Where in scripture are waters of affliction mentioned?
Verse 20 in Isaiah chapter 30 speaks of
waters of affliction
as well as the
bread of adversity
and it tells us that they both come from the Lord!
Isaiah 30:20: “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers be hidden no more, but thine eyes shall see they teachers:”
Isaiah 30:20 HEB: צָ֖ר וּמַ֣יִם לָ֑חַץ וְלֹֽא־ יִכָּנֵ֥ף KJV: and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers
Also in 1 Kings 22:27 HEB: לַ֙חַץ֙ וּמַ֣יִם לַ֔חַץ עַ֖ד בֹּאִ֥י KJV: and with water of affliction, until I come
2 Chronicles 18:26 HEB: לַ֙חַץ֙ וּמַ֣יִם לַ֔חַץ עַ֖ד שׁוּבִ֥י KJV: and with water of affliction, until I return
Original Word:מַיִם Part of Speech: Noun Masculine Transliteration: mayim Phonetic Spelling: mah’-yim Definition: waters, water
Water has many symbolic meanings in Hebrew:
water of a spring or well (עַיִן, בְּאֵר) Genesis 16:7;
of a river, NileExodus 2:10
of sea Red Sea Exodus 15:8,
of floodGenesis 7:7,10;
subterraneanExodus 20:4
in clouds Jeremiah 10:13;
of rainJudges 5:4;
of dewJudges 6:38.
primÊval deepGenesis 1:2,6
Water with proper names, of a location and
special uses e.g.
מַיִם חַיִּים living (i.e. running) water Leviticus 14:5,
Figurative uses are:
of distressIsaiah 43:2;
deep waters Psalm 69:3;
water of gall Jeremiah 8:14;
מַיִם שְׁאן Isaiah 17:12,13 of rushing nations.
of what is impetuous, violent, overwhelming
Isaiah 28:2,17; Hosea 10:7;
(as running away) of heart in timidity Joshua 7:5,
of knees Ezekiel 7:17; Ezekiel 21:12.
of transitorinessJob 11:16; Job 24:18; Psalm 58:8.
of refreshmentIsaiah 32:2; Isaiah 49:10;
spiritual Isaiah 12:3.
י מְנֻחת Psalm 23:2 in figure of rest and peace,
of reckless bloodshed (poured out like water) Psalm 79:3;
בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים Songs 4:15 figurative of bride;
גְּנוּבִים Proverbs 9:17 stolen waters.
of abundant justiceAmos 5:24
of outpoured wrath of ׳י Hosea 5:10.
One meaning is that water can be so powerful that it can make holes through rocks and hard stone by a process of erosion which resembles a power drill boring through it.
Original Word:לַחַץ Part of Speech: Noun Masculine Transliteration: lachats Phonetic Spelling: lakh’-ats Definition: oppression, distress
Strongs # 3906 affliction, oppression
From lachats; distress — affliction, oppression. to press, i.e. (figuratively) to distress — afflict, crush, force, hold fast, oppress
The Hebrew teachers/rabbis write that our Heavenly Father will give us an affliction that will drill or pierce through the rocky protective covering of our hearts with one goal, and that is to penetrate our hearts with His unconditional and everlasting love. In their understanding of the water of affliction is that it is an affliction to drill down to the core of your heart.
We have an idiom that we use to express deep sincere emotion when we say ‘from the bottom of my heart’. The very center of our heart is where truth can be found, it’s where the unshakeable and very real part of our soul resides. ‘Words are cheap’, is another common phrase, and certainly without action to support those statements we make, it has little depth of meaning to the hearer.
The whole of Hebrew thinking towards the Creator of the Universe and towards our fellow humans is summed up in the word shema which means: hear and obey or, hear and do. Words are encouraging but without action are not as much help as when doing something follows those words in order to assist an individual. Our heart motivation is most important, many flippantly declare love for each other, yet never show it by their actions.
We sometimes do not understand the Love of our Heavenly Father because we compare it to our understanding of love in its selfish, self seeking human form. Many languages have different words for different types of love, but as there is only one word for love in english speaking countries; it covers everything from food, sports, hobbies, fashion, pets, etc. to God. This does not really show a special and respectful term to describe our deep affection for our Savior, Lord and King.
As our Father God does love us so deeply, He doesn’t allow us to go through random afflictions, He orchestrates conditions and situations because He desires to break through into our hearts so they will be open to Him.
This is not something new, it has been His purpose all along.
Ezekiel 36:26 New International Version 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
This powerful metaphor speaks to the change He can bring to our lives.
This change can be more easily achieved when we consistently allow His Spirit of Holiness to will and to work in us after His good pleasure. For it is God that worketh in you, both to will [both to desire], and to perform, for good will. YLT Phil. 2:13.
It happened in the old Testament 1 Samuel 10:6 KJV: And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
as well as in the new, Colossians 3:10-14. 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him
2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit];
Our new man is raised to new life in Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:11; Romans 6:4–6; Galatians 2:20.
From this point forward the process of sanctification, or internal transformation, continues.
1John 3:20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.
We not only experience waters of affliction when our Heavenly Father is drilling through our hearts of stone, but we also may face the bread of adversity.
Original Word:צַר Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: tsar Phonetic Spelling: tsar Definition:narrow, tight adversary, affliction, anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe,
Or tsar {tsawr}; from tsarar; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. Trouble); also a pebble (as in tsor); (transitive) an opponent (as crowding) — adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble.
צַר noun [masculine]straits, distress;
צַר noun [masculine]straits, distress;
צַר noun [masculine]hard pebble, flint;
Many people recently celebrated Rosh Hashanah. During this Moed, this Appointed time of the Lord on His Calendar, it is customary to bake bread for Rosh Hashanah and to invite people who have hurt you during the previous year to assist you in its preparation. As you roll out the bread you forgive them.
Here we see a meaning of the bread of adversity. In Jewish literature it is taught that the adversity brought on by our sinful acts are pounded, rolled, shaped and baked to bring us to repentance/teshuvah and receive the forgiveness of our Heavenly Father.
The grains of wheat or barley are pounded, crushed, rolled and baked at high temperature and when fully cooked it comes out as something new.
It has been changed by the process.
Its form has changed from soft dough and it is now a loaf of bread and looks completely different; furthermore it will now provide nourishment to many others.
Here is a great spiritual lesson.
It is true that so many of us have to go through the waters of affliction for our Heavenly Father to penetrate and gain entrance into our hearts. He takes us through the pounding, rolling, shaping and baking by testings and trials, in order to bring us to the place where we see our sin and shortcomings.
Once we see and admit them, then we turn in repentance and receive His forgiveness through the blood of Yeshua haMashiach Jesus Christ. It is then that He can make us into something new, something of value and able to bring nourishment to others.
Your teachers shall be hidden no more.
Teachers in this passage is moreka. מוֹרֶ֔יךָ
mō·w·re·ḵā — 2 Occurrences
Isaiah 30:20 HEB: יִכָּנֵ֥ף עוֹד֙ מוֹרֶ֔יךָ וְהָי֥וּ עֵינֶ֖יךָ KJV: of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner
The picture is of a teacher who is throwing out knowledge or shooting out knowledge which is aimed at a specific target.
This Master Teacher will not be hidden.
The word hidden is kanaph.
yik·kā·nêp̄ — 1 Occurrence
Isaiah 30:20 HEB: לָ֑חַץ וְלֹֽא־ יִכָּנֵ֥ף עוֹד֙ מוֹרֶ֔יךָ NAS: longer hide Himself, but your eyes KJV: yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes INT: of oppression will no hide longer teachers
3670 kanaph: to be cornered or thrust into a corner
Original Word: כָּנַף Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kanaph Phonetic Spelling: kaw-naf’ Definition: to be cornered or thrust into a corner
This is the word for wings, or a loose flowing skirt.
of garment = skirt, corner, or loose flowing end,
1 Samuel 15:27;
Strongs # 3671 kanaph: wing, extremity
Original Word:כָּנָף Part of Speech: Noun Feminine Transliteration: kanaph Phonetic Spelling: kaw-nawf’ Definition: wing, extremity
bird* (1), corner (1), corners (4), covering (1), each other (1), edge (5), edges (1), ends (3), fold (2), garment (1), kind (3), skirt (3), skirts (1), sorts (1), wing (14), winged (5), wings (58), wings were each other (1), wingspan (1).
bird, border, corner, end, feathered, flying, one another, overspreading,
Fromkanaph; an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bed-clothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinnacle — + bird, border, corner, end, feather(-ed), X flying, + (one an-)other, overspreading, X quarters, skirt, X sort, uttermost part, wing((-ed))
The words used here give a picture of an archer shooting at a creature with wings however because the creature is illusive, when the Master Teacher shoots the arrow it doesn’t find its target. This could be telling us that our Heavenly Father is always speaking to us, but we just keep missing hearing His voice. This is explained in the last part of the verse.
And your eyes will see your teachers.
The word see is ra’ah which is a reference to:
spiritual seeing, spiritual insight.
רֹא֥וֹת
Strongs # 7200 raah: to see
Original Word: רָאָה Part of Speech:Verb Transliteration:raah Phonetic Spelling:raw-aw’ Definition: to see
Our spiritual eyes will be opened and we will see the redemption offered to us by our Master Teacher. Here the prophet seems to be saying that our Heavenly Father is always speaking to us, He is wanting to give us direction, to set us on the right path or WAY, because in the following verse 21, this is supported;
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
We must agree that sometimes what He is saying to us never quite makes the target in our brains, or gets through into our thick rocky heart. This is when our loving Father may have to bring
the bread of adversity,
that specific adversity that will bring us into repentance and receive His forgiveness. Or He may release
the waters of affliction
to penetrate the hard rock like shell over our heart in order to pierce it with His love. He is both patient and persistent in His process with us, just like the water dripping constantly onto the rock.
One of the most inspirational stories in Hebrew literature is that of Rabbi Akiva was a shepherd, a laborer, an am ha’aretz – religious in observance, but ignorant of Torah knowledge. At age 40, he didn’t even know how to read the aleph-beis/alphabet. One day, while sitting by a brook, Akiva noticed a steady trickle of water hitting a rock. It was only a drip, but it was constant – drop after drop after drop.
Akiva observed something incredible: A hole had been carved out by that steady drip of water. He wondered how that could be. He inquired who shaped the rock, and was told it was caused by the slow but constant dripping of water on top of it. Akiva then reasoned: If a substance soft as water can penetrate a rock with slow, persistent motion, how much more so can the words of Torah, which is hard as iron, can slowly but surely penetrate and make an indelible impression on my heart.
This was a turning point in his life. He promptly committed himself to study the Word of God – for an uninterrupted 24 years and went on to become the greatest sage of his generation, with 24,000 students learning under him at one time. What is the message of Rabbi Akiva and those life-transforming drops of water?
On one level, this story shows how everyone, if given the opportunity, can achieve great heights. It’s never too late to start.
On a deeper level, the story of Rabbi Akiva teaches that every drop of Gods word, even if undetectable, makes an impact.
All scripture, as the Word of the Almighty, has unparalleled power to effect change. Sometimes we do not perceive it, and the results are not apparent until years later. However if one keeps going and does not give up, the power of His word will eventually penetrate. Drop after drop after drop, it will carve into our neshama, our soul and spirit and transform us.
The Hebraic/Jewish view of spirituality is one which stresses that dramatic bursts of insight and inspiration are not so much how an individual will achieves great heights; and that is because experiences are fleeting and momentary, once they pass, the connection quickly fades.
The truth is that it is the consistent pursuance and faithful decision to live within the scriptural values and Biblical guidelines given to us for our protection and maturing in the faith. When we walk along the WAY, we gain the small triumphs in life and they add up, drop after drop, creating true spiritual transformation.
Eph. 5:26 God sanctifies and cleanses the ecclesia by the washing of water and the word.
Let’s allow the Father, by His Spirit, to penetrate our hearts and let’s not harden them in rebellion; then the bread of adversity and waters of affliction will be far from our lives…
while it is said, “TODAY [while there is still opportunity] IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEART, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME [in the rebellion in the desert …Hebrews 3:7-15
Shalom mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
It’s all about Life and Relationship,
NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter His courts with praise
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made
I will rejoice for He has made me glad.
This is an old chorus based on the Psalm 100:4
It’s a very familiar verse to everyone who is part of an assembly of believers in Jesus Christ/Yeshua haMashiach.
Most of us will identify the action of entering His gates, with going through the doors of the building where the meetings are held; and His courts with praise’ as moving into the sanctuary of the building. That’s what most of us have been taught for years and we would probably not think it meant anything else.
At the time this verse was written, there was only the Temple in Jerusalem/Yerushalayim. It was not considered the ‘church building’ of its day, although many people do think of it in that way. The Temple was the very dwelling place of our Heavenly Father however, as we know, He no longer dwells in a building. According to 1Cor. 6:19, The Temple containing the Holy Spirit of the Living God is now our bodies. The inner sanctuary, the Holy of Holies was where Gods presence dwelt and the sanctuary/holy of holies was inside the whole structure called the Temple. The innermost part of us, is the sanctuary for His Holy Spirit. He is residing in our born again from above spirit. Wherever a true believer is, that’s where the sanctuary of God’s presence is also.
We also have to remember that the church or ecclesia is not a building. Ecclesia, the called apart, or called out ones, are the people. They the individuals that make up the body of Messiah in the earth. We are the living stones that make up His habitation on earth.
1Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
So if these gates are not the physical ‘church building’ or ‘gates to the temple’ what are they?
Gates, as entrances and exits, have long captured our imagination. Many traditions are rich with gates and ours is no exception. Among others are:
Gates of Salvation,
Gates of Repentance,
Gates of Prayer,
Gates of Righteousness,
Gates of introspection and reflection,
Gates of Hell,
Gates of Glory,
Heavens gates.
In Hebrew the word gate is sha’ar.
שַׁ֫עַר
This word has many different meanings.
As well as gate, sha’ar can mean,
hair, a storm or tempest, a decision, to calculate,
a determination, a remnant or something horrible.
The Hebrew word for gate, sha’ar and its variations, appears more than 350 times in scripture. In Hebrew culture the imagery of gates covers both historical and spiritual meanings, being symbolic on many levels.
Most commentators on scripture believe that the first time a word is mentioned in the Torah is significant and tells of its deepest meaning.
For example:
The first mention of sha’ar
is immediately after the binding of Isaac.
This is when Abraham is blessed and God promises him that “your descendants will inherit the gate of their enemies” Genesis 22:17.
The next mention of sha’ar is in Genesis 24:60 when Rebecca leaves her family to marry Isaac, she receives a similar blessing: “May your offspring take possession of the gate of those who hate them”.
Gates, then, are points of protection and power. To possess the gate of our enemies is to control the forces that want to harm us. In ancient Israel, gates were the stronghold protecting daily life within the safety of city walls and gates; and so much of that life took place at the gates of the city, where the elders would gather and prophets would speak.
An interesting point is that the word sha’ar comes from the same Hebrew root as shiur (measure). In one interpretation of the verse “Her husband is known in the gates” The Hebrew sages teach that the husband is a metaphor for God, whose understanding is only known in measures. Our Heavenly Father makes Himself known to each individual according to the measure of the understanding of his or her heart.
It seems very strange that one word can mean so many different things and yet at the same time, be related?
If we look at the word in the context of a doorway, especially a doorway to our Heavenly Father, these words are all related.
For a long time, Gates have been a symbol of a point of communication between worlds and realms. In Genesis 28:17 following Jacobs dream of the ladder, he says, “This is no other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven”.
The spiritual significance of gates became increasingly more emphasized after the gates of Jerusalem were broken down and the Holy Temple was destroyed, Hebrew sages teach that the gate of heaven is the place to which prayers ascend.
As we often do with Hebrew words lets break down to the individual letters which we know from previous studies that they all have their own meanings and are pictures telling a story in themselves. The word sha’ar is made up of the letters sh = shin a = ayin and r = resh.
שַׁ֫עַר
For example in the first letter of the word for gate and that is a
שַׁ֫
Shin by which we get the idea of a storm or tempest which is expressed as or represents the passionate love of Heavenly Father for His children. It is telling us that when we go through this gate we enter the stormy passionate love of God.
עַ
Ayin is the next letter which represents deep spiritual insight. It gives us a picture that when we pass through this gate/sha’ar into the presence of God you are immersed into deep spiritual insight and understanding where we discover something horrible!
What could it be that is horrible? That is our sinful nature and the darkness hidden in the deep recesses of our hearts, remnants of the old man, the carnal nature.
In studying the Hebrew scriptures and beginning to appreciate the Israelite culture and way of life, we see how they lived and what their customs were.
In those days before there were wooden doors in a home, hair from animals was woven together to make a kind of doorway covering the entrance.
This door was to keep the wind from blowing dust etc. into the house it was not meant to keep out strangers.
Many times it was the wool from a lamb which was used to make this doorway.
We should not think this so strange because we know of course that it is the Lamb of God who cleanses us from our sin. He provides the doorway/gate to relationship with our Heavenly Father and He is able to protect us from spiritual contamination from the outside world, yet gives us a WAY to reach others and invite them into ‘His home.’
Furthermore we must make a decision as to whether or not to accept this gift of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God and to enter in through that provision.
ר
Resh is the final letter for the word door or gate/sha’ar and that is the letter r or Resh which represents repentance/teshuvah.
This could inspire a picture showing us that when we come together with other believers in Messiah, whether it is in a building we call a church or in a home; then together we find out the precious jewels to be unearthed in God’s Word. We will enter His gates where we will find deep insight into our sinful natures, leading us to repent of our sins and through the shed blood of the Lamb of God be cleansed so you can enter into the fiery, passionate and stormy love of God.
It would automatically follow that having been cleansed of our sin and having had the privilege of experiencing the
שַׁ֫ shin/ stormy passionate love of God, our heart will be filled with thankfulness towards Him.
In Hebrew thankfulness is the word todah, and its spelled
T for Taw D for Daleth and H for Hei/Hay.
todah: thanksgiving:8426
Original Word: תּוֹדָה Part of Speech: Noun Feminine Transliteration: todah Phonetic Spelling: (to-daw’) Definition: thanksgiving
תּ Taw gives the picture of expressing praise and thanksgiving,
דָ Daleth which is a door or portal to the last letter,
the ה Hei which speaks of the presence of God.
We learn that the behavior and lifestyle of the people in the assembly of Laodicea mentioned in Revelation 3:14-22 was not acceptable to the Lord. This made them neither hot nor cold in their relationship towards Him and this caused Him to say that He was ready to spew them out of His mouth.
What were they doing that made our Heavenly Father say that?
In verse 20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”
Here is an answer, in order to fully comprehend what it means, we must take a look at the Hebraic use of language in that day. This expression is one that a Jewish person of that time would quickly understand. To them it was an indication that Messiah was seeking to make His presence known, so He was knocking at the todah /praise and thanksgiving which is the doorway to His presence.
If an individual opens that dalet/doorway, that gate, with praise and thanksgiving Messiah will enter and His presence will fill the sanctuary, which as we have seen in scripture is our bodies, and He will not only dine with us, He will abide with us.
Another interesting point that we miss in our western culture is that in Middle Eastern, Oriental or Semitic culture of that day, and incidentally it still is today, when someone wants to reconcile with an enemy they will have dinner together and discuss their differences. This explains why inPsalms 23:5David writes that God prepares a table before him in the presence of his enemies. With an emphasis on cultural etiquette David is saying is that God lays the foundation or prepares the ground work for reconciliation with his enemies. When we read Revelation 3:20 we know that the Blood of the Lamb cleanses us from our sin, however it is our thanksgiving and praise that ultimately brings reconciliation us to the loving, stormy filled passion and the presence of our heavenly Father.
It is also of interest to note that all we have to do is open the dalet/door and Messiah Yeshua passes through, it is not us that passes through. This is the big change in the order of things, the protocol of how to approach a Holy God has changed from the directions given to Moses. Whereas it used to be that the people passed through the gates of the temple to enter the place of God’s presence, and then only the priests could enter the holy place; and only the High Priest could go into the holy of holies once a year on Yom Kippur. All the rest of the people had to stay in the outer court. Today it is up to us to ask and invite Messiah into the sanctuary, our bodies, to bring His presence into us. In praise and thanksgiving, we are inviting Messiah to enter our sanctuary and let it become His holy of holies.
“Open for me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter and thank God. This is the gateway to the Lord; the righteous shall enter it” Psalm 118:19.
All are thresholds of revelation where His divine presence reaches into our human realm.
In Hebrew the Jewish synagogue service tells us that:
Every morning God is said to open the gates of the east and break open the windows of the heavens, bestowing light to the world and its inhabitants (Shabbat morning prayer).
Sunrise over Jerusalem from the Mt of Olives
As the first light breaks through the darkness, it calls to us to wake up to the reality of His steadfast love and endless grace and mercy.
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22/3
Every day is a new beginning.
Ezekiel contains several references to a gate that faces east. In Ezekiel 10:18–19, the prophet sees the glory of the Lord leave the temple through
the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house”;
the glory then moves east of the city to the Mount of Olives
Ezekiel 11:23
Later, Ezekiel sees the glory of the Lord return to the temple via
“the gate facing east” Ezekiel 43:1–5.
Gates open and gates close, but, we are told, there is one gate that is never closed. In Matthew 7:13-14 In this context Matthew is discussing the narrow gate leading to salvation, eternal life & the broad gate which leads to destruction. Yeshua/Jesus made it clear, the path to eternal life is open to everyone who asks. However, the gate to heaven is “narrow” in the sense of having a particular requirement for entrance—faith faith in Jesus Christ/Yeshua haMashiach. Salvation is found only in the Person of Jesus Christ/ Yeshua haMashiach. The Bible tells us that He is the only Way John 14:6. The “wide” gate is non-exclusive; it allows for human effort and all other of the world’s religions.
God offers salvation to everyone who accepts it John 1:12; 3:16-18; Romans 10:9; 1 John 2:2.But it is on His terms. We must come the way He has provided. We cannot create our own paths or come to a holy God based on our own efforts. They choose temporary, earthly pleasure over the self-sacrifice required in following Jesus/Yeshua.Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; Matthew 10:37.The narrow gate is ignored. Most people would rather create their own religions and design their own gods. So it was with sorrow, not as a discrimination, that Messiah declared that the road to eternal life is
“narrow, and only a few find it.“
When faced with the choice between a narrow, bumpy road and a wide, paved highway, most of us choose the easier road. Human nature gravitates toward comfort and pleasure. When faced with the reality of denying themselves to follow Jesus/Yeshua, most people turn away. John 6:66. Messiah never sugar-coated the truth, and the truth is that not many people are willing to pay the price to follow Him.
We are to choose which gates we will enter into, let’s make sure the sha’ar we choose are the ones that take us into the passionate love of our Heavenly Fathers presence.
Shalom mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
It’s all about Life and Relationship,
NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
Confusion comes when there is lack of knowledge and understanding. Another reason is a lack of clarity when truth is obscured; and of us not thinking things through to the fullness of the consequences of our actions.
When we want our own desires filled in our own way, for our own benefit; then we become confused about what the Fathers’ will, plan and purpose is for us.
When James and John made a personal request for special treatment through their mother in Matthew 20, Messiah spoke to them in verse 22.
But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask.
Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
They say unto him, We are able.
Things that we think and imagine to be the most desirable, would often be the absolute worst for our spiritual progress; and in praying for these ‘good things’, we are apt to forget to count the cost that we must pay in order to gain them. Jesus/Yeshua sets the obstacles before the ambitious disciples, pointing out all that they would face.
Are ye able to drink of the cup?
Both Joy and sorrow, blessing and affliction, in Bible terms these are often referred to under the metaphor of a cup.
We read this in Psalm 11:6; Psalm 23:5; Isaiah 51:17 and Jeremiah 25:15. Here the cup signifies the internal, mental, and spiritual sufferings which Messiah enduredMatthew 26:39, 42.
That I shall drink of; ο{ ἐγὼ μέλλω πίνειν: which I am about to drink; or am purposing to drink.
He expresses His willingness and intent of suffering bitterly, and asks them if they are prepared to do the same. To be baptized, with the baptism He was about to endure. The baptism is significant of the external pains and persecutions, the waters in which He was to be totally immersed.
Psalm 69:2, 15.Saveme, OGod, forthewaters have come up to my neck. 2 I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. 3 I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
But Jesus answered, and said,…. To her two sons, ye know not what ye ask.
Notice Messiah answered the sons not the mother who asked for this special request. They were seemingly very ignorant of the nature of Christ’s kingdom, which is spiritual, and not of this world: or they would never have asked such a question. They were supposing that His kingdom was as they imagined it to be from their own experience. However in asking for positions of authority, honors and riches, they might not have known the spiritual connotations of what they asked for. The brothers were no doubt promising themselves a future enjoying great pleasures and happiness, and were not even thinking that they may encounter unexpected trials, troubles and testings.
Messiah suggests to these disciples, that instead of indulging their ambitious desires of worldly grandeur, that they would do well to consider what a bitter cup He had to drink and what a sea of sorrows and sufferings He was about to be plunged into. And furthermore, whether they could think of enduring anything equal to it, for His sake; which was most likely to be in a short time, and what they would be called to endure. It was not going to be to honor, relaxing in luxury and pleasure before they entered the everlasting kingdom of His glory.
They were thinking that it would be with a special honor and a wonderful life should their request be granted, where in fact the truth was it would require much suffering and trial on their part.
In Mark 10:38,39. Our Savior gently reproves them for their ill advised request, and again reminds them, that He must first suffer, before entering into His glory, and that by much tribulation they also must enter into the kingdom of God. This was to inform them that suffering and hard trials were more in line with reality than their present thoughts of sitting at His right and left hand.
It is clear in Romans 8:17
for we must suffer with him, if we will be glorified together.
How ready are we to ask for things which we really have no clue about; and are we confused about our role and the path we should take?
There are times in our spiritual life when there is confusion and the way out of it is not simply to say that we shouldn’t be confused. It is not a matter of right and wrong but a matter of our Heavenly Fathers Holy Spirit taking us through a Way that for the present moment, we temporarily don’t understand.
It’s only by going through this spiritual confusion that we will come to understand of what God wants for us. In Luke 11:5-8 Yeshua/Jesus gave the example of a man who appears to not care for his friend. He was saying that sometimes this is how we perceive that the Father seems to be with us.
We will mistakenly think He is a unkind friend however we need to remember that the truth is He is NOT an unkind friend.
That time will come when all will be clear and everything will be explained. It can seem as if there is a cloud on the friendship relationship of the heart however, even love itself often has to painfully wait with tears for the blessing of a deeper fellowship and oneness.
When our Heavenly Father seems to be completely hidden and far from us, will we hold fast by keeping intact our confidence in Him?
In Luke 11:11 – 13He said that there are times when our Heavenly Father may seem like He is an unnatural and unloving father as if He is callous and indifferent.
However nothing could be further from the truth, and we are to remember that He is not …He is love; although it is not the selfish human emotion we call love, His love is of a totally different caliber and includes chastening and correction to keep us on course.
Luke 11:10 everyone who asks receives.
If all we see is a shadow on His face at this moment, we must hold fast to the Truth that He will ultimately give us clear understanding, and He’ll fully justify Himself in everything that He has allowed into our lives.
Luke 18:1 –8 when the son of man comes will he really find faith on the Earth? Will be find the kind of faith that counts on Him In spite of all the confusion?
Stand firm in faith, believing that what Jesus/Yeshua said is the truth, although in the meantime we may not fully understand what He is doing. There are bigger issues at stake than the personal things we are asking of Him right now.
Confusion and every unsure feeling is from the adversary; it’s an enemy of peace, clarity and truth.
Confusion is the dust raised by the feet of the devil and is designed by that subtle calculator, to cloud our vision and blind our eyes to the good that the Father has placed directly in our path; and if we continue in faith, which is the direct opposite of fear, we will surely find that path.
His Word guides us, it is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path Psalms 119:105
Yeshua/Jesus is the Word made flesh and His Spirit will always guide us as He is
the Way the Truth and the life.
John 14:6
Paul said
Not that I have already attained or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Phil. 3:12
We must never waver once we have clear guidance from the Holy Spirit of the Living God. If we set out to do what He has given us the instructions to do and sudden fear grips our hearts; know that it is a device of the enemy. Our Heavenly Father is NOT the author of fear but of courage and a settled sound mind. 2Tim. 1:7.
We should remember that fear is a spiritual force and we cannot fight a spiritual battle with carnal weapons, fleshly feelings and emotions or natural strength are not going to win the victory for us. The enemy will try to force us forward with pressure from many side. Our Fathers Holy Spirit always leads us, He never pushes us with anxious pressure.
Just as faith imparted to us by the Spirit of our Heavenly Father is a spiritual force, we have all been given the measure of faith according to Romans 12:3.
God has given to each a “measure of faith”.
This spiritual force is given to us to use for Him. This “faith” is the gift from which all the other gifts flow. This is what we apply when we speak out His word, knowing the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. The spiritual armor He provides is for our protection and to defend against the enemies attacks.
When our thoughts, decisions and actions do not line up with the Word of God then confusion with ensue. The way to combat that is to keep essential communication between ourselves and the Father. Only when that channel remains completely open can we hear and obey and fulfill His purposes. We must resist every hindrance, especially in our thought life, we are to Humble ourselves before the Lord Resist the devil and he will flee. James 4:9.
Truly we must humble ourselves continually, not trying to work things out in our own way and strength. The deepest part of our being must be yielded to our Father. When we do this, we give Him full control of our lives and all our energies are focused on Him and not on ourselves.
God is not the author of confusion but of peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33.
There are times that we are tempted to measure ourselves against others, their lives, situations, etc., and maybe ask their advice without first asking our Heavenly Father and that can further our confusion. People may be used to confirm what we already know and have a witness about.
We are to be considerate and tolerant of others at what ever state of spiritual development they may be, but we are not to set our standards by theirs or take advice unless specifically guided by the Holy Spirit to do so.
True peace in Hebrew is shalom, it is harmony with His Spirit of Holiness and is a safeguard when we are making decisions.
Col 3:15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].
It is from the Greek word brabeuo, which in ancient times was used to describe the umpire or referee who moderated and judged the athletic competitions that were so popular in the ancient world. Paul uses this word to tell us that the peace of God can work like an umpire or referee in our hearts, minds, and emotions.
Phil 4:7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends allunderstanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. John 14:27
The Hebrew word for peace, shalom (שׁלום) is derived from a root denoting wholeness or completeness, and its frame of reference throughout Jewish literature is bound up with the notion of shelemut, perfection.
YHWH Shalom means God who is peace, wholeness, completeness, nothing broken and nothing left out.Judges 6:24
(‘settled quietness and composure of mind ‘means, the fullness of the word for peace which is ‘Shalom’ which is ‘full, total and complete wholeness for the human spirit, soul (mind will emotions), and body.
In the Bible, the word shalom is most commonly used to refer to a state of affairs, one of well-being, tranquility, prosperity, and security, circumstances unblemished by any sort of defect. Shalom is a blessing, a manifestation of divine grace.
It implies wholeness, completeness, and well-being in all aspects of life, health, safety, harmony, and prosperity and harmony with God, self, and others.
This is the shalom/peace He leaves with us John 14:27 and in this peace, this shalom, there is no confusion. This is what we must wait for before we do anything. If there is any tiny, slightest doubt…then wait, until there is complete deep settled peace/shalom.
Is. 55:12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap.
And by waiting with patience until we have that place of true peace/shalom, this is our faith in operation.
This is how He leads us with no spiritual confusion.
Shalom mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
It’s all about Life and Relationship,
NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
In Proverbs there are many helpful instructions for believers covering almost every area of our lives. It is a perfect daily reading for every month with 31 chapters! It is often called the book of wisdom being written mostly by Solomon who was known as the wisest man who ever lived. 1Kings 4:29-34.
In 1Kings 10 we are told that the queen of the south/Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon because of his reputation; and so did many others from far and wide.
He had insights from the Lord because wisdom is what he asked for in relation to being able to rule Gods people with righteous judgments. 1Kings 3:1-15.
There is a scripture in Proverbs 27:6 which says
Faithful are the wounds of a friend but deceitful are the kisses of the enemy.
What are these wounds?
It takes grace to give Godly correction; and it takes greater grace to receive it. Unlike David, in 2 Samuel 12 who accepted Nathan’s correction and humbled himself when confronted with his issues, many people will not.
Wounds of a friend– Pats’ai‘ohav פצעי אוהב
Proverbs 27:6: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of the enemy.”
Today, with life’s unending difficulties and pitfalls, it causes many to be stressed out, and at times wondering when it will all stop. We should remember that Paul encouraged us all that without patience and faith, it is impossible to please God? Hebrews 11:6.
If we ‘know’ something, then clearly we don’t need faith to believe and wait for an answer. Faith is needed when we don’t understand what is happening to us or our loved ones, when there seems no rhyme or reason for the problems; or when there seems to be one thing after another piled on top of each other with no space to even come up for air. We can always look and find there are those worse off than wherever our situation is. Natural disasters that are happening worldwide, are leaving devastation and causing chaos for thousands, many with little hope of assistance or recovery. We often use our idiom of, ‘it never rains but it pours.’
These are the crises times when we need strong faith in our Heavenly Fathers ability to intervene and come to our aid and rescue us.
Maybe we can handle one, maybe two trials but when these hard testings come one right after the other, there is a choice to either begin to curse God or to hold tighter onto Him. Job being the prime example.
Strong faith is built up over time, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word. Romans 10:17. We must have His Word planted deep within our very being. Just as muscles are built up by hard, tough exercise, we must exercise and strengthen our faith muscles long before we find ourselves in any crisis.
In the Hebrew text of Proverbs 27:6
At the beginning of the verse there is an interesting word, amen or faithful. So it reads:Faithful or amen are the wounds of a friend.
נֶ֭אֱמָנִים
Proverbs 27:6 HEB:נֶ֭אֱמָנִים פִּצְעֵ֣י אוֹהֵ֑ב NAS:Faithful are the wounds of a friend, KJV:Faithful [are] the wounds of a friend; INT:Faithful are the wounds of a friend
[אָמַן] verb confirm, support
aman: to confirm, support
Original Word: אָמַן Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: aman Phonetic Spelling: aw-man’ Definition:to confirm, support
We are more used to hearing amen spoken out to indicate that we are in agreement or so be it. It is very similar to aman = support or confirm, with only the vowel different.
It is more usual for us to read that commentators interpret this proverb as saying that, the helpful, truthful, honest comments and advice that come from a friend can sometimes hurt and wound our feelings even when they are true.
It may be advice on dress code, personal hygiene or other habits that are antisocial; and even comments concerning our spiritual wellbeing or sinful, unacceptable behavior. These friendly bits of advice are much preferred from one who loves us, than from someone who just agrees with us just to please us.
In reality the essence of this verse is, that even through all the difficulties being faced, we hear the words that our hope and trust are in our Heavenly Father. Jesus/Yeshua said He will never leave nor forsake us, especially in the midst of these troubles; this indicates the individual is remaining amen or faithful to God.
In declaring our faith in His ability to sustain us and be with us through every situation, test and trial, we bring joy to our Heavenly Fathers heart.
The word for faithful or amen has the idea of:
supporting, true, staying, and faithful.
To be faithful to God means:
that we are staying with Him no matter what.
God can deliver us from the fiery furnace, but if He doesn’t, let it be known that we will still be faithful to Him. Daniel 3:18-28.
This verse in Proverbs tells us something about the nature of faithfulness.Faithful are the wounds of a friend.
Original Word: פָצַע Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: patsa Phonetic Spelling: paw-tsah’ Definition: to bruise, wound by bruising
Word Origin a prim. root emasculated* (1), one (1), wounded (1), wounding* (1).
To be emasculated is what happens to a eunuch
A eunuch is one who voluntarily goes under the knife.
The Hebrew word rendered as friend here is an unusual word to use for friend. It is the word ahav, aheb or oheb which is the word for love. Some examples in scripture where this word is used are below.
Recall letters v and b are interchangeable in Hebrew and the vowels a,e,i,o,u, are added for pronunciation as there are only consonants in the Hebrew alefbet.
Original Word: אָהַב Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: aheb Phonetic Spelling: aw-hab’ Definition:to love
This is in a ‘construct form’ in the Hebrew language and its sentence construction: link below
https://biblehub.com/hebrewparse.htm
and would be rendered as:
the loving one.
So we could read this as:
the loving one who voluntarily allows himself to be injured.
Does this description remind us of someone?
Let’s be quite honest, none of us would willingly volunteer to go into a time of trouble unless we are helping someone we love. If it were possible, many parents would willingly volunteer to take on their child’s illness or sickness, if it would heal them and prevent their suffering. There are many wartime testimonies of soldiers who have voluntarily laid down their lives for the sake of their friends, their brothers and sisters in arms. Stories of bravery, courage and self sacrifice are seemingly more common in times of life threatening crises for family and loved ones. Is it possible that this verse in Proverbs is making a reference to something even deeper in a subtle way? It may be a bit of a stretch, however we saw that we could read this as:
the loving one who voluntarily allows himself to be injured.
We know for certain that in the eternal plan of the ages, our Heavenly Father sent His son Yeshua/Jesus into this world. He did have to come to earth to be wounded and to die and He did this as a voluntarily act for our sake out of pure love. We are no doubt all familiar withJohn 3:16.
Is it possible that this 6th verse in Proverbs 27 is revealing something about Messiah’s death on calvary’s tree that we may not have thought of or even considered? We know from scripture and all the prophetic declarations throughout the TaNaKH that there are many reasons why Yeshua/Jesus had to suffer and die on the cross. However, here is one more reason, revealed in this verse and that was that He wanted to declare theamen or the faithfulnessof His love. He became: the loving one who voluntarily allows Himself to be injured.
He is also showing us and teaching us, that He used His time of crisis in a positive way; as an opportunity to show His faithfulness to us. Surely we shouldn’t offer Him anything less, even though we may get wounded in the process? But that wound is just a way to show our love to God. He told His disciples in John 15:15, I no longer callyouservants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called youfriends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. If we are His disciples then we too are His friends and He is our friend. Faithful are the wounds of a friend.
This week is the moed of Sukkot; links below for detailed posts on this wonderful 7th Appointed Time of our Heavenly Father. Our Season of Rejoicing!
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
What does water have to do with affliction? 
That time will come when all will be clear and everything will be explained. It can seem as if there is a cloud on the friendship relationship of the heart however, even love itself often has to painfully wait with tears for the blessing of a deeper fellowship and oneness. 
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