Bethel

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Va-yeitze, meaning, "And he left". The title speaks about the moment when Jacob had to leave his home and parents because his brother, Esau, threatened to kill him. The reading begins in Genesis 28:10: "Now Jacob went out (yasa - go out, go forth, come out of, proceed toward something with a purpose or for a result) from Beersheba and went toward Haran." Haran was the place of his mother Rebekah's family where she told Jacob to go until his brother's anger had cooled. Jacob didn't know at the time that he would be away from home for twenty years.

     After Jacob left his home, "...he came (paga - meet, reach, make intercession, entreat, encounter, to reach the mark, to strike upon, pain, inflict, to strike a covenant, to assail with prayers) to a certain place (root word qum - rise, arise, stand, endure, be proven, to persist, be fulfilled, ordain, establish, ratify, confirm, build, set up, bring on the scene) and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took (laqah - take, receive, married, fetch, seize, take a wife) one of the stones ('eben/bana - a stone used to build, a natural stone, plummet, headstone, slingstones/to build, establish, build up, repair, obtain children) of that place and put it at his head, and he laid down in that place to sleep." (v. 11).

     We can say, perhaps, that Jacob not only came to a physical place, but, because of the meanings of the Hebrew words in the above verse, Jacob also came to a spiritual place. It was a spiritual place of intercession and covenant, but also a place where these things are established and built. There is a stone connected to both what is being entreated or interceded for, and what is being fulfilled or completed.

     As Jacob slept, he had a revelatory dream of a ladder which was set up on the earth, and reached up into heaven with angels of God ascending and descending that ladder. Jacob saw the LORD standing above the ladder who spoke to him and said: "I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad...and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." (v. 13-14, see also Mt. 28:18-20, Heb. 13:5-6).

     This was a very powerful revelation, as the LORD spoke directly to Jacob in his dream, and Jacob saw the movement of the angels between heaven and earth in order to fulfill God's will. Jacob also recognized the importance of what he experienced: "Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 'Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.' And he was afraid and said, 'How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!' Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar (masseba/nasab - image, pillar, garrisons, monument, altar/to station or stand  [see also Eph. 6:10-18] in an upright position, establish, erect), and poured oil on top (ro's - head, beginning, chief, top, summit) of it. And he called (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the name of that place Bethel (bet-el [2x]/bayit - "house of God"/house, dwelling, habitation, family, descendants as an organized body, palace, temple); but the name of that city had been Luz (meaning "almond tree", former city of the Hittites located on the border of the Israelite tribe of Benjamin) previously." (v. 16-19).

     The stone became the anointed head stone over a pillar that was built from it, and Jacob pronounced the place's name as the House of God, or the Temple of God. This is the same way in which the Messiah/Christ (the anointed One) Jesus built His assembly of believers, both Jew and Gentile. It is not a physical place, but a spiritual place built upon the revelation that He, Jesus, is the Messiah/Christ, the Son of God (see Mt. 16:13-19). He is the Head Stone or Chief Stone (see ro's above) of this House of God which is being built from Him. Jesus also described the authority and power that would be given to this spiritual place being built from Messiah/Christ: "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." In the same way that Jacob "saw" a ladder that connected heaven and earth, the spiritual building being established or built from the anointed Head Stone of Messiah/Christ connects heaven and earth. As Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He included in the prayer to the Father in heaven: "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Mt. 6:9-15). Again we see in this prayer that was taught by Jesus Messiah/Christ the idea of a direct connection between heaven and earth through prayer or intercession (see paga above) in establishing the will of God, and not our own will. Jacob was terrified and reverent in the face of this revelation at Bethel. Do we understand what has been entrusted to us as this spiritual House of God?

     The apostle Paul wrote of this spiritual House of God, which we are: "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Eph. 2:19-22).

     Paul wrote this to a group of believers in Ephesus, a city dedicated to, and revolving around the temple of the Roman goddess of Diana the huntress that was in its midst. We will see more about the spiritual battleground that tries to destroy the pillar (see masseba/nasab above), the spiritual House of God built from the anointed Stone of Christ.

     The apostle Peter also wrote to the believers of Asia Minor who were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus about the living Stone who is Jesus, and the spiritual House of God that they were being built into: "Coming to Him (Jesus) as to a living stone, rejected by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ..." (see 1 Pet. 2:4-10).

     The story of Bethel is not complete without mentioning its cautionary history. We can understand the spiritual danger that encompassed Bethel because of its great spiritual significance in the life of Jacob. Bethel would later belong in the territory of the Israelite tribe of Benjamin. The ark of the covenant was kept at Bethel at one time also, and the LORD was worshipped there. (Judges 20:27). Both Elijah and Elisha, the prophets of Israel traveled through Bethel. However, when the nation of Israel became divided, the northern kingdom of Israel, also referred to as Ephraim in scripture, went to war against the tribe of Benjamin in the south, they took Bethel away from Benjamin and it became incorporated into the northern kingdom. After the split of northern Israel from southern Israel, which was called Judah, the king of the north, Jeroboam made two calves of gold at Bethel, and also Dan, and told the people, "Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt." (1 Kings 12:26-29). Bethel is also mentioned in the Book of Amos the prophet. The Word of the LORD by the prophet told His people to seek Him and live, and not to seek Bethel. An unquenchable fire would devour Bethel the LORD said because of the idolatry there. (Amos 5:4-7). The priest of Bethel, Amaziah, told the king of Israel to forbid Amos to prophesy in the northern kingdom because of his prophecies of judgment there. (Amos 7:10-17). How sad the story of Bethel became in their idolatry. The "House of God" built upon the head stone anointed by Jacob worshipped the golden calves of the false god, Ba'al. 

     There is no mention of Bethel in the New Testament. However, there is mention of the House of God in Jerusalem, the Temple, which Jesus rebuked and cleansed from the idol of wealth, money-changing, merchandizing and profiteering. The House of God, both physical and spiritual, will always be a target for the corruption of false gods and the lusts of man because of the Name of God and the anointing that it represents.

     Paul wrote to the rich church at Corinth about the danger of uniting the spiritual House of God with darkness and idolatry: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial (apistos - unbelieving, faithless, without trust in God, disbelieving, infidel)? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (2 Cor. 6:14-16). The danger of corruption still exists for the House of God in the form of the believers in Messiah/Christ Jesus.

     However, in another portion of this Sabbath's reading, Hosea urges God's people to return to Him. The door of return would be offered to Israel, not because of the physical existence of Bethel, but because of the promise made to Jacob by the LORD at Bethel: "Yes, he (Jacob) struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept and sought favor with Him. He found Him in Bethel, and there He spoke to us - That is, the LORD God of hosts. The LORD is His memorable name. So you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, and wait on your God continually." (Hos. 12:4-6). The Words and promises of God are eternal.

     Bethel is not a physical place. It is a spiritual place - the House of the LORD - where His Name and His Word prevail forever, where heaven and earth connect to one another, based upon the revelation of Messiah/Christ Jesus as being the anointed Living Stone from which a whole spiritual house, a pillar, is being built, and we are the living stones from which it is being built and established. That anointing oil pours down from our Head Stone, Jesus, to cover all of the stones of the House.  That House calls for all to return and seek God and live. That spiritual House prays always, declaring the kingdom of God, and His will accomplished on earth as it is in heaven. Blessed be His holy Name.

     If you would like to know more about the House of God, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, help me to understand and to live in the manner that You have appointed for Your living, spiritual House, a House built upon Your Son, Jesus, the Living Stone, the Head Stone. As Your House, cleanse me, Lord Jesus, from unrighteousness and idolatry so that I will bring honor and glory to Your Name, Jesus, and to the Name of the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Your spiritual House is a House of prayer to which all nations may come and find You. I thank and bless You for creating this living House of Your Name. In Jesus's Name, I pray. 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. 

Leaving

      The title of this Sabbath's reading portion is Va-yeitze, which means "And he left." The title comes from the first verse of the reading portion: "Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran." (Gen. 28:10). The Hebrew word for "went out" as used above is yasa, which has a very rich and full meaning: "out, forth, proceed, go, depart, go forward, proceed to something, go forth with purpose, to deliver, be brought out, break out, bring forth, lead out, be risen, to germinate and expand like a plant, water flowing or gushing out of a fountain, running through a boundary, the end of a period of time." Up until this point, the only guidance that Jacob has had from the LORD is through the advice of his mother, Rebekah, who received prophetic revelation from the LORD regarding her two sons. According to the meaning of yasa above, Jacob would now be going forth from something and proceeding toward something else. Old boundaries would be overrun. Like gushing waters breaking out, however, the journey will not be controlled by Jacob, but by his own personal interaction and revelation from the LORD. The only guidance he has in leaving his familiar home and the murderous rage of his brother, Esau, is his parents' instruction to go find a wife from among Rebekah's relatives in Haran (see Gen. 28:1-5).      

     As we will see, the LORD takes us out of our familiar circumstances, sometimes having to push us out, in order to bring us into a deeper place with Him. He brings us into a time when He will give us a prophetic promise, and then the test comes as to whether we will hold on to that promise through both good and trying circumstances. We read in the Psalms: "He sent a man before them - Joseph - who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him." (Ps. 105:17-19). Upon receiving the prophetic Word of the LORD will we hold on to it through all testing circumstances? Peter wrote: "And so we have the prophetic word (regarding the prophesied appearing of Jesus as the Son of God) confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;" (2 Pet. 1:19). The interaction with the LORD, which is often prophetic, is the light that continues to be present even in the darkest days, until those days become light within us. The light within us cannot help but manifest outside of us as well.

     As Jacob travelled north from Beersheba, he came to "a certain place" and spent the night as it had gotten dark. This "certain  place" will turn out to be about the first tenth along the way of the journey to Haran, his destination. "And he took one of the stones (eben/bana - a stone especially associated with building or repairing, obtaining children) of that place (maqom/qum - rise up, establish, stand, confirm, continue, abide, sure, accomplish) and put it at his head (as his pillows: (mera'asot/mer'asot/ros - bolster, pillow, at his head/place at the head, dominion, headship, principality/head, chief, beginning, captain, first, choicest, height, top), and he lay down (sakab - lie down, rest, sleep, in death, death bed, be poured out, of those who are dying, in speaking of the death of kings) in that place to sleep (sakab - see previous)." (Gen. 28:11).  By placing that stone at his head, Jacob built or established something for himself and his future children which would be his ruler, his chief, his prince. We will see later who this stone represents. We also see a parallel with the sleep of death here as well. Receiving the prophetic direction or revelation of the LORD into our lives, we must go through a certain kind of death to self and death to the things of this world followed by an awakening to a new understanding and acceptance. We have to bow our knee to the higher, far superior God of all.

     While sleeping, Jacob had a special dream. He saw a ladder "set up on earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it..." (v. 13). In the dream, the LORD confirmed to Jacob His covenant promise made to Abraham for the land and the multiplication of his descendants. The LORD again repeated to Jacob the covenant made with Abraham: "...and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (v. 14). The LORD added to the promise: "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." (v. 15). Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 'Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." (v. 16). Jacob woke from sleep and was afraid (yare - fear, afraid, tremble, dreadful, inspire reverence or godly fear or awe, stupendous) and declared, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" (v. 17). It is almost as if Jacob had experienced a spiritual resurrection from death after experiencing this remarkable sight in his dream.

     Jacob immediately created a memorial in that place: "Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) stone that he had put at his head, set it up (sum - set up, ordain, mark, appoint, establish, transform into, make for a sign, call a name, convey, preserve, purpose) as a pillar (masseba - monument, personal memorial, column, standing image, something set upright), and poured oil (semen/saman - olive oil, as medicine or unguent, for anointing, fruitful, fatness that breaks the yoke: see Isa. 10:27/to shine, to cover with fat) on top of it. And he called the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) name-of-that-place Bethel ("house of God - bet'el/bayit/bana - temple, family, dwelling habitation, shelter or abode for animals, family of descendants, sepulchre, eternal home/build, establish, cause to continue, built up, repair, obtain children); but the name of that city had been Luz ("almond tree/hazel" - the first tree that awakens in spring after winter sleep) previously." (v. 18-19).

     To me, the aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega stone mentioned above that is anointed with olive oil is a prophetic picture of the Messiah/Christ to come, who also, as the ladder mentioned in Jacob's dream, reconciles together all things created in heaven and earth. (Col. 1:15-20). Once the promise or prophecy is made by the LORD, His presence will not leave the person as the LORD said to Jacob. (see also Deut. 31:8, Mt. 28:19-20). In another verse of scripture, the LORD says to Joshua in a later generation: "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you." (Josh. 1:5). This is the light that Peter wrote of above that rises within us as we hold onto the prophecies and promises of the LORD to us. 

     Jacob left again on his journey to his relatives from that *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega place of Bethel as a changed man. However, there has been a change. When the scriptures say that "So Jacob went", we have a different Hebrew word and meaning after Jacob's encounter with the LORD. The word used here for "went" is nasa, meaning: "to lift, carry, support, sustain, endure, be lifted up, exalted, rise up, be carried, forgive, furnish, grow, increase, set up a banner, raise up and carry like the ark of the covenant." Jacob would not be going on his journey alone any longer, but with the presence of the LORD that goes with His prophetic promise.

     Although the prophetic promise of the LORD given to Jacob tested him (see Ps. 105 above) for twenty years, through some trying circumstances and disappointments, the light of the favor of the LORD was discernable in his life. His relative and father-in-law, Laban, became aware that he personally prospered after Jacob came into his family, and was very reluctant to allow Jacob to leave to return home. Laban said to Jacob: "Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake...Name your wages, and I will give it." (Gen. 30:27-28). That light of favor becomes apparent if we treasure the prophetic promises of God within us.

     From another of this Sabbath's reading portions it is written: "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold...By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life." (Prov. 22:1, 4). It is not by the ways of the world, but by the ways of the LORD that we live and are sustained.

     From another of this week's reading portions concerning yasa or "leaving", the king of Syria, Ben-Hadad, with thirty-two other kings mustered up a large army together to come against Samaria, in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. They were coming for the gold, silver, and royal household of the King of Israel. King Ahab, the king of Israel who was rebellious towards God, was facing certain defeat against this large enemy coalition army. King Ahab consulted with his advisors, who told him not to give the King of Syria what he was demanding. The huge enemy army had just been commanded by their drunken leaders to get ready to attack: "Suddenly a prophet approached Ahab, king of Israel, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the LORD... Then he (King Ahab) mustered the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) young leaders of the provinces...and after them, he mustered all the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people, all the children of Israel - seven thousand." (1 Kings 20:1-13). "So they went out (yasa - see above) at noon...The young men of the provinces went out (yasa - see above) first. These young leaders of the provinces went out (yasa - see above) of the city with the army which followed them....Then the king of Israel went out (yasa - see above) and attacked the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter." (v. 16-21).

     The army of King Ahab, led by (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) young lads "went out", with the prophetic promise of the LORD, against a huge enemy army. The prophet came back after the successful battle and warned King Ahab to "take note and see what he should do", because the same king of Syria would be back again to come up against him in the spring. When the time came in the spring, the LORD again sent a prophet to direct King Ahab by the prophetic Word of the LORD, which the king only partially obeyed (1 Kings 20:42-43). This would lead to Ahab's eventual downfall.

     The prophetic Word of the LORD works powerfully through His *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Messianic/Christ people. The Book of Revelation says: "...I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit (pneuma/pneo - Holy Spirit, a life-giving spirit, life, spirit, breath, breeze/to breathe, blow, the wind) of prophecy." (Rev. 19:10). 

     Jacob had to leave his home behind for many years, but he was accompanied by the presence of God and the Word of prophetic promise. It is breath and life-sustaining power in us from the One who IS the prophetic Word. It becomes the light within us that sustains us and others with us through the darkness.

     If you would like to know more about the role of the prophetic promise of God in our lives, either through His written Word, or by the revelation of His Spirit, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father from Whom all perfect gifts flow, I treasure and rely upon Your prophetic promises to guide my leaving and my arriving in my natural and spiritual travels. Your Word becomes light and favor that all can see as You promise to be with me. Let me not rely upon my own strength nor my own will in determining my course but direct my path according to Your great godly wisdom and knowledge. Let that prophetic promise that You have placed within me always guide me back to You if I wander off of the path that You have set for me. I ask these things for myself and for my household 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.

     

     

     

Thanksgiving

      We are in the season of Thanksgiving in several nations.  One of the most difficult things in our spiritual walk is the giving of thanks to God. You may question that statement, but the lack of thanks happens in our lives every day, especially if we find ourselves in difficult circumstances, but it is in those hardships that thanksgiving to God is our most powerful spiritual gift. We know this scripture: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thess. 5:18). Do we do it? I know that I don't. I am quick to thank the Lord for the good things in my life, but rarely think to thank God when I am suffering, or in difficulty. If anything, I am looking for where to place the blame!

     Paul wrote this about our incomplete understanding or knowledge of God: "For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part will be done away." (1 Cor. 13:9-10). This is what the LORD says about our understanding of Him: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:7-8). The LORD makes very clear what His thoughts are towards us: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you...and I will bring you back from your captivity..." (Jer. 29:11-14).  Although Judah was headed into Babylonian captivity at the time of this prophecy from Jeremiah, a fate they tried to avoid by any means, the LORD assured them that He still had thoughts and plans for them if they would seek Him. They didn't believe Him then, but God's thoughts and plans towards them are still in effect!

     This week's Sabbath portion is titled Va-yeitze, which means "And he left", referring to Jacob. It takes place in Gen. 28 through 31. Jacob is being forced to leave his home because his brother, Esau, has threatened to kill him. Esau believes that Jacob has repeatedly sought to steal his blessing from him. While Esau willingly gave away his birthright as firstborn to Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew, Jacob had indeed used deception to gain the blessing of his father, Isaac, for himself. In another reading portion from this Sabbath, Jacob (and his descendants, Israel) would later be noted by God as trying to gain God's blessing by his own strength: "...I will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds...He (Jacob) took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he struggled with God. Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought favor from Him...that is the LORD God of hosts." (Hos. 12:2-5, see also Gen. 32:22-32). 

     As we go back to the moment when Jacob was forced to leave his home, we read: "Now Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones from that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it." (Gen. 28:10-12). 

    Jacob left Beersheba behind. Beersheba was one of the great wells in Israel, established by Abraham (see Gen. 21:29-31, Gen. 21:14, 19), Jacob's grandfather. From this place of well-watered, covenant provision, Jacob was headed towards his mother's relatives in Haran, a place whose name means "parched, dried up, to burn, be hot, scorched, charred, be angry, kindle, to melt, fire, roast, a man in judgment". We don't know what Jacob, a man who was used to determining his own destiny, was thinking, but things were not looking good. An observer might think that a terrible fate awaited Jacob. A religious person might assume that Jacob was doomed for hell, according to the meaning of "Haran", but what are God's thoughts and plans for Jacob, which no man can know? It might help if we know that "Haran" also means "to be free, set at liberty, the brightness and purity of a man obscured by no stain". So which way will this story go?

     We need to look at the rest of the verses from above. The account in Gen. 28 tells us that Jacob "came (paga - encounter, meet, entreat, make intercession, join to, pray, meet together, reach) to a certain place". In Hebrew, "certain place", or maqom/qum, has great significance, meaning "a place to be raised up, "Arise!", raise up one fallen down, raise up a name, a seed or a posterity, become powerful, continue, be proven, be fulfilled, be established, confirm, the birth of a king or a prophet". Then it is written that Jacob took the (building) stone of raising up, or resurrection, and placed it at his head (mera'asot/ros - dominion, head place, headpiece, headship, principality/head, captain, chief, top, choicest). Through paga intercession and entreaty, Jacob made the building stone of resurrection, Jesus, his headship, his headpiece! Then Jacob laid down to sleep (sakab + sakab - lie down, rest, to be poured out of a vessel, decrease, to be prostrated, of those who are dying). In a moment, a life has been changed. A man, Jacob, has died to self, and surrendered himself to the One who lives forever, and can raise him up again. Could Jacob, at his lowest point, have remembered the story of his grandfather, Abraham, and his father, Isaac, who experienced that same ram of sacrifice on Mount Moriah? (Gen. 22:1-19)?

     What were God's thoughts and plans toward Jacob all along? The LORD stood at the top of that ladder that extended from earth to heaven that Jacob saw in his dream, and said to Jacob: "I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." (Gen. 28:13-15).

     When Jacob awoke he said: "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it...How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!"  And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega/ Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:, Rev. 22:13) stone, or headship, of resurrection, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it." And he called the name of that (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) place Bethel (meaning "House/family/temple/descendants of God"); but the name of that city had been Luz ("Almond Tree") previously." (Gen. 28:18-19).

     Jacob anointed with oil a physical place, but, to me, "Bethel" is any place where an earnest heart in prayer dies to self, and places the Resurrection and the Life, the Son of God, Jesus, at the headship over his life. To me, the ladder in the dream is the connection between earth and heaven and God, that is built through the prayer of one who seeks the Lord. Jacob sought blessing and favor by his own strength, but, blessing and favor was the LORD's plan for Jacob's life from the beginning. From our Sabbath reading this week, Proverbs says: "By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life." (Prov. 22:4). Jesus taught the same: "Therefore do not worry saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we wear?' For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Mt. 6:31-33).

     We can give God thanks even in the most difficult times, because, as Paul wrote: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." This is the predestination and foreknowledge of God for each of us. (Rom. 8:28-30).  It was the plan of God for Jacob's life that he would be the father of the twelve tribes/princes of Israel. One of his sons, Joseph, would save the nation of Egypt from destruction. That same son, Joseph, although betrayed by his brothers, was able to forgive them when he saw them again, saying, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.'...And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them." (Gen. 50:19-21).

     Jesus thanked His Father, even on the night that He was betrayed, was to be arrested, broken and sacrificed for our salvation. (1 Cor. 11:23-26). The word used for Communion, or Eucharist, is from the Greek word eucharistia, meaning "thanksgiving". If Jesus could give thanks to God for His own sacrifice, and looking beyond it to the great victory for many that would result from it, what circumstance would entitle us to withhold our own thanksgiving?

     If we can receive and believe this about our God, then we can and should thank Him in all circumstances. If you would like to know more about thankfulness, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, I know that your thoughts and plans for me are perfect in wisdom and grace. Forgive me, Lord, when I fail to give You the thanks that acknowledges Your constant favor towards me, even in difficult times and circumstances. When I rely upon my own sight, understanding and strength, I fail to see Your thoughts towards me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I will be able to say, "Teach me more, Lord!". Teach me the faith of the Son of man, a faith that goes beyond what I can see with my natural eyes, and beyond my own understanding, and relies instead upon what You have declared. Above all other things, Lord, I give You my thanks. Increase my thankfulness to You, Lord. I ask these things in Jesus' name. AMEN."

JustJudge

The following is a quote from automaker, Henry Ford: "Money doesn't change men, it merely unmasks them. If a man is naturally selfish, arrogant, or greedy, the money brings that out, that's all." Scripture also says through Paul, "And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Tim. 6:8-10). God does not forbid us to prosper. In fact, the Hebrew word for "salvation", which is yesua/yasa, which is also the root of Jesus' name, includes the meanings: welfare, prosperity, to be spacious, ample", in addition to what we think of when we hear the word "salvation". It also includes the idea of "avenging". The scripture from Timothy above warns us though that we need to have our minds renewed in regard to money. The desire for wealth or money, especially, when that desire is a priority to us, can become a snare that destroys even those in the faith. So money, and our attitudes toward it, is of importnce to God. This week's sabbath reading titled Va-yeitze, meaning "and he left", deals with wealth as it reveals the just and the unjust. Have you ever been cheated, or been taken advantage of, or have you perhaps taken advantage of others? The avenging God of Salvation has His eyes towards you either way because He has vowed to uphold justice. We are continuing in the Book of Genesis, or B'resheit, the book of Beginning, where God will establish His spiritual principles regarding how He will deal with injustice, especially as it is revealed in the acquiring of wealth. In Gen. 28, 29, and 31, we read about Jacob's dealings with his father-in-law, Laban. Jacob is the son of Isaac, and the grandson of Abraham. He was running for his life from his twin brother, Esau, who had despised his birthright, and "sold" it to his younger brother, Jacob (see previous blog entry "Kings"). In his fleeing, Jacob left Beersheba to go towards Haran, the place of his mother's relatives. "Beersheba", which means "the well of the sevenfold oath" is the name of a well established by Abraham, and confirmed to be of his ownership by a covenant that Abraham made with King Abimelech of the Philistines by sacrificing seven ewe lambs in Gen. 21:22-34. When leaving Beersheba, Jacob is leaving a sure provision established by his grandfather by covenant. He is going towards Haran/harar, which means "a place dried up or parched, burned, dried, angry, scorched, to roast, shriveled from drying, kindle (contention)". Not only was Jacob running for his life, but he was leaving behind his guaranteed provision, even a life-sustaining well established by his revered grandfather, Abraham. We can be sure that God is watching this. We know this to be a fact by what happened next. Jacob is given a dream in which he sees a ladder between earth and heaven with angels ascending and descending (Gen. 28:11-12). The LORD stood above this ladder and declared to Jacob: "I am the LORD God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth...and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." (v. 13-15). Jacob, upon waking, said: Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it:, and he was very afraid. He said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven", and he anointed a stone with oil, and called the place "Bethel", meaning "the house/family/descendants of God" (v. 18-19). He swore to give God a tenth of all that the LORD would give to Jacob in the future if the LORD would give him bread to eat and clothing to put on. Notice the similarity to what Paul wrote above in 1 Timothy 6 regarding food and clothing. Finally on his journey, Jacob found himself at another well, and discovered that this well was near his destination of Haran. There was a large, heavy stone across the top of this well, which the people only uncovered once a day when all of the flocks had been gathered. Three flocks were already there waiting, so they remained at the closed well waiting for the fourth flock. Since the meaning of Haran is a place of burning, scorching, melting dryness, we can perhaps guess why they kept the well covered, and opened it only once a day. Evaporation from the intense heat would have dried the water supply in the well. We can see a connection between the heavy stone that covered the well at scorching Haran, and the heavy stone that covered the "well of eternal life", the tomb of Jesus, a provision from God in the middle of a burning, scorched, dying world. Jesus had once cried out with a loud voice at a Feast of the LORD: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (Jn. 7:37-38, Isa. 55:1). Jesus is the well that can never dry up. As that stone was rolled away from Jesus' tomb, came the knowledge that Christ had risen from the dead. At the well in Haran, Jacob met his beautiful kinswoman, Rachel, who was a shepherdess of her father's sheep, and would become Jacob's future wife. Upon meeting this daughter of his mother's brother, Laban, Jacob kissed her and wept. (Gen. 29:9-11). When Rachel took Jacob to her father's house, Jacob told Laban all that had happened to him (v. v. 13). From that moment, Laban did nothing but deceive and cheat Jacob, both in the matter of marrying Rachel, and in his wages as he worked for his father-in-law (v. 20-25, Gen. 31:4-7, 38-41). Laban had been prospered and favored while Jacob had worked for him, and wanted to keep Jacob bound to him. Laban said to Jacob: "Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake." Jacob agreed saying: "For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the LORD has blessed you since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?" (Gen. 30:27-30). However, Laban again cheated Jacob (v. 32-36). The LORD then miraculously provided flocks for Jacob: "Thus the man (Jacob) became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys." (v. 38-43). Jacob's labor for Laban had lasted twenty years. The LORD then spoke to Jacob in a dream and said: "...I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel...where you made a vow to Me. Now, arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family." (Gen. 31:12-13). Jacob took his wives, children, and flocks that belonged to him, and fled from his father-in-law, who chased after him. In a dream, God warned Laban about how he should speak to Jacob (Gen. 31:22-24). Jacob then confronted Laban at Gilead (meaning "hard, stony region"), where Laban had caught up with Jacob. Jacob said to him: "Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night." (v. 42). Jacob then continued his journey home with his wives, children, servants and flocks, and was able to make a kind of peace with his brother, Esau. The other sabbath readings for this week also have something to say about the unjust actions of those who have fallen into the trap of the corrupt desire for money or wealth of some kind. Again, money and wealth are neutral. It is what the desire for it magnifies about a man's soul that becomes a problem in God's eyes. Christ was sold into betrayal for the price of thirty pieces of silver. The silver offered to Judas Iscariot only revealed and magnified the resentment and bitterness that was already in the heart of the betrayer. In some cases as shown in this week's sabbath readings, God has used an oppressive enemy of Israel's love of money to entrap him into his own appointed destruction (1 Kings 20), but God's own people have also fallen into this trap (Hosea 11 and 12). In the end times prophesied in scripture, the single-minded pursuit and love of wealth will be one cause for destruction (Rev. 18, 2 Tim. 3:1-2). In the words from another of this week's sabbath readings appointed for our wisdom, the scriptures say: "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold." (Prov. 22:1). Again the question that was asked in the beginning of this post: Have you been cheated or taken advantage of? Hopefully it was something similar to these words of Jesus: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (see Ex. 21:24-25).' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two...You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust...Therefore you shall be perfect (teleios/telos - finished, perfect, lacking nothing to completeness, fully grown, adult, mature/the end, the goal, the purpose, eternal), just as your Father in heaven is perfect (teleios/telos - same as above)." (Mt. 5:38-48, Lk. 6:27-36). The sabbath readings for this week, to me, require an honest examination of our hearts regarding the question asked at the beginning of this post. Our own welfare and future prosperity will be affected by these issues. After fleeing from home, Jacob was repeatedly cheated for twenty years by the relatives with which he had sought safety, until God miraculously provided wealth for him, and told him to leave and return to his homeland. Would we have reacted in the same way as Jacob did if placed in a similar circumstance of long-term betrayal and greed? God sees the injustices, and turns them against the enemy, and for His people: "...they hired against you Ba'laam the son of Beor...to curse you. Nevertheless the LORD your God would not listen to Ba'laam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you. You shall not seek (daras - search after, require, resort to, demand, ask for, follow, to frequent, consult) their peace (salom/salam - welfare, prosperity, safety, friendship, covenant relationship/reward, repay, restore, restitution, recompense, covenant of peace) nor their prosperity (tob - good, wealth, prosperity, precious, happiness, bounty, cheer, delight) all your days forever. You shall not abhor an Edomite (descendants of Esau and a continual enemy of Israel), for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian (former haven and then slavemasters), because you were an alien in his land." (Deut. 23:5-7). While the LORD is saying not to hate a person or people who have grievously injured us, He also is saying that we are not to search for, nor ask for or demand, their wealth, their peace, their happiness, a covenant relationship, even rewards, restitution or re-payment from their wealth. God's eyes are upon them, and upon us. He is using what is revealed in the heart by the exchange or pursuit of wealth and prosperity in order to make His determinations as the Just Judge. God prospers His people in a time and a manner that will not draw them into traps of destruction, if we will learn His B'resheit or foundational principles, and walk in them. He wrote to His people by the Holy Spirit: "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (2 Jn. v. 2). If you would like to know more about the snare of the love of wealth to our hearts, you can pray with me: "Dear Father, Your eyes are upon my heart, and the hearts of all men. Renew my mind and a right spirit within me regarding the difference between how God's people are to prosper, and how the world pursues prosperity. Let me always be content as You prosper me as You also prosper my soul. Teach me the wisdom and power found in Christ's words regarding the difference between the Kingdom of God, and the kingdoms of this world regarding prosperity, and its acquisition. Fill me with the Spirit of wisdom and understanding that keeps me from temptation, and from the love of money. Fill my heart with the understanding of the Just Judge. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."