DifferentSpirit

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Sh'lach L'cha, which means "Send for yourself." The title comes from the first verse of the Sabbath readings: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Send (salah - send, go, send out, stretch out, sow, let loose, shoot forth) men to spy out (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them." (Num. 13:1-2).

     We will see that the LORD was about to expose something in the hearts of His people that we sometimes call "unbelief" or "disobedience" but is really something far more dark and insidious, something of which we should all be aware.

     I will just summarize the account of the twelve spies, leaders among Israel, whom Moses sent to spy out the land which the LORD had promised to give to Israel. Those twelve included Joshua, right-hand-man to Moses who was from the half-tribe of Ephraim, and Caleb, from the tribe of Judah, who was not called a Hebrew in scripture but a Kenizzite, which was one of the Canaanite tribes. (see Gen. 15:17-21, Num. 32:11-12, Josh. 14:6).

     The twelve tribes remained on their mission to spy out the land of promise for forty days. When they returned, while admitting that the land was very fruitful, ten of the spies brought back the evil report (diba/dabab/dobe' - evil report, slander, infamy, defamation, whispering, secret slanderer/to creep about, a slanderer/the languor of death) that giants were in the land and the Israelites would not be able to win against them. In scripture then, according to the Hebrew meaning above, the LORD described their report as infamous slander against Him and the inheritance that He had promised to the fathers of Israel. Only Joshua and Caleb insisted that with the LORD on their side, the Israelites would be able to overcome the current inhabitants of the promised land. They urged the Israelites not to fear the inhabitants and not to rebel (marad - bold and audacious in acts of rebellion or disobedience, contumacious [meaning willfully resisting authority, unruly, intractable, insubordinate]) against the LORD.

     The Israelites reacted with violence to these words of Joshua and Caleb: "And all the congregation said to stone them with stones." (Num. 14:10). The LORD had to directly intervene, and He was not happy, saying, "How long will these people reject (na'as - despise, abhor, blaspheme, deride, reject with contempt and derision, speak evil of) Me?" (v. 10-11). The command of the LORD to send the twelve spies exposed an abhorrence against Him in the hearts of His people to whom He had shown many signs and wonders. This was not only unbelief and disobedience, but derision and despising according to the Hebrew meaning above. Why this extreme reaction against God and against Joshua and Caleb? We will hopefully find out.

     The LORD said this after Moses interceded to Him for forgiveness and mercy towards the people: "...but truly, as I live, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-the-earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD - because all these men who have seen (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-glory and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-signs/miracles which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected (see na'as above) Me see it. But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit (ruah - spirit, Spirit, breath) in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it." (v. 20-24).

     The men and leaders of Israel had witnessed the glory of the LORD and His signs and miracles, but still rejected or despised (see na'as above) Him. However, the LORD vowed on His own eternal existence to fill the whole earth with the glory that had been despised by these men. Caleb, however, had a "different spirit" from these other men who despised and rejected the LORD. In fact, the men who rejected and despised the LORD would later die of the plague that comes with the evil report: "But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-land." (v. 36-38).

     The LORD exposed the very deep despising and violent contempt of man for God and His Messiah/Christ (as indicated by the presence of the *aleph-tav in written Hebrew. See *note below) in this account above, but His answering vow was even greater: to fill the whole earth with His glory. Caleb, the LORD revealed to Moses, was of a different spirit. The Feast of Pentecost has recently passed during which the disciples of Jesus Messiah/Christ received the outpouring of the fire of the Holy Spirit (Ruah HaKodesh in Hebrew). If we take a look at this event on Pentecost more closely, we will see something more about man's violent hatred towards God.

     The Feast of Pentecost, or Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot, is directly connected and timed from Passover. This Feast of the LORD is to occur fifty days after Passover according to the law of Moses as given by God. The New Testament account of this Feast day, occurring after Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension, begins: "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they (referring to the followers of Jesus) were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4).

     The disciples of Messiah/Christ are described as being "all with one accord in one place." It sounds good in English and is even often repeated as a goal to attain, however, the Greek reveals something else that is going on here that is not good. The phrase "in one accord" is the Greek word and roots, homothymadon/thymos/thyo. These are the meanings attached to the Greek: "with one mind, with one passion/boiling up fierceness, passion, anger, to rush, breathe hard/to sacrifice, immolate, slay, kill the pascal (Passover) lamb." Jesus wasn't slain for our sins only because of others' unbelief in Him. He was slain in the fierce and passionate anger of man against God. That same anger towards God, according to these verses was still present in the disciples. All mankind had a hand in slaying the Lamb of God, Jesus. Several times in scripture, violently angry, irrationally angry people tried to kill Jesus for what He was saying, but it was not yet His appointed time to die. 

     The second highlighted phrase from the verses in Acts above, "in one place," is the Greek word and root autos/aer, meaning "themselves, the same/lower air rather than higher rarer air, to breathe unconsciously, to blow the air."

     I know that it may be hard to believe that this kind of anger and fierceness towards God and Christ as noted by the Greek meanings above was present in the disciples who had followed Christ, seen miracles with Christ, seen Him crucified, resurrected and later ascended. However, it is confirmed when we look back into the law concerning the Feast of Weeks/Shavuot/Pentecost: "Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath (from Passover); then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves...They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the LORD." (Lev. 23:16-17). The word "leaven" used here is the Hebrew word hames, which means: "gained by violence and wrong, grieved, cruel, harsh, embittered, sour, oppress, be red or blood-stained, be ruthless, be unjust, violent, to injure." As we can see, the meaning of leaven here is very specific and the hames leaven cannot be a symbol of the Holy Spirit, but just the opposite. The hames leaven of the Feast of Weeks/Shavuot/Pentecost indicates that a violent and unjust cruelty is being lifted up to God as a firstfruits offering. The lifitng up or waving of Jesus on the cross was likewise unjust and atrociously cruel. Jesus sacrificed Himself, in part, to cover and intercede for the very people who were committing this terrible act of hate and violence: "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Lk. 23:34).

     However, a "different Spirit" came upon the followers of Jesus that Day of Pentecost after the Holy Spirit came upon them. It changed the disciples. They were not the same. Paul explained the difference between the (Holy) Spirit-filled man and the carnal man: "...do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity (ekhthrah/ekhthros - hostility, hatred/hating, odious, enemy, foe, opposing as the devil opposes God, hateful) against God...So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God...Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His...But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you...For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." (Rom. 8:4-14, excerpt). Paul said that the carnal mind of man hates and opposes God in the same manner that Satan hates and opposes God. This is another confirmation of man's natural or fleshly and truly irrational hatred of God. This is what sin does to man - to his mind, to his soul. Paul also wrote about men becoming haters of God. (see Rom. 1:28-31).

     Jesus said to His disciples that it was better for them that He goes away to His Father so that He could send the Helper/Comforter, the Spirit of truth. (see Jn. 16:7-15). Even for the disciples of Messiah/Christ on the Day of Pentecost as we see above, and in us today, the Holy Spirit is not just about receiving spiritual gifts, but He is needed and sent by Jesus Christ to work a transformation in our souls. Paul wrote above that to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Caleb, who, as we saw above, was of a "different spirit" was associated with life and peace in scripture. (see Num. 14:38 and Josh. 14:13-15).

     The Holy Spirit was present and necessary in the work of transformation from the beginning. When the earth was buried in deep darkness and emptiness, the Holy Spirit hovered (rahap -gently cherish, fluttering, brooding meaning incubating and hatching) over it. Then the Word of creation spoke forth and transformed the darkness of death into the teaming of light and life. (see Gen. 1:1-2, Jn. 1:1-5). We need this transformation working in each of us. Not only that, but we need to pray and desire that our love for the Lord never grows cold or is lost. Jesus warned in scripture that this is a possibility as lawlessness increases. (Mt. 24:12-13, Rev. 2:4-5).

     This also helps us to understand what we are seeing in the world today - the irrational hatred of God and the people of God. Jesus spoke of this hatred. (see Jn. 15:18-19). However, the LORD vowed on His own Life after the rejection (see na'as above) of His own people for Him: "...all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD." The prophet Joel confirmed this promise. (see Joel 2:28-29). This starts with each of us as His Spirit of glory fills and transforms us.

     If you would like to learn more about being of a "different spirit", and being filled with the transforming Holy Spirit of God, you can join with my prayer: "Beloved Father, Your commandment to us says: 'You shall love ('ahab - love, long for, breathe after, beloved, to produce fruit, to germinate, putting forth) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.' Lord, let Your Word and Your Holy Spirit create and continually revive in me a spiritual mind. Place Your protection around my mind, heart and soul, so that I will always walk in love for You. Let my desire be to love and worship You above all and with all. Holy Spirit, as on the Day of Pentecost, come into my life and fill my soul and spirit with the flames of fire of love for the Lord. Change my carnal mind into the mind of Spirit and of Messiah/Christ. Renew my love for the Lord daily as I pray and declare over my heart, and the hearts of all the earth, the commandment above to love You. I ask and receive these things in the name and by the grace 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. 

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. 

SpiritAbundance

      

"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge...to another faith...to another gifts of healings...to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy...to another discerning of spirits...to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

      As I was reading the selections of scripture that are part of this week's Sabbath portion, I was directed to a common thread that ran through them. I would like to look at this thread to learn more about it.

     This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Yitro, meaning "Abundance." Yitro, whom we call "Jethro" in English, was also the father-in-law of Moses, and we read about him in Exodus 18, beginning with verse 1: "And Jethro (yitro - "his abundance", "his excellence", a tent cord, hanging over, hanging down, that which exceeds measure or limit, remnant, remainder, exceeding, plentiful), the priest (kohen - priest, chief, ruler, officer, prince) of Midian (meaning strife, brawling, contention, quarrelsome, discord), Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Israel His people - that the LORD had brought (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Israel out of Egypt."

     Jethro came to visit Moses, and "Moses told his father-in-law of all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians." (v. 8-9).

     At hearing of the wonderful things that the LORD had done, Jethro had a moment of revelation: "Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods; for in the very thing in which they (the gods) behaved proudly, He was above them." Jethro then made sacrifices and offerings to God, and the elders of the Israelites came and shared a covenant meal of bread (lehem/laham - bread, food, shewbread, grain/fight, war, make war, overcome, prevail, use as food, to battle as destruction, devour enemies) with Jethro before God. (v. 11-12). 

     The Hebrew root for "bread", laham (see above), has a very deep meaning. The idea of eating this bread is connected to the idea of prevailing against an enemy. We see this usage in Num. 14:8-9. Jesus also told us that He was our Bread of life sent from heaven and we eat this Bread, being His body broken, in our Communion with Him. Jesus overcame all enemies, even the world, death, hell and the grave.

     As we read this, we can say that Jethro had a revelatory moment of awareness and knowledge of the LORD.  What he had not known before, he now knew with assurance. This is similar to a "born again" experience.

     After this, we begin to see the thread that will travel through this Yitro, "Abundance", Sabbath reading. Jethro gave Moses a word of wise counsel, a word of wisdom that would help, strengthen, and advise an over-burdened Moses as he governs and judges more a million Israelites. Jethro said to Moses: "Listen now to my voice (qol - voice, thunder, proclamation, command, thunderings); I will give you counsel (ya'as - counsellor, counsel, advice, advise, guide, command), and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-statutes and (*[vaw]-aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-laws, and show them (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-way in which they must walk and (*[vaw]-aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-work they must do." (v. 19-20).

     Jethro, a ruler who came out of a place whose name means "strife, brawling, contention, discord, quarrelsome" (see "Midian" above), is now able to offer Godly wisdom and counsel to Moses. This is a picture of the work of the Holy Spirit in Jethro. Isaiah described the Holy Spirit as it would manifest in the Messiah/Christ: "The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD." (Isa. 11:2). 

     Jethro told Moses to listen to his voice (see qol above).  In Proverbs 8, Wisdom is described: "Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice?...Counsel ('esa/ya'as - counsel, advice, purpose, prudence/see ya'as above) is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth." (v. 1, 14-16). Jethro's or Yitro's office as a priest, also includes the meaning of prince and ruler (see kohen above). His counsel of wisdom to Moses was to make it easier for Moses to judge the people of Israel, as also mentioned here in Proverbs 8. (see Ex. 18:13-14). As we see from the verses from 1 Corinthians 12 at the top of the page, and the verses above from Isaiah, the word of wisdom is one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

      We see another characteristic of the Holy Spirit of God as Jethro advised Moses to "Stand before God for the people." This is a position of intercession. The Greek word in the New Testament used as meaning the Holy Spirit is parakletos, which means "called to one's aid, advocate, counsel for defense, intercessor, lead into a deeper knowledge of the Gospel truth, giver of divine strength, comforter, consoler." Finally, Jethro commands Moses to teach the statutes, laws, the way and the walk which the people must know and follow. These four things are connected to the *aleph-tav or the *vaw-aleph-tav in written Hebrew as shown above from Ex. 18. This means that these four things are identified or connected to the Messiah/Christ (see *note below). One of the divine purposes of the Holy Spirit as revealed by Jesus is: "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper/Comforter (parakletos - see above), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." (Jn. 14:25-26).

     Paul also wrote of the powerful intercession that the Holy Spirit makes on our behalf before God: "Likewise the Spirit (pneuma - third Person of the Trinity and co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son, Holy Ghost, Spirit of God, Spirit of the Lord) also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings (stenagmos - groaning, a sigh) which cannot be uttered...He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Rom. 8:26-27, excerpt).

     Jethro also told Moses above to teach the people the *aleph-tav words, commands, ways and works connected to the Messiah/Christ, which is Jesus. As we can see from Jesus' words above in Jn. 14, this is the function of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also said of the Holy Spirit: "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you." (Jn. 16:14).

     Paul wrote above that the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings and sighs that cannot be expressed in human language. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Helper/Comforter in Jn. 14 above. The Hebrew word used for "Comforter" is naham, which means, "comfort, repent, ease, to console, be sorry, have compassion, to sigh, to groan, to lament, to grieve." Not only do we see the connection in Hebrew to groaning and sighing in intercession, but through the Hebrew word naham we also see the connection of the Comforter to repentance. Repentance is not achieved by the strength of the will of man, but by the sovereign move of the Spirit of God upon and within us. Scripture tells us of Esau, who had changed his mind about rejecting the blessing. However: "...he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it with tears." (Heb. 12:17). He desired to repent but no door of repentance was opened to him. Two of the reading portions of this Yitro, "Abundance", Sabbath, deals with deep repentance.

     Isaiah chapter 6 presents us with the vision of heaven that brought Isaiah his calling to be a prophet. In his vision, Isaiah saw (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-Lord (Adonai) sitting on His throne in (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-temple. Upon seeing the awesome sights and sounds of heaven, Isaiah was moved to repentance, saying: "Woe is me, for I am undone (dama - cut off, perish, lay waste, bring to silence, cut off at the sight of the Theophany)! Because I am a man of unclean (tame' - defiled, polluted, unclean, impure) lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-King, the LORD of hosts." (Isa. 6:1-5).

     As Isaiah cried out the words above, an angel took a live coal (Heb. root word resep/sarap - hot stone, glowing stone or coal, flame, firebolt, spark/set on fire, kindle) from the altar in heaven, and touched Isaiah's mouth with it, saying: "Behold, this has touched you lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged (kapar- atonement, reconciliation, forgiven, atonement made)." (v. 6-7). Then (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-voice of the Lord then spoke sending Isaiah forth with the prophetic message to the people. (v. 8-10).

     The sight of the Messiah/Christ in heaven causes Isaiah to cry out in repentance. Where is the Holy Spirit in this encounter? I see the Holy Spirit in the flaming coal taken from the altar. John the Baptist said that the Messiah/Christ (Jesus) would come baptizing in the Holy Spirit and fire. (see Lk. 3:16-17). When the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples in the upper room on Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, He descended as tongues of fire that rested upon the heads of every disciple. (see Acts 2:1-4) The first indication of the touch of this fire of the Holy Spirit was a change in tongues or language. Their mouths, like Isaiah's, would now be used as vessels of the Lord. Jesus also connected the Helper/Comforter (see above) with repentance: "And when He (the Helper/Comforter) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." Jesus also connected the Holy Spirit with prophecy. (Jn. 16:8, Jn. 16:13).

     We read from another portion of this week's Yitro Sabbath in Nehemiah 8: "Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of/before (panim - before, face, presence, countenance, person, from before time, turned towards the face) the Water (mayim - waters, waterspring, washing, waterflood, waters of refreshment, waters of destruction) Gate (sa'ar - gate, door, gate of entrance, heaven, gate of the temple/tabernacle, split open, set a price); and they told Ezra ('ezra/'ezer/'azar - help, succor, assistance, one who helps/aid, female helper/help, helper, surround, protect, aid, succor) the scribe to bring (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Israel." (v. 1).

     There is important information in this first verse from Nehemiah Ch. 8. The whole congregation of Israel, which is identified with the *aleph-tav or Messiah/Christ, is standing before the "face" of the Water Gate. The waters described here are like flood waters that wash (or destroy) according to the Hebrew meaning. The prophet Ezekiel wrote: "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols...I will put (*vaw-aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. ...you shall be My people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses...Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations." (Ezek. 36:25, 27-29, 31). The Spirit of God is associated with the cleansing process of God's people, as well as their repentance.

     Ezra, whose name means "helper" (see also parakletos above) is like the Comforter/Holy Spirit who gives aid. The Book of the Law of God which Ezra reads from is associated with the Messiah/Christ, by the presence of the written *aleph-tav in Hebrew. Ezra assigned Levites who explained, gave the sense of, and "helped the people to understand" the Word of God being read to them (see parakletos above: "to lead into a deeper understanding of Gospel truth"). (Neh. 8:7-8, see also Jn. 16:14 above).

     As the people heard the words of the *aleph-tav Book, and were led by the Levites into the understanding of the Word, they began to weep and mourn in repentance because they had not kept the Words of the *aleph-tav Book, which is identified with the Messiah/Christ. The governor, Nehemiah, Ezra the scribe, and the Levites began to comfort and console the people. (v. 9-12). Not only the repentance from being given the understanding of the Word, but the comfort and consolation afterwards are all the work of the Comforter (see naham and parakletos above), the Holy Spirit.

     Paul wrote about the cleansing process that begins in the Word of God and includes the inspiration of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote that Christ gave Himself for the church: "...that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5:25-27).

     Paul also wrote to Titus, saying: "...when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7).

     The title of this week's Sabbath portion is Yitro, means "Abundance". We see above that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, is poured out in abundance upon us. Joel wrote: "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out (sapak - to profusely expend [soul, life], spill forth [blood, libation], gush out, shed blood, poured out like water, intensively) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-Spirit on all flesh..." (Joel 2:28).

     The above writings of Paul, and the prophecy of Joel above, tell us that both the Word, which is Jesus and His blood, and the Spirit, work together to bring us our regeneration and renewal. John wrote: "...There are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one." (1 Jn. 5:7-8, excerpt).

     If you would like to learn more about the work of the Holy Spirit with the Word of God, you can join my prayer: "Merciful Father, how thankful I am that You sent Your Son, Jesus, the Word, for my salvation! How thankful I am that Your Son, baptized me with Your Holy Spirit! I welcome the cleansing water and renewal of the Word and the Spirit. I welcome the wisdom of Your Spirit. I welcome the guidance of Your Spirit who teaches me Your truth, leads me into repentance, and then comforts and consoles me in renewal and refreshing. Forgive me when I have tried to accomplish these things in my own strength and understanding. Jesus, my Shepherd guides me to the still waters of Your Holy Spirit and the green pastures of the Word of God. I need both in my life, Lord, not only for my own sake, but as a witness to others. I ask this mercy 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. 

SpiritLight

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Mikketz, which means, "at the end of." The title comes from the first verse of the reading in Genesis 41: "Then it came to pass, at the end of (qes/qasas - end, after, end of time or space, an extremity, utmost border/cut off, cut in pieces, cut asunder, chop off, amputate, cut away) two (sana - second time, again, repeat, do again, alter, change, to transmute, to be other, those who change, change oneself) full years, that Pharaoh had a dream..." (v. 1). Since this verse says that it is the end of two years, it must be at the door of the third year.

     If we look at the Hebrew meanings above, something important is about to happen. A great change has occurred, not only a change in circumstance but also a change in the people involved, including Joseph. After two years in Pharaoh's dungeon, Joseph's reputation for interpreting dreams will cause his release. He will be brought before Pharaoh to interpret Pharaoh's dreams. After two years in the dungeon (bor/bur/ba'ar - pit, cistern, dungeon, prison, sepulcher, fountain, well/examine, make clear, prove, bore into, declare, search out/make plain, make clear, distinct, letters on a tablet, engrave, declare), Joseph was filthy and had to be cleaned, shaved, and given appropriate clothes to wear for an audience before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. (v. 14-15). Pharaoh was so troubled by his dreams that he was willing to bring a Hebrew slave up from his dungeon and into his presence to ask for his help.

     From the Hebrew meaning for "dungeon," above, we can see that the place of the pit or the grave became a place of change for Joseph. Joseph was spiritually examined and proven in that place. The tomb of the dungeon then became a spiritual well or fountain for Joseph. Out of the pit or grave where he had been forgotten, Joseph would become a tablet written with letters (see bor/bur/ba'ar above) that will declare and exalt the LORD.

     As Joseph was asked to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, he answered: "It is not me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace." (v. 16). After hearing Pharaoh's dreams and giving Pharaoh the interpretation that God had shown him, Joseph was viewed by Pharaoh and his court as "a man in whom is the Spirit of God....there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my (Pharaoh's) house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word..." (v. 37-40).

     A change in circumstances, and a change in apparel occurs again as Pharaoh appointed Joseph into leadership over the nation of Egypt: "Then Pharaoh took his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) signet ring (taba'at/taba' - a seal, a seal-ring, signet ring/to sink, to press in, to impress a seal, to seal, to dip into, to immerse, plunged) off his hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen (ses/sayis - fine linen, bleached white, alabaster/to bleach, to whiten, alabaster, marble) and put a gold chain (collar) around his neck." (v. 42).

      The LORD not only used Joseph to prophesy through dream interpretations, but the pattern that I see here says to me that God also used Joseph to prophesy death and resurrection, not only the resurrection of His Son, Jesus from the pit of death, but also the resurrection of all of those who see and believe in Jesus: "And this is the will of Him who sent Me (Jesus), that everyone who sees (theoreo - look at and intensively acknowledge, behold, consider, perceive with the eyes, discern, ascertain) the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (Jn. 6:40). How can we "see" Jesus as mentioned in this verse? We "see" Him through the hearing of the Gospel, the revelation of Him through the Word of God, and our encounter with Him through the Holy Spirit. He is just as visible to us in this manner as if we could reach out and touch Him. We see Him with the eyes of our souls and our spirits.

     Joseph was changed or altered spiritually and in appearance (see sana above) after he was brought up from the pit early in the third year, and Jesus was altered physically and spiritually (see Phil. 2:5-11) after He rose from death early on the morning of the third day. He then appeared to His disciples in His changed body. We also will be changed or altered. (see Jn. 20:19-22, 1 Cor. 15:42-44 and 52-55).

     Pharaoh acknowledged the Spirit of God upon Joseph's life, and we also have the "sealing" by the signet ring, which includes the meaning (see taba'at/taba' above) of being immersed or dipped into, reminding us of baptism. When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, a dove, which John identified as the Holy Spirit, descended from heaven and remained upon Jesus. John said, "This is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen (horao - see with the eyes, perceive, to know by experience, to look, pay heed to, discern clearly) ..." (see Jn. 1:32-34).

      As with Joseph, it is the Holy Spirit that not only raised Jesus from the dead, but raises us also. (see Rom. 8:11). It is the Holy Spirit that "seals" (see taba'at/taba' above) us in our resurrection inheritance: "In Him (Jesus) you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." (Rom. 1:13-14).

     Joseph was clothed by Pharaoh in fine linen, as Pharaoh perceived the Spirit of God in Joseph and elevated him in authority. Egyptian linen was and is still known as the finest, most luxurious linen in the world. The dressing of Joseph in fine linen is a prophetic shadow of how our King, the Lord, robes us His saints. The beautiful pure white linen with which He robes us represents the salvation covering of His righteousness upon us. These white linen garments are also associated with the marriage between the Bride and Bridegroom, which also reflects our relationship with Christ as His Bride. (see Isa. 61:10, Rev. 19:6-9).

     We see again the power and purpose of the Holy Spirit in another reading from this Sabbath's Mikketz, "at the end of" portion. The following is included in this Sabbath's reading because this Sabbath takes place while Hanukkah, the eight-day Festival of Lights (Dedication) is taking place. This feast remembers the miracle of God that extended the oil supply necessary to keep the Menorah Lamp in the temple burning for eight days instead of one day. The "eighth day" appears often in scripture and always carries the establishment of an important and powerful principle or event with God.

     This Sabbath reading portion is from Zech. 4:1-7. Zechariah received the vision from the LORD of a solid gold, seven-branched lampstand or menorah, with a continuous supply of olive oil flowing directly from two olive trees standing on each side of it. Zechariah is told that this vision, and the meaning of the vision is to be delivered to Zerubbabel, who was the governor and leader of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem after the Israelites were miraculously returned from captivity in Babylon, as was previously prophesied. The progress in rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem had been torturously slow, with little progress made and opposition all around. This was the prophetic message to Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of 'Grace (hen - well-favored, grace, acceptance, good-will), grace to it!" 

     The Holy Spirit, represented by the gold lamp of the vision, would accomplish by His unlimited power what man had not been able to accomplish. The seven branches of the Lamp are the eyes of the LORD scanning the whole earth. (v. 10). The Holy Spirit is the voice of "grace" in the message to Zerubbabel. The Holy Spirit in the mouth of Zerubbabel would take the mountain of opposition and raise up the *Messiah/Christ capstone from it (see *note below). Transformation, change, alteration, transmutation (see sana above) - what once was, will be changed by the Holy Spirit into what is to be, according to the will of God. There is also the force of "grace" in this message to Zerubbabel.

     Have we limited our concept of "grace"? Our understanding of grace should also include the power to change what is an obstacle to God's will, the mountain, into what is approved and acceptable to God, in this case, the beloved Capstone that is His Son, Jesus. (see Ps. 118:22-24, Mt. 21:42, Acts 4:10-12, Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Pet. 2:4-10). Grace changed us from being unacceptable to accepted by God: "...that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace..." (see Eph. 1:3-8). Grace contains the glory and riches of God, as this verse reveals. If we truly believe that grace has the power to change the unacceptable into the accepted before God, then we should be believing, speaking and praying "Grace, grace" to all of creation, especially to that which stands in opposition to the will of God. Jesus came full of grace and truth. (Jn. 1:14). Speaking "Grace" is like speaking the name and essence of Jesus. 

     Do we only view the Holy Spirit as the Giver of spiritual gifts? Jesus said that the Holy Spirit glorifies Him, Jesus, and takes what is His and declares it to us. (see Jn. 16:13-14). We can believe for the Holy Spirit to glorify Jesus Christ in the whole earth, and to declare the things of Christ to us, and to those being saved. Paul wrote that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our inner spirit that we are children of God, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. (see Rom. 8:16).  Paul again wrote that the Holy Spirit testifies to our inner spirit and hearts from which He cries out, "Abba, Father!" on our behalf, making us sons and heirs of God through Christ. (see Gal. 4:6). The Holy Spirit is part of the Three in heaven, Father, Son and Spirit, that bear witness of truth in heaven, and the Holy Spirit and the water and blood of Christ as one bear witness of the truth of Christ here on earth. (see 1 Jn. 5:6-12). All of the gifts, witnessing and testifying of the Holy Spirit in and through the believer in Jesus Christ (the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit of fire), serve the purpose, glory, and truth of Jesus Christ to all the earth. In the form of the Golden Lampstand of God as seen in the vision above, the Holy Spirit identified in the message to Zerubbabel, is the flame of the Light of the world, the unending oil that supplies the flame of the Light of the world, and the Lampstand which lifts up, elevates and exalts the Light of the world, which is Christ and Christ in us. That Light of the world is the Light that overcomes the darkness of a long, cold winter night. It is the Light of creation and life. It is the Light of hope that all things are possible with God, to be held up high for all to be able to see. (Ps. 18:27-28, Isa. 42:6-7, Mt. 4:16, Mt. 5:14-16, Rev. 21:23-24).

Joseph's gift, as a man with the Spirit of God, testified to Pharaoh and all Egypt that the LORD is the only God, and that he, Joseph, knew God, and the spiritual gift in Joseph, the filthy Hebrew slave brought up out of the pit by the grace/favor and Spirit of God, was used to testify of God, and not of any man. (Gen. 41:16). How much more can a called-out assembly of millions of believers in Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles, full of the Holy Spirit and as witnesses to the grace of God through Christ, be used by God for His purpose? The mind boggles! As we think of the miracles, especially the birth of our Savior, Jesus, of this time of year, let us bring new wonder and worship to the Lord for all that He has done.

     If you would like to learn more about the Spirit and grace of God, and the Light that shines through every darkness, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father and glorious King, especially in this season, help me to understand, speak, pray, and walk in a deeper understanding of Your Holy Spirit and Your grace, given to us through the sacrifice of Your own Son, Jesus. Help me to understand by Your Word and Spirit as a light to my eyes, how the Spirit's testimony that I am a child of God and a joint-heir with Christ is not meant to be consumed on myself, but is to be used to glorify You, Your Son, and Your Spirit. You assigned Hanukkah and Christmas to occur during a season of darkened days for a reason. Help me to walk in the gift of Your grace in a manner that shines Your Light into the darkness. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

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

Spirit

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Mikketz, meaning "at the end of". This reading comes on the Sabbath after Hanukkah, and also after Christmas this year. 

     Have you ever been "at the end of " yourself where trying circumstances have wearied and discouraged you? When the promise of God seems to be out of reach? One of the people written about in this Sabbath portion might have been feeling that way. His name was Zerubbabel.

     Judah and Jerusalem had been held in captivity in Babylon for seventy years when they were released and allowed to return to Jerusalem, which is also what the prophet Jeremiah had prophesied would happen. The first returnees had come back to Jerusalem and had a huge re-building project ahead of them because Jerusalem had been left in ruins when the Babylonians had laid siege to it. Zerubbabel was in charge of building the (second) temple of the LORD.

     Zerubbabel was among the captives who first returned to Jerusalem. He was also the grandson of the nineteenth and last king of Judah, named Jehoiachin. Jehoiachin became king when he was eighteen years old, and three months into his reign, the Babylonians took Jerusalem, and the king along with many inhabitants of Jerusalem were taken into captivity to Babylon (2 Kings 24:8-12, 15). Jehoiachin was imprisoned there for thirty-seven years until it was discovered that he was a king, and he was not only released from prison, but exalted above all other kings who were held captive (2 Kings 25:27-30). Now, at the end of this time of captivity, this king's grandson, Zerubbabel, had returned to Jerusalem with the other miraculously freed captives.

     The building of the temple, of which Zerubbabel was in charge, was experiencing extremely slow progress. There was great opposition from the local population of adversaries outside of Jerusalem who did all that they could to halt the restoration work (see Ezra 4:1-5). Then there came a stunning prophecy from Zechariah that we read in this week's Mikketz Sabbath portion. This prophecy not only empowered Zerubbabel's building of the temple, but it will give us insight into Jesus' all-powerful anointing, as well as having an impact on end time events before the return of Christ.

     Perhaps Zerubbabel's struggle to build the temple in Jerusalem, and his eventual spiritual empowerment is reflected in the meaning of Zerubbabel's name. The general meaning is "sown in Babylon". However, if we break the name down into its parts, we find the word zarab, which means "to make narrow [like a stream that dries up], perish, pour out, flow off, dry up, flow away." The second half of his name is the word babel, which means "confusion, to mix, fade away." However, the root word, according to the Concordance, balal, means, "fresh oil, to overflow with oil, anoint." From his name, perhaps Zerubbabel was a man who was spiritually drained and overwhelmed, maybe even discouraged, but there is a root pointing to the anointing (of oil) of God. Isaiah wrote this about the anointing of God: "It shall come to pass in that day that his (the Assyrian's) burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke (ol - yoke, of servitude and calamity) from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil." (Isa. 10:27). The title given to Jesus of "Messiah/Christ", for example, refers to "the anointing, the anointed One", and He does indeed break the yoke of sin and death off of our lives. The anointing of God changes everything, even the whole world, as we will see.

     The prophecy of Zechariah, which would have an impact on Zerubbabel's work and the future, began with an unusual vision from the LORD: "Now the angel...wakened me...and he said to me, 'What do you see?' So I said, 'I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. The two olive trees are by it (see also Ps. 52:8), one on the right of the bowl and the other at its left.' So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked to me, saying, 'What are these, my lord?' Then the angel...answered...'Do you not know what these are?' And I said, 'No, my lord.' So he answered and said to me: 'This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) capstone with shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!' Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 'The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. For who has despised the day of small things?..." (Zech. 4:1-10, excerpt).

     According to the vision, there are two living olive trees that continually supply the seven lamps on the golden candlestand, or menorah, with oil. This Sabbath reading portion comes in the middle of the celebration of Hanukkah, or Festival of Lights, a miracle involving the multiplication of the oil for the menorah in the temple many generations previously. The seven lamps represent the seven eyes of the LORD which scan/run to and fro throughout the whole earth (v. 10). To us, the oil of the Lampstand represents the Holy Spirit who searches all things of God. Paul wrote: "But God has revealed them (the hidden wisdom) to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God...Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God...Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God." (1 Cor. 2:10-12, see also Jn. 14:26).

     This prophetic word from Zechariah to Zerubbabel is one of the prophecies credited in scripture as being the reason for the successful building of the temple no matter what rose up to try to block it: "So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo (meaning "His witness"). And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia." (Ezra 6:14).

      As we saw how the spiritual anointing (of oil) revived and empowered Zerubbabel to complete the building of the house of the LORD, scripture tells us that Jesus was this anointing and was filled with this anointing (and light) of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist said this about Jesus after he saw the Spirit rest upon Jesus in the form of a dove (see Mt. 3:16-17): "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaiming the Father’s own message]; for God gives the [gift of the] Spirit without measure [generously and boundlessly]!" (Jn. 3:34 Amplified Version).

 

     Paul also wrote of Jesus, warning the church not to be deceived by the philosophies of men: "For in Him (Jesus) dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; and so you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." (Col. 2:8-9). The Godhead spoken of here by Paul also includes with the Son, Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit. As Paul also indicated, this same fulness dwells in us as we are in Jesus. Jesus Himself gave to His disciples the Holy Spirit prophetically (Jn. 20:21-23), and then in manifestation in the Upper Room after His resurrection and ascension (Acts 2:1-4), and it wasn't just for the original twelve disciples but for every believer in Christ (Acts 19:1-7).

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     Do we understand what this gift received from Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, of the anointing of the Holy Spirit really means in our lives? Some believers are actually taught that the full anointing of the Holy Spirit is not for them, and that it is no longer needed. How sad and wasteful of the power of God! Some believers believe in the receiving of the Holy Spirit but limit the meaning of the receiving of the Holy Spirit's anointing to operating in spiritual gifts. However, it means even more than that. The anointing is the same anointing that destroys the yoke of which Isaiah prophesied. It is the same anointing and Holy Spirit that destroyed every obstacle standing in the way of the will of God, as it did for Zerubbabel, and created a headstone out of that same obstacle with joyful shouts of "Grace, grace!" to it. I believe that same "headstone" of the temple/house of God built by Zerubbabel with "grace" attached to it was a prophetic reference to the Messiah/Christ, Jesus, as Peter said (Acts 4:11-12 ), and is also named as the Head over all things, and over all things pertaining to His Church of believers (Eph. 1:22). Why would we want to limit the fulness of the Holy Spirit in our lives? Christ certainly did not limit the Spirit. It is even the same Spirit that raised Him from the dead! (see Rom. 8:9-11). I hope in the same resurrection for myself, don't you? Then we need to thank the Holy Spirit Who is to dwell in each of us, and the One Who baptizes us in the Holy Spirit, Jesus the Anointed One (Mt. 3:11-12).

     From this same prophecy of Zechariah's also comes a time-changing and world-changing event in the days before the return of Jesus, which, according to what we are seeing happening now, could be very soon.

     

       The prophet Zechariah received an explanation from the angel who brought him the vision regarding the two olive trees and the two olive branches that drip oil into the receptacle of the golden lampstand:  "Then he answered me and said, 'Do you not know what these are?'   And I said, 'No, my lord.' So he said, 'These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth."  (Zech. 4:"12-14).

     The Book of Revelation mentions the coming of two witnesses, who are also prophets, who are sent to testify in the last days before Christ's return: "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.' These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth." (Rev. 11:3-4).

     The purpose of these two witnesses, who are associated with the olive oil anointing, is so important that they are given great power and authority, and able to do signs and plagues. Although the beast of the bottomless pit will make war against them and kill them, after three and one-half days: "the Holy Spirit/breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them...And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them." (v. 7-12). 

     This anointing that destroys the yoke, as Isaiah described it, gave the two witnesses power and authority from heaven, and we see the power of resurrection from the Holy Spirit raise them up as well. The witness of these two prophets will be one of the last chances that dwellers on earth in those days will get to hear and receive the Gospel that will save them.

     The LORD is building His spiritual house of living souls redeemed by His Son (see Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:5-8) and nothing will stand in the way of that, as Zerubbabel found out.

     If you would like to find out more about the anointing that destroys the yoke, and the work of the Holy Spirit in us, you can pray with me: "Our Father, You sent Your Son, Jesus the Anointed One, to save me and baptize me with Your Spirit. Help me, Lord, not to limit the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, but to walk in that infilling according to Your Word. Remove any self-righteous spirit from me that takes pride in the humbling gift of Your Spirit in me. As David prayed, "Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me" (Ps. 51:11). Help me not to grieve the Holy Spirit by walking in sin. Give me ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to me in order to teach and guide me in the Words of Jesus. I ask this 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. 

     

HolySpirit

 

     This Sabbath's reading portion is titled Chayyei Sarah, meaning "the life of Sarah". The title comes from the first verse of Genesis 23: "Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah." The Hebrew used here for "life" is the word and roots hay/haya/hava, which not only mean "life", but also "save, quicken with life, revive, restored to life or health, continue in life, revive from death, to declare, to show, to breathe, breathe out." It also contains the meaning "flowing (fresh) of water". Breath or breathing out are the root of life and the return to life as we see above.  "Breath" is the word ru-ach, or "spirit". Ru-ach HaKodesh is the Holy Spirit of God and is also the Spirit of life and revival of life. Jesus said: "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.  The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (Jn. 6:63).

     Although the beginning of this Sabbath's reading portion deals with the death of Sarah, Abraham's wife, throughout all of the assigned reading for this week, including Gen. 23, Gen. 24, Prov. 1, 1 Kings 1, and Ruth 2, I found a common thread running through all of these sections: the qualities of the Holy Spirit leading to "the life of Sarah."

     In Gen. 23, Abraham must find a place to bury his wife, Sarah, and insisted on a deed, a legal guarantee, from the sons of Heth, also known as the Hittites, from whom he purchased the burial place for four hundred shekels of silver. He paid the full price for the piece of land: "...the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded/made sure (qum - raise, raise up, establish, confirm, sure, be set and fixed in place, make binding, endure) to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city." (v. 17-18). And there Abraham buried (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Sarah (meaning "noble woman, princess, wife of the king, queen, prince, rule reign, have power, govern").

     The importance of Abraham's obtaining of the deed is found in the meaning of the Hebrew word qum as shown above. Not only is the deed a binding guarantee, but the Hebrew word qum is also associated with being "raised up". Abraham was establishing the fixed precedent that Sarah would be raised up with this deed. The apostle Paul wrote about the Holy Spirit being the same guarantee to us, and also the Spirit's role in resurrection from the dead: "...you were sealed (sealed for security, marked, confirmed) with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee (price paid in security for something) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His (Christ's) glory." (Eph. 1:13-14, see also 2 Cor. 1:21-22).

     In regard to the Holy Spirit and resurrection, Paul wrote: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death...if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life (zoopoieo/zao - produce alive, make alive, give life, restore to life/to breathe [see hay/haya/hava above]) to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." (Rom. 8:2, 11). In the Greek language, "Spirit" is the word Pneuma, meaning "breath of the nostrils, a life-giving Spirit, the vital principal by which the body is animated." When this Sabbath portion became titled Chayyei Sarah, or "Life of Sarah", we can see the promise of God of resurrection through Christ by the Holy Spirit that Abraham established at her death. It is a brilliant example of revelation faith on Abraham's part, and the genius found in the depths of the Word of God.

     After Sarah's death, old Abraham sent his most trusted servant to secure a wife from his relatives for his son Isaac in Gen. 24, another reading portion from this Sabbath. Abraham promised his servant that the angel of the LORD would go before him on this mission. As we read the family members from Abraham's brother, Nahor, we see that Bethuel begot (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Rebekah. (Gen. 22:20-23). The servant traveled to Abraham's distant relatives in Mesopotamia with ten camels carrying precious goods and riches for the future bride and her household. In order to find the yet-unknown bride for Isaac, the servant asked the help of the LORD in revealing the ordained bride. The servant asked the LORD to reveal the bride who will draw water from a well for himself and his camels. The servant made the camels kneel outside the city of Nahor (breathing hard) by a well of water (Gen. 24:1-14). It was Rebekah who came to the well, and not only gave Abraham's servant water to drink, but all of the camels as well until they were finished drinking. Camels drink a great amount of water, especially after traveling in the desert. One camel can drink forty to sixty liters of water in just a few minutes, and Rebekah filled the thirst of all ten camels from the water of the well. Abraham's servant knew by this sign from the LORD, that he had found the bride for Isaac. Rebekah also told him that she was indeed related to Abraham's family. She agreed to leave her family immediately and travel to Abraham's son Isaac. When Isaac saw Rebekah and heard all that had taken place from the servant, "...Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent...and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death." (v. 15-67, excerpt).

     The prophet Isaiah connected the Holy Spirit with water. The LORD said to Israel: "For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring." (Isa. 44:3). Jesus also stood and cried out to the crowd, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart/belly/soul will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive..." (Jn. 7:37-39).

      The verses above tell us that Rebekah comforted Isaac who was still mourning his mother, Sarah's, death. Jesus told His disciples that He would send the Helper/Comforter (parakletos - called to one's side for aid and succor, an advocate, consoler, intercessor) from His Father to them after He leaves them. Jesus identified the Comforter as the Holy Spirit (see Jn. 14:16-17, Jn. 15:26, Jn. 16:7).

     Rebekah's name means "to ensnare by beauty, a rope for a noose". This sounds like a negative meaning, but it is also the character of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, and therefore their need for Jesus as Savior (Jn. 16:8-11, 1 Cor. 12-13). It is the Holy Spirit that convicts and draws a person to Christ. We see this again in another reading portion from this Sabbath, where we read that Wisdom cries out in the streets to those who are heading to destruction: "Turn at My rebuke; Surely I will pour out My Spirit on you; I will make My words known to you." (Prov. 1:20-23, Jn. 14:25-26).

     In another Sabbath reading portion, we see a connection between water and life as mentioned above when David had his son, Solomon, anointed as King in order to foil the plans of another son who was trying to usurp the throne. David ordered Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet to take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Solomon to the Gihon ( meaning "labor to bring forth, draw up, take out, break forth of light, burst forth with babe") River (a geographic place also known to some as "the fount of the Virgin"), anoint him king, blow the trumpet (shofar), and sit Solomon on the throne, "and he shall be king in my place. For I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah." (1 Kings 1:32-35). According to the meaning of this river of water where a king was established and anointed, which also includes a connection to "the Virgin", and the bursting forth of a babe, we can connect this river to the Holy Spirit as the angel spoke to the Virgin Mary: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." (Lk. 1:35). There is no life, and no resurrection to life, especially associated with the Messiah/Christ line of the royalty of God, including our title Chayyei Sarah, "the life of Sarah", without the Spirit of life, who is the Holy Spirit. This is the source of our title Chayyei Sarah, "the life of Sarah/Princess/Prince".

     In another reading portion from this Chayyei Sarah, or "Life of Sarah" Sabbath, we see another precious quality of the Holy Spirit from the Book of Ruth. Naomi and her two Moabite daughters-in-law all became destitute widows. Naomi's deceased husband, Elimelech's, name means "My God is King." Would Elimelech's death and the deaths of his two only sons mean the death of the ordained royal line of the Messiah/Christ? We will see how God's prophetic plan never fails.

      The widow Naomi planned to go back to her deceased husband's family in Israel, near Bethlehem, for their support. Her daughters-in-law wanted to go with her and did not want to stay in their native Moab, but Naomi urged them to stay since they had family there. One daughter-in-law, Orpah, kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, "but Ruth clung to her", and movingly swore to dwell with Naomi and to never leave her (Ruth 1:14-17). In describing the Holy Spirit to His disciples, Jesus said, "And I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Comforter/Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth...for He dwells with you and will be in you." (Jn. 14:16-17). When Naomi and Ruth (meaning "friendship, companion, pasture") returned to Israel and the Bethlehem area, Boaz, a relative of Naomi's deceased husband and a man of great wealth, noticed Ruth gleaning the leftovers of grain in his field, as the poor are allowed to do, while his harvesters gathered the main grain crop. He then heard the report of how Ruth came with Naomi and had stayed with her and helped her. Boaz favored Ruth and told her she was to remain in his field where she would be safe and not go to another field. He also blessed Ruth "by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge." (Ruth 2:11-12).  Boaz then said to Ruth: "...when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the young men have drawn." (Ruth 2:1-9). We see another reference to drawn water here as we saw above, perhaps another mention of the Holy Spirit.

     Boaz's name means "strength, swiftness" according to Strong's Concordance, but I also see the Hebrew words bo + 'uz in his name which mean "enter, come in" + "bring into refuge or safety". One of the pillars in front of the temple of Solomon was named "Boaz" (see 1 Kings 7:21), I believe for this very meaning, in order to say to all "Enter into the refuge and safety of the LORD." Boaz became that pillar pointing to the entrance to the place of refuge and safety for Ruth.

     Boaz married Ruth and "the LORD gave her conception" of a son. The women around her declared at this time: "...And may he (the child) be to you a restorer of life (nepes/napas - breath, that which breathes, soul/to take breath, to be breathed upon, refreshed) and a nourisher of your old age..." (Ruth 4:15). Their child would be the grandfather of King David, and the ordained royal house of the Messiah/Christ to come. (see Ruth 4:17). The promise of the royal lineage of Messiah/Christ did not end with the deaths of Elimelech, Naomi's husband and her sons, but was fulfilled by one of his relatives, Boaz.

     The Holy Spirit plays a necessary and blessed role in the life of every believer in Jesus Christ. He is the fountain of the waters of life and resurrection. He is the breath, the Comforter, and the Helper who makes miracles happen in and through our lives. He teaches and reminds us, as the Spirit of truth, all that we must know in our walk with Christ and His salvation from the Words of Christ.

     If you would like to know more about the Holy Spirit or to receive Him in your life, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son, Jesus, to save us, and to baptize us with the fire of the Holy Spirit. This same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, raises us also, and also seals and guarantees our inheritance in Him. Baptize me to the full in the water and fire of Your Holy Spirit, who is Your promise to me as a believer in Jesus as Lord. Fill my life with the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Fill my mouth with the words and language of the Holy Spirit, who speaks the words of Christ. I ask this 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.