FoodinFAMINE

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-y'chi, which means, "and he lived." The title comes from Gen. 47:28: "And Jacob lived (haya - breathing, live, alive, save, quicken, revive, life, recover, remain alive, live prosperously, live forever, be restored to life or health, preserve alive, to revive from discouragement or death) in the land of Egypt (misrayim/masor/sur - Egypt, Egyptians/besieged places, fortified, limit, distress, fortress/lay siege, adversaries, assault, bind up, confine, to press upon, to compress) seventeen years. So the length of Jacob's life was one hundred and forty-seven years."

     Looking at the Hebrew meanings of the words used in the above verse, we can say that Jacob (and his family) found their lives preserved, restored, and even prospered, in a place of danger, limitations and confinement. They found this preserved life because of the calling of God on Joseph's life. Joseph said: "...And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance." (Gen. 45:5-7, excerpt). Joseph was ordained to keep Jacob/Israel alive during a time of severe famine, and for the sake of the future generations of Israel, in the unlikely nation of Egypt, ruled by Pharaoh. Because of the favor that Joseph had received from Pharaoh because Joseph was a man filled with the Spirit and wisdom of God, Pharaoh gave the best land in Egypt to be occupied by Jacob and his family. (see Gen. 45:16-20).

     There were still five years of famine to endure in Egypt after Jacob and his sons came to dwell there. (Gen. 45:6). As our reading begins in Genesis Ch. 47, we are presented with a strange series of facts regarding how Joseph, as second only to Pharaoh in Egypt, dealt with the famine: "Now there was no bread (lehem/laham - bread, food, grain, meat, loaves, shewbread, provision/fight, make war, to eat, overcome, devoured, prevail, engage in battle, consume) in all the land; for the famine (ra'ab/ra'eb - famine, hunger, dearth, hunger for Jehovah's Word, scarcity of grain/suffer hunger, allow to hunger, be voracious, to cause to hunger) was very severe (kabed/kabad - great, grievous, heavy, sore, thick, massive, abundant, very oppressive, burdensome/honor, glorify, glorious, gain glory, sore, made heavy, burden), so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished (laha - to burn, to be rabid, insane, exhausted by frenzy, languish, faint, madman, tongue thrust out longing for drink, driven by a demon, scared) because of the famine." (Gen. 47:13). The suffering in the famine was so great that it drove people mad with it. We should also notice the connection in meaning between bread or grain and warfare in the Hebrew word and root lehem/laham. We will discover that famine can result from a state of war. We will see that famine is also associated with spiritual warfare as well. I would also like to note that grievous heaviness in the Hebrew meaning associated with the severity of this famine is also related to the glory of God in the words kabed/kabad above. Scripture tells us that as the glory of God filled the temple, the priests that ministered there could not continue because of its massive heaviness. (see 2 Chron. 5:12-14). The prophet asked, "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap." (Mal. 3:2). This will have meaning in the last days as Christ returns also, because He comes with great glory, and the overwhelming brightness of His glory will destroy the wicked one. (see Isa. 40:5-8, Mt. 24:30-31, 2 Thess. 2:8). Jesus has given to the Body of His believers this same glory. (Jn. 17:22-24).

     As we read about Joseph's tactics for provision during the ongoing deep famine throughout the region, we should keep in mind that Jacob's and consequently Israel's survival are linked to Joseph's ongoing favor in his position with Pharaoh. Officially, Joseph has been entrusted by Pharaoh as a ruler over Pharaoh's household and everything that belongs to Pharaoh. He can only keep Israel alive as he pleases and enriches Pharaoh.

     This is how Joseph handled the distribution of grain kept in Pharaoh's storehouses during the famine: "And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house." (Gen. 47:14). 

     When the money failed because the people had given it all to pay for grain, they came to Joseph asking for more bread, saying to him, "Why should we die in your presence?" Joseph then told them to give him their livestock since their money was gone, and he would give them bread. Joesph fed them that year in exchange for all of their livestock, which became Pharaoh's. (v. 16-17).

     The next year of the famine, the people came to him again for bread. Because they had neither money nor herds left, they sold themselves and their land to Pharaoh so that they wouldn't die: "Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh...so the land became Pharaoh's." (v. 18-20).

     Joseph moved the people off the land and into the cities across Egypt, and decreed: "Then Joseph said to the people, 'Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land...in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.' So they said, 'You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants." (v. 23-25). Pharaoh took twenty percent. The Egyptian priests did not have to give up their lands because Pharaoh always continued to supply them with their ration of food.

     Pharaoh became greatly enriched because of Joseph's service to him, and the people remained alive although they had to give everything including themselves to Pharaoh. What would the world be willing to do to save themselves and their families from starvation? Scripture says that many will turn away from God and turn instead to a supernaturally evil, oppressive tyrant and his world-wide economic system.

     This brings me to what I see in this part of Joseph's story as a prophetic picture and warning.

     Famine is one of the catastrophes prophesied during the time before Christ's return. Jesus prophesied: "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Mt. 24:7-8). Because of one of the horses of the Apocalypse, wheat and barley will become scarce on the earth. (see Rev. 6:5-6). This black horse followed the horse that would take peace from the earth. As we saw in the Hebrew words lehem/laham used above meaning "bread", famine often associated with warfare.

     Famine is also very prominent in the world today. 318 million people in 68 countries are facing hunger now, which is double the amount from 2019. Famine has been officially designated in the Palestinian Territories, South Sudan, Haiti, Mali, Yemen, the Congo, Myanmar, with near famine conditions reported in Chad, Somalia and Syria. Most of these famine conditions have resulted from conflicts and weather changes. Myanmar's near famine is connected to a major earthquake that occurred there. Famine is steadily crawling across the surface of the earth at this time.

     In the United States, the fifth largest wheat producer in the world, three years of drought has affected the winter wheat yields in Kansas, and too much rain has reduced the spring wheat output in North Dakota. It was during the decade of the 1930's that the great plains of the United States, known for its rich soil, was renamed The Great Dust Bowl. Several factors, including poor land management, led to this devastation. On April 14, 1935, a dust storm came to that area that was so huge the date was later called Black Sunday. It was called this because what started out as a sunny day, became darkened as the sun was obscured by the thick cloud of black dust until "it was darker than the darkest night." The Dust Bowl lasted for years as once-rich prairie land turned to dry dust, and families abandoned their useless farms.

     Also occurring in the United States, $24 trillion dollars' worth in farms and farmland is currently up for sale. Very wealthy individuals, corporations, and even foreign nations are buying some of this land. Will farming continue on this land after it is sold? Hundreds of millions of acres of farmland in the United States have already been sold - to two entities, one being a foreign government.

     The top two producers of wheat in the world are Russia and the Ukraine. Ukraine's rich black soil is considered the most fertile land on earth, and that nation has been called "The Breadbasket of Europe." Both countries have been at conflict together for several years. Together they produce 1/4 of the world's wheat. What effect will their ongoing conflict have on their production of wheat?

     The global food chain has become very vulnerable.

     Conflicts, weather changes, and natural disasters like fire and flood can change the grain production of the earth in a moment. However, as we saw above, the people of God, Jacob/Israel and his family, were provided for in the middle of a severe famine. Both Joseph and Pharaoh guaranteed the provision for God's people in the territory of Goshen (meaning "to draw near"), also known as Rameses, in Egypt. This was the richest soil in Egypt. However, men pass away, as Joseph and this Pharaoh did, and the situation changed. God does not pass away, and He continued to see and hear His people until the day of their deliverance from Egypt and after.

     The prophet of God also wrote this as a correction to God's people from the LORD: "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) all-the-tithes into the storehouse ('osar - treasury, store, supplies of food or drink, God's armory or magazine of weapons), that there may be food/meat (terep/tarap - prey, meat, fresh leaves, spoil, food, descending to battle like a lion, the spoil of the wicked/tear to pieces, feed, prey, catch, provide food) in My house, and try Me in this,' says the LORD of hosts, 'If I will not open for you (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the windows ('aruba/'arab - latticed like a dove-house or coop, a chimney for smoke to escape, a sluice for water to flow/to weave, to intertwine, to mingle) of heaven and pour out for you a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." (Mal. 3:8-10). Pharaoh received twenty percent of future earnings in addition to all of the money, herds, lands and servitude of his people that he had already received, while the LORD only asks for ten percent, and that ten percent is identified with the sacrifice of His Son, the Messiah/Christ, Jesus, who gave Himself as an offering, as indicated by the presence of the *aleph-tav in written Hebrew (see *note below). It seems a small, but spiritually powerful token for God to request from us. He would certainly be entitled to all that we have if He demanded it. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is worth far more than everything we own combined. (Mt. 6:31-34 and Mt. 13:44-46).

     We can see how the supply of the LORD comes to us as He spoils His enemies in spiritual and physical battle according to the Hebrew words terep/tarap above. We have a record in scripture of the LORD breaking a severe famine that had come upon His people by defeating and spoiling the besieging Assyrian army that had surrounded Jerusalem. (see 2 Kings 7:1-16). The enemy's bread that they left behind in their camp fed God's starving people.

     Not only does the LORD supply His people with physical bread, and His Word, the scriptures, as spiritual bread, but He also supplies us with the Bread of salvation and eternal life, Jesus. David wrote: "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed." (Ps. 37:25-26).

     As we study these Sabbath reading portions, the special and peculiar characteristics of the Sabbaths of the LORD are revealed for us to learn. The Lord's Sabbath contains a special double provision ahead of time, as was the case with Joseph, Pharaoh and Egypt in order to carry His people through the time of rest in Him when His people cannot gather.

     If you would like to learn more about the loving provision of the Lord, you can join me in prayer: "Heavenly Father, Who owns the world and everything in it, I give You my thanks for the provision that You have made for me throughout my life, and the lives of my family. No matter the circumstances that come upon the world, You have shown Your faithfulness to me. Nothing is impossible for You as Your Son Jesus demonstrated when He multiplied the few loaves of bread to feed thousands. I hold up the bread, both natural and spiritual, that You have given to me, and I wave it before You in praise and thanksgiving. I pray for those who hunger and thirst at this time across the world. You have blessed us with abundance to share with others in Your name so that men will glorify You. Lead me in Your Word and by Your Spirit, and let me always trust in You for all things. 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. 

KingdomProvision

      We have heard of the Kingdom of God. This week's Sabbath reading portion also caused me to consider the fact that there is an economic system attached to this Kingdom.  We see a glimpse of the place of Kingdom provision in the account of Abraham and his obedience to the voice of God to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, on the Mount in the land of Moriah (root meaning: chosen, seen, foreseen, caused to be shown by the LORD). Abraham had assured his son at the time, "...God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." The Angel of the LORD stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son at the last moment, and miraculously, Abraham lifted his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eyes and saw that a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) ram appeared caught (ahaz - grasp, take hold, take possession, enclose, seize with the hand, to be joined, adhere, cover, shut) by its horns (qeren/qaran - strength, rays of light, horns of the altar, power, mountain peak/to shine, send out rays, shoot out horns, to radiate, emit beams) in a thicket (sebak/sabak - branches interwoven/interweave, entwine, plait). The ram became the sacrifice instead of his son: "And Abraham called the name of the place (root word qum - to be raised up, to rise, arise, become powerful, be fulfilled, come on the scene, be proven), The-LORD (YHWH - Hebrew letters meaning "Behold the hand, behold the nail")-Will-Provide (ra'a - see, appear, show, provide, regard, visions, foresee, have vision, look at, give attention to, look one on another); as it is said to this day, 'In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided (ra'a - see above)." (Gen. 22:1-14). Those who know the Messiah/Christ Jesus will recognize His image in the picture formed by the Hebrew meaning of the words in these verses. This provision came from the LORD, rather than man, and from the place of being "raised up".

     Our Sabbath reading portion for this week is titled B'midbar, which is also the Hebrew title of the Book of Numbers and means "in the wilderness".  The title comes from the first verse of the Book of Numbers: "Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai ("thorny"), in the tabernacle of meeting, on the first day of the second month (also called ziv:  see 1 Kings 6:1, taking place in April/May, meaning "brightness, splendor [of the face], prominent), in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt..." The children of Israel had been released from their bondage in Egypt but had not yet come into the Promised Land. This also reflects our situation as those who know Messiah/Christ. We have been saved and released from the bondage of sin and death but have not yet been called to our heavenly home to be with the LORD. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we are also travelers or sojourners in the earth, which is not our permanent home (Heb. 13:14, 1 Pet. 2:11-12). We also know from scripture that the Israelites, while in the wilderness, were totally supplied by God. He provided water, food, including manna from heaven, and even their clothes and shoes did not wear out (Ps. 78:16-18, Deut. 29:5). Let's look more deeply into the LORD's economy in this week's Sabbath reading portion.

     The first thing that the LORD did was to appoint leaders of the tribes of Israel. These men were described as men of renown (qari - called one, chosen, selected) and princes (nasi/nasa - prince, ruler, king, chief, one lifted up, captain, cloud/to lift, exalt, forgive). (Num. 1:16). These were men whom God had expressed (naqab - to pierce, perforate with violence, bore, pierce through, holes, strike through, to separate, distinguish and specify by name) by their names (v. 17). The Hebrew roots of the names of these princes who were to lead groups of thousands reflect the governing kingdom and economy of God: "My God is a Rock (sur - strength, refuge/to form, lay siege, assault, to bind, to press upon, to cut, to divide)"; another name meant "prosperity, reward, restitution, pay, recompense of God"; another name: "given, granted, pay wages, recompense, lend, yield produce, be provided, be bestowed by God"; another meant: "God is patron of benevolence and protection"; still another name: "benefit, reward, dealt bountifully, bestow, recompense, repay, given by God"; another meant: "Father is judge, Lord, King, husband, prophet, ruler, governor, prince"; another name: "God has added, more, increase, exceed, add to, give more, plentifully, be joined to" (v. 5-15). These names reflect God's government and provision.

     God would be the source of the wealth of the Israelites from His place in brightness, splendorous glory. The apostle Paul wrote of the same thing as the believers in Messiah/Christ gave an acceptable, sweet-smelling sacrifice to the Lord: "And my God shall supply (pleroo - make full, cause to abound, furnish, fill to the top) all your need according to His riches in glory (doxa/dokeo - judgment, splendor, brightness, kingly majesty, majesty reflecting the absolute perfection of deity/opinion, judge) by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Phil. 4:19-20). 

     Where and from whom are we looking for our governance and provision to come? Where has our confidence been placed? Jesus described a world system built upon reliance in wealth as being called "Mammon", a word meaning a Babylonian/Chaldee god, who was wealth personified, and avarice deified, and having the confidence of men. Jesus said that God and Mammon are so opposed in nature that we cannot serve both. Mammon is not the origin of genuine wealth, but of counterfeit wealth. Genuine wealth comes from the lifted-up place of God. The wealth of this false system is gained by the love of money, false scales and weights (see Lev. 19:35-36, Prov. 11:1, Prov. 16:11, Prov. 20:10 and 23, Deut. 25:13-16, Ezek. 45:9-10, Amos 8:4-6) and theft (see Lk. 16:11, 13). The devil claimed to Jesus that all of the authority and glory (doxa - glory, honor, praise, worship, opinion, judgment) of the kingdoms of the world had been delivered to him, and he said that he would give them to Jesus if Jesus would worship him. Jesus rebuked Satan with the Word of God and told him "You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only shall you serve." (Lk. 4:5-8). Who delivered all of the kingdoms of the world and their "glory" to Satan? We, the people of God, did when we placed our confidence in those kingdoms instead of in the LORD. We cannot serve both God and Mammon.

     The LORD records this in another portion of this Sabbath's reading. The LORD said of His unfaithful people: "For she did not know that I gave her grain, new wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold - which they prepared for Baal (supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians, Canaanites and Babylonians)...And I will destroy her vines and fig trees, of which she has said, 'These are my wages (etna/tana - hire, price of a harlot, reward/to hire a prostitute, to present a mercenary inducement, to give presents, to distribute gifts) that my lovers have given me...I will punish her for the days of the Baals to which she burned incense...But Me she forgot,' says the LORD." (Hosea 2:8,12-13). The LORD prophesied that He would destroy all of the false rewards in which His people had placed their confidence.  Revelation shows us the prophetic vision of the world system of wealth and governments, upon which man relies, being destroyed in an hour (Rev. 18:1-20, see also Isa. 21:9, Jer. 51:6-8, Ezek. 27, Dan. 2:31-35, 44-45). Hosea prophesied that after God destroyed the fruits of the Baals from among His people, He would bring His people back into the wilderness in order to revive their relationship with Him, and the LORD would speak comfort to them there. They had previously called God by the name of the Baals, which was "Master", but they would learn to call God "Husband" (ishi - husband, champion, good, great and mighty Man). (v. 14-17). In the wilderness, they would learn once again to place their confidence in God. Most precious to God are His people, and His economy is based upon the redemption of His precious people as we will see. We cannot serve both God and Mammon.

    All kingdoms have their own currency usually carrying the faces of their kings and heroes. The Kingdom of God also has a currency, but it does not carry the picture of an earthly king, but of the King of Kings, and we will see His image below. In this Sabbath portion, B'midbar, or "in the wilderness", God's currency is based upon the redemption of His people. This currency of redemption is referred to as "the shekel of the sanctuary". It is by this shekel that the LORD allowed the first-born sons of Israel to be redeemed. The Levites were to replace the first-born in their obligation of service to the LORD. However, the first-born of Israel were more than the number of Levites. Therefore the LORD allowed the excess number of first-born to be redeemed instead with His currency: "...you shall take five shekels (seqel/saqal- chief unit of weight or measure of gold, silver or copper/to weigh, pay out, weigh out a price, to suspend a balance of a scale, to suspend as on a cross) for each one individually/by the poll (gulgolet/galal - skull [see also Golgotha: Jn. 19:17]/roll away [a large round stone], remove, roll away reproach); you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, the shekel of twenty (esrim/asar - twenty/a unit of the  tithe or tenth, to become rich or wealthy, enrich, make rich, gain riches, to prosper) gerahs (a weight based on a specific number of barley grains or carob beans). And you shall give the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) money, with which the excess number of them is redeemed (peduy/pada - ransom, the preserved, the price of redemption/redeem, ransom, rescue, deliver, to release, preserve, to loose, to set free, to let go, to deliver life from danger), to Aaron and his sons." So Moses took the redemption money...and Moses gave their redemption (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) money to Aaron and his sons..." (Num. 3:46-51). Again, we can see in the meaning of the Hebrew words used in this passage the Person of the Messiah/Christ Jesus, and His role as Redeemer, in the "exchange" currency of the Kingdom of God. This value is eternal and never fluctuates or ends. We can understand more of what Paul was revealing in the verse above from Phil. 4:19-20 in connecting the redemptive work of Messiah/Christ to the foundation of God's riches from which He provides for us. Paul also wrote of our inheritance (kieronomia/kieronomos - inheritance, heirship, possession/one who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship) in glory through Jesus Christ in Eph. 1:7-14, 18-23. If we are looking to Mammon for our provision, we are looking to the wrong place. We cannot serve both God and Mammon.

     In my nation, our currency is no longer attached to any specific value, making it different from the shekel of the God's sanctuary. This fact also makes our currency worthless. The coins that used to be minted by a portioned weight of fine gold and fine silver, are now minted by a press of layers of base metals of manganese brass, copper, nickel and zinc called "clad coins". The paper currency, once backed by a set measure of gold, is no longer backed by anything with a tangible value. Soon the plan is to switch to digital currency, which again, will be backed by nothing. One's labor therefore is given in exchange for a currency of no real value. Therefore, this is a system in which vast wealth is held in such a manner that it is never equitably distributed, even for labor performed. This is the system of Mammon that Jesus described. This system accumulates even more of its hoarded wealth through exorbitant interest charged to those who have sold the fruits of their future labor and wealth into debt to this system for credit now. It is indeed a system of "master" and "servant". This is the currency and economics of temporary earthly kingdoms rather than the economics of provision of God's Kingdom. In whom have we placed our confidence?  We need to seek revelation understanding of God's provision because all signs point to the possibility that the time of earthly kingdoms and their systems of wealth is growing short. We cannot serve both God and Mammon.

     In another portion from this Sabbath, Psalm 28, David calls upon the economic system of the LORD for spiritual justice. Of the wicked, David wrote: "Give (natan - give, bestow, pay wages, yield produce, be provided, sell, exchange, lend) them according to their deeds (po'al/pa'al - work, deeds, labor, wages of work, acquisition of treasure, getting/work, workers), and according to the wickedness of their endeavors (ma'alal/alal - endeavor, invention, work/deal ruthlessly, deal wantonly, abuse); Give them according to the work of their hands; render (sub - return, turn back, pay as recompense) to them what they deserve (gemul/gamal - dealing, recompense, reward, retribution/deal fully with, recompense)." As one who trusted in the LORD's Kingdom and economy, David also prayed: "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed (masiah/masa - anointed one, of the Messiah Prince/to smear, anoint, spread a liquid, rub with oil). Save Your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people and bless Your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) inheritance; Shepherd them also and bear them up forever." 

     This is the difference between God's Kingdom provision and the inequitable hoarding of wealth within Mammon. It is important for us to understand and place our confidence in the lifted-up place of God's provision and the redemption foundation of His economy, because before the LORD destroys the system of worldly wealth, the world will be forced to serve this system according to scripture (see Rev. 13:15-18, Rev. 14:9-12). The spiritual powers of wickedness (see Eph. 6:12-13) know this same truth: man cannot serve both God and Mammon, so man will be forced to choose Mammon for his provision instead of God. God's *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega people are not meant for this bondage, as we read above, and we have been given the knowledge of the truth that makes us free if we will seek it.

     If you would like to know more about the Kingdom of God and His provision economy, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You have made provision for me and You have already supplied all of my needs from Your riches in glory, through Your Son Jesus, my Redeemer. You told Your people to come out from beneath Babylon because her fall would be great. Please give me the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that I need from Your living Word by Your Spirit to place all of my confidence in You, so that I do not rely on my own strength, nor put my confidence in the kingdoms and systems of this world for provision and prosperity. Separate and redeem me from these things by Your glory through Messiah/Christ. Let this become revelation to me so that I will walk in it and be able to show it to others. 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 Α Ω , 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.

     

     

Tabernacles

 

 

Tomorrow begins the Feast of Tabernacles. It is a commanded feast of the LORD. He wanted His people to celebrate, come rejoicing every year, in every generation (Lev. 23:34-43). As solemn as the recently observed Yom Kippur feast is, this feast is for rejoicing. Many things can and have been said about the Feast of Tabernacles, and every detail involved in the Tabernacle of the LORD, as shown to Moses, is very important. To me, the beauty of Tabernacles is the picture of the love of God that it embodies. The prophetic image of the Tabernacle promises us that it is, and always was, the Father's intention to dwell (tabernacle) among men, whom He so dearly loves. To Moses, God said:

"And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell (let oneself down, to settle down, to lie down, to dwell, abide, be inhabited) among them. According to all that I show you, that is the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it."  

                                                                                                               Ex. 25:8-9

In His design of the Tabernacle, God required that the twelve tribes of Israel be encamped on every side of the Tabernacle, so the presence of God could dwell literally in their midst. Everything about the Tabernacle, its outward design and its interior furnishings, were pointing prophetically to the way which our Father had provided for man to come into His presence- through His Son, Jesus. According to rabbinical tradition, the three entrances of the Tabernacle, into the Outer Court, into the Holy Place, and finally into the Holy of Holies, were named "THE WAY", "THE TRUTH", and "THE LIFE". Jesus identified Himself in this same manner (Jn. 14:6), as the only living path to His Father. None of the world's "religions" present as their awesome privileged goal the manner of approach into the personal presence of the Almighty Creator, the Highest, Himself. Yet, God wants this more than anything else. He deeply desires this company and fellowship with man as His greatest will and plan. 

The sukkah (booth, tabernacle, tent) that is built by a Jewish family as they observe the Feast of Tabernacles is to remind them of when Israel dwelt in the midst of the presence of God after He miraculously delivered them out of the bondage of Egypt. It represents His provision and protection, His loving care for them. The Tabernacle and Presence in the midst of man as protection and provision are expressed in scripture:

"Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion ("sukkah") from the strife of tongues."   Ps. 31:19-20

And:

"...then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming (gleaming, polished point of a weapon or spear) fire (supernatural fire, altar fire) by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. And there will be a tabernacle ("sukkah")  for shade (shadow, a defense) in the daytime from the heat (desolation, drying heat, dagger, cutting weapon), for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm (inundate, overwhelm) and rain."  Isa. 4:5-6

When Jesus came to us in the flesh, He came as a Tabernacle, to dwell among men, who could then be in the presence of His glory:

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."  Jn. 1:14

Through His coming in the living flesh, His sacrifice, and  His resurrection, Jesus fulfilled the purpose of the Tabernacle. This allowed the subsequent infilling of the Holy Spirit to "dwell" in each believer on His name. We also then became living, spiritual tabernacles (1 Cor. 3:16, 2 Cor. 6:16) of the presence of the glory of God in the midst of men for their provision and protection, and for the purpose of being a living "signpost" (Zion) to all men of "THE WAY" to the Father through His Son (Christianity began as a Jewish sect called "The Way".) 
The Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands (Acts 7:48), but in living Tabernacles: the sukkah must be constructed of living branches and leaves. In the beginning, God planted (fastened) a living Sukkah to the earth in the form of the Garden of Eden, and then placed man within it (Gen. 2:8-9). The LORD walked in the midst of that living sukkah, and fellowshipped personally with the man.

We see the eternal will of God for tabernacle among men at the close of the Book of Revelation:

"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."  Rev. 21:3-4

Can you imagine Almighty God gently wiping the tears from each of our eyes? This is the love He wants to express in His Tabernacle, and the intimate, personal fellowship He has always desired with each of us.

This is the picture of God's profound love that I find in the Feast of Tabernacles. Can there be any greater reason for remembering it with rejoicing?

 

Our Father desires to tabernacle with men.



Hidden

I have been noticing something for a while now, and trying to understand the lesson waiting for me in it. I think I have discovered what one of those lessons might be.
For several years now, we have been putting seed out in winter, and a bird bath out in summer to provide for the birds in our yard. At this point, there must be thirty birds or more living in the bushes. They are concealed in the forsythia bushes that line the side of the yard. The sound of them all chirping in the morning is great to wake up to. It is delightful to see them all come out when we spread the seed on the ground on the winter mornings, or to see them drinking and splashing in the water of the birdbath on hot summer days. Even the beautiful, but timid, woodpeckers come out from their hiding places in the trees of the yard in order to eat the suet feeding block placed there for them. It is charming to see the fledglings of a new generation learning to fly in our back yard.
This year, however, I have noticed something happening that is not so charming. A hawk, seeing the birds come out from hiding in the bushes to eat the seed on the ground, has taken up residence in the area. I have seen it land on one of the birds, and carry it off. Cats come into the yard when they become aware of bird activity. The other day, for the first time, I was shocked to see a rodent appear to eat the seed, the provision meant for the birds.
The provision, the seed, brings the birds out from covering, and also, draws predators and undesirables. Oh no, this will not do.
I began to see a connection to spiritual things. The provision of God, in the way that we wish to see it in our lives, will likewise draw predators and vermin. There are some in the kingdom of God whom God desires to keep hidden for His own timing or purpose. He does not want them out in the open to be destroyed before He reveals them in the manner and timing that He knows is best. There is a direct connection between the provision of God, and the eyes of a spiritual destroyer seeking to devour. The devourer follows the provision.
Sometimes we chafe against God's plan to conceal or hide us for a time, because we don't like to be hidden, but God's enemies are looking for these hidden ones:
"For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered (hidden) ones."  Ps. 83:2-3
Even enemies that would never have worked together, work and consult together to find the hidden people of God (v. 5-8).
In the times of trouble, when there is an increase in wickedness and evil, God will hide His people:
"For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me."   Ps. 27:5-6
One of my favorites is:
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge (shelter from rain, storm, danger, flee for protection) and my fortress; my God in Him will I trust."  Ps. 91:1-2
The LORD does not just hide us from spiritual devourers, but from the human kind as well:
"You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion (sukka- booth, tent, thicket, den, shut in, blocked off, screened, shut off, cover) from the strife of tongues."   Ps. 31:20
We can see how it is possible for us to chafe in the hidden place of God. How pleasant can it be to be hidden in a thicket, or a den? to be shut off, or shut in, blocked off? We don't like it. Obscurity may not be what we desire, but it has its uses. Even Jesus retired to the wilderness from those who plotted to kill Him, until it was time for Him to go to Jerusalem (Jn. 11:53-54).
It is wisdom,not cowardice, to remain hidden from the enemy:
"A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished."
                                                                                                             Prov. 27:12
For a time, the great warrior, David, and his men had to hide in dangerous enemy territory, and in the cave Adullam ("Justice of the people, Justice of Jehovah") from Saul's pursuit (1 Sam. 21-23). Under the murderous reign of Jezebel, the prophets of God had to be hidden from her in caves, with only bread and water to eat and drink (1 Ki. 18:4). They were so well hidden by Obadiah ("servant, worshipper of Jehovah"), that the greatest prophet in the land, Elijah, thought that he was the only one left (1 Ki. 19:14). Sometimes, while in hiding, we feel that we are the only one left, but not so. Elijah himself, was hidden in the wilderness by Cherith ("cut off, cut down"), and provided for by angels (1 Ki. 19:5) and ravens (1 Ki. 17:2-7). It was while in hiding in a cave in the mountain of God, Horeb ("dried up, desolate, laid waste"), that Elijah discovered the power of the "still, small voice" of God (1 Ki. 19:12). Eventually, God pushed Elijah out of the cave, and back onto the scene.
We understand the difficulty of being hidden for a time. Warriors itch for the battle, and prophets long to prophesy. It is made more difficult, if it seems that God's provision is not of the nature that we would normally expect. In fact, it is easy to believe during this hidden time that God's provision has dried up, or has been diverted. However, if we remember the example of the birds, overt provision can lead to being uncovered from the protection provided by a hiding place. So what to do?
In the case of the birds, we changed the nature of the provision from the spreading of seed on the open ground, to putting the seed on a raised wooden platform with a covering. It is positioned near the birds' protected place in the bushes. We didn't want our provision for them to be the type that brings them out into the open, and puts them in increased danger. We didn't want the provision for the birds to be accessible instead to vermin, allowing those things to thrive and multiply.
The same is true of God's provision, I think. The nature of it, by necessity, must change when we are in that place and time of hiding. The prophet Isaiah reveals something interesting regarding a special provision:
"I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I the LORD, Who call you by your name, am the God of Israel."  Isa. 45:3
There are treasures and riches hidden by God in these secret places. They may be of a different nature than we would like, or are used to receiving, but they are treasures that we would never find out in the open. They are appointed for the secret places.
Jesus, in Revelation, talks about giving us the hidden manna to eat:
"...To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna to eat..."   Rev. 2:17
It is not like the manna that was strewn across the open ground of the wilderness so that when the Israelites walked out of the door of the tent, they were able to gather it easily every morning. This manna of Jesus is of a hidden type, but it is still daily bread (root meaning-to raise up from the ground, lift up, to take upon one's self and carry what has been raised up) (Mt. 6:11).
If we find ourselves in that secret, hidden, obscure place, it may well be that we are there because it is where God wants us for a time, in order to protect us from His enemies. Our provision may not be spread out in the open before us, as it was previously, but the hidden provision will be there. Even if part of the provision is bread and water for a time, it will be the Bread of Life, and the Living Water. Perhaps if we train our eyes to look for the hidden riches, the treasures of darkness, we will find it.

God hides us, and provides for us under His covering in His secret place.

"Psalm 91 Song"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67wC6-kWWSo

Genesis 1

My grandchildren and I have begun a Bible study. I think it is the most important thing for them to have a knowledge of scripture. We began our studies in The Beginning, Genesis Chapter 1. I started here because it is the beginning. I also started here because I have recently read opinions that we should not discuss or teach Genesis creation, because it is a stumbling block to belief for most people. However, the beginning chapters of Genesis give us a wonderful spiritual knowledge and foundation. So, I thumbed my nose at the Genesis silencers, and we forged ahead. The kids found it fascinating. They pointed out that the Book title is "The First Book of Moses". I was able to explain to them that as Moses entered God's presence on the mountain, he received this revelation. In fact, he spent so much time in the presence of God, that his face shone with the glory light of God.
The first foundational truth we discussed is that God, as revealed in this chapter, is "Elohim". We find out immediately that God is a plurality from this name. We are introduced to the Word, Jesus, which Elohim spoke in order to create (Jn. 1:1-3), and we meet the Spirit of Elohim, who hovered over the void and deeply dark condition of the earth. The meaning of "hovered" is to fold wings around, to lovingly embrace. The Spirit of Elohim embraced and loved this mass of nothingness with its fathoms of deep darkness into the creative power, the Word, of Elohim.
We discussed that Elohim spoke creation into being, and how we also create and destroy with our words, requiring a large responsibility from each of us. "Death and life is in the power (yad-hand) of the tongue (wedge, slander, accuse); they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."  (Prov. 18:21).
The fact that Elohim began His creation, or re-creation, by speaking light into being was also interesting to the kids and to me. As the created light (ore-light of life, light of a lamp, light of instruction, light of prosperity, light of day, lightning) of Elohim divided the darkness, we learned that light is always greater, more powerful, than darkness. We learned at this point that Jesus is the Light of the world, and He told us that we are also that same light. Darkness must retreat in the presence of light, and cannot overpower light (Jn. 1:1-5).
I also discovered and learned something from verses 11-18 as we read them. It was something I had not thought about before. I wondered why Elohim waited until the fourth day to create the sun, moon, and stars. In v. 11-13, on the third day, Elohim spoke vegetation into being on the earth. This vegetation must, by His command, contain the power of perpetual life. It must produce seed and fruit. This vegetation would eventually supply food for the animals and mankind that would be coming (v. 29-30).
Immediately thereafter, Elohim established the Light Cycle that would be needed to support the vegetation. One of the reasons He created the sun, moon, and stars in v. 14-18, was for the creation of seasons. Plants have a Vegetative Cycle, and a Flowering Cycle. For the Vegetative Cycle, the producing of stalks and leaves, a plant needs at least 16-18 hours of light, and 6-9 hours of darkness. This is the light required for photosynthesis to occur. This is the light/darkness that comes during spring and into summer. In order to switch from the Vegetative Cycle to the Flowering Cycle, to produce seeds and fruit, the hours of light and darkness must be balanced to about 12 hours each. This begins to happen as the summer season moves towards the fall. The hours of light and darkness needed for the growing cycle of plants must be regulated, and the sun and moon and stars provided this regulation of light. Various scientists did not discover the process of photosynthesis in plants until the 1600's-1700's, and it is still being studied and updated today (Calvin Cycle, UC, Berkeley). Elohim, of course, knew it all along, and showed it to Moses.
As interesting as this is from a scientific standpoint, I find it even more valuable from a spiritual standpoint. Elohim does nothing without also creating the perfect provision for it. He will create a sun, moon, and stars, in part, to support a blade of grass, or an apple tree. How much more, and how much more bountifully, will He make the perfect provision for each of us?
"So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For after all these things Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."   Mt. 6:28-33
If we are struggling through these times, it is good to remember the incredible wisdom, knowledge, understanding and provision of Elohim as taught to us in Genesis 1.

Our Father reveals His provision in Genesis 1.

High Praise (Song of Job)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeORL0ZThWA

Provision

"But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
                                                                                                              Philippians 4:19

The word "supply" used above means to fill up, cause to abound, to complete, nothing shall be wanting. The root meaning of the word refers to hollow vessels being filled, also to being covered in every part. Of the soul, it pertains to being thoroughly permeated, perfect.
The place of the provision of our Father is found in the Spirit. The source of the provision of God is His glory, which in this case can mean splendour and brightness, but also means, His opinon, His judgment, and that which is pleasing to Him. These blessings, or riches can certainly manifest in the natural circumstances of our lives, but the natural circumstances of our lives is not the source of those riches, nor is it the complete meaning of these riches.
For example, using most of the same words that He uses in the above verse, the LORD addresses a very rich church in a place called Laodicea in Rev. 3:17-18:

"Because you say, "I am rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing";
and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-
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 eye salve, that you may see."

The natural state of this church was abundance and wealth. They thought their safety, esteem, power, and position was in their wealth. They were full of pride and arrogant. Anyone looking at the outward appearance of this church would have said that they were favored and blessed by God, because of their wealth. But the spiritual state of this church, according to the LORD, was extreme poverty and shame. The source of their wealth was not the spiritual place mentioned in the first scripture above, Phil. 4:19, but the source of their wealth was the system of this world. Outwardly blessed, but inwardly bankrupt. They would never be able to accomplish their spiritual purpose, if they remained as they were.
The gold that survives, the gold that remains, that Jesus speaks of according to Rev. 3:18, is gold that has come through the fire of refinement, a place of spiritual cleansing and strengthening. This gold can only be obtained through the LORD, through Christ. The gold that comes from Christ is not from a source that relies upon the worldly systems. The gold that Jesus speaks of has a spiritual source from His Father, and is, therefore, not subject to the eradict conditions of the world. It is from everlasting, and will not pass away. He instructs the church that this is the source upon which they must rely. Even their clothing is first to be spiritual clothing of righteousness (white garments). Our thinking must be in accord with these principles. Our dependence and source must be our Father. If we haven't sought this place in the Father's glory before, the same glory that Jesus has asked us to share with Him, we must begin to turn our hearts towards it. The days of shaking are upon us.
The United States is a very wealthy nation. But if we depend upon our nation, our jobs, our own strengths and talents, our natural inventiveness and ambition to be the source of success, wealth and provision in our lives, we will be like the church of Laodicea.
There is a commercial on television celebrating the State of New Jersey's recovery from the hurricane that caused so much damage to homes and lives. It invites people to come do commerce in the state. The song on the commercial says "We are stronger than the storm".
The source of this outward success, according to their proclamation, is their own strength. They have relied on themselves, the governments of their state and the nation, to rebuild them. In the same way, we also tend to rely on our employers and our government to be the source of our provision. Outwardly we may appear to be successful, but inwardly, we are bankrupt. The fact that we have relied first upon the world economic systems to be our provision, rather than our Father, has left us potentially poor, wretched, blind, naked and miserable, like the church of Laodicea, whether we realize it or not.
We have also judged the calling and success of other people and even other churches by their outward wealth or poverty, which may not be a true indicator of the anointing of God upon them. Many anointed servants of God have been through the place where they have only been able to depend on God for their provision. Man may have abandoned them, or come to them empty-handed. The systems of this world have been of no help. But these servants of God are blazing a trail that many of us may have to walk in the future. We will thank God for these men and women of God who will be able to lead us through in the days ahead where they have already had to travel. If our discernment of the anointing of God is influenced by the outward appearance of wealth, we will be as blind as the Laodicean church. Jesus did not judge a work by its affluence. To the church of Smyna, in Rev. 2:9, the LORD says:
"I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich)..."
He is teaching them that they possess the spiritual wealth that comes from relying upon the Father. This is the first place of provision and blessing.
Relying upon the world for economic provision can be undependable, at best. There are those in our nation who refer to the currency of this country as "the almighty dollar". But the dollar is not almighty. In fact, the dollar is facing one of its greatest perils.  The world has been turning against the continuing use of the U.S. dollar as its "reserve currency". Reserve currency means that the other nations of the world use the dollar to buy and sell. It has been the universal method of exchange, accepted by all nations in doing business. But times have changed. In the last few years, nations are rejecting the dollar as its reserve currency, and have put in place other currencies to use in buying and selling. The International Monetary Fund is even now recommending that the dollar no longer be used as the reserve currency, and a different currency be put in place. If these events continue, the dollar could become useless against our national debt, and even become devalued here in America. The consequences would be that you would need many more dollars in order to purchase what you used to be able to purchase. Inflation would soar. The U.S. economy could suffer a blow that would be difficult, perhaps impossible to recover from.
The riches and provision of the LORD do not have their source in the dollar, or any other natural riches. The riches of the LORD start in a supernatural place in our Father's glory, immersed in the person of Christ. This is a place where our souls sink into the being of Christ and are filled to overflowing. The spiritual overflowing also manifests in the natural overflowing of all blessings in our lives. We would be making a grave mistake to believe that the source of our provision lies in anyone, or anything other than the glory of God.

Our Father is Provision.


"In You Alone"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hzKK36Ayrs

"God, I Look to You"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR5IoWH9OiI

"More Precious Than Silver"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HWf8YpH-3Q

Reference Articles:

"Is the Almighty Doomed?" Time Business
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1889588,00.html

"Dollar Could Be in Danger..." Reuters
http://rt.com/usa/dollar-danger-as-world-currency-977/