MyHand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

Name&Purpose

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FoodinFAMINE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     The global food chain has become very vulnerable.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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