DifferentSpirit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GreaterPurpose

     

Moses on Pisgah, by H. Copping, 1920

     This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-etchannan, meaning "And I besought." The reading portion begins in Deuteronomy Ch. 3. Deuteronomy, or D'varim in Hebrew, meaning "the Words," contains the final words of Moses to Israel before they cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land of Canaan. The words delivered by Moses contain reminders from the past, as well as commandments for the Israelites to observe once they have settled in the Promised Land, and even for the latter days. Regarding these final commands of Moses, he says, "Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it (see also a similar warning in Rev. 22:18-20), that you may keep (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you...And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day? Only take heed to yourself...lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren..." (Deut. 4:1-9, excerpt).

     The d'varim words are given through Moses, but the Words are from the LORD to His people. As Moses said above, no other nation has ever had the Word of the LORD given to them in such a manner. These d'varim words have been given to this nation so that they may live (haya - breathing, live, revive from sickness, revive from death, restore to life, give life, be whole, flourish, to live again), so that they may go in (bo - enter, attain, carry in, bring in, gather), and so that they may possess (yaras - possess, inherit, occupy, to cause others to possess or inherit, to succeed utterly, to be an heir to), as stated above.

     As we can see from the Hebrew meanings above, those who know the Messiah/Christ Jesus, recognize how the three purposes that work through the d'varim words parallel the salvation message brought by Jesus to all who would believe Him, including life from the dead. The purpose of the d'varim words is not just to the individual, although that is wondrous enough, but by its innate divine quality and power it also causes others to possess and inherit as joint heirs with Messiah/Christ (see Rom. 8:16-17). In fact, the d'varim words are meant to save generation after generation until the end of the age of time. (Mt. 28:18-20). The d'varim words, the message from the LORD given to Moses for His people, have not been changed, nor have they been done away with, but they have been fulfilled through Messiah/Christ Jesus, as He said. (see Mt. 5:17-19). The Words still live and accomplish the purpose of God.

     Both the testimony of Israel and the believers in Jesus is the same - to be a witness to others of God's wisdom and understanding present with them. (see Deut. 4:6, and Acts 4:13-14). As Moses told the Israelites: "For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?" (Deut. 4:7).

     After setting this short foundation of the importance of Moses' d'varim words given to the Israelites from the LORD, we will see how important God considered this in Moses' purpose, and how it relates to our own walk.

     Since the moment that the LORD spoke to Moses from within the burning bush on Mount Horeb, the mountain of God (Ex. 3:1-4), Moses had received the purpose of guiding the enslaved Israelites, which is estimated to have numbered from one to two million, out of their slavery in Egypt, and across the wilderness for forty years. He has seen an older generation pass away including his own sister Miriam, and his brother, Aaron the high priest. He had received the divine vision and overseen the construction of the tabernacle for the presence and atonement of God placed in the center of the tribes of Israel. He had interceded with God for His mercy when the people rebelled against God and His Word. He is at the point of this Sabbath reading portion of equipping the Israelites with the d'varim Words of the LORD that will ensure their survival and success in the new land, if they will obey them.

     However, at one point in their travel across the wilderness, Moses failed to do as Words of the LORD instructed him regarding the Rock that would supply them with their needed water. For this, the LORD told Moses that he would not be able to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. (see Num. 20:7-13).

     As the Israelites have come to the end of their forty years of wandering, and are poised at the edge of the Promised Land to enter into it, Moses besought/pleaded (hanan - mercy, gracious, merciful, supplication, favor, pity, have mercy on, implore favor) the LORD about being able to lead the Israelites into the Land: "Then I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying: "...I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains and Lebanon." (Deut. 3:23-25, excerpt). Moses' act of hanan pleading with the LORD is where the title of this Sabbath reading portion, Va'etchannan originates.

     The leading of the people is what Moses had known and done all of these years. The entrance into the Promised Land has been the goal of all of these years. However, Moses will discover that there is even a greater purpose waiting for him in the LORD's service, and that purpose will incorporate d'varim Words that will guide generations to come.

     When Moses besought or pleaded with the LORD in this matter, the LORD answered: "Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter. Go up (ala - ascend, raised, burnt offering, increase) to the top of Pisgah, and lift (nasa - lift up, bear up, carry, forgive, regard, exalt, obtained, rise up) your eyes (ayin - eye, sight, fountain, to flow out as water, presence, knowledge, in my opinion it seems) toward the west, the north, the south, and the east; behold it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Jordan. But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.' So we stayed in the valley opposite Beth Peor." (Deut. 3:26-29).

     What did Moses "see" when he went to the top of Mount Pisgah? He saw more than he ever would have seen with his natural eyes upon entering the land as he had pleaded to do. The revelation is found in the phrase, "Enough of that!" or in the King James Version, "Let it suffice thee!" in v. 26. The Hebrew word used by the LORD in this phrase is the word rab/rabab, which means: great, greater, greater than, much, multitude, chief, captain, mighty, abounding in, more numerous than, exceedingly, vast, magnitude/are multiplied, increased, manifold, ten thousands, be or become great, increase, expand, spread, multiplied into myriads. This same meaning is also found in the Lord's answer to Paul when Paul prayed to be delivered by either a physical or spiritual "thorn": "My grace (charis/chairo - grace, joy, pleasure, delight, loveliness, good will, loving-kindness, favor, merciful kindness, benefit, bounty, recompense, reward, liberality, affection/rejoice exceedingly, well off, be glad) is sufficient (arkeo/airo - be possessed of unfailing strength, to defend, ward off/raise up, lift up, elevate, raise from the ground, to expiate sin [also see nasa above]) for you..." (see 2 Cor. 12:7-10). The "thorn" is puny compared to the sufficiency of the grace/ hanan of God.

     While Moses has his heart set on continuing to the end in the role that he has been doing for over forty years, the LORD says that that request is puny compared to what is about to be achieved through him as he relates what he will see by the supernatural revelation eyesight that was about to be given to him on Pisgah (pisga/pasag - cleft of the Rock/to pass between or within, cut in two, divide, accurately contemplate) from the LORD. The place of Pisgah is, spiritually speaking, the same place that Paul tells us to view the revelation of the LORD when he instructs us to be approved (dokimos/dokeo - approved, tried, accepted/think, suppose, be of opinion [see ayin above]) and to "rightly divide" (orthotomeo - to cut straight, dissect correctly, straight path, teach correctly) the Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). I am sorry to say, but we sometimes may have made the Word of the LORD "puny" because we wanted to look at it from our position in the valley, instead of getting up to the heights of our spiritual Mount Pisgah. Perhaps the Lord has been shouting, "Enough of that! There is so much greater for you to see."

     As the LORD told Moses to get up to the top (ros - head, chief, top, excellent, first, forefront, beginning, ruler, captain, principal, the sum total, to shake a place, time or rank) of Pisgah and lift up his eyes and see, He is also bringing us this same message on this Sabbath. The view from the top, from the Captain and Ruler, is very different than the view from the bottom. We are not meant to see what everyone else sees, or even what we saw a year ago, ten years ago, or more. "Enough of that!" What the LORD has to show us is even greater and what we are to see will shake things up, and impact "myriads of thousands." In these end times of transition, a type of transition patterned after the Israelites' entrance into the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega land, the LORD is "taking it up a notch," and calling us all to His greater purpose. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (Jn. 14:12). There are greater works for us.

     So what did Moses "see" on the top of Pisgah? First of all, he was commanded to look in all four directions, even though Israel was approaching from the east already. What Moses saw was to be spoken of to his successor, Joshua ("Jehovah is Salvation"), as strengthening ('ames - establish, fortify, steadfastly minded, persist, obstinate, courageous, alert) and encouragement (hazak - strengthen, repair, prevail, courage, make strong, make bold, sustain) to enter and conquer Canaan. It is the "LORD of Salvation" who will be leading this transition to enact the salvation of man.

     Moses "saw" what shall be when the LORD brings them into the land of which He swore, that the Israelites would inhabit the big and beautiful cities "which you did not build," and houses full of all good things, "which you did not fill," wells "which you did not dig," vineyards and olive trees "which you did not plant."  (Deut. 6:10-11). Moses warned the Israelites, that as they were enjoying this great bounty that he had seen, not to forget the LORD who had brought them out of Egypt. (v. 12).

     Moses "saw" the Israelites fall away from their covenant with the LORD and, as a result, be scattered among the nations. (Deut. 4:25-27). He also "saw" the Israelites turn and seek (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the LORD with all of their hearts and souls and obey His voice when they are in distress/tribulation "in the latter days." Moses promised them that the LORD would not forsake them, but He will remember His (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) covenant with them. (Deut. 4:29-31). Moses had seen on Pisgah thousands of years ahead into the latter days, to prepare, equip and warn Israel of the snare that had been set for them, and their subsequent salvation and rescue by the LORD.

     Moses gave the Israelites and all of us the prayer, dedication and revelation which is called The Shema: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD your God, the LORD is one! You shall love (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart." (Deut. 6:4-6). Not only were these transformational d'varim words to be in their hearts and souls, but passed along to their children in all circumstances, and worn on their persons, and on the doorposts of their houses and on the gates of their homes and cities. (v. 7-9). The d'varim words were to be internalized within them as spiritual DNA, as well as displayed outwardly as a sign, as a mark (v. 8). 

     This special sight to which Moses was called to at the top of Mount Pisgah was not for him alone, as we might think. The prophet Isaiah wrote in another reading selection for this Va-etchannan Sabbath the LORD’s words to Zion and Jerusalem: “O Zion, you who bring good tidings, get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, you who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”…Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, who brings out their host (stars) by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one is missing.” (Isa. 40:9, 26). In this case, the LORD has a special vision for Zion and Jerusalem of glad tidings to see: “Behold, the LORD God shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.”(v. 10-11, see also Jn. 10:11-16). We recognize in these words our own Shepherd, Jesus.

     This command from the LORD in Isaiah is given to those who are to carry the good tidings, the message of salvation and the Messiah/Christ Jesus who fulfills it for all who believe in Him to save. (Lk. 2:8-14). This vision and this message is vital for all of us especially in these end times before the return of Christ.

     If you would like to walk in the sight on the top of the mountain of the Lord, and His greater purpose, you can pray with me: “Dearest LORD of my heart and soul, lead me in Your great purpose and lifted sight as You call me to rightly divide the d’varim Words of God as written in Your scriptures. Let my eyes be lifted up to see and my heart be open to receive Your knowledge and understanding. Your greater purpose is “enough” and powerful in the earth, full of good tidings for all who will come. Your Word became flesh as Jesus and walked among us to teach us the greater purpose that You have called Your people to fulfill in the world. I seek Your face and call upon Your name, not only for myself, but for all those who are meant to belong to You, Good Shepherd, and Shepherd of Israel. Guide my soul and spirit by the Holy Spirit who calls all things to my remembrance. I ask these things in the name of our 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 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. 

 

Glorified

       A song begins with the question: "Whose report will you believe?" The response in the song is, "We will believe the report of the Lord!"

     This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Sh'lach L'cha, meaning "Send for yourself." The title comes from Numbers Ch. 13: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Send men to spy out the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader (nasi/nasa - one lifted up, prince, captain, leader, rising mist, clouds, exalted one, chief man/bear up, lift up, carry, forgive, exalt, rise up, support, sustain, endure) among them." (v. 1-2).

     The LORD stated His plan for the land of Canaan: "...which I am giving (natan - deliver, grant, yield, bring, appoint, recompense, bestow, permit, devote, consecrate, dedicate, be provided) to the children of Israel." There is no guesswork involved here, no grey area of possible misunderstanding. Why is this specific piece of land to be entrusted, as promised from the days of Abraham, into the hands of the children of Israel? We see the designation of the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega attached to this land which connects the land to the prophesied Messiah/Christ to come, including His birth, death, resurrection, His return and coming kingdom rule. (see Micah 5:2-5, Ps. 22:1-21, Lk. 24:46-48, Zech. 12:10, Zech. 13:1, Ps. 2:6-12, Isa. 2:1-5, Zech. 9:9-10, Jer. 3:17). The plan of salvation of our God for the whole earth has gone forth and will continue to go forth, and the physical land given to the children of Israel had and will have everything to do with it.

     The spy mission was not just for anyone to carry out, according to the LORD's command. The Hebrew word nasi/nasa  (see above meaning) is used to describe the men to be sent. Only the leaders of each tribe were to go on this mission. This leadership position was elevated both physically and spiritually according to the meaning of the word. These men were walking in a Messianic and resurrection revelation, calling and anointing. Their words carried weight in the eyes of God and of the people. And because of the report that most of these spiritually elevated men brought back, the children of Israel were doomed to wander forty years in the wilderness until the generation who believed the fearful report of the spies would die. The LORD said: "The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. Except for Caleb...and Joshua....you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised...According to the number of the days in which you spied out the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) My rejection." (Num. 14:29-34, excerpt).

     Not only would Caleb and Joshua still be allowed to enter the land with the younger generation, but scripture tells us that Joshua discerned the reason that the Israelites would have been able to take the land regardless of how strong the dwellers in the land appeared to be. Of the dwellers in the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land, Joshua told the people: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights (hapes - be pleased with [see Mt. 3:17], delight, please, favor, desire) in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection (sel/salal/selem - shadow, shade/the idea of hovering over/image likeness, resemblance, empty image, idol) has departed (sur - depart, remove, turn, turn aside, come to an end, retract, reject, abolish, pluck away, withdraw) from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.' And all the congregation said to stone them with stones..." (Num. 14:7-10, excerpt).

     The people of the land were identified above in written Hebrew as being *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega people. Perhaps we can gather from the meaning of the Hebrew word for "protection", sel, that they exchanged the prophetic image of the Messiah/Christ for an empty image of an idol, and the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega presence turned away from them. These people of the land were descendants of Adam, and then Noah, and would have had knowledge not only of the LORD God of their ancestors, but of the promised Son, the Messiah/Christ. The promise of the Son was made to the serpent back in Genesis in the presence of Adam and Eve, and therefore also to those who would come from them in future generations. (see Gen. 3:14-15). Jesus gave us an example of the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega turning away from those who do not retain their knowledge of Him: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." (Mt. 7:21-23).

     Joshua, truly walking in the nasi/nasa (see above) calling as an appointed leader of God's people, discerned that the people of the land no longer had the spiritual protection to defend themselves against the Israelites, who were called to walk in the "delight" (see hapes, above) of the LORD. The word of Joshua and Caleb would only be a confirmation in the ears of the people of the plan that the LORD had already disclosed to Moses before the spies were sent out: "...the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel..." (Num. 13:2)

     This is how important this moment was in the future of the children of Israel. It was a matter of life and death. The only ones who would enter the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land out of the spies would be Caleb and Joshua who saw and reported the LORD's vision of the land, and the younger generation of Israelites who had been too young to choose to believe the false report of the majority of the spies.

     The title of this Sabbath's reading portion, Sh'lach L'cha, "Send for yourself," comes from the Hebrew word salah, which means "send/go out, send/go forth, stretch out, extend, let loose, sow, loose, set free, shoot forth, appoint, to inform by messenger." We can see that the word means much more than just "to send." Something spiritual is being let loose, set free, extended and stretched out, shot forth like an arrow. The LORD's purpose was to extend, stretch out and loose the kingdom, Word and will of God into this land with His people. However, the LORD made it plain that what was to be "shot forth" was to extend even further than the immediate land, as He said: "...but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD..." (Num. 14:21).

     We can see the similarity in the purpose of being salah sent as nasi/nasa leaders in the words of Jesus who told His disciple, Peter, who recognized Jesus as the Messiah/Christ, the Son of the living God by revelation from God: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth, will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Mt. 16:17-19). These words were not just for Peter, because later, Jesus repeated these words again for all of the disciples. The source of this spiritual authority was His name. (see Mt. 18:18-20).

     The question is, what are we binding and what are we setting free or loosing? The nasi/nasa leaders above who were sent to spy out the land loosed doubt and fear among the Israelites that caused them to miss God. The doubt and fear were so strong that even the revelation words of Caleb and Joshua could not convince the people.

     Like the nasi/nasa leaders of the tribes of Israel, we also are being sent: "So Jesus said to them (the disciples) again, 'Peace to you! As the Father sent Me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive (aphiemi/hiemi - to send away, to send forth, forgive, keep no longer [loose], lay aside/to send, to go) the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain (krateo/kratos - continue to hold, not let go, be master of, to rule, to seize/power, dominion) the sins of any, they are retained." (Jn. 20:21-23). Our being "sent" in the same manner that Jesus was "sent", is an issue of life and death - the forgiveness or retention of the sins of others.

     As a parallel to the scriptural account of the spies above, after His resurrection, Jesus sent His disciples to go forth as witnesses of Him first in Israel (Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria), the same land of promise as mentioned above, but then also beyond Israel "to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:7-8). The LORD had said the same to Moses when He declared that the whole earth would be full of His glory (see above, Num. 14:21). Specifically Jesus said: "Go (poreuo/peran - depart, go forth, to lead over/beyond, on the other side, to pierce through) into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature...And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover...And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen." (Mk. 16:15-20).

     When we are obedient to the command of the LORD to salah send out or go forth, more is involved than just the immediate goal, which in the case of the nasi/nasa leader spies was to enter into the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land. The spiritual effect of that obedience goes far wider until the whole earth is impacted. However, we must go only at the command of the LORD.

     Upon hearing of their error, and the resulting sentence of forty years in the wilderness and death, the Israelites decided then to go up into the Promised Land on their own. Moses warned them, however, that it was too late. They had just been forbidden by God to enter the land. Moses said: "Now why do you transgress the command of the LORD? For this will not succeed. Do not go up lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the LORD is not among you....you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from the LORD, the LORD will not be with you.' But they presumed to go up to the mountaintop. Nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed from the camp." (Num. 14:41-44). The enemy Amalekites and the Canaanites attacked them and drove them back. (v. 45).

      We cannot send ourselves, although it seems like a good thing to do. We must be sent by the LORD. Jesus assured His disciples as He sent them that He would be with them as they obediently went out. (see above, Mk. 16:20). He also said as He sent them after His resurrection: "...and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Mt. 28:20, excerpt).

     If you would like to learn more about being sent by the LORD, you can pray with me: "Father, You determine each one of my days. You direct my steps. You give me the words that I speak by Your Holy Spirit. In doing this, You make even my smallest steps to be more effective than I could ever think. Help and direct me, Father, that what I pray, do and say would spread Your glory in all the earth. Be glorified, Father. Be glorified Jesus. Be glorified Holy Spirit on earth as in heaven, for You desire to pour out Your salvation upon the world. You desire that we should live and not die, that we should choose life. Be glorified in Israel, the land where our Savior Jesus Messiah/Christ will return and reign, and in all the nations of the earth, 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. 

TheConsolation

      The title of this Sabbath's reading portion is Va-etchannan, meaning "And I besought." The portion begins with Moses' prayer to the LORD in Deuteronomy Chapter 3: Then I pleaded/besought with the LORD at that time saying: 'O LORD God, You have begun to show Your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) servant Your greatness and Your mighty (vaw [nail]-aleph [Adonoi/Lord]-tav [cross/covenant]) hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds? I pray, let me cross over and see the good (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon." (v. 23-25). Moses was referring to the previous event when he was instructed by the LORD to speak to the rock in the wilderness in order for the rock to supply abundant water for the people and their animals, but Moses, in anger against God's people, struck the rock instead. (Num. 20:7-11).

      Because of this action of "unbelief" and not hallowing the name of the LORD before the people, the LORD told Moses that he would not be allowed to lead the people into the promised land. (Num. 20:12-13).  Moses said that he besought (hanan/hana - have mercy on, graciousness, favor, pity, implore, beseech, make supplication/bow down) the LORD about His decision to keep Moses from crossing into the promised land with the people. The aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega servant of the LORD, Moses, was bowing down and begging God to show grace and mercy to him and to allow Moses to go into the promised land with the people. We would expect the LORD to hear this earnest prayer for mercy from His servant and grant it. However, Moses said that the LORD "was angry with me on your account and would not listen to me." The LORD then answered Moses: "Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter."  (Deut. 3:26). When Moses said that the LORD was angry with him "on your account", in Hebrew the word is ma'an and means: "purpose, to the end intent, for their benefit, for their welfare." The Lawgiver, Moses, could not lead the people in for the sake of their own good as the LORD saw it, but there was one who could: "But command (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Joshua ("Jehovah is salvation", Jehovah-saved), and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land which you will see." (v. 28). For the people's own good, it was better for Joshua to lead them in. The law, represented by Moses, testifies of and leads to something greater - the salvation of the LORD as we will see, and it is the salvation that leads us in. 

     Jesus referred to this something greater, which was Himself as salvation, when He said to the religious people, "You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life." (Jn. 5:39-40).  Jesus also said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill (pleroo/pleres - to accomplish, to make full, to complete, to carry through to the end, to carry into effect, to bring to realization/complete, filled up, to perfect lacking nothing)." (Mt. 5:17). The LORD said to Moses the Lawgiver that it was for the good of the people, for their sake, that salvation, Joshua, leads them into the land.

     As Moses experienced this heartbreak, the LORD offered him consolation: "Go up (ala - go up, ascend, climb, be taken up, brought up) to the top (ros - head, chief, principal, first, beginning, summit, captain, ruler) of Pisgah (pisga/pasag - a cleft/to consider, to contemplate), and lift (nasa - lift up, exalt, carry, bear up, extol, forgive, lofty, raise up, receive, be high) your eyes (ayin - sight, fountain, well, face, countenance) toward the west, the north, the south, and the east; behold it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over (abar - pass over, cross over, pass beyond, pass through, make to perish, make to cease to exist, make transition) this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jordan (yarden/yarad - descender, descending/sink down, be brought down to a lower region)." (Deut. 3:27). Moses would be given a vision of the land to console him. He, the Lawgiver, will see it by revelation from afar off, but he will not be able to cross over death: the descending, the sinking down, to get there. But Joshua, "Jehovah (LORD [YHWH: 'Behold the hand, behold the nail'] is salvation", can and will. Not only will he cross over, but he will lead all of the people to cross over with him.

     The words of the Lawgiver, Moses, and the Prophets are a light and a lamp that illuminate a path, but the path leads to a destination - The LORD: "Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." (Ps. 119:105). This verse is the first verse that is written under the Hebrew letter NUN (נ) in Psalm 119. The pictographic Hebrew letter nun means "son, heir to the throne." In this week's Sabbath reading portion, Moses wrote this about our destination: "Hear O Israel: The LORD (YHWH, see above) our God is one (ehad/ahad - first, one, united, alike, altogether and apiece, together unitedly/unite, inseparably joined together like a sword of three edges)! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart." (Deut. 6:4-6).

     This Sabbath reading is also called Nachamu, meaning "Consolation". It is the Sabbath that follows the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, Tishah B'Av, the Ninth of Av. The Ninth of Av is the date of some tragic events in the history of the Jewish people (see the previous blog post "Speak" for more details). The Sabbath reading offers Isaiah 40 as a comfort and consolation to Israel after this day of mourning, just as the LORD offered revelation consolation to Moses in his moment of deep sadness mentioned above. Isaiah wrote the Word of the LORD to His people: "Comfort (naham - to console, to comfort, be comforted or consoled, repent, to draw a breath), yes, comfort (naham, see above) My people! Speak comfort (leb/lebab - heart, soul, inner man, kindly/mind, heart, soul, understanding) to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins." (Isa. 40:1-2).

     This Word of consolation comes from the wilderness, the desert, crying "Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God...The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." (v. 3-5). (See more about the mouth and words spoken in the wilderness in the previous blog entry "Speak".) The consolation of Israel is the fact that the LORD is coming, and all eyes shall see Him! There is a Person who is known to the Jewish people as "The Consolation of Israel", and that Person is the Messiah/Christ. The consolation commanded here is not just a comforting feeling, but it is the LORD Himself. The words spoken here in chapter 40 by Isaiah were a prophecy fulfilled by the arrival of John the Baptist, who was anointed by God to point Israel to the Messiah, whom he identified as Jesus, saying, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (Jn. 1:19-36).

     This was the anointing of The Consolation from Isaiah 40: "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (v. 29-31).

     When Jesus was born, eight days were completed for His circumcision, and Mary and her husband, Joseph, came to the temple in Jerusalem after the days of Mary's purification were completed as the Law required. There was a man in the temple named Simeon who was just and devout, and he was "waiting for the Consolation of Israel" to appear. Simeon had received a prophetic revelation from the Spirit of God that he would not die before he had seen The Consolation, and the Spirit had sent him to the temple on that very day: "And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he (Simeon) took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 'Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel." (Luke 2:22-32). Simeon connected The Consolation of Israel, the Messiah/Christ, to the LORD's salvation.

     The prophet Isaiah also wrote that the people of God will proclaim and praise the naham consolation or comfort of the LORD, while connecting it to His salvation: "...Your anger is turned away, and You console/comfort (naham, see above) me. Behold, God is my salvation (Yesua), I will trust and not be afraid; for YAH, the LORD, is my strength and my song; He also has become my salvation (Yesua). Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation (Yesua)." (Isa. 12:1-3).

     The Apostle Paul also wrote that consolation and salvation were connected together even through men's suffering and tribulation. He pointed out the source of that consolation: "...our consolation also abounds through Messiah/Christ." (Col, 1:1-7).

     Paul wrote this blessing to the believers in The Consolation of Israel: "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah) Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation (paraklesis/parakaleo - a calling near, consolation, comfort, solace, of Messianic salvation/call to one's side, receive consolation, be comforted, encouraged, strengthened - see Deut. 3:28) and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work." (2 Thess. 2:16-17). It is the Lord's consolation and the power of hope through His grace that enables us to walk in His Word and Works. In this verse above, we see that the meaning of "consolation" in Greek is directly tied to the salvation work of the Messiah/Christ. He allows us to call Him to our side, and He calls us to His side to console and comfort us. Jesus told His disciples that He would send The Comforter/Consoler (parakletos), the Holy Spirit, to help them after He returned to His Father in heaven. (Jn. 14:15-18, Jn. 15:26). The Salvation and The Consolation again are connected together.

     As we go back to Isa. 40, which cries out for the consolation of God for His people, Isaiah prophesied of the "good tidings" that would come out of Zion and Jerusalem (v. 9, see also Lk. 2:10-12). These good tidings that Isaiah prophesied declares "Behold your God!" Even though the LORD God would come with a strong hand and arm to rule in this prophetic Word, He is also described as The Consolation: "He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young." (v. 10-11). Jesus (Yesua - "The LORD is salvation") said, "I am the good shepherd..." (see Jn. 10:11-16).

     This Sabbath of Nachamu, which follows Tishah B'Av, the Ninth of Av, a day of mourning and loss for the Jewish people, offers this promise of consolation to God's people. If you have suffered mourning and loss, His salvation consolation is available to you also. Who better to console and comfort His people than the LORD, YHWH (yod, hey, vaw, hey: "Behold the hand, behold the nail") who had experienced the suffering of man in His own flesh (Isa. 53:3-5), and welcomed the consolation and strengthening ministered to Him by angels? (Lk. 22:41-44, Mt. 4:10-11). Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Mt. 5:4). The LORD wants us to seek His consolation.

     If you would like to know more about The Consolation of Israel for your life, you can pray with me: "Heavenly and gracious Father, You have sent The Consolation of Israel, Your Son, Jesus, the Messiah/Christ, and my salvation. In these times, many who have suffered loss need Your consolation and comfort. In these challenging days, I and many others need the encouragement and strengthening of Your consolation to walk in Your Word and Works. You, the LORD's salvation, are able to lead me and this Your people to victoriously cross over the descent into death and to enter into the covenant promise of God, abundant and eternal life. I pray that many will begin to seek out Your salvation consolation, and You will lead them as Your flock. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

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

PropheticPitfalls

     The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Sh'lach L'cha, meaning "Send for yourself". This title comes from the Hebrew word salah, which we find in Num. 13:2. It is part of a command which the LORD gave to Moses: "Send (salah - send out, stretch out, depart, loose, soweth, extend, let go, set free, reach forth) men to spy out/search (tur - search, seek, spy out, explore, make reconnaissance, send to catch sight of and describe/proclaim, to lead one about as the righteous shows the way to his friend) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader (nasi/nasa - one lifted up, chief, prince, captain, rising vapors, clouds, rising mist, king, ruler, a chief prince/bare or lift up, forgive, regard, exalted, support, aid, assist) among them." As we can see, salah used above means much more than "to send". There is a greater accompanying purpose that goes with being "sent" according to the Hebrew meaning. The same is true with that activity of "spying out" or tur. There is a proclamation to be made based upon what is seen prophetically. These "leaders" that were sent were not ordinary, but they were associated with the authority found in ascendance (nasi/nasa). The previous two Sabbath reading portions also dealt in some way with being or coming to an ascended position. In verse 3, these leaders were also described as "heads" (ros - chief, top, principal, head, summit, height, beginning, top, choicest, best, foremost, highest and supreme), again referring to a position of great height. The leaders' names as recorded in v. 4-15, reflect the character of the LORD as well as the hidden Messiah. These name meanings include: "renowned"; "he hath judged and punished"; "forcible"; "he redeems/kinsman redeemer/avenger"; "salvation/savior"; "my deliverance/save/escape"; "God is my fortune/troop"; "my fortune"; "my kinsman is God/the people of God"; "hidden one/love fervently/cherish"; "the majesty of God/to rise up/exalted in triumph/be lifted up/be raised up/be risen/to increase". The assignment of the leaders/heads was to see prophetically from the place of ascension, establish a prophetic foothold in Canaan, and to bring back that description/proclamation to God's people. It is also noted that these leaders/heads were sent from the Wilderness of Paran/pa'ar (caverns/to glorify, beautify, adorn, honored, glory, vaunt, be glorified, to gleam, to make clear in explanation, to examine the boughs in order to glean them). In the natural, Paran was a place of caverns, but spiritually, it was a place of glory, beauty, honor and height. Moses told them: "Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains, and see what the land is like...be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land." (v. 17-20). "So they went up (ala -see above)..And they ascended (ala - see above)..." (v. 21-22). God's command to Moses tells us that the LORD wanted His people to see something for themselves, and to see it from an ascended position.

     Those who were sent to spy saw two different things. They saw a land flowing with milk and honey, full of fruit, large samples of which they brought back with them (v. v. 23, 27). They also saw the descendants of Anak (tribe of giant statured people) dwelling there and reported to Moses and the people: "Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there." (v. 22, 28). Caleb, one of the spies, tried to give the true prophetic report: "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." (v. 30). Most of the other returned spies then contradicted Caleb with a bad/evil report (diba/dabab - whispering, defamation, evil report, slander, as that which glides stealthily, one who spreads false or slanderous statements/move, glide over, an animal that creeps, to creep about): "We are not able to go up against the people for they are stronger than we...The land...is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw giants...and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight." (v. 31-33). Those other spies were reporting what they had seen and their resulting conclusions, but the LORD called it a slanderously false evil report. They had slandered God who had promised the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land to them as descendants of Abraham (see Gen. 12:1, 5-7, Gen. 13:14-18, Gen. 15:18-21, Gen. 17:7-8). In His command to Moses above the LORD stated clearly the He was giving the land of Canaan to the children of Israel. Most of the leaders/heads therefore who had spied the land were in effect calling God a liar, and counseling Moses and the people not to believe Him.

     This report from the leaders/heads of the tribes so affected all of the congregation that they lifted their (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) voices (qol - voice, thunder, proclamation, send out, fame, bleating, cracking) and cried (natan - give, bestow, ascribe, report, utter, stretch out, extend, be published, send). As we can see from the Hebrew meanings of the words used here, the cries of the people of God have a prophetic power, extending out and being sent further than their place of origin. They are prophetic words because God's people are a prophetic people (see Prov. 18:21, Mk. 11:22-23, Deut. 30:14, Rom. 10:8-10). The prophetic mantle is not shed because God's prophetic people decide to believe and speak the evil report. The words cannot be called back nor changed once they are believed and spoken as we will see.

     The congregation wanted to make for themselves a leader to bring them back to Egypt. Joshua and Caleb, who had been among those who had spied out the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land, spoke to all of the congregation: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good (tob - good, goodly, best, fair, precious, wealth, beautiful, favor, welfare, happiness) land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them."  (Num. 14:1-10). Hearing these words, the congregation wanted to stone them until the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of meeting and halted this.

     The spies were to bring back the report from an ascended spiritual position, yet most of them brought back what the LORD said was an evil, slanderous report. The people of God, when they heard the evil report, cried out in bitterness and anger. They even cried: "Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims?" (Num. 14:3). Their prophetic voices and tears "thundered" in the LORD's ears. The evil report produced an "evil congregation" who complained against the LORD (Num. 14:26-27). Finally the LORD swore regarding this evil congregation: "As I live...just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness...Except for Caleb...and Joshua...you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in." (v. 28-30). Their own proclaimed, published, thundered fears and words would come to pass. The LORD did promise, however, that He would bring their little ones, whom the people had claimed would be destroyed (see Num. 14:3 above), into the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land. (v. 31). When the LORD commands us to go and see for ourselves, what report do we bring back and proclaim far and wide?

    

     Joshua and Caleb had also seen the giants, but they saw from their ascended position that with the LORD among His people, those giants were "bread" to be devoured by the people of God. Caleb and Joshua saw that the spiritual protection that had once covered those Canaanite people had been removed, and they were now vulnerable. Unless this were true, why would the LORD have said to His people to go and sh'lach l'cha, "send for yourself", to see the promised land? Why is He having us read this Sh'lach L'cha Sabbath portion at this time? What does He want us to see regarding our current "giants", and the great, fruitful reward waiting for us if His favor is with us? What report are we hearing and believing? Are we of a "different spirit" who follows the LORD fully, as the LORD said of Caleb (Num. 14:24)? 

     In another reading portion from this Sabbath, forty years later, after the evil congregation had died in the wilderness, two more spies would be sent (salah - see above) by Joshua to enter the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land to spy out the mighty walled city of Jericho in Canaan (Josh. 2:1). The true, powerful report of the LORD wouldn't come from the spies, however. It would come through a Canaanite harlot (prostitute) living on the wall of the city. This was her report to the two spies whom she hid from capture on her roof: "I know that the LORD has given you the land...the terror of you has fallen on us...all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you...we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea...and what you did to the two kings...whom you utterly destroyed. As soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain anymore courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath." (v. 9-11). The harlot's name was Rahab, which means "extending widely every way, long and broad when spoken of land, signifies wideness, height and depth, a wide cup, be enlarged, make room, extending borders of a kingdom." While the evil report of most of the first spies above slandered and belittled God in the eyes of His people and beyond, Rahab's report exalted God and His works which He also did through His people. Her report prophetically extended the borders of His kingdom.

     Rahab asked the spies to spare her family when the Israelites took Jericho. The spies told her that her family would only be spared if they stayed within her house. No doubt her family had shame for this prostitute daughter. They did not live in her house because they were not present when Rahab hid the spies. Yet it is her house that God would designate as a sanctuary. Only her house would carry the true token of His salvation: a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) cord/line (tiava/qava - hope expectation, thing I long for, expected, cord, rope, things hoped for [see Heb. 11:1-2], live/wait for, look for, expect, hope, bind together, be collected) made out of scarlet or crimson (dye made from a worm or insect that sacrifices its life for its children) thread: "...give me a true (emet - true, faithful (see Rev. 19:11-14), sure, continuous, of divine instruction, perpetuity, consistent in performing promises, constant and perpetual favor of the Lord, the truth of the Lord) token (ot - אוֹת: alpha, vaw, tav [meaning the Lord Adonai, nailed to the cross], miraculous sign, token, mark, signal, proof, flag, beacon, evidence), and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) lives from death." (Josh. 2:12-13, 18-19). We know the miraculous account of the defeat of Jericho by the Israelites. The mighty walls that protected that city fell straight down into the ground. Does this mean that the small section of wall upon which Rahab's house sat did not fall in this manner? Picture that! Would we have discerned that the LORD would prophesy His greatness and victory by a prostitute, or would we have looked for another type altogether to prophesy the Word of the LORD to us? The spies thought they were "sent" to "spy out" Jericho, but they were really sent to meet a prostitute and hear the Word of the LORD. The LORD would say at a later time as He corrected His prophet, that He does not look upon the outward appearance, but He looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). Do we? 

     From this Sabbath reading portion, Sh'lach L'cha, "Send for yourself", we find another example of the prophetic report. After the Israelites conquered the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land of Canaan, Joshua began to distribute territories to the eleven various tribes. Caleb, Joshua's fellow spy now so many years before, came to him with a request based upon the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) word that the LORD had spoken to him by Moses forty-five years earlier: "And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive...these forty-five years...and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent (salah - see above) me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out, and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day...the Anakim (descendants of giants) were there, and...the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said.' And Joshua blessed him, and gave (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Hebron to Caleb...as an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb....the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel." (Josh. 14:10-14). Caleb, who was not an Israelite by birth but by heart and faith, believed and spoke the good report of the LORD and believed and spoke the Word of the LORD given to him by Moses even many years later. Others may have looked at Caleb and said that he was too old to take that mountain of giants, but Caleb "wholly followed the LORD." In fact, after Caleb was given the mountain, "the land had rest from war." (v. 15).

     In these challenging and dangerous times, by assigning this Sabbath's reading portion, perhaps the LORD is saying to us: sh'lach l'cha: "send for yourselves". What does He expect us to prophetically see and report? Are we giving a report that makes the giants in the land that the LORD has given us to become fainthearted like the inhabitants of Jericho? Has the LORD already removed their protective covering so that they have become bread for us? From another reading portion of this Sabbath we see: "Remember to magnify His (the LORD's) work, of which men have sung. Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar." (Job. 36:24-25). Daniel prophesied about the work of the righteous that is to take place in the last days, when ungodly powers openly challenge the LORD and His people: "...but the people who know (yada - know, perceive, show, tell, understand, certainly, acknowledge, declare, teach, know by experience, confess, be skillful in, be revealed, be perceived, be diligent) their God shall be strong, and do/carry out great exploits."  (Dan. 11:32).

     If you would like to know more about what it means to be "sent" by the LORD, you can pray with me: "Lord, as you send me to go up and see, help my eyes to see Your greatness rather than the false greatness of the darkness. Help my mouth that I will show the true token, and speak the true report to Your people, extending it far and wide. Let the report sent forth of our God cause the spiritual giants on the mountains to tremble, and those who are to be spiritually dispossessed and disinherited from Your land to become fainthearted. Help me by Your Holy Spirit to do the great exploits in Your name of which Your prophet spoke. I ask these things 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 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.

End/Beginning

This is the last Sabbath reading of this Jewish calendar year. In two days, a new year begins with the arrival of the Feast of the LORD called Yom Teruah, the Feast (Day) of Trumpets. It is also known as Rosh Hashanah. In this Sabbath reading titled Nitzvarim - Va-yelech, meaning "(you) are standing" - "then he went out", we see the ending of one thing and the promise of a new thing. The leadership of Moses, who is 120 years old, is coming to an end, and Joshua has been appointed to become the leader who will take the people into the Promised Land (Deut. 31:1-3). Although the leadership will change, the Word of God will not change: "All of you stand today before the LORD your God...your leaders...your tribes...your elders...your officers...all the men of Israel, your little ones and your wives - also the stranger who is in your camp = that you may enter into covenant with the LORD your God, and into His oath,, which the LORD God makes with you today, that He may establish you today as a peaople for Himself, and that He may be God to you, just as He has spoken to you, and just as He has sworn to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." (Deut. 29:10-13). The Word of God was so vital to the Israeites' survival as a people that Moses instructed them to read aloud all the book of the law every seventh year, the year of the LORD's Release, on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Deut. 31:10-11). This Word of God would remain alive and active, even, Moses told them, returning them back to the LORD, and His voice, from where they will have been scattered among many nations, and bringing them back to the land from captivity, a captivity that would not take place until well over one thousand years later (Deut. 30:1-6). This Word preserved a people from the annihilation that the world had planned for them. This Word restored a nation to them in our time that had been destroyed in ancient conquest. The scriptures preserved a language, Hebrew, which was "dead", but is now resurrected as the language of a nation. The only way that these miraculous things could have come to pass is by the never-changing, constant, living Word of God spoken to them, and treasured by them. However, those events are not the end of the story! This same Word, Moses said, would circumcise their hearts to love God with all their hearts and souls so that they may live. There are blessings and cursings in the law, depending upon whether one loves God and His Word, or walks away from Him and His Word, but God was calling His people to love and obey Him: "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways...that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess...I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling (dabaq - follow hard, keep fast, joined together, pursue closely, adhere firmly, glued together) to Him, for He is your life, and your length of days..." (Deut. 30:14-16, 19-20). The LORD called His people to "cling" or cleave to Him. In Hebrew, we see that this choice of words calls His people to become so close to Him that they are physically attached to Him. The reason for this is not only their immediate and future safety, but because He is going to walk them right into a new and greater covenant, as we will see. The apostle Paul quoted the words from Deuteronomy as they pointed to the way of salvation: "But what does it (the law) say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart' (that is the word of faith, which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Rom. 10:8-10). Paul followed closely after the LORD and took his readers from the law right into the new covenant of salvation, which came through the Messiah, Jesus. Jesus also told His listeners to "cling" to Him, become inseparable from Him, as He instructed them to follow Him, and abide in Him and His Word as the branches abide in the vine (see Jn. 17:21, 24, Mt. 4:18-20, and Jn. 15:4-7, Jn. 14:23). The apostle Paul wrote that we were to cling so closely to Jesus as to make him a physical part of us: "...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith..." (Eph. 3:17). Within the Sabbath readings for this week, we see the Word of the LORD move into the new covenant, and all that the new covenant entails. In fact, the LORD said that He will not rest, and His watchmen should not let Him rest, until He establishes it: "For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness (nogah - shining, brilliancy, as of fire), and her salvation as a lamp that burns." (Isa. 62:1, see also Jn. 8:12, Mt. 5:14-17). Again from this week's Sabbath reading, Isaiah wrote: "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in My God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom bedecks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels...you shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD will name." (Isa. 61:10, Isa. 62:2 - see also Rev. 2:17, Rev. 21:1-2). The prophet Jeremiah wrote of the new covenant: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Judah - not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers...My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them...But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days...: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people...For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Jer. 31:31-34). The fulfilment of the law was not an outward work only, but more importantly, an inward work of salvation. Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law until all is fulfilled." (Mt. 5:17-18). As we saw in this week's Sabbath reading portion, leadership was passing from Moses to Joshua, who would bring their journey to its completion. We can see the progression of the Word of God in this picture of the change of leadership. Moses, or Moshe, in Hebrew, means "drawn, rescued or saved from the water". The root word, Masa, means "to draw, to clean the face and wash the hands". In Joshua 1:1, Moses is desribed as a servant (ebed/abad - slave, bondservant, servant) to the LORD. The new leader is Joshua, who has the same name as Jesus in Hebrew: Yehosua - Jehovah is Savior/Salvation. In Joshua 1:1, Joshua is described not as a servant, but as a minister to Moses. This is the Hebrew word sarat meaning "to minister, to serve". Jesus said that He came as a minister: "...just as the Son of Man did not come to be ministered unto, but to minister (diakoneo/diakonos - serve another's interest, supply necessities of life, execute the commands of another), and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mt. 20:28). Finally, in this Sabbath's reading in Isa. 63, Isaiah prophesies of the LORD coming from an easterly direction, glorious in apparel, in the greatness of His strength, whose robe is sprinkled with the blood of His enemies.: "For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come." (Isa. 63:1-4, see also Isa. 61:2 and Rev. 19:11-16). The Sabbath readings for this week, like the coming Feast of Trumpets, brings us right up to the point where the ending of the old becomes the beginning of the new. If you would like to know more about the inward working of the Word of God in our lives, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father of us all, You have drawn me out of the waters, and You have made me new in the salvation of Your Son and Minister, Jesus. Your Word and You purpose all along was to bring me into Your new covenant, and the new covenant that You have given to me, gives me an eternal future, and an assurance in You. Your Word is near me, in my heart, and in my mouth to preserve me, and You are with me as I cling to You. Your promise to me is that You will never leave me. Help me by Your Holy Spirit to love and trust You, Lord, with my whole heart, soul, and strength. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."