HeartTablets

                                                      Tablets placed inside of the Ark of the Covenant/Testimony

       The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Eikev, which means, "Because/As a consequence of/following after." The title comes from Deuteronomy 7:12-13, as Moses spoke to the Israelites: "Then it shall come to pass because ('eqeb/eikeb  - because, end, consequence, gain, reward, result, the latter part, wages) you listen to (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-these-judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-covenant and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-mercy which He swore to your fathers. And He will love you and bless you and multiply you..." 

     For this study, we should pay special attention to the use of the words "the judgments", "the covenant", and "the mercy", and that all three are preceded by the *aleph-tav in the written Hebrew, which Jesus identified as being Himself (see *note below).

     In the readings for this Sabbath from Deuteronomy chapters 8, 9, and 11, Moses continually stresses, not just the law, but the kind of personal and intimate relationship that Israel should keep with the LORD and with His Word. Let us look at some of these instructions of Moses.

     Moses said: "Therefore you shall love (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always." (Deut. 11:1).

     "And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul (see also Deut. 6:4-5), then I will give you the rain for your land in its season...". (Deut. 11:13-14).

     "For if you carefully keep (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-these-commandments which I command you to do - to love (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him - then the LORD will drive out (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-these-nations from before you..." (Deut. 11:22-23).

     We can see that the keeping of the commandments is "the consequence of" or "follows after" (see 'eqeb/eikeb above) the love for the LORD. There are blessings that will also be "the consequence of" or "follow after" the keeping of God's Word in our love of Him as mentioned in the above verses. The LORD through Moses emphasizes the necessity of loving Him with all of our hearts.

     Moses gives even deeper instructions to the Israelites: "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart." (Deut. 6:6). Also, "Therefore you shall lay up (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-these-words-of-mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes." (Deut. 11:18).

     The Words of the LORD are not only to be obeyed, but they are to be internally placed upon/within our hearts.

      These things brought to my mind a visualization that I had not considered before. Let us go to the next step in the vision that the LORD will present to us through His pattern established with Moses.

     Moses received the first set of stone tablets which contained the Ten Commandments which the LORD Himself wrote on the mountain. The LORD then told Moses to hurry down from the mountain because the people below were committing a great sin. Moses hurried down from the mountain with those tablets to find that a golden calf idol had been molded and the people were raucously worshipping it. He threw down the stone tablets and broke them before the eyes of the people. He took their (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-sin, the golden (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-calf, and burnt it with fire, and then crushed and ground what was left of it into fine dust. He then threw (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-dust into the brook (nahal root- inherit, inheritance, heritage, give as a possession, receive anything as a possession) that descended from the mountain. (see Deut. 9:12-21).

     We have heard of this above account in scripture, but seeing the written *aleph-tav's connected to this event is very thought provoking.

     However, the LORD was not done. He would write again upon a new or second set of tablets, telling Moses: "...Hew (pasal - cut out of a quarry, to carve, building stones, hew off boughs to create a shape) for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to Me on the mountain and make yourself an ark ('aron/'ara - ark, chest, coffin/to gather, to reap, to collect together) of wood ('es/'asa - tree, wood, gallows, carpenter/ to shut, fasten, shut a door). And I will write on the tablets (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you shall put them in the ark...And He wrote on the tablets according to the first writing, the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Ten Commandments...Then I turned and came down from the mountain, and put (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tablets in the ark which I had made; and there they are, just as the LORD commanded me." (Deut. 10:1-5, excerpt).

     As Moses described above, he was instructed to create an ark for the second set of commandments. We know that this ark containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments would later be placed in the innermost chamber of the tabernacle, the Holy of Holies. An additional item would be added to the construction of the ark: a gold covering around the wooden chest of the ark, and a special solid piece of gold for the top of the chest, called the Mercy Seat (kapporeth - to cover, atonement covering), that would also include as one piece two covering angels with wings. Jewish teaching also refers to the space above the ark of the covenant/testimony as the Throne of God. 

     Therefore, the Words are carved on the tablets of stone, which tablets are kept or concealed within the wooden ark, which is directly under the Mercy Seat covering and, at the same time, under the covering wings of the two angels. For me, this is a visualization of our relationship with Jesus Messiah/Christ.

     There are many scriptures that instruct us to write the Word of God on/in our hearts, some even say specifically "the tablets of our hearts": "Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet (luah - of stone or wood on which anything is carved) of your heart." (Prov. 3:3). Also: "My son, keep my (the father's) words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart." (Prov. 7:1-3). Other references to the Words of God being in our hearts can be found in Prov. 6:21, Prov. 4:20-21, Ps. 119:11.

     The prophet Jeremiah connects the writing of God's Word in our hearts to a new covenant: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-house of Israel and with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-house of Judah - not according to the covenant that I made with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-their-fathers...(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-covenant which they broke (parar - to break to bits, shatter, split, crack through, break apart, crumble, destroy)...But this is the covenant that I will make...I will put (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-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, also Heb. 8:8-12).

     For me, according to this spiritual pattern and vision, the tablets of stone upon which the LORD wrote His commandments represents the hearts of His covenant people, particularly His new covenant people represented by the second set of tablets. Why would our hearts be shown in this vision pattern to be of stone? The prophet Ezekiel wrote the Word of the LORD regarding stony hearts that are transformed: "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-Spirit within you and cause you to walk (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-in -My-statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." (Ezek. 36:25-27, see also Ezek. 11:19-20). Paul followed this same vision pattern, writing: "...clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart." (2 Cor. 3:3).

     Why two tablets according to scripture? Perhaps because the Body of Messiah/Christ and the inclusion of the nations as spoken by God prophetically, is of two peoples: Jewish and Greek/Gentile who become as one man through faith in Messiah/Christ. (see Rom. 1:16-17 and 1 Cor. 12:12-14).

     The ark of wood (see meaning above) in this vision pattern that I am seeing, into which the tablets are placed, hidden, or gathered, is Messiah/Christ. The Hebrew letters that make up 'aron, or ark in English, are aleph, reysh, vaw and nun. The individual meanings of each letter, when joined together can mean: "The Lord Adonai who is the highest, the head, the first and the beginning, is joined to or nailed to, the son, faithful and continual, who is heir to the throne." Paul also wrote of this vision pattern: "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above....Set your minds on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." (Col. 3:1-4). Jesus told us to abide in Him, rather than just "with" Him. (see Jn. 15:4-5).

     I am saying that the vision pattern has us, as living tablets, permanently inside the Ark of the Covenant/Testimony, which is Messiah/Christ, and inside the Holy of Holies, where no flesh was allowed to go, except once a year by the high priest on the Day of Atonement. The Book of Hebrews says that we now have full, bold, and unlimited access to the Holy of Holies, because of the work of Christ on the cross and His atoning blood that was shed. (Heb. 10:19-23).

     The vision pattern does not end there, but continues.

     So far, the Word of God is written on/in the tablets of our hearts. The tablets, our hearts, are gathered and hidden within the ark, Jesus. The ark is positioned under the solid gold Mercy Seat, which receives the atoning blood of the sacrifice (Messiah/Christ: see Heb. 10:19-23 above). Above the Mercy Seat, and hammered from the same piece of solid gold, are the overspreading wings of the covering angels. Let us look at some scriptures pertaining to this place of the mercy and wings of Elohim (the name of God meaning the exceedingly great God and His angels):

     The Book of Hebrews again teaches: "Let us therefore (through our sympathetic High Priest, Jesus) come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:15-16).

     "For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide (gur - dwell, abide, gathered, gather together [see 'aron/ark above], stand in awe) in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter (seter - secret place, hiding place, covering, carefully hidden) of Your wings." (Ps. 61:3-4). David wrote this Psalm referring to the tabernacle of God as his dwelling place forever, specifically in the hiding place of God's wings.

     "He (the Most High) shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler." (Ps. 91:4).

     "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul (nehfesh - soul, life, breath, mind, heart, tablet) trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by." (Ps. 57:1 by David).

     "How precious is Your lovingkindness (hesed - mercy, goodness, merciful, kindness, love, favor), O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings." (Ps. 36:7 by David).

     David wrote of this same vision of the spiritual pattern that Moses presented to Israel, and which was later fulfilled in Messiah/Christ, Jesus. David also referred to this place under the mercy and wings as a refuge, as a place of our trust and hope. It is also written in the Book of Hebrews: "...it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil (referring to the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle), where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (meaning "King of Righteousness")." (Heb. 6:18-20).

    The idea of our eternal home in the Holy of Holies, within Messiah/Christ, is not far-fetched, but is confirmed in scripture, both by pattern, as Moses gave, and by written Word, as we see above. We are in the world, but not part of the world, as Jesus said, although it seems that we often leave the privilege of our awesome and glorious dwelling in the holy Presence in order to become entangled in the cares of the world which are passing away. However, our position in the Holy of Holies, hidden in Messiah/Christ, is a powerful position - remember the Word of God that is written in our hearts? That Word contains all of God's promises to mankind. That Word contains the plan and provision of God's Kingdom of salvation through His Son. By our position in the Holy of Holies, we bring this Word before God's throne of mercy every moment, every day, and from every corner of the globe.

     I want to always dwell in Messiah/Christ Jesus under the mercy and wings of God.

     If you would like to know more about dwelling in the Holy of Holies in Messiah/Christ, you can join my prayer: "Dearest Father, let Your Word always be written on the tablets of my heart. Let me desire to dwell in the tabernacle of the LORD all the days of my life. Help me by Your Holy Spirit to understand more about ministering Your Word from this exalted and holy place within Christ Jesus, and under Your blood atonement mercy and the refuge of Your wings. I didn't understand the holy place that Jesus went to before us in order to prepare for us, so that where He is, we may be also. Through our Savior, Jesus, we have received this glorious honor, and I thank You, Father, for this awesome purpose in You. I bless and exalt My Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit 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. 

 

Election

Moses asked to see the personal glory of the LORD. How would the LORD answer Moses' prayer, while keeping him alive, "...for no man shall see Me and live."? According to what we read in this account, the LORD protected Moses through His power of election: The LORD said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD (YHWH - the Hebrew pictographic letters meaning: "Behold the hand, behold the nail") before you. I will be gracious (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega/Jesus: Rev. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13) to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion/mercy on (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega/Jesus) whom I will have compassion/mercy." (Ex. 33:19-20). The apostle Paul wrote of this same event with Moses as he explained the election of God: "...so then it is not of him who wills (in this case referring to Moses), nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy...Therefore, He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills, he hardens." (Rom. 9:11-18). This election pertains to whom God chooses to show mercy (example given: Jacob, Moses), and of whom He chooses not to show mercy, and to harden in heart instead (example given: Esau, Pharaoh)..."(...that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him who calls." (Rom. 9:11). So the election of God is to accomplish His purpose. The Concordance defines "election", the Greek word ekloge/eklogemai, as meaning: "the decree made from choice by which God determined to bless certain persons through Christ by grace alone; of the act of God's free will by which before the foundations of the world He decreed His blessings to certain persons". As we can see in the above encounter with Moses, God marks those whom He chooses to show grace and mercy with the Hebrew letters aleph-tav, the title of Christ revealed in the Book of Revelation. We will see that the Hebrew letters that form the words "grace" and "mercy", the components of election as mentioned, also contain the identity of the Son of God. As Paul pointed out, the election is not according to our works (we cannot earn it), but the will of God as He executes His plan for the earth. We will see much more about grace and mercy, and their involvement in the election of God, during this Sabbath reading portion titled No'ach, meaning "rest/resting place". This is the name of Noah, who is first seen in Gen. 5:29, so named because he would be a comfort to the difficult toil of man in the midst of the earth, which the LORD had cursed as a result of the sin and fall of man (see Gen. 3:17-19). The Noach Sabbath reading is found in Gen. chapters 6 through 11. We will see the election of God run through the account of Noah and his sons. Out of all of the people of the earth, only Noah was elected to find (masa - find out, meet, get, secure, detect, be recognised) grace in the eyes of the LORD. Grace, one of the components of election, recognised Noah. The word "grace" used in this verse is the Hebrew word hen, meaning "grace, favor, pleased, precious, acceptance, elegance, kindness, beauty, good will, supplication, prayer". The pictographic Hebrew letters of the word hen, or grace, can mean "Behold, the Son, the Heir to the throne". We are familiar with the story of Noah. The spiritual condition of the hearts of the people of the earth were filled with violence and evil continually. God would judge and cleanse the earth with a flood of waters (Gen. 6:5-7). The LORD instructed Noah to build an ark according to His specifications that would hold all of Noah's family, including three sons and their wives (Gen. 6:17-19), and male and female animals living on earth, both clean and unclean animals. This was a covenant of safety in the aleph-tav ark (which is a picture of Christ), high and lifted up above the waters, sealed in by God Himself, that the LORD made with His elect, Noah, and all of us who will receive it. The same waters that flooded the earth in judgment, caused the ark to be lifted up above the judgment: "Now the flood was on the earth forty (arbaim - fourth, forty, four-fold, to square, four-sided, a doorway) days. The waters increased and lifted up the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega/Jesus) ark, and it rose high above the earth." (Gen. 7:17). As the flood waters receded, and the dry ground appeared, as a sign of His everlasting covenant promise to Noah, His elected, to never flood the earth with water again, the LORD established the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega/Jesus) rainbow in the sky (Gen. 9:12-17). This is a good time to learn what the Hebrew word for "rainbow", or "bow", qeset/qasa/qas, means: "bending an archer's bow, shooting arrows/harden, stiff-necked, grievous, struggle against/to lay a snare, to lay bait, to set a trap". This should have a particular warning for the times in which we live. Be careful with the signs of God, or you will fall into the trap that has been set for the grievous, the stubborn and the rebellious. As we look at the election of Noah, after whom this Sabbath reading portion is named, we can see some interesting details: "This is the genealogy/generations (toldot/yalad - generations, birth, course of history, account of men and their descendants, begetting or account of heaven/bring forth, travail, to act as midwife) of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect (tamin/tamam - without blemish, complete, perfect, without spot, whole, blameless/end, finished, perfect, done, completely, crossed over, destroy uncleanness, accomplish) in his generations (dor/dur - generation, many, all, an age, the period, the circuit, ages to come/to move in a circle, go around, to remain, inhabit). Noah walked with (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega/Jesus) God. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, Japheth." (Gen. 6:9-10). The LORD is making much of the importance of Noah's generations. Two different Hebrew words are used to describe the generations in the above verse, and both of those Hebrew words mean much more than "descendants". Something would be accomplished, completed, in the ages to come. Noah was described as "perfect". We can see in the Hebrew word and root that a description is given that could only depict Jesus Christ. This shouldn't surprise us because Noah walked with the Aleph-Tav/Alpha and Omega/Jesus God, before the Aleph-Tav Christ was physically born. Then in the verse, we are immediately pointed to Noah's three sons. In fact, the setting of end time events was "established and completed" through the "generations" of Noah: his three sons. Scripture says that all of the people of the earth are descended from Noah and his three sons after the flood (see Gen. 9:18-19). The name of Noah's first son, Shem, means "name, famous, conspicuous position, mark with a sign, the celebrated name of God {HaShem}, to call on the name Jehovah (YHWH - meaning "Behold the Hand, Behold the Nail"). From Shem's descendants, came the Hebrews (Eber), Abraham, Judah, David and others, which are all included in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Gen. 11:10-32, and see Lk. 3:33-36). Ham/hamam, whose name means "hot, heat, enflaming, inflame oneself, hot and burning with lust", is also the name by which the Egyptians refer to themselves. Canaan, and all of the tribes thereof, Sodom and Gomorrah, Gaza, Assyria and Nineveh, Cush (Ethiopia) nd Put (Libya) (see Ezek. 38:5), Nimrod in Babel and Shinar, are also descendants of Ham (Gen. 10:6-12), and have been, and in the end times, will be aggressors against Israel. Ham, as we know, was cursed by his father, Noah, because he scorned his father, who had found grace in the eyes of the LORD, and His election (see Gen. 9:20-27). This had nothing to do with the color of Ham's skin, or the races of some of his descendants. That is a man-made lie, and it never came out of the mouth of God. These descendants of the cursed Ham became the enemies or oppressors of the people of Israel. The last mentioned son, Japheth, is very interesting. His descendants spread northward to eventually populate Europe and parts of Asia. Japheth's (yepet/pata) name means: "entice, deceive, persuade, flatter (see Dan. 11:29-32), allure, silly one, gullible, seduce, delude". His descendants include: Gomer, Magog, Tubal, Meshech, Togarmah. These nations and peoples constitute Russia, parts of Asia Minor, and areas of central Europe, and are mentioned specifically as those nations who, according to the prophecy in Ezek. 38:1-6, 8-9, will be drawn by God as into a trap, in a massive invasion and war against Isreal in the end times.The scenario for the end times was set in place by God's election of Noah. Jesus connected the events and signs of the end times before His return to "the days of Noah" (Mt. 24:36-37). Again, the election of God, whether for His favor, or for the hardening of hearts, is not haphazzard nor arbitrary. Election is used to further the strategic plan of God for His creation, including man. I have often wondered why God selected Noah, but now I can see more clearly the hidden plan of God for the end times in the generations of Noah. You can't out-plan God! Often, we are preoccupied with the cares of the moment, or of the day to come, while God has already planned out eternity. Also included in this Sabbath's reading portion, is an event in which people tried to attain the election of God through their own will and strength. The descendants of Ham (see above), who dwelled in the plains of Shinar, said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name (Shem, same as above) for ourselves, lest we be scattered (pus - scatter, disperse, break to pieces in order to scatter into dust, shake to pieces, dash to pieces) abroad over the face of the whole earth." (Gen. 11:1-4). They wanted to make themselves a name (Shem) of the elect of God in order to avoid the consequences of being the unelected. Their efforts were not successful (see verses 7-9). The LORD has made a way for anyone who so chooses, by the drawing or leading of the Father and the Holy Spirit (Jn. 6:43-45, 1 Cor. 12:3), to become part of "the elect" of God, as we will see, but it isn't by our own strength and plans. The LORD sovereignly rules over His election of men. In another reading from this Sabbath's portion, Noach, the LORD assured those whom He described as a barren woman, of His eternal election. He said that He has called them, and with great mercies and everlasting kindness He will gather them and have everlasting mercy on them: "My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,' says the LORD, 'who has mercy on you." (Isa. 54:1-10). Here is our second component of election, as we saw with Moses' encounter with God, above: mercy (raham - mercy, compassion, love, pity, to fondle, tender affection, gentle emotion, cherishing, soothing). This chapter of Isaiah comes immediately after the suffering Messiah/Servant, who was sacrificed for our sins, was revealed in Isaiah chapters 52 and 53. Of course, according to scripture, this Servant Messiah of God is His "Elect One" (Isa. 42:1, 1 Pet. 2:6), and we who believe take part in Christ's election through God's abundant mercy (1 Pet. 2:6, 1 Pet. 1:2, 3-5). As referred to in Isa. 45:4, and Isa. 65:9-10, Israel is named as God's elect, in addition to being descendants of Shem. Our election by grace and mercy is through the Elect One, Jesus Christ, and His sacrifice made for us. As the elect in Christ, Paul wrote about what our conduct and character should be: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another...even as Christ forgave you....but above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." (Col. 3:12-16). This is how we show forth our gracious and merciful election through Christ. If you would like to learn more about the election of God, you can pray with me: "Father, through Your beloved and elect Son, Jesus, You have made me part of Your elect. I thank You for the grace and mercy that You extended to me. Fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can exhibit Your election of me as Paul described. I pray for any and all others who would seek Your election, salvation, and deliverance through Jesus. Noah walked with Aleph-Tav God, and was a man through whom You could accomplish Your purpose in the earth, even through many generations. I pray the same for my life as well. I ask these things in Jesus' name, AMEN."

Preserved

This week's sabbath reading is titled Noach, or the name "Noah" to us. Noach in English means "rest, resting place, quiet". If we look at the individual Hebrew letters of the word and name Noach, which are nun and cheth, we will see an additional meaning : "the Son, the Heir to the throne, separates and protects in an inner chamber". These letters can also mean at the same time : "the faithful seed or offspring that are separated from, divided from, and protected". The story of Noah is well known. Children's stories and toys tell the story of Noah and the Ark. However, we can be sure that there are deep things to learn in this account in scripture. In fact, the warning that Noah brought to the world as he built the ark, according to God's specific instructions, is still crying out a warning for us today. Jesus told us that the account of Noah, the ark, and the flood that brought destruction to the earth will again have meaning in end time events, and the return of the Son of Man (Mt. 24:36-39). The Apostle Peter also referred to the flood of Noah, and its relationship to end time beliefs, unbeliefs and deception: "Scoffers will come in the last days...saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.' For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water." (2 Peter 3:3-6). This past event of the flood is to remind us that as others scoff, God will do what He needs to do to establish justice and righteousness, and to preserve His remnant of people. Not only that, but Peter also wrote that the same word that ultimately preserved the heavens and earth then, is still active, and has caused the heavens and earth to reserve fire "until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." (v. 7). Peter tells us that as much as the flood was an act of judgment, as the coming fire will be, he also tells us here that the flood was an act of preservation for a remnant. It is through this obedience to God's instructions for preservation, which was the ark, that Noah became listed as one of our fathers of faith, and an heir of righteousness by faith (Heb. 11:7). This sabbath reading, Noach, deals with God's merciful preservation out of evil, violence, ungodliness and calamity, one man, his family, and some from all of the animals that breath. We will see other examples of this from this sabbath's reading as well. In our first sabbath portion out of Genesis 6, we find out that the men of the earth had become filled with wickedness, evil, violence and corruption (sahat - corrupt, destroy, destroyer, waster, ruin, decay, be rotted, pervert). Because of their evil, the decay of rotting death had entered living man and, consequently, creation (Gen. 6:5, 11-12). Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death - even a living death, a living corruption. However, also according to Romans 6:23, there is a remedy to this living death, which is the gift (charisma/charizomai/charis/chairo - a gift, a favor one receives without any merit of his own, divine grace, faith, knowledge, holiness, virtue/give freely, bestow, to preserve a person in trouble, to pardon, rescue, forgive/grace, good will, loving-kindness, gift of grace/to rejoice, be glad, be well, thrive) of God, which is in Jesus Christ. We can't buy or earn this gift. It is freely bestowed by God for the asking, and even before we have the good sense to ask for it, so we can't even take the credit for having good sense! Anyone who has had the awesome experience of receiving the grace gift of the salvation of God has experienced this. It as a gift - you can't "earn" it, "deserve" it, or "buy/barter" it from God. It can't be done. The gift is given in Gen. 6: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD...Noah was a just (sadiq/sadaq - righteous, just as a judge or king is just, justified, to make one righteous, to speak truth) man, perfect (tamim/tamam - without blemish, without spot, complete, finished, shutting up, in accord with truth) in his generations. Noah walked with God." (v. 8-9). This gift of grace is not a one-time event. The gift continues to operate in us, making changes in our minds and hearts. The loving gift of grace will break our stony hearts, and build a new heart in us, if we will allow it to do so, leading and prompting us to righteous acts inspired by the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God. The gift of grace is a life-changer, and a life-definer. Just ask Noah. As Noah received the gift of grace from God, he was given the qualities of justness and perfection. As we can see, both of these qualities are connected with the speaking of and agreement with truth. Jesus said that the truth of the Word of God sanctifies us and sets us free (Jn. 17:17, Jn. 8:31-32). Believers are to walk in truth (Ps. 86:11, 2 Jn. 3-4, 3 Jn. 1-4). The truth is a Person, Jesus (Jn. 1:16-17, Jn. 14:6-7, Rev. 19:11). There may be many who make claims to truth, but there is only one who IS Truth. God connected Noah to this Person of Truth, Jesus, but how? In the verse above, we see the phrase "Noah walked with God". God, in this case is Elohim here in this verse. However, in the Hebrew writing of this phrase, something additional is connected to the word "Elohim". Two Hebrew letters, Aleph and Tav, are joined to "Elohim". In Rev. 22:13, Jesus says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." "Alpha" and "Omega" are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The Hebrew equivalent of first and last letters, which is what Jesus would have used, is "the Aleph" and "the Tav". Besides this example in Gen. 6, there are many other places in scripture where the "Aleph-Tav" is connected to significant words and phrases, but their presence does not get translated into English. In this case, Noah has been given the gift of grace from God, and caused him to walk with God Aleph-Tav that will separate him, and rescue him and his household, as well as representatives from the animal kingdom, from the coming disaster. God told Noah: "Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside (bayit/bana - house, shelter, family, descendants, temple, palace) and outside ( hus- outward, whatever is without, to sever or separate by a wall) with pitch (kapar - atonement, reconcile, purge, forgive, cleanse, merciful, to cover, pardon)." (Gen. 6:14). Noah was to "flood-proof" the ark with mercy, forgiveness, cleansing, reconciliation and atonement. We also know that the kapar atonement of scripture is the blood of sacrifice, the Blood of the Lamb, Christ (1 Jn. 2:1-2, Heb. 9:11-14). There is another interesting reference to Jesus Christ in the account of Noah as God commanded Noah to build a window into the top of the ark, and a door into the side (Gen. 6:16). "Window" is the word sohar/sahar meaning "noon, nonday, suddenly, unexpectedly as an attack upon an enemy/to press out oil, to glisten, to shine, come forth, reveal oneself, light, splendor". We have a verse in 2 Thessalonians 2:8, which refers to the destruction of the lawless one, or antichrist: "And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming." The word for "door" used above is the Hebrew word petah/patah, which means "door, gate, open, loose, grave, break forth, appear, open wide". We know that Jesus called Himself "the Door", and He broke open the grave for us all (see Jn. 10:7-10, Mt. 27:51-53, Mt. 28:2-6). There are many more details in the account of Noah that we could look at, but we will end this section from Genesis 6 with the promise of God to Noah: "And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth...everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark- you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you." (Gen. 6:17-18). Another example of preservation out of destruction from this week's sabbath reading titled Noach, or "Rest", is from Isaiah 54. God in His anger had turned His back on His people, Israel, like a wife rejected by her husband, like a woman made barren of children: "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, says the LORD your Redeemer. For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you...My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed." (Isa. 54:1-10, excerpt). Under the same promise that God made to Noah, He would extend His undeserved mercy and kindness again to this remnant of Noah's descendants who had turned from Him. As we see these mercies of God once again extended here to Israel to serve as an example for us, it should cause our own hearts to soften with love and repentance towards Him as well. In Jeremiah 31, another portion from this week's sabbath reading, Israel had rebelled against God, had broken their covenant with Him, and brought destruction to their doors, as Jeremiah had prophesied would happen. However, Jeremiah also then brought this promise of undeserved mercy from the LORD: "Behold the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah...But...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). His people brought destruction on their own heads, but the LORD, as with Noah, would extend His gift of grace, change His people in their minds and hearts into righteousness, and forgive their sins. Again, a remnant shall be preserved by grace. In another sabbath reading portion, God's people have become corrupt, they have not trusted in, nor drawn near to the LORD. Because of this, the LORD will gather the nations. His wrath and fiery destruction will be poured out over all the earth. However, God will preserve a remnant, and restore "a pure language...and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth...Be glad and rejoice with all your heart...The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more." (Zeph. 3:8-15). The undeserved grace, mercy, and kindness of God seems to be the recurring theme through this week's sabbath readings. There is a place of rest in the LORD, His ark of Christ, like the one He established with Noah, if we will abide in it as Noah did. God remembers His floodwaters, and has not forgotten that place where His people are preserved by His grace. There is no other place nor means by which we may be preserved. (Acts 4:10-12). If you would like to learn more about being preserved by grace, you can pray with me: "LORD Jesus, the Father gave His grace to us through You, and as You preserved Noah and his household, and even the animals of the earth, You desire to preserve me. I want to walk with You, Aleph Tav-Elohim, as Noah walked with You, and You called him just and perfect, speaking and in accord with truth. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, as the dove returned to the ark with an olive leaf to give Noah sure knowledge and comfort that the waters had indeed receded for him. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were with Noah, and also, I ask, be with me and my household always. I don't wish to search for my place of rest anywhere else but in You, and in your gift of grace. I ask these things in Your holy name. AMEN."

ViewPoint

In the last entry, we looked at a special shelter that God had constructed is a haven for His people in the time of trouble (Psalm 91). I would like to study how our viewpoint affects this shelter.
Through all of the hatred, brutality, injustice, violence, disease, death, "natural disasters", economic upturns and downturns, racism, wars, strife, corruption, political haranguing, thievery, perversion, oppression and depression, whether found in the world or even in the Church, the Lord keeps my eyes fixed on a particular view, and doesn't let me turn my head to the right or the left to see anything else. I am very tempted to turn my head and gape, like a rubber-necker slowing down to look at a disaster scene, but so far, try as I might to look, my head is jerked forward again, and I am directed to "look this way instead". It's like being a race horse that has to wear blinkers to prevent it from getting distracted from the goal - to cross the finish line placed somewhere ahead of it, or a blinkered plow horse that is to keep to the row being worked. As it turns out, I don't think being blinkered is a bad thing.
The Word of God is full of examples regarding where I should be looking, where my viewpoint should be, especially in these times.
Jesus said that the conditions at the time of His return would be like those in the days of Noah: people going about their normal daily tasks, unaware, or disbelieving, that judgment is about to fall. The days of Noah were filled with men's violence against men. Men had become so depraved that only evil filled their hearts and minds continually (Gen. 6:5, 11-13). Where was Noah's viewpoint through this terrible time? His viewpoint was directed by God, not upon the wickedness of men, but upon the shelter from the calamity (v. 14-16). He had to have his eyes focused on God, ignoring all diversions, because he couldn't have built the massive ark any other way. We don't know that he was even a shipbuilder, but God had appointed a work for Noah to complete before the judgment was to begin. God's covenant was with Noah (v. 18), and this shelter would be for himself and family members. In setting his view and focus upon what the Father planned, was Noah neglecting his spiritual responsibilities to be salt and light, or as a prophet to his generation? Scripture says no (Heb. 11:7, 2 Pet. 2:5). The fruit of his singular focus, which was the gradual building of an ark, which consumed many years of Noah's life, was a witness in itself to those around him. Its purpose was not only to provide a shelter for the righteous, but to condemn the unrighteous world. The world asked, "Noah, why are you doing such a foolish thing when there is no water anywhere around here?" "Noah, don't you see the terrible things going on all around you?" "Didn't you hear that your neighbor was murdered last night by violent men?" "Where is your God now, Noah?" But Noah kept building. There was a terrible judgment coming, but Noah's job was to build an ark, plank by plank- a work that not only pointed to a judgment, but also to the refuge from it.
As Jesus' return nears, it is also accompanied by many horrors and terrors as prophesied, with worse yet to come. These calamities will be the worst the world has ever known (Mt. 24:21). His first coming was also accompanied by terrible conditions and events. The Roman occupiers were brutal. They took captives from the conquered lands like Israel, and brought them to Rome to be slaves. Thousands were crucified along the roadways as a warning and a tool of intimidation against any who might think to "cause trouble". Their rule was oppressive, and they sucked the economic blood out of the territories they conquered, removing riches and taxing the people into poverty. Their governing was corrupt, and "justice" was bought for money, or determined by political considerations. The puppets they put in charge betrayed their own people to serve the Roman interests. Demons had seeming free reign, causing people to lose their minds, even viciously attacking children. Sicknesses were chronic or incurable, so that even physicians and priests could no longer offer relief. Even religion had become monetized, oppressive and violent. One had to believe the Messiah secretly for fear of expulsion and persecution by religious leaders. Towers fell, and innocent people were killed. It was every man for himself as the sick and lame struggled to enter into the healing waters. Even among the disciples of Christ, the son of perdition was present, who stole and betrayed unto death. He was a "wolf in sheep's clothing".
So what did the Holy Spirit lead Jesus to do? Yes, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit (Lk. 4:18-19/Isa. 61:1-2a; Lk. 4:1), and the Spirit was leading Him in a specific direction. The Spirit was leading Jesus to build an ark or a shelter, which was the kingdom of God, and Jesus did not remove His eyes from that goal. He was anointed to preach the good news to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of prisons to those who are bound, and to proclaim the acceptable (ratson- good will, favor, pleasing, delight, will, desire, satisfaction, acceptance; root meaning-affection, reconcile self, approve, accomplish, pleased, paid off) year of the LORD.
A multitude gathered to hear Him speak one day. Considering the events and turmoil swirling around the nation, what would Jesus, this rabbi and prophet say? Would He condemn the brutal Roman occupiers? Would He rebuke the corrupt puppet king, Herod, like John the Baptist did? Would He praise Israel for remaining faithful in their worship at the Temple, despite all of the challenges? Would He demand justice for all of those who had been abused and oppressed? Would He lead a revolution against the occupying power, as the Maccabees had done? The multitude waited to hear what He would say to them. They didn't expect Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit, to build an ark:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake."   Mt. 5:3-11
No doubt there were many perplexed and disappointed listeners that day. They didn't hear what they were hoping and expecting to hear. However, if they were listening carefully, they would have heard the building of an ark, a shelter, a haven of spiritual safety within the darkness of evil, and the storm of judgment that was to come against it.
Other listeners on another occasion might have been equally disappointed to hear Jesus say that the first and most important thing to seek, even in those times of brutality, was the kingdom of God, and His righteousness. He promised that everything else they needed would follow that ark (Mt. 6:33). This is where their eyes should be focused.
Jesus was creating an alternate reality through faith. It was not a false reality, but the true reality of the kingdom of God. This is the way we are to understand all things- by faith:
"By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."  Heb. 11:3
The whole of Hebrews 11 is about men who were not ruled by the things which they could see, but they sought the things that were not yet seen, in spite of what was visible in the natural world. They, after the image of God, through faith, created a new or an alternative reality from things which could not be seen. Paul wrote, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Cor. 5:7). Faith is the whole basis of the belief that we have. It is impossible to please God without it (Heb. 11:6). Our faith is strengthened or weakened depending on our viewpoint.
Jesus said that when we see all of the calamity happening, and the evil growing worse and worse, even to the point where men's hearts are failing them in fear and expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, our viewpoint is to then change. When we become aware of the appearance of these signs, we are now directed to "look up" with heads lifted up, because our reality, Redemption, is drawing near (Lk. 21:26-28). What is seen when "looking up" differs greatly from what is seen when "looking around". We need that change in viewpoint. We can't build what needs to be built without that change. They see disasters and the fruitless countermeasures of men, but we see Redemption and the power of salvation and creation. This different viewpoint of events creates joy where there is reason for sorrow, and hope and confidence where there is encompassing fear and dread. We are not to be reactive to the world, but proactive in the kingdom of God.
In Psalm 73 King David, of the household of the Messiah, wrote an account of when his viewpoint was changed. His eyes had been on the prosperity of the wicked, and the seeming injustice of it (v. 1-3). He found himself becoming angry, bitter, resentful. He began to think that it was pointless to seek righteousness. His heart was grieved, and his mind was vexed by what he was focusing upon. In fact, he said that his feet almost stumbled, and his steps nearly slipped. However, when he entered the sanctuary (mikdash- holy place, hallowed part, chapel, asylum (which means an inviolable place of refuge and protection), consecrated place; root meaning: holy, prepare, appointed, set apart, be separate, to keep oneself apart or separate) of God, his viewpoint was changed. He began to set his mind upon the things above rather than things on the earth (Col. 3:2, Phil. 4:8). He became filled with the vision of God, rather than the vision of man. The warning to me in this account of David is that our spiritual walk is profoundly affected by our viewpoint.
On another occasion, Jesus spoke about a king planning a wedding banquet for his son's marriage, and how important it was that all invited should prepare to attend. Jesus' listeners could have wondered why attending a wedding was important at such a time as this. Like those who refused the wedding invitation in the parable, they  might think there are more important things with which to be concerned. How could focusing on preparing to attend a royal wedding solve their dire problems? Yet Jesus told them it would.
As those who were connected to Herod (allied with worldly powers) questioned Him about paying the controversial taxes to Caesar, Jesus was not going to be drawn from His viewpoint, which was His Father's kingdom. Instead He examined a coin, saw the image of Caesar upon it, and answered, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." (Mt. 22:16-21).
Jesus talked about the work and the profits the hard Master expected to receive from his servants when He returned. There was a spiritual job to accomplish regardless of worldly circumstances and "wisdom". I'm sure His listeners were hoping instead that He would tell them how to be freed from the hard task masters they already had here on earth, not told to serve another one. However, Jesus was telling them how to escape their earthly servitude. Messiah expects to see what we have accomplished and created through faith in Him, not from a viewpoint of the world. Yet by having our viewpoint on the shelter of the kingdom that Messiah expects us to focus upon, we are serving those on earth who labor, and are heavily burdened in these times.
Jesus talked about the field that was white for harvest, and the laborers that were few. Was Jesus now expecting them to add another task to their already burdened bodies and souls?
No, He was talking about the spiritual work that was to be accomplished during such a time as that... and this. From this viewpoint, we are not denying reality, but creating it, and not just for ourselves, but for many others as well.
Finally, Jesus completed the ark, the shelter of salvation, that He was anointed to build by offering Himself as the Haven in the storm of wickedness, turmoil, and death that swirled around them. This sacrifice was the final nail to be set in what Jesus was building by keeping His eyes on what His Father was doing, not upon what man was doing. From the viewpoint of men, this sacrifice looked like a humiliating death deserved by a sinner, but from the viewpoint looking towards heaven and the Father, it was an act of a righteous Man, creating everlasting life for many.
There is a judgment about to fall, and an ark or shelter for us to build, and like Noah and Jesus, our eyes should be set to the task. Do not be pulled to the right or to the left, but let your viewpoint be directed by Him (Prov. 4:25-27), the Master Ark Builder. There will be those in the world who will be looking for the place that is the haven and the shelter that the Father has built.
If we are following the leading of the Holy Spirit, our work in progress, and of course the completed work, will be a testimony and a prophetic warning to the perishing, but also a shelter, an encouragement, and an asylum to those appointed to everlasting life. It just depends on your viewpoint.

Our Father is showing us where our viewpoint is to be placed.