Enter

    

     "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a 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).

     The above verses from the Book of Hebrews speaks about entering into the House of God, because of and through the way that has been made for us to enter, the flesh of Jesus Christ, torn open for us. Jesus also referred to Himself as "the Door" by which the sheep of God enter into His sheepfold of safety: "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture....I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (Jn. 10:9-10).

     This truth of "entering in" is also reflected in this week's Sabbath reading portion titled Bo, meaning, "Enter." The Hebrew letters that comprise the word bo are beyth and aleph. The individual meanings of these Hebrew letters are "house/family/within" and "the first, or Adonai/Lord." Therefore, just within the word bo itself is the meaning "the house of the Lord," as we saw in the top verse from Hebrews 10, in addition to the word meaning, "enter."

     The title "Bo", is found in Exodus 10:1-2, the first verses of this Sabbath reading portion: "Now the LORD said to Moses, 'Go in (bo' - enter, go in, lead in, come in) to Pharaoh; for I have hardened (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-his-heart and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the hearts-of-his-servants, that I may show these signs ('ot - signs, miracles, distinguishing mark, banner, proof, beacon, monument, evidence, token/consent, agree, consent to any one) of Mine before him, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son's son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and (*vaw-aleph-tav)-My-signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD." Moses would enter into the house of Pharaoh again in order to repeat the LORD's command to let His people go to serve Him. (v. 3).

     Entering into the house of God as mentioned in the verses from Hebrews at the top of the page is connected with the way of entrance that Jesus made for us by the sacrifice of His own body and blood. As Jesus also said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through (dia - through, with, by, by the means of) Me." (Jn. 14:6).

     It is very interesting that the concept of entering in this Bo Sabbath reading portion also contains three mentions of Passover, the sacrifice of the spotless lamb and the application of its blood upon the doorposts and lintels of each Hebrew home. Entering their homes through that blood-soaked doorway would assure their safety from the coming tenth and final judgment/plague of death to the first-born in Egypt. Therefore that sacrificed blood upon the door has a direct connection to the concept of "entering." into the salvation provision of God. The meal in which the Hebrews were to partake was within that blood-painted door: "Now the blood shall be a sign (see 'ot above) for you on the houses where you are. And when I see (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt....and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning (boker/bawkar- end of night, coming of daylight, beginning of the day, bright joy after the darkness of distress/inquire, seek out, search for, look for, consider, admire, care for, inspect diligently, discern, contemplate, to cleave, to open, breaking forth and arising of light)." (Ex. 12:13, 22). 

     Up until this point, the earlier plagues of Egypt did not strike the territory of Goshen (meaning "drawing near") where the Hebrew slaves lived. However, against the plague of death, physical territory would not save them - only the lamb, sacrificed and eaten (Ex. 12:8, see also Jn. 6:53-58), and its blood painted on the doorposts and lintels of their homes would save them from the destroyer. For this protection, they would have to dwell or abide inside the body of the LORD. Jesus also said to abide in Him as branches abide in the vine. (Jn. 15:4-8).

 Isaiah also wrote the word of the LORD telling His people to enter (bo - see above) into their chambers (heder/hadar - within, inward or innermost parts, inner chamber, bedchamber, private chamber/encompass, surround, enclose as a room) until the indignation (za'am - foam at the mouth rage, anger, abominable, angrily indignant) has passed. (Isa. 26:20).

     In Exodus Ch. 12, which is also part of this Sabbath's Bo "Enter" reading portion, scripture says that "on that very same day" (v. 41 and 51), on the night of Passover, and as prophesied to Abraham generations before (v. 40, and Gen. 15:13-14), "that the LORD brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies."  In Ex. 13, another part of this Sabbath's reading, Moses told the children of Israel to "Remember (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-this-day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out of this place...On this day (which is Passover) you are going out, in the month of Abib ('abib - fresh young ears of barley, green ears of corn, tender young ear)." (v. 3-4). In this same chapter, Ex. 13, Moses tells the children of Israel that when the LORD brings them into (bo -see above) the land of the Canaanites and other Canaanite tribes "that you shall keep this service in this month." Passover would then be immediately followed by the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread. 

     The image that I am seeing here is one in which the same (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) day, meaning Passover, and consequently the same blood-painted door, that was their way of exit out of Egypt will be the same door by which they will bo enter into the land that the LORD promised to their forefathers by covenant. With the same sweet, striped, pierced and without the leaven-of-sin Bread that they ate on Passover, they would also remember, observe and eat for a Sabbath week (seven days) in the new land which they would enter. Both the exit and entrance were mentioned in the same context of Passover.

     Jesus prayed to the Father before His arrest and death, praying for His current believers, and those believers who would come in the future: "I do not pray for those (His present disciples) alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." (Jn. 17:20-22). We become one with past believers, with current believers and with future believers because we are all in the Father and Son. We convince the world that Jesus Christ was sent by the Father, not only because of our faith, but because we are in the Son and also then in the Father, and it shows. It is a sign (see 'ot above).

      This is a level of intimacy that is more than "knowing" Him or even believing Him. This calls for being in Him. Many know of Jesus Christ. Many even concede that He is the Lord, but how many dwell inside of Him? The following verses reveal the importance of being "in Christ": 2 Cor. 5:16-17, Rom. 8:1-2, Eph. 1:3, and Eph. 2:4-10, 13, Gal. 3:27-28. As we read these verses listed here, what have we previously thought as regarding their meaning? Perhaps we thought that they mean for us to enter into faith in Christ? However, perhaps they mean as they say - to enter through and into the Person of Christ. We often think that being saved means to ask Jesus to come into (see bo above) our hearts, but perhaps salvation also means for us to desire and seek to enter into His heart.

     Finally, from another reading portion of this Bo "Enter" Sabbath, in 2 Chron. 35, we read about how King Josiah (meaning "the LORD is the foundation support"): "...kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem." (v. 1). On this occasion, the king restored the ministry of the priests and Levites in the house of the LORD. The king also restored the holy ark into its proper place in the temple. The king gave the people all of the lambs that would be necessary to offer for Passover, tens of thousands of them from the king's own possessions. They also kept the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. (v. 17). There hadn't been a Passover kept in Israel since the days of Samuel. (v. 18). Imagine what this event must have meant to Jerusalem and Judah - the healing and restoration of their relationship with the LORD. It is also written of Josiah: "Thus Josiah removed all the abominations from all the country that belonged to the children of Israel, and made (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-who-were-present in Israel diligently serve (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD their God. All his days they did not depart from following the LORD God of their fathers." (2 Chron. 34:33). When King Josiah died, "...all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah." 

     As I read these passages, the message for me this Sabbath and forward is to seek out and enter into the Lord Jesus in a new and deeper way, to have a deeper understanding of the meaning of the blood-painted doorway through which Israel exited and entered. We know Jesus as this Door of entrance into that innermost chamber, which is Himself.

     If you would like to learn more about entering into Christ, you can join me in my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You provided a holy, consecrated Door for us to enter into Your house and Your presence, a Door which is soaked with the blood of Your precious Son, Jesus. Show me Father, by Your Word and Spirit, the way to live, move and have my being in Christ, our Passover. Let me be one of those who dwells and abides in my Lord, Messiah/Christ, and in You, which is a miraculous sign to the world that You have indeed sent Your Son. Give me a greater understanding of the need to abide in Christ. 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. 

Unleavened

      The title of this Sabbath's reading portion is Bo, meaning "Enter." The title comes from Ex. 10:1-2: "Now the LORD said to Moses, 'Go in (bo - enter, come in, come or bring to pass, bring in, bring near, to enter as a bride into the house of a husband, attack an enemy, bring against, enter into judgment, bring before a tribunal) to Pharaoh; for I have hardened (kabad - to be heavy, be grievous, be hard, be insensible, be dull, make unresponsive, make oneself dense)  (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son's son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD."

     As we can see from the meaning of bo, above, there is a double understanding within the Hebrew word. We can come into or enter the presence of the LORD like a bride entering into her husband's house, or to enter into the judgment of, or the attack against an enemy.

     We can also see that while Pharaoh had had an *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega heart, he had deliberately turned his back on that purpose and consequently the LORD made it impossible for Pharaoh to enter into the knowledge of the LORD again. Judgment therefore had come to Pharaoh and his house. Proverbs tells us that the heart of the king is in the hands of the LORD, and He turns it whichever way He wills, and the LORD weighs the hearts. (Prov. 21:1-3). Beware kings and rulers on the earth. Don't resist the leading of the LORD.

     We also see that the purpose of this powerful dealing with Pharaoh and Egypt was to be an account to be passed down the generations of the Hebrews as an everlasting ordinance. There was something vitally important in this encounter never to be forgotten.

     Within this Bo Sabbath reading portion is the account of the night of the Passover of the LORD, when the Hebrews were told to enter into their homes, the doors, the doorposts and lintels of which had been covered by the blood of the sacrificed Passover lamb, were shut, while the death of all of the first born of Egypt swept across that land, and anguished cries sounded outside the closed doors of the Hebrews. From the beginning, the LORD had told Moses that Pharaoh would harden his heart against the command of the LORD to let His people go out of the slavery of Egypt. In the verses above, the LORD reveals that it is He who hardened Pharaoh's heart.

     The death of all of the first born of Egypt was the tenth plague brought against the Egyptians and their gods (Ex. 12:12), and the most severe. However, as for the Hebrews: "Now the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) blood (on the doorposts and lintels) shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." (v. 13). Even Pharaoh's own first-born son died that night (Ex. 12:29). As a result of this plague of death: "...Pharaoh rose in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. Then he (Pharaoh) called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, 'Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) LORD as you have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also." (Ex. 12:30-32).

     A very strange thing was noted as the Israelites quickly left their slavery and Egypt behind: "So the people took (nasa - lift up, bear continuously, carry, forgive, support, sustain, accept, exalt, pardon, spare, desire, hold up, raise up, bring forth)  (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) their dough (baseq - unleavened dough, dough before rising) before it was leavened (hames - leavened, be sour, grieved, cruel, be imbittered, oppress, be ruthless, harsh, blood-stained, scarlet mantle of a ruler, to act violently, unjust, to injure, to be afflicted with pain), having their kneading bowls (root word sa'ar - remnant, left over, remain, left alive, survive, the rest) bound up (sarar - be in straits, adversary, bound up, tied up, cause distress, make narrow, shut up, birth pangs, to persecute [see 1 Sam. 25:29]) in their clothes (simla/semel - apparel, a covering assuming the shape of the object beneath, a covering in sleep/image, figure, likeness, resemblance) on their shoulders (shekem/shawkam - shoulder, back, portion, place of burdens/to rise or start early, rise up early). Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles/jewels (keli/kala - vessel, arms, weapons, jewel, armor, ornaments/fulfill, accomplish, finish, end, done) of silver, articles (see keli/kala above) of gold, and clothing. And the LORD had given the people (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they spoiled/plundered (nasal - deliver, recover, escape, rescue, take out, snatch away, draw out, preserve, deliver from sin and guilt, to deliver from death or enemies) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Egyptians." (Ex. 12:34-36).

     According to the Hebrew meanings of the words used in the above verses, there is a wealth of information connected to the Israelites exit out of Egypt on the night of Passover. The LORD commanded that immediately following Passover, there would be a seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. Along with Egyptian gold, silver, and raiment, the Israelites carried out on their shoulders dough bowls filled with the unleavened bread dough that did not have time to rise because of their hasty exit from Egypt. As we see above, leavened bread is associated with suffering, oppression, injustice, bitterness, blood-stained, violence, injuries, affliction and pain. We also see a picture of the evil of leavened bread in the suffering of Christ in these terrible afflictions as He was "raised up" on the cross. The unleavened bread celebrates the absence of or deliverance from these terrible things which the Israelites had suffered during bondage in Egypt. It also represents our spiritual liberty found in the sacrifice of the Messiah/Christ. 

     As we incorporate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, including the Hebrew meanings of the verse above from Ex. 12 in our lives as believers, the apostle Paul wrote this to the church: "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness (pikria/pikros/pegnymi - bitter gall [see Mt. 27:33-34], bitter hatred, poison, extreme wickedness/bitter, harsh, virulent, to pierce, to cut/to fasten by peg [see also Col. 2:13-14]), wrath (thymos/thyo - passion, fierceness, indignation, wrath, inflaming wine that kills or drives drinkers mad/slaying or sacrifice of the paschal [Passover] lamb), anger (orge/orego - violent passion or emotion, agitation of the soul, angry infliction of punishment/to stretch one's self out, covetous love of money), clamor (kraugo/krazo - cry, crying in tumult or grief/cry out for vengeance, shriek, scream), and evil speaking (blasphemia - slander, detraction, abusive injurious speech to another's good name, impious speech injurious to divine majesty) be put away from you with all malice (kakia - maliciousness, ill will, desire to injure, wickedness, depravity, without shame, evil, harm, worthless). And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Eph. 4:30-32).

     Jesus told His listeners to beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mt. 16:6), which He described as hypocrisy (Lk. 12:1). This must have shocked His listeners, because these two groups were viewed and feared as being the most "religious". While being confident in and prideful of their own self-righteousness and expert adherence to scripture, the Pharisees and Sadducees did so through a spirit of meanness, mercilessness and accusation, which blinded them to their own Savior and Redeemer, Jesus, whom they accused most viciously and rejected.

     From another reading portion of this "enter" Sabbath from Ezra 6, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was observed with joy: "And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the LORD made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel." (Ezra 6:22). In fact, the house of the LORD was finished in Jerusalem as a result of the commands of three foreign kings: Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. (Ezra 6:14-15).

     It is also interesting to see that according to the Hebrew meaning of "spoil or plunder" of the wealth of the Egyptians, it had more of a meaning of a redemption price for the Egyptians, a pardoning of sin and guilt, a deliverance from death for the injustices they had heaped upon the Israelites. The wealth of the Egyptians, in part, came from the free labor and broken backs of their slaves. This restitution paid carries the meaning of being pardoned for that injustice. The lives of the Egyptians were spared from death as a result as found in the meaning of nasal (see above) in Hebrew. This redemption price also would build the tabernacle or house of God in the wilderness. We can say that the house or temple of God is built from the redemption price paid. In fact, after paying this redemption price, which is the rescue or deliverance from deserved death, the Egyptians are then noted as being the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Egyptians, the title associated with the Lord/Messiah/Christ Jesus, the Redeemer.

     Scripture says that our lives were also bought with a price paid by our Redeemer with His blood: "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? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's...You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." (1 Cor. 6:19-20, 7:23). We are living temples also built by the redemption price paid by Christ for us. Peter also wrote: "...knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot [see the Passover lamb of Ex. 12:5]." (1 Pet. 1:18-19). Our redemption price was the blood of Jesus, the unblemished Passover Lamb of God.

     Again, the LORD commanded that this remembrance of Passover was to be passed to all future generations: "So this day shall be to you a memorial (zikaron/zakar - memorial, remembrance, records, reminder, a memorable thing/mention, recorder, bring to remembrance, call to mind, think on); and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance." (Ex. 12:14).

     There are many important accounts in scripture of the miraculous deliverance of the LORD when His people were under the oppression of their enemies.  However, this particular event, the Passover, is of such significance that the LORD commanded that it always be remembered and observed as a memorial.

     Not only was Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread to be kept forever through all generations, but the Israelites were commanded to wear the Feast of Unleavened Bread as a sign: "Unleavened Bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you in all your quarters. And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, 'This is done because of what the LORD did for me when I came up from Egypt.' It shall be as a sign (ot - sign, signal, distinguishing mark, banner, remembrance, miraculous sign, warning, miracle, proof, evidence, mark, monument, flag, beacon, a prophetic portent, a sign of a future fulfilment, to consent, to agree) to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the LORD's law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) ordinance in its season from year to year." (Ex. 13:7-10).

     The Israelites were to wear the Feast of Unleavened Bread as a sign. The Hebrew definition of "sign" also includes "beacon". The definition of beacon is "a light/fire set up in a high or prominent position as a warning, signal, or celebration". While the Church of believers as a whole does not observe either Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread or any of the other Feasts of the LORD, Jesus told us to be "beacons", with our lights set in a high place on a lampstand for all to see. (Mt. 5:14-16). We need to understand the importance of wearing and being the mark or sign of salvation life.

     The Feast of Unleavened Bread was to last seven days: "Seven (seba/saba - seven, seven-fold/swear, oath, charge solemnly, adjure, curse, "seven" oneself) days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread ...that person shall be cut off (karat - cut off, cut down, destroy, to permit to perish, to covenant to perish) from Israel." (Ex. 12:15). The seven days represent an oath. It is either an oath to be partakers of the unleavened bread, or it is a covenant made to perish by the curse that accompanies what is represented in leavened bread. 

     The Passover Lamb has redeemed and delivered us from slavery and death. It is a very serious thing to follow that sacrifice by turning back to the bitterness of leavened bread

     After the Israelites left Egypt, they took the unleavened dough they had carried on their shoulders and baked it: "And they baked (apa - to bake, to be complete or whole) unleavened (massa - without leaven, sweet, not soured by yeast) cakes of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened (hames, as above - cruel, grieved, sour, embittered, ruthless, oppress, harsh), because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions (food, meat) for themselves." (Ex. 12:39). 

     Not only was it important to eat the unleavened bread after they had dwelt in Egypt, but it was also important to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread when they would eventually dwell in the Promised Land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and the Jebusites dwelt (Ex. 13:5-7). These tribes of the land would be dispossessed as their wickedness became full. As the people of God eat the unleavened bread, it sets a difference between them and those who are "leavened".

     It is the completed work of God in us through Jesus Messiah/Christ as He removes us from Egypt, the house of bondage (Ex. 13:3) and commands us to eat the unleavened bread of, and following, Passover.

     If you would like to know more about living as unleavened bread, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You brought me out of the house of bondage to sin through Your Son, Jesus, and brought me into Your house of Redemption. By the power and truth of Your Word and Holy Spirit, teach me how to walk as unleavened bread, to be a sign or beacon for others to see. Remove from me all leaven and hypocrisy, and cause me to be covered with the resemblance and image of Jesus Messiah/Christ. Help me to show others the sweetness of Your living Bread that came down from heaven. 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.

Passover?

     It always comes as a surprise to me when this week's scheduled Sabbath reading portion comes up. This Sabbath's reading is titled Bo, meaning "enter".  The reason that it surprises me is because the portion deals with the Passover as covered in Ex. Ch. 10 through 13, but the reading portion doesn't coincide with the time of Passover, which this year doesn't occur until the fourth week of April which is three months away! This leads me to think that there is perhaps even more information to add to our understanding of Passover for us to consider. Perhaps we may start trying to figure out the mystery by looking at the complete meaning of the Hebrew word, Bo, the title of this Sabbath's reading, as it is used in various places in scripture. Bo means: "to go in, enter, come, come in, bring, come upon, attack, bring in, carry in, bring against, bring upon, bring to pass, besiege, a bride entering the house of a husband, to bring or enter into judgment, to be fulfilled/accomplished especially of prophecies, of a sign given by a prophet, to and from war- used of a king or other military leader, to carry with oneself". That's a lot of meaning for a little word. To add to our understanding of Bo, the Hebrew letters used to write the word are beth, vaw, aleph, which can mean, "the house or family joined (by a nail or tent peg) to the Lord". 

    In our Sabbath reading portion, the house that was to be entered into by God's prophet, Moses, was Pharaoh's house. The Word of God with which Moses was to enter Pharaoh's house was: "Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My (aleph-tav, or Alpha and Omega in Greek, referring to Jesus. See Rev. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13) people go, that they may serve Me. Or else, if you refuse (ma'en - unwilling to obey/refuse to acknowledge a marriage contract) ...tomorrow I will bring (bo - see above) locusts into your territory (gebul/gabal - to set bounds, border, to twist as a rope, measured line of boundary)." (Ex. 10:1-4). 

     The plagues grew more severe as Pharaoh (paro - "great house") refused to acknowledge the (marriage) covenant between the LORD (YHWH: "Behold the hand, behold the nail") and His (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people. The one mentioned above, locusts, was the eighth plague or judgment. The ninth plague would be deep, impenetrable darkness, and the tenth plague would be death of the firstborn. As Pharaoh continued to refuse the command of the LORD, Moses warned the Israelites that they must apply the blood of a perfect lamb upon the doorposts and lintels of their houses. None of the Israelites were to go out of the door of his house until morning (Ex. 12:22). As the angel of death passed across the land of Egypt, striking all firstborn and executing judgment upon the gods of Egypt, if the LORD saw the blood on the doorpost, He would "pass over" that house, and not allow the destroyer to enter (Ex. 12:12-13, 23).

     We can see here, according to Hebrew word meanings, that the LORD's marriage contract with His (aleph-tav) people was not being acknowledged and was actually impeded by Pharaoh. We see the interesting meaning of bo as stated above: the connection between the entrance of the bride into the husband's home, and the entrance into judgment, in this case judgment against Pharaoh, his territory, and the gods of Egypt based upon Pharaoh's refusal to acknowledge the marriage contract between the LORD and His (aleph-tav) people. The blood of the Lamb, which was Jesus (Jn. 1:29-34), on the doorposts of the Israelites saved the Israelites from the judgment of death of the firstborn, but also became the fixed boundary line and witness of the division set between the LORD's (aleph-tav) people, and the territory of Egypt under Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt.

     The moment of change came to Egypt that even the most powerful king in the world at the time, Pharaoh, could not prevent: "And it came to pass at midnight (hesi + layil - divide, cut in two, split in two, two parts, divided by an arrow, be cut off/finished + night as opposed to day, by night, spiral/winding staircase that folds back upon itself) that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. So Pharaoh rose in the night...and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead." (Ex. 12:29-30). "Midnight" in the above verse signals a sharp division between day and night, just as Paul remarked upon the division or separation between the children of day/light and the children of night/darkness, writing: "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day (of the Lord's return) should overtake you as a thief (in the night). You are all sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness." (1 Thess. 5:3-5). The "midnight" moment of change is also mentioned as the moment of the Bridegroom's (Jesus Christ/Messiah) marriage. Those who were prepared for the Bridegroom's return went in (bo) with the Bridegroom to the wedding "and the door was shut". Those who did not enter in (bo) at that time, were denied entrance and forever divided/separated from those who had entered in (bo) with the Groom (Mt. 25:1-13). 

     In another example of this separation or division, Isaiah  wrote the Word of the LORD, saying: "Come, my people, enter (bo) your chambers (heder/hadar - hidden private inner room, bridal chamber/concealing curtain, enclose), and shut your doors behind you; Hide (haba/habab - withdraw, secrete/love fervently, cherish with warm affection, warm with the breath) yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation (za'am - anger, rage, God's displeasure with sin is completed) is past (abar - pass over, pass by, pass away, take away). For the LORD comes out of His place to punish (paqad - punish, visit, ruler, governor, oversight, judgment, be called to account) the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) blood, and will no more cover her slain (haraq - kill, slay, murder, destroy, smite with deadly intent)." (Isa. 26:20-21, see also Rev. 18:4-5, 20, 23-24).

     The indignation of the LORD is to deal with those who have the iniquity of the murder of the (aleph-tav) blood on their hands- those who have murdered the believers in Christ for their faith. They refused to recognize the blood boundary line that the LORD had provided of His own blood for those who believe on His name. Not only does the LORD come to punish or call into account, that iniquity, but the meaning of the word in Hebrew also includes to rule or govern, as Jesus Christ will rule and reign upon His return.  Again, we see the connection to "the wedding" as His people enter that private wedding chamber for protection, in the same way that the Israelites remained behind their doors marked with the blood of the Passover Lamb. In the Book of Revelation, immediately following the marriage of the Lamb (Jesus and His wife the Bride of Christ, Rev. 19:6-9), we read of the return of Christ to judge, make war and to rule (Rev. 19:11-16).

     As for Pharaoh, after the plague killed the first born of Egypt, Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and said: "Rise, go out from among (tavek - middle, among, within, separate, to sever, a bisection, mid[night], be divided) my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go serve the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) LORD as you have said (dabar). Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said (dabar), and be gone; and bless me also." (Ex. 12:31-32). Pharaoh would shortly change his mind again and send his army to chase after the Israelites to bring them back, but his efforts would fail, and the Israelites would be miraculously delivered.

     As I consider why the LORD would assign a Sabbath study on the Passover so far outside of the time of Passover, which is one of the appointed Feasts of the LORD, I can only answer with the connection I found between separating/dividing, boundaries, the blood of the Lamb, judgment, marriage covenant with the LORD, and the return of Christ to judge and govern. This may be only part of the picture, and there may be more discoveries to be found on another day.

     If you would like to know more about these things, you can pray with me: "Father, You have given the blood of Your Son, the Lamb of God, Jesus, to separate me from Your anger and judgment. Your Word has called me to come into (bo) the marriage supper with Jesus, and into (bo) the Wedding Chamber, where the door is shut. As You have separated me, by Your Word, Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit, keep me from leaving that wedding chamber that You have provided. Prepare me for the future Passover season with an understanding of the separating power and purpose of the set boundary line of the blood of the Lamb in my life and walk. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

BATTLE!

These last few weeks, we have been learning from Sabbath readings in the Book of Exodus. As mentioned previously, exodus is a Greek-Latin word meaning "the way or road out of". Therefore, as we read through this Book, we will be looking at how an exodus of God's people through the work and name of the LORD was and is accomplished. This week's sabbath reading is titled Bo in Hebrew, meaning "enter". The individual Hebrew letters in the word Bo have the meaning "House or family of Adonai (Lord), the First". Within these chapters of Exodus 10 through 13, there will be a showdown between the LORD and Pharaoh, king of Egypt. As a result, during the events of one night the enslaved Israelites will be freed and removed from Egypt. Not only will they be delivered from oppressive slavery and Pharaoh's repeated attemps at genocide, but they will also leave with flocks, herds, and Egyptian wealth (see Ex. 11:2). One Jewish teaching refers to this night as "The Battle of the Firstborn". We read previously that the LORD had said to Moses: "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD: Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me.. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed, I will kill your son, your firstborn." (Ex. 4:22-23). The LORD used the word "son", in the singular, and used the pronoun "he", in the singular even though the Israelites numbered at least in the hundred thousands at the time, if not in the millions including the women and children - yet the LORD spoke in the singular of His son, His firstborn. Jesus, the Messiah not yet born but within the future generations of the Israelites, is also the Son, the firstborn of God, "...the firstborn of many brethren" (Rom. 8:29, see also Col. 1:15, 18, Heb. 1:5-6, Rev. 1:5-6). The Book of Proverbs asked this question for all of us to consider: "Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if you know it?" (Prov. 30:4, see also Jn. 3:11-13, Jn. 6:62, Eph. 4:8-10). In this week's sabbath reading, the LORD has been releasing plagues upon Egypt, although those plagues never affected the enslaved Israelites dwelling in Goshen, meaning "Drawing near". Pharaoh would promise Moses to do as God commanded and let His people go if Moses would entreat the LORD to stop the plague. When the plague would be stopped as a result of the intercession of Moses, Pharaoh would then go back on his promise (see Ex. 9:33-35, 10:16-20). The word "Pharaoh" is from the Hebrew word paro meaning "Great House", therefore under this Pharaoh, the "Great House" has become a house of lies. The LORD also refers to it as "a house of bondage" (Ex. 13:3). The LORD told Moses that He was about to release the tenth and last plague upon Egypt: "...Afterward he (Pharaoh) will let you (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive/thrust (garas - drive away, expel, thrust out, cast out) you out of here altogether'...Thus says the LORD: 'About midnight (see also Mt. 25:6) I will go out into the midst of Egypt; and all of the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again." (Ex. 11:1, 4-6). Pharaoh would not just let them go, but, the LORD promised, Pharaoh would drive them out. This is exodus, "the way or road out of", in the extreme! A stiff-necked, stubborn enemy of God is ordained as the one who will give the order to send God's people out. Before this final plague was set in motion however, the LORD had to provide a special protective covering over His own people against this coming plague of death. The LORD had promised Moses that not one of the children of Israel would be harmed, so that it would be seen that "...the LORD does make a difference (pala - sever, separated, make wonderfully, set apart, show marvelous, put a difference, to be distinct or distinguished, marked out) between the Egyptians and Israel" (v. 7). The LORD commanded Moses that the Israelites must apply the blood of an unblemished young lamb upon the doorposts (mezuza/ziz - door post upon which the hinges turn/conspicuous, fulness, abundance) and lintels (masqap/saqap - overhanging, lintel/lean over, look down, appear, overlook from on high, God looking forth from heaven) of their houses (Ex. 12:5-7). This horizontal-vertical pattern of blood also reminds us of the cross of Christ, and Jesus is also referred to as "the Lamb of God...slain before the foundation of the world......Who takes away the sin of the world" (Rev. 13:4, 8; Jn. 1:29-30). He is also called by Paul "our Passover", as he also tells us to "keep the feast" (1 Cor. 5:7-8). Moses was told by God that the Israelites were to eat the Passover in haste, being ready and dressed to leave immediately because: "It is the LORD's Passover" (Ex. 12:11). This is what the battle would look like, as the LORD described it to Moses: "For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn...both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. Now the blood shall be a sign (ot אוֹת- sign, ensign, mark, miracles, banners, proof, evidence, monument, beacon) for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting (olam/alam - ever, perpetual, old, ancient, always, hidden time, long past antiquity, eternity) ordinance." (Ex. 12:12-14). The blood applied is to be a "sign", or a token, to the Israelites of a powerful meaning. The Hebrew letters that make up the word ot, or "sign", are aleph, vaw, and tav. These letters carry a meaning "Adonai (Lord), the First, the nail and the cross". This blood was to speak to Israel throughout all future generations forever. The enslaved Israelites who dwelled in Goshen, were miraculously spared all of the other plagues brought against Egypt, but this time, only the line of separation formed by the lambs' blood would spare their firstborn sons from the plague of death. The lamb's blood caused them to be distinguished from the Egyptians, whose gods could not save them. It is the verses concerning Passover, and the following Feast of Unleavened Bread, as well as verses from Deuteronomy, that the Jewish people were to keep on their foreheads and on their hands. They began to wear them in phylacteries or tefillin (meaning "prayers"), and eventually, when they entered the promised land, the verses were to be placed on the doorposts and gates of their houses (Ex.13:9, 16, Deut. 6:8-9). When during their history, Israel neglected to observe and remember the Passover, or when circumstances prevented them from observing the Passover, the LORD would raise up a leader to restore the observance of this first of the LORD's feasts as we see in other portions of this sabbath's reading (Ezra 6:15-22 and 2 Chron. 35:16-19). The Passover was not just a one-time event, but it has an eternal and on-going message regarding the moment of deliverance or exodus for every generation. Only those who were circumcised (see Rom. 2:28-29) and part of the people of God's covenant could participate in Passover observances (Ex. 12:43-45). As current events in the world become more dire, the revelation and deeper consideration of the Passover, and our Passover Lamb, becomes even more important for God's people, both Jews and Gentiles. "The Battle of the Firstborn" was not just executed against Pharaoh, and the Egyptians, but also as judgment against their gods (Ex. 12:12). We read about some of the gods of Egypt in the previous blog post titled "LORD". In another portion from this sabbath's reading, the LORD again speaks judgment against Egypt, Pharaoh, and their gods. The prophet Jeremiah prophesied that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, would strike Egypt: "Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol (a fortified city on the Egyptian border); proclaim in Noph (also known as Memphis, the capital of Egypt) and in Tahpanhes (a fortified city in Egypt); Say, 'Stand fast and prepare yourselves, for the sword devours all around you...They cried there, 'Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is but a noise. He has passed by the appointed time!' O you daughter dwelling in Egypt, prepare yourself to go into captivity! For Noph shall be waste and desolate, without inhabitant." (Jer. 46:13-14, 17, 19). The LORD also prophesied again against Egyptian cities in Jer. 43:10-13, promising to "kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt...He (Nebachudnezzar of Babylon) shall also break the sacred pillars of Beth Shamesh (later called Heliopolis, House of the Sun, a city in Egypt) that are in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians he shall burn with fire." There are additional Egyptian cities prophesied for destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in Ezek. 30:13-19. All of the cities mentioned to be burned with fire are not just mentioned arbitrarily, but they are associated with the worship of specific gods and goddesses of Egypt. All of these gods and goddesses are a pagan religion's attempt to overcome death without acknowledging the LORD. These Egyptian gods include a false creator figure, an underworld god of the dead, "the head of the age", "the beginning of the world", "the lord of the resurrection", and many others. In ancient Egypt, even Pharaoh was considered a god-like figure himself, with a divine connection by birth to the sun god. These gods both represent and, at the same time, conceal evil spiritual powers and principalities. However, the LORD God, with His mighty hand and the blood of the Passover Lamb, showed these false gods and half-gods and those who worshipped and relied upon them that He alone is The LORD. He alone has overcome the power of death, and has given that as a sign for us to wear for all generations. If you would like to know more about the LORD of Passover and exodus, "the way or road out of", you can pray with me: "LORD and Father, I will remember the blood of the Passover Lamb, Your Firstborn Son, Jesus, which broke the power of death for those who dwelled under it. Nothing could hold back Your hand of deliverance that brought Your people out of the House of Bondage in one night. I rely on You only, and the provision of salvation that You have made for me by Your own power. You lead me out of the bondages of sin and death. I pray that Your Spirit teaches me how to walk the way of exodus, not by pagan counterfeits that cannot save anyone, nor by customs that have lost their true meaning and power, but by a living faith found as I search Your Word. I ask this in the Name of Jesus. AMEN."

Beginning

The title of this Sabbath's reading is Bo, meaning to go in, or enter. The title comes from the beginning line of the reading, as God commands Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh..." in Exodus 10. The Hebrew letters that form the word Bo are beth, vaw, and aleph. While Moses entered into Pharaoh's presence, based on the meanings of the individual Hebrew letters used in Bo above, he was going in by "the house of the authority and strength of the nailed God (Adonai)". Pharaoh's house, and all houses of power, are subject to the greater power of the House of God. We would see that as "The House of the Nailed God" went into Pharaoh's house, Pharaoh's kingdom would be turned upside-down. Later, in Exodus 12, another portion of this Sabbath's reading, as the LORD was about to deliver Israel out of slavery in Egypt, He announced it as a new beginning in a point of time. He redefines the marking of time to them while they were still in Egypt: "Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying, 'This month shall be your beginning (Hebrew: ros) of months (Hebrew: hodes); it shall be the first month of the year to you..." (Ex. 12:1-2). The Hebrew words and root meanings used in the phrase "beginning of months" gives this phrase the meaning, "the chief, captain, ruler, head is the beginning of the shaking that renews, repairs, rebuilds, restores, produces newness (as in a sharp, polished, splendid sword)". This beginning of months is brought about in the form of a person (chief, ruler, captain, head). This newly designated time of your "beginning of months", when your Captain Who restores, repairs, and produces newness, will also form around the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ex. 12:3-14). The LORD describes to Moses the selection and killing of the lambs for each household. The blood of those lambs was to be applied on the two doorposts and on the lintels of their houses: "...It is the LORD's Passover (pesah - the sacrifice of Passover for a sparing, an immunity from penalty and calamity). For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt, I will execute judgment: I am the LORD (YHWH). Now the blood shall be a sign (ot - a distinguishing mark, banner, a miraculous sign, proof, beacon, evidence) for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." (Ex. 12:11-13). The Hebrew word for "sign" above is the word ot. The letters of this Hebrew word are aleph, vaw, and tav. The meaning of these letters together is "God (Adonai) nailed to a cross (two crossed sticks)". This miracle sign of Passover was to be remembered and observed in all following generations forever: "You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting (olam - old, ancient, perpetual, eternal, hidden time) ordinance." (v. 14). The houses of the Israelites bore the blood of the sacrificed lamb as an outward sign. We, who believe in Jesus as our Passover Lamb (Rev. 5:12), slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8), also bear the sign of the blood on our houses (bodies). This "beginning of months" containing Passover spoken of above is personal. The beginning or this renewal is a Person, according to the Hebrew meaning, and the beginning is directed to each person: The LORD says "your beginning of months". The Passover, within this beginning of months, is followed by the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread. No leaven may be used in the bread. It is taught that leaven is a symbol for sin. There are many references in scripture that carry this meaning, and even the Hebrew word for "leaven" carries a negative meaning. However, considering the meanings that we have discovered in the Hebrew language used in this passage, I would like to also look at a perhaps additional significance concerning unleavened bread. It is interesting that unleavened bread is striped from baking, and pierced to assure that it won't rise. This is a picture of Christ to us. Although Jesus was striped by scourging and pierced, He still rose! No other raising power of man was present, except for the power of the Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus, and us, from the dead (Rom. 8:10-11). It is also interesting to me that the process of leavening bread requires the addition of old leavened dough called "the mother". When the new leavened bread is mixed, a portion of old leavened or fermented dough, that has been set aside and kept for this purpose, is also mixed in with the new dough. Sometimes that old leavened dough, "the mother", is kept on hand for many years. The inclusion of the old leavened mixture gives the new loaves of bread a more sour taste. So leavened bread often contains old leaven. Paul wrote for us to purge out the old leaven, and become a new, unleavened lump: "Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore, purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed, Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Cor. 5:6-8). We can see here that Paul spoke about the Passover fulfilled in Christ and its connection to the thought of old leaven and the new unleavened. Our "beginning of months" spoken of by the LORD in Exodus 12, is for our sparing from calamity by the blood of the Lamb, and the newness of Christ in us. We are not to mix the old with this newness: "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new." (2 Cor. 5:17) and "...as the truth is in Jesus, that you put off concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man, which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Eph. 4:21-24). I think the symbolism of old leavened, and new unleavened, fits right into the context of what the LORD was saying in Exodus. This beginning of months commanded by God in this Sabbath's reading, that includes both the Passover and the seven days of Unleavened Bread, represents the deliverance from calamity by Christ as the blood of the Lamb, and the renewing power that immediately follows, doing its work in us as we are to walk in "newness of life" (Rom. 6:4). We remember and keep the specific appointed days of these Feast, but while this is not yet the date of the Feast of Passover, Christ is our Passover and Unleavened Bread from eternity past, and into eternity future. In these present days of calamity and corruption, we have a promise of rescue and renewal. If you would like to receive Jesus as your "Beginning of months", your Passover sacrifice and your newness, you can pray with me: "Lord Jesus, You have fulfilled these Feasts of the LORD. I receive You as my Passover, and I receive Your renewing work in me. Fill me with the Holy Spirit who leads me in purging the old leaven from my life, and becoming instead new unleavened bread. You are my beginning of months, my newness, and I thank You in Your mighty, saving name. AMEN."