MonsterSlayer

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-eira, meaning "and I appeared," and begins in Ex. 6. Our title comes from v. 2-3: "And God spoke to Moses and said to him: 'I am the LORD (YHWH). I appeared (ra'a - see, look, behold, appear, consider, perceive, foresee, seer, have vision, discern, be visible, experience) to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty (El Shaddai), but by My name LORD I was not known to them." This name, LORD, is a new revelation to the people of God. It is revealed at a time when the LORD will perform mighty miraculous acts to free His people from bondage and oppression.

     The LORD first revealed His name to Moses in Ch. 3:14-15, when Moses asked His name to tell to the Israelites: "And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM (written in Hebrew as YHWH or יְהֹוָה ).'...Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you...This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations." Not only is this name, LORD, an eternal name, but it is the name that is to be made known to every generation. Every generation must have this knowledge for the reason that will be revealed below.

     In both places where this name is mentioned, there is also the promise to deliver the Israelites out of the land of Egypt and to bring them into the land promised by covenant in Canaan. This name, LORD, means "the existing One," and it is this name by which God delivers His people using whatever means necessary. Each Hebrew letter in the name LORD, yod-hey-vaw-hey, carries a separate meaning that when combined can be translated "Behold, the hand, behold the nail." We can see the identity of Jesus in this named. This is also a name that defeats monsters as we will see.

     In another reading portion from this Va-eira, "and I appeared" Sabbath, the LORD says to His prophet, Ezekiel: "Speak and say, 'Thus says the LORD GOD: Behold, I am against you O Pharaoh king of Egypt, of great monster (tannin - dragon, great serpent, sea or river monster, venomous, devourer) who lies in the midst of his rivers, who has said, 'My River (referring to the Nile River) is my own; I have made it for myself.'...I have given you as food to the beasts of the field and to the birds of the heavens. Then all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. When...you broke and tore all their shoulders; When...you broke and made all their backs quiver." (Ezek. 29:3, 5-7).

     Several of the gods, or ruling spiritual powers, of Egypt were associated with the Nile River, the most important river to the ancient Egyptians in their religion by which they used occultic practices in order to claim to have control over death and resurrection. There are organizations today that still rely upon these occultic beliefs and practices in order to accomplish eternal life. The ancient Egyptians also relied upon the Nile's flooding seasons for their agricultural production. The Nile River became the center of creation, fertility, the underworld, including death and resurrection as mentioned, and to the LORD, it also was the source of oppression of God's covenant people as He told Ezekiel, above. The LORD told Moses that He would judge the gods of Egypt, "I will execute judgment: I am the LORD." ( Ex. 12:12). Again the LORD attaches His name to this judgment that would bring deliverance to His people.

     In another reading portion from this Sabbath, the psalmist wrote of the judgment of the LORD against Pharaoh, Egypt and its gods: "He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, by sending angels of destruction among them." (Ps. 78:49).

     The first plague sent by the LORD against Egypt and its gods in order to force Pharaoh to release the Hebrew slaves was the plague against the Nile and all of the waters of Egypt. The LORD instructed Moses to meet Pharaoh as he went to the River and say to him: "The LORD God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, 'Let (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness'; but indeed, until now you would not hear! Thus says the LORD: 'By this you shall know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will strike (naka - smite, slay, kill, beat, slaughter, punish, conquer, ravage, captured, wounded, stricken, stripes, smitten, scourge) the waters which are in the river (ye'or - of Egyptian origin, specifically the Nile and its collateral trenches) with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood (dam/damam - blood, bloodthirsty, blood guiltiness, blood shed that causes death/silence, cut off, cut down, cease, be astonished or stupefied, perish). And the fish that are in the river shall die, the river shall stink (ba'as - stink, abhor, abomination, loathsome, be offensive), and the Egyptians will loathe (la'a - be weary of, to exhaust oneself, to labor, be offended, make disgusted, faint, loathe) to drink the water of the river." (Ex. 7:16-18, see also Ps. 78:43-44).

     Not only did the Nile turn to blood, but every source of water in Egypt turned to blood, including any water that was in a container or cup! (v. v. 19). The plague lasted seven days. (v. 25). The magicians of Egypt were able to copy this plague, which hardened Pharaoh's heart against the power of the LORD, but the magicians were not able to alleviate the plague of God, neither were the Egyptian gods of the River able to reverse the plague evidently, because the plague continued for its appointed timespan.

     The purpose of this and the other plagues against Egypt were not only for the purpose of forcing Pharaoh to let God's people go, but it was also to be a testament to the LORD's people of His power and willingness to deliver His people out of their severe bondage. Psalm 78 mourns the fact that God's people failed to remember all that He did in order to deliver them and make them a nation (Ps. 78:52-55). Even after all that the LORD had accomplished on their behalf, His people tested and provoked (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega-Elohim) God, turned back and acted unfaithfully, did not keep His testimonies, and moved Him to jealousy with their idols (v. 56-58).

     The question is: Do we remember all that the LORD has done for us through mighty wonders and works? Or have we forgotten His absolute power and might? Have we hardened our hearts against the ways of God as Israel once did, as Psalm 78 laments?

     Some may not believe that there are monsters. Some may have forgotten how the LORD defeated monsters on behalf of His people. Some may have forgotten that we, the Church of believers in Christ, are called to be monster slayers ourselves.

     The apostle Paul wrote this to the Church: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness or this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Eph. 6:1-013).

     Paul is talking about monsters here - spiritual serpents and dragons -venomous and merciless devourers of human beings and whole nations (see above Hebrew meaning of "monster").

     Paul also wrote further: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. Do you look at things according to the outward appearance?..." (2 Cor. 10:3-7a).

     As we war against the flesh of others (although we do not spend much time or effort warring against our own flesh), and as we war against what outward appearances seem to tell us, we become totally ineffectual as monster slayers. The warfare against monsters begins in our own minds and in our own obedience to the Lord and to His Word and Spirit.

    In another place, Paul wrote that the Church of believers is to make known the mystery that has been revealed to it: "...and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence through faith in Him." (Eph. 3:9-12). There is a mystery, now revealed to the church to be made known to the monsters mentioned in the above verse from Ephesians, and to all men, "...which is "Christ in you (meaning the believer), the hope of glory." (see Col. 1:26-27).  Jesus revealed the same mystery when He said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (Jn. 3:16-27). There is escape from condemnation and death, there is everlasting life, there is salvation for all who will believe in the Son, Jesus, who accomplished this earth-shaking work in the will and in the name of His Father.

     Here is another monster slayer: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal. 2:20). This overcomes the biggest monster of all - Satan himself: "...for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb (meaning Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God) and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Rev. 12:10-11).

     Calling all monster slayers - Fall in and take up your weapons of warfare: the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Eph. 6:14-18). 

     The connection between the name LORD and Jesus is discussed above. LORD is the name by which God will judge the gods or monsters of Egypt and deliver His people. Scripture also relates how the name of Jesus has authority over all created beings, including monsters: "And being found in appearance as a man, He (Jesus) humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:8-11).

     All knees must bow at this name, Jesus/Yeshua (meaning "the LORD is salvation"), and at the title of "Lord", including the knees of monsters. Keeping this in mind, the greatest monster slayer and ruler of all time and before time, is coming, the returning Messiah/Christ, Jesus as "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." (Rev. 19:15-16). At that time, "...the lawless one... the son of perdition (hell)...will be revealed, whom the Lord (Jesus) will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thess. 2:3, 8-10).

     The Book of Revelation gives us a detailed description when the coming of the Lord shall destroy Mystery Babylon the Great (Rev. 17:3-6, 18:4-8), overcome the nations, the beast (meaning the lawless one as described above, also known as the antichrist), and the false prophet who served the beast. Also His angel: "laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old (see the Hebrew meaning for "monster" above), who is the Devil and Satan and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him..." (Rev. 19:11-21, and 20:1-3).

     In this age when spiritual monsters have used their wicked power to attempt to destroy all that is life, we, the believers in Christ, should begin to understand what it means to be a monster slayer.

     If you would like to know more about the LORD and His determination to judge the spiritual monsters that seek to destroy His people, you can pray with me: "LORD God, Creator of all, LORD of all, Your Son, who came in Your name, appeared to us in the flesh and died and rose again so that we might have life and that more abundantly. Your promise Lord Jesus is to dwell in me as I dwell in You, to cleanse me of all unrighteousness, to remove all power of sin and death over my life, that I may stand before monsters in the evil day with my life hidden in You, and Your Word and Your faith in my mouth. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and with Your Word so that my obedience will be fulfilled as a witness against the spiritual monsters of wickedness who seek to destroy life. 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. 

     

Atonement

These past few Sabbaths, the readings have focused on the priesthood. This week's Sabbath reading titled Korach, meaning "baldness", does so also. To me the term "baldness" in this reading refers to a lack of spiritual covering, and we will learn what the priest did in the middle of this dire circumstance. We are also called kings and priests, and a royal priesthood unto the Lord under the new covenant in Christ. This made me think about my role as a believer-priest when the spiritual covering over a people has been removed. Our Sabbath reading begins in Numbers 16 with a terrible rebellion that starts small but eventually encompasses all of the congregation of Israel. The rebellion started with four men, one of whom, Korah, was a Levite from the same tribe as Moses and Aaron, the tribe of the priesthood. The other three rebels were from the tribe of Reuben. Those four men recruited two hundred and fifty tribal leaders of the congregation who were: "representatives of the congregation, men of renown." (Num. 16:1-2). The rebellion began in covetousness, envy and resentment, but was fed by false accusations and lies. These four men and the tribal leaders accused Moses and Aaron of appointing themselves to be the leaders of the Israelites. They said: "You take too much on yourselves, for all the congregation is holy...and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?...Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey (referring to Egypt), to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting like a prince over us? Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards..." (v. 3, 13-14). Moses pointed out to Korah the Levite that he was showing that he despised his own calling of the LORD to serve in the tabernacle, and coveted and envied another's calling instead (v. 9-10). Because of this, they were "gathered together against the LORD" (v. 11). The Levite rebel, Korah, then gathered all of the congregation against Moses and Aaron at the door of the tabernacle. So now all of the people have turned against Moses and Aaron. The glory of the LORD appeared before them all. The LORD not only planned to deal with the rebels, but also to consume the whole congregation in a moment (v. 19-21). Moses and Aaron fell on their faces interceding with God on behalf of the congregation. God allowed the congregation to separate themselves from the rebels, as the earth opened up underneath the four original rebels and the two hundred and fifty tribal leaders who had joined them, and they fell down into the open earth alive, and the earth closed over them (v. 28-33). However: "On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron saying, 'You have killed the people of the LORD.' (v. 41). The glory of the LORD appeared again, and the LORD repeated that He would consume the people. Moses and Aaron again fell on their faces before the LORD. Then Moses said to Aaron, "Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement (kapar - to cover over, to be covered, to overspread, to cover (sins), to make expiation for an offender, reconciliation, forgive, appease, pacify) for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun." (v. 45-46). Aaron did as Moses had spoken, "and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped. Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the Korah incident." (v. 45-49). In making atonement for the people, Aaron physically placed himself in the middle of the plague to stand between those who were dead, and those who were yet alive. The fast-moving plague was stopped at that point. Before this incident, atonement was observed as a feast day of the LORD, carried out on an appointed day, in an appointed place, the Holy of Holies, and with a specific sacrifice. In this instance, however, making atonement for the people was accomplished by an act of intercession using a censer and incense. How did God feel about this intercession of atonement that Aaron ministered at the command of Moses? After this incident, in Numbers 17, the LORD lets us know. All of the rods that represented the fathers of the tribes of Israel, with their tribes' names written on them, were brought before the LORD in the tabernacle. Aaron's rod, with his name written on it for the Levites, was included with the other rods (Num. 17:1-7). The LORD said that the rod of the man whom He will choose will blossom. He would settle the complaints of the children of Israel against Moses and Aaron in this way. The next day, Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, "and behold, the rod of Aaron, for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds." (v. 8 KJV). Not only had the rod, a long dead staff, produced blossoms, but it produced almond fruit as if it were a living tree. Not only did it produce almonds, but ripe almonds. Although the wording of this verse in English sounds repetitive, the Hebrew meanings of the words here are not repetitive, and each phrase adds a new and different meaning. The four phrases used here in v. 8 have the following meanings: "budded": parah - bud, blossom, break forth, extend wings and fly. "Brought forth buds": yasa/perah - deliver, lead out, bring out, proceed/flower, blossom. "Bloomed blossoms": sus/sis - flourish, to shine, gleam, twinkle, to be bright, to glance through a lattice/ blossom, wings, feather. "Yielded almonds" - gamal/saqed/saqad - dealt bountifully, bestowed, recompense, do good, wean a child or mature, ripening/almond trees, almonds, the first tree to awaken out of winter sleep/watch, keep watch over, wake, hasten, sleepless. Regarding this budded rod of Aaron's, the LORD instructed Moses: "Bring Aaron's rod back before the Testimony (meaning the ark of the covenant), to be kept as a sign against the rebels (meri - rebellious, bitterness, stubborn refusal to obey; root word mara- "stroke, strike, slash with a whip"), that you may put their complaints away from Me, lest they die." (v. 10). Not only did Aaron's rod bud as a fruit of his atonement for the people, but it remained before the Testimony of the LORD as a sign against such rebellion, on penalty of death. In this Sabbath reading, we can see the role of the priest as one who stood between the living and the dead in a plague, and made an atonement, even for rebellious people who falsely accused him and resented him. The LORD recognized the power and work of that atonement through the budding of Aaron's staff. His Son, Jesus, as our High Priest, looked upon those who were crucifying Him, who had mocked and whipped Him in their rebellion against God, and said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (Lk. 23:34). He is our atonement (Rom. 5:11), and not only for us, but for the whole world (1 Jn. 2:2). Jesus' atonement is a one time offering that extends into eternity: "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting/expecting (ekdechomai - receive, accept, grant access to, embrace, make one's own, to take with the hand) till His enemies (echthros - hostile, hating, opposing) are made (tithemi - lay down, bend down, kneel down, carry no longer, establish) His footstool (hypopodion - among, by, or under foot, a foot on the neck of an enemy, or at the feet as a disciple)." (Heb. 10:10, 12-13). Scripture says also that every knee should bow at the name of Jesus, and every tongue should confess Him (Phil. 2:8-11). Our priestly ministering in intercession of His atonement for the people plays a role in that transforming victory, I'm sure. If you would like to know more about our priesthood in Christ, you can pray with me: "Lord Jesus, You have given us the priestly ministry of reconciliation through Your covering atonement. Fill me with the Holy Spirit who shows me how to pray and intercede effectively in the middle of world-wide rebellion against God, and the resulting deadly plague. You are sitting at the right hand of the Father waiting expectantly to receive those who will come forth from Your atonement, and sit at Your feet as disciples, or bow at Your feet as a subject before You. As the time grows short, Your desire is that none should perish but that all should come to repentance and salvation. Show me how to stand in the gap, and make up the hedge with my censer of incense, or prayers, for those who are uncovered and in danger of perishing. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."