Alone
In Hebrew Strongs 910 the word is
badad: isolation, separation, alone
Original Word: בָּדָד
Part of Speech: noun masculine
Transliteration: badad
Phonetic Spelling: baw-dawd’
Definition: isolation, separation, alone
Word Origin from badad
Definition isolation, separation
NASB Translation
alone (6), apart (1), isolated (1), itself (1),
lonely (1), secluded (1)., desolate, only, solitary
From badad; separate;
adverb, separately — alone, desolate, only, solitary.
The Hebrew word labad, which means entirely alone.
As we grow in our relationship with our Heavenly Father He graciously extends to us the gift of teachers and mentors. They are often in the positions of leadership, pastors and those individuals whose walk of faith has stood the test of time; who are mature not only in experience by age, but by walking with Him through many tests and trials which forge great trust in a faithful God.
It’s not wrong for us to depend on our Elijah for as long as our Heavenly Father gives him or her to us. However we must remember that the time will come when he or she must leave and will no longer be our guide and our leader; because God does not intend for them to stay permanently. Even though the thought of them leaving causes us to think and say initially, that we cannot go on without our Elijah.
Ecc. 3:1-8
Everything is for a season,
nothing stays the same forever,
only the Lord God is unchangeable.
The same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
However, our Father says we must continue. Even if those who are married have solace in one another, we must remember we still need a ‘one on one relationship’ with our Heavenly Father. For couples, the scripture reminds us in Genesis 2:24, Matt.9:5 and Mark 10:8. that The two shall become one flesh. But not one spirit. We shall all stand ALONE before the Lord God to give account; for no flesh shall inherit the kingdom of Heaven. 1 Cor. 15:49-50.49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man. 50 Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Messiah came to save and redeem our souls and rebirth our spirit man. He did not endure calvary’s cross to save our flesh, we will leave our bodies behind along with everything else.
Job 1:21. He said, “Naked (without possessions) I came [into this world] from my mother’s womb, And naked I will return there. …
1 Timothy 6:7. 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. Also Ps49:17 and Prov.27:24.
and the spirit returns to God from which it came. Ecc.12:7
We do ourselves a dis-service by clinging to people beyond the timing and purpose our Heavenly Father has for them in our lives. They are not our ultimate source for our needs and even spouse, family members and friends should never usurp the position reserved for the Lord Himself. Recognizing the seasons of the Lord in our lives is a sign of maturing faith and a sensitivity to the Lords leading.
ALONE at our Jordan.
2 kings 2:14
The Jordan river represents the type of separation where we have a God-ordained time of no fellowship with anyone else. and where no one else can take our responsibility from us. The Hebrew word for Jordan is Yarden, meaning: Descender; describing the downward journey of the waters from their source in the …… all the way to the sea of Galilee and onward down to its final destination at the dead sea.
For more on the Jordan click link below to post:
The mountain top experiences we had with our Elijah are to sustain us as we descend into the dark valleys of the world where the needs are, and the shadows of death challenge our faith and relationship with our Heavenly Father. Remembering they are only shadows!
We have been to the Jordan many times with Elijah, but now we are to face it ALONE.
At our Jordan, we now have to put to the test, and practice what we learned when we were with our Elijah.
There is no use in saying that we cannot GO because the experience we need for our growth is here, and we must GO.
We have received the mantle, the representation of the anointing to equip us for our role; similar to the passing of the baton in a relay race, the last of the team members reaching the goal of the finish line. Here too we may become a mentor to another Elisha by passing on what we have received of the Lord to another generation.
Since the Holy Spirit of the living God was poured out at Pentecost/shavuot, there began the ecclesia, the messianic congregation and the multiplication of mentors and followers as Messiah commanded all of us to GO therefore and make disciples of all nations….Matt.28:19-20
If we truly want to know whether or not God is the God our faith believes Him to be, then we must GO through our Jordan/Yarden/Descender ALONE. WE must receive our mentors mantle of scriptural truth in knowledge and experience, and make it our own. We are to strike the waters of the Yarden/Descender in faith and believe for miracles to be manifest on our own life …these signs shall follow them that believe. Mark 16:17-18 and Greater things than this shall you do. John 12:13-14…
Remembering Elishas request was for a double portion of his mentors spirit. 2 Kings 2:9. Which was clearly manifested in the miracles recorded in scripture.
Here is another type of GO.
We looked at some others in:
https://www.minimannamoments.com/go-go-go-go-go/
ALONE at our Jericho. 2Kings 2:15. Jericho represents the place where we have seen our Elijah do great things. Yet when we come ALONE to our Jericho, we have a strong reluctance to take the initiative and trust in God, wanting instead for someone else to take it for us. Yet those from the guild/school of prophets recognized the same spirit that was on Elijah was now on Elisha.v.15
However, if we remain true to what we learned while with your Elijah you will receive a sign as Elisha did, that God is with you. Here he brought a solution to the bad water that was causing miscarriages and healed the water. 19-23.
We have to step out in faith and that means having faith and trust in the One who works the miracles. We must have faith in Gods’ ability to do exactly what He says He can and will do, not faith in ourselves.
Picture below is the same spring as it still exists today.
ALONE at our Bethel. 2Kings 2:23/24
At our Bethel we will find ourselves at our wits end, meaning, we have no answers of our own and don’t know what to do. It is then we are at the beginning of our Heavenly Fathers wisdom. James 1:5 reminds us:
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
When we come to our wits end and are looking physically at the seemingly impossible situation we find ourselves in, we feel overwhelmed and inclined to panic. This is where we don’t panic but instead, stand true to the Lord God and He will bring out His truth in a way and solution to the problem, that will make our lives an expression of worship. Then He gets all the glory. The personal abuse and impending attack that was threatening Elisha by 42 boys, cost the perpetrators dearly. God used His creation in the form of 2 mother bears to defend His servant in a way we would probably not thought of.
(Noted in the painting below is that the figure for Elisha has a full head of hair!)
Here in 2Kings 2:23-25 the question often asked is:
Why did God through Elisha kill 42 boys who called him baldy?
It seems an extreme reaction. However, if we examine this scene more closely from a Hebraic perspective, there is a more reasonable explanation.
Elisha purifies water in Bethel and saves the town from disease and the women from suffering miscarriages. A large gang of 42 youths/boys, as some translations render it, suddenly surround Elisha yelling “go away baldly” to which Elisha points at them and, curses them and they are ripped to shreds by 2 large female bears that simply appear out of nowhere.
It would seem Elisha has these young children mauled for calling him bald, but this encounter requires context. The word used for youth/little boy, refers to any person below 40 years of age in the Bible. So these were young people of about 20 years of age or older. (The same term is used of Solomon in 1 Kings 3:7).
Biblical tradition also holds that the gang was actually a cartel, controlling the water source, Elisha had ruined their business! Surrounding him and yelling, ‘go away’, implies they were not allowing him to leave peacefully but that they were going to beat him very severely, possibly to the death. Note that Elisha did not call out the bears, God did! Two female bears came out and tore up forty-two young men.
Isaiah.58:8-9 Gods ways are not our ways and they are always the best, even when we don’t fully understand what He is doing. When we look back, we see and understand.
We are all wise in hindsight.
These are the times we are to put into practice what we learned while with our Elijah, to use the mantle we have received and pray. (2:13-14). We must make a determined decision to trust in God and do not even look for Elijah any more.
We are not to give in to fear, it’s a faith killer. God’s Kingdom operates on faith, trust, love and life; the devils kingdom is ruled by fear, betrayal, hate and death.
When we look at circumstances in the natural realm around us, we sometimes believe what our 5 physical senses are telling us rather than the true reality that our spiritual senses will perceive, if we operate by them. We read in Matthew 8, where even the disciples who were with Him in the storm had doubts, so we should not condemn ourselves too harshly. However He did say to them, “Why are you fearful o you of little faith.” Matt 8:26.
This expression ‘little faith’, is better translated as ‘immature faith’, faith that has not yet grown into a mature, deep trust and still has aways to go. It must have cut to the heart of them, and they no doubt thought that once more they had missed the mark and fallen short of the expectations of their Rabbi. So too, we will feel the sting, when we realize we could have brought great joy to our savior by remaining absolutely confident in Him, in spite of what we were facing.
When we are afraid the least we can do is pray to the Father. However He has a right to expect that those who call on His Name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him, that in any crisis, they are the ones who are reliable; and in that position are able to render service to others. Yet sometimes our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the panic stricken prayers like those who do not even know God.
We come to our wits end, which is the end of our natural senses and abilities, the end of ourselves; revealing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To those who don’t have a personal relationship with Him, He seems to be asleep or not concerned or interested in our plight; and we can see nothing but giant breaking waves on the sea ahead of us.
There are times, although seldom, when there is no storm or crisis in our lives and we continue to do all that is humanly possible. But it’s when a crisis arises, then we instantly reveal upon whom we really rely.
Where does our help come from?
If we have been learning to worship our Heavenly Father and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him. Faith is like a muscle, a spiritual muscle, and only gets stronger when it is stretched to splitting; then when it heals it has increased resistance, power and durability.
In previous posts we have been looking at faith, trust, sanctification and holiness but what will be the result in our lives? As we continue to look to Him, the author and finisher of our lives, relationship will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God; truly filled with His shalom, which will make us not only blameless in His sight but also bring a great joy to His heart.
We may feel ALONE and He may sometimes require us to be ALONE for our personal instruction.
However, the truth is we are never entirely ALONE.
He is ALWAYS there, and many times if we don’t perceive His presence, He is not the one who moved away.
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