PropheticPitfalls

     The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Sh'lach L'cha, meaning "Send for yourself". This title comes from the Hebrew word salah, which we find in Num. 13:2. It is part of a command which the LORD gave to Moses: "Send (salah - send out, stretch out, depart, loose, soweth, extend, let go, set free, reach forth) men to spy out/search (tur - search, seek, spy out, explore, make reconnaissance, send to catch sight of and describe/proclaim, to lead one about as the righteous shows the way to his friend) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) 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 (nasi/nasa - one lifted up, chief, prince, captain, rising vapors, clouds, rising mist, king, ruler, a chief prince/bare or lift up, forgive, regard, exalted, support, aid, assist) among them." As we can see, salah used above means much more than "to send". There is a greater accompanying purpose that goes with being "sent" according to the Hebrew meaning. The same is true with that activity of "spying out" or tur. There is a proclamation to be made based upon what is seen prophetically. These "leaders" that were sent were not ordinary, but they were associated with the authority found in ascendance (nasi/nasa). The previous two Sabbath reading portions also dealt in some way with being or coming to an ascended position. In verse 3, these leaders were also described as "heads" (ros - chief, top, principal, head, summit, height, beginning, top, choicest, best, foremost, highest and supreme), again referring to a position of great height. The leaders' names as recorded in v. 4-15, reflect the character of the LORD as well as the hidden Messiah. These name meanings include: "renowned"; "he hath judged and punished"; "forcible"; "he redeems/kinsman redeemer/avenger"; "salvation/savior"; "my deliverance/save/escape"; "God is my fortune/troop"; "my fortune"; "my kinsman is God/the people of God"; "hidden one/love fervently/cherish"; "the majesty of God/to rise up/exalted in triumph/be lifted up/be raised up/be risen/to increase". The assignment of the leaders/heads was to see prophetically from the place of ascension, establish a prophetic foothold in Canaan, and to bring back that description/proclamation to God's people. It is also noted that these leaders/heads were sent from the Wilderness of Paran/pa'ar (caverns/to glorify, beautify, adorn, honored, glory, vaunt, be glorified, to gleam, to make clear in explanation, to examine the boughs in order to glean them). In the natural, Paran was a place of caverns, but spiritually, it was a place of glory, beauty, honor and height. Moses told them: "Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains, and see what the land is like...be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land." (v. 17-20). "So they went up (ala -see above)..And they ascended (ala - see above)..." (v. 21-22). God's command to Moses tells us that the LORD wanted His people to see something for themselves, and to see it from an ascended position.

     Those who were sent to spy saw two different things. They saw a land flowing with milk and honey, full of fruit, large samples of which they brought back with them (v. v. 23, 27). They also saw the descendants of Anak (tribe of giant statured people) dwelling there and reported to Moses and the people: "Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there." (v. 22, 28). Caleb, one of the spies, tried to give the true prophetic report: "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." (v. 30). Most of the other returned spies then contradicted Caleb with a bad/evil report (diba/dabab - whispering, defamation, evil report, slander, as that which glides stealthily, one who spreads false or slanderous statements/move, glide over, an animal that creeps, to creep about): "We are not able to go up against the people for they are stronger than we...The land...is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw giants...and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight." (v. 31-33). Those other spies were reporting what they had seen and their resulting conclusions, but the LORD called it a slanderously false evil report. They had slandered God who had promised the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land to them as descendants of Abraham (see Gen. 12:1, 5-7, Gen. 13:14-18, Gen. 15:18-21, Gen. 17:7-8). In His command to Moses above the LORD stated clearly the He was giving the land of Canaan to the children of Israel. Most of the leaders/heads therefore who had spied the land were in effect calling God a liar, and counseling Moses and the people not to believe Him.

     This report from the leaders/heads of the tribes so affected all of the congregation that they lifted their (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) voices (qol - voice, thunder, proclamation, send out, fame, bleating, cracking) and cried (natan - give, bestow, ascribe, report, utter, stretch out, extend, be published, send). As we can see from the Hebrew meanings of the words used here, the cries of the people of God have a prophetic power, extending out and being sent further than their place of origin. They are prophetic words because God's people are a prophetic people (see Prov. 18:21, Mk. 11:22-23, Deut. 30:14, Rom. 10:8-10). The prophetic mantle is not shed because God's prophetic people decide to believe and speak the evil report. The words cannot be called back nor changed once they are believed and spoken as we will see.

     The congregation wanted to make for themselves a leader to bring them back to Egypt. Joshua and Caleb, who had been among those who had spied out the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land, spoke to all of the congregation: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good (tob - good, goodly, best, fair, precious, wealth, beautiful, favor, welfare, happiness) land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them."  (Num. 14:1-10). Hearing these words, the congregation wanted to stone them until the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of meeting and halted this.

     The spies were to bring back the report from an ascended spiritual position, yet most of them brought back what the LORD said was an evil, slanderous report. The people of God, when they heard the evil report, cried out in bitterness and anger. They even cried: "Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims?" (Num. 14:3). Their prophetic voices and tears "thundered" in the LORD's ears. The evil report produced an "evil congregation" who complained against the LORD (Num. 14:26-27). Finally the LORD swore regarding this evil congregation: "As I live...just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness...Except for Caleb...and Joshua...you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in." (v. 28-30). Their own proclaimed, published, thundered fears and words would come to pass. The LORD did promise, however, that He would bring their little ones, whom the people had claimed would be destroyed (see Num. 14:3 above), into the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land. (v. 31). When the LORD commands us to go and see for ourselves, what report do we bring back and proclaim far and wide?

    

     Joshua and Caleb had also seen the giants, but they saw from their ascended position that with the LORD among His people, those giants were "bread" to be devoured by the people of God. Caleb and Joshua saw that the spiritual protection that had once covered those Canaanite people had been removed, and they were now vulnerable. Unless this were true, why would the LORD have said to His people to go and sh'lach l'cha, "send for yourself", to see the promised land? Why is He having us read this Sh'lach L'cha Sabbath portion at this time? What does He want us to see regarding our current "giants", and the great, fruitful reward waiting for us if His favor is with us? What report are we hearing and believing? Are we of a "different spirit" who follows the LORD fully, as the LORD said of Caleb (Num. 14:24)? 

     In another reading portion from this Sabbath, forty years later, after the evil congregation had died in the wilderness, two more spies would be sent (salah - see above) by Joshua to enter the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land to spy out the mighty walled city of Jericho in Canaan (Josh. 2:1). The true, powerful report of the LORD wouldn't come from the spies, however. It would come through a Canaanite harlot (prostitute) living on the wall of the city. This was her report to the two spies whom she hid from capture on her roof: "I know that the LORD has given you the land...the terror of you has fallen on us...all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you...we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea...and what you did to the two kings...whom you utterly destroyed. As soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain anymore courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath." (v. 9-11). The harlot's name was Rahab, which means "extending widely every way, long and broad when spoken of land, signifies wideness, height and depth, a wide cup, be enlarged, make room, extending borders of a kingdom." While the evil report of most of the first spies above slandered and belittled God in the eyes of His people and beyond, Rahab's report exalted God and His works which He also did through His people. Her report prophetically extended the borders of His kingdom.

     Rahab asked the spies to spare her family when the Israelites took Jericho. The spies told her that her family would only be spared if they stayed within her house. No doubt her family had shame for this prostitute daughter. They did not live in her house because they were not present when Rahab hid the spies. Yet it is her house that God would designate as a sanctuary. Only her house would carry the true token of His salvation: a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) cord/line (tiava/qava - hope expectation, thing I long for, expected, cord, rope, things hoped for [see Heb. 11:1-2], live/wait for, look for, expect, hope, bind together, be collected) made out of scarlet or crimson (dye made from a worm or insect that sacrifices its life for its children) thread: "...give me a true (emet - true, faithful (see Rev. 19:11-14), sure, continuous, of divine instruction, perpetuity, consistent in performing promises, constant and perpetual favor of the Lord, the truth of the Lord) token (ot - אוֹת: alpha, vaw, tav [meaning the Lord Adonai, nailed to the cross], miraculous sign, token, mark, signal, proof, flag, beacon, evidence), and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) lives from death." (Josh. 2:12-13, 18-19). We know the miraculous account of the defeat of Jericho by the Israelites. The mighty walls that protected that city fell straight down into the ground. Does this mean that the small section of wall upon which Rahab's house sat did not fall in this manner? Picture that! Would we have discerned that the LORD would prophesy His greatness and victory by a prostitute, or would we have looked for another type altogether to prophesy the Word of the LORD to us? The spies thought they were "sent" to "spy out" Jericho, but they were really sent to meet a prostitute and hear the Word of the LORD. The LORD would say at a later time as He corrected His prophet, that He does not look upon the outward appearance, but He looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). Do we? 

     From this Sabbath reading portion, Sh'lach L'cha, "Send for yourself", we find another example of the prophetic report. After the Israelites conquered the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land of Canaan, Joshua began to distribute territories to the eleven various tribes. Caleb, Joshua's fellow spy now so many years before, came to him with a request based upon the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) word that the LORD had spoken to him by Moses forty-five years earlier: "And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive...these forty-five years...and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent (salah - see above) me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out, and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day...the Anakim (descendants of giants) were there, and...the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said.' And Joshua blessed him, and gave (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Hebron to Caleb...as an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb....the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel." (Josh. 14:10-14). Caleb, who was not an Israelite by birth but by heart and faith, believed and spoke the good report of the LORD and believed and spoke the Word of the LORD given to him by Moses even many years later. Others may have looked at Caleb and said that he was too old to take that mountain of giants, but Caleb "wholly followed the LORD." In fact, after Caleb was given the mountain, "the land had rest from war." (v. 15).

     In these challenging and dangerous times, by assigning this Sabbath's reading portion, perhaps the LORD is saying to us: sh'lach l'cha: "send for yourselves". What does He expect us to prophetically see and report? Are we giving a report that makes the giants in the land that the LORD has given us to become fainthearted like the inhabitants of Jericho? Has the LORD already removed their protective covering so that they have become bread for us? From another reading portion of this Sabbath we see: "Remember to magnify His (the LORD's) work, of which men have sung. Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar." (Job. 36:24-25). Daniel prophesied about the work of the righteous that is to take place in the last days, when ungodly powers openly challenge the LORD and His people: "...but the people who know (yada - know, perceive, show, tell, understand, certainly, acknowledge, declare, teach, know by experience, confess, be skillful in, be revealed, be perceived, be diligent) their God shall be strong, and do/carry out great exploits."  (Dan. 11:32).

     If you would like to know more about what it means to be "sent" by the LORD, you can pray with me: "Lord, as you send me to go up and see, help my eyes to see Your greatness rather than the false greatness of the darkness. Help my mouth that I will show the true token, and speak the true report to Your people, extending it far and wide. Let the report sent forth of our God cause the spiritual giants on the mountains to tremble, and those who are to be spiritually dispossessed and disinherited from Your land to become fainthearted. Help me by Your Holy Spirit to do the great exploits in Your name of which Your prophet spoke. I ask these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as Α Ω , 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.

Light

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is B'ha'alot'cha, which means "When you step up/go up" or "In your making go up". Last week we learned about ascension through the Hebrew word Naso/nasa, but this week, we will see another type of "going up", and it is amazing. The titles of the Sabbath portions are taken from the beginning of the reading for the week. Our reading begins in Numbers 8: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron (aharon - "Light Bringer"), and say unto him, When thou lightest the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) lamps, the seven (seba/saba - seven, seven-fold, seventy, sacred fulness/to swear, adjure, oath, swear seven times, to swear of Jehovah by Himself) lamps (nir/nur - lamp, candle, light, break up soil, gleam or glisten of broken up soil/fire, to shine) shall give light over against (mol/mul + panim/pana - before, God-ward/circumcised, cut off, cut down + the face, presence, person countenance/regard, look at) the candlestick. And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick (menora/manor - lamp stand/beam, yoke, carrying the heddles (looped cords) of a loom, the frame of a weaving loom), as the LORD commanded (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Moses." (Num. 8:1-3 KJV). In these verses, we don't see an immediate connection to this Sabbath's title B'ha'alot'cha, or "When you step up/go up"/"In your making go up", but it is there hidden by our English translation. Let's see where it is. 

     When the LORD commanded Aaron to "light" the lamps of the candlestick, the Hebrew word used is ala, meaning "come up, go up, ascend, exalted, offering, light, burn, to be taken up into, be inserted in, in going from a lower place to a higher, to be high and lifted up, come up before God, climb." Ala is also a root part of the title of this Sabbath reading portion from which it gets its meaning. The word ala is most often used to mean a "going up" rather than "to light." Considering the position that Aaron must place the lamps and himself according to the Hebrew words used, Aaron must "go up" "before/in front of" the lamp in order to "look at/regard" the Face/Countenance/Presence/Person of the "cut off"/covenant God. It is also interesting that the Hebrew root meaning of the menora lamp stand is associated with the parts of a weaving loom. The purpose of a loom is to knit together or join many different strands. The meaning of "Levite" is also "to be joined to". 

     What is the nature of the light as used here and associated with the menora candlestick? It is the Hebrew word or, meaning: "light, shine, enlighten, fire, glorious, kindle, break of day, to be or become light, to become lighted up, to make shine of the face, to enlighten the eyes of understanding regarding the law, to lighten that which was in darkness (see also Eph. 5:8-10, 1 Pet. 2:9)."

     For those who know Messiah/Christ, this brings to mind the fact that Jesus said that He is the Light of the world (Jn. 8:12), and His purpose is to join us or reconcile us back to God by redeeming us from our debt of sin and its penalty of death. He "wove" us back into God. Jesus called us to this same ministry in His name (Mt. 5:14-16, 2 Cor. 5:18-21), even as we are changed by facing and regarding His glory (light) in the same way that Aaron went up and positioned himself before the light of the Face of God (see 2 Cor. 3:17-18). Proverbs 16:15 says: "In the light of the king's face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain." Are we looking into the face of glory? Have we been woven together with God through Jesus Messiah/Christ? In the seba/saba seven lamps of the candle stick, we also see the beautiful seven-fold oath that the LORD made by and on Himself. Within the meanings above, this oath is regarding the sacred fulness/perfection/stature of Himself provided in our salvation (see Eph. 4:12-13). At the same time, we are "joined and knit together" as a whole body in Him (see Eph. 4:11-16).

     Leviticus 24:2 says this about the golden lamp in the tabernacle: "Command the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) children of Israel that they bring (laqah - take, receive, fetch, bring, carry away, married, buy, take hold of, seize, acquire, procure, be taken in marriage -see also Mt. 25:1-10) to you pure (zak/zakak/zaka - clean, pure, righteous/be clean, be pure, be bright/justified) oil of pressed/beaten (katat - to beat, crush, break in pieces, bruise, violently strike, a sacrificial victim) olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually." Like the olive oil of the Lamp, the Levites will also be made pure and clean for their service to the LORD.

     After Aaron has been commanded by the LORD through Moses regarding the lighting (ala - see above) of the lamps on the lampstand, the LORD then begins to command Moses regarding the cleansing (see zak/zakak/zaka above) of the Levites who will serve in the tabernacle: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Take the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them ceremonially. Thus you shall do to them to cleanse (taher - to make clean, pure, purge, to shine, be bright) them: Sprinkle water of purification (see Ezek. 36:25-27) on them and let them... so make themselves clean...And you shall bring the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Levites before the tabernacle of meeting, and you shall gather together the whole (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation of the children of Israel. So you shall bring the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Levites before the LORD, and the children of Israel shall lay their (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) hands (yad - hand, power, consecrate, sign, monument, wrists, the hand of God, communicate the Spirit of God through the hand) on the Levites; and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD like a wave offering (tenupa/nup - offering, wave offering/move to and fro, lift up, shake, sprinkle, swing in a sieve, to scatter or shake forth as rain or seed) from the children of Israel, that they may perform the work of the LORD....And you shall stand the Levites before Aaron ("Light Bringer") and his sons, and then offer them like a wave offering to the LORD. Thus you shall separate the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine...So you shall cleanse them and offer them like a wave offering. For they are wholly given to Me from among the children of Israel; I have taken them for Myself instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the children of Israel." (Num. 8:5-16).

    The beaten olive oil used for the Lamp must be pure, as Aaron ascended before the Lamp to light it. The Levites set apart for the service of the LORD in the tabernacle must be cleansed and purified also so that they may shine and be bright (see taher above). They are to be offered before the LORD as a wave offering, which is an offering lifted up and waved back and forth. Light is also placed in a lifted up position in order to spread its illumination further. Jesus also told us, as light, to show our light lifted up and placed on a lampstand (Mt. 5:14-16).

     Paul also wrote of the connection between being sanctified, cleansed and washed, and the lifted up light of God: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify (hagiazo/agios - purify internally by renewing of the soul, separate from profane things, purify by expiation (blood) in order to free from the guilt of sin, to make holy/ and cleanse (katharizo - make clean, purge, purify, free from guilt of sin, to pronounce clean in a Levitical sense) her with the washing (loutron/louo - bathing, bath, baptism/to bathe the whole person rather than a part) of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious (endoxos/doxa - glory, splendor, brightness, magnificence, kingly majesty of the Messiah, exterior brightness (of angels), exalted state) church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." Eph. 5:25-27). Paul described marriage as a prophetic picture as well as the spiritual actuality of Christ's relationship with us as His church. It is a relationship that creates purity, glorious brightness and light. Are we, who claim to know Messiah/Christ, proclaiming/prophesying through our marriages this revelation about Him and His saving relationship with us?

     To me, the nature of a wave offering, with which the Levites were set apart for the LORD, has a prophetic significance imbedded in the Hebrew meaning of its word tenupa/nup. Part of that meaning includes "to scatter or shake forth as rain or seed". I believe that something prophetic is being scattered or dispersed as the wave offering is lifted overhead and moved from side to side. Let us look at the prophetic importance of being the lifted light associated with the golden lampstand, and the wave offering of the Levites to the LORD. In another portion from this Sabbath's reading in Zech. chapters two through 4, we see the golden lampstand again. However, first, Zechariah relates the vision that the LORD gave him. (Zech. 3:1-5). As (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Joshua stood before (panim - the face, countenance, presence of) the Angel of the LORD, he was clothed in filthy garments with Satan standing there to oppose him. The LORD rebuked Satan and affirmed His covenant oath to Jerusalem. The Angel of the LORD commanded regarding Joshua: "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to Joshua He said, "See I have removed your iniquity from you and I will clothe you in rich robes...Let them put a clean (taor/taher -see above also) - pure, clean, clear/to be clean, pure, to be bright, to shine) turban on his head." Then the LORD prophesies to Joshua: "For behold, I am bringing forth My (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) servant the BRANCH (semah/samah -shoot, sprout, also referring to the Messiah as a shoot of David)....and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day." (v. 8-9). The cleansing of Joshua also brings the prophetic/revelation light to Joshua and to us.

     After this vision, an angel woke Zechariah with another vision of "a lampstand of solid gold...Two olive trees are by it" that stood by the bowl at the top of the lamp and supplied its oil. Zechariah asked the angel for the meaning of the vision. (Zech. 4:1-4). The prophetic vision had an immediate application regarding the removal of seemingly unmovable obstacles and the finishing of the building of the temple by Zerubbabel by the grace of Spirit of the LORD. (v. 6-7, 9). Then Zechariah asked what the two olive trees/branches of the vision represented "that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?" The angel answered: "These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the LORD of the whole earth." (v. 11-14). We read of a very similar prophetic occurrence in the Book of Revelation.

     In Rev. 11, the Lord will give power to His two witnesses (martys - one who avers, or can aver, what he himself has seen or heard or knows by any other means) before the return of the Messiah/Christ. They will prophesy clothed in sackcloth. If any try to harm them, fire goes out from their mouths and destroys them. They have miraculous power to bring plagues and drought. When their prophetic witness is finished, they will be killed and the world will rejoice in their deaths. After three days, they will be raised from the dead and ascend into heaven. Their prophetic witness will be one of the last warnings before the return of Christ who will come with judgment against the enemies of God. These witnesses are described as "the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before (enopion - before, in the presence of, in the sight of, in the face of, to look at (see also panim/pana above) the God of the earth." (Rev. 11:3-13).

     If we want to fulfill our calling to shine, to be light, then we will have to "ala" in the Spirit, and go up before the face of God, which we have in Jesus, as He said: "He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?..." (Jn. 8-10).

     If you would like to learn more about going up before the face of God, you can join me in my prayer:

"Heavenly Father, Father of Lights, You sent Your Son, Jesus, to be the Light of the World. You sent Him to cleanse me of my sins, and to wash me and clothe me in the shining glory of His righteousness. You have called me to be light as He is light, in His sacred fulness, and in His stature. Fill me with the pure oil of Your Holy Spirit and enlighten my understanding by Your Word so that I also can be the light of Your Face in 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 Α Ω , 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.

Ascension

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Naso, meaning to "elevate/lift up". The root word nasa means "to lift up, bear up, carry, take, carry off, to lift oneself up, exalt, rise up, to grow, to increase, to be borne, to be carried, to forgive." God's power and authority to forgive is found, at least in part, in His naso/nasa ascended position

     This week's Sabbath reading portion will also help us to also understand that there is a battle for this ascension. The spiritual war has already been won as we will see, but on-going spiritual battles still challenge that victory. The prophet Isaiah gave us revelation concerning Lucifer's (Satan's) challenge for ascendency and his inevitable defeat: "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol (sheol - underworld, grave, hell, pit), to the lowest depths (yereka - extreme parts, the rear recesses, the buttocks) of the pit (bor - pit hole, dungeon, cistern used for prisons, lowest sepulchre [dug out of stone] of the dead)." (Isa. 14:12-15). Previously, according to Isaiah above, Satan had been cast down from heaven to earth. However now, because of his challenge to God's (and His people's) ascended position, he will be cast into an even lower depth - the most recessed part of the pit. The word for "ascend" used here by Isaiah is ala, which includes the meaning "to actively mount or climb up." God holds the position of ascension because He is the Ascended One by His holy and perfect nature. Lucifer or Satan tries to achieve ascendency by his own will and strength because of the wickedness found in his heart. The LORD has also shown His people that He has called them to the place of ascension, but it is not achieved by our own will and strength. It comes by lifting Him up, as we will see.  

     Our Sabbath reading portion begins in Numbers 4. Here we find those who lift up, bear up, and carry: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses regarding certain groups of Levites, saying, 'Also take (nasa - see above) a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) census (ros - head, top, summit, height, choicest, best, excellent, forefront, highest part, ruler, chiefest, captain) of the sons of Gershon (gerson- exile, refugee, expulsion), by their fathers' house, by their families." (Num. 4:21-22). As the LORD ordered a census, He was elevating to the highest realms those who were being accounted for by name according to the Hebrew meanings above. He took them from the lowest condition according to the Hebrew meaning of gerson, and He caused them to ascend.

     The LORD said of the sons of Gershon: "This is the service of  the families of the Gershonites, in serving and carrying (massa/nasa - song, prophecy, tribute or gift, bearing, lifting, utterance, oracle, that which is carried or brought, that which the soul lifts up): They shall carry (nasa - see above) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) curtains (yeria/yar - curtain, drape, veil of tent or tabernacle/to grieve) of the tabernacle...with its covering (mikse/kasa - covering/covering cloth, to conceal, to hide)...of badger skins...the screen (masak/sakak - screen, veil/fence about, shut in, protector) for the door of the gate of the court, the hangings (qela/qala - sling, slingstones, door, screen/sling, hurl forth, to engrave) of the court...and all that is made for these things: so shall they serve." (Num. 4:25-26). The LORD caused the Gershonites to nasa ascend from a low earthly position into the highest realm of prophetic utterance (see massa above), to the realm of David/Messiah (sling and slingstones), to the realm of the hidden things of God waiting to be revealed to His people (see also Col. 1:26-28), to the realm of the prophetic covering that protects and shelters God's people (see Ps. 105:12-15) according to the Hebrew meanings of the words above. They were not ascended for their own sakes alone, but they were entrusted with the oracles of God for all of God's people (Rom. 3:1-2). Paul told the church to covet the gift of prophecy. Shouldn't we therefore be prophesying in nasa ascension? There is a battle for ascension. The easiest way to concede ascension to Lucifer/Satan is to misunderstand our own ascension in Christ.

     Then the LORD spoke to Moses regarding the sons of Merari, another family group of Levites, saying: "As for the sons of Merari (merari/marar - bitter, unhappy/bitterness, grieved, choler [irascible temperament, bile], to be enraged, vexed, to embitter oneself), you shall number (paqad - appoint, assign, seek, look about for, be needed, be missed, to be watched over, be entrusted, to muster, to visit) them by their families and by their fathers' house...to do the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) work (aboda/abad - service, labor, tillage, office, bondservant, ministry, sacred service/servant, serve, work, worshippers, to make oneself a servant) of the tabernacle of meeting. And this is what they must carry (mismeret/mismar/samar + massa/nasa - guard, watch, in the house of detention/place of confinement, prison, watch, guard/keep, guard + song, prophecy, tribute, bearing, lifting, utterance, oracle/take, lift up, bear up, carry, exalt, rise up) as all their service (saba/seba - warfare, army, battle, war, heavenly army/wage war) for the tabernacle of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle, its bars (beriah/barah - bar, city gates, fortress, prison, cross-beam bar, bar used to shut door to entrance of Hades, bar of defense of a prince/chase, drive away, put to flight, cause to flee, cut through or break through), its pillars (ammud/amad - pillar/withstand endure, take one's stand, abide, stand firm), its sockets (eden/adon - base, pedestal, strong, firm foundation/strong, lord, master, to rule)...pegs (yated - pin, peg, nail, tent stake, to drive in a nail), cords (metar/yatar - cord, string of a bow/remnant, overflow, abound, preserve alive, excel, show pre-eminence), with all their (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) furnishings (keli/kala - weapon, utensil, tool, yoke, artillery, jewel/to accomplish, finish, to be completed, be fulfilled, bring to an end) and all their service; and you shall assign to each man by name the items he must carry." (Num. 4:29-32). There's a great deal of Hebrew word meanings here for these verses about the sons of Merari, but the bottom line is that you don't want to mess with these guys! The LORD took those who were full of bitterness, and anger and caused them to ascend into an army of spiritual prison guards and warriors. They were the spiritual soldiers and policemen binding (see also Mt. 18:18) and imprisoning harmful criminals in the spirit realm through the prophetic songs and weapons given to them in ascension. One good example of this kind of calling is found in another reading portion of this Sabbath from Judges 16, which is the account of Samson's defeat of the Philistines of Gaza. He tore up, lifted up and carried away the huge city gates (see above) of Gaza, and later brought down the temple of their false god Dagon (dagon/daga - "a fish", Philistine god of fertility and increase represented by the face and hands of a man and the tail of a fish/to be covered over in darkness) by its pillars (see above) with all of the lords of the Philistines gathered in the temple. Nothing could stop Samson. He was a human wrecking ball. This account of Samson and the Philistines was also prophetic considering current events. 

     There is a third group of Levites mentioned in the beginning of Numbers 4. Moses was to take (nasa - lift up, bear up, carry, take, endure, support, to be borne, forgive, bear continuously) a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) census or sum (ros - head, top, summit, height, choicest, best, excellent, forefront, highest part, ruler, chiefest, captain) of the sons of Kohath (qehat - assembly; to ally oneself). The Kohaths were ascended by the LORD in order to carry the most holy things (qodes + qodes - apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness, saint, sanctuary, consecrated to God) of the tabernacle. These included the ark of the covenant with the mercy seat, both overlayed with gold, the golden altar of incense, the golden table of shewbread, and the golden candlestick/lamp/menorah. The Kohaths are important because as "the assembly", they resemble the ekklesia, the Greek word for "church". Ekklesia/ek + kaleo/keleuo means "an assembly of the Israelites, an assembly of Christians, the whole body of Christians both already dead and still living, a calling out, a church, a congregation of either Jews or Christians/to call aloud, utter in a loud voice, to name, by name, to bear a name/to command, to order, to urge on." To believers in Messiah/Christ, the very holy furnishings of the tabernacle that were to be carried (massa/nasa - see above) by the Kohath Levites represent the Father (Ark/Mercy Seat), the Son (Altar of Incense, Table of Shewbread, Golden Lampstand of Light), and the Holy Spirit (the holy oil that fills the Lamp and the fiery coals and rising smoke of incense prayers). The Kohaths in Num. Ch. 4 are treated differently than the other Levite families already mentioned above, but they have a special meaning for us, the true ekklesia church of both Jews and Christians.  

     The numbers of each group of Levites mentioned here were in the thousands. No one person, nor just a handful, had to carry the holy burdens. Sometimes we think that we are the "only one", but as the LORD told Elijah, who was feeling very sorry for himself, there were many who were in His obedient service (see 1 Kings 19:14-18). It's difficult for us to ascend while in the middle of a pity party! And the battle for spiritual ascendence rages on.

     The message of Naso is not only important to Israel, especially at this time, but it is also essential to our understanding of our calling in Christ. Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives in the presence of His disciples (Acts 1:8-11), the Holy Spirit was poured out in fire on the disciples waiting in the Upper Room located above David's tomb in Jerusalem on the Feast of Weeks, also called Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). The Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost are being observed this month. This was the fulfilment of the promise that Jesus had made to His disciples before His crucifixion and resurrection (Jn. 16:7-11, 16). The second event of Pentecost could not have been fulfilled without the accomplishment of the first event: the Ascension. The Ascension of Jesus was a great victory of authority and glory (see Ps. 24:7-10). Christ did not ascend for His own benefit alone, however. We spiritually ascended with Him. Paul wrote: "But God who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus....For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:4-10, excerpt). Our ascension in Jesus Christ is for appointed good works, and, like the ascension of Naso, it also carries a prophetic message for ages to come.

     For this purpose also, the LORD instructed Aaron to speak an ascension blessing over the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) children of Israel:

"The LORD bless you and keep (samar - keep, guard, observe, protect, watchman, save life, preserve, take heed, mark) you; The LORD make His face shine (or - become light, be light, shine, glorious, fire, set on fire, be-give-show light) upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up (nasa - bear up, lift up, carry, forgive, exalt, regard, take, be lifted up, rise up, bear continuously, cause one to bear, be high) His countenance (panim/pana - face, presence, person, before, behind, toward/look at, turn toward) upon you, and give you peace (salom/salam - peace, prosperity, safe, health, soundness, completeness, tranquility, friendship in covenant/recompense, reward, restore, repay, retribution, finished, make whole)."

"So they shall put My (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) name (sem/sum - name, reputation, glory, monument, memorial, character, honor, authority, fame/appoint, place, set in place, make for a sign, establish, ordain) on the children of Israel, and I will bless them." (Num. 6:22-27).

     As God causes His *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega children to ascend, He places His name, glory, character, authority and appointed purpose upon them, and they become a (prophetic) sign to others. 

     God delivered His people out of Egypt through ascension: borne (nasa - see above) on eagles' wings (Ex. 19:3-6). Prophets have been lifted up in ascension in order to receive the Word/vision of the LORD (Ezek. 8:3, Isa. 6:1-3, Isa. 40:21-23, 26, Rev. 4:1-2). The LORD, the Most High, speaks of those who ascend to make their dwelling under His wings (Psalm 91). Paul wrote that we are to live in ascension through Messiah/Christ (Col. 3:1-3, Phil. 4:8-9). However, we tend to spend so much of our time, concern and attention over things that are under, below, and beneath. We can be prophesying, carrying and guarding instead from our ascended position. As Jesus Christ's seventy disciples returned rejoicing from doing the spiritual works of ascendency, He remarked that He saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning. (Lk. 10:17-20).

     There is an on-going spiritual battle for ascendency, and the LORD expects us to win it: "But you shall receive power (dynamis - power, mighty wonderful work, strength, miracles, ability, inherent power, excellence of soul, abundance) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me (Jesus) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8). At this time of Pentecost/Feast of Weeks, we are reminded of this great outpouring of power to us from on high. 

     If you would like to know more about the Naso ascension of God's people, you can join me in my prayer: "Most High Father, You have lifted me up in Your Son, Jesus, and have seated me with Him in heavenly places by Your grace. You have appointed me to do ascension works as a prophetic sign and for Your glory. As I lift up and carry You, You lift up and carry me also. You have placed Your great name upon me. I thank and praise Your Son, Jesus, for ascending on high for me, and for sending Your Holy Spirit to baptize and fill me with Your spiritual fire. I give You all honor, glory and praise 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 Α Ω , 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.

     

KingdomProvision

      We have heard of the Kingdom of God. This week's Sabbath reading portion also caused me to consider the fact that there is an economic system attached to this Kingdom.  We see a glimpse of the place of Kingdom provision in the account of Abraham and his obedience to the voice of God to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, on the Mount in the land of Moriah (root meaning: chosen, seen, foreseen, caused to be shown by the LORD). Abraham had assured his son at the time, "...God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." The Angel of the LORD stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son at the last moment, and miraculously, Abraham lifted his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eyes and saw that a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) ram appeared caught (ahaz - grasp, take hold, take possession, enclose, seize with the hand, to be joined, adhere, cover, shut) by its horns (qeren/qaran - strength, rays of light, horns of the altar, power, mountain peak/to shine, send out rays, shoot out horns, to radiate, emit beams) in a thicket (sebak/sabak - branches interwoven/interweave, entwine, plait). The ram became the sacrifice instead of his son: "And Abraham called the name of the place (root word qum - to be raised up, to rise, arise, become powerful, be fulfilled, come on the scene, be proven), The-LORD (YHWH - Hebrew letters meaning "Behold the hand, behold the nail")-Will-Provide (ra'a - see, appear, show, provide, regard, visions, foresee, have vision, look at, give attention to, look one on another); as it is said to this day, 'In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided (ra'a - see above)." (Gen. 22:1-14). Those who know the Messiah/Christ Jesus will recognize His image in the picture formed by the Hebrew meaning of the words in these verses. This provision came from the LORD, rather than man, and from the place of being "raised up".

     Our Sabbath reading portion for this week is titled B'midbar, which is also the Hebrew title of the Book of Numbers and means "in the wilderness".  The title comes from the first verse of the Book of Numbers: "Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai ("thorny"), in the tabernacle of meeting, on the first day of the second month (also called ziv:  see 1 Kings 6:1, taking place in April/May, meaning "brightness, splendor [of the face], prominent), in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt..." The children of Israel had been released from their bondage in Egypt but had not yet come into the Promised Land. This also reflects our situation as those who know Messiah/Christ. We have been saved and released from the bondage of sin and death but have not yet been called to our heavenly home to be with the LORD. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we are also travelers or sojourners in the earth, which is not our permanent home (Heb. 13:14, 1 Pet. 2:11-12). We also know from scripture that the Israelites, while in the wilderness, were totally supplied by God. He provided water, food, including manna from heaven, and even their clothes and shoes did not wear out (Ps. 78:16-18, Deut. 29:5). Let's look more deeply into the LORD's economy in this week's Sabbath reading portion.

     The first thing that the LORD did was to appoint leaders of the tribes of Israel. These men were described as men of renown (qari - called one, chosen, selected) and princes (nasi/nasa - prince, ruler, king, chief, one lifted up, captain, cloud/to lift, exalt, forgive). (Num. 1:16). These were men whom God had expressed (naqab - to pierce, perforate with violence, bore, pierce through, holes, strike through, to separate, distinguish and specify by name) by their names (v. 17). The Hebrew roots of the names of these princes who were to lead groups of thousands reflect the governing kingdom and economy of God: "My God is a Rock (sur - strength, refuge/to form, lay siege, assault, to bind, to press upon, to cut, to divide)"; another name meant "prosperity, reward, restitution, pay, recompense of God"; another name: "given, granted, pay wages, recompense, lend, yield produce, be provided, be bestowed by God"; another meant: "God is patron of benevolence and protection"; still another name: "benefit, reward, dealt bountifully, bestow, recompense, repay, given by God"; another meant: "Father is judge, Lord, King, husband, prophet, ruler, governor, prince"; another name: "God has added, more, increase, exceed, add to, give more, plentifully, be joined to" (v. 5-15). These names reflect God's government and provision.

     God would be the source of the wealth of the Israelites from His place in brightness, splendorous glory. The apostle Paul wrote of the same thing as the believers in Messiah/Christ gave an acceptable, sweet-smelling sacrifice to the Lord: "And my God shall supply (pleroo - make full, cause to abound, furnish, fill to the top) all your need according to His riches in glory (doxa/dokeo - judgment, splendor, brightness, kingly majesty, majesty reflecting the absolute perfection of deity/opinion, judge) by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Phil. 4:19-20). 

     Where and from whom are we looking for our governance and provision to come? Where has our confidence been placed? Jesus described a world system built upon reliance in wealth as being called "Mammon", a word meaning a Babylonian/Chaldee god, who was wealth personified, and avarice deified, and having the confidence of men. Jesus said that God and Mammon are so opposed in nature that we cannot serve both. Mammon is not the origin of genuine wealth, but of counterfeit wealth. Genuine wealth comes from the lifted-up place of God. The wealth of this false system is gained by the love of money, false scales and weights (see Lev. 19:35-36, Prov. 11:1, Prov. 16:11, Prov. 20:10 and 23, Deut. 25:13-16, Ezek. 45:9-10, Amos 8:4-6) and theft (see Lk. 16:11, 13). The devil claimed to Jesus that all of the authority and glory (doxa - glory, honor, praise, worship, opinion, judgment) of the kingdoms of the world had been delivered to him, and he said that he would give them to Jesus if Jesus would worship him. Jesus rebuked Satan with the Word of God and told him "You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only shall you serve." (Lk. 4:5-8). Who delivered all of the kingdoms of the world and their "glory" to Satan? We, the people of God, did when we placed our confidence in those kingdoms instead of in the LORD. We cannot serve both God and Mammon.

     The LORD records this in another portion of this Sabbath's reading. The LORD said of His unfaithful people: "For she did not know that I gave her grain, new wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold - which they prepared for Baal (supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians, Canaanites and Babylonians)...And I will destroy her vines and fig trees, of which she has said, 'These are my wages (etna/tana - hire, price of a harlot, reward/to hire a prostitute, to present a mercenary inducement, to give presents, to distribute gifts) that my lovers have given me...I will punish her for the days of the Baals to which she burned incense...But Me she forgot,' says the LORD." (Hosea 2:8,12-13). The LORD prophesied that He would destroy all of the false rewards in which His people had placed their confidence.  Revelation shows us the prophetic vision of the world system of wealth and governments, upon which man relies, being destroyed in an hour (Rev. 18:1-20, see also Isa. 21:9, Jer. 51:6-8, Ezek. 27, Dan. 2:31-35, 44-45). Hosea prophesied that after God destroyed the fruits of the Baals from among His people, He would bring His people back into the wilderness in order to revive their relationship with Him, and the LORD would speak comfort to them there. They had previously called God by the name of the Baals, which was "Master", but they would learn to call God "Husband" (ishi - husband, champion, good, great and mighty Man). (v. 14-17). In the wilderness, they would learn once again to place their confidence in God. Most precious to God are His people, and His economy is based upon the redemption of His precious people as we will see. We cannot serve both God and Mammon.

    All kingdoms have their own currency usually carrying the faces of their kings and heroes. The Kingdom of God also has a currency, but it does not carry the picture of an earthly king, but of the King of Kings, and we will see His image below. In this Sabbath portion, B'midbar, or "in the wilderness", God's currency is based upon the redemption of His people. This currency of redemption is referred to as "the shekel of the sanctuary". It is by this shekel that the LORD allowed the first-born sons of Israel to be redeemed. The Levites were to replace the first-born in their obligation of service to the LORD. However, the first-born of Israel were more than the number of Levites. Therefore the LORD allowed the excess number of first-born to be redeemed instead with His currency: "...you shall take five shekels (seqel/saqal- chief unit of weight or measure of gold, silver or copper/to weigh, pay out, weigh out a price, to suspend a balance of a scale, to suspend as on a cross) for each one individually/by the poll (gulgolet/galal - skull [see also Golgotha: Jn. 19:17]/roll away [a large round stone], remove, roll away reproach); you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, the shekel of twenty (esrim/asar - twenty/a unit of the  tithe or tenth, to become rich or wealthy, enrich, make rich, gain riches, to prosper) gerahs (a weight based on a specific number of barley grains or carob beans). And you shall give the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) money, with which the excess number of them is redeemed (peduy/pada - ransom, the preserved, the price of redemption/redeem, ransom, rescue, deliver, to release, preserve, to loose, to set free, to let go, to deliver life from danger), to Aaron and his sons." So Moses took the redemption money...and Moses gave their redemption (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) money to Aaron and his sons..." (Num. 3:46-51). Again, we can see in the meaning of the Hebrew words used in this passage the Person of the Messiah/Christ Jesus, and His role as Redeemer, in the "exchange" currency of the Kingdom of God. This value is eternal and never fluctuates or ends. We can understand more of what Paul was revealing in the verse above from Phil. 4:19-20 in connecting the redemptive work of Messiah/Christ to the foundation of God's riches from which He provides for us. Paul also wrote of our inheritance (kieronomia/kieronomos - inheritance, heirship, possession/one who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship) in glory through Jesus Christ in Eph. 1:7-14, 18-23. If we are looking to Mammon for our provision, we are looking to the wrong place. We cannot serve both God and Mammon.

     In my nation, our currency is no longer attached to any specific value, making it different from the shekel of the God's sanctuary. This fact also makes our currency worthless. The coins that used to be minted by a portioned weight of fine gold and fine silver, are now minted by a press of layers of base metals of manganese brass, copper, nickel and zinc called "clad coins". The paper currency, once backed by a set measure of gold, is no longer backed by anything with a tangible value. Soon the plan is to switch to digital currency, which again, will be backed by nothing. One's labor therefore is given in exchange for a currency of no real value. Therefore, this is a system in which vast wealth is held in such a manner that it is never equitably distributed, even for labor performed. This is the system of Mammon that Jesus described. This system accumulates even more of its hoarded wealth through exorbitant interest charged to those who have sold the fruits of their future labor and wealth into debt to this system for credit now. It is indeed a system of "master" and "servant". This is the currency and economics of temporary earthly kingdoms rather than the economics of provision of God's Kingdom. In whom have we placed our confidence?  We need to seek revelation understanding of God's provision because all signs point to the possibility that the time of earthly kingdoms and their systems of wealth is growing short. We cannot serve both God and Mammon.

     In another portion from this Sabbath, Psalm 28, David calls upon the economic system of the LORD for spiritual justice. Of the wicked, David wrote: "Give (natan - give, bestow, pay wages, yield produce, be provided, sell, exchange, lend) them according to their deeds (po'al/pa'al - work, deeds, labor, wages of work, acquisition of treasure, getting/work, workers), and according to the wickedness of their endeavors (ma'alal/alal - endeavor, invention, work/deal ruthlessly, deal wantonly, abuse); Give them according to the work of their hands; render (sub - return, turn back, pay as recompense) to them what they deserve (gemul/gamal - dealing, recompense, reward, retribution/deal fully with, recompense)." As one who trusted in the LORD's Kingdom and economy, David also prayed: "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed (masiah/masa - anointed one, of the Messiah Prince/to smear, anoint, spread a liquid, rub with oil). Save Your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people and bless Your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) inheritance; Shepherd them also and bear them up forever." 

     This is the difference between God's Kingdom provision and the inequitable hoarding of wealth within Mammon. It is important for us to understand and place our confidence in the lifted-up place of God's provision and the redemption foundation of His economy, because before the LORD destroys the system of worldly wealth, the world will be forced to serve this system according to scripture (see Rev. 13:15-18, Rev. 14:9-12). The spiritual powers of wickedness (see Eph. 6:12-13) know this same truth: man cannot serve both God and Mammon, so man will be forced to choose Mammon for his provision instead of God. God's *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega people are not meant for this bondage, as we read above, and we have been given the knowledge of the truth that makes us free if we will seek it.

     If you would like to know more about the Kingdom of God and His provision economy, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You have made provision for me and You have already supplied all of my needs from Your riches in glory, through Your Son Jesus, my Redeemer. You told Your people to come out from beneath Babylon because her fall would be great. Please give me the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that I need from Your living Word by Your Spirit to place all of my confidence in You, so that I do not rely on my own strength, nor put my confidence in the kingdoms and systems of this world for provision and prosperity. Separate and redeem me from these things by Your glory through Messiah/Christ. Let this become revelation to me so that I will walk in it and be able to show it to others. 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 Α Ω , 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.