a.k.a., From Ramses (BONDAGE) to Sukkot (DWELLING IN GOD’s PRESENCE)
In the Exodus, Ramses was the border. It was the stronghold. Ramses represented the blockade opposing the children of Israel from leaving. Remember that Mitzraim, commonly translated as Egypt, represents the spiritual condition of being stuck in limitations, constraint. Ramses is the force behind those limitations.
The Title and The Name
The name of the Pharaoh is Ramses. Taken from the Egyptian Word for god.
A stronghold, a wicked power, an evil power that thinks he’s like God. A force that wants to be a substitute for the Authority of GOD in our lives.
This is a stronghold that is holding God’s people in bondage for so many years. The pain of Ramses is an unbelievable pain. With it’s so many soul ties, so many heartaches, so, so many abuses and injustices and struggles.
That no one knows about but the Most High God…
… and mostly related to the generations. Ramses was the house of bondage, affiliated with the pain of all the past.
But the LORD is saying something…
Your Prophetic Word is found in the Book of Exodus in the 12th Chapter and in the 37th verse.
Because Moses summarizes for us the journeys in the wilderness, instead of telling us like he does in the Book of Numbers, all the places they passed through.
He just says… They left Ramses and came to a place called Succoth, a.k.a. Sukkot.
Hear the Word of the Living God.
Because the LORD is saying to us all, “I am taking you from Ramses to Succoth; and the LORD is saying Ramses is the place of the Past and even starting today, the past is going to be a memory. Because the Egyptians you have seen in the past you are going to see them no more and even forever.”
Ramses
Ramses is the place of great toil, limitations, restrictions…
Ramses is the place of tears.
And often times you have wondered would that pain ever profit anything.
Ramses is the place of cruel bondage.
It was directed at your soul.
Succoth
Sukkoth is your destination.
Now hear the Word of the LORD.
Because many don’t know what Succoth is.
Succoth is a place; it’s the place of prayer.
It’s the Pavilion of God’s Presence.
But Succoth is more than just that.
Succoth is the place of His Provision.
Succoth is the place of His Protection. Succoth is the Place of All of His Blessing.
The LORD gave this Word to me to speak in 2015, and He is giving it to me again this year in 2021 because some have drifted back into bondage. “You do not belong with Ramses. You do not belong to Ramses. The Word I gave to Moses has not died. My Word lives and You do not get to go back into a state of limitations and lack. You do not get to go back into complacency. Arise, for I Am bringing you to Succoth, just as Moses wrote in Exodus 12:37.
The Children of Israel left Ramses to go toward their destination to Succoth.
It wasn’t a physical place, it was a spiritual place.
A place that was a destination that would lead them toward destiny.
Succoth is Your RIGHTFUL Destination.
Succoth is the Dwelling Place of Rest of God, in this life.
So the LORD says…
Do not stray from the path of true rest.
Do not change the direction that you are led upon.
You have been comfortable for too long.
And God is saying I will supernaturally provide for you.
And God Is saying I will rain down blessings upon you.
And destroy all the powers of the enemy when you are on the path of Succoth,
This Memorial Day Weekend, I felt like writing a poem to express how much I Love the the LORD,
Then I thought… that would not be good. Instead, I remembered words that are far more eloquent than my own… they capture my thoughts with such excellence. Thank You, Elizabeth!
A friend suggested that I add another card here without my name, in case anyone would like to send to a spouse, a child, a grandchild…. I thought that was a nice idea!
Intro to Torah Students: Lesson # 1. I am often asked, “How did you learn all of this?” I smile and think to myself, “I had an instructor that I think was related to Mr. Miyagi.” I never say that out loud, but I do think of it on occasion! As that is the case, I am going to try to give you an example, because a living example teaches better than an explanation.
OK, Confession… Torah is Like Rocket Science. Ordinary thinking, will not get you to the heights that you want to reach! It just won’t! You have to look at things from a whole new perspective!
Take a look at this series of photos below very carefully. Make note of what they all have in common, identify the patterns, connections, correlations… and make note of what you see… what insights can you find? I will come back tomorrow and provide an answer to this riddle and provide you scriptural support for what I am trying to convey with this example. Post your observations under comments. If there are no comments, I will just leave the question open until a later time. Enjoy!
HINT: Think in terms of p’shat, d’resh, remez and sod. Ref: Torah Lishma – Click Here
photos provided by multiple sources, including Pexels Inc. and Unsplash.com
Now You’re Learning Torah!
Lesson#2: Read Genesis, Chapter 11. This is a Pivotal Chapter in the torah. We are introduced to Abraham for the 1st time. After reading this chapter, are there any questions that you would expect a student to come away with? Are there any valid questions to be asked? Or, since we have the benefit of having read the entire book… is chapter 11 a brief geneaology and introduction with the meat of the word beginning later? (Post your observations in the comments section below).
NEED A HINT?: Think in terms of p’shat, d’resh, remez and sod. Ref: Torah Lishma – Click Here
Click this Link: to go to Biblehub.com for Hebrew/English Interlinear/Transliteration starting with Genesis 11:1 in order to obtain word for word translation from Hebrew to English, if you would like.
Although I had no participants for this exercise, I am going to see if I can offer a little help! As of June 5th, I am underlining a few sentences below in the verse that should cause us to ask some questions. See if you have any questions that come to mind as you review what is underlined. Scripture is open to questions, because GOD likes to provoke some thought. Later, I will come back, perhaps a week from now, and we will move to the next step.
Also, if you would like to follow along on another exercise of this nature, Click Here and the link will take you to the exercises listed on the Language of Prayer Page. Enjoy! Feel free to participate. If you do not want to do it live by posting comments on the post, just keep your notes in your journal and check back for updates! God Bless
GENESIS11
1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
10 These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:
11 And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
12 And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:
13 And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
14 And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:
15 And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
16 And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:
17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.
18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:
19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.
20 And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:
21 And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.
22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:
23 And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:
25 And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.
26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
27 Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.
28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.
29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.
30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.
In Part 1 of this message, we ended with the following questions posed and awaiting your reply….
If you were told to, “Go to your own soul? What would you even do? What does that even mean?
Would we even try to understand? or would we dismiss it as some crazy thought we just had?
Surely, GOD was speaking to the very soul of Abram and Abram received the message.
The Bible is a spiritual text, concerning spiritual matters. Spiritual battles are fought to overtake the soul of man. This could be the reason so many people say that they don’t understand it. Engaging the Word of God means that you have to approach the Gates of His Tabernacle with your soul and your spirit ready to receive the Word.
Here’s the key:In all your study in the word, keep your eye on what is going on in the spirit, to the spirit of man/mankind. Train/discipline your mind so that you don’t get so caught up in the “story” that you miss what is happening on the pages of scripture to the soul and spirit of the people that God is bringing to your attention. There are prophetic spiritual implications occurring right in front of you at all times.
In scripture God is speaking to the soul of man. His primary concern is with your soul.
Today the Lord has that word for everyone that is here. As you obey Him you will find out who you really are. As you surrender every ounce of obedience in your life, to the will of God, you will find out who you really are in Christ Jesus.
In Genesis 12, the LORD gives Abram a promise. “I will bless those that bless you.”
At that time, Abram had no idea he could not have a child. He did not know what God meant, but he was going to obey the Voice of the LORD, anyway. Genesis 12:4.
So, “Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to Him.”
(A lot of us want revelation, God to speak to us on a continual basis. One of the ways that we can be sure that God will continue to speak to us in revelation is when we are obedient with that which he already told us, and has already given. Then as we move forward, GOD will reveal to us even more.)
Now Abram departed.
Genesis 12:5
He took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son. Lot: who was a convert. Notice the souls he had with him… Abram already was a soul winner. So, he did not leave alone. He went with the souls that he had gotten.
When you and I venture forth in obedience do you know that you are not just obeying God for yourself. There is somebody who you cannot see, someone you may not even know of, that is going to benefit through your obedience.
We don’t consider, that through one act of simple obedience, a number of souls will be affected. That one act of obedience can bring blessing upon those around us… does not make sense to our rational minds, Oftentimes this spiritual fact escapes us. It’s the simple things that confound the wise. But, don’t allow this to remain a mystery to you any longer. Ask GOD to show you what goes on behind the veil because of a simple act of obedience or repentance. How does obedience affect the soul?
In the meantime, Abram felt that he had to go against his own nature and character to accept the call of GOD. It was a very hard thing to do. He was such a tender-hearted man. It would have been easy if he would have been a hard-hearted person, who was calloused and maybe in competition with his father. Had he felt like he was going to show his dad a thing or two, he could have walked out without a second thought! But that was not Abram’s nature. It was hard for him.
But Abraham had been seeking GOD for a very long time. He had finally came into a place where He could hear the voice of GOD. Having heard, he could not turn away.
By making the decision to turn toward GOD; Abram had to die to self.
Soon after the 9th testing; his name was no longer going to be Abram. He became transformed through every act of obedience. Abraham had truly arisen and was moving forward, from glory to glory. He became transformed.
In Christ Jesus, who he did know at the time, but met in his life under the appearance of Melchizedek, Abram departed. He took the souls with him (Genesis12:6). Abram passed through the land to a place in Genesis12:7. After, his act of obedience, the LORD appeared to Abram.
God continues to give revelation. Obedience waters the promises of God. Obedience opens the avenues for the promise to take full effect. The Lord appears to Abram and said, “Unto this thy seed will I give this land” And Abram, built an altar unto the Lord that appeared to him. The altar was an act of faith, Abram was acknowledging before the world that, “the Lord spoke to me.”
When God speaks to you prophetically, you write it down. If, you have an ear to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying, you keep a record of His Words.
Genesis 12:9 Abram journeyed forward, continuing towards the south.
Now the 2nd Testing
We see in Genesis 12:10 Abram arrives in the Promised Land and there’s a famine. ( That must have been completely disappointing, right?) To come so far, though so much, and to arrive in a place of famine.
The famine is so severe that he is forced to go into Egypt to live. When he gets to Egypt his wife is taken captive by Pharaoh.
(Let’s set aside our English understanding for a few minutes, of the word famine, and put on our “spiritual understanding” gained from examining the scriptures from the Hebrew perspective… Famine from a Hebrew mindset, is mostly associated with the understanding that the famine indicates that there is a lack of God’s word. The literal famine is not as dangerous as the spiritual famine).
Abram is headed toward the promise and finds a famine. Without the faith to overcome famine, he heads down to Egypt to find food for His people. Is this only about the stomach–no food to eat? or could it be that upon his arrival to Canaan, there was not enough faith to sustain them as they built up their new land?
Abram had no idea why he was being led into Egypt. God told him something and everything God told him was now the opposite in the natural. Everything looked totally opposite.
Why? Because, he had to go to the 2nd level of faith.
3rd testing Sarai taken captive by Pharaoh
Abram went to Egypt because God was going to use his people to come out of Egypt. He had to go through it. God was going to use him as the father of faith. What happened when he got down into Egypt?
He told his wife to say she was his sister.
In those days if a man had a beautiful wife, they would kill the husband to kidnap the wife and give her as a gift to Pharoah. Abram did not want to get killed. So, he said to Sarai, “You tell them you are my sister when we get down there.” Everything will be fine. Well, the minute she got there, Sarai a type of bride of Christ is taken to Pharoah. Pharaoh wanted her to be his wife. Abram withheld that she was his wife and said, “Yes, she is my sister.”
Pharaoh immediately received a plague by the LORD. In the meantime, Pharaoh gave Abram such a dowry for her. He gave him riches and silver and gold and cattle and abundance of herds and all kinds of things for Sarai.
When he realized he had Abram’s wife, he basically said, “Just get out of here and go.”
Same thing happened to his children. By faith they borrowed of the Egyptians and Pharaoh said just get out. God allowed that to be for His glory.
Now Abram was the richest man in the holy land when he went back to Canaan.
(You cannot obey God and not come out ahead. In this testing we see the riches of obedience. Joshua 22:8 this is Abraham’s seed.
There is spoil when you obey.
II Corinthians 1:3-7 “Tells us now, blessed be God who comforts us in all our afflictions.”
1st testing; left everything.
2nd testing; went into Egypt and there was a famine.
Course: Intro to Torah Anthology– Class Handouts Note: I am currently transitioning class materials onto this page as we continue through the course. Please refer back to this page at least once per week to ensure you collect all class materials/handouts/worksheets. Shalom
Always approach your time of study in the Word of GOD with humility and prayer before you begin and close with prayer afterward. To assist with this, I am adding this link to the BLESSING BEFORE & AFTER TORAH STUDY, for quick access. After you are done studying, scroll to the last prayer on the LANGUAGE OF PRAYER page and you will see the Blessing After Torah Study.
FYI: Only 2 of 3 pages of the Torah Lishma Handout have been included on this page. Beneath page 2, I have added an exercise for each student to complete. Reflect on the teaching, consider the assignments carefully, make note of your reply and check back at least weekly for the next step. God Bless.
WHAT STEPS CAN I TAKE TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES FROM A HEBRAIC POINT OF EXEGESIS?
Many times, students have asked what steps they should take to gain a deeper revelation of the scriptures. I suggest that they begin with learning and understanding the methods of Biblical Exegesis of the Scriptures from a Hebraic standpoint. Most of you have learned the Classical Method of Biblical Exegesis from a Christian viewpoint. Now, we are going to add to your arsenal of information by looking at the scriptures in a new way. The Objective: discipline our minds to see the finer details in the text. Traditionally, from my perspective as a teacher, we read over key information. We read right past key information, that I call “flags” that are trying to wave us down in order to alert us that, “more is going on… right there on the pages of scripture than we allow ourselves to take the time to see.” This exercise is about shifting your torah study, to the level of becoming meticulous in the text!
As I say that, I can hear the voices from my past saying… “It doesn’t take all that!” I assure it that it does. If you are at all interested in shifting your study to the level that it becomes “A Higher Level of Divine Service to GOD”, then you have to become determined to push past a few voices in order to get to where it is you want to go in the things of GOD. That’s lesson #1.
IN THE EXCERCISE BELOW, I am presenting an excerpt from the Bible from the Book of Ruth. Your assignment is to pinpoint at least 6 points of information that are “flags” to pursue further inquiry. What 6 points of information in the text are flags? i.e., which key points jump out at you in the message? What are the questions that you should be asking about them?
That’s it! I will update this post in a few days with the 6 points that I would choose and suggest some possible questions that you should ask when studying the Book of Ruth. We will move forward after we have are questions in line…. See you soon!
Keep these 3 Basics in Mind as you Meditate on Chapter 1 of the Book of Ruth.
The scriptures contain timeless teachings/ lessons that can sometimes take years to uncover.
All of Scripture conveys ‘Spiritual’ teachings and instructions. The Word of GOD is not given for the purposes of building up the flesh, I.e., carnal desires and motives. The Word is given for the purpose of building us up spiritually. The wisdom contained in the Word is speaking to the Spirit of mankind, in order to protect the soul.
There are levels of meaning in the messages/teachings in the Word. Scripture elevates the soul and the spirit. The literal meaning of the text is only the beginning of wisdom.
Humility is/can be your greatest asset in your quest to delve deeper into the depths of God’s Word. Humility is greatly undervalued. Desire it, acquire it and cherish it, whichever is the case. Suppress any compulsion to judge the characters or their actions in the text. Their lives and stories are for the purpose of instruction. The virtue of humility must be applied in every aspect of your walk, even study. Approach every encounter with the Word in humility. Amen.
BOOK OF RUTH – CHAPTER 1 KJV Public Domain
Click this Link: in order to view a word-for-word translation of the Book of Ruth from Hebrew to English. The link will take you to Biblehub.com starting with Ruth 1:1
A/O 06-05-21 I have updated this post by underlining Key Phrases in Chapter 1 of Ruth (below) that indicate that are stated in such a way that they should cause questions to arise. Take a look at what has been underlined and make note if they provoke any questions and what they are? I won’t underline all of them right now, but enough to show you something new. Later, I will come back and suggest some questions of my own. God Bless
FYI: Another exercise of this kind can be found on ‘HOW TO STUDY THE TORAH’Click Here Enjoy!
1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-Judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.
7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
9 The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
21 I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Were going to share a teaching about a man that we have allheard about. We have probably heard many teachings on this man of God, —The Father of Faith, Abraham
Abraham went through 10 testings in his life. that we know of that the bible teaches us.
10 very important testings, 10 testing periods, 10 times in his life; that God tested him, that were going to see in the word.
To bring Abraham into the realm of faith that God wants to bring him into, that God ordained him to be brought into.
Go to Hebrews 11:1 for a “line upon line, precept upon precept” analysis. It tells us now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
As we go back to Genesis 12 were going to see that Abraham is a man of Faith. He’s called the father of faith. We are the seed of Abraham according to Galatians 3:29, through Jesus Christ we became Abraham’s seed.
Here is a little bit of Historical Background…
Abraham previous to Genesis chapter 12 was an idol worshiper. His entire family was an idol-worshipping family. The genealogy of his father is given in Genesis Chapter 11. We also see in Genesis Chapter 11 the construction of the Tower of Babel. That’s where idol worship began. It wasn’t where sin began, because we know sin began in the Garden of Eden (in Hebrew Gan Eden).
But the first time we have a recorded act of idolatry, we know that it began in Babylon at the Tower of Babel.
At this place, in this particular part of the world, this was the center of idol worship; and this is exactly where Abraham and his family were raised up. So, all of Abraham’s family were idol worshipers. But something happened to Abraham. He had an experience with the living God. As a result of seeking the truth, God revealed himself to Abraham. But after God revealed himself to him, we know that Abraham was a righteous man. He began to win many, many converts. As we’re going to see here in Genesis12, many converted to the living God. They forsook idolatry.
But know as a man of faith God is going to give him 3 specific commandments (Mitzvots in Hebrew).
This is the First Test of Abraham
I believe this is really the basics for those that want to go further into the things of God. To those who are not just content with barely making it into heaven and glad that they have escaped hell.
But those that say I want all that God has for me. I want the whole ball of wax. I want everything that there is that God has for me. Things I cannot see, things that have never, entered your mind before.
The Bible tells us in I Corinthians 2:9
“The eye has not seen, neither have the ear heard. It has not yet entered into the heart of man. The things that God has prepared for them that love him.”
But there revealed unto man by the spirit. As we walk in the anointing and as we commune with the Lord through the wonderful person of the Holy Spirit, that which God has ordained for us is revealed to us.
Now we see Abraham begins his walk in the Spirit, a walk of faith
The very 1st thing that God requires of Abraham isa test which requires obedience.
(All tests require obedience.)
Genesis 12:1
“The Lord had said to Abram… Get thee out”
(Notice his name is not Abraham yet).
First of all, there is a whole spiritual message God gives Abraham. “I am going to tell you right now 3 things to leave behind and I am going to show you something in the spirit to go after… unto a land that I will show you.”
Notice that Abraham was not asking for land. Abraham was not asking for territory.
Abraham was just worshiping God. He had no idea that this is what God had planned for him. But, through walking in the spirit, a revelation came from God to show him who he really was.
Now I want to share something with you. Without obedience, you are never going to know who you really are. You will not know the real spiritual person that you have the potential to become. When I say “spiritual person”, I mean that one that has the full inheritance that God has ordained for you. Some of us try to make it into Glory by our own strength. We try every single shortcut we can possibly think of. The mindset is, that the means justifies the ends, just as long as we think we can make it there, we’re content.
Obedience seems like such a hard thing. But it’s through obedience that we receive the revelation of our true self.
Case in point: I will never know who I really am in Christ Jesus until every step of the way I begin to trust God. God does not just map the whole picture for me all at once. As you go step by step, from Glory to Glory, God reveals and unveils to you who you are in Christ Jesus. The word tells you who you are. But in the sense of revelation of what God’s ordained you to do, what God has for you to do, the great things in Christ Jesus that he prepared for you. They are so Holy and they are so priceless. They seem impossible to obtain unless you were spiritually ready.
At Each Level of Testing God Reveals Who You are to YOU.
Abraham had no idea who he was in the sense of the spirit. He had no idea what God had for him.
Genesis 12:1 The lord says to Abram this was his name before God changed it.
There are 3 things that he had to get out, 3 images that we see here in the scripture. Because Abraham is the father of faith, he also symbolizes for us, the walk of the Christian faith as well. Not only is he the patriarch of the Israelite nation of the Jews, but also the bible tells us that he’s the father of faith. So we, through Abraham, can see ‘types and shadows’ of our walk in Christ Jesus.
NOTE: 3 Key Statements that GOD says to Abraham….
Get out of thy country.
From thy kindred,
And from thy father’s house.
All 3 of these statements are connected to your roots. Your House, your culture, and your kindred. Now GOD is saying to Abraham, “For the work I have for you. I am going to give you a new seed, because your natural seed is not going to be just the flesh. You are going to have to sever those ties. Because, through your seed; I am going to make you great. Therefore, it is your seed that I am going to deal with.
There is a likeness here, a cohesiveness here that each one of us should see. When God, begins to deal with us in our particular issues, whatever they may be, oftentimes what God has told us to give up in the flesh, is connected to that which he is going to give back a thousand-fold in the spirit.
“Out of thy country, and thy kindred, and thy father’s house, to a land that I will show thee.”
The bible tells us in Genesis 12:2, “…and I will make thee a great nation; I will bless thee and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing.“
Now those 3 things that he gave up were; his descendants, his genetic family history, and his immediate family.
Why?
Because of the word used here in Hebrew for “thy father’s house…”
In the original Hebrew language, it is the word that is the same word, used for idol, temple of idols.
(Because his father; was an idol worshiper.)
We need to understand something about the people of the Middle East. Especially in these particular times that the bible was written. When we look at Abraham in perspective to his culture and his times, we are going to see something very amazing about him.
The 3 Patriarchs of Israel are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were known to be spiritually and symbolically the 3 chariots of God’s attributes. Each Patriarch reflected a specific attribute of GOD.
The Attribute of GOD’s Character that Abraham so strongly reflected that was kindness.
You will find, as you study the life of Abraham, that his greatest asset in character was kindness. He was such a kind man. Many of the things that God required of him were totally against his nature. It was so hard for him because he had a sensitive area with kindness. When God tests us oftentimes it is with things that are impossible for us to do in our flesh.
It is known that Abraham is a reflection of the kindness of God, (called the ‘chesed’ of God in Hebrew). He is the one who reflects God’s kindness. Isaac reflects God’s strength and Jacob reflects God’s truth.
So, we see here that the Lord is saying, get out of your father’s house. Now, in the Middle East, the men of those days and even up to the time of Christ, leaving your father’s house was a very hard thing to do. This is why even some of the disciples said, Lord, “I will follow you but first permit me to bury my father.” It did not mean that the person’s father had died at the time.
This is a Hebrew idiom used to convey that the parent is about 70 to 75 years old. The concern was that the parent could pass at anytime, between then and 90 years old (approx.). The disciple was saying that they needed to be around to bury them. Still today this form of care for the elderly is practiced.
Now for Abraham his father was aged and Abraham’s natural inclination was to be so kind and so tender hearted, that his heart felt desire was to be present, caring for his aging father.
In the 1st testing God ask him a hard thing… “I want you to leave everything and follow what the spirit is telling you to do.” Jesus taught that this was not as license to neglect our loved ones. Quite the contrary. The Lord expects us to be loving people in our families, but we must see here the reflection of the Lord’s commandment. The Lord said, “Unless a man forsake all that he has, he cannot be my disciple.”
So, by faith Abraham leaves his father, his kindred and his country and goes to a land he was not even asking for. The lord will show him, the Lord did not even tell him where, the Lord did not even say it’s going to take this long to get there and how long he would even be there.
In this particular instance the Lord told him to do something contrary to his own nature and fiber of being… but Abraham was obedient and he left.
lech-lecha is the key word in the Hebrew that we can only uncover by reading from the Hebrew.
lech –lecha means ‘go to yourself.’ Our English translation has no way of capturing the essence of the spiritual message. In fact, it disconnects us from the part of the teaching that would otherwise draw us in, if we knew and understood the Hebrew.
You are going to find your true self when you obey me...
lech-lecha- ‘go, turn to your soul, go to yourself.’
GOD reveals Himself to Abraham and immediately speaks to his soul about his soul. There is nothing so benign going on as, “Get the out.” GOD said, “Go to your soul” Those words must have carried some weight, some form of gravity to awaken as person to such a extent that they would be willing to walk away from everything they knew and held dear, heading to the unknown and unexplained.
If you were told to, “Go to your own soul? What would you even do? What does that even mean?
Would we even try to understand? or would we dismiss it as some crazy thought we just had?
SEPTEMBER 27TH – DAY OF ATONEMENT – on the 10th Day of the Year 5781
Reorient Yourself, Return, Recover, and Reposition Yourself for A New Beginning…
The Book of Jonah is one of my most favorite Books of the Bible. Probably because it’s so misunderstood.
In a few Christian circles, the Book of Jonah is often thought about as a biblical fairytale, a bible story of sorts. Jonah in the belly of the whale, building a fire and camping out until he decided to take up the mission he was asked to perform and GOD released him.
But there is much more to this teaching…
On Yom Kippur, the Book of Jonah is read in order to help us reorient ourselves back toward GOD. It is a splendid tool to help us reassess and reevaluate where we are spiritually. Are we on board with the things of GOD or just giving lip service?
Are we willing to follow the plan of GOD, or just do the pieces and parts of the job that suits our sensibilities? Just how much dying to self are we prepared to do?
The world may show little love toward us and our loved ones, the world is harsh and can be so very difficult and destructive… but are we still willing to love the world despite all of the wrongs that have been done to us?
Spiritually, what happens when we blame GOD for the ills of the world? Is there any damage? What happens spiritually, to us and/or the world, when we disobey GOD?
Jonah’s one act of obedience was able to save a nation. How much more, could our one act of disobedience, deny salvation to the nations?
What if you are your brother’s keeper?
Tomorrow, please read these 4 chapters in the Book of Jonah and mediate on the WORD. Examine the Book again in light of these questions above & below and discover a brand new depth of knowledge about yourself and the Book of Jonah.
How was Jonah introduced to us in scripture?
How did Jonah introduce himself to the men aboard ship with him?
How do you think GOD would introduce you to the world?
How would you introduce yourself?
Have you ever introduced yourself by your spiritual identity to anyone?
Have you ever considered it?
What was the turning point for Jonah? What made him decide to come up out from the belly of the whale?
What makes you decide to come back from a crisis?
Have you ever made camp in a bad situation? A situation of your own design or created by your own decision?
What fueled Jonah’s transition from the whale, and back into the world?
How did Jonah make it back?
Was Jonah ever in the belly of a whale?
Is there any point in time in the message that you detect that Jonah’s soul is in Jeopardy?
Remember Rule #1: Always keep your eyes on what is happening to the soul.
Is it alright for GOD to forgive those that you have not forgiven?
or to forgive those who you refuse to forgive?
Should GOD only forgive those that you feel are worthy of forgiveness?
If you were a prophet of GOD like Jonah, and GOD asked you to go to your worse enemy (the person or persons that have done you the greatest damage) in order to give them a Prophetic Word from Him, how long would do you think it would take you to comply?
I would do it immediately, without question; It would take me a few days… ; It would take me a while… ; or I don’t see myself doing it at all…
Who are you most reluctant to forgive?
Think personally, communally, globally
Have you forgiven those that have done you the most harm? Are you willing to?
Do you believe that unforgiveness damages the soul?
What damage can unforgiveness do to a soul?
What has unforgiveness done to your soul?
What damage did you see happening to Jonah?
How would it affect you if your mortal enemy heard the Word of GOD and responded with greater faith than your own people? or even you?
How would it affect you if your mortal enemy heard you preaching the Word of GOD and knew GOD was speaking, inspite of your resentment toward them?
What reason could there possibly be for GOD to extend blessings and opportunity for life,
to those that oppress you?
to those that have hurt you? or to those that have power over you?
Should you plead the cause of the unrighteous?
In the end of the Book, Jonah found himself in a place where he refused to forgive. The Assyrians had committed such atrocities to his people, he could not muster an ounce of love for this neighbor.
Do you only love the loveable?
Are you capable of having compassion on the unloveable?
How best can you demonstrate love for the unlovely?
We say/teach that GOD is love and that our faith is built on love… GOD says if we love Him, we must walk in love with others…
What must die/live in us for us to walk in love with those that hate us without a cause?
Is it possible to have enough compassion for those that hate us or mistreat us, that we can still minister to them the Word of GOD, in such a way that they will only see Him? Hear Him? Respond to His Word?
Does the prophet of GOD need salvation?
Or just the enemies of GOD?
Does the prophet of GOD need one time salvation?
or ongoing salvation?
Jonah realized that he was just unwilling to forgive the Assyrians?
What damage did he do to his own soul?
What do you think caused the Assyrians to hear the prophet of GOD, and believe the Word he spoke and turn toward GOD?
What will it take for your enemies on earth to look past you and actually hear the Word of GOD?
In the beginning of the book, Jonah sat down in the belly of a “prophetic” whale… in the end of the book, Jonah sat down under a gourd.
Jonah is delivered from the whale, but not the gourd. Why? What’s the distinction between the two?
In the end, did Jonah lose his salvation?
Was Jonah so resentful and so angry with GOD for having brought the Word of deliverance and redemption to his enemy that he could not move forward anymore?
Is GOD allowed to forgive your enemies?
Is it possible that Jonah could only follow GOD so far, and no further?
Was Jonah only willing to follow GOD as long as he agreed with His Choices?
or as long as he (Jonah) was serving those that he wanted to serve?
What damage will unforgiveness, anger, resentment, disappointment, etc do to your soul?
Why do you think Jonah would not repent of his spiritual condition and move forward?
What has the power to stop you from releasing your burdens to GOD and asking for forgiveness?
Who is entitled to the Word of GOD and His forgiveness?
…only those that you approve of?
or can GOD offer forgiveness to whomever He sees fit, without your pre-approval?
Do all the nations belong to GOD, or just the ones we like?
What is the one thing that can restore your soul back to its perfect spiritual condition??
These are just some of the questions the arise from the Book of Jonah. GOD provided answers to them all, in 4 brief, yet all inclusive chapters.
I urge everyone who reads this post, to take the time tomorrow and re-read the book of Jonah for the answers that are on the page and inside of you. After all, you are a living epistle of GOD.
What shall the Spirit of GOD write about you next year?
What shall you write of GOD & Man next year?
Don’t Allow This Year to be Sealed in Unforgiveness… The Choice is Yours Alone!
