MyTestimony

       "And He (Jesus) said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs shall follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents (ophis - snake, serpent, sly and cunning deception, artful and malicious person like Satan, the devil, hypocrite); and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mk. 16:15-18).

     This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled B'shallach, which means "When he let go." This title is taken from the first verse of the reading portion, Exodus 13:17: "Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-people go (shawlakh - send forth, send away, send out, loose, cast out, stretch out, shoot forth as a weapon, set free, let go, let depart, send/drive to pasture, send a messenger), that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines (pelisti/palas - descendants of the Egyptians who migrated to the western seacoast of Canaan, strangers/to roll in ashes and dust, to wallow, to dig a hole, to roll oneself), although that was near; for God said, 'Lest perhaps (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-people change their minds when they see war (milhama/laham - war, battle, fight, warriors, warfare/devour or eat as food, make war, overcome, prevail, to fight, to battle), and return to Egypt."

     After the last plague of death to the first born of Egypt, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, let the people of God go (shawlakh, see above) . The LORD led His people, not by the nearest route which would take them through the land of the Philistines but led them by the longer route through the Red Sea wilderness. He did not think that they had the fortitude to face battle with the Philistines yet. The Israelites would not face the Philistines until later in time.

     After the Israelites left Egypt, they began to face continual challenges. Pharaoh decided to pursue them and trapped them by the Red Sea. They were terrified. They cried out to the LORD and said to Moses: "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness?...Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness." (Ex. 14:11-12). At that point, the LORD delivered the Israelites from the Egyptian army by dividing the waters of the Red Sea so that they could cross to the other side: "So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left." (v. 22, see also Ps. 78:13). The sea water was so thoroughly removed that the ground underneath the waters was not muddy but dry.

    As the Israelites were trapped before the Red Sea, Moses had promised them: "Do not be afraid. Stand still and see (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-salvation (yesua - Jesus' Hebrew name, salvation, help, deliverance, welfare, victory) of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today....". (Ex. 14:13). After the LORD parted the waters of the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to pass through it and then released the waters of the sea in order to drown the pursuing Egyptian army, Moses and the Israelites celebrated this great miracle with a joyous song. Part of this song included: "The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation (yesua - see above); He is my God, [and I will prepare Him a habitation (nava - abide, adorn, beautify, celebrate with praise)]/and I will praise Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him." (Ex. 15:2).

     Immediately after this celebration, however, (*aleph-tav/Alopha and Omega)-Israel came to a place of undrinkable, bitter waters, and they complained. The LORD made the bitter waters sweet by having Moses cast a certain tree ('es - tree, gallows, carpenter) into the waters. At this place, the LORD revealed His name, "I AM the LORD who heals you." (see Ex. 15:22-26).

     Then the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-whole-assembly began to make (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-murmurings against Moses and the LORD over not having meat and bread. Then the LORD heard their (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) murmurings and sent them quails for meat in the evenings and bread from heaven in the mornings. (Ex. 16:1-13). Their "murmurings" have the written Hebrew *aleph-tav before them because the murmurings were against the Messiah/Christ.  Generations later, Jesus would solve this mystery by comparing Himself to the manna bread in the wilderness, calling Himself the Bread from heaven of eternal life as the Israelites of His day murmured and complained against Him, as specifically worded in the verses from The Gospel of John. (see Jn. 6:41-43, 48-51). The exact repetition of the wording between Exodus 16 and John 6 is no coincidence.

     As believers in Jesus Messiah/Christ, when we murmur and complain about anything, who are we really murmuring against but the One who is the Lord of our lives, Jesus? Murmurings and complaints become our testimony to others of who Jesus is, or is not, in our lives.

     Psalm 78 is another portion from this week's B'shallach, "When he let go" Sabbath reading. This psalm recounts the kindness and miracles that the LORD showed to Israel even though they continually rebelled against Him and complained against Him.

     The psalmist, Asaph ('asap - "gatherer", "collector", assemble together, to gather and take away, gather the harvest, to take in, to receive into), wrote of the wonders that God did for His people to deliver them from slavery in Egypt, and afterwards, to give them the provision that they needed in the wilderness. However, Asaph wrote, His people were stubborn and rebellious and "whose spirit was not faithful to (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-God." (v. 8). The psalmist said that he wrote this psalm as a testimony for future generations: "We will not hide them (referring to the sayings of old from the fathers) from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony ('edut/'ed/'ud - testimony, witness, holy rites, revelation, "the Holy Ghost saith"/prince, recorder, emphatically affirming/testify, record, surround, restore, say again and again, affirm solemnly, exhort solemnly, give warning) in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel...that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise (qum - arise, establish, stand, confirm, continue, abide, accomplish, perform, endure, prove) and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments." (v. 4-7).

     The power contained in the testimony given to Israel praising the wonderful works of God kept generation after generation alive and preserved them through danger, even the danger of their own rebellion, and sorrow. As we see the Hebrew meaning connected to the word "testimony", we can see that it is powerful, inspired and appointed by the Holy Spirit.

      When Pharaoh the king of Egypt let the people go (see B'shallach and shawlakh above), he would be sending them out to encounter an eternal testimony.

     Similarly, in verses from Mark 16 shown at the top of this page, Jesus, the King of Kings, sent His believers out with a testimony, the Gospel, commanding them to take that testimony of His suffering, death, burial and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins and the glory of God, to every creature. It is also an eternal testimony leading the hearer to salvation and eternal life. It is a testimony so powerful that it overcomes Satan, himself: "And they overcame him (referring to the accuser of the brethren, Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Rev. 12:11). This testimony contains the power of "salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ" (see Rev. 12:10). As the verses from Mark 16 at the top of the page tell us, miracle signs and wonders follow the believers with this testimony in their mouths.

     Rather than the testimony of murmuring and complaining, we have been entrusted with this amazing testimony, the Gospel, not only for our own sakes but for the sake of every creature.

     If you would like to learn more about our testimony, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You have given to us the most amazing and powerful testimony to bring to future generations and to every creature! By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Lord, keep this testimony in my heart, mind and mouth, rather than the testimony of murmuring and complaining, which testifies against You. Forgive me, Lord, when my words and testimony have robbed You of glory. Let this testimony that You have given to me glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit always, as well as testifying to life, even eternal life gained for us by Christ. As the song says, "O how marvelous! O how wonderful! Is my Savior's love for me!" These are the wonderful works of God. This is my testimony 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. 

SendForth

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Va-yishlach which means, "And he sent." The title comes from Genesis 32:3: "Then Jacob sent (salah [pronounced shaw-lakh] - go, send forth, stretch out, sow, loose, set free, shoot forth as branches, spread, reach forth, appoint, send a messenger, send words, to command anything of anyone, to stretch as a hand from on high, to send away) messengers (malak - angel, messenger, ambassador, deputy, messenger of God [see also Mal. 3:1-3], king, prophet, priest, one sent) before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom." 

     As we can see from the meaning of the word "sent", or salah in Hebrew as used above, a powerful purpose is ordained, and a powerful result is expected. We will see that what is "sent" to Esau is saves Jacob's life, as well as that of his large family.

     Jacob was sending messengers with words of greeting to let his twin brother Esau know that he was back in the land after being away for twenty years. Before Jacob had left his home, Esau had vowed to kill him. This was a humble gesture on Jacob's part, reaching out to Esau, in order to prepare the way for a peaceful return. The messengers returned from their mission to Esau and told Jacob that Esau was coming to meet him, and he was bringing four hundred men with him, leaving Jacob afraid and distressed. He divided all of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people that were with him, including wives and children, so that it would make it more difficult for Esau to attack all of Jacob's people at one time. (v. 6-7).

     Jacob then sent (salah - see above) by his servants word messages and gifts to Esau ahead of his arrival of many goats, sheep, camels, cattle, and donkeys. Jacob told his servants: "I will appease (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, pacify, to pardon, to cover over, atone for sin, to expiate, merciful, to obtain forgiveness, to make expiation for an offender, to inanimate things which were accounted to be defiled, to receive pardon) him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me." (v. 13-20).

     The gift that Jacob sent to Esau was to act as an atonement for sin and an outpouring of mercy according to the Hebrew word kapar used above. Before we find out the conclusion of the meeting between Jacob and Esau, a very strange but important encounter will occur first.

     After sending his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) two wives, his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) two women servants, his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eleven children and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) what he had across the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) brook at Jabbok (yaboq/baqaq - "emptying"/make void, empty, lay waste, pour out, devastate, depopulate; spread out as a fruitful vine, be luxuriant, be profuse and abundant), Jacob was left alone: "...and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day." (Ge. 32:22-24). When the Man saw that He did not prevail against Jacob, He touched the socket of Jacob's hip and put Jacob's hip out of joint. However, Jacob would not let the man go until the Man blessed him.  So the Man told Jacob: "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel (yisrael/sara - "God prevails"/contend, have power as a prince, persist, exert oneself, to set in order, a noble, a prince); for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed." (v. 25-28). The King James Version of the Bible states that the Man's description of the name Israel was: "for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." After prevailing over the Man, Jacob was changed. Even his name was changed by to reflect this transformation. After experiencing this encounter, could Jacob then prevail over his brother Esau as well? It won't be a physical wrestling match with Esau, but a spiritual one.

     Jacob named the place of his wrestling, Penuel/Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God (elohim - God, angels, divine ones) face to face, and my life is preserved." Jacob then also crossed over the brook from that place. Jacob understood that he had been wrestling with God. The revelation that Jacob/Israel obtained during this strange wrestling encounter will affect his reunion with his brother, Esau. If Jacob could see God's face and not only survive but prevail, how much more could he prevail seeing Esau face to face?

     The conclusion of the encounter with Esau is that after seeing Jacob's gifts that were sent ahead and seeing Jacob's family, Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept together. (Gen. 33:4). Jacob remained wary of Esau and treated his encounter with him very cautiously.

     We see how his encounter with God at Penuel ("Facing God") gave Jacob/Israel the prevailing strength to face Esau. As Esau intended to refuse Jacob's gifts that had been sent ahead, Jacob/Israel said to Esau: "No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. Please take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.' So he urged him, and he took it." (Gen. 33:10-11).

     Jacob's new name, Israel, is "one who struggles with God and men and prevails." The kapar atoning, reconciling appeasement gift (see kapar above) that Jacob sent to Esau spared Jacob's life. 

     Paul wrote about the same kind of blessing that was given to Jacob by the Man he wrestled mentioned above, and the power of kapar atoning reconciliation or appeasement in this way: "What then can we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered (paradidomi - incl. the meaning "to give into the hands of another, to give over into one's power or use") Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors (hypernikao/nikao - to gain a surpassing and decisive victory, to vanquish beyond/to subdue, to conquer, to overcome, to prevail) through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8:31-39).

     Jesus taught that before we bring a gift/offering to God, we must be reconciled with our brother who has something against us. He said: "...First be reconciled (diallasso - to change the mind of anyone, to reconcile, to renew friendship with one/to change or to transform thoroughly, to make different, to conciliate) to your brother (adelphos - natural brother, countryman, a fellow believer, associate, any man), and then come and offer your gift. Agree (eunoeo - to wish one well, of a peaceable spirit, reconcile) with your adversary (antidikos/dike/deiknyo- opponent, enemy, even arch-enemy Satan/vengeance, punish, judgment/to show or teach, give evidence or proof)  quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge..." (see Mt. 5:23-26, excerpt).

     Both Jacob and Esau had sinned against each other. While Esau voluntarily sold his birthright to Jacob, from Esau's point of view, Jacob tricked his father Isaac into giving him his paternal blessing instead of the elder and favored son, Esau, as Isaac had planned to do. Esau sinned, speaking and planning the revenge murder of his brother. However, the kapar appeasing atonement gift sent by Jacob to his brother changed Esau's plans thoroughly. Instead of using his four hundred men to attack and kill Jacob, Esau ran to Jacob, hugged his neck, kissed him and wept. In this case, we see that Esau was changed or transformed completely from his original intentions, which is also part of the kapar atonement reconciling appeasement gift (see diallasso above).

      We see this idea in the New Testament also. We also know that Jesus was sent and given by the Father in heaven as a gift of reconciliation and appeasement to the world. (Jn. 3:16-17). Paul also referred to Jesus as a gift: "For the wages of sin is death, but the (free) gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 6:23).  We also see, as part of the process of reconciliation, a thorough change or transformation (see diallasso above): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled (katallasso - to change mutually, to reconcile) us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation (katallage - restoration to divine favor, reconciliation, atonement), that is, that God was in Christ reconciling (katallasso - see above) the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation/atonement (katallage - see above)...be reconciled (katallage - see above) to God." (2 Cor. 5:17-20, excerpt).

     Reconciliation is directly tied to its root meaning in Greek, which includes atonement. A complete change or transformation in state must also result from and accompany our supernatural reconciliation to God through Christ. As important in the verses above is that this same transforming and atoning gift of reconciliation that we received, now is placed into our hands to minister to others. In Word and prayer, we minister the gift that changes individuals and reconciles them to God through the gift of Jesus Christ. Do we want to see "change" in the world? The ministry of reconciliation that has been given to us is a powerful place to start.

     The following verses use a different but related Greek word for "reconciliation": "For it pleased the Father that in Him (Jesus) all the fulness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless (note the change in condition), and above reproach in His sight - if indeed you continue in the faith..." (Col. 1:19-23). The Greek word used in these verses meaning to reconcile is the word apokatallasso. This word means "to reconcile completely, to reconcile back again, to bring back to a former state of harmony."

     The portrait of the gifts of appeasement which Jacob sent forth to Esau, and the resulting reconciliation between those brothers, to me presents the greater truth of the reconciliation of man back to God through the gift of Jesus Messiah/Christ to all who will accept the gift. Jacob pleaded with Esau to accept his gift, and lives were spared from death that day, and circumstances were transformed. (Gen. 33:10-11). How much more powerful and eternal is the ministry of reconciliation through Messiah/Christ that the Lord has placed into our hands than the sheep, camels, cattle and donkeys which Jacob gave to Esau?

     If you would like to learn more about the transforming, reconciling, atonement gift, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, even while I was separated from You by my sin, You sent forth a gift to me that would save me and change me, which is the gift of Your Son, my atonement and my reconciliation. As I look at a lost and suffering world, help me to see it through Your eyes. You gave Your own and only Son because of Your love for this inhabited world. Teach me and help me through Your Holy Spirit to pray and speak the Word of Reconciliation/Atonement - a Word that changes and transforms those who will hear, believe and receive it - a Word that reunites all creation back to Yourself through Jesus, the Lord of all creation. I ask this in the name of Your Son, 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. 

Overthrown

      "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!' And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying: 'We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned'...Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail." (Rev. 11:15-19, excerpt).

     This is the vision given to John by Jesus Messiah/Christ of the overthrow of earthly kingdoms of men's power and the establishment of God's kingdom on earth in heavenly power and covenant. It is accompanied by great noises and shakings, even hail. It seems that we are seeing this same kind of unusual phenomenon here on earth more and more frequently now also.

     This week's Sabbath reading portion titled D'varim, meaning "The Words," also deals in part with the overthrow of mighty kingdoms on earth. D'varim is also the Hebrew name of the Book of Deuteronomy, and the Sabbath reading begins in Chapter one of that Book. This Sabbath, we are beginning a new Hebrew month, Av, and we are also beginning a new Book, D'varim/Deuteronomy, in the Torah/Bible. The month of Av, translates to "Father" in English, and is especially used in the phrase "Menachem Av," meaning "Comforting Father," with the Father being our comfort in times of mourning and loss. The Jewish people have known great sorrows in this month throughout history, but the LORD has never given up His promise of reconciliation and renewal, which we will see in this D'varim Sabbath study.

     These two new beginnings occurring on this Sabbath, draw our attention to the idea of the old passing away and the new being established, especially for believers in Messiah/Christ. Paul wrote: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Cor. 5:17-19). Paul said that God has reconciled the earth to Himself through His Son, Jesus, and that miraculous reconciliation process includes us. We need "to get with the program" of this great reconciliation of heaven and earth! This means that our attention should be focused in a special way. Peter wrote that we should not be invested in what is passing away but looking for and "hastening " (speudo/pous - to haste, make haste, to desire earnestly, to urge on diligently, to await eagerly, make haste unto/foot, footstool, as putting the foot on a vanquished enemy, as a disciple sits at the feet [of Jesus] listening to instruction) the new that is coming. (2 Peter 3:10-14). Why are we so caught up and invested in the things that will pass away?

     If God's people turn back from His vision of reconciliation and renewal, they can become caught up in the overthrow of the old, as we will see in this week's Sabbath reading portion.

     Moses recounts very ancient history in Deuteronomy of nations overthrown and replaced by a new people. The Lord had given territory to Esau, son of Isaac and brother of Jacob, and his descendants, and Lot, the nephew of Abraham, and his descendants. The LORD told Moses and the Israelites: "Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, because I have given (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Mount Seir (seir/sair/sa'ar - hairy or shaggy, patriarch of the Horites who were the aboriginal occupants of Edom before the descendants of Esau/goat, devil, satyr, hairy, demon-possessed he-goat/come like a whirlwind, be horribly afraid, dread, sweep away, come as a storm) to Esau as a possession." (Deut. 2:2-5). The LORD also commanded regarding Moab: "Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar ('ar/'ir - a city, an enemy/a place or city guarded with a watch tower and frequented by people, a terror, rage, heat of anger, the enemies' metropolis like Nineveh) to the descendants of Lot as a possession. (The Emim ('emim/'ema/'ayom - terrors, idols that cause terror to their worshippers, a very ancient people that occupied the land of the Moabites before them/terror, dread, fear, horror, idols/terrible, dreadful, frightful) had dwelt there in times past, a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim. They were also regarded as giants, like the Anakim, but the Moabites call them Emim. The Horites (hori/hor/hur - cave dwellers, troglodyte, those who in very ancient times inhabited Mt. Seir/hole, cave, den of wild beasts/hole, crevice of serpents, cell of a prison, an abominable subterranean prison, the hole of a viper or an asp, the desire to be hidden from the judgment of God [see also Rev. 6:14-17]) formerly dwelt in Seit, but the descendants of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their place, just as Israel did to the land of their possession which the LORD gave them.)" (v. 9-12). The former idolatrous nations of people were long ago dispossessed by descendants of those related to the Israelites. At the time of Moses, the Israelites were not to touch the territories of Moab and Mount Seir by the command of God.

     We are given a very interesting and rare look here into ancient aboriginal people. As we can see from the Hebrew meanings of these ancient places and people, God had overthrown the terror related to them and replaced them with descendants of Abraham who were related to Israel. He overthrew the evil and the terror of these places associated with idolatry, the devil and demons.     

     Also in these early chapters of Deuteronomy, Moses reviews the recent defeat of two kings, both Amorites, by Israel as delivered into their hands by the LORD. These kings, Sihon and Og, must have a very special spiritual significance because they are mentioned several times in scripture in the Books of Numbers, Deuteronomy, Judges, 1 Kings, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and the Psalms. They represent something that scripture intends for the people of God to remember. What must we learn about their defeat?

     Og ("long-necked"), the king of Bashan ("fruitful, region known for fertility"), was a giant, and according to the Concordance, he was one of the last of the ancient giants, the Rephaim (meaning casting down or throwing down). He ruled over the fruitfulness of the land according to the Hebrew meaning. Sihon (sihon/suah - warrior, tempestuous, sweeping away/wipe away) was king of Heshbon (stronghold, reason, reasoning, understanding). His name implies that he was an aggressive warrior who valued the reasoning and understanding of men rather than God. Both kings were of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Amorite (emoi/amar - a "sayer"/speak, command, tell, utter, say, publish, declare, to think, intend, boast, declare, demand, desire) tribe of Canaan. We also saw the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega designation in the Hebrew writing of Mount Seir, above. The Amorites, according to their *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega designation in the written Hebrew should have been declaring and desiring the prophesied Messiah/Christ, but they, instead, fell into a demonic Canaanite religion. This is a description of the religion of the Amorites and the Canaanites in general: It is similar to the earlier Sumerian religion. It was an extraordinarily base and degraded religion of brutality, with gross and perverse sexual excesses and depravity as fertility rites. They offered animal sacrifices, and there is archeological and anthropological evidence of human sacrifices to their gods, such as Ba'al. There is evidence that the human sacrifices of the Amorites included their own children, particularly their first-born. They practiced magic, spell casting and binding, and spiritism.

     The LORD, at the time of His overthrow of the Amorites, considered their wickedness to be complete. It was time for them to go, and the Israelites dispossessed them and their kings Og and Sihon. The old evil was overthrown, and the newness of God replaced them.

     Here are some of the references in scripture to the defeat of the Amorite kings Og and Sihon, and its wider significance:

"Moreover You gave them (the Israelites of the wilderness) kingdoms and nations, and divided them into districts. So they took possession of the land of Sihon, (*vaw-aleph-tav: "the Lord, Adonai, nailed to the cross") the land of the king of Heshbon, and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the land of Og king of Bashan." (Neh. 9:22).

"He (the LORD) defeated many nations and slew mighty kings - Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan - and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to Israel His people." (Ps. 135:10-12). Ps. 136:17-22 describes this overthrow, reconciliation and renewal work of God among the nations of the earth as exhibiting His mercy that endures forever.

     Although Moab was not to be touched at the time of Moses' words in Deut. Ch. 2, generations later the judgment of God, who is the Just Judge without favoritism, was prophesied to fall upon that nation because it exalted itself against the LORD (Jer. 48:42). We will see some familiar references in the language used: "Fear and the pit and the snare shall be upon you, O inhabitant of Moab,' says the LORD. He who flees from the fear shall fall into the pit, and he who gets out of the pit shall be caught in the snare. For upon Moab, upon it I will bring the year of their punishment," says the LORD..."...But a fire shall come out of Heshbon, a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the brow of Moab, the crown of the head of the sons of tumult." (v. 43-45, excerpt).

     The descendants of Lot, who had overthrown the aboriginal tribes who practiced perverse and murderous idol worship, would now be overthrown themselves because they had placed themselves above God and His will.

     As descendants of Noah, whom the LORD used as a prophet and deliverer from God's judgment, these idolatrous aboriginal tribes of Canaan, would have had the knowledge of the LORD from their forefathers. They chose a way of darkness instead. Sadder still, is that the people of God, then and sometimes even now, turn away from their knowledge of God and embrace the knowledge of the world instead. Both Paul and Peter wrote that this would especially be so in the latter days before the return of Messiah/Christ Jesus. (see Rom. 1:18-32 and 2 Pet. 2:1-3). The Lord holds off His judgment for as long as possible, giving every opportunity for all to repent and return to truth. (2 Pet. 3:9). However, without repentance, the overthrow will eventually come.

     This D'varim Sabbath reading portion brings us to the prophet Isaiah, who wrote the Word of the LORD concerning His own people of Judah and Jerusalem: "Alas, sinful nation, a people laden (kabed - great, grievous, heavy, sore, hard, thick, dull, difficult, very oppressive, unresponsive) with iniquity, a brood of evil doers, children who are corrupters!  They have forsaken (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the LORD, they have provoked to anger (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward...Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire; strangers devour your land in your presence; and it is desolate, as overthrown (mahpeka - overthrow, destruction, always of Sodom and Gomorrah, overturn) by strangers." (Isa. 1:4, 7). 

     I(nstead of being full of the kabod glory of God, as they were called to be, and as we are called to be also, His people had instead become full of kabed iniquity.

     Their appointments with the LORD, such as their sacrifices, New Moons (new month), Sabbaths, sacred assemblies and meetings, appointed feasts, meant to renew and reconcile, had become an abomination before the LORD instead. The LORD said that He could not bear them anymore. (v. 13-14). His people were practicing idolatry in the tree groves (symbolizing strength) and gardens (symbolizing protection). (v. 29-30). As designated by the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega connected to the names of God above, His people rejected their knowledge of the saving Messiah/Christ, and chose instead the natural strength and defense, and the empty promises of false gods. (see Isa. 2:6-8, 10).

     The LORD compares His people to Sodom and Gomorrah. (v. 10).

     The LORD's nation of "Praise," Judah, and Jerusalem, the city that bears His name: "The LORD is Peace," will be overthrown, as the LORD did with the Canaanite nations of idolators before them, in His prophecy to Isaiah. The LORD said that instead of being full of justice and righteousness, His city, Jerusalem, had become a city of murderers, rebellious, a companion of thieves, corrupt, oppressing the powerless and poor. (v. 21-23).

     Approximately two hundred years later, Isaiah's prophecy of an overthrown Judah was fulfilled as that nation was led into captivity to Babylon, who conquered them. God's people are not meant to be overthrown but choose it when they overthrow their knowledge of the One who loves and saves them.

     However, in this same chapter of Isaiah, the LORD also prophesies the restoration of Judah: "I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her penitents (sub - return, bring back, to restore, refresh, repair, turn back to God, be brought back) with righteousness." (v. 26-37). It is not too late to return to the LORD. It is not too late to walk in His newness through the Messiah/Christ Jesus.

      This is not the end of the story, however. The LORD would not ever forget His covenant with Israel regarding the land, and His plan for renewing and reconciling the whole earth to Himself through Messiah/Christ as stated above. This plan required the existence of Israel, including Judah: Bethlehem of birth and Jerusalem of death and resurrection. The return of Messiah/Christ and His reign on earth will also flow from Jerusalem, the place of David's throne as many prophecies promise. (see Isa. 2:1-4, Isa. 9:6-7, Ps. 2:6-12, Zech. 14:3-4,Zech. 14:8-9,14, 16-17, etc.).

     The believers in Messiah/Christ are called to be an important part in the reconciling and renewing of the earth to the LORD as we saw in the beginning verses above. The "old" will be overthrown, but we are called to be part of the "new" in Messiah/Christ, and to minister it to others.

     If you would like to learn more about the reconciliation and renewal work of the LORD, you can pray with me: "Gracious Lord and Father, from the beginning, You have set forth Your plan to restore, reconcile and renew all of the earth and its inhabitants in Yourself. You sent Your Son, Jesus, to bring this newness to the earth, to reconcile every soul with his/her Creator, to forgive and redeem all who were laden with iniquity and destined to be overthrown. I thank You for Your grace and mercy that You extended to me and to all the world because of Your love for us all. Your Son will return to establish Your Kingdom in the earth and have rule so that the earth may dwell in peace. Keep me, Lord, in Your perfect peace, and draw me nearer always to Yourself. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I may bring the Word of reconciliation to others. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

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

Redeemed

  "The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness (melo/mala - that which fills, entire contents, multitude, full length/fill, fulfill, consecrate, confirm, complete, accomplish, replenish, gather, overflow, abundance), the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded (yasad - founded, foundation, ordain, appointed, established) it upon the seas, and established (kun - establish, prepare, fixed in place, set, directed, provide, confirmed, be secure, be enduring, be securely determined, be ready) it upon the waters (nahar - a flowing, river, stream, to flow together, to sparkle, be cheerful, to shine, give light, be glad, rejoice, brightness)." (Psalm 24:1-2).

And

     "And He (Lord of heaven and earth) has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord...though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being..." (Acts 17:26-28, and Deut. 32:8).

     From Deuteronomy 32:8, cited above, we find out that the LORD set the boundaries of all of the people of the nations "according to the number of the children of Israel." Deuteronomy 32 continues: "For the LORD's portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance." (v. 9).

     The Psalms narrow down the ownership of the earth: "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession." (Ps. 2:7-8). The Creator has given all of the nations to His Son, the Messiah/Christ, Jesus, a descendant of His people, Jacob (see above). They are His to rule and to judge (see. v. 9).

     The LORD goes on to say: "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and You perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are those who put their trust in Him." (v. 12).

     These excerpts above from the scriptures completely refute the understanding that most of us have of the world, its economics, and the true ownership rights to it. However, as this week's double Sabbath reading portion shows us, it is better to have things the LORD's way. In fact, the LORD's way is more to our benefit or advantage than our own understanding, as we will see.

     The double reading portion for this week's Sabbath are B'har, meaning "on the Mount," and B'chukkotai, meaning "In My statutes".

     The reading begins in Leviticus 25:1: "And the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount (see B'har above) Sinai, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the LORD. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) fruit; but the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the LORD. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard." (Lev. 25:1-4). Everything concerning the land falls under the authority of the LORD. Even the fruit of the land which they gather still belongs to the *Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Lord, as noted in the written Hebrew. The seventh year sabbath of the land belongs to the LORD. They will not do with the land as they see fit, but as the LORD commanded.

     We can see in the verses above that the LORD was not speaking from heaven but speaking His statutes on the mount, a physical place on the earth, as our two combined Sabbath portion titles reflect. The LORD retains His possession of the physical earth, and His authority over the land which He gives to Israel. His statutes are to rule the land. Of this land given to Israel, the LORD commanded: "The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me. And in all the land of your possession you shall grant redemption of the land. If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold." (Lev. 25:23-25).

     From this foundation of ownership and authority of the physical earth and everything in it, especially the land of Israel, the LORD establishes something called "the year of Jubilee". 

     The year of Jubilee is directly connected to the Sabbath and to the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which is one of the Feasts of the LORD. This feast is also important to us because we understand that the blood shed by Jesus Christ in His suffering and death was for the atonement (kapar - covering) or propitiation of our sins. Every seven sabbath years, or a total of forty-nine years, on the Day of Atonement the trumpet of the Jubilee is sounded throughout all of the land to announce the fiftieth year, which is the year of Jubilee. In this fiftieth year, the LORD again announces His ownership and statutes of authority of the earth and everything in it, by turning upside down everything that man has bought, sold, traded, bartered, enslaved. The unredeemed house or land that was taken or purchased, the unredeemed debt owed, the unredeemed servitude/slavery are all overturned. Land or house goes back to the original family who received it from the LORD, as He originally divided the land among the tribes of Israel. Those who sold themselves into servitude are repaid the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) price of his redemption. Those whose debts remain unredeemed by a family member are set free anyway at the year of Jubilee: "For the children of Israel are servants to Me; they are My servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." (see Lev. 25:47-55).

     Today's thinking might declare that this is economically unfair and even disastrous, but it is the year of Jubilee by which the LORD retains authority by His statute to set His people free. These Torah statutes of the LORD, which are contrary to the thinking and ways of the world, paved the way prophetically for our spiritual redemption as we will see.

      The obedience to the statutes of the LORD affected the land: "If you walk in My statutes (see B'chukkotai above) and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield its fruit...I will give you peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil (ra - evil, wickedness, trouble, affliction, grievous, malignant, vicious) beasts (hay - living, beast, creature, animal, appetite), and the sword will not go through your land." (Lev. 26:3-6). If the statutes of the LORD are not kept, then the land is affected in the opposite manner. (v. 19-20).

     The statutes of the LORD, including the statute of redemption, in the hand of the prophet Jeremiah assured that Israel would return from their prophesied captivity in Babylon. Jeremiah redeemed the field of his cousin, Hanamel (meaning "God is gracious"), as his cousin said to him: "...for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption yours; buy it for yourself." Jeremiah wrote of this request: "Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. So I bought the field from Hanamel...weighed out to him the money - seventeen shekels of silver. And I signed the deed and sealed it...according to the law and custom..." (Jer. 32:6-11). The LORD then instructed Jeremiah: "Take these deeds...and put them in an earthen vessel that they may last many days (yom - day, time, year, continually, yesterday, today and tomorrow)...Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land." Jeremiah then praised the LORD who has "made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You." (v. 13-17).

     The verses from Jeremiah, above, contain eleven instances of the use of *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, including its connection to "the price of redemption", "the field" of Hanamel, "the money", "the purchase deed", "that which was sealed", "deed/deeds", "the heaven", "the earth".

     Earlier, the LORD had given Jeremiah this prophetic Word: "Thus speaks the LORD God of Israel, saying: 'Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you. For behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,' says the LORD. 'And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their forefathers, and they shall possess it." (Jer. 30:2-3).

     Even though Jeremiah completed this prophetic redemption of the land of Israel while being detained in the king of Judah's prison dungeon, and even though the most powerful kingdom (Babylon) was about to lay siege to Jerusalem, Jeremiah knew, based upon the previous spoken Word of the LORD, and confirmed by the use of the written statutes given from the LORD from on the mount, that the LORD had just assured Israel that they would return to the land which He had given them.

     The captivity in Babylon and the Babylonian command over the land of Israel lasted for seventy years. Then, as the LORD promised Jeremiah, the Israelites were freed from captivity and allowed to return to their land...and the ruling king at that time paid the restoration money needed to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem that had been destroyed during the siege, and for the re-building of the temple of God that had been ruined. 

      But wait! We're not done yet with Jeremiah's fulfilling of the statute of the LORD in regard to the redemption of the land. The LORD had told Jeremiah to place the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) deeds into an earthen vessel so that the deeds could last many days. (v. 14). The Hebrew word for "days" is yom, as we see above, meaning: "day, time, year, continually, today, yesterday and tomorrow." These (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) deeds of redemption were to last not only for the seventy years of Babylonian captivity, but "continually". I believe that these same (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) deeds hidden in earthen vessels not only provided the way back home from Babylonian captivity, but provided for the return of the Jewish people to the land again in 1948, after Israel had ceased to be a nation approximately two thousand years ago when Rome destroyed it. I don't know if even Jeremiah foresaw what the LORD would accomplish by Jeremiah's obedience to His statutes.

     Not only did this prophetic action of Jeremiah guarantee the land of Israel to the descendants of Abraham through his son, Isaac, but it also became part of our spiritual guarantee and covenant with the Lord Jesus. Our covenant with God through Jesus is not a covenant regarding possession of the physical land of Israel, but the new covenant which assures us of life forever in Christ, who rose from the dead, and our inheritance through Him in the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Our inheritance is not limited to a physical city on earth, but even greater, to the City not made with human hands, but whose Maker and Builder is God. This inheritance was always promised as Abraham also waited for this City. (see Heb. 11:8-10, Rev. 21:1-4, Jn. 14:1-6, Eph. 2:4-7). Jeremiah also had a prophetic understanding of this as he received the Word of the LORD related to this. In our Sabbath reading, we see: "A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place (maqom - locality, standing place, home, country) of our sanctuary. O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake You shall be ashamed...." (Jer. 17:12-13).

      The apostle Paul refers to our guarantee of this spiritual redemption in the New Testament: "...But we have this treasure (thesauros - a casket or coffer in which valuables are kept) in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not ourselves...always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." (2 Cor. 4:6-10, excerpt). Paul also wrote elsewhere: "...you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee (arrabon - earnest money, purchase money) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." (Eph. 1:13-14). And: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Eph. 4:30).

      We can hear the echo of Jeremiah's prophetic Word, faith and obedience in these revelations of Paul, above. When Jeremiah had the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega deeds to the field belonging to "God is gracious" (Hanamel) sealed in earthen vessels for many days to come, he also prophetically sealed our guarantee, the Holy Spirit, to all of the riches in Jesus Messiah/Christ in these earthen vessels - us. 

     If you would like to learn more about the gracious redemption commanded by the LORD on the mount, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, the whole earth belongs to You, and You have not only redeemed the land of Israel for Your people, but You alone have also provided our Redeemer Kinsman, Jesus Messiah/Christ, to redeem and retore what was lost - our souls. What a great inheritance You have given and guaranteed to me through Your Son. I had lost all, but Your statutes of redemption and Jubilee in the flesh, Jesus, guaranteed my restoration, my life, and my salvation. I give You all thanks and praise in Jesus' name for Your eternal promises to me and to all who will receive them. 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.

     

HolyVision

      Sometimes my vision is too limited. God's vision is not limited. This Sabbath reading portion titled K'doshim, or "Holy ones", challenges me to see as God sees. We need this kind of vision to fulfill the purpose that the LORD ordains for us because it has an effect on future events. We need this kind of vision in order to be conformed to the image of His dear Son, Jesus. Paul, a Pharisee, and a learned student and later inspired teacher of the Tanakh (Old Testament), as well as teaching in new covenant revelation sight, wrote: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 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. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these also He justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." (Rom. 8:28-30).  Here we have the vision of God for us from eternity to eternity. This week's Sabbath reading portion, which includes Leviticus Ch. 19 through 20, introduces us to this truth of purpose while incorporating prophetic vision. I think we will find that the prophetic vision of God's people, and their call to manifest the image of God, will activate, even hasten, prophetic events. There's an old saying: "What you see is what you get." What are the people of God "seeing"? 

     From our Sabbath reading portion, K'doshim, or "Holy ones", we have the following pronouncements by the LORD: 

• "Speak to all (kol/kalal - the whole, all, each, every, anything, everything, whosoever, whatsoever, in regard to one continuous thing, of all kinds, every sort, altogether like/to complete, make perfect, to perfect, to put a crown upon) the congregation (eda/ed/ud - company, assembly, multitude, people, congregation, gathering, family, fixture, a private domestic meeting of family/witness. testimony, evidence of things, a recorder, prince, what testifies/surround with testimony and witnesses, to restore, relieve, say again and again, affirm-warn-exhort-enjoin solemnly-admonish-charge) of the children of Israel, and say (dabar) to them: "You shall be holy (qados/qadas - holy, Holy One, saint, sacred, set apart, God [by eminence], a sanctuary/to consecrate, sanctify, appoint, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be separate, clean, purify, to show oneself sacred or majestic, to be hallowed of God), for I the LORD your God am holy (qados/qadas - same as previous)." (Lev. 19:2).

    Here in this verse, we have the reference to our title K'doshim, or "Holy Ones" (see qados/qadas, above). This verse also tells us that we need to adjust our "sight" according to the Hebrew meanings of "all" and "congregation", above. Did you know that the simple word "all" has its root in perfection, completion and setting a crown upon the head? Sometimes "all" means more than "all"! Even "all" is beyond the limit of our assumptions in the vision of God. "Congregation" means any group or assembly, even family, that is alike in some manner. In this case, their alikeness is defined by their (princely) witness, evidence and testimony which serves to affirm, warn, exhort, admonish and charge. We will see more about this later. However, "Congregation" is not defined by something so superficial as an ethnic, racial or cultural group, but by our testimony, witness, and evidence. This is a very high calling as God's Holy Ones. We become holy because God is holy, as being set apart to His identity. He has dedicated us to Himself.

• "Consecrate/Sanctify (qadas - same as above) yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. And you shall keep My (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) statutes, and perform them: I am the LORD who sanctifies (qadas - same as above) you." (Lev. 20:7-8).

Again we are sanctified by our connection to the sanctified identity of the LORD, who has called us to be part of Him. This sets us apart from all other people and powers and we should honor that separation by His identity, not resent, walk contrary to it or disregard it.

• "...I am the LORD your God who has separated you from the peoples. You shall therefore distinguish (badal - to divide, separate, sever utterly, withdraw from, to disjoin by placing a physical divider between, separate things previously mixed together, shut out, be secluded) between unclean (tame - unclean, impure sexually, morally, ethically and religiously; defiled, profane, contaminated, polluted)...and clean (taor/taher - pure, clean, unmixed/be or make clean or pure, to shine, be bright)...and you shall not make your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) souls abominable (saqas - make detestable, abominable, filthy, loathsome, polluted, utterly abhorrent, base, impure, contaminated) by beast or by bird, or by any kind of living thing that creeps on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine." (Lev. 20:24b-26).

The LORD's identity has already separated us to Himself. We are to understand, acknowledge and honor that separation from the unclean.  As we have read in past Sabbath portions, we, His people who are called by His name (see 2 Chron. 7:14), are so closely united with the identity of the LORD that the uncleanness of God's people makes the whole house of God, which He has set in the midst of His people, unclean also. While we know that the reference to the clean and unclean creatures is generally applied to dietary practices, there is also mention here of unclean creatures that make a person's soul into something "abominable". This is a very deep and dark subject that may include and also extend beyond that understanding that I cannot go into here because of length. Some of it deals with witchcraft, sorcery, divination and animism, and the habit of dark powers to inhabit certain living creatures as we have also seen in examples from scripture (see Gen. 3:1, 14-15, and Mk. 5:1-20). 

     Throughout Leviticus Chapters 19 and 20, the LORD repeats this phrase numerous times after giving the commandments regarding holiness: "I am the LORD", or "I am the LORD your God". His character and being are associated with His commands of holiness. In these chapters the LORD wants us to "see" as He sees and be changed by His vision. The LORD does not want us to be conformed to the vision and understanding of the world and the ungodly. He tells His people not to act in the ways of Egypt, out of which they came, nor to act in the ways of the Canaanites of the land to which the LORD was taking them (Lev. 18:3-5), but to walk by His (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Words (see also Rom. 12:1-3).

     I mentioned above that the holy calling to which we have been called also has prophetic importance. In the Book of Exodus, the LORD had already revealed His calling to holiness for His people: "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Ex. 19:4-6). Simon Peter, the apostle, wrote of the same vision for believers in Messiah/Christ: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10). It's the same prophetic vision regarding God's people. 

     The other reading portions of this K'doshim "Holy ones" Sabbath are scheduled to be read around the anniversary (Atz'ma'ut) of Israel becoming an independent nation on May 14, 1948. However, the assigned portions are of a future vision. These reading portions for this specific time is telling Israel to keep the prophetic vision until it is fulfilled. There is more to come for the natural nation of Israel than what they "see" with their natural eyes, as well as for those who are grafted into that holy root by faith in the Messiah/Christ (Rom. 11:16-21). 

     This is the vision for the K'doshim, the Holy Ones for this Sabbath for the (Atz-ma'ut) anniversary of Israel: "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem...They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." (Mic. 4:1-3). The vision for Israel and all of us at the anniversary of the restoration of their independent nation is not rooted in the present, though the present with its terrorism and warfare seems to be all-consuming. What are we "seeing"? Is it the vision for which the LORD has purposed His K'doshim Holy Ones to carry and walk in? There is much at stake.

     The vision doesn't stop there. In another Sabbath reading portion for Atz'ma'ut, the anniversary of Israel, the vision of the LORD for His K'doshim Holy Ones is one of glory: "Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles/nations/heathen/people shall come to your light, and the kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around and see...Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within you borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory." (Isa. 60:1-4a, 19). If we are looking at the thick darkness of violence that covers the people, we are looking at the wrong thing. The vision of the LORD is commanding us this Sabbath to look for the risen light and glory of the LORD and conform to it.  This vision of Isaiah's is also brought into the new covenant (Rev. 21:22-27) for the vision of the LORD is eternal and does not change (Mal. 3:6). The verses of Revelation show us the presence of God and the Lamb for the dwelling place/tabernacle/temple of the Holy Ones, because it is written that "...there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life." Saints and K'doshim Holy Ones, are we carrying this vision? These visions of the LORD extend far beyond the current state of Israel and the nations, but look into the eternal, prophetic state of Israel and the nations. This is the LORD's anniversary gift to His people. according to the reading portions assigned for this Sabbath.

     Simon Peter wrote of the even further extent of this far-reaching, unlimited vision of the LORD's and our responsibility to it: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night...the heavens will pass away...the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore...what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening (speudo - to desire earnestly, make haste, urge on diligently or earnestly, await eagerly) the coming of the day of God...Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:10-13, excerpt). Isaiah first prophesied this vision of the LORD (Isa. 65:17-19) regarding a new heaven and a new earth which was also "seen" by John the apostle in a vision in Rev. 21:1-4. Saints and K'doshim Holy Ones, what are we looking for? Is it this same vision of the LORD, which pulls us forward to the new and the righteous? Or do we only see the here and now, which are the things that are passing away? 

     The prophet Habakkuk wrote the word of the LORD: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but in the end it will speak, and will not lie. Though it tarries (mahah/ma - be reluctant and linger because of the questions "What?", "How?", "Where?", "Why?", "When?"), wait for it; Because it will surely come, it will not tarry (ahar - delay, hesitate, defer, remain behind, slack, keep back)." (Hab. 2:2-3). The LORD wants His K'doshim Holy Ones to read His vision and act upon it with urgency. Are we treating the Holy Vision that the LORD has commanded to His people with urgency?

     The writer of the Book of Hebrews also wanted to adjust our vision by picking up on the prophetic word of Habakkuk above: "For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just (dikaios - righteous, observing divine laws, approved of or acceptable of God, of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in the heart or life) shall live by faith...Now faith is the substance (hypostasis = hypo: under + istemi: to make firm, fix, establish, uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything, stand immovable, of the foundation of a building) of things hoped for, the evidence (Greek root elegcho - reprove, refute, shame, correct, admonish, to call to account, to bring to the light) of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." (Heb. 10:37-38, Heb. 11:1-3). The exercise of our (prophetic vision) faith brings forth the new things by scolding them for not manifesting, according to the Greek meaning above! This is the calling of the K'doshim Holy Ones and saints.

     If you would like to know more about the prophetic vision that the LORD has appointed for the K'doshim saints and Holy Ones, you can pray with me: "LORD of all creation, Your creation is still manifesting Your Word. The vision which You set from before the beginning will come to pass because You watch over Your Word to perform it.  As I follow Jesus, fill me with the Holy Spirit so I may walk in Your vision, running with it, looking forward and hastening it, living by the faith of the Son of God that pulls into existence the things that are not yet visible. I pray for Israel on their anniversary as a nation, that they would be blessed also in "seeing" by Your vision, which You entrusted to them, and by looking to the risen light and glory of Zion. I ask these things in the name of my Savior, 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 Α Ω , 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.

     

Hearts&Nations

"And He (God) has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being..." (Acts 17:26-28, Deut. 32:7-8, Job 12:23). There isn't a nation or group of people in the world for whom God has not ordained a time that they should find and know Him. The nations are not about race, as we read here in Acts, but about the blood of all life, and the heart of worship. In this week's Sabbath reading portion called Toldot, or "generations/genealogy", from Gen. 25 through 27, it seems to me that the LORD is teaching a principle that can be a mystery to us. The starting verse is: "This is the genealogy (toldot/yalad - descendants, results, proceedings, generations, genealogies, account of men and their descendants, origin of things/to bear, bring forth, declare pedigree, gender, birth, midwife, lineage) of (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega [see Rev. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13, as relating to Jesus Christ]) Isaac, Abraham's son." (Gen. 25:19). The concept of toldot, as we know from scripture, is very important to God and His plans. He makes careful mention of who begat whom. There is an additional meaning of the Hebrew word toldot that captures interest in regard to this Sabbath's reading portion. Toldot also includes the root meaning "wicked bringing forth iniquity, to bring forth fraud, iniquity". Isaac and his wife, Rebekah, had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. The LORD made a separation and difference between the two brothers that will carry through their generations forever. Esau, the elder brother, sold his birthright to his younger brother, Jacob, for a serving of lentil stew. Scripture says that Esau despised his birthright as the elder son (Gen. 25:34). Esau later sought the blessing as his father's favorite, but it was too late (v. 34-37), and when he discovered this, he threatened to kill his brother, Jacob. Esau's hatred of his brother carried down the generations, as we will see, and Jesus would also warn of this hatred (Mt. 5:21, 1 Jn. 3:14-15). Jacob was sent to his mother's family to find a wife, but Esau married local Canaanite women, and then a daughter of Ishmael (Gen. 28:8-9). Before Esau married the daughter of Ishmael, we read: "When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah." (Gen. 26:34). The Hittites descended from Ham, a son of Noah, and Ham's son, Canaan. The Hittites were a very ancient nation of people whose name in Hebrew means "fear, terror, dismayed, break in pieces, discourage, beaten down, shattered, broken, break down by violence, confusion and fear". Abraham, Esau's grandfather, would not accept any free land from the Hittites for the burial of Sarah, his wife, but insisted on paying them market price in silver, with the transfer done by deed in front of witnesses (Gen. 23:12-18). He was very cautious in dealing with the Hittites, and perhaps he would have been very shocked to find that his grandson had married into that nation. According to Jewish oral history, but not mentioned in scripture, Esau's wife, Judith, was also known as Oholibamah/Aholibamah (meaning "tent of the high place") because she built altars in the high places, or bamot, for idol worship. There is further mention of her as a matriarch of Esau's children in Gen. 36. We had the initial problem with Esau regarding his despised birthright and intention to kill his brother because of it, and now we see Esau has begun a toldot, or genealogy, with the Hittites. As we saw in part of the definition of toldot, this will be a matter of the "wicked bringing forth iniquity" throughout history. In another portion from this Sabbath's Toldot reading, the prophet Obadiah will speak the judgment of the LORD against the descendants of Esau, which became the nation of Edom. While Esau and Jacob struggled against each other even from the womb, that struggle continued between the two nations that would come from them: Edom and Israel. When Israel was travelling through the wilderness under Moses, Edom refused to sell them anything to help them survive, nor to allow the Israelites to cross their territory (see Num. 20:14-20). When Judah was taken away into Babylonian captivity generations later, Edom took advantage of it, and settled onto their land near Hebron. Obadiah wrote the judgment of the LORD: "In the day that you stood on the other side - in the day that strangers carried captive his forces, when foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem - even you were as one of them. But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother in the day of his captivity; nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in their day of destruction; nor should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress. You should not have entered the gate of My people in the day of their calamity...nor laid hands on their substance...You should not have stood at the crossroads to cut off those among them who escaped; nor...delivered up those among them who remained..." (Obad. v. 11-14). The LORD said to Edom: "The pride of your heart has deceived you...You who say in your heart, "Who will bring me down to the ground?" (v. 3). For their violence against their brother Jacob/Israel, "...shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever...and no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,' for the LORD has spoken." (v. 10, 18). Present-day nations should heed the warning as to how they should treat Israel, especially during Israel's times of trial. Obadiah said: "For the day of the LORD upon all nations is near. As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head." (v. 18). Scripture tells us that the LORD sets the boundaries of the nations, and we read here that the LORD sees the condition of the heart of a nation. Edom continued to carry the hatred of a brother in their hearts as their forefather Esau had done. After the Babylonian captivity of Judah, mentioned above by Obadiah, the Edomites inhabited a portion of Judea, and that territory was called Idumea. Herod the Great was an Idumaean/Edomite who married into what was left of the once-ruling Jewish Maccabee family, and whom Rome supported as it declared Herod to be "King of the Jews". Although Herod was also said to be half-Jewish through his mother, he was no doubt one of the most blood-thirsty tyrants of his age, and killer of the children of Bethlehem as he unsuccessfully sought to destroy the baby Jesus. His son, Herod Antipas, also known as Philip Tetrarch, who had previously ordered the execution of John the Baptist, had Jesus mocked and beaten in his court before Christ's death (Lk. 23:6-12). Here again we see the wickedness in the heart of Esau against his brother, Jacob/Israel, carried to a future generation. In another portion from this Toldot Sabbath reading, the prophet Malachi also wrote the Word of the LORD against Edom: "They (Edom) may build, but I will throw down; They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, and the people against whom the LORD will have indignation forever. Your eyes shall see, and you shall say, 'The LORD is magnified beyond the border of Israel'." (Mal. 1:4-5). The LORD traces their history of wickedness back to Esau (v. 3). History tells us that the Edomites had turned their backs on any knowledge of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God of their grandfather, Abraham, and their father, Isaac, and had instead worshipped a false god called Qaus, or Qos. However, the purpose of the Book of Malachi was not to write the judgment against Edom, but to indict God's own people, His own nation, Israel. Even as the LORD pointed out to Israel that He had graciously loved and chosen them, Jacob, long ago instead of Esau, saying to them, "I have loved you", Israel had stopped loving the LORD in return. Even though the nation was still carrying out its worship of the LORD, God knew the resentment that was secretly harbored in their hearts. He said that His priests despised His name! They expressed their contempt for Him by bringing to Him their least, rather than their best (v. 7-8). They treated the LORD with less fear and honor than they treated their political leaders. The LORD's name was profaned, as the LORD saw that in their hearts they said: "The table of the LORD is defiled; and its fruit, its food, is contemptible'. You also say, 'Oh, what a weariness!' And you sneer at it, says the LORD of hosts." (v. 12-13). By the end of the Book of Malachi, the LORD prophesied of a work that He would do to cleanse, purge, refine, and renew their hearts towards Him (Mal. 3:1-3). God's people of the heart do not worship and give to Him to fulfill a religious obligation only, but to express their love and understanding of Who He is, and what He has done, and will do, for them. The LORD sees the hearts of the people and the nations. Finally from this Sabbath, the Book of Proverbs contrasts the paths of the wicked with those who learn the ways of the LORD: "Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil...For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day...give attention to my words...Keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." (Prov. 4:14-23, excerpt). Others may judge by the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7), including the heart of a nation. What are our hearts revealing of us to the LORD, and what is the heart of our nation revealing to Him? This is His promise: "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You." (Ps. 22:27). If you would like to know more about the LORD's dealings with the toldot generations, the nations, and the people, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You are King over all of the earth. You have set the nations, and You will weigh them in the balance. You promised Abraham to make of him a great nation, and that all of the nations of the earth would be blessed because of him. Your Son, Jesus, the returning Messiah, will rule the nations with a rod of iron. Let my heart be cleansed and filled with love for You, and let my manner of life reflect that love and worship. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that Your Word would dwell in my heart as an inward circumcision, an inward renewal. I pray also for my nation. It exists because, at the appointed time, You created and set its boundaries so that my nation would know that You are God. Help the heart of my nation to turn back to You as we seek Your face, and Your forgiveness. I thank You, Father, in the name of Your Son, Jesus. AMEN."

Enemies

This week's Sabbath reading portion is named after one of the enemies that came against the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The title of this reading portion is "Balak". Balak was the king of Moab, a nation that bordered the land that the LORD had promised to give to the Israelites, the covenant descendants (from whom the Messiah would come) of Abraham. Balak's name means "devastator, annihilate, make empty, void". This brings to mind the condition of the earth before God spoke miraculously in Genesis: "The earth was without form and void." (Gen. 1:2). From his name we can see that this enemy, Balak, represented a spiritual enemy as well as a natural enemy. Up to this point in the Book of Numbers, or B'Midbar in Hebrew, we read how God had numbered His people, whom He called "armies" (Num. 1:2-3). The males of the Israelites, except for the Levites, who were of fighting age, "able to go to war", numbered 603,550 (Num. 2:32-33). If we add the Levites, the women and the children, the total number of Israelites in the wilderness was well over one million, and many believe the number could have been over two million. By the time we come to the account of Balak, king of Moab, in chapters 22-24, the Israelites, by the favor and might of the LORD, had already defeated other kings who had attacked them. For this reason, as the Israelites approached the territory of Moab, those people became afraid: "Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread (qus - sickening dread, grieved, abhor, loathing, cut, cut up, cut off) because of the children of Israel. So Moab said to the elders of Midian, 'Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field." (Num. 22:2-4). Here's something for the people of God to know about their spiritual enemies: while the Israelites were totally unaware of the ideas of Balak and the Moabites, the Moabites were sick with dread over the Israelites. The enemy's dread was so intense, that it caused them to loathe the people of God, according to the Hebrew meaning. The fear and loathing was so intense that the enemy sought to destroy, or cut off, the people of God in any way possible. Here's something else to know about the spiritual enemy: Balak, this devastator and annihilator, had a father named Zippor. Zippor means "sparrow, small bird, twittering, hopping little bird, skip around in a circle". I'm not saying that this spiritual enemy is not strong enough to "devastate" and "annihilate", but compared to the Father of the people of God, Who carried those millions of Israelites on His great eagles' wings, there's no comparison. We see this description when the LORD told Moses to say to the children of Israel: "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega - see Rev. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13) covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Ex. 19:3-6). In this week's Sabbath reading portion, we will see the awesome and terrifying might of the LORD against the enemies of His people. Can God not save His covenant people from little sparrows, no matter how evil? (see also Isa. 14:12-17). We will also see later what drives God to pour out all of His tremendous power against these enemies. Balak, king of Moab, sent his men to hire a certain sorcerer-soothsayer named Balaam (meaning "not of the people, foreigner"), son of Beor ("burning, stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive, brutish, feed upon, consume"), from Pethor ("soothsayer"). (Num. 22:5-6). King Balak of Moab wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites, so that Balak might then be able to defeat them. However, God would not allow Balaam to curse whom He had blessed, and Balaam could only speak bountiful blessings over the children of Israel. (Num. 23:8, 11-12). Not only did Balaam bless Israel, but the Word of the LORD which Balaam received, revealed the shout of a King among the Israelites (Num. 23:21, 21, 24:7, 9). He compared the Israelites to a lion, which is the identity of the Messiah: the Lion of the tribe of Judah (see also Gen. 49:8-12). In Balaam's fourth prophecy, as he again blesses the people of God, he also again prophesies the Messiah (Num. 24:17, 19). When Balaam looked upon the Israelites, he prophetically saw the Messiah Who was to be born many centuries later. Balaam was not able to curse Israel, but we see that Israel immediately thereafter begins to "commit harlotry with the women of Moab". The Moabite women invited the people (of Israel) to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel was joined to (samad - fasten, bind, join, attach oneself to, combine) Ba'al of Peor, this Moabite god, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel. (Num. 25:1-3). Those who had joined themselves to the false god, Ba'al, were killed. Phinehas stopped this wholesale destruction of the Israelites by killing one man who refused to put aside his idolatrous foreign wife. Twenty-four thousand Israelites died in this plague from the LORD. (v. 7-9). It turned out, that this idolatry of God's people with the gods of the Moabite women resulted from Balaam advising King Balak to use this strategy to lead the Israelites away from God, leaving them vulnerable (see Num. 31:15-16). This is still a strategy used by spirits of darkness against God's people (see. Rev. 2:14). Although the LORD intervened powerfully to prevent the curse that the enemy tried to bring on His people, which was the devastation and annihilation that King Balak desired against the Israelites, the Israelites opened the door, invited it in, and brought a plague of destruction upon themselves. From another "Balak" reading portion of this Sabbath, a generation later, Joshua gathered the Israelites and demanded that they decide and commit to either the God who delivered them out of Egypt, or the false gods of the other nations. He demanded: "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served...Serve the LORD! And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Josh. 24:14-15). The Israelites agreed, saying, "We also will serve the LORD, for He is our God." (v. 18). As Joshua and the Israelites spoke of "the LORD", it is written in Hebrew as (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Yehova, or LORD. In another reading portion, titled Balak, for this Sabbath, the prophet Micah (meaning "Who is like YHWH Jehovah") brings forth the Word of the LORD concerning His great victory over His enemies. In Micah 5, the prophet brought a beautiful description of the coming of the Messiah-Savior, whose origin is from eternity: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrahthah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Iarael, whose goings forth (mosa'a/mosa/yasa - origin, family descent/rising, place of departure/begotten, break out, germinate, come out of, water flowing and gushing forth from a fountain) are from of old (qedem/qadam - ancient time, eternal, before-time/hasten to meet, receive, anticipate), fromn everlasting (olam/alam - perpetual time, always, continuous existence, eternity, hidden time/hidden, secret thing).' ...He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God; and they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth; and this One shall be peace." (Mic. 5:2-5a). This prophecy is emphatic that the Ruler who was to come had His origins in eternity and was eternity. Jesus (Yeshua- "Salvation of God") was continually existent before the beginning, although His natural birth was to be in Bethlehem. Even many Christians erroneously believe that Jesus' "beginnings" were at His birth in Bethlehem, but this is not correct. He was before time itself. He was, and is, and will be "always". From this amazing revelation in Micah 5, the prophet wrote of the LORD's complete victory over the enemies of His people, concluding: "And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury on the (aleph-tav) nations (goyim/geva - nations, people, heathen, Gentiles/body) that have not heard (sama - hear, perceive, obedient, discern, give heed, agree, yield to). We may think that this sounds unjust, but when we look at the Hebrew meanings, those who did not "hear" were those who refused to receive and obey what they knew. They knew because they were aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega nations, people, a body, that belonged to the LORD. These people would not be ignorant of the Lord, Jesus Christ. They would know, but refuse to receive and obey the King of Kings. Man is responsible for what God has faithfully and mercifully revealed to them. These aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega nations, divinely destined to belong to Christ, cannot make war against God's people, and then say, "Lord, I didn't know." In another reading portion from this Sabbath, the prophet Habakkuk (meaning "embrace,clasp") also wrote about this: "He (the LORD) stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled (natar - drive asunder, undo, shake (off), unfasten) the nations. And the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills bowed. His ways are everlasting...The sun and moon stood still in their habitation...You marched through the land in indignation; You teampled the nations in anger. You went forth for the salvation of Your people, for salvation with Your (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Anointed (masiah - Messiah, anointed [same as "Christ"], anointed prince or priest). You struck the head from the house of the wicked, by laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah...When I heard, my body trembled; my lips quivered at the voice; rottenness entered my bones; and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble..." (Hab. 3:6, 11-13, 16). The prophet was terrified by what he saw and heard in the Spirit, as the LORD went forth for the salvation of His people through His (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Messiah, or Christ in Greek. The LORD shook all of creation, stopping the sun and the moon, on behalf of the salvation He had provided for His people with the Messiah. A Balak-type enemy, the son of a "tweet-tweet, hop-hop" sparrow, cannot compare with our God marching forth on behalf of the salvation of His people. As for me and my house, we will fear and serve the LORD of awesome power and might. If you would like to know more about the LORD who shakes the heavens and the earth, and all of the nations on behalf of the salvation of His people by His Messiah, Jesus, you can pray with me: "LORD God, You are mighty and great on behalf of my salvation. You shake all of creation in order to bring me to, and keep me in, Your salvation, Jesus. You sent Your Son to die, to descend into Hell, and to be raised from the dead, to defeat all of the enemies of darkness that, like Balak, would try to destroy me, and all of Your people. Keep me from evil by Your Word, and by Your Holy Spirit, so that I remain steadfast in You, Aleph-Tav/Alpha and Omega Yehova, where my salvation dwells. I ask, as always, in the name of Your Son, Jesus, who saved me. AMEN."