RoyalPrincess

      This week's Sabbath reading portion, titled Chayyei Sarah, or "The life of Sarah," is always very interesting. One reason that this Sabbath portion is so interesting is because "the life of Sarah" starts with the death of Sarah in Genesis 23: "Sarah (sara/sar - noblewoman, princess, the wife of a king, of noble birth, queen/prince, chief, ruler, governor, leader, princes of religious office) lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her." (v. 1-2).

     As indicated by Sarah's name, she was a "princess". The LORD had previously prophesied to Abraham that kings would come from him: "I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings (melek/malak - king, royal, Messiah[Christ] as the King of Israel, Jehovah as King of Israel/king, queen, rule, reign, cause to reign, to counsel and advise, ascend to the throne) shall come from you...Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings (melek/malak - same as above) of peoples shall be from her." (Gen. 17:6, 16). As Abraham sought to purchase a burial place for his wife, Sarah, from the Hittites of Canaan, they addressed him, saying: "Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places..." (Gen. 23:6). The Hittites recognized Abraham as royalty. Abraham was not interested in their burial places but wanted to purchase a field that contained a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) cave in order to bury his wife there. (v. 8-9). Although the Hittites referred to Abraham as royalty, Abraham was humble before them and "bowed himself down" (saha - bow down, obeisance, stoop, prostrate oneself before anyone out of honor, to submit oneself) before the people of the land. (v. 12). Royalty does not mean prideful or haughty in the Kingdom of God.

     The covenant household that Abraham and Sarah established in covenant with God was a royal household. This Sabbath portion, "The life of Sarah," will reveal other women in future generations who became part of this royal household. The greatest royalty that would come forth from these royal women would be the Messiah/Christ Jesus, THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. As the meaning in Hebrew of the life of Sarah teaches us, the word "life" is hay/haya which includes the meaning: "have life, restored to life, revive from death, to live forever." This is no ordinary royal household, and this is no ordinary kind of "life." This is a special royal household that has the promise of eternal life in God.

     The Bible follows this royal line and those who belong to it throughout the generations. There are "princesses/queens" in this miraculous and holy account as well.

     From another part of this Chayyei Sarah, "the life of Sarah" Sabbath reading portion, we will see how Abraham acquires a royal bride for his son, Isaac, after the death of Sarah. (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Abraham called his oldest, trusted servant to him, "who ruled over all that he had," to swear to return to Abraham's native land and family (moledet - kindred, born, begotten, issue, relatives, nativity, origin), "...and take a wife for (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) my son Isaac." (Gen. 24:1-4). The servant, who is not named in this passage, is described as being "oldest." This is the Hebrew word zaqen, which means not only old or ancient, but in oriental culture is also "the minister of a king, and is called 'great king father' even if he is young. He is considered a man of very high eminence because of this position." Abraham made the servant swear solemnly that he would never take Isaac back to the land Abraham's family in Mesopotamia, but would bring the bride to the land of Canaan because of God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would inherit this land. (v. 6-9).

     Because the servant had charge over all of Abraham's goods, he took ten camels (gamal - camel, beast of burden/to deal bountifully with, reward, bestowed, recompense, do good to, served) loaded with precious goods to offer to this bride and her family, including substantial gold jewelry, silver, clothing and precious things (migdanot/meged - choice and excellent thing, precious, gem/precious fruit, excellence, distinguished, to be eminent). We know that the servant carried enough of these rich goods to require ten camels. One camel can carry over 900 pounds of goods, although the average weight that is carried by a camel is about 300 pounds. Even if we take the lesser weight, it means that Abraham's servant brought over 3,000 pounds of his master's finest goods to the prospective bride, and it could have been as much as 9,000 pounds! This is not a gift that would be given to an ordinary bride, but it is a suitable gift for a royal princess bride. The future bride and her family would certainly come to this conclusion also. If Abraham could furnish this abundance of finest things to his son's future bride, how much more in natural and spiritual riches has the Father in heaven furnished to His Son, Jesus, to bestow upon His Bride, the believers in Messiah/Christ?

     As Abraham's servant drew near to the home city of Abraham's family, he prayed to the LORD: "O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink' - let her be the one You have appointed for your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master." (v. 12-14). The appointed young woman would not be of the average disposition. She would have a godly noble humility like Abraham (see above). Not many royal princesses today would see ten camels belonging to a stranger and offer to fetch water for them! Would we be this hospitable and humble?

     As soon as Abraham's servant finished praying, a beautiful young woman named Rebekah came to the well and did exactly as the servant had prayed. Not only that, but the servant found out that she was the daughter of Abraham' deceased brother. The LORD had answered the servant's prayer.

     Rebekah invited the servant to bring his camels and to stay with her family. After hearing the servant's story, Rebekah agreed to return with the servant to Abraham's household in Canaan to marry his son, Isaac. Her family agreed to let her go and prayed a blessing over (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Rebekah: "Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the gates ( see Judges 16:2-3 and Mt. 16:16-19) of those who hate them." (Gen. 24:60).

     As the servant's and Rebekah's caravan drew near to Abraham's home, Isaac was out in his field and lifted up his eyes and saw them approach. Rebekah also lifted up (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) her eyes and saw (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac. She took her veil and covered herself. She was not only humble and generous, but she was modest as well. "Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent; and he took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Rebekah as his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death." (Gen. 24:61-67).

     As we can see, Rebekah became designated by the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, the identification of the (royal) household of the Messiah/Christ Jesus, after her agreement to return with Abraham's servant to marry Isaac.

     In the true meaning of a royal bride, Rebekah would establish the Messianic line of Christ as well as the nation and tribes of Israel as she gave birth to her two sons. The LORD had prophesied to her that of her twin sons, the older would serve the younger, so Rebekah did all she was able to ensure that her younger son, Jacob, later renamed Israel, would receive the blessing from her husband, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac, rather than Esau. Then she would provide the means by which Jacob would survive the murderous rage of his brother, Esau, by sending Jacob to her family in Mesopotamia.

     In another reading portion from this Chayyei Sarah, "the life of Sarah" Sabbath, one of David's wives, Bathsheba, in partnership with the prophet of Israel, secured the oath of elderly King David to keep his promise to name their son Solomon as his successor, because another son from a different mother plotted to grab the throne instead before his father's death, which would also put Solomon in danger. (1 Kings 1:28-31). David assured Bathsheba that Solomon would succeed him, and then set the things in motion to accomplish this. David had formerly been promised by God that his household would be the one to bring forth the Messiah/Christ in generations to come. Solomon did become king after his father David, and he is indeed named in the genealogy of Jesus. (see Mt. 1:6). Bathsheba secured the Messianic/Christ royal line that God had prophesied to her husband, King David.

     This Chayyei Sarah Sabbath also brings us the story of Ruth. Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law had a husband named Elimelech (meaning "My God is King") who had died and her two sons were dead also. All she had left as she lived in the nation of Moab was her daughter-in-law, Ruth, whose husband was deceased and had left her with no children. Naomi decided, having nothing left, to return to her homeland and hometown, Bethlehem in Israel. Her faithful daughter-in-law, Ruth, clung to Naomi and begged to go with her to Israel, saying in part, "...your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." After Naomi and Ruth arrived in Israel, Ruth began to glean grain/corn (sibolet/sobel - ears of corn, branches, a flowing stream, a waterflood/flowing skirt or train, train of a robe) as a poor person in the fields of Boaz, a rich kinsman of Naomi's deceased husband, in order to feed herself and Naomi. It is important to understand the meanings of the names of Boaz and Ruth in Hebrew. The Hebrew letters of Boaz' name are beth + 'ayin + zayin and when joined together could have the meaning "House/Household/Family that sees and understands the fountain of the (One) pierced." Ruth's name in Hebrew means "friendship, appearance, mate, female companion", with the root meaning: "feed, shepherd/shepherdess, pastor, tend to, to pasture, teacher, to keep, ruler." The Hebrew letters of Ruth's name are reysh + vaw + tav, which when joined together could mean "The Highest nailed to the cross/covenant." In other words, Boaz and Ruth were made for each other, a foregone conclusion. 

     Ruth says three times in the account (Ruth 2:2, 10, 13) that she while she is gleaning the field, she is really seeking "favor/grace" (hen/hanan/hana - grace, favor, pleasant, well-favored, kindness, acceptance/merciful, gracious, besought, supplication, have mercy on, implore the favor of/dwell, abide, tent, encamp, bow down, inhabit, pitch one's tent" even though she is a foreigner. Ruth is looking for a habitation of mercy and grace. When Naomi heard that Ruth was gleaning in Boaz's field and had received kindness from him, Naomi exclaimed: "Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken his kindness to the living and the dead!" (Ruth 2:20).

     Boaz had heard of Ruth's kindness and faithfulness to Naomi and redeemed the inheritance of all that belonged to his dead relative, which included Naomi and Ruth, and he married Ruth. Ruth became known to him by her royal character. They had a son, Obed (obed/abad - serving/servant, worshipper), who would be King David's grandfather. Naomi treated Ruth's child as her own, and became a nurse to him, and her women neighbors said, "There is a son born to Naomi." (Ruth 4:16-17). Boaz had restored the (royal) line of his dead relative Elimelech by being a "kinsman redeemer". Through the serving and faithful heart of Ruth the Moabitess, the royal line of the Messiah/Christ had been restored. Both Boaz, Ruth, Obed and, of course, David are named in the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah/Christ. (see Mt. 1:5-6).

     How are the women mentioned in this Sabbath reading portion, in which we should also consider the Bride of Christ, connected to our Sabbath title "the life of Sarah"? Sarah, meaning "princess, noblewoman, wife of a king, queen", had also confirmed the direction of the royal Messianic line, or line of Christ, in her lifetime like the women mentioned above when she insisted that Ishmael be removed from the camp because he was mocking, saying to Abraham: "...the son of this bondwoman (referring to Hagar) shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac." This was very displeasing (ra'a - evil, wicked, hurt, harm, break into pieces, evildoer, injurious) in Abraham's eyes because he loved Ishmael, his first born, also. The LORD told Abraham: "...whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed." (Gen. 21:9-13). Abraham obeyed the LORD and did as Sarah had told him.

     Sarah established the royal line of kingship (Ishmael would produce princes according to the promise of the LORD, while Isaac's line would establish kings) which reflected the will and plan of God. Worldly royalty comes and goes, but the royal kingdom of God is eternal. Jesus instructed His disciples as He sent them forth to say to those that they ministered to with healing and miracles: "The kingdom of God has come nigh you."

     Our role as the royal Bride of Messiah/Christ is to affirm and witness His Kingship (see Rev. 17:14, Isa. 9:6-7, Dan. 7:13-14, Jn. 18:36, etc.) while understanding the royal kingdom of which we also have been made a part through Him (Rev. 1:5-6, 1 Pet. 2:9-10).

     If you would like to learn more about how each of us are connected to "the life of Sarah", you can join me in prayer: "Our Father, You have called me to Your Kingdom through and because of Your Son, Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You established His royal line down through many generations, assuring us all that we have a King who has been given all power and authority, who will return to rule and reign over all the earth. Help me, Father, to serve this Kingdom and to establish it in my own heart and in all of the places upon which I set my feet. I declare that the Kingdom of God is here. It is in each of us, dwelling within me and manifesting through me until the moment when our King's feet will touch upon the Mt. of Olives in Israel. Let Your Holy Spirit guide me to follow my King and let Your Word shine as a lamp unto my feet. I ask this in the name of my coming King, 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. 

HolySpirit

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

RoyalMothers

This week's Sabbath reading portion seems to speak a great deal about the importance of mothers, not just as biological parents, but as spiritual determiners. The Book of Proverbs begins: "The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel." (Prov. 1:1). While kings inherit the throne through their fathers, as we see here, the kings are often identified specifically in scripture by their mothers, as well. Further along in the first chapter of Proverbs, Solomon writes about attaining wisdom, knowledge and understanding. He wrote: "My son, hear the instruction (musar/yasar - discipline, chastening, correction, restraint, warning, reproof, rebuke, instruction, doctrine (see also 2 Tim. 4:1-2)/reform, chastise with blows, punish) of your father, and do not forsake (natas - leave, cease, abandon, cast off, let fall, lie fallow) the law (torah/yara - law, direction, human or divine instruction and direction, body of prophetic teaching, precept, law of sacrifice/shoot arrows, teach, point out, flow as water) of your mother (em - mother, point of departure or division, mother of the way, a parting of the road, source and head of the way, leading city, to set an example, to teach, she who bestows benefits on others); For they will be a graceful (hen - favor, grace, kindness, good will) ornament (livya/lava - wreath, garland/to be joined to, cleave, abide, to unite by twining, joined closely) on your head, and chains (anaq - necklace, stature, adorn with neck ornament, liberally furnish, supply, carried on the neck by a shepherd) about your neck." (v. 8-9). We can see here that the role of the mother who sets the direction, is to be related to the Torah, the Word of God. As a result of the influence of both parents, the child's life will be full of the honor, grace, and favor of God. This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Chayyei Sarah, or "The life of Sarah". It covers Gen. 23 through 24, and actually begins with Sarah's death! So why is it called "The life of Sarah"? Sarah's death will create a new direction, a point of departure from current circumstances (see above Hebrew meaning of "mother"), as Abraham sends his servant out of Canaan to find his son, Isaac, a wife from Abraham's relatives. Sarah's name plays a very important role in this new direction. Her original name, Sarai, means "princess, nobility/prince, captain, ruler, governor, keeper, leader, commander/to have power, prevail over, reign, dominion". The LORD earlier said to Abraham: "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah (sara - noblewoman or lady, princess, queen, wife of a nobly-born king) shall be (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega: see Rev. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13) her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her; and she shall be a (mother) of nations; kings of peoples shall come from her." (Gen. 17:15-16). Eve was called "the mother of all living", but, as we can see from this, Sarah could be considered to be "the mother of the royalty of God's covenant people", as God renamed her. Before we leave the generation of Sarah, we can look at another mother of kings, which was Hagar, the Egyptian maid of Sarah, and the mother of Abraham's first born son, Ishmael. Isaac would be the son of the covenant with God, but Ishmael would be blessed by God also for Abraham's sake. The LORD said to Abraham: "And as for Ishmael, ...Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you..." (Gen. 17:20-21). How did Hagar, Ishmael's mother, play a role as a royal "point of departure" (see definition of "mother", above)? Sarah had Hagar and Ishmael cast out of Abraham's camp because Ishmael had mocked the covenant heir, Isaac. Hagar and Ishmael were in the wilderness, out of water, and dying of thirst (Gen. 21:9-14), but God had made a promise. Hagar threw (salak - throw, hurl, fling, cast away, cast forth) her (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) child, Ishmael, under (tahat/toah - beneath, at the foot of, under subjection/humble, lowly) a bush (siah - bush, shrub, meditation, speak, commune, pray, declare, ponder, to bring forth). (v. 15). Hagar didn't place her son under the shrub, but threw him under it. The word for "shrub" is siah, which is part of the word "Messiah", who is also called The Branch. At this moment, God opened Hagar's (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eyes to see a well of water, and she and her (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) son filled their (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) skins or bottles with the water of the well: "So God was with the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) child." (v. 19-20). Hagar established the life of her son under the covering of the yet-to-be-born Messiah, Jesus. This makes Hagar the Egyptian a "mother" in the spiritual sense as well as an instructor in the Torah, the prophetic teaching, the law of sacrifice, flowing like water, as defined above, as she threw her son at the feet of the prophesied Messiah. She had learned well while in Abraham's household. The LORD spoke twice into Hagar's life, giving her direction, and she listened to the LORD, and both she and her son were preserved, prospered, and the kings came forth from Ishmael as promised. We read about another woman who walked in the life or manner of Sarah in this Sabbath reading. Abraham sent his servant back to his family to find a wife for his son, Isaac, after Sarah died. Abraham assured his servant that the angel of the LORD would be sent before him to help him (Gen. 24:7). The servant asked the LORD's help in identifying the right one for his master's son. The servant waited by a well because the women of the town would come to draw water (v. 10-11). The servant prayed: "Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, "Please let down your pitcher (kad - earthen vessel) that I may drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink' - let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant, Isaac..." (v. 14). Rebekah approached the well, and did all that Abraham's servant had prayed. She gave the servant water, and watered the ten camels (v. 18-20). We see here in Rebekah the qualities of a mother by God's definition: she was quick to bestow benefits upon others, and she exhibited the Torah, the Word of God, as flowing water. This is the one whom the LORD had appointed for Isaac. She ultimately agreed to go back to Canaan to marry Isaac. As they approached the area of Isaac's tent, which had been his mother, Sarah's, tent, "Then Rebekah lifted her (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eyes, and when she saw (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac, she dismounted from her camel.." (v. 64). She asked the servant who the man was who was walking to meet them. The man was Isaac, the servant answered. We have discovered before that when the expression "lifted the eyes and saw" is used, the person is seeing by nasa resurrection, or spiritual, ra'a sight. Rebekah was a comfort to Isaac in the loss of his mother, Sarah (v. 67). We know that in the future, Rebekah will hear from the LORD regarding the twins she is carrying in her womb, and she will "set the point of departure or division, the parting of the road" between the two sons, according to the direction and election of the LORD. One of the sons, Jacob, who is named in the genealogy of Jesus, will later be renamed "Israel" by the LORD who said to him: "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel (yisrael/sara - "God prevails"/ have power as a prince, contend, persevere, leader, commander, prince, to set in order): for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." (Gen. 32:28 KJV). It is also interesting to note that scripture makes sure to tell us that Rebekah is the granddaughter of Nahor and his wife Milcah, whose name means "queen"! (Gen. 24:15). In another portion from this Sabbath's reading, Chayyei Sarah, from 1 Kings 1, another mother, Bathsheba, will heed the words of the prophet, Nathan, joining herself to that part of the Torah that is the "body of prophetic teaching" (see above), and will insure that the Kingdom of Israel will pass from King David, who at this time was very old, to his tenth son, Solomon, Bathsheba's son, who is named in the genealogy of Jesus (see Mt. 1:6-7). David's fourth son, Adonijah, had tried to take the throne before his father's death, saying, "I will be king." (1 Kings 1:5). Scripture tells us that David had not rebuked Adonijah at any time for this (v. 6), which is part of the instruction of a father, as we saw above in Proverbs. Because of the intervention of Nathan and Bathsheba, David commanded that Solomon be anointed king while David was still alive (v. 32-35), to be king in David's place, a remarkable thing for a sitting king to do. Again we see that a mother in the Spirit will point to the royal path appointed by God, in addition to other attributes. Finally, in the last reading portion from this Sabbath, we see another mother who will stand at the head of the way, at the fork of the road. She will establish the line that will lead to David, a future king, and forefather of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, the greatest King in heaven and earth. Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi, was the widow of Elimelech ("My God is King"). (Ruth 1:1-2). We are speaking here of the royalty of God, Himself. Not only was Naomi's husband dead, but so were her two sons. Would the royal line of God end here? No! Naomi accepted the Moabitess Ruth's plea to return with Naomi to Israel, near Bethlehem, even as Ruth accepted the God of Israel, Naomi's God, as her God also (Ruth 1:16). There lived an older unmarried (therefore also having no descendants) relative of Elimelech, Boaz (meaning "fleetness"). Boaz first saw Ruth gleaning in his field after the reapers had gone through to harvest the main crop. Ruth sought to feed Naomi and herself in this manner. She valued every blade of grain, even those left behind from the larger harvest. She and Naomi, being widows, had no other source of provision. Boaz made sure that Ruth would come to no harm (Ruth 2:8-9). Ruth asked Boaz why she had found such favor with him, and he answered: "It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge." (v. 11-12). Naomi lived in the manner of a spiritual mother, who bestows benefits on others (see above). Boaz made haste, as his name "fleetness" tells us, to clear the way for him to marry Ruth. Her mother-in-law, Naomi assured Ruth: "...the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day." (Ruth 3:18). Their son, Obed (meaning "servant, laborer, worshipper [of God]"), was the grandfather of David. Ruth was well deserving by her character to have become a mother to the royalty of God. To me, all of these examples of spiritually appointed mothers of the royalty of God is what is meant as following after "Chayyai Sarah", the life of Sarah. Man has its set idea regarding the meaning of "mother", considering only the natural condition, and many limit themselves to, and are directed by this understanding. However, God expects us "to lift up our eyes and see" His revelation in the Spirit. The believers in Christ are called to be kings and priests, and a royal priesthood, serving after the royalty and priesthood of Jesus. If you would like to know more about the call of royalty of God in Christ, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You have provided spiritual mothers and fathers for us, and have called us to be spiritual mothers and fathers to others, to direct the way to the royal household and calling of God. Teach us through Your Word, Jesus, and by Your Holy Spirit, to understand and to walk in this by the examples that You have given to us in this Sabbath reading. I ask this in the name of Jesus, AMEN."