Calling

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-yikra which means "And He called." Va-yikra is also the Hebrew name for the third Book of the Bible that we call "Leviticus." This Book is about the calling of the priests into the service of the LORD in His tabernacle, and the offerings to the LORD that the priests are supposed to minister. This sabbath portion's name comes from the first verse of Chapter 1: "Now the LORD called (qara - to call out, cry out, proclaim, utter a loud sound, to summon, invite, appoint, call and endow, give name to) to Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of meeting..." This is the same Hebrew word, qara, as God used in calling and naming His creation (see Gen. 1:5, 1:8, 1:10 ) and by which Adam "called" all of the beasts of the creation in order to name them. (see Gen. 2:19-20). It is an authoritative "calling" that establishes an identity and purpose.

     As the Book of Leviticus begins, it begins with a blood sacrifice. God called Moses to speak to the children of Israel about the kind of blood sacrifice (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-offering to bring to the tabernacle that would be accepted for each man's atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, pacify, merciful, cleansed, pardon, cover over, atone for sin, propitiate [see Rom. 3:23-26, 1 Jn. 2:1-2]).

     After the Israelite brings his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-offering to the tabernacle, he will kill it there. Then the priests take over. They will take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-blood and sprinkle (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-blood around the altar. (v. 5). Then the man shall flay/skin (pasat - strip, flay, strip off, spread out, deploy in a hostile array, to unclothe-plunder-flay, invade, stretch out, to rush upon, to attack) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt-offering. I think that we can see the connection here in the word "flay/skin" to the whipping of Jesus, our (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt-offering not only for our atonement, but for the atonement for the whole world as scripture tells us. Part of being the atonement (see kapar above) is also that Jesus reconciles all creation to the Father, which same ministry of reconciliation has been given to us. (see 2 Cor. 5:18-19).

     So the priesthood was to have a direct role in receiving and applying the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt offerings of the children of Israel. As we believers in Messiah/Christ are called to a spiritual royal priesthood (see 1 Pet. 2:9-10, Rev. 1:5-6, Rev. 5:8-10, Rev. 20:6), we also have this ministry before the Father of the receiving and applying of His Son's atoning blood on behalf, not only of ourselves, but for the people. Revelation 20:6 noted above ties this priesthood of God and Christ with those of the first resurrection who will also reign with Messiah/Christ for one thousand years. They are called blessed and holy. Jesus made clear the "calling" authority that He has given to us by saying, "Peace to you! As (kathos - according as, just as, in the degree that, in proportion as, in that manner, like) the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (Jn. 20:21-23). What are we doing with this qara calling from Messiah/Christ who is sending us in the same manner in which He was sent by His Father? Jesus, who also taught us to pray saying in part, "And forgive us our debts/trespasses, as we forgive our debtors/those who trespass against us," adding "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Mt. 6:9-15). This also is part of our priestly qara calling. The forgiveness is not predicated upon what we or others "deserve" to receive. It is based upon the words of Jesus, saying: "As the Father sent Me...".

     From another Sabbath reading portion in Isaiah 43, the LORD mourns that His people haven't qara called upon Him. They have neglected the atonement burnt offerings which call out to Him, in the same manner that the atonement blood of His own Son, Jesus calls out to Him - not for vengeance, but for forgiveness. (Heb. 12:22-24). The blood cries out eternally. The LORD, in Isa. 43, faults their teachers/mediators (lus - ambassador, intercede, teacher, interpreter, mocker, scorn, derision, boast, talk arrogantly), and the LORD said that the "princes of the sanctuary", the royal priests, would become profaned, and the people accursed. Teachers/interpretors/mediators/ambassadors of God became mockers and scorners as they failed to teach the people the truth.

     The people had not been properly taught that it is the LORD "who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins." (Isa. 43:22-28). The apostle Paul took his “ambassadorship” (see the meaning of lus above) very seriously as he begged us to be reconciled (see the meaning of kapar atonement above) to God through the atonement of Messiah/Christ. (see 2 Cor. 5:20-21). The whole point of the "ambassadorship", both in Isaiah 43 and 2 Corinthians 5, is to minister to men to the kapar atonement reconciliation blood of our burnt offering, Jesus.

      The priests of Leviticus ministered the atonement blood of the offerings for hundreds of thousands of the children of Israel. In so ministering, the hands of the priests were continually handling the blood of atonement. Would the presence of the atonement blood be evident on our hands as the royal priests of Jesus Messiah/Christ? Have we neglected to minister it on behalf of the people as the LORD mentioned in Isaiah 43? If so, have we left the blood of Atonement in Messiah/Christ behind a closed Door (Jesus is the Door of the sheep)? Who knows if our opening of the Door of Atonement, who Christ is and which Christ provided, will not also open the Door for the entrance of the Spirit of Grace and repentance? (PLEASE NOTE: A SUBMITTED COMMENT FROM A READER CONTAINING IMPORTANT THOUGHTS HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG ENTRY.)

     God must surely bless those who, in quiet times of intercession (see lus above) with the LORD, minister the precious atonement blood of His Son that cries out to the Father on behalf of all creation, including man.

     This is how the apostle Paul described the qara calling of the LORD for His purpose towards us who believe in the Son, Jesus: "And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself]. And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]." (Rom. 8:30 AMPC - Amplified Version). God has called us to a high and heavenly calling in Jesus Messiah/Christ, including that of a royal priesthood.

     If you would like to learn more about the priestly ministry of the Atonement blood of Jesus, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, the blood of Your Son, Jesus, cries out to You from the Mercy Seat for forgiveness and purging of our sins. Lord, the blood of our Atonement, Jesus, is meant to be spread out beyond ourselves. The blood of Jesus cries out for the whole world. This is why You sent Your Son, Father, and He completed the work that You ordained for Him. The blood of the Atonement is priceless and most precious, yet it was freely poured out to make the way for the reconciliation of all creation. Father, I pray for the reconciliation of all man to You, which is the desire of Your heart. I say to all men: "Be reconciled to God, your Father and Creator, by the blood of Jesus." I ask these things in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

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

SPECIAL NOTE: THE FOLLOWING VALUABLE COMMENT WAS SUBMITTED BY A READER:

"The priests of Leviticus ministered the atonement blood of the offerings for hundreds of thousands of the children of Israel. In so ministering, the hands of the priests were continually handling the blood of atonement. Would the presence of the atonement blood be evident on our hands as the royal priests of Jesus Messiah/Christ?"

There is a mystery connected to this question. 

In the Old Testament, when the word "consecrate/consecrated" occasionally appears (referencing the priests/priesthood), there is a hidden phrase in the Hebrew. 

"Fill the Aleph-Tav hand(s)."

Some examples of where this appears is Exodus 28:41, 29:29, 29:33, Leviticus 8:33, 16:32, and 21:10.

When reading "consecrate(d)" in Hebrew, it reads "fill his/their (Aleph-Tav) hands".

You can search this yourself by putting [H4390+H853+H3027] in the search bar of your online concordance (I use Blue Letter Bible) or by looking up the references I provided and viewing the interlinear translation that shows the Hebrew.

At the crucifixion, Jesus' (Aleph-Tav) hands were pierced and bloodied.

His HANDS WERE FILLED, but not with an animal sacrifice.

They were filled with HIS OWN BLOOD, the true offering.

Jesus is our true High Priest.

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which HE HATH CONSECRATED for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an HIGH PRIEST over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." ~~Hebrews 10:19-22

At the cross, Jesus stretched out His Aleph-Tav hands, and they were filled-- not with the blood of animals, but with His own atoning life, CONSECRATING the new and living way into the heavenly sanctuary. 

As His royal priesthood, our calling is to bear the evidence of that same atonement in OUR OWN HANDS, living as those marked by His sacrifice and entrusted with His ministry.

~~The Berean

TempleGlory

     "...on this rock I will build My church (ekklesia/kaleo + ek - an assembly of Israelites, an assembly of Christians gathered for worship, the whole body of Christians/to call aloud, to call by name, to call forth + out of, away from, separation from a point of origin of place or time), and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Jesus speaking in Mt. 16:18-19).

and

     "...you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire...Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (Paul writing in 1 Cor. 3:9-16, excerpt).

     The title of this week's assigned Sabbath reading portion is a double title: Va-yakheil and P'kudei. Va-yakheil means "And he assembled", and P'kudei means "Amounts of/Accounting of".  The first title is from Exodus 35:1, which says: "Then Moses gathered (qahal - gather together, assemble, to summon an assembly, to call, to call together) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-congregation of the children of Israel together...". Both titles have to do with the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness and the building of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. Both the tabernacle and the temple began as a vision of a pattern given from heaven and commanded by God to Moses (see Ex. 25:8-9, Heb. 8:5) and then in a later generation the plan given to King David by the Spirit of God (see 1 Chron. 28:11-13) whose son, Solomon, built the temple according to the vision of his father, David. We also see in the verse at the top of the page that the "church" (see ekklesia meaning above) is also built upon a revelation from heaven as Jesus declared, the revelation being Jesus as the Messiah/Christ. (see Mt. 16:15-17).

     The pattern of both the tabernacle and the temple and all of their furnishings were not random, but very specific in detail and the materials to be used. Pages and pages of scripture describe all of the exact details of the items that needed to be constructed to be placed in the tabernacle or temple. Each piece contained individual parts, and each piece was to be set in specific places in the structure. All parts, pieces, components of pieces, priestly garments, materials to be used and their placement were described in intimate detail down to the rings that held the curtains. All pieces and materials used to create the pieces were accounted for and assembled. Nothing was created by the ideas or choices of men. The tabernacle and later the temple were constructed to the exactitude of God.

     As the tabernacle was completed, Moses anointed the tabernacle with oil as the LORD commanded him to do: "And you shall take the anointing (masha/masah - anointing, anointed, consecrate by anointing/smear, anoint, spread a liquid, consecrate, to stroke or spread over, to measure: to spread out and to expand) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-oil, and anoint (see masah above) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tabernacle-and-all-that-is-in-it; and you shall hallow it and all its (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-utensils/vessels (keli/kala - vessel, weapon, jewel, furniture, object/finish, end, accomplish, done, fulfil, determined, complete, bring to pass), and it shall be holy." (Ex. 40:9).

     As we can see, everything connected to the tabernacle was identified with the Messiah/Christ Jesus by the use of the written *aleph-tav (see *note below). Everything connected to the tabernacle was anointed with *aleph-tav-oil. The Hebrew words used for anointing/anoint (see above) are the root words for "Messiah" in Hebrew ("Christ" in Greek), which means "the anointed One".

     The Hebrew meanings shown above in the verse from Ex. 40:9 parallel the language used in Eph. 4:12-13 and 16 as being the spiritual identity of the ekklesia church determined by the will of God, as He appointed offices of spiritual leadership in the ekklesia church, which is the Body of Christ in heaven and on the earth, to include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers: "...for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying/perfecting (katartismos/katartizo - complete furnishing/put in order, arrange, perfectly join together, complete thoroughly, fit, frame, make - see meaning of "utensils/vessels" above)) of the body of Christ, until we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect (telios/telos - brought to an end, finished, complete/end, that by which a thing is finished, definite point or goal - see meaning of "utensils/vessels" above) man, to the measure (metron - a vessel used to determine a quantity of dry or liquid, a determined extent - see meaning of "anointing" above) of the stature of the fullness (pleroo - to fulfill, to bring to pass, accomplish promises and prophecies, bring to realization, made complete in every particular, to carry through to the end, to fulfill or to cause God's will and promises, to receive fulfilment - see meaning of "utensils/vessels" above) of Christ....from whom the whole body, joined and knit together (see the meaning of katartizo above) by what every joint supplies...by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love"

     Moses, personally arranged or set in order (see katartizo above) the tabernacle and its furnishings according to the pattern that he was shown on the mountain. (Ex. 40:17-33). "So Moses finished the work."

     Moses had also assigned earlier, by specific command of the LORD, two master craftsmen, full of the Spirit of God, to supervise the construction of all of the items of the tabernacle. (Ex. 35:30-35). When Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, he also appointed a master craftsman, Huram, who was filled with wisdom, understanding and skill, sent to him by King Hiram of Tyre to supervise the making of all of the extensive bronze work items that would be used in the temple. (see 1 Kings 7:13-14). In the verses at the top of the page from 1 Cor. 3:9-16, Paul also called himself "a wise master builder" for the purpose of building the spiritual house of God and laying the foundation of Jesus Christ. Although the church leadership at the time did not recognize Paul's apostleship, God did, and Paul was miraculously called (see ekklesia above) in an encounter with Jesus Christ while he was on the road to Damascus. Paul proved his appointment to apostleship every day of his life and still does to this day. His words are still fruitful in the manifestation of the true ekklesia church. Apostles are still appointed to the ekklesia church for the same purpose since God has not changed His Word.

     When both the tabernacle and later the temple were completed, "Then the cloud covered (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of God filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tabernacle." (Ex. 40:34-35).  After Solomon's temple was completed there was a similar occurrence: "And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-house of the LORD, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-house of the LORD." (1 Kings 8:10-11). The glory covered and filled the tabernacle and temple identified with the Messiah/Christ as the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega (see *note below). Jesus prayed to the Father that He had given His believers His own glory so that they/we would be made perfect (teleioo/teleios - see meaning above and also the meaning of "utensils/vessels" above). (see Jn. 17:22-23). Doesn't this follow the pattern established from heaven for the tabernacle/temple?

     At the top of the page, the words written by Paul in 1 Cor. 3:16 state that, as a believer, each of us individually is the temple of God with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Cor. 6:19, Paul again wrote: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" This spiritual temple created within each believer is based upon the foundation of Jesus Christ (see 1 Cor. 3 above). The apostle Peter wrote that each believer is also a part of a larger spiritual temple: "...you also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 2:5). Jesus said that it is HE who builds His church in Matthew 16 (see the top of the page). Again the apostles wrote that this spiritual tabernacle/temple is directly related to the Messiah/Christ Jesus in agreement with the pattern given many generations earlier by God: the true ekklesia (see meaning above) church of both Jew and Gentile is built of the same heavenly pattern as the tabernacle, the pattern of which was given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai, and the temple of Solomon, built upon the plans given to his father, King David, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Both "houses" were directly identified with Messiah/Christ based upon the presence of the written Hebrew *aleph-tav throughout the detailed descriptions given regarding both of the Houses of God.

     The true ekklesia church that is being built into a spiritual House of God was established by God with a foundation identity based only on His Son, the Messiah/Christ Jesus, and led by His Holy Spirit. It is a heavenly pattern that, when completed, becomes a tabernacle/temple filled with the glory of God. The ekklesia church has no other foundation than Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our living faith (see Heb. 12:2). The ekklesia church is not randomness, confusion and division but the completion, perfection and fulfilment of Jesus Christ. (see Eph. 4:13). This is the divine building plan or the blueprint of the ekklesia church.

     The LORD's intricate and exacting heavenly pattern for His tabernacle/temple produces a spiritual, living, resurrection temple made up of Sovereignly purposed and called believers in Jesus Messiah/Christ, both Jew and Gentile. It is a living temple filled with the Holy Spirit and the glory of Jesus Christ and the Father, which glory has been given to us by Christ. It is the same glory that came with the presence of the LORD and filled the tabernacle and later the temple and before which no flesh could stand - not the priests and not even Moses, yet we stand in it and of it. It is the same glory that shone upon the shepherds of the field at Bethlehem when the Messiah/Christ Jesus arrived into the world as a baby. (see Lk. 2:8-14). It is the same glory brightness that destroys the Lord's enemies at His coming/appearing, even the lawless one who is called antichrist. (see 2 Thess. 2:8). This same glory has a voice that is continually declaring the message of Messiah/Christ's return to the world through our testimony: "Surely I am coming quickly (tachy - speedily, without delay, soon, suddenly)," as we respond saying, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20). There is a beautiful and powerful song that begins with the declaration: Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!”.  The pattern of the House of the LORD's glory and habitation is not and cannot be built by human hands or ideas. (Acts 17:24, 2 Cor. 5:1-2, Heb. 9:11).

     If you would like to learn more about being the building of the living temple of God, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You have given Your Son Jesus, and called me in Him, to be built into Your living temple, the place of Your holy and glorious habitation. Lord, let me abide in the true and only foundation of Jesus Christ. This living temple is a house of prayer for all nations, with every kindred, tribe, race, and tongue offering spiritual sacrifices to You, always offering prayers of intercession according to Your will accomplished on earth as it is in heaven. Help me, Lord, to be led by Your Holy Spirit, and not my own will, plans or ideas because I am not my own, but I have been bought with the price of the blood of Jesus Messiah/Christ, the Anointed One. Let that same anointing oil cover my life and purpose in Your holy living temple, the anointing oil of the Messiah/Christ that causes me to shine with Your glory and holiness. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! I ask these things in Jesus' name. AMEN."

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

ForgivingtheUnforgivable

     

     

     "Then Jesus said to him, 'Away with you (hypago - bring under, lead under, sink out of sight, drive back), Satan (satanas - adversary of God and Christ, one who opposes, inciter of sin and apostacy towards God, prince of evil spirits, controls idol worshippers, the accuser, the devil, Satan)! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve. Then the devil left (aphiemi - send away, forsake) Him, and behold, angels came (proserchomai - draw near to, worship, visit, assent to) and ministered (diakoneo - to serve, to wait upon, the servant of a king) to Him." (Mt. 4:10-11). 

     The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Ki Tissa, meaning, "When you take/lift up/carry out", and the title is from Exodus 30:11-12. These verses say: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'When you take (nasa - bear up, lift up, take up, carry, forgive, exalt, rise up, support, endure, to cause one to bear, hold up, raise up, be high) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-census (ro's - sum, head, top, beginning, captain, highest, supreme, prince, height, chief) of the children of Israel for their number (paqad - number, visit upon, punish, appoint, judgment, reckon, lay upon as a charge), then every man shall give a ransom (koper/kapar - ransom, satisfaction, price of a life, henna plant [red-brown dye], atonement ordered by the LORD/atonement, purge, reconciliation, mercy, pardon, forgive) for himself to the LORD, when you number (paqad - see above) them, that there may be no plague (negeb/nagab - blow, striking, plague, infliction, stumbling, fatal blow/smite, slain, struck, beaten, plague, hurt) among them when you number (paqad - see above) them." 

     In the verses above, we see an atonement "ransom" commanded by the LORD to provide pardon and forgiveness for His people, Israel. This atonement "ransom" from the fatal blows of plague is connected to the lifting up/raising of a Prince who is the highest supreme, the Beginning. In the Hebrew word meanings above, I see a prophetic picture of the Messiah/Christ Jesus as this Prince who was lifted up on a cross, and then lifted or raised up from the dead. It is the atonement mercy and forgiveness commanded and provided by God by the blood (reddish-brown coloring - see henna above) of Jesus so that we do not have to suffer the fatal blow of plague which He suffered for us.

     This provides a powerful foundation to events that we read in this week's Sabbath portion, Ki Tissa. We will see God forgive the unforgivable.

     

     In Chapter 20 of Exodus, the LORD verbally gives The Ten Commandments to Moses to tell to the children of Israel, including the commands that they shall have no other gods before Him, and that they shall not make for themselves a carved image, nor bow down before them, nor serve them. "For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God..." (v. 3-5). Later, the LORD will repeat this to Moses to tell the people: "...Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. You shall not make anything to be with Me - gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves." (v. 22-23).

     Later, Moses wrote all of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) words of the LORD in the Book of the Covenant and read them to the people. The people said to Moses: "All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient." (Ex. 24:4-7). 

     Again, the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai and "He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God." (Ex. 31:18). Now these same *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega words of the LORD would be written again, this time in stone, and by the hand of the LORD Himself. This brings us to Exodus 32. 

     While Moses was still on the Mountain with the LORD: "...when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, 'Come, make us gods the shall go before us; for as for this Moses...we do not know what has become of him." (Ex. 32:1).  Aaron then collected all of the gold earrings that the people were wearing in their ears, "...and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, 'This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!' So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it...Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." (v. 2-6).

     How can God forgive the unforgivable that we see taking place above? He sent an intercessor.

     The LORD said to Moses: "Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted (sahat - destroy, corrupt, ruin, mar, be rotted, injured, pervert, decay, perish, act wickedly) themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them....Now, therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation. Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God...'Turn from your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (meaning Jacob), Your servants to whom You swore...'. So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people." Ex. 32:7-14, excerpt). The LORD had seen the people as rotting corpses because of their destroying sinful act, according to the meaning of the Hebrew noted above.

     As Moses' anger broke out upon the Israelites for what they had done, he broke the tablets of stone upon which the LORD had written His word, and burned (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-calf of gold that had been made and made the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-children-of-Israel drink it. Three thousand lost their lives that day to the swords of the sons of Levi, the tribe of priests. Why is the calf identified with *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, or the Messiah/Christ (see *note below)? Perhaps because they made the golden calf idol their substitute man-made savior, their deliverer, their Messiah in their eyes. It still happens today, even with believers in Christ, that gold, money, the work of our hands, our families, our government, our military power, science, the visible things of the world rather than the invisible things of the Spirit, become our answer, our dependence, and the receivers of our faith instead of the One who truly died for us. Paul rebuked the church for turning away from the Gospel truth of Jesus Christ that they had learned and for believing a falsehood instead. (see Gal. 1:6-7). Jesus, through His revelation to John, rebukes a worldly rich church that doesn't even realize that it is really "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked", and urging the church to buy from Him "gold refined in the fire, that...the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed." (Rev. 3:17-18). Satan, the opponent of God and Christ (see above), is always dangling this deception in front of our eyes in order to turn faith away from God.

     Viewing the people, Moses had seen them as "unrestrained/naked," ((para' - uncover, bare, naked, perish, expose). Telling the people that perhaps he could make atonement (see kapar above) for them with the LORD, Moses returned to the presence of the LORD on the Mountain and said: "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin - but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written." (v. 31-32). Seeing that the people had been uncovered or made spiritually naked before their enemies because of their sin, Moses sought God's kapar atonement covering for the people, even offering the removal of himself from God's book. The apostle Paul also said that he would have offered his own salvation if he could on behalf of the salvation of his Jewish brethren who did not believe Messiah/Christ Jesus. (see Rom. 9:1-5).

      I offer the following as food for thought only regarding nakedness and the atonement covering, and not as any kind of doctrine. This is the connection that I am seeing in my spirit. There is another instance of "nakedness" in scripture. It is from the Book of Genesis, when Adam and his wife, Eve, after their choice to rely upon themselves rather than the LORD, having believed the lies of the serpent (see Gen. 3:1-6), discovered that they were naked ('erom/'aram - nakedness, naked and helpless/to make bare, make naked, to be subtle, shrewd, crafty, cunning, smooth, impudent, spiteful as manifesting one's malevolent mind) (see Gen. 3:7). The Hebrew root meaning of "naked" above, 'aram, leads us directly to the serpent who is described as being subtle or cunning in Gen. 3:1. The Hebrew word and root word for "serpent" are 'arum and 'aram. We see the connection between the serpent and the nakedness of man through the Hebrew language here. We can see then that it is Satan's strategy for man to remove his kapar atonement covering, leaving him naked and helpless. How could Adam have had the atonement covering many generations before Jesus Messiah/Christ was slain on the cross? Scripture describes Jesus as the Lamb slain before the foundation of the earth. In Isaiah 53, the prophet saw the Servant of God already beaten and slain for the iniquity of us all because the prophet writes of this in the past tense even though Jesus wouldn't be born until 750 years after Isaiah wrote his prophecy. David saw and prophesied of the crucifixion as if it was occurring to him in his present time even though he lived 1,000 years before the birth of Christ and never suffered crucifixion himself (see Ps. 22:1-18). This is the nature of prophecy and the things of the Spirit, as well as the nature of God and His Son: He is past, present and future all at the same time. (see Jn. 1:1-2, Rev. 1:8, Rev. 4:8). It is also interesting that the name "Adam", which is usually translated as meaning "man", has a deeper meaning of "dyed red, be red, to show red, to look red". A related Hebrew word dam means "blood, bloody, wine". Perhaps we can say that Adam's name could mean "a man of the blood". Paul called Jesus the "last Adam" and the "second man" in scripture. (see 1 Cor. 15:45-49).  In Rom. 5:14, Paul wrote that Adam was "a type of Him (meaning Christ) who was to come." When the LORD created "Adam" and his wife, they were naked then also, but scripture says that they were not "ashamed" (bus - ashamed, confounded, troubled, disconcerted, disappointed or delayed, to fail in hope and expectation). If they were not ashamed, then they were in hope and expectation - hope and expectation of what or Whom? Jesus Messiah/Christ is our hope and expectation, our assurance. (see Ps. 62:5-7, Prov. 23:18, Ps. 5:7, Mt. 24:30-31, Rom. 15:12-13). Adam "wore" the atonement covering of the Lord through faith, and he was not ashamed - until he rejected the faith in the atoning blood covering. They then attempted to cover themselves with 'ale/'ala raised-up branch(es).

     In another reading portion of this week's Ki-Tissa Sabbath, we find that the whole nation of Israel, including their royal family, had turned from the worship of God to the worship of the false god, Ba'al.

     How can God forgive this unforgivable thing? He again sent an intercessor, the prophet Elijah: "So Ahab (King of Israel) sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-prophets together on Mount Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people, and said, 'How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.' But the people answered not a word." (1 Kings 18:20-21).

     Elijah took twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel and built an altar in the name of the LORD. (v. 30-32). Elijah faced off against the prophets of Baal who were to offer a bull on an alter to their god, while Elijah prepared an offering of a bull on the altar that he had built to the LORD. The prophets of Baal could not get their god to answer them, and Elijah began to pray to the LORD: "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (Jacob), let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-these-things (dabar - thing, matter, commandment) at Your word (dabar - see above). Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-their-hearts back to You again." (v. 36-37).

     The fire of the LORD fell and consumed Elijah's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt-sacrifice, including (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-stones of the altar: "Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, 'The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" (v. 38-39). The LORD had turned the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega hearts of the people back to Himself.

     It is no surprise that God has also provided for us the perfect Intercessor - Jesus Messiah/Christ. The Book of Hebrews says of Christ: "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:25). Paul wrote of those who remain in the justification of God through Christ: "Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Rom. 8:34-35). John wrote to the church so that we may not sin. However: "... if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation (meaning atoning blood covering sacrifice) for our sins, and not ours only but also for the whole world." (1 Jn. 2:1-2). We also are to pray and intercede continually for all of the saints in the same manner. (Eph. 6:18).

     If you would like to learn more about intercession and forgiveness of God and Jesus Christ, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, when I didn't know you and had no hope in eternity, Your Word gave the promise of intercession on my behalf, and of an atonement covering for my spiritual vulnerability. You fulfilled these promises through Your beloved Son, Jesus. You forgave me of the unforgivable as I was determined to live a life without You. Your Son became not only my Intercessor, but my hope and expectation when I had none. Jesus poured out His blood in order to cover me when I didn't know I needed His covering. Father, I ask You to keep me from the temptation of the evil one and direct my steps so that I never leave the atonement covering Jesus provided for me. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can pray and intercede for others as Your Son intercedes. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

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