MyTestimony

       "And He (Jesus) said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs shall follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents (ophis - snake, serpent, sly and cunning deception, artful and malicious person like Satan, the devil, hypocrite); and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mk. 16:15-18).

     This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled B'shallach, which means "When he let go." This title is taken from the first verse of the reading portion, Exodus 13:17: "Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-people go (shawlakh - send forth, send away, send out, loose, cast out, stretch out, shoot forth as a weapon, set free, let go, let depart, send/drive to pasture, send a messenger), that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines (pelisti/palas - descendants of the Egyptians who migrated to the western seacoast of Canaan, strangers/to roll in ashes and dust, to wallow, to dig a hole, to roll oneself), although that was near; for God said, 'Lest perhaps (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-people change their minds when they see war (milhama/laham - war, battle, fight, warriors, warfare/devour or eat as food, make war, overcome, prevail, to fight, to battle), and return to Egypt."

     After the last plague of death to the first born of Egypt, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, let the people of God go (shawlakh, see above) . The LORD led His people, not by the nearest route which would take them through the land of the Philistines but led them by the longer route through the Red Sea wilderness. He did not think that they had the fortitude to face battle with the Philistines yet. The Israelites would not face the Philistines until later in time.

     After the Israelites left Egypt, they began to face continual challenges. Pharaoh decided to pursue them and trapped them by the Red Sea. They were terrified. They cried out to the LORD and said to Moses: "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness?...Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness." (Ex. 14:11-12). At that point, the LORD delivered the Israelites from the Egyptian army by dividing the waters of the Red Sea so that they could cross to the other side: "So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left." (v. 22, see also Ps. 78:13). The sea water was so thoroughly removed that the ground underneath the waters was not muddy but dry.

    As the Israelites were trapped before the Red Sea, Moses had promised them: "Do not be afraid. Stand still and see (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-salvation (yesua - Jesus' Hebrew name, salvation, help, deliverance, welfare, victory) of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today....". (Ex. 14:13). After the LORD parted the waters of the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to pass through it and then released the waters of the sea in order to drown the pursuing Egyptian army, Moses and the Israelites celebrated this great miracle with a joyous song. Part of this song included: "The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation (yesua - see above); He is my God, [and I will prepare Him a habitation (nava - abide, adorn, beautify, celebrate with praise)]/and I will praise Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him." (Ex. 15:2).

     Immediately after this celebration, however, (*aleph-tav/Alopha and Omega)-Israel came to a place of undrinkable, bitter waters, and they complained. The LORD made the bitter waters sweet by having Moses cast a certain tree ('es - tree, gallows, carpenter) into the waters. At this place, the LORD revealed His name, "I AM the LORD who heals you." (see Ex. 15:22-26).

     Then the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-whole-assembly began to make (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-murmurings against Moses and the LORD over not having meat and bread. Then the LORD heard their (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) murmurings and sent them quails for meat in the evenings and bread from heaven in the mornings. (Ex. 16:1-13). Their "murmurings" have the written Hebrew *aleph-tav before them because the murmurings were against the Messiah/Christ.  Generations later, Jesus would solve this mystery by comparing Himself to the manna bread in the wilderness, calling Himself the Bread from heaven of eternal life as the Israelites of His day murmured and complained against Him, as specifically worded in the verses from The Gospel of John. (see Jn. 6:41-43, 48-51). The exact repetition of the wording between Exodus 16 and John 6 is no coincidence.

     As believers in Jesus Messiah/Christ, when we murmur and complain about anything, who are we really murmuring against but the One who is the Lord of our lives, Jesus? Murmurings and complaints become our testimony to others of who Jesus is, or is not, in our lives.

     Psalm 78 is another portion from this week's B'shallach, "When he let go" Sabbath reading. This psalm recounts the kindness and miracles that the LORD showed to Israel even though they continually rebelled against Him and complained against Him.

     The psalmist, Asaph ('asap - "gatherer", "collector", assemble together, to gather and take away, gather the harvest, to take in, to receive into), wrote of the wonders that God did for His people to deliver them from slavery in Egypt, and afterwards, to give them the provision that they needed in the wilderness. However, Asaph wrote, His people were stubborn and rebellious and "whose spirit was not faithful to (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-God." (v. 8). The psalmist said that he wrote this psalm as a testimony for future generations: "We will not hide them (referring to the sayings of old from the fathers) from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony ('edut/'ed/'ud - testimony, witness, holy rites, revelation, "the Holy Ghost saith"/prince, recorder, emphatically affirming/testify, record, surround, restore, say again and again, affirm solemnly, exhort solemnly, give warning) in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel...that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise (qum - arise, establish, stand, confirm, continue, abide, accomplish, perform, endure, prove) and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments." (v. 4-7).

     The power contained in the testimony given to Israel praising the wonderful works of God kept generation after generation alive and preserved them through danger, even the danger of their own rebellion, and sorrow. As we see the Hebrew meaning connected to the word "testimony", we can see that it is powerful, inspired and appointed by the Holy Spirit.

      When Pharaoh the king of Egypt let the people go (see B'shallach and shawlakh above), he would be sending them out to encounter an eternal testimony.

     Similarly, in verses from Mark 16 shown at the top of this page, Jesus, the King of Kings, sent His believers out with a testimony, the Gospel, commanding them to take that testimony of His suffering, death, burial and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins and the glory of God, to every creature. It is also an eternal testimony leading the hearer to salvation and eternal life. It is a testimony so powerful that it overcomes Satan, himself: "And they overcame him (referring to the accuser of the brethren, Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Rev. 12:11). This testimony contains the power of "salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ" (see Rev. 12:10). As the verses from Mark 16 at the top of the page tell us, miracle signs and wonders follow the believers with this testimony in their mouths.

     Rather than the testimony of murmuring and complaining, we have been entrusted with this amazing testimony, the Gospel, not only for our own sakes but for the sake of every creature.

     If you would like to learn more about our testimony, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You have given to us the most amazing and powerful testimony to bring to future generations and to every creature! By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Lord, keep this testimony in my heart, mind and mouth, rather than the testimony of murmuring and complaining, which testifies against You. Forgive me, Lord, when my words and testimony have robbed You of glory. Let this testimony that You have given to me glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit always, as well as testifying to life, even eternal life gained for us by Christ. As the song says, "O how marvelous! O how wonderful! Is my Savior's love for me!" These are the wonderful works of God. This is my testimony in Jesus' name. AMEN."

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

Enter

    

     "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:19-22).

     The above verses from the Book of Hebrews speaks about entering into the House of God, because of and through the way that has been made for us to enter, the flesh of Jesus Christ, torn open for us. Jesus also referred to Himself as "the Door" by which the sheep of God enter into His sheepfold of safety: "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture....I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (Jn. 10:9-10).

     This truth of "entering in" is also reflected in this week's Sabbath reading portion titled Bo, meaning, "Enter." The Hebrew letters that comprise the word bo are beyth and aleph. The individual meanings of these Hebrew letters are "house/family/within" and "the first, or Adonai/Lord." Therefore, just within the word bo itself is the meaning "the house of the Lord," as we saw in the top verse from Hebrews 10, in addition to the word meaning, "enter."

     The title "Bo", is found in Exodus 10:1-2, the first verses of this Sabbath reading portion: "Now the LORD said to Moses, 'Go in (bo' - enter, go in, lead in, come in) to Pharaoh; for I have hardened (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-his-heart and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the hearts-of-his-servants, that I may show these signs ('ot - signs, miracles, distinguishing mark, banner, proof, beacon, monument, evidence, token/consent, agree, consent to any one) of Mine before him, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son's son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and (*vaw-aleph-tav)-My-signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD." Moses would enter into the house of Pharaoh again in order to repeat the LORD's command to let His people go to serve Him. (v. 3).

     Entering into the house of God as mentioned in the verses from Hebrews at the top of the page is connected with the way of entrance that Jesus made for us by the sacrifice of His own body and blood. As Jesus also said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through (dia - through, with, by, by the means of) Me." (Jn. 14:6).

     It is very interesting that the concept of entering in this Bo Sabbath reading portion also contains three mentions of Passover, the sacrifice of the spotless lamb and the application of its blood upon the doorposts and lintels of each Hebrew home. Entering their homes through that blood-soaked doorway would assure their safety from the coming tenth and final judgment/plague of death to the first-born in Egypt. Therefore that sacrificed blood upon the door has a direct connection to the concept of "entering." into the salvation provision of God. The meal in which the Hebrews were to partake was within that blood-painted door: "Now the blood shall be a sign (see 'ot above) for you on the houses where you are. And when I see (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt....and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning (boker/bawkar- end of night, coming of daylight, beginning of the day, bright joy after the darkness of distress/inquire, seek out, search for, look for, consider, admire, care for, inspect diligently, discern, contemplate, to cleave, to open, breaking forth and arising of light)." (Ex. 12:13, 22). 

     Up until this point, the earlier plagues of Egypt did not strike the territory of Goshen (meaning "drawing near") where the Hebrew slaves lived. However, against the plague of death, physical territory would not save them - only the lamb, sacrificed and eaten (Ex. 12:8, see also Jn. 6:53-58), and its blood painted on the doorposts and lintels of their homes would save them from the destroyer. For this protection, they would have to dwell or abide inside the body of the LORD. Jesus also said to abide in Him as branches abide in the vine. (Jn. 15:4-8).

 Isaiah also wrote the word of the LORD telling His people to enter (bo - see above) into their chambers (heder/hadar - within, inward or innermost parts, inner chamber, bedchamber, private chamber/encompass, surround, enclose as a room) until the indignation (za'am - foam at the mouth rage, anger, abominable, angrily indignant) has passed. (Isa. 26:20).

     In Exodus Ch. 12, which is also part of this Sabbath's Bo "Enter" reading portion, scripture says that "on that very same day" (v. 41 and 51), on the night of Passover, and as prophesied to Abraham generations before (v. 40, and Gen. 15:13-14), "that the LORD brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies."  In Ex. 13, another part of this Sabbath's reading, Moses told the children of Israel to "Remember (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-this-day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out of this place...On this day (which is Passover) you are going out, in the month of Abib ('abib - fresh young ears of barley, green ears of corn, tender young ear)." (v. 3-4). In this same chapter, Ex. 13, Moses tells the children of Israel that when the LORD brings them into (bo -see above) the land of the Canaanites and other Canaanite tribes "that you shall keep this service in this month." Passover would then be immediately followed by the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread. 

     The image that I am seeing here is one in which the same (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) day, meaning Passover, and consequently the same blood-painted door, that was their way of exit out of Egypt will be the same door by which they will bo enter into the land that the LORD promised to their forefathers by covenant. With the same sweet, striped, pierced and without the leaven-of-sin Bread that they ate on Passover, they would also remember, observe and eat for a Sabbath week (seven days) in the new land which they would enter. Both the exit and entrance were mentioned in the same context of Passover.

     Jesus prayed to the Father before His arrest and death, praying for His current believers, and those believers who would come in the future: "I do not pray for those (His present disciples) alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." (Jn. 17:20-22). We become one with past believers, with current believers and with future believers because we are all in the Father and Son. We convince the world that Jesus Christ was sent by the Father, not only because of our faith, but because we are in the Son and also then in the Father, and it shows. It is a sign (see 'ot above).

      This is a level of intimacy that is more than "knowing" Him or even believing Him. This calls for being in Him. Many know of Jesus Christ. Many even concede that He is the Lord, but how many dwell inside of Him? The following verses reveal the importance of being "in Christ": 2 Cor. 5:16-17, Rom. 8:1-2, Eph. 1:3, and Eph. 2:4-10, 13, Gal. 3:27-28. As we read these verses listed here, what have we previously thought as regarding their meaning? Perhaps we thought that they mean for us to enter into faith in Christ? However, perhaps they mean as they say - to enter through and into the Person of Christ. We often think that being saved means to ask Jesus to come into (see bo above) our hearts, but perhaps salvation also means for us to desire and seek to enter into His heart.

     Finally, from another reading portion of this Bo "Enter" Sabbath, in 2 Chron. 35, we read about how King Josiah (meaning "the LORD is the foundation support"): "...kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem." (v. 1). On this occasion, the king restored the ministry of the priests and Levites in the house of the LORD. The king also restored the holy ark into its proper place in the temple. The king gave the people all of the lambs that would be necessary to offer for Passover, tens of thousands of them from the king's own possessions. They also kept the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. (v. 17). There hadn't been a Passover kept in Israel since the days of Samuel. (v. 18). Imagine what this event must have meant to Jerusalem and Judah - the healing and restoration of their relationship with the LORD. It is also written of Josiah: "Thus Josiah removed all the abominations from all the country that belonged to the children of Israel, and made (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-who-were-present in Israel diligently serve (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD their God. All his days they did not depart from following the LORD God of their fathers." (2 Chron. 34:33). When King Josiah died, "...all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah." 

     As I read these passages, the message for me this Sabbath and forward is to seek out and enter into the Lord Jesus in a new and deeper way, to have a deeper understanding of the meaning of the blood-painted doorway through which Israel exited and entered. We know Jesus as this Door of entrance into that innermost chamber, which is Himself.

     If you would like to learn more about entering into Christ, you can join me in my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You provided a holy, consecrated Door for us to enter into Your house and Your presence, a Door which is soaked with the blood of Your precious Son, Jesus. Show me Father, by Your Word and Spirit, the way to live, move and have my being in Christ, our Passover. Let me be one of those who dwells and abides in my Lord, Messiah/Christ, and in You, which is a miraculous sign to the world that You have indeed sent Your Son. Give me a greater understanding of the need to abide in Christ. 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. 

MyHand

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Va-eira, meaning "and I appeared." This title comes from Ex. 6:2-3: "And God spoke to Moses and said to him, 'I am the LORD.  And I appeared (ra'a - look, behold, appear, seer, perceive, regard, inspect, have vision, discern, foresee, to be visible, to look at each other) to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD (yehova/haya - Jehovah, יְהֹוָה: yad-hey-vaw-hey, 'the existing One', self-existent or eternal/was, has been, is now, to become, arise, appear, to abide-remain-continue, to be finished) I was not known (yada - know, knowledge, understand, perceive, find out and discern, recognize-admit-acknowledge-confess, to be made known or revealed) to them."

     The invisible God was made ra'a visible or seeable to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This alone is a huge revelation brought to mankind. However, there was more to be revealed.

     As the LORD is revealing this identity of "LORD" to Moses, He is indicating that the name "LORD" brings a new but absolutely necessary level of understanding to His identity than had previously been revealed. As we see above, the name LORD is spelled with the Hebrew letters yad-hey-vaw-hey, and, as has been mentioned before, the individual meanings of each of these Hebrew letters, when combined together, can mean "the hand BEHOLD, the nail BEHOLD." I chose to show the word "BEHOLD" in all upper-case letters because the Hebrew letter, hey, and its meaning is repeated twice in the phrase, emphasizing it. (note: It is also true that the idea of "hand" in Hebrew also includes the wrist, through which, the Shroud of Turin indicates, Jesus was nailed between the ulna and radius bones. This also makes anatomical sense as well.)  We are to LOOK AT and PERCEIVE that hand and nail, understanding its meaning in the naming of Himself to mankind as LORD. Millions in the world have recognized the Person of Jesus in the understanding of this name. After His death on the cross, Jesus appeared before His disciple Thomas, and told Thomas, who had not believed the report of Jesus' resurrection, to see and touch the holes in His hands and His side to assure himself of Jesus' identity. When Thomas saw them, he said, "My Lord and My God!" (Jn. 20:24-29). Jesus told Thomas, "...blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  There are millions upon millions since who have only perceived "the hand and the nail" by their hearts, as Jesus said, while never having seen them with their physical eyes. "The hand BEHOLD, the nail BEHOLD."

     How could the name, "LORD", incorporate an identity of pierced hands before Jesus was physically born? New Testament scripture tells us that Jesus was the Lamb sacrificed before the foundation of the world. (1 Pet. 1:18-20). Jesus, whose name in both Greek and Hebrew means "salvation", was pierced and crucified in eternity before the world existed, and the promise of His overcoming salvation work was given as early as the Book of Genesis, to the serpent, Satan, (see Gen. 3:14-15), as well as throughout the Tanakh, the Old Testament (see various, including Ps. 22 and Isa. 53). In fact, the identity of this pierced LORD is hidden even earlier in Genesis in the Hebrew language used.

     Why was it important to know God's name as LORD, and to understand the meaning that is encompassed by that name? The miraculous deliverance of God's people from harsh slavery in Egypt, and the fulfilment of the covenant promise made to the forefathers to bring their descendants to a land promised by God, would be accomplished by the Person who is the LORD: "...say to the children of Israel: 'I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know (yada - see above) that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD." (Ex. 6:6-8). Moses brought this message to the children of Israel; "but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish (qoser/qasar - shortness, impatience, anguish/impatience, grief, to cut down, to reap) of spirit and cruel (qase/qasa - stiff-necked, hard, cruel, grievous, churlish, hardhearted, heavy/harden, hard, to make stubborn, dense) bondage." (v. 9). From the language used here, the Israelites, because of the harshness of their lives in slavery, were not interested in promises, and had no faith in them. They had become stiff-necked, stubborn and impatient with the God of their fathers. However, like a field that requires time to ripen before harvesting, God affects His plan at the perfect time, when conditions have ripened, and not before or after.

     The New Testament also warns believers in Christ not, through deceitfulness of sin, to harden their hearts against faith in Jesus as the rebellious Israelites did in the wilderness. It prevents us from entering into the spiritual place of rest, or Sabbath, with God: "For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end." (Heb. 3:7-14).

     As Moses did miraculous signs that affected the land of Egypt, Pharaoh's heart was hardened against the command of the LORD delivered through Moses to let God's people go. However, in a mysterious work, the LORD said that He would harden Pharaoh's heart to accomplish His purpose: "So the LORD said to Moses: 'See, I have made you as a God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. You shall speak (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-that I command you...to send (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-children-of-Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-heart, and multiply (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-signs-and-My-wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-hand on Egypt and bring (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-armies and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-hand on Egypt and bring out (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-children-of-Israel from among them...and Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them (the signs that Moses and Aaron did), as the LORD had said." (Ex. 7:1-5, 13).

     According to the presence of all of the written, but untranslated, *aleph-tav's above, we can see that the hand of the LORD that would accomplish this mighty deliverance is associated with the Messiah/Christ, as well as the name LORD (see above) and would therefore have had a nail wound in it. Even before Jesus appeared physically on the earth, He appeared spiritually in the circumstances of both Moses and the children of Israel. Isaiah would later ask the question regarding the Messiah/Christ: "Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm (zeroa - the stretched-out arm, forearm, "the strength of His hands", strength, might, power) of the LORD been revealed?" (Isa. 53:1)

     Do we understand the power in the nail-scarred hand of the LORD? Every mark that the haters of God inflicted upon the body of Jesus Christ was turned into our forgiveness, healing and liberation. It is the scarred hand of "the LORD" (see meaning above) that would bring the most powerful nation on earth at that time, Egypt, down, and, by great judgments, He would bring His people out of their bondage and into the covenant place that the LORD had prepared for them. (see above and also Jn. 14:1-6).

     In the praise/prayer of the King of Judah, Jehoshaphat, standing before the house of the LORD, he said: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you?" (2 Chron. 20:5-6). From this same hand of the LORD also comes creation (Isa. 48:12-13, Isa. 41:20, Isa. 66:1-2, Ps. 119:73), Deliverance (Deut. 7:8), favor and provision (Ezra 7:6), the rule over nations (Isa. 14:26-27), judgment (Isa. 9:12-13), mercy (Isa. 65:2), and resurrection (Mark 5:35-42).

     This nail-scarred hand of the LORD is endued with all power. We see above, however, that the enslaved Israelites did not believe the promises made to them by Moses and given by the LORD.

      Another reading portion from this Va-eira, "and He appeared" Sabbath tells us that even after He delivered the Israelites out of Egypt and showed them great miracles in the wilderness: "Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited (tava - to pain, wound, cause pain, to grieve, to mark, to imprint) the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-His-hand/power (yad, see mention above): the day when He redeemed them from the enemy." (Ps. 78:41-42). Considering the Hebrew meaning of "limited" written above in regard to the LORD's *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega hand, we can see that the word for "limited" does not have the same meaning as it does in English. Instead, we can see the connection to the nail holes, the wounds, the marks, the imprints, in Messiah/Christ's hands as representing the sin, the unbelief in, or failure to remember the LORD's great power. The New Testament uses this understanding of the Hebrew meaning of "limited" above in Heb. 6:4-6 where it is written that when those who had the full understanding of "the heavenly gift", and have come to be "partakers of the Holy Spirit", yet fall away from that understanding and faith, it becomes impossible to renew them "since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame." Christ is wounded again because of our unbelief. Paul also warned us: "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you are disqualified." (2 Cor. 13:5). Most of us would feel confident that we are indeed "in the faith" and would not spend much time examining that or "testing" it. However, the prophet also wrote: "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” (Zech. 13:6 KJV).

     There were those in scripture who felt confident in their faith, their gifts, their positions and standing but then found out to their horror that Jesus "never knew" them because they failed to do the will of His Father in heaven. (see Mt. 7:19-23). Humility. servanthood and an obedient heart, the evidence or fruits of Messiah/Christ in us, are needed to do the will of the Father. Better to examine and test ourselves now than to find it out later.

     We can ra'a see the appearance of the nail wounds in Messiah/Christ's hands and feet and the spear wound in His side. We can believe and remember the mighty power in the touch of those (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) hands of the LORD. 

     If you would like to understand more about the hands of the LORD, you can join with me in prayer: "Heavenly Father, You revealed the knowledge of Your *aleph-ta/Alpha and Omega hands to Moses, and You have revealed them to us in the hands of Your Son and our Lord, Jesus. Lord, help my faith, so that I can please You. Help my memory so that I never forget the power of Your hands. Forgive me and help me to never "limit" the Holy One of Israel with whom nothing is impossible. Let me look upon and reach out for the nail-scarred hands of Your wonderful Son, Jesus. These are the hands that save me, redeem me, heal me, deliver me, provide for me, and resurrect me. These are the hands that fight and overcome the enemy of my soul and life. These are the hands that hold kings' hearts and rule nations. I bless You, Lord, and praise Your love for me that caused You to receive the wounds on my behalf. I pray 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. 

     

Name&Purpose

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is very special. It is titled, Sh'mot, which means "Names." The word Sh'mot is also the Hebrew title of the Book of Exodus. The Book of Exodus deals with many amazing events including the deliverance of the Israelites out of the slavery in Egypt, the anointed and miraculous leadership of Moses as the Deliverer appointed by the LORD, the parting of the Red Sea, the receiving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and much more. It tells us something important when such a Book is named for and begins with the concept of "Names." The word Sh'mot, meaning names, is made up of the Hebrew letters shin, mem, vaw and tav. Each of these letters has an individual meaning, and when they are grouped together in this word they could be interpreted to mean: "the mighty consuming rock of water and blood of the nail and the cross/covenant/mark."

     The word Sh'mot, as a title of both the Book and this Sabbath, is taken from the first verse in the Book of Exodus: "Now these are the names (sem/sum - name, renown, fame, reputation, glory, memorial, monument, a mark of honor, authority and character, a mark with which anyone is marked/set, appoint, mark, ordain, establish, determine, transform into, make for a sign, care, preserve, purpose, to set standing in place, to plant, beget, to put garments on oneself, to set on fire) of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob."

     Please note the powerful meaning of the idea of a name as shown in the Hebrew meaning above. It is as if by naming us, the LORD sets marked pillars in place that are monuments of glory, honor, authority and character. At the entrance of the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, called Solomon's Porch," two bronze (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) pillars stood that were (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) named Boaz ("in fleetness and strength") and Jachin ("He [the LORD] will establish"). (see 1 Kings 7:21). This is also where Jesus plainly identified Himself as the Messiah/Christ in Solomon's Porch in the temple of Jerusalem, formally establishing His Kingdom, and also told those who had challenged Him there: "I and My Father are one." (see Jn. 10:22-30). After His resurrection, believers in Christ would meet together in the same Solomon's Porch (see Acts 3:11-16 and Acts 5:12).

     The names of these pillars were no accident but established a prophetic monument of glory honor, authority, and character of the King and Kingdom of God that would be fulfilled by Jesus Messiah/Christ, and also His believers.

     Under the Hebrew meaning for "name", (see sem/sum above), we can see that the name also transforms the person or thing. We have seen in previous Sabbath reading portions how God changed Abram's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) name to Abraham (Gen. 17:5-7, Neh. 9:7), Sarai's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) name to Sarah, and Jacob's name to Israel. (see Gen. 32:26-28). As their names were changed, their prophetic purpose was set in place.

     The name Abraham transformed Abram to a father of many nations and kings, and as an establishing point of covenant with God according to the verses noted above. Sarah's name transformed her into a mother of a future son, and a mother of nations and kings. Jacob's new name, Israel, transformed him into a prince who prevails with God and men.

      In another portion from this Sh'mot, "Names", Sabbath reading, Pharaoh's daughter found a baby in the river waters that she named Moses because, as the name means, she drew him out of the waters. (Ex. 2:5-10). The deliverer appointed by God to guide His people out of Egypt, Moses, was taken from the same waters that were claimed by the terrible gods of Egypt who were falsely credited with creative power, including life and death. Using their own place of rulership, the river, to identify His deliverer in this manner, the LORD made fools of those gods before the eyes of the Egyptians who believed and relied upon them. The LORD judged those gods as He judged all of Egypt by the plague of the death of all of the first-born. (see Ex. 12:12).

     Jesus marks our transformation in Him by writing upon us a new name (see sem/sum above): "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar (stylos/histemi - pillar, column, flames rising like a pillar, support/make firm, establish, cause to stand, uphold authority, set in place) in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev. 3:11-13, also see Rev. 2:17).

     Before He was born, Jesus was given His name which reflected His purpose and the monument of authority that He would establish as the angel Gabriel told Mary: "And behold, you will conceive in your womb  and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS (iesous [Greek]/yehoshua [Heb.] - meaning "Jehovah is salvation"). He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." (Lk. 1:31-33).

     Within the Hebrew meanings above of "name", sem/sum, are included the ideas "to put garments on oneself", and "to set on fire." Believers in Messiah/Christ Jesus particularly are able to find these ideas in scripture. In Galatians 3:26-27, Paul wrote: "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on (endyo - out on, clothe with, be clothed) Christ." (see also Rom. 13:12-14 and Eph. 4:20-24). We clothe ourselves in Christ in the same way that we would sink into a garment. After the resurrection, the believers in Jesus Christ were gathered together in the upper room above David's tomb in Jerusalem on the Feast of Pentecost/Weeks, when fire came down from heaven, which was the Holy Spirit, and settled upon the heads of each one. (Acts 2:1-4). To consider the spiritual imagery described here, we could say that each believer became a torch of fire (light) or a living pillar of flame as they received the Holy Spirit in this form. They were transformed in this experience, and the church was established as Peter gave his first sermon regarding faith in Christ and repentance unto salvation to those present who were observing this phenomenon.

     As we can see from all of the above examples from scripture, "What a difference a sem/sum name makes!"

     Going back to our Sabbath reading portion for this week in the Book of Exodus (Sh'mot), the LORD reveals His name to Moses at the burning bush of fire: "Then Moses said to God, 'Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?' And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And He said, 'Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM (haya/hava - to be, to become, has been, to exist, to come to pass, to be established/to breathe, to be) has sent me to you.' Moreover God said to Moses, 'Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations." (Ex. 3:13-15). The LORD clothed Himself in fire to reveal His sem/sum name.

     The Hebrew letters yod-hey-vaw-hey that are written for this name, LORD, or "I AM", that was revealed to Moses above, and to all generations to come after him, have the individual meanings when combined that can express this: "Behold, the hand, behold the nail." The name revealed to Moses here means the life, or existing, before, the life now and the life to come (see haya/hava above). He is the breath that forms all life. There is no life without Him as the Existing One. 

     Jesus revealed Himself in the first chapter of the Book of Revelation, saying: "I am the Alpha and the Omega (also Aleph-Tav in Hebrew, see *note at the bottom of the page), the Beginning and the End,' says the Lord, 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Rev. 1:4, 8). He also describes Himself as "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen." (v. 18). John 1:4 says: "In Him was life (zoe/zao - absolute fulness of life which belongs to God and to Christ/to live, to breathe, to be alive)...". Clothed in His name, Jesus, we have this same life.

     Each of us is named. According to the choices made, and the Messiah/Christ of salvation either gratefully received or rejected, some of those names are written in the Book of Life, and some are not. The names of life given to us have the power to transform us and establish the Kingdom of God in the earth. The name we have identifies us with the Messiah/Christ Jesus or not: "...that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth...Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (spoken by Peter, the Book of Acts 4:10-12, excerpt). This is the name that has been given to us from heaven for our salvation. Put on, be clothed in that name and live.

     If you would like to know more about the name of the LORD and life, you can pray with me: "Living Father, You have given us Your only begotten Son, Jesus, Yehoshua Salvation, so that I may be transformed from death unto life by that name. You are life forevermore, and You have gifted that same life to me through faith in that name. What power You have placed in Your name for my benefit! Transform me by that name, establish me in that name, and clothe me in that name, "Jesus". I praise and thank You 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. 

FoodinFAMINE

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-y'chi, which means, "and he lived." The title comes from Gen. 47:28: "And Jacob lived (haya - breathing, live, alive, save, quicken, revive, life, recover, remain alive, live prosperously, live forever, be restored to life or health, preserve alive, to revive from discouragement or death) in the land of Egypt (misrayim/masor/sur - Egypt, Egyptians/besieged places, fortified, limit, distress, fortress/lay siege, adversaries, assault, bind up, confine, to press upon, to compress) seventeen years. So the length of Jacob's life was one hundred and forty-seven years."

     Looking at the Hebrew meanings of the words used in the above verse, we can say that Jacob (and his family) found their lives preserved, restored, and even prospered, in a place of danger, limitations and confinement. They found this preserved life because of the calling of God on Joseph's life. Joseph said: "...And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance." (Gen. 45:5-7, excerpt). Joseph was ordained to keep Jacob/Israel alive during a time of severe famine, and for the sake of the future generations of Israel, in the unlikely nation of Egypt, ruled by Pharaoh. Because of the favor that Joseph had received from Pharaoh because Joseph was a man filled with the Spirit and wisdom of God, Pharaoh gave the best land in Egypt to be occupied by Jacob and his family. (see Gen. 45:16-20).

     There were still five years of famine to endure in Egypt after Jacob and his sons came to dwell there. (Gen. 45:6). As our reading begins in Genesis Ch. 47, we are presented with a strange series of facts regarding how Joseph, as second only to Pharaoh in Egypt, dealt with the famine: "Now there was no bread (lehem/laham - bread, food, grain, meat, loaves, shewbread, provision/fight, make war, to eat, overcome, devoured, prevail, engage in battle, consume) in all the land; for the famine (ra'ab/ra'eb - famine, hunger, dearth, hunger for Jehovah's Word, scarcity of grain/suffer hunger, allow to hunger, be voracious, to cause to hunger) was very severe (kabed/kabad - great, grievous, heavy, sore, thick, massive, abundant, very oppressive, burdensome/honor, glorify, glorious, gain glory, sore, made heavy, burden), so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished (laha - to burn, to be rabid, insane, exhausted by frenzy, languish, faint, madman, tongue thrust out longing for drink, driven by a demon, scared) because of the famine." (Gen. 47:13). The suffering in the famine was so great that it drove people mad with it. We should also notice the connection in meaning between bread or grain and warfare in the Hebrew word and root lehem/laham. We will discover that famine can result from a state of war. We will see that famine is also associated with spiritual warfare as well. I would also like to note that grievous heaviness in the Hebrew meaning associated with the severity of this famine is also related to the glory of God in the words kabed/kabad above. Scripture tells us that as the glory of God filled the temple, the priests that ministered there could not continue because of its massive heaviness. (see 2 Chron. 5:12-14). The prophet asked, "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap." (Mal. 3:2). This will have meaning in the last days as Christ returns also, because He comes with great glory, and the overwhelming brightness of His glory will destroy the wicked one. (see Isa. 40:5-8, Mt. 24:30-31, 2 Thess. 2:8). Jesus has given to the Body of His believers this same glory. (Jn. 17:22-24).

     As we read about Joseph's tactics for provision during the ongoing deep famine throughout the region, we should keep in mind that Jacob's and consequently Israel's survival are linked to Joseph's ongoing favor in his position with Pharaoh. Officially, Joseph has been entrusted by Pharaoh as a ruler over Pharaoh's household and everything that belongs to Pharaoh. He can only keep Israel alive as he pleases and enriches Pharaoh.

     This is how Joseph handled the distribution of grain kept in Pharaoh's storehouses during the famine: "And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house." (Gen. 47:14). 

     When the money failed because the people had given it all to pay for grain, they came to Joseph asking for more bread, saying to him, "Why should we die in your presence?" Joseph then told them to give him their livestock since their money was gone, and he would give them bread. Joesph fed them that year in exchange for all of their livestock, which became Pharaoh's. (v. 16-17).

     The next year of the famine, the people came to him again for bread. Because they had neither money nor herds left, they sold themselves and their land to Pharaoh so that they wouldn't die: "Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh...so the land became Pharaoh's." (v. 18-20).

     Joseph moved the people off the land and into the cities across Egypt, and decreed: "Then Joseph said to the people, 'Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land...in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.' So they said, 'You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants." (v. 23-25). Pharaoh took twenty percent. The Egyptian priests did not have to give up their lands because Pharaoh always continued to supply them with their ration of food.

     Pharaoh became greatly enriched because of Joseph's service to him, and the people remained alive although they had to give everything including themselves to Pharaoh. What would the world be willing to do to save themselves and their families from starvation? Scripture says that many will turn away from God and turn instead to a supernaturally evil, oppressive tyrant and his world-wide economic system.

     This brings me to what I see in this part of Joseph's story as a prophetic picture and warning.

     Famine is one of the catastrophes prophesied during the time before Christ's return. Jesus prophesied: "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Mt. 24:7-8). Because of one of the horses of the Apocalypse, wheat and barley will become scarce on the earth. (see Rev. 6:5-6). This black horse followed the horse that would take peace from the earth. As we saw in the Hebrew words lehem/laham used above meaning "bread", famine often associated with warfare.

     Famine is also very prominent in the world today. 318 million people in 68 countries are facing hunger now, which is double the amount from 2019. Famine has been officially designated in the Palestinian Territories, South Sudan, Haiti, Mali, Yemen, the Congo, Myanmar, with near famine conditions reported in Chad, Somalia and Syria. Most of these famine conditions have resulted from conflicts and weather changes. Myanmar's near famine is connected to a major earthquake that occurred there. Famine is steadily crawling across the surface of the earth at this time.

     In the United States, the fifth largest wheat producer in the world, three years of drought has affected the winter wheat yields in Kansas, and too much rain has reduced the spring wheat output in North Dakota. It was during the decade of the 1930's that the great plains of the United States, known for its rich soil, was renamed The Great Dust Bowl. Several factors, including poor land management, led to this devastation. On April 14, 1935, a dust storm came to that area that was so huge the date was later called Black Sunday. It was called this because what started out as a sunny day, became darkened as the sun was obscured by the thick cloud of black dust until "it was darker than the darkest night." The Dust Bowl lasted for years as once-rich prairie land turned to dry dust, and families abandoned their useless farms.

     Also occurring in the United States, $24 trillion dollars' worth in farms and farmland is currently up for sale. Very wealthy individuals, corporations, and even foreign nations are buying some of this land. Will farming continue on this land after it is sold? Hundreds of millions of acres of farmland in the United States have already been sold - to two entities, one being a foreign government.

     The top two producers of wheat in the world are Russia and the Ukraine. Ukraine's rich black soil is considered the most fertile land on earth, and that nation has been called "The Breadbasket of Europe." Both countries have been at conflict together for several years. Together they produce 1/4 of the world's wheat. What effect will their ongoing conflict have on their production of wheat?

     The global food chain has become very vulnerable.

     Conflicts, weather changes, and natural disasters like fire and flood can change the grain production of the earth in a moment. However, as we saw above, the people of God, Jacob/Israel and his family, were provided for in the middle of a severe famine. Both Joseph and Pharaoh guaranteed the provision for God's people in the territory of Goshen (meaning "to draw near"), also known as Rameses, in Egypt. This was the richest soil in Egypt. However, men pass away, as Joseph and this Pharaoh did, and the situation changed. God does not pass away, and He continued to see and hear His people until the day of their deliverance from Egypt and after.

     The prophet of God also wrote this as a correction to God's people from the LORD: "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) all-the-tithes into the storehouse ('osar - treasury, store, supplies of food or drink, God's armory or magazine of weapons), that there may be food/meat (terep/tarap - prey, meat, fresh leaves, spoil, food, descending to battle like a lion, the spoil of the wicked/tear to pieces, feed, prey, catch, provide food) in My house, and try Me in this,' says the LORD of hosts, 'If I will not open for you (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the windows ('aruba/'arab - latticed like a dove-house or coop, a chimney for smoke to escape, a sluice for water to flow/to weave, to intertwine, to mingle) of heaven and pour out for you a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." (Mal. 3:8-10). Pharaoh received twenty percent of future earnings in addition to all of the money, herds, lands and servitude of his people that he had already received, while the LORD only asks for ten percent, and that ten percent is identified with the sacrifice of His Son, the Messiah/Christ, Jesus, who gave Himself as an offering, as indicated by the presence of the *aleph-tav in written Hebrew (see *note below). It seems a small, but spiritually powerful token for God to request from us. He would certainly be entitled to all that we have if He demanded it. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is worth far more than everything we own combined. (Mt. 6:31-34 and Mt. 13:44-46).

     We can see how the supply of the LORD comes to us as He spoils His enemies in spiritual and physical battle according to the Hebrew words terep/tarap above. We have a record in scripture of the LORD breaking a severe famine that had come upon His people by defeating and spoiling the besieging Assyrian army that had surrounded Jerusalem. (see 2 Kings 7:1-16). The enemy's bread that they left behind in their camp fed God's starving people.

     Not only does the LORD supply His people with physical bread, and His Word, the scriptures, as spiritual bread, but He also supplies us with the Bread of salvation and eternal life, Jesus. David wrote: "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed." (Ps. 37:25-26).

     As we study these Sabbath reading portions, the special and peculiar characteristics of the Sabbaths of the LORD are revealed for us to learn. The Lord's Sabbath contains a special double provision ahead of time, as was the case with Joseph, Pharaoh and Egypt in order to carry His people through the time of rest in Him when His people cannot gather.

     If you would like to learn more about the loving provision of the Lord, you can join me in prayer: "Heavenly Father, Who owns the world and everything in it, I give You my thanks for the provision that You have made for me throughout my life, and the lives of my family. No matter the circumstances that come upon the world, You have shown Your faithfulness to me. Nothing is impossible for You as Your Son Jesus demonstrated when He multiplied the few loaves of bread to feed thousands. I hold up the bread, both natural and spiritual, that You have given to me, and I wave it before You in praise and thanksgiving. I pray for those who hunger and thirst at this time across the world. You have blessed us with abundance to share with others in Your name so that men will glorify You. Lead me in Your Word and by Your Spirit, and let me always trust in You for all things. 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. 

Bread

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Va-yiggash, which means, "and he drew near." The title comes from the moment when Joseph, a governor or ruler in Egypt, revealed himself to his brothers who had come from Canaan to Egypt again for bread grain during a famine: "Then Joseph (yosep/yasap - "Jehovah has added"/more, exceed, add to, increase) said to his brothers, 'I am Joseph; does my father (Jacob/Israel) still live?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed (bahal - afraid, dismayed, rash, thrust him out, disturb, alarm, terrify, anxious, tremble inside) in his presence. And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come/draw near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt." (Gen. 45:3-4).

     This Sabbath reading this year also occurs during the same week as the observance of Christ's birth, Christmas. There are similarities between the story of Joseph and Jesus that helps us to understand the depths and the heights from which our salvation comes.

     Joseph had been rejected in the most extreme manner by his brethren when he was a young lad, as they even considered killing him. Now, however, his greatest wish was to be reconciled with them, and with his father, Jacob, whom Joseph dearly loved and who had remained behind in Canaan. Jesus also experienced this kind of rejection: "He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." (Jn. 1:10-11). From the moment that Christ came into the world, the spirit of this world tried to thrust Him out (see bahal above).

     Joseph then said to his brothers: "Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph: 'God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen (gosen - "drawing near"), and you shall be near to me...There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine." (Gen. 45:9-11).

     Joseph told his brothers to get their father and to "draw near" to him in Egypt. Even the place in which they would settle in Egypt, the best of the land as even Pharaoh had agreed to give to them, was called by a name that means "drawing near." (v. 17-18).

     Joseph recognized that the LORD's purpose in his life was as a saver of life - to preserve life, especially the lives of Israel (Jacob), through an extreme and long-lasting famine. He had told his brothers earlier: "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life...And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." (v. 5-8).

     Joseph recognized that the betrayal of his brothers resulted in the elevated position of authority that he now held in Egypt. Joseph had the power to send his brothers away without the bread that they sought. He had the power and the reason to condemn his brothers and imprison them, as he himself had been imprisoned, but he did not do this because he understood the importance of the purpose of God in his life. Joseph had been sent to save life, especially the lives and household of Israel/Jacob. Jesus came with the same purpose. Jesus told Nicodemus, a teacher in Israel: "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn (krino - to separate, put asunder, to judge, to pronounce judgment, to subject, to censure, to punish, damn, decree) the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (sozo - save, keep safe and sound, rescue from danger or destruction, to save a suffering one from perishing, to heal, make well, restore to health, be whole, to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic/Christ's judgment, to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic/Christ's deliverance). He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he also who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (Jn. 3:17-18). The Greek language used above indicates, the meaning of sozo, or salvation, is even deeper than we might have thought. It also includes healing, and to deliver us from those evil things that would hinder receiving the Messiah/Christ as Savior. The world is already condemned for its unbelief, so it is a waste of time and purpose for us to condemn the world. The idea is, to move those who will receive it from unbelief into belief in the Son of God. 

     Personal betrayal also played a role in the fulfilment of Jesus' purpose, as it did in Joseph's life. The infamous betrayal of Jesus by Judas was one factor necessary and prophesied that led to the cross and Christ's crucifixion. Knowing this ahead of time, Jesus even said to Judas at the Passover supper, or Last Supper: "What you do, do quickly." And Judas, being filled by Satan, left to betray Him. (see Jn. 13:21-27). Satan had filled Judas after he took the piece of bread that Jesus had handed him. The Bread that saves is also the same Bread that condemns when rejected.

     This same betrayal also played a part in Jesus' deliverance of the New Covenant to His disciples and to us. The apostle Paul received this connection through a revelation from the Lord: "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." Paul then wrote: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes."  (1Cor. 11:23-26). I have often wondered why the Lord specifically connected His betrayal by Judas to what we now refer to as "Communion" as He revealed it to Paul. The wisdom of God used the greatest betrayal ever recorded to create one of the great spiritual weapons of victory that has been delivered to the church of believers - the Eucharist (meaning "to give thanks") or Communion, the Table of the Lord. We will see another reference to artillery and weapons, as well as armor later. Do we think of Communion as also being an essential weapon that has been provided to us in our spiritual warfare?

     The first time that Jacob sent his sons to Egypt from Cannan, they took money with them to buy the grain: "When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, 'Why do you look at one another?' And he said, 'Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.' So Joseph's ten brothers (the eleventh and youngest, Benjamin, was kept in Canaan by Jacob) went down to buy grain in Egypt." (Gen. 42:1-3).

     It is important to look at the Hebrew meaning of the word translated as "grain" or "corn": it is the Hebrew word and roots seber/sebar/sabar, and means "all kinds of grain, corn, broken in a mill, a breaking, a breach, a fracture, wounds, destruction/hurt, breaking, bruise, affliction, crushing/break in pieces, rend violently, bring to the birth." Jesus identified the broken bread of the Last Supper with His body having been broken for us. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He was placed in a manger, a vessel that holds the grain (see above) that feeds the animals. The specific circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus were not accidents, but full of meaning.

     On the first trip to Egypt, the brothers were recognized by Joseph as they approached him to buy grain, but they did not recognize him. They paid money to purchase the grain, but when they returned home to Jacob, they found not only the grain in their (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) sacks (keli/kala - vessel, bag, artillery, weapon, armorbearer, jewel, tool, yoke/end, finish, accomplish, done, fulfil, to be finished or complete) that they had purchased but also all of the money that they had given in payment for the grain, plus more provisions for their return journey, and they were afraid. (Gen. 42:25-28). They're money had not been accepted but returned to them.

     When the destruction of His body had been completed (see keli/kala above) on the cross, Jesus said, "It is finished." (see Jn. 19:28-30).

     The prophet Isaiah brought the Word of the LORD calling people to come, buy and eat, without money and without price: "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy...come to Me. Hear and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you - the sure mercies of David...Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near." (Isa. 55:1-6, excerpt).

     Joseph's brothers received bread grain which cost them nothing, as Isaiah also wrote above.

     Jesus spoke about being the bread of life: "And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst....Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life...This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." (Jn. 6:35, 47-51). 

     Jesus could not have been clearer in identifying Himself as the spiritual bread of eternal life for anyone who will receive and eat of it. We cannot buy this kind of bread, as Isaiah wrote. It is a gift of Himself from Jesus to the world to bring life to the world from death. 

     In another portion from this week's Sabbath reading, the prophet Amos warned of another famine that is coming upon God's people because of their sins and their rejection of His Word: "Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD God, 'That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the word of the LORD, but shall not find it." (Amos 8:11-12).

     This is a time when we are to draw near to our Savior, Jesus. He is our living Bread, the Word (see Jn. 1:1-3, 14) who became flesh, born as a babe in Bethlehem (meaning "the house of bread"), and grew into a man, and dwelt with us. He gave His flesh for us to eat of the bread of eternal life.  Draw near to Him.

     If you would like to partake of the Bread of life, you can pray this prayer with me: "Lord Jesus, You came to earth so that I could hold the Bread of life without price in my hand, which is Your body broken, crushed and wounded, so that I could eat it and live. You have saved me from destruction, and You have brought healing to me. Because of the Bread that You have given to me, I will never be hungry again. I draw near to You, Lord, and trust in You for all things concerning my life and salvation, and that of my whole household. I believe on Your name, Jesus, and pray in Your name. AMEN."

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

SpiritLight

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Mikketz, which means, "at the end of." The title comes from the first verse of the reading in Genesis 41: "Then it came to pass, at the end of (qes/qasas - end, after, end of time or space, an extremity, utmost border/cut off, cut in pieces, cut asunder, chop off, amputate, cut away) two (sana - second time, again, repeat, do again, alter, change, to transmute, to be other, those who change, change oneself) full years, that Pharaoh had a dream..." (v. 1). Since this verse says that it is the end of two years, it must be at the door of the third year.

     If we look at the Hebrew meanings above, something important is about to happen. A great change has occurred, not only a change in circumstance but also a change in the people involved, including Joseph. After two years in Pharaoh's dungeon, Joseph's reputation for interpreting dreams will cause his release. He will be brought before Pharaoh to interpret Pharaoh's dreams. After two years in the dungeon (bor/bur/ba'ar - pit, cistern, dungeon, prison, sepulcher, fountain, well/examine, make clear, prove, bore into, declare, search out/make plain, make clear, distinct, letters on a tablet, engrave, declare), Joseph was filthy and had to be cleaned, shaved, and given appropriate clothes to wear for an audience before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. (v. 14-15). Pharaoh was so troubled by his dreams that he was willing to bring a Hebrew slave up from his dungeon and into his presence to ask for his help.

     From the Hebrew meaning for "dungeon," above, we can see that the place of the pit or the grave became a place of change for Joseph. Joseph was spiritually examined and proven in that place. The tomb of the dungeon then became a spiritual well or fountain for Joseph. Out of the pit or grave where he had been forgotten, Joseph would become a tablet written with letters (see bor/bur/ba'ar above) that will declare and exalt the LORD.

     As Joseph was asked to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, he answered: "It is not me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace." (v. 16). After hearing Pharaoh's dreams and giving Pharaoh the interpretation that God had shown him, Joseph was viewed by Pharaoh and his court as "a man in whom is the Spirit of God....there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my (Pharaoh's) house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word..." (v. 37-40).

     A change in circumstances, and a change in apparel occurs again as Pharaoh appointed Joseph into leadership over the nation of Egypt: "Then Pharaoh took his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) signet ring (taba'at/taba' - a seal, a seal-ring, signet ring/to sink, to press in, to impress a seal, to seal, to dip into, to immerse, plunged) off his hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen (ses/sayis - fine linen, bleached white, alabaster/to bleach, to whiten, alabaster, marble) and put a gold chain (collar) around his neck." (v. 42).

      The LORD not only used Joseph to prophesy through dream interpretations, but the pattern that I see here says to me that God also used Joseph to prophesy death and resurrection, not only the resurrection of His Son, Jesus from the pit of death, but also the resurrection of all of those who see and believe in Jesus: "And this is the will of Him who sent Me (Jesus), that everyone who sees (theoreo - look at and intensively acknowledge, behold, consider, perceive with the eyes, discern, ascertain) the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (Jn. 6:40). How can we "see" Jesus as mentioned in this verse? We "see" Him through the hearing of the Gospel, the revelation of Him through the Word of God, and our encounter with Him through the Holy Spirit. He is just as visible to us in this manner as if we could reach out and touch Him. We see Him with the eyes of our souls and our spirits.

     Joseph was changed or altered spiritually and in appearance (see sana above) after he was brought up from the pit early in the third year, and Jesus was altered physically and spiritually (see Phil. 2:5-11) after He rose from death early on the morning of the third day. He then appeared to His disciples in His changed body. We also will be changed or altered. (see Jn. 20:19-22, 1 Cor. 15:42-44 and 52-55).

     Pharaoh acknowledged the Spirit of God upon Joseph's life, and we also have the "sealing" by the signet ring, which includes the meaning (see taba'at/taba' above) of being immersed or dipped into, reminding us of baptism. When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, a dove, which John identified as the Holy Spirit, descended from heaven and remained upon Jesus. John said, "This is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen (horao - see with the eyes, perceive, to know by experience, to look, pay heed to, discern clearly) ..." (see Jn. 1:32-34).

      As with Joseph, it is the Holy Spirit that not only raised Jesus from the dead, but raises us also. (see Rom. 8:11). It is the Holy Spirit that "seals" (see taba'at/taba' above) us in our resurrection inheritance: "In Him (Jesus) you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." (Rom. 1:13-14).

     Joseph was clothed by Pharaoh in fine linen, as Pharaoh perceived the Spirit of God in Joseph and elevated him in authority. Egyptian linen was and is still known as the finest, most luxurious linen in the world. The dressing of Joseph in fine linen is a prophetic shadow of how our King, the Lord, robes us His saints. The beautiful pure white linen with which He robes us represents the salvation covering of His righteousness upon us. These white linen garments are also associated with the marriage between the Bride and Bridegroom, which also reflects our relationship with Christ as His Bride. (see Isa. 61:10, Rev. 19:6-9).

     We see again the power and purpose of the Holy Spirit in another reading from this Sabbath's Mikketz, "at the end of" portion. The following is included in this Sabbath's reading because this Sabbath takes place while Hanukkah, the eight-day Festival of Lights (Dedication) is taking place. This feast remembers the miracle of God that extended the oil supply necessary to keep the Menorah Lamp in the temple burning for eight days instead of one day. The "eighth day" appears often in scripture and always carries the establishment of an important and powerful principle or event with God.

     This Sabbath reading portion is from Zech. 4:1-7. Zechariah received the vision from the LORD of a solid gold, seven-branched lampstand or menorah, with a continuous supply of olive oil flowing directly from two olive trees standing on each side of it. Zechariah is told that this vision, and the meaning of the vision is to be delivered to Zerubbabel, who was the governor and leader of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem after the Israelites were miraculously returned from captivity in Babylon, as was previously prophesied. The progress in rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem had been torturously slow, with little progress made and opposition all around. This was the prophetic message to Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of 'Grace (hen - well-favored, grace, acceptance, good-will), grace to it!" 

     The Holy Spirit, represented by the gold lamp of the vision, would accomplish by His unlimited power what man had not been able to accomplish. The seven branches of the Lamp are the eyes of the LORD scanning the whole earth. (v. 10). The Holy Spirit is the voice of "grace" in the message to Zerubbabel. The Holy Spirit in the mouth of Zerubbabel would take the mountain of opposition and raise up the *Messiah/Christ capstone from it (see *note below). Transformation, change, alteration, transmutation (see sana above) - what once was, will be changed by the Holy Spirit into what is to be, according to the will of God. There is also the force of "grace" in this message to Zerubbabel.

     Have we limited our concept of "grace"? Our understanding of grace should also include the power to change what is an obstacle to God's will, the mountain, into what is approved and acceptable to God, in this case, the beloved Capstone that is His Son, Jesus. (see Ps. 118:22-24, Mt. 21:42, Acts 4:10-12, Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Pet. 2:4-10). Grace changed us from being unacceptable to accepted by God: "...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..." (see Eph. 1:3-8). Grace contains the glory and riches of God, as this verse reveals. If we truly believe that grace has the power to change the unacceptable into the accepted before God, then we should be believing, speaking and praying "Grace, grace" to all of creation, especially to that which stands in opposition to the will of God. Jesus came full of grace and truth. (Jn. 1:14). Speaking "Grace" is like speaking the name and essence of Jesus. 

     Do we only view the Holy Spirit as the Giver of spiritual gifts? Jesus said that the Holy Spirit glorifies Him, Jesus, and takes what is His and declares it to us. (see Jn. 16:13-14). We can believe for the Holy Spirit to glorify Jesus Christ in the whole earth, and to declare the things of Christ to us, and to those being saved. Paul wrote that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our inner spirit that we are children of God, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. (see Rom. 8:16).  Paul again wrote that the Holy Spirit testifies to our inner spirit and hearts from which He cries out, "Abba, Father!" on our behalf, making us sons and heirs of God through Christ. (see Gal. 4:6). The Holy Spirit is part of the Three in heaven, Father, Son and Spirit, that bear witness of truth in heaven, and the Holy Spirit and the water and blood of Christ as one bear witness of the truth of Christ here on earth. (see 1 Jn. 5:6-12). All of the gifts, witnessing and testifying of the Holy Spirit in and through the believer in Jesus Christ (the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit of fire), serve the purpose, glory, and truth of Jesus Christ to all the earth. In the form of the Golden Lampstand of God as seen in the vision above, the Holy Spirit identified in the message to Zerubbabel, is the flame of the Light of the world, the unending oil that supplies the flame of the Light of the world, and the Lampstand which lifts up, elevates and exalts the Light of the world, which is Christ and Christ in us. That Light of the world is the Light that overcomes the darkness of a long, cold winter night. It is the Light of creation and life. It is the Light of hope that all things are possible with God, to be held up high for all to be able to see. (Ps. 18:27-28, Isa. 42:6-7, Mt. 4:16, Mt. 5:14-16, Rev. 21:23-24).

Joseph's gift, as a man with the Spirit of God, testified to Pharaoh and all Egypt that the LORD is the only God, and that he, Joseph, knew God, and the spiritual gift in Joseph, the filthy Hebrew slave brought up out of the pit by the grace/favor and Spirit of God, was used to testify of God, and not of any man. (Gen. 41:16). How much more can a called-out assembly of millions of believers in Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles, full of the Holy Spirit and as witnesses to the grace of God through Christ, be used by God for His purpose? The mind boggles! As we think of the miracles, especially the birth of our Savior, Jesus, of this time of year, let us bring new wonder and worship to the Lord for all that He has done.

     If you would like to learn more about the Spirit and grace of God, and the Light that shines through every darkness, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father and glorious King, especially in this season, help me to understand, speak, pray, and walk in a deeper understanding of Your Holy Spirit and Your grace, given to us through the sacrifice of Your own Son, Jesus. Help me to understand by Your Word and Spirit as a light to my eyes, how the Spirit's testimony that I am a child of God and a joint-heir with Christ is not meant to be consumed on myself, but is to be used to glorify You, Your Son, and Your Spirit. You assigned Hanukkah and Christmas to occur during a season of darkened days for a reason. Help me to walk in the gift of Your grace in a manner that shines Your Light into the darkness. I ask these things 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.