Household

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Lech - L'cha, which means, "Go! Leave!" This reading portion covers several chapters in the Book of Genesis, from Ch. 12 through Ch. 17. These chapters begin the account of Abram/Abraham's journey into the land of Canaan as he was commanded to do by the LORD. The reading begins: "Now the LORD had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families (mispaha - familes, kindred, a circle of relatives, tribe, a genus, a kind) of the earth shall be blessed..' So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot (his nephew) went with him..." (Gen. 12:1-4).

     The phrase "Get out" as spoken by the LORD to Abram is the Hebrew word yalak, yalak (written twice). This places particular emphasis on the meaning, making it "Get out!" The word yalak/halak means, "to go, walk, depart, move, go away, to die/to live or manner of life, to lead, to bring/walk away, to go through or over a place." The LORD wasn't throwing Abram out of his home and away from his family in Haran as a punishment, but, the meaning implies that he is to get out for his own sake or benefit. As we can see in the above verses, the LORD has attached to the command to "Get out!", incredible and miraculous blessings that will come upon Abram, blessings that would never have ordinarily come into the life of a herdsman. The place in Mesopotamia from which Abram was leaving was Haran, which has the root meaning: "kindle, burn, angry, scorched, dried of thirst, to roast, of men destroyed by heat." From the Arabic language, Haran/harar has this very interesting meaning: "born of a noble race, free born, the brightness and purity of a man obscured by no stain." If we combine the two ideas, we may be able to say that the same fiery brightness that shines from an unstained purity in one man, is the same fiery brightness that destroys another (stained) man in scorching heat.

     The chapters covered by this week's Sabbath reading portion deal with Abram's journey in the LORD into the land to which God told him to go and the covenant that the LORD made with Abram/Abraham. God both spoke to and appeared to Abraham on several occasions in order to direct him. It is also here in these chapters that we first see Abram, or anyone, called a Hebrew ('ibri/'eber/'abar - "one from beyond", from beyond the Euphrates or Jordan Rivers/great grandson of Shem, "the region beyond", region on the other side, "across or beyond"/pass over or through, cross over, overflow, emigrate). (Gen. 14:13). The Hebrew letters used to compose the word "Hebrew" are 'ayin, beth, reysh, yod. These letters' individual meanings could be joined together to say: "See and understand the appearance of the fountain, house, family or body within the Highest's completed work." These are amazing works that the LORD was establishing in and through Abram the Hebrew that started with His command to "Go!".

     We have discussed in earlier blog entries the awesome foundation that the LORD established through Abraham when studying this Lech L'cha Sabbath reading portion in previous years. However, for this entry, I would like to look at events in Genesis 16 and 17.

     In Genesis 16, we see an account of Abram's first-born son when Abram was eighty-six years old. His wife Sarai/Sarah had borne Abram no children, and she told Abram to embrace her Egyptian maid, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Hagar. After Hagar conceived, Sarai/Sarah "dealt harshly ('ana - afflict, force, troubled, weakened, browbeaten, oppress, put down, be depressed, be humiliated, hurt) with her." (v. 6). Hagar fled from Sarai, and the Angel of the LORD found (masa' - find, attain, acquire, meet, encounter, come upon, light upon) her by a fountain ('ayin - eyes, sight, fountain, of mental and spiritual faculties) in the wilderness. The Angel of the LORD told Hagar that she must return to her mistress, Sarai, and then said: "I will multiply your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) seed/descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude. And the Angel said/sang to Hagar about the name of her son to be born, and told her his name would be Ishmael (yisma'el - God will hear, whom God hears). (v. 7-12). Hagar called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You-Are-the- God-Who-Sees; for she said, 'Have I also here seen (ra'a - see, behold, appear, perceive, regard, seer, foresee, have vision, look upon, gaze at, discern) Him who sees me?" In this statement, Hagar didn't say that she saw an angel, but that she saw the LORD (yod-hey-vaw-hey: "Behold the hand, behold the nail"). (v. 13-14). "So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Ishmael. (v. 15). 

     The LORD had previously established a solemn covenant with Abraham, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates..." (Gen. 15:17-21, excerpt). The LORD repeated that promise to Abram/Abraham, as He promised to make Abraham, then childless, a father of many nations.

     There came a point when a natural and spiritual family or household was to be established through Abraham. This household of Abraham was to be established through God's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) covenant of circumcision. Every male in Abraham's household, from eight days old, was to be circumcised. However, this circumcision was not only to apply to the natural descendants of Abraham's flesh: "...every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with (your) money from any foreigner who is not your descendant..." (Gen. 17:9-14). The circumcision of the flesh is called here a "sign/token" of the covenant. (v. 11). The word translated as "sign" here is the Hebrew word 'ot, spelled with the Hebrew letters aleph-vaw-tav. which when joined together can mean "the Lord Adonai nailed to the cross, or joined to the covenant. The word 'ot means "miraculous signs, miracles, distinguishing mark, to consent, agree, assent." We can see that the covenant established was to anyone and everyone who lived within Abraham's household, not limited to those who were born of his flesh.

     What kind of household is this? According to the sign (see above meaning) of this household, it is a household of miracles. It is a household of faith, indicated by the consent and agreement necessary by the meaning of the "sign". Finally, it is a household of life, because those who do not receive the "sign" of this household are cut off. This covenant of the sign of circumcision is not limited to an outward or physical sign, but, more importantly, it is an inward or spiritual circumcision. From another reading portion of this Lech - L'cha, or "Go!/Leave!" Sabbath, the prophet Jeremiah wrote of the LORD asking Israel to return to Him and saying: "Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns (see Mt. 13:3-9). Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your hearts, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, lest My fury come forth like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of your evil doings." (Jer. 4:3-4). The apostle Paul, who in the flesh was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, as well as a Pharisee, wrote of the same truth: "...For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. (see Rom. 2:25-29).

     Jesus also remarked that being of the household of Abraham requires more than being his genetic descendant. It requires a submission of the heart and understanding to God, the Father. (see Jn. 8:37-39). Circumcision was a prophetic sign as well as a natural sign that pointed us to greater things than the sign itself according to the Hebrew meaning of "sign".

     Abraham's household members, joined in identity by the sign of circumcision, was made up of not only his natural descendants, but even foreigners that he had bought. The prophet Isaiah brings this same revelation regarding the Servant of God, the Messiah/Christ as we read in the household of Abraham: "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness; and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles....to raise up (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth." (Isa. 42:6/Isa. 49:6). The Servant/Messiah/Christ is for the salvation and restoration of Israel first, and then also to the Gentiles and the whole earth. (see also Rom. 1:16-17).

     It was then that the LORD prophesied and promised to Abraham that his wife (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Sarah would give him a son, who was to be named Isaac. It is with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) not yet born Isaac that the LORD will establish (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) His covenant, although the LORD promises to bless Ishmael. (Gen. 17:15-22). The very day that Abraham was circumcised, he also circumcised his son, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Ishmael, and all the men of his house (bayit - house, dwelling, temple, household, family, descendants as an organized body). (v. 23-27).

     We can see the identity of the Messiah/Christ upon this natural and spiritual household of Abraham in the repeated presence of the *aleph-tav in the written Hebrew above (see *note below). Jesus also confirmed His personal presence and relationship with Abraham as the eternal Messiah/Christ, and Abraham with Him, that superseded time even though they were forty-two generations apart within flesh and time. (see Jn. 8:56-59, Mt. 1:17).

     The LORD would repeat His covenant promise of the land to Abraham's second son, Isaac, and later, to his son, Jacob. However, the prophecy of Isaac's miraculous birth to a childless and aged Sarah, points to more than the son who will inherit the land. Abraham, before he died, would have several "natural" children, but only Isaac was the son of (prophetic) promise. It was only Isaac out of all of the sons of Abraham who was to carry the seed of the yet-to-be-born Messiah/Christ. (see Mt. 1:1-2, Lk. 3:30-34, Gal. 4:27-29).

     As the LORD Himself established this remarkable and miraculous household of Abraham as a sign, His plan of salvation continued on its set and unchangeable course.

     If you would like to learn more about this remarkable household of miracles, faith and life established not by the will of man, but by the will of God (see Jn. 1:12-13), you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, who is a God like You, establishing the end from the beginning?! Before I knew and loved You, You called me to be accepted and adopted into Your household of salvation, not because of who I was or wasn't in the flesh, but because of Your purpose for me in the Spirit and by faith in Your Son of Promise, Jesus. Let the sign of Your covenant of circumcision be within my heart and my most inward parts as it calls out to others to come and join Your eternal household. Bless the father of our faith, Abraham, and bless His household, both Jew and Gentile. I ask this in the name of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Messiah/Christ. 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. 

Joined

This week's readings begin with some important events in God's relationship with Abraham in Genesis chapters 18-22. Within these chapters we find an important visit of God to Abraham, the prophecy of Isaac's birth, and the casting out of Abraham's son, Ishmael, to name just a few of these events. However, I noticed something in these chapters, as well as the accompanying haftarah readings in 1 Samuel chapter 1, and 2 Kings 4, which I hadn't seen previously, and I would like to share it with you here. In Gen. 18, three men, whom Abraham immediately recognized as being of a divine nature, appeared to Abraham near his tent. Abraham hurried to make the men, whom he addressed as "My Lord", a place to rest and refresh themselves. It is during this visit in which Abraham's reverential and generous hospitality is shown, that the LORD promises that He will return to Abraham the following year when Abraham's wife Sarah, who was barren, would bear a son. As Sarah overheard the promise of God, she laughed to herself in disbelief. The LORD asked, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" (v. 14). In Gen. 21, we learn that God had indeed kept His promise to Abraham, and a son, Isaac, was born to his wife Sarah (v. 1-4). It was from this son that Abraham's seed would be called by God (v. 12). Abraham's older son, Ishmael, who was born from Sarah's Egyptian servant, Hagar, scoffed at the feast made to celebrate Isaac's maturing out of infancy (v. 9). After seeing Ishmael's scoffing behavior, Sarah demanded that Ishmael and his mother be expelled from the camp. Abraham was troubled and saddened by this, but the LORD made a promise to Abraham regarding Ishmael: "Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed." (v. 13). This promise is made regarding Ishmael because of the previous promise of God to bless Abraham's seed. We see that the LORD is joined, even bound, to His prophetic Word completely, and Ishmael is one who is joined to Abraham. After Ishmael and his mother are cast out, their water runs out, and they are facing death in the desert. Hagar separated a distance from her son so she wouldn't have to witness his death: "So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept, but God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is." (v. 16-17). Hagar was also saved though because the angel told Hagar, "Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation." (v, 18). As soon as Hagar joined herself to the boy, "God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water...So God was with the lad...". (v. 19-20). God's eyes and ears were upon Ishmael because of His promise to Abraham. Hagar also benefited as she joined herself with Ishmael. Let's look at two more examples from this week's haftarah readings about blessings, and even double portion blessings, because of a joining association. In 2 Kings 4, there is a woman from Shunam, which in Hebrew means "double resting place". She had a previous miraculous encounter with the prophet Elisha, a prophet who received a double portion of the prophetic anointing (see 2 Kings 2:9-10). Because she recognized the anointing upon Elisha's life, she wanted her household to be joined to the prophet in some way. The woman suggested to her husband that they make a special room in their house for the prophet to use when he passed through their area (v. 9-11). Because of her generous and reverential hospitality (see Abraham's example above) to the double portion prophet, Elisha prophesied a son to be born to her (v. 14-17). She was overcome with the idea that she might have a son. Her son was born as the prophet said, but as he grew, he suffered a head ailment that caused him to collapse and die (v. 18-20). The Shunammite woman laid her son on the bed in the prophet's room in her home, and sent for the double portion prophet. Elisha came and caused her son to recover, and he said to the woman, "Pick up your son." (v. 33-36). The Shunammite's close association with the double portion prophet, Elisha, changed every aspect of her life. In another example from this week's haftarah reading in 1 Samuel 1, we see the familiar account of Hannah, whose name in Hebrew means "favor, grace, mercy, pity". Hannah was a barren woman, who went to the house of the LORD in Shiloh to pray desperately for a son. We know that her prayers were answered, and she conceived Samuel, who would grow to be a great prophet and judge in Israel. However, there is an interesting detail in Hannah's story that may be overlooked: her husband. Her husband's name was Elkanah, meaning "whom God created or possessed". He is described as a certain man. The Hebrew word echad is used here, which has a very special spiritual meaning. It is a word which means "oneness" or "unity". Elkanah comes from a place called Ramathaim-Zophin, which means in Hebrew "double height of the watchers". This place is within the territory of the tribe of Ephraim in Israel. Ephraim means "double ash heap, I shall be doubly fruitful". I know we are seeing a pattern here regarding the outpouring of God in the use of the term "double". There is another use of "double" within Hannah's story. Her husband provided offerings every year for his other wife and children, but to Hannah, he provided a double portion for an offering because he felt compassion for her (v. 4-5). So Hannah's husband remembered her before God in double portion offerings. Hannah was joined to a husband who understood the principle of the double portion in every way. In our own lives as believers, we can see how being joined with Christ causes us to receive many benefits because of that association. However, did we realize that Christ's portion is a kind of double portion? The Law of Moses requires that the first born receive a double portion of inheritance (Deut. 21:17). The double portion is "the right of the first born", and as we have seen above with Abraham, God is bound by His Word. Scripture describes Jesus as the first born among many brethren. Scripture also says that in order to share in the double portion of the First Born of God, Jesus, we must be conformed to His image by God: "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Rom. 8:29). If we look deeper into the Hebrew meaning of shenayim, used as the word "double", as in "double portion", there is also a glimpse of being changed, as we are changed in Christ. Part of the root meaning of the word is "change, alter, duplicate, transmute (change to a higher form), disguise". Scripture promises us also that we are joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:16-17), Who, as Firstborn, has received the double portion. Also included in the meaning of shenayim, or "double", is a reference to the number twelve. The number twelve is important in scripture. The Lord chose twelve disciples, and there were twelve apostles appointed to the church. Apostles are still appointed by God to benfit the Church. As we saw in the examples above of Abraham, Ishmael and Hagar, the Shunammite woman, and Hannah and Elkanah, the Church would be wise to join itself to those who have the apostolic calling, instead of disregarding them (see also Eph. 2:19-22, and Eph. 4:10-16). In another demonstration of the importance of "twelve", or shenayim/double, the city of New Jerusalem, which will descend from heaven, is built on a squared measure of twelve thousand furlongs, each wall measuring twelve-squared cubits, with twelve foundations of the apostles' names, and with twelve gates of pearls (Rev. 21:10-17). Therefore, we can see that the New Jerusalem is a city joined to the double, shenayim, portion. In ending this entry, I would like to include a prophecy from Isaiah. Jesus connected the prophecy of Isaiah 61, which He read in the synagogue, to Himself, the Messiah. Part of that chapter says: "But you shall be named priests of the LORD, they shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs." (Isa. 61:6-7). Many look for the manifestation of this inheritance in Christ in material increases and blessings, and there are material manifestations that result as we can see from our examples above. However, the joining with Christ begins in the spiritual realm, and must continues there as we are required to be "conformed" to His image (see also Rom. 12:1-2). I hope I have been able to express here the principle of being "joined" to the promise of God, and the path of the double portion that I found in these Sabbath scriptures for this week. The inheritance is rich and deep and high and wide, but it begins by being joined with Christ. If you would like to be joined with Christ in the double portion, as well as continuing in being conformed to Him, please join me in prayer: "Dear Father, I thank You for the promises that You have given in Your Word. I thank you that You keep Your word at all costs, as You did with Abraham. I thank You for the thread of the double portion inheritance and blessing that You have made part of Your Word, and have made available to all who will receive it through Your First Born, Jesus. Jesus came to earth and died for my sins, and rose from the dead, so I can be a joint heir with Him in all that You have given Him, including everlasting life. Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit who transforms me and conforms me to the image of Your Son by the Word of God. I ask and receive all of these things from You in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

Wells

Amazing things happen at wells in scripture. I think a great deal of that is because of the spiritual meaning of wells. In fact, when the enemy comes in, the first thing he might do is to violently take (consume, spoil, rob, tear away, plunder) or fill in the wells. Abraham confronted two strongmen after the well that he had dug was violently taken by their servants (subjects, worshippers). The strongmen were Abimelech, "My father is king/royal", and Philchol, "mouth of all ruling that shatters in pieces the whole". After he rebuked them, Abraham got the two strongmen to admit that the well had been dug by him. To settle the issue, and to end the contention over the well, a covenant was made with sheep, oxen, and seven additional ewe lambs. Abraham then called the place "the well of the seven-fold oath", or Beersheba. Yes, Abraham gave up animals to secure a well that already belonged to him! But covenant is created through sacrifice, and Abraham was establishing a covenant not just to benefit himself, but for future generations also (Gen. 21:23). Abraham then planted a grove, which is provision for the future, at this place, and called upon the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God, Jehovah El-Olam (Gen. 21:25-34). Abraham took back or restored through covenant what had been violently taken from him. He recognized it as an everlasting work.
After the death of Abraham, the Philistines (strangers, to roll in or wallow in ashes as an act of mourning) had stopped up (shut up, obstruct in order to keep hidden or secret) the wells that Abraham had dug. They filled the wells with earth (ashes, rubbish, dust, to be dust). Isaac ("he laughs", to make sport of, to make a toy of) dug (to dig, search for, search out, to delve) again (bring back, recover, restore, refresh) the wells that his father had established, and named them again by the names which Abraham had called (preach, proclaim, utter a loud sound, cry out) them. The son of laughter and joy had overcome the strangers of mourning. Like His prophetic type in Isaac, Jesus restored the spiritual wells that His Father had established for His people.
Not only did Isaac restore the wells of Abraham, but he also dug new wells (Gen. 26:15-22). Two of the new wells were also attacked. Because of that, Isaac named them Esek (contention, strife, quarrel, oppress, violate, defraud, do violence, get deceitfully) , and Sitnah (strife, accusation, enmity, root: satan-adversary, resist, oppose, lie in wait). Isaac removes himself from this place of contention. Finally, Isaac established a well that did not provoke quarrels. This well, he called (preach, proclaim, etc.) Rehoboth (wide place, to grow wide, to be enlarged). Isaac declared that he would be fruitful, or multiplied in this land, therefore giving the prophetic name to the well of "a wide place". The enemy uses contention, strife, and accusation to disrupt the wells, yet God causes another well to flourish, bringing multiplication and fruitfulness. It was all about those wells! All of these wells were dug in the territory claimed and inhabited by the Philistines.  After these events, Isaac journeyed back to his father's covenant well, Beersheba. There, the LORD appeared to him, and gave Isaac the same covenant promises that He had given to Abraham.
Why are wells, natural and spiritual, such objects of contention? Wells are the provision that makes the difference between life and death, starving and abundance, and as the beginning of this entry states- amazing things happen at wells! Isaac's future bride, Rebecca (beauty that captures men), was revealed by God at a well (Gen. 24:16). Hagar, and her son, Ishmael ("God will hear"-to hear, listen to, obey, to hear with attention and interest), were saved from death when God opened her eyes, and an angel revealed a well to her (Gen. 21:17-20). Moses met his bride, and the family with whom he would find refuge from Pharaoh (great house), at a well in Midian (strife, contention, brawling, discord, that which is contended for) (Ex. 2:15-16). God set the well of provision and refuge for Moses, even in the face of Pharaoh, and in the midst of Midian. Jacob found his mother's family, who were his refuge from his brother's anger and threats, and his future bride, Rachel (ewe, female lamb) coming with her sheep, at a well in Haran (Gen. 29:1-6). Jesus sat Himself at the well of Jacob in Samaria (keep, guard, protect, treasure up, save life, keep Sabbath or covenant commands, watchman, shepherd) in order to reveal His identity, His truth, and His salvation to an unlikely woman (Jn. 4:6-7). We even call this special event "The Woman at the Well".
The meaning of the word, "well", also gives us important information. The Hebrew word means a pit, a well, a spring, but the root meaning is "to make plain, distinct, to make clear, to declare, letters on a tablet, to engrave (with letters on a stone)".
God's people carve, or engrave those spiritual wells into the earth, even in enemy territory, by their trust in, and obedience to God. Those wells not only provide for today, but they are eternal wells that provide for future generations. Sometimes there are battles involved in the establishing of these wells, because they are everlasting works. There is a place where God's people established a well by singing, "Spring up O well!" to it (Num. 21:16-18). As the people sang, princes and nobles, either in the natural meaning, or perhaps angelic, dug that well with their staves (support, maintenance, protection of sustenance, trust in God, rest upon, rely, lean upon). The well established that day was by the by direction of the "lawgiver" (decree, law, engrave, cut in, cut out, inscribe, printed, hack, strike with a sword, to stamp violently, encounter violently, carve out a sepulcher in a rock). Jesus is also a well that was dug with violence, and established by His reliance upon, trust in, and the rest found in His Father's will and plan.
We partake of the eternal wells already established and named after our Father, and we dig new ones in His name, as well. The wells that we establish in the earth are established because God has also dug a well of living water in us, which is His Son, Jesus. Where we are, there a well is established. Look, here come the little ewe lambs now. Here come the flocks of sheep, so many as far as the eye can see! Here comes the Bride to the wells.
The prophet Isaiah (12:2-3) declared, "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He has also become my salvation." Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation..."

Our Father has called His people to engrave His spiritual wells into the earth.

"In The River"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvCQozJQZLc