BATTLE!

These last few weeks, we have been learning from Sabbath readings in the Book of Exodus. As mentioned previously, exodus is a Greek-Latin word meaning "the way or road out of". Therefore, as we read through this Book, we will be looking at how an exodus of God's people through the work and name of the LORD was and is accomplished. This week's sabbath reading is titled Bo in Hebrew, meaning "enter". The individual Hebrew letters in the word Bo have the meaning "House or family of Adonai (Lord), the First". Within these chapters of Exodus 10 through 13, there will be a showdown between the LORD and Pharaoh, king of Egypt. As a result, during the events of one night the enslaved Israelites will be freed and removed from Egypt. Not only will they be delivered from oppressive slavery and Pharaoh's repeated attemps at genocide, but they will also leave with flocks, herds, and Egyptian wealth (see Ex. 11:2). One Jewish teaching refers to this night as "The Battle of the Firstborn". We read previously that the LORD had said to Moses: "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD: Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me.. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed, I will kill your son, your firstborn." (Ex. 4:22-23). The LORD used the word "son", in the singular, and used the pronoun "he", in the singular even though the Israelites numbered at least in the hundred thousands at the time, if not in the millions including the women and children - yet the LORD spoke in the singular of His son, His firstborn. Jesus, the Messiah not yet born but within the future generations of the Israelites, is also the Son, the firstborn of God, "...the firstborn of many brethren" (Rom. 8:29, see also Col. 1:15, 18, Heb. 1:5-6, Rev. 1:5-6). The Book of Proverbs asked this question for all of us to consider: "Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if you know it?" (Prov. 30:4, see also Jn. 3:11-13, Jn. 6:62, Eph. 4:8-10). In this week's sabbath reading, the LORD has been releasing plagues upon Egypt, although those plagues never affected the enslaved Israelites dwelling in Goshen, meaning "Drawing near". Pharaoh would promise Moses to do as God commanded and let His people go if Moses would entreat the LORD to stop the plague. When the plague would be stopped as a result of the intercession of Moses, Pharaoh would then go back on his promise (see Ex. 9:33-35, 10:16-20). The word "Pharaoh" is from the Hebrew word paro meaning "Great House", therefore under this Pharaoh, the "Great House" has become a house of lies. The LORD also refers to it as "a house of bondage" (Ex. 13:3). The LORD told Moses that He was about to release the tenth and last plague upon Egypt: "...Afterward he (Pharaoh) will let you (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive/thrust (garas - drive away, expel, thrust out, cast out) you out of here altogether'...Thus says the LORD: 'About midnight (see also Mt. 25:6) I will go out into the midst of Egypt; and all of the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again." (Ex. 11:1, 4-6). Pharaoh would not just let them go, but, the LORD promised, Pharaoh would drive them out. This is exodus, "the way or road out of", in the extreme! A stiff-necked, stubborn enemy of God is ordained as the one who will give the order to send God's people out. Before this final plague was set in motion however, the LORD had to provide a special protective covering over His own people against this coming plague of death. The LORD had promised Moses that not one of the children of Israel would be harmed, so that it would be seen that "...the LORD does make a difference (pala - sever, separated, make wonderfully, set apart, show marvelous, put a difference, to be distinct or distinguished, marked out) between the Egyptians and Israel" (v. 7). The LORD commanded Moses that the Israelites must apply the blood of an unblemished young lamb upon the doorposts (mezuza/ziz - door post upon which the hinges turn/conspicuous, fulness, abundance) and lintels (masqap/saqap - overhanging, lintel/lean over, look down, appear, overlook from on high, God looking forth from heaven) of their houses (Ex. 12:5-7). This horizontal-vertical pattern of blood also reminds us of the cross of Christ, and Jesus is also referred to as "the Lamb of God...slain before the foundation of the world......Who takes away the sin of the world" (Rev. 13:4, 8; Jn. 1:29-30). He is also called by Paul "our Passover", as he also tells us to "keep the feast" (1 Cor. 5:7-8). Moses was told by God that the Israelites were to eat the Passover in haste, being ready and dressed to leave immediately because: "It is the LORD's Passover" (Ex. 12:11). This is what the battle would look like, as the LORD described it to Moses: "For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn...both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. Now the blood shall be a sign (ot אוֹת- sign, ensign, mark, miracles, banners, proof, evidence, monument, beacon) for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting (olam/alam - ever, perpetual, old, ancient, always, hidden time, long past antiquity, eternity) ordinance." (Ex. 12:12-14). The blood applied is to be a "sign", or a token, to the Israelites of a powerful meaning. The Hebrew letters that make up the word ot, or "sign", are aleph, vaw, and tav. These letters carry a meaning "Adonai (Lord), the First, the nail and the cross". This blood was to speak to Israel throughout all future generations forever. The enslaved Israelites who dwelled in Goshen, were miraculously spared all of the other plagues brought against Egypt, but this time, only the line of separation formed by the lambs' blood would spare their firstborn sons from the plague of death. The lamb's blood caused them to be distinguished from the Egyptians, whose gods could not save them. It is the verses concerning Passover, and the following Feast of Unleavened Bread, as well as verses from Deuteronomy, that the Jewish people were to keep on their foreheads and on their hands. They began to wear them in phylacteries or tefillin (meaning "prayers"), and eventually, when they entered the promised land, the verses were to be placed on the doorposts and gates of their houses (Ex.13:9, 16, Deut. 6:8-9). When during their history, Israel neglected to observe and remember the Passover, or when circumstances prevented them from observing the Passover, the LORD would raise up a leader to restore the observance of this first of the LORD's feasts as we see in other portions of this sabbath's reading (Ezra 6:15-22 and 2 Chron. 35:16-19). The Passover was not just a one-time event, but it has an eternal and on-going message regarding the moment of deliverance or exodus for every generation. Only those who were circumcised (see Rom. 2:28-29) and part of the people of God's covenant could participate in Passover observances (Ex. 12:43-45). As current events in the world become more dire, the revelation and deeper consideration of the Passover, and our Passover Lamb, becomes even more important for God's people, both Jews and Gentiles. "The Battle of the Firstborn" was not just executed against Pharaoh, and the Egyptians, but also as judgment against their gods (Ex. 12:12). We read about some of the gods of Egypt in the previous blog post titled "LORD". In another portion from this sabbath's reading, the LORD again speaks judgment against Egypt, Pharaoh, and their gods. The prophet Jeremiah prophesied that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, would strike Egypt: "Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol (a fortified city on the Egyptian border); proclaim in Noph (also known as Memphis, the capital of Egypt) and in Tahpanhes (a fortified city in Egypt); Say, 'Stand fast and prepare yourselves, for the sword devours all around you...They cried there, 'Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is but a noise. He has passed by the appointed time!' O you daughter dwelling in Egypt, prepare yourself to go into captivity! For Noph shall be waste and desolate, without inhabitant." (Jer. 46:13-14, 17, 19). The LORD also prophesied again against Egyptian cities in Jer. 43:10-13, promising to "kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt...He (Nebachudnezzar of Babylon) shall also break the sacred pillars of Beth Shamesh (later called Heliopolis, House of the Sun, a city in Egypt) that are in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians he shall burn with fire." There are additional Egyptian cities prophesied for destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in Ezek. 30:13-19. All of the cities mentioned to be burned with fire are not just mentioned arbitrarily, but they are associated with the worship of specific gods and goddesses of Egypt. All of these gods and goddesses are a pagan religion's attempt to overcome death without acknowledging the LORD. These Egyptian gods include a false creator figure, an underworld god of the dead, "the head of the age", "the beginning of the world", "the lord of the resurrection", and many others. In ancient Egypt, even Pharaoh was considered a god-like figure himself, with a divine connection by birth to the sun god. These gods both represent and, at the same time, conceal evil spiritual powers and principalities. However, the LORD God, with His mighty hand and the blood of the Passover Lamb, showed these false gods and half-gods and those who worshipped and relied upon them that He alone is The LORD. He alone has overcome the power of death, and has given that as a sign for us to wear for all generations. If you would like to know more about the LORD of Passover and exodus, "the way or road out of", you can pray with me: "LORD and Father, I will remember the blood of the Passover Lamb, Your Firstborn Son, Jesus, which broke the power of death for those who dwelled under it. Nothing could hold back Your hand of deliverance that brought Your people out of the House of Bondage in one night. I rely on You only, and the provision of salvation that You have made for me by Your own power. You lead me out of the bondages of sin and death. I pray that Your Spirit teaches me how to walk the way of exodus, not by pagan counterfeits that cannot save anyone, nor by customs that have lost their true meaning and power, but by a living faith found as I search Your Word. I ask this in the Name of Jesus. AMEN."

Sanctification

This week's Sabbath reading titled B'ha'alot'cha, meaning "When you step up or go up", sent me on a journey into sanctification, and what it means in my walk as a believer in Christ. Although this reading begins in Numbers 8, the story of sanctification begins earlier. When the LORD was about to release the tenth plague upon the Egyptians, death of the firstborn in every household, He also had to set apart the firstborn of the children of Israel: "For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast...Now the blood (of the lamb, see Ex. 12:7) shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." (Ex. 12:12-13). The LORD set apart from the plague, or sanctified, the firstborn of Israel by the sign of the blood of the Passover Lamb. All other firstborn in Egypt were destroyed. This plague broke the stubborn will of Pharaoh, and he let the Hebrews leave Egypt. The concept of protection through sanctification was also revealed by David in praying to the LORD concerning his enemies: "But know that the LORD has set apart (pala - sever, separated, put a difference, marked out, be distinguished from) for Himself him who is godly; the LORD will hear when I call to Him...For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." (Ps. 4:3, 8). We can also see the meaning of sanctification as protection in the new covenant as well: "...To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved (tereo -to guard from loss or injury, hold fast, keep) in Jesus Christ." (Jude 1:1). The word "sanctified" above, is the Greek word hagiazo meaning "to separate from profane things and dedicate to God, to purify by expiation, to free from the guilt of sin, to purify internally by renewing of the soul". At its root meaning, "sanctified" has to do with celebrating, dancing, making a holiday, and keeping a feast. So we also see that keeping the feasts of the LORD is part of the sanctification, or setting apart, of His people. As we turn to Numbers 8, we will see the LORD do a new work concerning those of the firstborn of Israel who had been set apart or sanctified in Egypt. In this Sabbath reading portion, the LORD will redeem or replace with the Levites those firstborn of Israel who had been set apart in Egypt. The Levites were to be like a wave offering (v. 11) before the LORD in order to set them apart: "For they are wholly given to Me from among the children of Israel; I have taken them for Myself instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the children of israel. For all the firstborn...are Mine...on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them to Myself. I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the children of Israel." (Num. 8:16-18). The LORD connected the original setting apart, or sanctification, of the firstborn of Israel with the time of the plague of death in Egypt. Another important point to learn about sanctification is that we are set apart, like the Levites (see v. 15), for service unto the LORD. Regarding this sanctification and service connection, Paul wrote, "Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter (dishonor), he will be a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work." (2 Tim. 2:20-21). Good works unto the LORD come out of our sanctification. Like the Levites we have been offered unto the Lord in sanctification according to Paul: "...that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering (consisting) of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." (Rom. 15:16, see also the prophecy in Isa. 66:20). Here is another point to learn about my sanctification - according to Isaiah's prophetic word, and Paul's fulfilling ministry, I was sanctified or set apart by the Holy Spirit in order to be an offering to God, as the Levites were. This holds an important meaning which we may not have considered. Paul wrote of this again in Rom. 12:1 when he told us to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (logikos latrreia - pertaining to the soul: perform sacred services and worship to God according to the sayings of God; to officiate and discharge the priest's sacred office)". As we look further into the sanctification found in this Sabbath's reading, we are told Zechariah's vision of Joshua the High Priest in Zech. 3: "...Joshua (Yehoshua - "Jehovah is Salvation") the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan (satan - adversary, withstand, resist, oppose, attack, accuse, lie in wait) was standing at his right hand to oppose (satan) him." (v. 1). The Hebrew word satan appears several times in scripture describing a lying, cursing, speaker of words of hatred without cause, rendering evil for good, not showing mercy (see Ps. 38, Ps. 109, Ps. 71, Ps. 109). Ps. 109:18-20, a Psalm of David, says, using the word satan: "As he clothed himself as cursing as with his garment, so let it enter his body like water, and like oil into his bones. Let it be to him like the garment which covers him...Let this be the LORD's reward to my accusers, and to those who speak evil against my person." So Satan is standing on Joshua the high priest's right side, and Joshua is covered in excrement-filled filthy garments (Zech. 3:3). He is wearing the garments of lying accusation and cursing that has been put upon him by Satan, as he opposed Joshua before the LORD. However, Joshua is standing before the Angel (malak - king, representative) of the LORD. This upper case title is used in reference to the pre-incarnate Messiah, Jesus Christ, who appeared throughout scripture before His physical birth. And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke (ga'ar - restrain and deter from wicked efforts) you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?" (v. 2). Joshua had been set apart from those who were meant for the fire. He had been plucked out (nasal - deliver, recover, escape, take out, snatch away, rescue, preserve, deliver from sin and guilt) of it. The LORD then orders to have the filthy garments removed from Joshua, and to be clothed instead "with rich robes (mahalasot/halas - robes of state, splendid or costly garments, a garment for a special occasion/armed, army, prepared, to be equipped (for war), make strong, despoil an enemy, plunder)". (v. 4). "...and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by." (v. 5). The Angel began to admonish (ud - relieve, restore, bear witness, surround, go round and round, say again and again, testify, invoke, affirm solemnly) Joshua: "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My command, then you shall also judge My house, and likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk among these who stand here." (v. 6-7). Then the Angel of the LORD prophesied the coming of the Messiah to Joshua: "...For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH (semah - sprout, shoot (of Messiah from Davidic tree)." (v. 8). No wonder Satan had tried to oppose Joshua the high priest! He was to stand before the Angel of the LORD and receive a prophecy of the coming of the Messiah. Joshua and his companions were to be "a wondrous sign" of this prophecy (v. 8). As a high priest, Joshua would have been one who was set apart, sanctified, for his office. He stood before his Sanctifier, as the lies of Satan were rebuked from off of him. We also have been sanctified in Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 1:2). The Book of Hebrews teaches us more about our sanctification: "By that we will have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all...For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren...For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." (Heb. 10:10, 2:11, 10:14). If you would like to know and experience more of or sanctification through Christ, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You have given Your Son as a sacrifice of sanctification for me. You have set me apart from out of the people to serve You in Your spiritual house. You have rebuked Satan, removed my filthy garments, and clothed me in rich robes of office. You, the LORD who chooses Jerusalem, have sanctified me for a wondrous sign of the appearance of Your Servant, the BRANCH of David, Jesus. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and Your Word, so that I can learn to walk in Your sanctification. I ask these things in the name of my Sanctifier, Jesus, AMEN."