Tested

        

      "Gold refined in the fire"

     There was a Hebrew, a son of Jacob named Joseph, who was carried away into Egypt as a slave. Joseph had a prophetic gift, especially in dreams and the interpretation of dreams. The Word of God says: "He (the LORD) sent a man before them - Joseph - who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested (sarap - goldsmith, refine, refiner, purge away, pure, try, test and prove true, to smelt to separate dross, to test by trials) him." (Ps. 105:17-19). Joseph was tested in his trust in the prophetic word that the LORD had given him. That prophetic word was proved to be truth as Joseph was elevated from slavery and imprisonment to the right hand of Pharaoh in the ruling of Egypt in order to preserve the Hebrews through the severe famine.

     Proverbs says: "Every word of God is pure (see sarap above); He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar." (Prov. 30:5-6). A tested Word of God in our lives causes us to trust and rely on that Word in all things. The prophet Daniel also wrote that God's people would be severely tested (see sarap above) in the time of the end in order to purge them and refine them "and make them white." (Dan. 11:35). The sarap testing that comes into our lives is to test the Word of God in us as to the strength of our belief in Him and our loving devotion to Him, and to remove the things (dross) that are not of God.

     This brings us to the Sabbath reading portion for this week titled R'eh, meaning "Behold". The title is from the Hebrew word ra'a which means "see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider, have vision, observe, find out, distinguish, look intently at, discern, visions, to see and enjoy light, to see the face of God." We are not just looking at something. but we are also weighing it, discerning it, looking for the light and the face of God in it. The title is found in Deut. 11:26-28: "Behold (see ra'a above), I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) blessing if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known."

     The blessing spoken of above in the obedience or observance of the Word of God, the ra'a perceiving of it, is associated with the knowledge of the Messiah/Christ, according the written Hebrew which includes an *aleph-tav (see note below). This is a test. Do we perceive and observe the light and the face of God that are only found in the purity of His Word? Or do we believe other things (dross) as truth? "Dross" is defined as "something regarded as worthless; rubbish." The testing process of God's Word for His people purifies the precious and removes the worthless so that we may walk in the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega blessing of life. Jesus said that we are sanctified by truth because God's Word is truth. The scriptures are the same Word that the *Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Jesus has given to us to sanctify us. (see Jn. 17:16-17, 14).

     Sometimes it appears that evil is testing us, or circumstances are testing us, but it is the Word of God itself that is testing the necessary purity of our belief that His Word is absolutely true. We understand from scripture that Jesus was tempted/tested (peirazo/peira/peran - to try, to make trial of, examine, test for the purpose of ascertaining quality, to test one's faith, virtue, and character/to have a trial of a thing, assaying, through the idea of piercing/to pierce through to the farther side) by Satan. However, Jesus was really tested by the Word of God spoken by Satan to trap Jesus. Jesus passed the testing by answering Satan with His perfect ra'a perception and discernment of God's Word. (see Lk. 4:1-13). How do we ra'a discern and handle these sarap tests? Do we ra'a perceive that these tests are by the Word in order to purify our trust and belief in the Word of God?

     Job, the servant of God, had difficulty seeing Him and perceiving Him in his trial, but said: "But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold (zahab - incl. golden splendor of the heavens, brilliant, of the purest oil). My foot held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food." (Job 23:8-12).

     As we return to the R'eh, "Behold!" Sabbath reading portion, we read that Moses is warning the Israelites not to do the same abominations that the nations who dwelled in Canaan had done, saying "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." (Deut. 12:29-32). The testing does not end there. Moses warned that there may arise prophets and dreamers who would give the Israelites a sign and a wonder, and their prophetic word would come to pass, seemingly to be a genuine prophet of God, but they would encourage the Israelites to go after other gods to serve them. Moses said, "...you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer, for the LORD your God is testing (nasa - to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof, to try by smell or by touch) you to know whether you love (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him." (Deut. 13:1-4). The prophets in the above verses are not testing them, but the LORD God is testing them. The test if from the LORD. Surface appearance is not enough to determine if the prophet is one to believe. His message disqualifies him to anyone who knows the Word and Person of God. God has a smell and a feel to us, as we have to Him (see nasa above). We are to get in there and ra'a examine, inspect, look intently at and discern, not by our own understanding of what looks good, but by the unchanging, tested and proven Word of God. In this case, the Ten Commandments and many other commands given by Moses to the Israelites from God make clear that they shall worship no other gods. This same examination would also apply to any close family who would try to entice the people of God to follow after other gods, Moses said. (v. 6-8). The punishment for those who try to entice the people of God with a lie was the death penalty. 

     We may think that the command to worship no other god, but to worship God only with all of our hearts and souls is not a test for us today as believers in Messiah/Christ Jesus, but that would be incorrect. Every day we are enticed and tested to leave our love of and obedience to God behind, trust in man instead, and seek what the world is offering. Jesus said that no man can serve two masters. (Mt. 6:24-33). Do not think that this type of test is minor in importance or irrelevant in today's world.

     Jesus prophesied that in the times before His return there will be false prophets and false Christs who, with lying signs and wonders, will try to deceive the very elect of God into turning to a false god and an oppressive and evil world system that persecutes faith. (Mt. 24:21-25). We still need ra'a vision and perception today. One of the great stumbling blocks to this kind of ra'a vision is false vision, as found in this R'eh "Behold" Sabbath reading portion: "All the ways of a man are pure (zak/zaka - pure, clean, righteous, pure olive oil free from foreign substances, pure frankincense, purity of soul and morals/be translucent in purity, be justified, pure and clean in the sight of God) in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs (takan - measure, weigh in the balance, test, prove, be equal, make equal or level) the spirits (ruah - Spirit of God, mind, breath, disposition)." (Prov. 16:2). The LORD is looking for Himself, equal to Himself, His Word, reflected in our souls and spirits. He weighs or tests for His image in us. Jesus, the perfect image of His Father, God, provides that for us if we will receive it and allow it in its fulness. (see Eph. 4:11-13).

     The prophet of God, Daniel, once told the richest and most powerful king of the greatest empire, who had surrounded himself with and used the precious holy objects of God: "TEKEL (see takan above): You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting." (Dan. 5:27). Daniel also told this Babylonian king: "...you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways (see Prov. 16:2, above), you have not glorified." (v. 23, excerpt). That king with seemingly unconquerable defenses, surrounded and protected by one of the great walls of history, was overthrown that very night by an invading army, and lost his life, as Daniel prophesied would happen. (v. 28, 30-31).

     Perhaps we think that this doesn't and couldn't happen in the Church of believers. Jesus sent a very serious warning to one of the churches that carried His name. They were rich and had need of nothing, or so they mistakenly thought as they were without ra'a vision. They had not experienced the testing process of God, and had grown lukewarm in their love for Him. Jesus said that far from being rich, comfortable and favored, they were really spiritually "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." (Rev. 3:14-17). This was His advice to this comfortable church: "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (v.18-20). The reward for this church if they will overcome their self-satisfaction and their despising of the testing and purifying process of God, will be to sit with Christ on His throne, which is the throne of His Father. (v. 21). They would go from being spiritually wretched to sitting with Christ on His throne, if they would allow themselves to be tested and proven like pure gold that emerges from a refiner's fire.

     The testing and proving refiner's fire of God is not meant to destroy us (see 1 Cor. 10:12-13 [ note: tempt/temptation, peirasmos/peirazo, incl. "trial, proving, testing of man's fidelity, integrity, virtue and constancy to God"], but to make us shine like the sun! We pass these testings and provings by clinging to our love of God above all else, and our steadfast belief that His Word is eternally true.

     Perhaps we need to change our ra'a perception of what a trial is in the life of a believer. We view them in a negative way, and call them attacks, but the trials created by the Word of God in us actually strengthen and purify us and are meant for our good. James wrote: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials/temptations (peirasmos/peirazo - trial, proving, also see above) knowing that the testing (dokimion/dokime/dokimos - trying, trial, the proving of, testing/tried character, a proof, proving through affliction, a specimen of tried worth/tried, approved, accepted, genuine full-weighted money rather than counterfeit) of your faith produces patience (hypomone/hypomeno - steadfastness, constancy, cheerful endurance, patient continuance/abide and not flee, to persevere under misfortunes and trials, to hold fast to one's faith). But let patience have its perfect (telios - lacking nothing to being complete, perfect, full grown, adult, mature) work, that you may be perfect (see telios above) and complete, lacking nothing...Blessed is the man who endures temptation (peirasmos/peirazo, see above); for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:2-4, 12). We do not develop ourselves, but the Lord is developing a mature and perfect Church in Himself.

     The Word of God in us is also Messiah/Christ in us because He is the Word become flesh (John 1). Peter wrote that, because of our faith in Jesus, the fiery trial which is to try us should not come as a surprise. Persecution because of faith in Messiah/Christ Jesus will follow those who believe. Jesus suffered such persecution and yet, His glory will be revealed, and we may also be: "glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you." Though He is blasphemed by others, "on your part He is glorified (doxazo/doxa - praise, extol, magnify, celebrate, honor, make glorious, adorn with luster, clothe with splendor, to esteem as glorious/splendor, brightness, kingly majesty of Messiah/Christ)." (see 1 Pet. 4:12-14). We know the glory of Christ, and the Spirit of God dwells within us as believers. Be glad with exceeding joy even in the middle of this kind of trial through persecution. Persecution is increasing across the world, but when believers endure through that trial, they actually heap great glory onto Christ. Will we endure the testing, or will we flee from it? If we will endure the test, we will not endure it alone or in our own strength. Jesus has promised He will be with us always, which would include through the testing and proving. (see Mt. 28:18-20, Isa. 43:1-5). 

     From another reading portion from this R'eh Sabbath, Isaiah the prophet recorded the promise of the LORD to those who have been afflicted or "storm-tossed". The LORD will not forget them, but cover them with beauty and glory and establish them in (His) righteousness: "And their righteousness is from Me', says the LORD." (Isa. 54:10-17, excerpt).

     If you would like to learn more about the testing and proving process of the LORD, you can join me in prayer: "Dear Father, You are doing a purifying work in me because You love me and have a ra'a vision for My life. You have given me Your Son, Jesus, who is the Perfect One, and You have called me to glorify Your Son and my Savior with my life. Be glorified, Jesus, and be glorified Father and Spirit before all men. Cause me to become mature and complete before You. You are the strength in me that will let me cling to You over all other things, and to believe and trust in Your Word above all the words of men, not for my sake only, but for those who will come after me. Give me Your ra'a sight and discerning perception through both testing and triumph to examine all things for Your light and Your Face, and let me not depend on my own understanding. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

Leaving

      The title of this Sabbath's reading portion is Va-yeitze, which means "And he left." The title comes from the first verse of the reading portion: "Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran." (Gen. 28:10). The Hebrew word for "went out" as used above is yasa, which has a very rich and full meaning: "out, forth, proceed, go, depart, go forward, proceed to something, go forth with purpose, to deliver, be brought out, break out, bring forth, lead out, be risen, to germinate and expand like a plant, water flowing or gushing out of a fountain, running through a boundary, the end of a period of time." Up until this point, the only guidance that Jacob has had from the LORD is through the advice of his mother, Rebekah, who received prophetic revelation from the LORD regarding her two sons. According to the meaning of yasa above, Jacob would now be going forth from something and proceeding toward something else. Old boundaries would be overrun. Like gushing waters breaking out, however, the journey will not be controlled by Jacob, but by his own personal interaction and revelation from the LORD. The only guidance he has in leaving his familiar home and the murderous rage of his brother, Esau, is his parents' instruction to go find a wife from among Rebekah's relatives in Haran (see Gen. 28:1-5).      

     As we will see, the LORD takes us out of our familiar circumstances, sometimes having to push us out, in order to bring us into a deeper place with Him. He brings us into a time when He will give us a prophetic promise, and then the test comes as to whether we will hold on to that promise through both good and trying circumstances. We read in the Psalms: "He sent a man before them - Joseph - who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him." (Ps. 105:17-19). Upon receiving the prophetic Word of the LORD will we hold on to it through all testing circumstances? Peter wrote: "And so we have the prophetic word (regarding the prophesied appearing of Jesus as the Son of God) confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;" (2 Pet. 1:19). The interaction with the LORD, which is often prophetic, is the light that continues to be present even in the darkest days, until those days become light within us. The light within us cannot help but manifest outside of us as well.

     As Jacob travelled north from Beersheba, he came to "a certain place" and spent the night as it had gotten dark. This "certain  place" will turn out to be about the first tenth along the way of the journey to Haran, his destination. "And he took one of the stones (eben/bana - a stone especially associated with building or repairing, obtaining children) of that place (maqom/qum - rise up, establish, stand, confirm, continue, abide, sure, accomplish) and put it at his head (as his pillows: (mera'asot/mer'asot/ros - bolster, pillow, at his head/place at the head, dominion, headship, principality/head, chief, beginning, captain, first, choicest, height, top), and he lay down (sakab - lie down, rest, sleep, in death, death bed, be poured out, of those who are dying, in speaking of the death of kings) in that place to sleep (sakab - see previous)." (Gen. 28:11).  By placing that stone at his head, Jacob built or established something for himself and his future children which would be his ruler, his chief, his prince. We will see later who this stone represents. We also see a parallel with the sleep of death here as well. Receiving the prophetic direction or revelation of the LORD into our lives, we must go through a certain kind of death to self and death to the things of this world followed by an awakening to a new understanding and acceptance. We have to bow our knee to the higher, far superior God of all.

     While sleeping, Jacob had a special dream. He saw a ladder "set up on earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it..." (v. 13). In the dream, the LORD confirmed to Jacob His covenant promise made to Abraham for the land and the multiplication of his descendants. The LORD again repeated to Jacob the covenant made with Abraham: "...and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (v. 14). The LORD added to the promise: "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." (v. 15). Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 'Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." (v. 16). Jacob woke from sleep and was afraid (yare - fear, afraid, tremble, dreadful, inspire reverence or godly fear or awe, stupendous) and declared, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" (v. 17). It is almost as if Jacob had experienced a spiritual resurrection from death after experiencing this remarkable sight in his dream.

     Jacob immediately created a memorial in that place: "Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) stone that he had put at his head, set it up (sum - set up, ordain, mark, appoint, establish, transform into, make for a sign, call a name, convey, preserve, purpose) as a pillar (masseba - monument, personal memorial, column, standing image, something set upright), and poured oil (semen/saman - olive oil, as medicine or unguent, for anointing, fruitful, fatness that breaks the yoke: see Isa. 10:27/to shine, to cover with fat) on top of it. And he called the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) name-of-that-place Bethel ("house of God - bet'el/bayit/bana - temple, family, dwelling habitation, shelter or abode for animals, family of descendants, sepulchre, eternal home/build, establish, cause to continue, built up, repair, obtain children); but the name of that city had been Luz ("almond tree/hazel" - the first tree that awakens in spring after winter sleep) previously." (v. 18-19).

     To me, the aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega stone mentioned above that is anointed with olive oil is a prophetic picture of the Messiah/Christ to come, who also, as the ladder mentioned in Jacob's dream, reconciles together all things created in heaven and earth. (Col. 1:15-20). Once the promise or prophecy is made by the LORD, His presence will not leave the person as the LORD said to Jacob. (see also Deut. 31:8, Mt. 28:19-20). In another verse of scripture, the LORD says to Joshua in a later generation: "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you." (Josh. 1:5). This is the light that Peter wrote of above that rises within us as we hold onto the prophecies and promises of the LORD to us. 

     Jacob left again on his journey to his relatives from that *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega place of Bethel as a changed man. However, there has been a change. When the scriptures say that "So Jacob went", we have a different Hebrew word and meaning after Jacob's encounter with the LORD. The word used here for "went" is nasa, meaning: "to lift, carry, support, sustain, endure, be lifted up, exalted, rise up, be carried, forgive, furnish, grow, increase, set up a banner, raise up and carry like the ark of the covenant." Jacob would not be going on his journey alone any longer, but with the presence of the LORD that goes with His prophetic promise.

     Although the prophetic promise of the LORD given to Jacob tested him (see Ps. 105 above) for twenty years, through some trying circumstances and disappointments, the light of the favor of the LORD was discernable in his life. His relative and father-in-law, Laban, became aware that he personally prospered after Jacob came into his family, and was very reluctant to allow Jacob to leave to return home. Laban said to Jacob: "Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake...Name your wages, and I will give it." (Gen. 30:27-28). That light of favor becomes apparent if we treasure the prophetic promises of God within us.

     From another of this Sabbath's reading portions it is written: "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold...By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life." (Prov. 22:1, 4). It is not by the ways of the world, but by the ways of the LORD that we live and are sustained.

     From another of this week's reading portions concerning yasa or "leaving", the king of Syria, Ben-Hadad, with thirty-two other kings mustered up a large army together to come against Samaria, in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. They were coming for the gold, silver, and royal household of the King of Israel. King Ahab, the king of Israel who was rebellious towards God, was facing certain defeat against this large enemy coalition army. King Ahab consulted with his advisors, who told him not to give the King of Syria what he was demanding. The huge enemy army had just been commanded by their drunken leaders to get ready to attack: "Suddenly a prophet approached Ahab, king of Israel, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the LORD... Then he (King Ahab) mustered the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) young leaders of the provinces...and after them, he mustered all the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people, all the children of Israel - seven thousand." (1 Kings 20:1-13). "So they went out (yasa - see above) at noon...The young men of the provinces went out (yasa - see above) first. These young leaders of the provinces went out (yasa - see above) of the city with the army which followed them....Then the king of Israel went out (yasa - see above) and attacked the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter." (v. 16-21).

     The army of King Ahab, led by (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) young lads "went out", with the prophetic promise of the LORD, against a huge enemy army. The prophet came back after the successful battle and warned King Ahab to "take note and see what he should do", because the same king of Syria would be back again to come up against him in the spring. When the time came in the spring, the LORD again sent a prophet to direct King Ahab by the prophetic Word of the LORD, which the king only partially obeyed (1 Kings 20:42-43). This would lead to Ahab's eventual downfall.

     The prophetic Word of the LORD works powerfully through His *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Messianic/Christ people. The Book of Revelation says: "...I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit (pneuma/pneo - Holy Spirit, a life-giving spirit, life, spirit, breath, breeze/to breathe, blow, the wind) of prophecy." (Rev. 19:10). 

     Jacob had to leave his home behind for many years, but he was accompanied by the presence of God and the Word of prophetic promise. It is breath and life-sustaining power in us from the One who IS the prophetic Word. It becomes the light within us that sustains us and others with us through the darkness.

     If you would like to know more about the role of the prophetic promise of God in our lives, either through His written Word, or by the revelation of His Spirit, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father from Whom all perfect gifts flow, I treasure and rely upon Your prophetic promises to guide my leaving and my arriving in my natural and spiritual travels. Your Word becomes light and favor that all can see as You promise to be with me. Let me not rely upon my own strength nor my own will in determining my course but direct my path according to Your great godly wisdom and knowledge. Let that prophetic promise that You have placed within me always guide me back to You if I wander off of the path that You have set for me. I ask these things for myself and for my household in Jesus' name. AMEN."

     *NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.