifice of inauguration/fill, fulfill, full, complete, consecrate, accomplish, replenish, overflow, gather) eating ('akal - eat, devour, consume, destroy, slay, burn up) the burnt offering of consecration (Lev. 8:28) and the bread from the basket of consecration offerings (see Lev. 8:31). 

     The "basket" mentioned above that contained the bread of the consecration offerings, is the Hebrew word and root sal/salal, which means: a slender rod of which baskets are woven, a basket woven from reeds/raise up, lift up, exalt, extol, esteem highly, to gather, to make a way level by casting up stones, make plain. The basket is made of slender rods or reeds that can be woven. The Messiah/Christ, the Elect One in whom the LORD delights, is prophetically connected to a bruised reed by Isaiah: "A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax (linen or cotton used for a wick) He will not quench. He will bring forth justice for truth." (Isa. 42:3). The reed of Egypt and Palestine grows to a great height, and it is jointed in its stem like bamboo. It has a magnificent blossom at the top of the reed. It is so slender and tender that a gust of wind can flatten it, but then it will immediately be raised up to its upright position. Jesus was laid down in death but rose back up again like the reed. The Gospel of Matthew references this prophecy from Isaiah, and Jesus' fulfilment of it. (see Mt. 12:15-21). When the soldiers mocked Jesus' Kingship before His crucifixion, they struck Him with the reed that they had placed in His hand. (Mt. 27:27-31). Jesus is both the Bread (Jn. 6:35, 48-51) and the (reed) Basket that contains the consecrating Bread, which is His Body raised from the dead. Just as Aaron and his sons were told to eat the bread from the basket of consecration offerings, Jesus took bread and broke it and told us to eat it, saying, "Take, eat; this is My body." (Mt. 26:26). The Bread that is His sacrificed body not only feeds us Life but consecrates us as it follows the pattern above. During this time of Passover and the Resurrection, partaking in the elements of Communion with the Lord is especially meaningful.

     Now, on the eighth day, the ministry of Aaron and his sons as priests of the atonement would begin: "And Moses said to Aaron, 'Go to the altar, offer (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-your-sin-offering-and-your-burnt-offering and make atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, merciful, cleansed, appease, pardon, pitch covering) for yourself and for the people. Offer (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as the LORD commanded." (Lev. 9:7).

     The purpose of the seven days of consecration was in order to minister the atoning sacrifice for themselves as priests and for the people. Jesus, as indicated by the Hebrew written *aleph-tav above is our offering for the atonement for sin. 

     As the followers of Messiah/Christ, He also consecrated us with His own body. It is not a consecration for the purpose of religious oppression and hypocrisy, for which Jesus condemned the Pharisees and scribes, but it is a consecration in Messiah/Christ and His atonement blood of mercy and forgiveness, and it was always meant to be so as the prophetic pattern revealed. This consecration requires serious consideration on our parts. Paul wrote that we are called to holiness, called to come out from among the worldly, the profane and the unclean things (as Aaron and sons were commanded to remain in the tabernacle for seven days). (see 1 Thess. 4:7, 2 Cor. 6:17-18)). The Book of Hebrews calls it a heavenly calling. (Heb. 3:1).

     The Lord Jesus told us to take and eat of His body. His body and blood were the one-time and forever offering for the sins of the world, forming a new covenant between God and the people: "But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Holy Place once for all, having obtained (for us) eternal redemption." (Heb. 9:11-12). God made Messiah/Christ "who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus fulfilled the will of God to be a sin offering for the world, not out of a religious obligation, but out of the love of the Father for the world, and the love of the Son for the Father and for us. We can understand why the apostle Peter wrote to us that love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Pet. 4:7-8). Our greatest and life-changing gift from God was planned and provided to us out of love through His beloved Son, Jesus.

     Part of the prophetic pattern established by the priesthood under Moses was that they must eat (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the sin-offering which God said was most holy (see Lev. 6:17) in the same way that Christ told us to eat of Him. We eat of Him not for ourselves only, but, if we can see the prophetic pattern of the priesthood which we will read below, we are to eat of Christ, the most holy sin offering, to minister priestly atonement for the sins of the world, for which sins Messiah/Christ substituted Himself and died. 

       Here is that interesting image of the pattern of the priesthood. On one occasion, the two living sons of Aaron had burned up the offering completely but had not eaten any of it, nor applied the blood as it was commanded be done. Moses asked them: "Why have you not eaten ('akal - to eat, devour, consume, destruction of the flesh) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-sin-offering in a holy place, since it is most holy, and God has given it to you to bear the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?...indeed, you should have eaten it in a holy (place), as I commanded." (Lev. 10:16-18). Aaron answered that because of the recent deaths of his two other sons by the fire of the LORD, which devastated Aaron (see Lev. 10:1-3), Aaron feared that the LORD might not have found (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-sin-offering acceptable had he eaten it. Aaron and his remaining two sons might have born the judgment of the LORD because of it. Moses accepted this reason from Aaron. (v. 19-20). The eating of the sin offering by the priest was to make atonement for the sin guilt of the people, which had been placed upon (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-offering.

     Paul wrote of a warning when eating and drinking of the body/bread and blood/wine of Messiah/Christ in Communion. Paul wrote: "Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged." (1 Cor. 11:27-31). This is very much like what Aaron told Moses. We cannot correctly understand what Paul was warning us if we do not understand the prophetic pattern of the priesthood established by God with Moses as we read it above. We have received a royal priesthood from God through Messiah/Christ Jesus. It is the priesthood of the light and mercy of the Kingdom of God through Christ, ministered to others as we also have received it ourselves. (see 1 Pet. 2:9-10). It is a Sh'mini "eighth day" (see the meanings at the top of the page) priesthood. While it is a glorious priesthood, it is a priesthood that requires humility, discernment and self-examination. 

     From another reading portion of this Sh'mini "Eighth Day" Sabbath, when David received the prophetic promise of Messiah/Christ, who would come from David's own line, David was moved with great humility, asking the LORD: "Who am I, O LORD God? And what is my house, that you have brought me this far?...What more can David say to You for the honor of Your servant?..." (see 1 Chron. 17:11-20). We have received more than a prophetic promise. We have received all of the "Eighth Day" rich and shining-with-oil fulfilment of that promise in Messiah/Christ Jesus. Let us receive Him with the same humility as David did, and let us receive Him in the holy place.

     If you would like to learn more about our consecration and priesthood in Jesus Christ, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You have offered Your own Son, Jesus, who was without sin but became my sin, as my most holy eternal sin offering. Help me, LORD, to minister Your Son as the atonement for sin, not only for myself, but for all of the people. LORD, You consecrated Your priesthood in order to begin their ministry of atonement in Your name. As I remember the Lord's death and resurrection this week, and the Table of the Lord that holds the elements of His most holy sacrifice for the sins of the world, let me approach in consecration, please Lord, and with soul-bearing humility and gratitude, on behalf of all of the people, as I proclaim His death until He comes. 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.