The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Naso, meaning "Elevate/Lift Up." This Sabbath also follows the Feast of Weeks, Shavuot. In this Feast, loaves made from the first fruits of the wheat harvest are waved before the LORD. We also know this Feast of the LORD as Pentecost, occurring fifty days after Passover/the death of Jesus the Lamb on the cross, when the Holy Spirit came with wind and fire upon the waiting disciples of Messiah/Christ, who were gathered in the Upper Room in Jerusalem.
The reading selections for this Naso Sabbath begin in Numbers Ch. 4 with the census to be taken by command of the LORD of the sons of Gershon, one of the three families of Levites: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'Take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-a-census of the sons of Gershon, by their father's house, by their families...They shall carry (nasa' - bear, lift up, lift, carry, rise up, exalt, furnish, hold up, high, marry, magnify, raise up, pardon, forgive) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-curtains....of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tabernacle... (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-screen for the door of the tabernacle...(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-screen for the door of the gate of the court...(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-that-is-made for these things: so shall they serve." (Num. 4:21-26, excerpt).
I excerpted the verses above regarding all of the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega things of the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega tabernacle that the sons of Gershon were to carry because every item described in the verses is preceded by *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega (see *note at the bottom of the page). This means that the tabernacle and everything of it and in it is connected to the Messiah/Christ Jesus. Jesus would not to be born until many centuries later. We find out the prophetic nature of what they and the two other Levite families would carry by the next verse: "Aaron and his sons shall assign all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-their-tasks (massa/nasa' - burden, song, prophecy, tribute, utterance/see nasa' meaning above) as their duty." (v. 27).
Not only were the three Levite groups assigned to the carrying tasks of the tabernacles and furnishings, but each man was assigned to a specific task by name. (see Num. 4:32). There is a specific individual assignment and accounting in addition to that of the family group.
Whether the scripture is speaking of the sons of Gershon Levites as mentioned above, or the sons of Kohath Levites, who carried the holiest furnishings from inside the sanctuary, or the sons of Merari Levites, who carried the infrastructure of the tabernacle, they all were given the task (see massa/nasa' above), according to the Hebrew meaning, of carrying (see nasa' above) those things that became a prophetic song or utterance of the Savior to come, and the pardon and forgiveness that He would provide for the whole world. It gives food for thought that these three families of the tribe of Levi should be given the task of carrying (see nasa' above) the tabernacle and its furnishings. The names of the three families include the meanings "exile, refugee, thrust out, driven out, expelled, divorced, assembly, bitterness, unhappy, grieved, vexed, enraged, moved by rage/choler." However, the LORD had a prophetic purpose for them that would "lift up" the Name of Salvation upon future generations. Sometimes we assume, judge or even disqualify someone or something by what we know of a person or situation rather than what the LORD knows and has ordained for a group or an individual. We need to be careful of that, as we will see.
The Merari Levites were assigned to carry/burden/task (see massa/nasa' above) the seemingly least important (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) instruments/furnishings of the tabernacle. These things included pedestals, pillars, pins and cords. However, these more utilitarian things include the Hebrew meaning: "the foundation or base, the remainder, the remnant, the residue, to excel, to show pre-eminence, preserve alive, be over and above, to exceed the bounds." Did they or others sometimes think that the Meraris' task was less important or less glorious because of what they carried? However, what they carried was also part of the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega tabernacle, which identified the Messiah/Christ.
As we can see, not all prophecy is written or spoken. Sometimes it is "carried." Prophecy is even contained and proclaimed within our actions of service to the Lord, even if we are not aware of it, even in the carrying of furnishings. The prophets of scripture not only spoke and wrote the prophecy of the LORD, but also prophesied to the people of God by whom they married (Hosea), having children and what they named their children (Isaiah), how they turned to lay down (Ezekiel), how they cooked their meals (Ezekiel), what they wore (John the Baptist) or didn't wear (Isaiah), through the dreaming of dreams (Joseph son of Jacob, Pharaoh, Joesph betrothed to Mary), and through their prayers to God (Daniel, Elijah). God's determination to prophesy does not always require a platform and a microphone, or even an audience. Our lives contain prophecy, whether we are aware of it at the time or not, and we are the fruit of the prophetic knowledge and plans of God, who knew us in Messiah/Christ beforehand (Jer. 1:5, Ps. 139:15-16, Rom. 8:29-30, Eph. 1:4-5, Eph. 2:10), because the testimony of Jesus (who is in us) is the spirit of prophecy. (Rev. 19:10). Paul encouraged believers to desire to prophesy: "Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order." (1 Cor. 14:39-40). We are meant to be prophetic people in thought, prayer, word and deed, but only as inspired by the Holy Spirit, and not of ourselves.
Buildings and furnishings inspired by God can prophesy! The (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-furnishings of the tabernacle were arranged in the pattern of the cross thousands of years before Jesus died on the cross. The tabernacle itself, surrounded by a proscribed arrangement of the twelve tribes' encampment, formed the shape of the cross in the wilderness. While we have a certain understanding of the words spoken by Jesus to His disciples, if the Levites of the tabernacle heard His words: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up (airo (Grk.)- to raise from the ground, take up, lift up, raise up, elevate, to bear, to bear what has been raised, carry off: also see nasa' above) his cross daily, and follow (akoloutheo/alpha (Grk.)- a particle of union, in the same way with/Christ is the Alpha: the beginning and the end) Me," (see Mt. 16:24-27, Mk. 8:34-38, Lk. 9:23-26), they would perhaps, be able to give us another view, a prophetic meaning, of these words. Jesus also said concerning the manner of His death: "And I, if I am lifted up (hypsoo/hypsos (Grk.) - to lift up on high, to exalt, to raise to the very summit of opulence and honor/on high) from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." (Jn. 12:32). From this we can see that the cross that Jesus told us to carry daily, not only denies our "self" nature, but must exalt and raise up Jesus on high in song and prophetic utterance until His return.
Even as we partake in the Communion or Table of the Lord, it is remembering what He achieved through His death but also declaring and proclaiming it "till He comes," which then becomes a prophetic utterance. (see 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
Blessings inspired by the LORD are prophetic. In this same Naso, "Elevate/Lift up" Sabbath reading portion, the priestly blessing that the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron to be placed upon all of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-children of Israel is included:
"And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you shall bless (barak - bless, kneel down, be adored, praise, the result of divine favor, to cause to prosper, to cause to be used of God)(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-children of Israel. Say ('amar - speak, command, utter, proclaim, promise, declare, appoint, see and show, name, designate) to them:
'The LORD bless (see barak above) you and keep (samar - keep, guard, observe, protect, save the life of, as a watchman, retain, preserve as with loving-kindness, to hedge about as with thorns) you;
The LORD make ('or - light, shine, fire, glorious, illuminate, enlighten, to become light) His face (panim/pana - face, from beforetime, presence, sight, countenance, person/turn and look, to turn and face) shine (see 'or above) upon you,
And be gracious (hanan/hana - have mercy on, gracious, favor, pity, bend or stoop in kindness toward, compassion, long for/house with you, reach towards you, pitch a tent and dwell, encamp, lie, rest) to you;
The LORD lift up (see nasa' above) His countenance (see panim/pana above) upon you,
And give (sum - put, make, appoint, lay, ordain, give, place, show, establish, transform into, make for a sign, mark, name, paint) you peace (salom/salam - peace, well, health, welfare, prosperity, safe, friendship covenant with man and God/peace, recompense, reward, repay, restore, restitution, make whole).'
So shall they put (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-name (sem - name, renown, famous, glory, monument, character, authority) on the children of Israel, and I will bless (see barak above) them." (Num. 6:22-27).
We should also be aware that the Hebrew word barak, meaning "bless" as used above also includes the meaning "to curse, blaspheme." We should understand that our words and thoughts carry prophetic significance by the presence and testimony of Messiah/Christ (see Rev. 19:10) within us, and how we speak or think towards another person can work for life and blessing in Messiah/Christ or blaspheming and cursing. The spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet (1 Cor. 14:31-33), and as Jesus warned, idle (argos - lazy as shunning the labor which one ought to perform, barren, useless, of things from which no profit is derived although it can and should be productive) words spoken will be accounted for before the Lord (Mt. 12:35-37). If our words, whether by thought, speech, or action had no special significance to God, He would not command such an accounting for them. As we saw above in the carrying (see nasa' above) task (see massa/nasa' above) assigned to the three Levite families and each named individual within them, there are things, concepts and people who have been appointed to the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Messiah/Christ of which we may or may not be aware, which should not be (prophetically) cursed nor blasphemed.
I have learned, according to what we have read in this Naso, "Elevate/Lift up Sabbath reading, that we must follow the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than our own leading in these and all things. It can be difficult to surrender all of our thoughts, intentions, various doctrines that we hold to be godly, words and actions to the Lord's rulership, but all of these things are meant for the Lord's use rather than our own. I believe that this is especially important in these days in which we are living today, and prophetically speaking, for the days to come.
If you would like to learn more about walking in the prophetic purpose in the Lord, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You know the end from the beginning. Your Son, Jesus, is the Beginning and the End/Alpha and Omega. You exist in time and in eternity and Your thoughts, words and works have determined the past, the present and the infinite future of Your creation, including each person to whom You have given life. Lord, I surrender my thoughts, words and deeds to You, and I pray, that with the power of Your living Word, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit of Truth, all that I am would be profitable to You, fruitful for the present and also for the future. I bless You, Lord, and magnify You, and I bless all of Your sons and daughters born of the Spirit and place Your holy *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega name, Jesus, upon them. I pray this in the name of Jesus, my Savior. AMEN."
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