RoshChodesh

 

                                                             Phases of the Lunar Cycle

     This Sabbath reading portion has a double title: Mattot, meaning "Tribes/Staffs", and Massei, meaning "Journeys of." Numbers 32 through 35 are included in this portion in which Moses writes a record of the Israelite tribes' journey through the wilderness with all of its arrivals and departures along the way. This is also a special Sabbath designated as Rosh Chosesh because during the next week, the new moon phase of the lunar cycle will usher in the new month on the Hebrew calendar called Av, which is the Hebrew word for "Father". This is what I will be studying for this entry. The Hebrew calendar is based upon the lunar cycle rather than the solar cycle upon which our calendar is based. Although many tragic events occurred for the Hebrews during the month of Av throughout history, the fact that this month is named "Father" brings focus back upon the divine compassion, comfort and sureness, not just of God, not just of Creator, but of our "Father."

 

     Rosh means "head, highest, most important, beginning, first" and Chodesh means "month" or "new." Just as the Sabbath is observed weekly, Rosh Chodesh is observed as each new moon/month occurs. The new moon is not usually visible to the naked eye from earth. If you look at the chart of the lunar phases at the top of the page, the new moon is depicted in the middle on the right side of the image. If you look closely, you can see that there is only a very obscured depiction of the moon in the new moon phase. You can hardly see it. It is dark because, as we look from earth, the moon appears to be positioned between the earth and the sun, so the light of the sun is not reflected off of the side of the moon that faces us. NASA says that the moon rises and sets with the sun in this phase.

     Although the moon in the new moon phase is not generally observable from earth, it is still there. It does not cease to exist as a celestial body. In the same way, the LORD asks us to perceive the new things that He is doing based upon His assurances that they are there, even if they are not yet evident to the human eye. 

     

     With the new moon comes a whole new cycle of the phases of the moon. In one of this Sabbath's readings, the prophet Isaiah mentions observances of the new moon. In Isaiah 66, the LORD asks His people, "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?..." and also saying that (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-these-things already exist. (v. 1-2). The LORD then goes on to describe a very lackluster, careless, disrespectful worship by His people. The LORD even says that He is being brought abominations: "...and their soul delights in their abominations." (see v. 3). They treat the LORD in the same way that they would treat one of their useless idols according to this Word from Isaiah.

  

     Isaiah also wrote here that what the LORD is looking for is the establishment of His home within the human soul: "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." (v. 2). The idea of a physical building as being the dwelling place of God is "the way things have always been," which removes the newness of the LORD from man's perception and expectation, saying, "This is where we worship, this is how we worship, this is what we do, this is what we understand, this is what we are comfortable with, this is the way it has always been done." Jesus challenged this old way of understanding by bringing a new and revolutionary revelation based upon the promises of the scriptures. Jesus did not bring the revelation to a Jewish religious leader, nor to a respected or honored citizen of Jerusalem where the temple of God dwelt in impressive glory, but He brought this new thing to a Samaritan woman of scandalous reputation. This is not what one would usually "expect." This is not how it is "supposed" to happen. Jesus had sent His disciples away because He knew in the Spirit that the Samaritan woman would be coming to the well, and He was waiting for her arrival. He not only identified Himself clearly as the Messiah/Christ to her, but Jesus also revealed the heart of God: "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father (Av in Hebrew) in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (Jn. 4:21-24). 

    

     As the Samaritan woman expressed her understanding that the coming Messiah (Christ in Greek) would teach all things, Jesus said to her: "I who speak to you am He." (v. 25-26). We don't even know this woman's name, but Jesus purposefully waited for this woman to reveal new things to her, previously unimagined in traditional religious thinking of the time.

     Later, the disciples would be shocked as Jesus prophesied to them that the magnificent temple in Jerusalem, which they reverenced and admired, would be totally destroyed. (Mt. 24:1-2). Jesus does say in His continuing prophetic message to His disciples: "...the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light." (Mt. 24:29). It is possible that Jesus was speaking of a new moon in this part of His prophecy. Soon after, Jesus would be arrested, tortured and crucified during Passover.

     As we continue in the Sabbath reading from Isaiah 66 assigned because this Sabbath precedes a Rosh Chodesh new moon for the coming month of Av ("Father"), Isaiah speaks about a new thing the LORD is bringing to birth. The new birth will involve the delivering of a male child even before the birth pangs (hebel/habal - sorrows [see Mt. 24:8], pain, destruction, travail/destroy, corrupt, offend, take a pledge, to be ruined, to bind, to writhe in pain) begin. (v. 7). The LORD asks, "Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation (goy/geva/gev/ga'a - nation, heathen, Gentiles, people, descendants of Abraham, a body of people/the back, body/back as beaten/to rise up, risen, triumph, gloriously, be raised up) be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor (hul - pain, tremble, wounded, grievous, shake, tremble, be in anguish, to twist or writhe in pain, suffering torture), she gave birth to her (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-children." (v. 8).

     Before the appointed time of terrible sorrow, pain and destruction, a male child will miraculously be brought forth in a surprising way. A nation is born of both Abraham's descendants and Gentiles, a body of people, whose origins are from a beaten back or body, and from a glorious and triumphant raising up. These are Zion's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-children. This is how I would summarize the powerful Hebrew meaning found in verses 7 and 8, above. What or Who do you see in these verses from the Hebrew meanings?

     When God fulfilled His prophecy here, who was able to perceive it, even though it had been obscured from sight (like the new moon), and who did not perceive it because they were happy with "the way things have always been done"? Paul described the Gospel of Messiah/Christ as a mystery of divine truth that had previously been hidden, but had now been revealed. (Eph. 3:1-7, Rom. 16:25-27, Col. 1:24-27).

     The LORD continued, saying in Isa. 66: "Rejoice with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her. That you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom, that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance of her glory." (v. 10-11).

     What started with a people who had dishonored the LORD with indifferent worship, now reveals something new: the birth of the male child and a body of worshipers from all nations that suddenly comes forth afterwards: the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) children of Zion. Rejoice! (see Isa. 66:18-21).

     The reading from Isaiah 66 of this Sabbath before Rosh Chodesh concludes: "For as the new heavens and the new earth (see also 2 Pet. 3:10-13) which I will make shall remain before Me,' says the LORD, 'So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,' says the LORD. 'And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses (peger/pagar - corpse, monument, ruins of men's idols/void of strength, tear down, destroy) of men who have transgressed (pasa' - transgress, rebelled, revolt, break away from just authority, expanding, spreading, multiplying, apostatize, march forward against) against Me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence (dera'on - eternal contempt, aversion, abomination, be repulsed) to all flesh." (v. 22-24).

     Bible Prophecy may have more than one interpretation and/or application and fulfilment. I see here, however, from the Hebrew meanings involved, the promise of the coming of the suffering yet triumphantly resurrected Messiah/Christ, and the Body of both Jews and Gentiles that would come forth from Him, provided by the Av/Father God before the terrible destruction comes. In the last-mentioned verses from Isaiah 66 above, we see the newness created in and through Messiah/Christ, the male child who was born, and the eternal destruction and burning of the old, which had rebelled against all that is God. Revelation 21 tells us the same thing: "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea...Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new.' and He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.' And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega (*aleph-tav in Hebrew), the Beginning and the End. I will give the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Rev. 21:1-8, excerpt).

     Not only does the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Lord Jesus make all things new to a massive extent as stated above, but He also makes us, the individual believer in His salvation and redemption, part of a new thing, a new creation, of new heavens and a new earth, as Isaiah prophesied. Paul wrote this truth: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new." (1 Cor. 5:17).

     There are twelve new moons in a year, one for the beginning of each month on the Hebrew calendar. However, only a few are noted in the Sabbath reading portion cycle. This Rosh Chodesh or new moon for the soon beginning month of Av/"Father" is one of them. As we can see, the meanings we discovered in this Rosh Chodesh reading portion are powerful, to bring us into that newness of the Father whose Word says, "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him.!" (Lamentations 3:22-24). Although we may not see right now all of the newness that the LORD has provided for us, like the Rosh Chodesh new moon, the newness is there and will be revealed. We enter into the newness in the assurance of our faith in our Av Father, and in His Son, Jesus Messiah/Christ. That continuing newness will keep us through the days ahead.

     If you would like to know more about and enter into the newness of our Father, you can join with me in my prayer: "Most Awesome God our Father, You have provided the Way for me to become part of Your new creation, and the newness of Your Spirit, through Your Son, Jesus, my Savior. I desire, Lord, to run into Your newness, to be covered with it, to become it. Forgive me, Lord, when I have clung to old things, old understanding, old ways, an old creation that is passing away, and failed to perceive the newness that You have made for me every day, every month, and every year. I will rejoice in Your newness! Help me, Father, by Your Word and Holy Spirit to bring Your newness through Messiah/Christ to all. The whole creation is groaning for the revealing of the sons of God. (Rom. 8:18-25). I pray for this in the name of Jesus, my Lord. 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. 

I would also like to recommend for additional reading and entry from the Mending The Breach blog, written by The Berean, titled The Blood Moon Bride. 

Zeal

     This Sabbath reading portion, Pinchas, was a challenge, but what secrets it held! What is it saying to us, and how are we to apply the lesson to our walk of faith?

     Last week, we read about Balaam and King Balak. The king hired the soothsayer Balaam to curse the multitude of Israelites who had encamped next to his nation. Balaam refused to speak anything other than what the LORD told him to speak. However, scripture also tells us that Balaam advised King Balak on how to destroy the Israelites from within by sending Moabite/Midianite women to seduce and eventually separate the men of Israel from God. This plot is revealed to us when Moses angrily confronted the captains of the armies of Israelites after they returned from defeating the Midianites: "And Moses said to them: 'Have you kept all the women alive? Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of Peor (see below), and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD." (Num. 31:15-16). This Sabbath reading portion is titled Pinchas, or "Phinehas", a grandson of Aaron the priest, whose name means "mouth of brass", but we will look further into the meaning of his name later. 

     The story of Pinchas/Phinehas begins in Numbers 25: "Now Israel remained in Shittim (also meaning Acacia Grove/Grove of scourging thorns), and the people began to commit harlotry (zana - whoredom, commit fornication, great whore [see Rev. 17:1-6], cult prostitute, commit adultery or idolatry, go whoring after) with the women of Moab. They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel was joined (samad - to bind, join, fasten, attach oneself, to be bound to, to serve) to Ba'al Peor (Ba'al peor/pa'ar - "lord of the gap", Moabite deity worshipped with licentious rites, mountain peak and cleft in Moab/to open wide, to gape, to open the mouth like ravenous beasts, of Hades), and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel." (v. 1-3).

     One of the Hebrew meanings shown above associated with Ba'al of Peor is to gape open the mouth like a ravenous beast. Psalm 22, is a prophetic Psalm depicting the crucifixion of Messiah/Christ. It was written by Daivd approximately one thousand years before the birth of Christ. It contains the verses: "Many bulls (par/parar - bull, bullock, fierce, breaking forth with wild strength, ferocity/break, make utterly void, shatter, break asunder, dissolve, divide, make ineffectual, to violate, defeat, destroy, make of none effect, break covenant) have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan (area of fertility and fruitfulness) have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion." (v. 12-13). Also, the Canaanite false god Ba'al is often shown in the form of a bull.

     The prophet Isaiah also describes Hell/Sheol/the place of death as enlarging and opening its mouth in order to receive people: "Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself and opened its mouth beyond measure." (Isa. 5:14). 

     As we can see from the Hebrew meanings above, this would be a great abomination in the eyes of the LORD as the LORD watched His people attaching themselves to this ancient and evil spirit of destruction. It is an ancient evil that denies Messiah/Christ and attempts to rob people of covenant with God and salvation. It is of antichrist. We associate the term "antichrist" with a single person, and a future apocalypse. The apostle John also associates this term with a spirit: "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist (antichristos - the adversary/opponent of the Messiah/Christ, a most pestilent being) is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us...but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us." (1 Jn. 2:18-19). According to John, the antichrists were within the believers of Christ but were not really a part of the believers, just as those who were seduced to worship Ba'al in this Sabbath reading portion came out of God's covenant people but were never part of them, or chose to cease their covenant with God. Perhaps, like Ba'al, antichrists, seek fertile spiritual soil in which to reproduce. The church by its calling and purpose is to be very fruitful. God help us not to be a place used by evil to reproduce its fruit.

     As we read that this abomination took place while God's people were encamped in Shittim (see meaning above), it became like the "scourging thorns" that were used to crown Jesus in mockery before He was crucified. There is something going on here that is very serious as we continue to look at the Hebrew language and letters. The LORD said to Moses: "Take all the leaders of the people and hang (yaqa',yaqa' - hang, alienated, be out of joint [see Ps. 22:14-15], to be dislocated, to execute slowly, to impale, to abandon [see Ps. 22:1, Mt. 27:45-46]) the offenders before the LORD, out in the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.' So Moses said to the judges of Israel, 'Every one of you kill his men who were joined (see samad above) to Ba'al of Peor." (Num. 25:4-5).

     This may seem harsh and extreme to some and difficult to understand, but let's keep reading the account in Numbers 25 about Pinchas/Phinehas to see what truly is at stake here.

     All of Israel was weeping at the door of the tabernacle because of this terrible thing that was happening when an Israelite man presented (qarab - enter into, draw near, bring near, join, approach, of conjugal intercourse) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-a-Midianite-woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel." (v. 6). Not only did the man bring the woman into the congregation but also did so before the door of the tabernacle! The Midianite woman is designated as being associated with the Messiah/Christ by the written aleph-tav preceding, but instead, she is one of the women that the enemy king Balak used to commit abomination and to corrupt the worship and relationship of the Israelites with God. We see this again in the Book of Revelation when the Lord Jesus rebukes His church for holding "the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block (skandalon - any person or thing by which one is entrapped into error and sin, the movable stick of trigger of a trap that has been set) before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality." (Rev. 2:14). 

     When Pinchas/Phinehas saw what the man had done by bringing the Midianite woman before the people and the tabernacle, he rose and took a javelin in his hand; "and he went after the man of Israel into the tent (quba/qabab - large vaulted tent, princely tent, bedchamber/to utter a curse against, curse, to malign, to pierce, to perforate, to stab with words) and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body/belly (qoba/qabab - stomach, belly, abdomen/to curse, utter a curse against, to malign, to pierce, to perforate, to stab with words). So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel. And those who died were twenty-four thousand." (v. 7-9). The javelin likely passed through the woman's womb or reproductive area. 

     The tent that the man and woman ran into has the meaning of "a princely tent". These two people are later identified as the son and daughter of leaders of their people. The man, Zimri ("my music", celebrated in song/praise, sing forth, sing psalms), was the son of the head of the Israelite tribe of Simeon (meaning "to hear, accept and obey diligently"), and the woman, Cozbi ("my lie", false, lying/be a liar, deceive, disappointing as water that is quickly drying up), was the daughter of the head of a father's house among the Midianites/Moabites. (see v. 14-15). So "the song of praises to God" were being joined to "the liar, the deceiver". The tent mentioned here was also a "large vaulted tent" or "bedchamber" according to the Hebrew meaning. This is perhaps also a resemblance to the womb, which has a vaulted shape within a woman's body.

     God's covenant people Israel carried the Seed and were purposed to bring forth Messiah/Christ for the whole world. They were extremely fruitful and multiplied in number, even while slaves in Egypt. The church of believers in Messiah/Christ, both Jew and Gentile, have been given the purpose by Jesus of bearing abundant fruit as well (see Jn. 15:4-8), and being the good soil in which the Seed of the Word of God may prosper and multiply (see Lk. 8:11-15, Mt. 13:23).

     The bellies of God's people are to pour forth "rivers of living water". (see Jn. 7:37-39). The Midianite woman's belly, however, would pour forth curses against God and His people instead. Again, in Revelation, Jesus rebukes a church which has allowed a woman whom He calls Jezebel (meaning "Baal exalts", "Baal is husband", "unchaste") within it. This woman calls herself a prophetess, "to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and she did not repent...I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works." (Rev. 2:20-23). Again we see the idea of a spiritual evil (antichrist, Ba'al) using the princely, vaulted chamber (see quba/qabab above) of the fertility and fruitfulness of the church in order to reproduce itself, having "children". 

     The Lord destroys the adders' nests of eggs (see Isa. 59:3-5), and condemns vipers, as He called the religious leaders of His day, who kept the people from salvation, and made sons of Hell (Mt. 23:15). This is a Messiah/Christ who will fight against the demons of Hell and their nests of reproduction, in order to protect His sheep - just as David reached into the mouths of lions to rescue the lamb of his flock. David told King Saul: "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine (referring to Goliath) will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God. (1 Sam. 17:34-36). 

     The LORD said of Pinchas/Phinehas: "Phinehas....has turned back (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-wrath from the children of Israel, because He was zealous (qana - jealous, provoked to jealous anger, burning with zeal) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-with/for- My-zeal/sake among them, so that I did not consume (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-children of Israel in My zeal. Therefore say, 'Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for His God, and made atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, pardon, forgive, merciful, cleansed) for the children of Israel." (Num. 25:10-13). 

     The zeal that Phinehas had for the LORD became an atonement for Israel. It took zeal in the heart of only one man to spare all of the children of Israel. The Hebrew letters that make up the name Pinchas (Phinehas) are pe, nun, cheth, samek. The meanings of the individual letters when joined together can mean: "The mouth of strength that protects (and supports) with a dividing arrow the sprouting seed of the Heir to the Throne." We are also told to have zeal for our faith. Jesus commanded His church: "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I chasten. Therefore be zealous (zeloo/zelos - zealously affect, desire, covet earnestly, be zealous in pursuit of good, to strive after, to have warmth of feeling/fervent mind, fervent of spirit, having an ardor for) and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (Rev. 3:18-20).

     The apostles also wrote to the church of having zealousness for the Lord Jesus, and for their saving faith in Him. (see Gal. 4:18-19, Titus 2:11-15, Jude 1:3). Apostle Paul wrote: "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good...not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit (see zeloo/zelos above) serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." (Rom. 12:9-14, excerpt).

     We have not been given a javelin to hurl at people, as was the case with Pinchas/Phinehas, who was a shadow and type, because the weapons of our warfare are not natural/carnal, but spiritual and our warfare is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness in high places. However, we have been given the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. The Word of God became flesh as Messiah/Christ Jesus (see Jn. 1:14). Jesus has already won the victory for us (see Col. 2:13-15, 1 Cor. 15:54-57) and is in us. He has been given to us for us to desire and to covet earnestly, fervently, and with great ardor (see zeloo/zelos above). The fruitfulness of the church of believers is not carnal or fleshly either (see Gal. 5:19-21), but of the Spirit of God, sent to us by Jesus. Those fruits of the Spirit of God are "love, joy, peace, longsuffering/patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Gal. 5:22-25, see also Rom. 12:9-14 quoted above). 

     If you would like to learn more about having zealousness in this present age, you can pray with me: "Blessed Father, You have given me Your Son, Jesus, to dwell in me and I in Him. He is the sprouting Seed of salvation, the Heir to the Throne to the Kingdom of God. You, Father, have made me a joint-heir with Messiah/Christ, to abide in the vine of Christ in order to bear abundant fruit for Your Kingdom. Father, help me to zealously protect, support that Seed of Christ, as Phinehas did, and to reproduce it, bearing the fruits of Your Spirit, and not the fruit of flesh and corruption. Forgive me, Lord, when I have given way to spirits of corruption and cursing, and have given them entrance into Your holy courts. Let Your rivers of living water flow out of me instead. 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. 

I would also like to recommend for additional reading and entry from the Mending The Breach blog, written by The Berean, titled The Blood Moon Bride. 

ThyWill

     

                                                                              "Then God came to Balaam..."

     The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion from Numbers Ch. 22-24 is Balak, who was the king of Moab. His name means "devastator, waster, lay waste, to annihilate, to make empty." All of the nation of Moab was exceedingly afraid and sick with dread because of the people of Israel, who were journeying through the wilderness. Moab feared the Israelites because of their previous victory of the over the Amorites (see Num. 21:21-25). The nation of Moab said: "Now this company will lick up (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-everything-around-us...". And King Balak sent messengers to a famous soothsayer named Balaam (Bil'am - "Not of the people") saying: "Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-face ('ayin - eye, sight, face, presence, fountain, countenance, resemblance) of the earth, and are settling next to me! Therefore, please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me...for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed." (Num. 22:1-6). Notice that both "everything around us", and "the face" of the earth are preceded by the aleph-tav in written Hebrew which designates the identity of Messiah/Christ (see *note at the bottom of the entry). The earth and everything in it belong to Messiah/Christ and has from the beginning. Genesis 1:1 in written Hebrew shows the aleph-tav preceding "the heavens and the earth," which were created by God. We also have the scripture that says: "The earth is the LORD's and all its fulness, the world and those who dwell therein." (Ps. 24:1). Neither the land, nor anything around them, belongs to Moab or its king, Balak, but to the LORD.

     In the last few weeks, we have been learning about the human soul, which, simply put, is composed of the mind, the will and the emotions/desires. While the definition here may be simplified, the creation of the human soul is not simple. Genesis tells us that the living human soul was created by God's own breath. (see Gen. 2:7). This week, the Sabbath reading portions were teaching me about "the will" of man. We will see how the two men, King Balak and Balaam, will be carried to their own destruction by the strength of their own wills. The king's messengers, who were princes (Num. 22:14), traveled to Balaam to deliver the king's request that Balaam should come and curse the Israelites for him. They took with them a "diviner's fee" to give to Balaam: "Then the LORD came to Balaam and said...'You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." (v. 9-12). Balaam obeyed and refused to go with the messengers from the king. The king sent even more highly ranked messengers back to Balaam and increased his offer: "Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; for I will honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore please come, curse this people for me." (v. 16-17). Balaam is promised anything he wants, but he tells the messengers that he cannot go beyond the word of the LORD. Then he invites the messengers to spend the night while he seeks what the LORD will say to him. However, Balaam already knows what the LORD has spoken concerning these men.

     "Then God came to Balaam at night and said to him, 'If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-word which I speak to you - that you shall do.' So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-his-donkey, and went with the princes of Moab." (v. 20-21). Balaam really wanted to go with the men, so he didn't wait for the men to call to him as the LORD had commanded him, but rose early and was already saddled to leave with the men. Balaam's will was to go with the men. 

     God was angry that Balaam left with the men and sent His (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Angel to obstruct Balaam. Although the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-donkey saw (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-Angel and tried to stop, Balaam beat his donkey into continuing: "Then the LORD opened Balaam's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-eyes, and he saw (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the Angel of the LORD standing in the way...And (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-Angel...said to him, 'Why have you struck (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-your-donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you because your way is perverse (yarat - hurl headlong, to be rash, turned over, destructive) before Me...". (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-Angel conceded to the will of Balaam and allowed him to continue to go with Balak's princes, but he was to speak only (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-word that the the LORD will speak to him. "So Balaam went with the princes of Balak." (v. 22-35).

     The account of Balaam and King Balak continues through two more chapters, and Balaam does deliver only the word that the LORD tells him to speak. These words are words and prophecies of blessing towards Israel, including the coming of the Messiah/Christ, rather than the cursing that the king sought. However, Balaam's will was towards the rewards of the king, and he would continue to conspire with the king against the children of Israel. Scripture tells us that eventually Balaam's will for honor and reward would lead to his death as (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-Angel had warned him. (see Num. 31:7-8). Balaam clearly knew from his direct encounters with the LORD in Numbers 22 through 24, what the will of the LORD was regarding the Israelites, and His will concerning Balaam's own way, yet Balaam allowed his own will to prevail against the will of God.

     Why didn't the LORD simply take action to prevent Balaam from going with the men in the first place? The LORD, scripture shows us, does use force to overcome the will or free choice of a person, but He will warn, He will send miraculous signs (like an Angel or a talking donkey), He will set obstacles in the path to dissuade a rash or headlong rush into destructive willfulness, as we saw above.

    

     From another reading portion of the Balak or "Devastator" Sabbath, Joshua, shortly before he died, gave this word to the Israelites: "...Serve (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD! And if it seems evil to you to serve (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD, choose (bahar - choose, chosen, choice, excellent, acceptable, decide, elect, select, join, examine, prove) for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD...And the people said to Joshua, 'No, but we will serve (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD!'...Now therefore,' he (Joshua) said, 'put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-your-heart to the LORD God of Israel.' And the people said to Joshua, '(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-The-LORD our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!" (Josh. 24:14-24).

     As we can see from the Hebrew meaning of the word "choose", the result of "choice" involves becoming "joined" to your choice. We can choose to join our wills to the will of the LORD, or we can choose to join our will to forces like Balak, the devastator. Joshua said that he and his house have chosen to be joined to the will of God. Smart choice. It is the choice of life as opposed to destruction.

     Scripture shows us that the will of man is a most powerful force. The will of man is even more powerful than the will of Satan, which we will see. Imagine the awesome earth-changing power when the will of man becomes submitted to and joined with the will of God! Let's look at some examples in scripture:

The will of man is powerful: The whole of earth had one language (sapa/sop/sup - language, boundary, edge, lip, sweep away, destroy, consume, perish, wind-swept, be scraped barren. laid bare, abrade, carry off/end, conclusion, termination, invading swarm/to come to an end, utterly end) and one speech. The inhabitants of the earth journeyed and settled in the plains of Shinar (sinar - "country of two rivers", land that later became Babylon/Chaldea). They said to one another: "Come, let us make bricks (lebena/laban - brick, tile, pavement/make white, be white, be purified, to purge, to cleanse from the filthiness of sin)...". And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the earth." (Gen. 11:1-4). We see how the will of the inhabitants have become united, and they have decided upon a course that is against the expressed will of God. They wanted to determine their own future. They wanted to assure that their own will would prevail for their lives.

     "But then the LORD came down to see (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-city and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tower which the sons of men had built. And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language (see sapa/sop/sup above), and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose (zamam - to purpose) to do will be withheld from them." (v. 5-6). What they were planning to do by their own will, as we can see by the written Hebrew and its meanings, was to create their own Messiah/Christ identity, or let us say an "antichrist" system, using the work of their own hands to provide a kind of counterfeit salvation by which they would ensure their own planned continuance. The word of the LORD states that only blood, and specifically only the blood of His appointed and anointed Messiah/Christ Jesus can, by faith in His name, cleanse man of his sins and provide man with eternal salvation. (see Isa. 53:7-8 and Jn. 1:24-36). The philosophies, man-made religions and the will and works of man cannot accomplish this. As we see the Hebrew meaning for the word "language", this attempt by the inhabitants of Shinar would have meant the utter end of mankind. The LORD then confused their language so that they could not understand each other and He scattered them abroad. (v. 7-8). Otherwise, the LORD admitted, nothing would be kept from the joined wills of these people. 

The will of man is more powerful than the will of Satan: The prophet Isaiah revealed the will of Lucifer/Satan who said in his heart his will to ascend to the highest levels and be like the Most High. However, Isaiah prophesied the Word of the LORD that Lucifer/Satan would be fallen and brought down to the place of death, the lowest depths of the pit. (Isa. 14:12-19). Unlike the people of Shinar above, about whom the LORD had said that nothing would be withheld from them in their united will, Satan's will and purpose is already defeated and prevented.

     Hundreds of years later, as the seventy disciples returned to Jesus with joy saying that even the demons were subject to them, Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.' In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit... ". (Luke 10:17-21). The disciples did not have this authority in their own strength but because they had been joined to the will of heaven through Jesus Messiah/Christ.

 

The power of the human will submitted to and joined with God's will: Jesus is the perfect example provided for us to see and emulate a will that is by choice joined to God's will. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for the kingdom and will of God to be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Mt. 6:9-10). As He suffered torment before His crucifixion, Jesus submitted to and joined His will to the will of God saying: "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will (thelema/thelo - what one wishes, will, choice, inclination, desire/have in mind), but Yours be done." (Lk. 22:41-42). The great miraculous and powerful work of salvation and resurrection was accomplished through the submitting and joining of Jesus' will with His Father's will.

     We learn from scripture that Jesus knows and perceives us from that spiritual place that exists within His Father's will. Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness/iniquity (anomia/anomos - unrighteousness, transgression of the law, iniquity, contempt and violation of the law, wickedness/without law)." (Mt. 7:21-23). Anything outside of the will of the Father is lawlessness, and Jesus is not part of the place of lawlessness against the will of God.

     The apostle James had some strong words regarding God's will and man's plans. As man decides in his will what he will do and accomplish today or tomorrow, James pointed out that considering life's fragility, we do not know what will happen tomorrow. He wrote: "Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.' But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil." (James 4:13-16). These words cause us to think of how strongly we depend upon our own wills, plans and choices in common everyday life, but these choices may lie outside the will of God, which we have not sought. We either exercise our choices by our own will, or by submitting and joining our will with God's will.

     Paul wrote about a kind of sacrifice of self (which would also include one's will) in order to be transformed: "...that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Rom. 12:1-2). He also wrote concerning choices that we make by our will: "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?...But he that is joined to (see bahar above) the Lord is one spirit with Him." (1 Cor. 6:15-17, excerpt). Choices made outside of the will of God affect that joining in the Spirit with Him. 

     The lesson of this Balak Sabbath reading portion was an important one for me to learn. The peace and perfection of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Messiah/Christ Jesus are found with Him in the will of God.

     If you would like to know more about submitting our will to the will of God, you can pray with me: "Dear Father, You express Your will to us through Your Word and Your Spirit. All of creation is held together by these things. Teach me, Lord, how to join my will with Yours. Keep me, Lord, from following my own will rather than Yours. Let my submitted life and will be used to prove the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, and to accomplish the purpose that You have appointed for my life. You gave me the gift of the freedom of choice when You gave me Your breath and made me a living soul. Let me use this gift of choice to choose to dwell within Your will. I ask this in the name of my Savior, Lord, and godly example, 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. 

     

     

     

 

FierySerpents

      "...I have learned (manthano - to be increased in knowledge, to learn by use and practice) in whatever state I am, to be content (autarkes - independent of external circumstances, to be enough, to be satisfied): I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:11-13

     The title of this Sabbath's reading portion is Chukkat, meaning "Ordinance of". As used in Numbers 19:1-2, the word translated as "ordinance" is huqqa/hoq/haqqaq in Hebrew with the meaning: statute, ordinance, limit, established, defined, right, privilege/enactment, decree, prescribed, assigned, definite/inscribe, carve out, engrave, cut in, decree, stamp violently, to be just, truth, necessity, lawgiver. We think of the statutes of God as being "written in stone", but they are truly meant to be written in our hearts as part of a new covenant (see Jer. 31:31-36/Heb. 8:8-12). In this new covenant prophesied by Jeremiah, the LORD also promised to forgive our iniquity, and remember our sin no more. Psalm 119:11 says: "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Personally, I saw in my mind the ordinances of God (which all have fallen short of) violently stamped into or carved out of (see definition above) Messiah/Christ's flesh for our sakes, which was then lifted up on a cross for all men to see. Having then received the Savior into our hearts, we carry this epistle of Messiah/Christ Jesus for our sakes and forgiveness, and for the forgiveness of others who read it in us. Paul wrote: "...clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart." (2 Cor. 3:3). 

     Paul went on to say in the above passage from 2 Cor. 3: "And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (v. 4-6). These words of Paul agree with his words from Philippians 4 which are written at the top of this page. We are able to trust in God for all things as His ordinances are written in our hearts rather than upon stone.

     All of this sets the foundation for this Sabbath's study. In the last few weeks of Sabbath reading portions, the LORD has been dealing with His people concerning some very powerful and ultimately deadly weaknesses within their souls. Those weaknesses were not just common to the Israelites in the wilderness, but to all of us. This Chukkat or "Ordinance of" Sabbath reading portion deals with the dissatisfaction that lies hidden within the soul. It is a soul that is always wanting and never satisfied. The soul has been defined as the mind, heart and will of an individual. It is what makes you, "you". Before the salvation work of Messiah/Christ Jesus, and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, the soul is carnal and dying. As we read from scripture last week, the carnal mind is at enmity with the Lord. The transforming of the soul, including the renewing of the mind, is a continuing work in progress that we receive by faith and with thanks.

     We will see that the Israelites' repeated dissatisfaction affected their response and relationship with the LORD. In the beginning of the reading portion for this Sabbath in Numbers 20, Moses' sister Miriam has died, and there was no water (mayim - water, watersprings, washing, waterflood, refreshment, also meaning water of danger and violence) for the congregation in their location in the Wilderness of Zin ("flat", to prick). (Num. 20:1-2). From the Hebrew meaning of the place, Zin, it would be a place that could get on your nerves. Its meaning includes monotonous flatness that "pricks" at a person's peace and satisfaction.

     Because there was no water, the Israelites gathered together against Moses and Aaron and contended (rib - strive, contend, chide, debate, complain, quarrel, grapple, wrangle, adversary, rebuke, to pull, contend with blows with hands) with Moses, saying: "If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place?...". (Num. 20:2-5).

     As we know, it was not Moses and Aaron who brought the Israelites out of Egypt by miraculous signs and judgments, nor brought them to their current location. It is the LORD who led the tribes of Israel by the hand continually using a column of smoke during the day and a pillar of fire at night. 

     The contention brought against Moses and Aaron, by the Hebrew meaning of the word rib above, also can include hands-on violence. Also, the dissatisfaction of the people was so consuming that they wished that they had died with those who had previously been killed by the judgment of the LORD. Dissatisfaction (with the LORD) had grown so extreme that they desired and spoke death for themselves.

     Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the door of the tabernacle of meeting and the glory of the LORD appeared and instructed Moses what to do. Moses was to take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-rod and speak (dabar - speak, say, talk, pronounce, command, sing, commune) to the rock before the congregation, and the rock would yield (natan - give, yield, bring, grant, appoint produce, bestow, consecrate, deliver up, utter) its water, enough for (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-congregation and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-their-animals. (Num. 20:6-9).

     Moses, perhaps being pricked with dissatisfaction himself, spoke presumptuously to (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-assembly with words not commanded by the LORD. Then he "lifted (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-his-hand and struck (naka - slay, kill, beaten, stricken, slaughter, wounded, stripes, scourge, chastise, punish, destroy, give a thrust, subjugate, ravage, murderer) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly..." (v. 10-11).

     As we can see, whether within the congregation or Moses, dissatisfaction (ultimately with God) eventually yields violence either to self or to others - violence of words or deeds. In this case, terribly, the Rock, which was Messiah/Christ (see1 Cor. 10:1-5, also Heb. 6:4-8), was tortured and crucified (see naka above) with man's dissatisfaction (with God). Dissatisfaction leads to unbelief for which the LORD told Moses that he would not be allowed bring this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-assembly into the land which the LORD was giving to them. (v. 12). That place in the wilderness was called Meribah, meaning "strife, contention, quarrel, provocation".

     In another incident from this Chukkat, "Ordinances of", Sabbath, the people of God had to travel around Edom by the long route along the Dead Sea and "the soul of the people became very discouraged (qasar - shortened, vexed, grieved, impatient, curtail, cut off, loathe, mourn) on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes (qus - abhor, weary, loathe, sickening dread, vexed, disgusted, to sever oneself from) this worthless (qeloqel/qalal - contemptible worthless, insubstantial/curse, vile, trifling, of little account, to make despicable, dishonor, bring contempt) bread.' So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-people; and many of the people of Israel died." (Num. 21:4-6).

     The bread that they spoke of with loathing was the miracle manna that the LORD delivered to them from heaven. This is what they called "worthless". Dissatisfaction with our circumstances, causes even what the LORD has graciously and sometimes miraculously provided to us to become abhorred, dishonored and cursed.

     Even so, the LORD prevented further deaths by having Moses lift up the curse represented by a bronze serpent (Jesus became a curse for us: Gal. 3:13-14, Jn. 3:14-15) on a pole for the people to look upon and be saved from death. Imagine, even as the people abhorred His provision and care, the LORD placed the sign of the Messiah/Christ in their midst to deliver them.

     What had been a growing dissatisfaction among God's people, had grown into an angry bitterness against God and Moses above. This bitterness was so severe that they wished themselves dead with their brethren who had fallen victim to their own discontent. This angry bitterness released fiery biting serpents in the spirit realm (see also Rev. 9:1-12). The remedy was also spiritual - looking upon Messiah/Christ on the pole/cross.

     Is dissatisfaction really that powerful? There are many scriptures that confirm this, including Proverbs 27:20: "Hell (seol - underworld, grave, hell, pit, place of no return, abode of the dead, extreme degradation in sin, without praise of God) and Destruction ('abeda/'abad - lost, perishing, destruction/broken, void, blot out, be exterminated) are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied." (see also Prov. 30:15-16).

     Paul wrote again: "Now godliness with contentment (autarkeig - a mind contented with sufficiency, a perfect condition of life) is great gain (perismos - source of gain, procuring of furnishing)...And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." (1 Tim. 6:6-8, excerpt). This verse is not saying that the attaining of wealth is wrong. To me, what it is saying is that the source or provision of gain is godly contentment itself. Paul went on to say that those who desire riches for riches' sake, especially out of a discontent with what one already has, fall into destroying temptation and snares, harmful lusts that lead to destruction and perdition (as we read above in Prov. 27:20). We live in a world that makes a great deal of money from encouraging people to be dissatisfied and to want MORE. It can be difficult to separate ourselves from that thinking. What is the healing and deliverance from "I want MORE!"? Look upon Jesus on the cross and say, "Thank You, LORD. You have filled my soul."

     David wrote: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (haser - to lack, be without, decrease, have a need, make lower, be devoid of anything, to cause to want)." David said that the LORD has already prepared the things we need even when surrounded by enemies. He has anointed our heads and caused our cup to overflow. The LORD sends His goodness and mercy to follow after us all of our days. David declares that he will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (v. 5-6).

     From this Chukkat, "Ordinance of" Sabbath reading portion, after delivering a prophetic word from the LORD of troubled times and wickedness ahead, the prophet Habakkuk sings a prophetic song: "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls - Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation (yesa' - [root of the Hebrew name of Jesus] - deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, welfare, prosperity, aid, victory). The LORD is my strength; He will make my feet like hinds feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills." (Hab. 3:17-19).

     God's ways are not the same as the ways and desires of the world. However, His ways are overcoming ways, ways of breakthrough, and ways of transformation for the body, soul and spirit of man. If we are looking for something MORE, we will find it waiting for us in Him. 

     If you would like to learn more about this contentment in God, you can join me in my prayer: "LORD of my life and salvation provision, I PRAISE You! Maker of heaven and earth and all of its living inhabitants, I PRAISE and thank You! I glory in all that You have seen ahead and provided for me and for my family. You know of what I have need before I even ask You. As I look upon the Savior, Jesus, whom You provided to save my soul, I am more than content. You have filled me with all good things pertaining to life and godliness. When I hunger and thirst for Your righteousness, You fill and satisfy me. Blessed by Your name. You graciously give me my daily bread, and it is precious to me as coming from Your hand. My soul and life lack nothing as You shine Your face upon me. I receive Your goodness and mercy as You, LORD, have made a place for me in Your house. Your thoughts toward me are so precious and very many is the number of them. Help my soul to always dwell in contentment and satisfaction for all that You do for me. I ask this in the name above every name, 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. 

LivingCenser

                                                        A priest with his censer of incense

     The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Korach, meaning "Bald." This title is found in the wording of the verse that opens this reading portion: "Now Korah (qorah/qarah - "bald"/make bald, make a baldness, to make oneself bald, make smooth) the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, 'You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" (Num. 16:1-3).

      So the Sabbath title refers to a man's name, Korah, who was a Levite, the tribe of dedicated servants and priests who ministered in the tabernacle. Moses and Aaron were Levites also. We see that Korah and two hundred fifty renown leaders whom he had persuaded were challenging Moses' and Aaron's spiritual positions and leadership of God's people. The Hebrew letters of the name "Korah,", each having their own meaning are qoph, reysh and heh. When these letters and their meanings are put together, they could form the meaning "Behold, the highest and most important head who is first, has been made the back of the head, the last and the least." We will see that this describes well what is happening here.

     Korah was not challenging Moses and Aaron on behalf of the people, but because of his own ambition, as Moses discerned. He said to Korah: "Hear now you sons of Levi: Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-work of the tabernacle of the LORD...Are you seeking the priesthood also? Therefore you and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-your-company are gathered together against the LORD." (Num. 16:8-11, excerpt). Notice that all of the rebels involved have the written *aleph-tav preceding them. They were identified in some way with the Messiah/Christ (see *note at the end of the entry). Is this surprising? We will read of this kind of attitude again in the New Testament later.

     As we see above, the challenge against Moses and Aaron was really a challenge against the LORD. The LORD will meet this challenge. Like a head that has been made bald, challenging the LORD's position removes a "covering." The LORD will demonstrate this. Once Moses and Aaron had received the challenge to their positions of authority over the people, a position which they had never sought, these were the instructions from the LORD to the rebels: "Do this: Take censers (mahta/mehita/hata - firepans, censer, fire holder, for live coals, removing live coals/destruction, terror, ruin, dismaying, a breaking, dissolution/seize, take away, snatch up coals, destroy) Korah and all your company; put fire in them and put incense (qetoret/qatar - incense, perfume, odor of sacrifice, smoke, fumigation that causes to flee) in them before the LORD tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the LORD chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi." (Num. 16:6-7).

     This is not the first time that the LORD has dealt with people through the use of censers. (see Lev. 10:1-3). As we can see by the Hebrew word meanings for censer and incense, the burning coals have the meaning of a terrifying destruction and breaking. The incense that represents the fragrance of sacrifice (see qetoret/qatar above) placed upon those coals becomes a smoking cloud that covers over that destruction. The cloud of incense also acts as a fumigating smoke that causes (spiritual) undesirables or pests to either leave or be destroyed. Regarding the incense to be used, the LORD said in an earlier place: "You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure and holy...It shall be most holy to you. But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make any for yourselves, according to its composition. It shall be to you holy for the LORD." (Ex. 30:35-37, excerpt). Any who used the incense for any private purpose other than in worship of the LORD would lose their lives (see Ex. 30:38). 

     When the LORD commanded Korah and the other rebels to get out their censers, they should have gotten a clue that this was not going to turn out well for them, and it didn't. They were destroyed in a terrifying manner (see mahta/mehita/hata above) - by earthquake and by fire. (Num. 16:31-35). Then the LORD ordered that: (*Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-The-censers that the rebels "...who sinned against their own souls, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar. Because they presented them before the LORD, therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel." (v. 38). It is not men who made the censers holy but the LORD who made them part of His holiness because they were in His presence.

     In the hands appointed by the LORD, the power of the holy things of God save and deliver, but in the hands of those who presume but have not been so called, appointed and anointed, those same holy things become a death sentence to them. 

     The very next day, when the whole congregation is condemning Moses and Aaron for the deaths of their brethren, the rebels, the LORD, hearing the accusation, broke out in anger against the Israelites. As Moses and Aaron fell on their faces to intercede for the congregation, Moses told Aaron: "Take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-a-censer and put (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-fire-in-it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, merciful, cleansed, pardon, to be covered over, propitiation) for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun." (Num. 16:41-46). As we know, Jesus Messiah/Christ is the Atonement covering for our sins that saves us from the death and destruction of sin.

     As Aaron ministered atonement with his censer, he ran to stand between the living and the dead. The plague stopped at that place. Fourteen thousand seven hundred died before the plague was stopped. That's how fast it had swept through the people. (see v. 47-50).

     Before we assume that the rebellion of Korah is limited to the Old Testament, let's look at some instances where people have made themselves "bald" or uncovered in the same manner as Korah:

Personal ambition: Luke 22:24 says: "Now there was also a dispute among them (referring to the disciples of Jesus), as to which of them should be considered the greatest." Jesus said that the ways of the Kingdom of God were completely different from those of the world. The idea of "greatness" comes in the form as one who serves rather than one who insists upon being served. He Himself came as a servant among them. (v. 25-27).

     The idea of "greatness" in the kingdom arose again as His disciples asked Jesus, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (Mt. 18:1). How can anyone sit before the Greatest, the Son of God, and ask, "Who is the greatest?!" Perhaps they were expecting Jesus to say, Abraham, or Moses, or David. However, Jesus called a little child before Him, and He said, "Unless you are converted (strepho - turn oneself, turn back again, reverse, turn from one's course of conduct) and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me." (v. 2-5). We carry this kind of mindset of being "great" from the world. We have to turn away from it. Again, the qualifications of the Kingdom of God are not like those of the world. However, worldly standards and goals often still have rule over our minds, whether we admit it or not.

     Paul addressed this issue of personal ambition in the Church saying: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." (Phil. 2:3). Paul doesn't say to consider others equal to oneself but better than oneself! Korah the Bald wouldn't like that one. We might have a difficult time with that one also.

Financial Gain: Many warnings appear in scripture about those who preach Messiah/Christ for financial gain. See 2 Pet. 2:3, Titus 1:11, 2 Cor. 2:17, 1 Tim. 6:9-11. I say sincerely, God bless those who humbly and obediently serve the Lord for no other reason than because they love Him and love His people. I thank you for your sincerity and selflessness.

Works Denying the Father: Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness/iniquity." (Mt. 7:21-23). Korah disregarded the leadership of God the Father over Israel and decided that he was more qualified to lead the people than the ones appointed by God. The two Hundred and fifty leaders of renown agreed with him. He and they were wrong. The Father has not ceded His throne to any man and never will.

     We who believe in Messiah/Christ, both Jew and Gentile, have been called by the LORD God to carry the Living (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Censer, Jesus, whose atonement covering, like the incense of the odor of sacrifice, covers and appeases the fiery coals of wrath and destruction.

     If you would like to know more about the Censer of the LORD, you can pray with me: "Most High Father, as priests in Your Kingdom (1 Pet. 2:9-10), You have given us the great privilege of carrying and ministering the Living Censer that is Your Son, Jesus. Lord, let me put aside all selfish and worldly thoughts and ways, and serve and love You with all my heart, mind, and strength. Turn me, Lord, away from the corruption of Korah and his followers, and cause me to embrace Your Kingship, Lordship and reign over my life. Let me be as a little child before You and let me esteem others more than myself. Keep me from challenging You as my Shepherd and King by seeking my own ways instead of Yours. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. 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. 

DifferentSpirit

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Sh'lach L'cha, which means "Send for yourself." The title comes from the first verse of the Sabbath readings: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Send (salah - send, go, send out, stretch out, sow, let loose, shoot forth) men to spy out (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them." (Num. 13:1-2).

     We will see that the LORD was about to expose something in the hearts of His people that we sometimes call "unbelief" or "disobedience" but is really something far more dark and insidious, something of which we should all be aware.

     I will just summarize the account of the twelve spies, leaders among Israel, whom Moses sent to spy out the land which the LORD had promised to give to Israel. Those twelve included Joshua, right-hand-man to Moses who was from the half-tribe of Ephraim, and Caleb, from the tribe of Judah, who was not called a Hebrew in scripture but a Kenizzite, which was one of the Canaanite tribes. (see Gen. 15:17-21, Num. 32:11-12, Josh. 14:6).

     The twelve tribes remained on their mission to spy out the land of promise for forty days. When they returned, while admitting that the land was very fruitful, ten of the spies brought back the evil report (diba/dabab/dobe' - evil report, slander, infamy, defamation, whispering, secret slanderer/to creep about, a slanderer/the languor of death) that giants were in the land and the Israelites would not be able to win against them. In scripture then, according to the Hebrew meaning above, the LORD described their report as infamous slander against Him and the inheritance that He had promised to the fathers of Israel. Only Joshua and Caleb insisted that with the LORD on their side, the Israelites would be able to overcome the current inhabitants of the promised land. They urged the Israelites not to fear the inhabitants and not to rebel (marad - bold and audacious in acts of rebellion or disobedience, contumacious [meaning willfully resisting authority, unruly, intractable, insubordinate]) against the LORD.

     The Israelites reacted with violence to these words of Joshua and Caleb: "And all the congregation said to stone them with stones." (Num. 14:10). The LORD had to directly intervene, and He was not happy, saying, "How long will these people reject (na'as - despise, abhor, blaspheme, deride, reject with contempt and derision, speak evil of) Me?" (v. 10-11). The command of the LORD to send the twelve spies exposed an abhorrence against Him in the hearts of His people to whom He had shown many signs and wonders. This was not only unbelief and disobedience, but derision and despising according to the Hebrew meaning above. Why this extreme reaction against God and against Joshua and Caleb? We will hopefully find out.

     The LORD said this after Moses interceded to Him for forgiveness and mercy towards the people: "...but truly, as I live, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-the-earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD - because all these men who have seen (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-glory and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-signs/miracles which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected (see na'as above) Me see it. But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit (ruah - spirit, Spirit, breath) in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it." (v. 20-24).

     The men and leaders of Israel had witnessed the glory of the LORD and His signs and miracles, but still rejected or despised (see na'as above) Him. However, the LORD vowed on His own eternal existence to fill the whole earth with the glory that had been despised by these men. Caleb, however, had a "different spirit" from these other men who despised and rejected the LORD. In fact, the men who rejected and despised the LORD would later die of the plague that comes with the evil report: "But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-land." (v. 36-38).

     The LORD exposed the very deep despising and violent contempt of man for God and His Messiah/Christ (as indicated by the presence of the *aleph-tav in written Hebrew. See *note below) in this account above, but His answering vow was even greater: to fill the whole earth with His glory. Caleb, the LORD revealed to Moses, was of a different spirit. The Feast of Pentecost has recently passed during which the disciples of Jesus Messiah/Christ received the outpouring of the fire of the Holy Spirit (Ruah HaKodesh in Hebrew). If we take a look at this event on Pentecost more closely, we will see something more about man's violent hatred towards God.

     The Feast of Pentecost, or Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot, is directly connected and timed from Passover. This Feast of the LORD is to occur fifty days after Passover according to the law of Moses as given by God. The New Testament account of this Feast day, occurring after Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension, begins: "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they (referring to the followers of Jesus) were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4).

     The disciples of Messiah/Christ are described as being "all with one accord in one place." It sounds good in English and is even often repeated as a goal to attain, however, the Greek reveals something else that is going on here that is not good. The phrase "in one accord" is the Greek word and roots, homothymadon/thymos/thyo. These are the meanings attached to the Greek: "with one mind, with one passion/boiling up fierceness, passion, anger, to rush, breathe hard/to sacrifice, immolate, slay, kill the pascal (Passover) lamb." Jesus wasn't slain for our sins only because of others' unbelief in Him. He was slain in the fierce and passionate anger of man against God. That same anger towards God, according to these verses was still present in the disciples. All mankind had a hand in slaying the Lamb of God, Jesus. Several times in scripture, violently angry, irrationally angry people tried to kill Jesus for what He was saying, but it was not yet His appointed time to die. 

     The second highlighted phrase from the verses in Acts above, "in one place," is the Greek word and root autos/aer, meaning "themselves, the same/lower air rather than higher rarer air, to breathe unconsciously, to blow the air."

     I know that it may be hard to believe that this kind of anger and fierceness towards God and Christ as noted by the Greek meanings above was present in the disciples who had followed Christ, seen miracles with Christ, seen Him crucified, resurrected and later ascended. However, it is confirmed when we look back into the law concerning the Feast of Weeks/Shavuot/Pentecost: "Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath (from Passover); then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves...They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the LORD." (Lev. 23:16-17). The word "leaven" used here is the Hebrew word hames, which means: "gained by violence and wrong, grieved, cruel, harsh, embittered, sour, oppress, be red or blood-stained, be ruthless, be unjust, violent, to injure." As we can see, the meaning of leaven here is very specific and the hames leaven cannot be a symbol of the Holy Spirit, but just the opposite. The hames leaven of the Feast of Weeks/Shavuot/Pentecost indicates that a violent and unjust cruelty is being lifted up to God as a firstfruits offering. The lifitng up or waving of Jesus on the cross was likewise unjust and atrociously cruel. Jesus sacrificed Himself, in part, to cover and intercede for the very people who were committing this terrible act of hate and violence: "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Lk. 23:34).

     However, a "different Spirit" came upon the followers of Jesus that Day of Pentecost after the Holy Spirit came upon them. It changed the disciples. They were not the same. Paul explained the difference between the (Holy) Spirit-filled man and the carnal man: "...do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity (ekhthrah/ekhthros - hostility, hatred/hating, odious, enemy, foe, opposing as the devil opposes God, hateful) against God...So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God...Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His...But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you...For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." (Rom. 8:4-14, excerpt). Paul said that the carnal mind of man hates and opposes God in the same manner that Satan hates and opposes God. This is another confirmation of man's natural or fleshly and truly irrational hatred of God. This is what sin does to man - to his mind, to his soul. Paul also wrote about men becoming haters of God. (see Rom. 1:28-31).

     Jesus said to His disciples that it was better for them that He goes away to His Father so that He could send the Helper/Comforter, the Spirit of truth. (see Jn. 16:7-15). Even for the disciples of Messiah/Christ on the Day of Pentecost as we see above, and in us today, the Holy Spirit is not just about receiving spiritual gifts, but He is needed and sent by Jesus Christ to work a transformation in our souls. Paul wrote above that to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Caleb, who, as we saw above, was of a "different spirit" was associated with life and peace in scripture. (see Num. 14:38 and Josh. 14:13-15).

     The Holy Spirit was present and necessary in the work of transformation from the beginning. When the earth was buried in deep darkness and emptiness, the Holy Spirit hovered (rahap -gently cherish, fluttering, brooding meaning incubating and hatching) over it. Then the Word of creation spoke forth and transformed the darkness of death into the teaming of light and life. (see Gen. 1:1-2, Jn. 1:1-5). We need this transformation working in each of us. Not only that, but we need to pray and desire that our love for the Lord never grows cold or is lost. Jesus warned in scripture that this is a possibility as lawlessness increases. (Mt. 24:12-13, Rev. 2:4-5).

     This also helps us to understand what we are seeing in the world today - the irrational hatred of God and the people of God. Jesus spoke of this hatred. (see Jn. 15:18-19). However, the LORD vowed on His own Life after the rejection (see na'as above) of His own people for Him: "...all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD." The prophet Joel confirmed this promise. (see Joel 2:28-29). This starts with each of us as His Spirit of glory fills and transforms us.

     If you would like to learn more about being of a "different spirit", and being filled with the transforming Holy Spirit of God, you can join with my prayer: "Beloved Father, Your commandment to us says: 'You shall love ('ahab - love, long for, breathe after, beloved, to produce fruit, to germinate, putting forth) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.' Lord, let Your Word and Your Holy Spirit create and continually revive in me a spiritual mind. Place Your protection around my mind, heart and soul, so that I will always walk in love for You. Let my desire be to love and worship You above all and with all. Holy Spirit, as on the Day of Pentecost, come into my life and fill my soul and spirit with the flames of fire of love for the Lord. Change my carnal mind into the mind of Spirit and of Messiah/Christ. Renew my love for the Lord daily as I pray and declare over my heart, and the hearts of all the earth, the commandment above to love You. I ask and receive these things in the name and by the grace 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.