Proverbs says: "Every word of God is pure (see sarap above); He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar." (Prov. 30:5-6). A tested Word of God in our lives causes us to trust and rely on that Word in all things. The prophet Daniel also wrote that God's people would be severely tested (see sarap above) in the time of the end in order to purge them and refine them "and make them white." (Dan. 11:35). The sarap testing that comes into our lives is to test the Word of God in us as to the strength of our belief in Him and our loving devotion to Him, and to remove the things (dross) that are not of God.
This brings us to the Sabbath reading portion for this week titled R'eh, meaning "Behold". The title is from the Hebrew word ra'a which means "see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider, have vision, observe, find out, distinguish, look intently at, discern, visions, to see and enjoy light, to see the face of God." We are not just looking at something. but we are also weighing it, discerning it, looking for the light and the face of God in it. The title is found in Deut. 11:26-28: "Behold (see ra'a above), I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) blessing if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known."
The blessing spoken of above in the obedience or observance of the Word of God, the ra'a perceiving of it, is associated with the knowledge of the Messiah/Christ, according the written Hebrew which includes an *aleph-tav (see note below). This is a test. Do we perceive and observe the light and the face of God that are only found in the purity of His Word? Or do we believe other things (dross) as truth? "Dross" is defined as "something regarded as worthless; rubbish." The testing process of God's Word for His people purifies the precious and removes the worthless so that we may walk in the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega blessing of life. Jesus said that we are sanctified by truth because God's Word is truth. The scriptures are the same Word that the *Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Jesus has given to us to sanctify us. (see Jn. 17:16-17, 14).
Sometimes it appears that evil is testing us, or circumstances are testing us, but it is the Word of God itself that is testing the necessary purity of our belief that His Word is absolutely true. We understand from scripture that Jesus was tempted/tested (peirazo/peira/peran - to try, to make trial of, examine, test for the purpose of ascertaining quality, to test one's faith, virtue, and character/to have a trial of a thing, assaying, through the idea of piercing/to pierce through to the farther side) by Satan. However, Jesus was really tested by the Word of God spoken by Satan to trap Jesus. Jesus passed the testing by answering Satan with His perfect ra'a perception and discernment of God's Word. (see Lk. 4:1-13). How do we ra'a discern and handle these sarap tests? Do we ra'a perceive that these tests are by the Word in order to purify our trust and belief in the Word of God?
Job, the servant of God, had difficulty seeing Him and perceiving Him in his trial, but said: "But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold (zahab - incl. golden splendor of the heavens, brilliant, of the purest oil). My foot held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food." (Job 23:8-12).
As we return to the R'eh, "Behold!" Sabbath reading portion, we read that Moses is warning the Israelites not to do the same abominations that the nations who dwelled in Canaan had done, saying "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." (Deut. 12:29-32). The testing does not end there. Moses warned that there may arise prophets and dreamers who would give the Israelites a sign and a wonder, and their prophetic word would come to pass, seemingly to be a genuine prophet of God, but they would encourage the Israelites to go after other gods to serve them. Moses said, "...you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer, for the LORD your God is testing (nasa - to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof, to try by smell or by touch) you to know whether you love (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him." (Deut. 13:1-4). The prophets in the above verses are not testing them, but the LORD God is testing them. The test if from the LORD. Surface appearance is not enough to determine if the prophet is one to believe. His message disqualifies him to anyone who knows the Word and Person of God. God has a smell and a feel to us, as we have to Him (see nasa above). We are to get in there and ra'a examine, inspect, look intently at and discern, not by our own understanding of what looks good, but by the unchanging, tested and proven Word of God. In this case, the Ten Commandments and many other commands given by Moses to the Israelites from God make clear that they shall worship no other gods. This same examination would also apply to any close family who would try to entice the people of God to follow after other gods, Moses said. (v. 6-8). The punishment for those who try to entice the people of God with a lie was the death penalty.
We may think that the command to worship no other god, but to worship God only with all of our hearts and souls is not a test for us today as believers in Messiah/Christ Jesus, but that would be incorrect. Every day we are enticed and tested to leave our love of and obedience to God behind, trust in man instead, and seek what the world is offering. Jesus said that no man can serve two masters. (Mt. 6:24-33). Do not think that this type of test is minor in importance or irrelevant in today's world.
Jesus prophesied that in the times before His return there will be false prophets and false Christs who, with lying signs and wonders, will try to deceive the very elect of God into turning to a false god and an oppressive and evil world system that persecutes faith. (Mt. 24:21-25). We still need ra'a vision and perception today. One of the great stumbling blocks to this kind of ra'a vision is false vision, as found in this R'eh "Behold" Sabbath reading portion: "All the ways of a man are pure (zak/zaka - pure, clean, righteous, pure olive oil free from foreign substances, pure frankincense, purity of soul and morals/be translucent in purity, be justified, pure and clean in the sight of God) in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs (takan - measure, weigh in the balance, test, prove, be equal, make equal or level) the spirits (ruah - Spirit of God, mind, breath, disposition)." (Prov. 16:2). The LORD is looking for Himself, equal to Himself, His Word, reflected in our souls and spirits. He weighs or tests for His image in us. Jesus, the perfect image of His Father, God, provides that for us if we will receive it and allow it in its fulness. (see Eph. 4:11-13).
The prophet of God, Daniel, once told the richest and most powerful king of the greatest empire, who had surrounded himself with and used the precious holy objects of God: "TEKEL (see takan above): You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting." (Dan. 5:27). Daniel also told this Babylonian king: "...you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways (see Prov. 16:2, above), you have not glorified." (v. 23, excerpt). That king with seemingly unconquerable defenses, surrounded and protected by one of the great walls of history, was overthrown that very night by an invading army, and lost his life, as Daniel prophesied would happen. (v. 28, 30-31).
Perhaps we think that this doesn't and couldn't happen in the Church of believers. Jesus sent a very serious warning to one of the churches that carried His name. They were rich and had need of nothing, or so they mistakenly thought as they were without ra'a vision. They had not experienced the testing process of God, and had grown lukewarm in their love for Him. Jesus said that far from being rich, comfortable and favored, they were really spiritually "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." (Rev. 3:14-17). This was His advice to this comfortable church: "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (v.18-20). The reward for this church if they will overcome their self-satisfaction and their despising of the testing and purifying process of God, will be to sit with Christ on His throne, which is the throne of His Father. (v. 21). They would go from being spiritually wretched to sitting with Christ on His throne, if they would allow themselves to be tested and proven like pure gold that emerges from a refiner's fire.
The testing and proving refiner's fire of God is not meant to destroy us (see 1 Cor. 10:12-13 [ note: tempt/temptation, peirasmos/peirazo, incl. "trial, proving, testing of man's fidelity, integrity, virtue and constancy to God"], but to make us shine like the sun! We pass these testings and provings by clinging to our love of God above all else, and our steadfast belief that His Word is eternally true.
Perhaps we need to change our ra'a perception of what a trial is in the life of a believer. We view them in a negative way, and call them attacks, but the trials created by the Word of God in us actually strengthen and purify us and are meant for our good. James wrote: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials/temptations (peirasmos/peirazo - trial, proving, also see above) knowing that the testing (dokimion/dokime/dokimos - trying, trial, the proving of, testing/tried character, a proof, proving through affliction, a specimen of tried worth/tried, approved, accepted, genuine full-weighted money rather than counterfeit) of your faith produces patience (hypomone/hypomeno - steadfastness, constancy, cheerful endurance, patient continuance/abide and not flee, to persevere under misfortunes and trials, to hold fast to one's faith). But let patience have its perfect (telios - lacking nothing to being complete, perfect, full grown, adult, mature) work, that you may be perfect (see telios above) and complete, lacking nothing...Blessed is the man who endures temptation (peirasmos/peirazo, see above); for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:2-4, 12). We do not develop ourselves, but the Lord is developing a mature and perfect Church in Himself.
The Word of God in us is also Messiah/Christ in us because He is the Word become flesh (John 1). Peter wrote that, because of our faith in Jesus, the fiery trial which is to try us should not come as a surprise. Persecution because of faith in Messiah/Christ Jesus will follow those who believe. Jesus suffered such persecution and yet, His glory will be revealed, and we may also be: "glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you." Though He is blasphemed by others, "on your part He is glorified (doxazo/doxa - praise, extol, magnify, celebrate, honor, make glorious, adorn with luster, clothe with splendor, to esteem as glorious/splendor, brightness, kingly majesty of Messiah/Christ)." (see 1 Pet. 4:12-14). We know the glory of Christ, and the Spirit of God dwells within us as believers. Be glad with exceeding joy even in the middle of this kind of trial through persecution. Persecution is increasing across the world, but when believers endure through that trial, they actually heap great glory onto Christ. Will we endure the testing, or will we flee from it? If we will endure the test, we will not endure it alone or in our own strength. Jesus has promised He will be with us always, which would include through the testing and proving. (see Mt. 28:18-20, Isa. 43:1-5).
From another reading portion from this R'eh Sabbath, Isaiah the prophet recorded the promise of the LORD to those who have been afflicted or "storm-tossed". The LORD will not forget them, but cover them with beauty and glory and establish them in (His) righteousness: "And their righteousness is from Me', says the LORD." (Isa. 54:10-17, excerpt).
If you would like to learn more about the testing and proving process of the LORD, you can join me in prayer: "Dear Father, You are doing a purifying work in me because You love me and have a ra'a vision for My life. You have given me Your Son, Jesus, who is the Perfect One, and You have called me to glorify Your Son and my Savior with my life. Be glorified, Jesus, and be glorified Father and Spirit before all men. Cause me to become mature and complete before You. You are the strength in me that will let me cling to You over all other things, and to believe and trust in Your Word above all the words of men, not for my sake only, but for those who will come after me. Give me Your ra'a sight and discerning perception through both testing and triumph to examine all things for Your light and Your Face, and let me not depend on my own understanding. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."
*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.
