Is Israels prophetic future contained in a single word?
Hosea 1:11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great [shall be] the day of Jezreel.
Jezreel is a compound word and as noted meaning: zara’ – seed, el – God, seed of God; this is a prophecy of the future of Israel/Yisrael, when they will all be united after being scattered throughout the world. In 70 AD this scattering happened when Jerusalem fell to the Romans and it occurred about 800 years after this prophecy was given. Today we are over 2,000 years forward and counting, looking for the future reuniting of Israel, as the scripture clearly points toward.
There are some who consider 1948 as the fulfillment of this prophecy.
There are also many commentators who say that the name Jezreel is given to Israel to indicate the reuniting of the faith.
Jewish commentators however take a different view on this point, they see this idea of the seed of God – Jezreel, as being after the time of the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
After that when they were scattered throughout the world, so also was the planting of the seed of knowledge of God into every nation and people.
Even a surface study searching the many religions which have emerged over the last 2,000+ years, have within their concepts, doctrines and dogmas some indications of Hebraic/Jewish teaching; including that of Native Americans who have symbols and teachings which reflect that of Judaism.
There is a famous quote from Rabbi S. Hirsch which says: “Many ideals of duty and loving kindness, the search for truth and the quest for right, and even the invocation of God, became ideals which were gleaned by other faiths from the Law of the Teachings of Judaism and spread through the nations.”We have to admit that this is very true.
Both the two major religions in the world have their roots solidly in the Hebrew faith/ Judaism. In the first century after Messiah was risen marked the start of the messianic faith in Yeshua haMashiach; first to the Israelites/Jewish believers who were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:26.
The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. The Jews called them “Nazarenes” Acts 24:5, or “Galileans” Acts 2:7. They called themselves “disciples” Acts 6:1, “brethren” Acts 6:3, etc.
The term ‘Christian’ was initially used by outsiders to describe the followers of Christ, possibly as a term of derision. However, it became a badge of honor for believers, signifying their identity in Christ. This designation marked a significant moment in church history, as it distinguished the followers of Jesus/Yeshua from other Jewish sects. The use of the term in Antioch, a city known for its cultural diversity, highlights the universal nature of the Gospel message.
Later in the eighth century, Islam/Muslim was established making it only a religion approximately 600 years younger than Christianity. The fact that Messiah was prophesied to come in Genesis, makes the Hebrew roots of our belief in that very Messiah, as old as the beginning of the Hebrew Bible some 5000+ years ago.
Buddhism is about 2,500 years old, while Christianity is about 2,000 years old. Buddhism is much older than Christianity as we know it, with its origins dating back to the 6th century BC. A number of major religions seem to have all gotten their start, in different places around the globe, at roughly the same time in the 6th century BC.
As the chart indicates, among the very oldest religions are Hinduism, Judaism, and (possibly) Zoroastrianism. The roots of Hinduism stretch back at least to India’s Vedic era, and perhaps even further back, into pre-Vedic times (2000 BC, or earlier). The roots of Judaism stretch back to the time of the patriarch Abraham, traditionally dated at around 1800 BC. However we know that our Bible/Torah/TaNaKH stretches back before Abraham all the way to Adam. Which according to Hebrew calendar we are now in the year 5785.
Religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism adopted many of the teachings of Judaism into their religion.
Hosea’s prophecy has become a reality, in as much as the Jews have become Jezreel, they are the planters of the seed of knowledge of the One True God. It is a seed that is meant to grow and even if other religions have veered off on their own teachings and ideas …there is a seed back there in their beginnings.
For years, countless faithful missionaries have been watering that seed of the knowledge of the One True Living God, which the Fathers Holy Spirit can use to bring and individual to the true knowledge of Jehovah/YHVH; and His love and purpose for mankind.
1Cor. 3:6-8 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
The Israelites/Hebrew/Jewish people are called the chosen people, not because they were created special, as compared to or better than everyone else. They were chosen to keep the true knowledge of YHVH and His love, the purity of the desire and will of our Heavenly Father to share with the nations.
The Abrahamic Covenant, as mentioned earlier, is pivotal, establishing the Israelites as YHVH’s chosen people and promising land, descendants, and blessing. Genesis 15, 17.
Our expressions of the love we have for the YHVH God of Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Yeshua, John, Peter and Paul and everyone in between and since, and the love that He has for us. Plus our desire and longing for closeness with our loving Heavenly Father is the result of Jezreel, the seed of our Heavenly Father that has been planted by His chosen people. As Christians/messianic believers in Yeshua haMashich, we owe a huge debt to Jezreel and the efforts and sacrifices made by His chosen people throughout history in order to preserve this knowledge.
There are many instances of such sacrifices, one we are familiar with is that had it not been for Esther, the Jewish faith would have died out and the knowledge of YHVH/Jehovah would have been lost. Another is, if not for the Maccabees the knowledge of YHVH/Jehovah would have been lost to the world. Next time Hanukkah comes around we should remember, if not for Hanukkah there would be no ‘Christmas’.
The Israelites/Jewish people have been faithful in their calling as the chosen people to keep the knowledge of YHVH pure and alive, and today Israel stands as a guiding light to that knowledge.
Yet so much of the world seems to hate Israel, could it be that it’s because to love Israel means you love their God and what He stands for? They are still Jezreel, the seed of God and because of the planting of that seed Messianic Christianity will continue to grow.
Zechariah 8:23: “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days [it shall come to pass], that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard [that] God [is] with you.”
This word, seed is familiar to us in possibly the most well known teaching by Messiah recorded in Mark 4. It is interesting to look at what, how and why seeds have periods of dormancy, which is multifaceted with many causes which differ from species to species. The oldest seed recorded was dormant for over 2,000 years.
Some seeds only come alive after fire has freed them from their outer coatings. All the seeds of the Word of God planted throughout the world via early Judaism, and later by missionaries; faced many of the same challenges as that of plant seeds.
We should not be amazed by how our Heavenly Father uses His creation in the physical world, to mirror spiritual truths, which will bring wisdom and understanding into our lives. There is no one like our Creator Father God, and if we stay alert and receptive to His teaching, He will reveal many things to us as we pay attention to the natural world around us; and by keeping our eyes in Israel.
Hosea 2:22: “And the earth shall hear the corn and the wine, and the oil and they shall hear Jezreel.” The heart of our Heavenly Father is so beautifully expressed in the book of Hosea.
The picture we are given is of Hosea who was told to marry an unfaithful woman, however he loved her and longed for her to return to him; not just to fulfill her duties as a wife and mother, but to return to a love relationship. The reason God called Hosea to marry this unfaithful woman having put a deep love in his heart for her, was so that he could prophesy of His love for us.
Sadly it is true to say that we often give our heart to the Lord and then spend our time running after other gods, such as money, careers or earthly pleasures. We become like Hosea’s wife in our relationship to our Heavenly Father. In this book we can see the deep love of God, which is expressed by the longing and desire for His people to return to Him and not just to call Him baali’ = my master, but to call Him ishi = my husband.
In the midst of this declaration of love where God speaks of betrothing us to Him again as a young love, He starts to talk of the earth hearing the corn and the wine and oil and then hearing from Jezreel.
It seems quite strange to the reader that in the midst of declaring His love He starts to talk about farming.
The word used in the Hebrew for
hear is tanah
which has the idea of:
recounting, telling again.
There is a double meaning in this as well as a wonderful poetic expression.
The first meaning is a reference to the corn, which is a symbol of prosperity.
He then speaks of the wine, which is often a symbol of joy.
When he speaks of the oil, he uses a unique Hebrew word for oil, which is yashar; meaning: a pure, shinning oil. It is an anointing oil, not the same as the olive oil used in ceremonies but a pure oil used to anoint a wound.
Here Adonai shows us that by our unfaithfulness, His heart has been deeply wounded; however, He is not only saying that He will restore us to our former position with Him, and to restore our joy and prosperity in Him, but He will also bring healing to us. Because in this relationship, we also suffer a wounded heart for our sinful ways when we stray away from our Heavenly Father; and because of Who He is, He is thinking of the hurt we feel when we have been wounded, rather than that of His own hurt, in that we have rejected Him.
By looking at Hosea we can see this picture, Hosea has been deeply hurt by his wife’s unfaithfulness, he has a broken heart and yet as he says these words to express the heart of God, he is also expressing his own heart toward his wife and is thinking only of the hurt she must have experienced and is longing to heal that hurt. Rather than the pain and heartbreak he felt himself.
Then God says that we will hear Jezreel.
Seed of YHVH/God/El
As we have seen, Jezreel in the Hebrew means God sows,
and it is related to the verb
zara’ (to scatter seed)
and the word el (God)
Related names through the word זרע (zara’):
Nazarene, Nazareth, Zerubbabel
And the name Jezreel consists of two elements,
the second one being אל (El),
אל אלה
In names אל (‘el) usually refers to אלהים (‘elohim), that is Elohim, or God, also known as אלה (‘eloah).
In English, the words ‘God’ and ‘god’ exclusively refer to the deity but in Hebrew the words אל (‘l) and אלה (‘lh) are far more common and may express
approach and negation,
acts of wailing and pointing,
and may even mean oak or terebinth.
The first part of the name is an active form of the
verb זרע (zara’) means:
to scatter seed or to sow
but may even describe merely extending one’s arm or even a leg and ultimately signify the bearing of fruit or even children, here referred to as one’s seed.
Nouns זרע (zera’) and זרוע (zerua’) mean: a sowing or that which is sown, and may refer to: seed, sperm, one child, offspring, posterity, family or a whole community.
Nouns זרע (zeroa’) and זרען (zer’on) specifically denote vegetables.
And noun מזרע(mizra’) literally means: a place or agent of sowing.
Nouns זרוע (zeroa’) or זרע (zeroa’) or אזרוע (‘ezroa’) mean: arm but are mostly used to figuratively to denote the seat of strength of a person or a nation or even of God.
זרה
Noun זרה (zara) also means: to scatter but where זרע (zara’) scatters seed to bear fruit, זרה (zara) scatters chaff and debris. It means: to winnow.
Noun מזרה (mizreh), describes place or agent of scattering, which in this case denotes a winnowing fork.
For a meaning of the name Jezreel, in the NOBSE Study Bible the name list reads: God Sows and
BDB Theological Dictionary has: God Soweth.
Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names proposes: He Will Be Sown Of God, and explains it with: “i.e. have a numerous progeny”
There are two towns and two men named
Jezreel in the Bible.
The men named Jezreel are:
One of the “sons” of Etam of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:3).
The symbolically named son of the prophet Hosea and Gomer, although he appears to be named after Jezreel of Issachar (Hosea 1:4).
The towns named Jezreel are:
A town in a valley in the hill country of the territory originally assigned to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:56), but which later came to be situated in the territory of Ephraim (Joshua 17:16). This is possibly also the birthplace of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess (יזרעאלית), who became the wife of king David (1 Samuel 25:43) and the mother of Amnon and Tamar (2 Samuel 3:2). But she might also have come from Jezreel of Issachar. It’s unclear.
A town in the territory of Issachar, which was located in the north of Israel, close to the Sea of Galilee. (Joshua 19:18).
A town of Issachar Joshua 19:18 , where the kings of Israel often resided, 1 Kings 18:45; 21:1; 2 Kings 9:30. Here Elijah met Ahab, Jehu, and Bidkar; and here Jehu executed his dreadful commission against the house of Ahab, 2 Kings 9:14-37 ; 10:1-11. It has been identified with the modern Zerin, on the most western point of the range of Gilboa, reaching down into the great and fertile valley of Jezreel, to which it gave its name.
A town in Judah, Joshua 15:56, to the south-east of Hebron. Ahinoam, one of David’s wives, probably belonged to this place, 1 Samuel 27:3.
A symbolical name given by Hosea to his oldest son, Hosea 1:4, in token of a great slaughter predicted by him, like that which had formerly taken place in the plain of Esdraelon, Hosea 1:4, Hosea 1:5.
Where He is using an farming image to express his desire to restore us is somewhat fitting, but by using the word Jezreel, He is saying that He will be the one to give us our prosperity, joy and healing, no one else, especially not those false gods in the form of our investments, careers, or material possessions that we run after. We will find it all in Him for He will do the planting.
There is however, a secondary meaning here in the use of Jezreel.Jezreel is where Gideon defeated the Midianites, also where Saul defeated the Philistines; and it was in the city of Jezreel that Jehu ordered that Jezebel be thrown out of the window. Jezreel is a picture of victory and deliverance from our enemies, and from idolatry, when we place our hopes and trust in other things and resources. Our Heavenly Father will restore our victory over all these false gods that we chase after, and we will find our joy and complete fulfillment in Him. Note that this passage is not saying this will happen automatically, it is only expressing the heart of our Heavenly Father. When we find ourselves in a weak moment, when we give in to sin, we mess everything up and have to make our way back to Him.
We sometimes think He must really be angry with us, and we expect Him to punish us; and we probably think like that because that’s what we would do in the flesh. However if we can just see a small part of our Heavenly Fathers heart as we read in Hosea chapter 2, we will find that even after our worst mistakes and in whatever backslidden condition we fall, He wishes only to heal our wounds and forever remove those false gods from us. He is longing to restore us to His joy and abundant life in Messiah.
So yes, it would seem that Israels prophetic future and that of all grafted in believers, is contained in a single word…
Jezreel – seed of YHVH/God.
Shalom aleikhem
chaverim and mishpachah!
Peace to friends and family.
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
Not sure ..you can be…
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,
SAY IT 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.
Many times Yeshua/Jesus told His disciples/talmidim to be ready. He is saying the same today to all of us, His warning has not changed. Events around the globe are in constant flux and moving at an alarming pace, quite unprecedented in previous generations. These changes are also reflected in the physical earth and its weather phenomena and also cosmic events taking place in our solar system.
Messiah used parables like the familiar one about the 10 virgins and the wedding feast. He warned of the days of Noah being similar to the acharit ha-yamim אַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים / end days. Although the parables He used may seem unfamiliar to our present generation, the ways of the world, the sin, violence, idolatry and ungodliness are blatantly obvious. These should be a resounding wake up call in our spiritual ears……that we are without a doubt in the acharith ha-yamim.
Strongs #319: אַחֲרִית acharith —
End, latter time, future, outcome, posterity.
Derived from the root אָחַר (achar), meaning:
“to be behind” or “to come after.”
Some 2000+ years on, we are most definitely closer to the summation of all things than they were then. Our redemption is closer now than when we first believed. Romans 13:11-12.
Luke 21:28 informs us that when we
see all these things happening at the same time,
as in events in quick succession,
one after another,
then look up for your redemption draws close.
So are we truly ready for His return?
Whether we are convinced that we are in the last moments of the final hour or not, are we also ready to answer Him when He calls to us?
Personally today may be our last day before we meet Him face to face!
Are we even ready to hear Him calling to us?
Do we give opportunity and time to even listen for His voice?
Our hearts and spirits should be tuned to His Spirit of Holiness at all times, so we can hear and obey.
This readiness is not just a physical posture, but a preparedness of spirit and soul and like Moses in Ex 3:4 who…
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said,
“Here I am.”
and young Samuel also replied quickly to the Lords voice.
God spoke to Samuel for the first time in 1Samuel 3:1–14:
One night, Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of the Covenant. He was woken up by a voice calling him.
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” 1Sam.3:9.
Samuel’s response demonstrated humility and readiness to serve, qualities essential for a prophet. It is also noteworthy that he was sleeping near the ark of the covenant. Such a close proximity to the ark was usually forbidden to all but the High Priest when He entered the inner sanctuary holy of holies on one day a year, Yom Kippur.
Among others, these two examples are models for our own response to our Father’s call. We should be ready and willing to serve when He speaks to us. This is absolutely the readiness our Heavenly Father wants from us.
However when our Father speaks, when Messiah calls and His Spirit of Holiness prompts us; many of us are like people in a fog, and we give no answer because our spiritual senses have become dull and insensitive. Both Moses and Samuel’s reply revealed that:
they knew where they were, and, were ready.
In 2Tim 4:2The verse sayspreach the word be ready in season and out of season.
Because the season does not refer to time it refers to us, many of us suffer from the unbalanced tendency to be ready only out of season.
In other words we should be ready whether we feel like it or not. If we do only what we feel inclined to do some of us would never do anything at all; and because of this there are some people who are totally unemployable in the spiritual realm. They have become spiritually feeble and weak and refuse to do anything unless they are supernaturally inspired.
The proof that our relationship is right with our Heavenly Father is that we do our best whether we feel inspired or not.
One of the worst traps a believer in Messiah/christian worker or minister can fall into is, to become obsessed with their own exceptional moments of inspiration. When the spirit of God gives us a time of inspiration and insight we tend to say. ‘Now that I’ve experienced this amazing time my life will always be like this for God.’ Sadly that is not what will happen because our Heavenly Father will make sure of it. We are not able to give those times to ourselves when we choose to, as those times are entirely His gift to us and we can’t make them happen by ourselves.
If we say we’ll only be at our best as we were during those exceptional times, we actually become a kind of burden on Him; and consequently we’ll never do anything unless our Heavenly Father keeps us consciously aware of His inspiration to us at all times. If we make a god out of our best moments, we’ll find that the presence of the Lord will fade out of our lives; never to return until we are obedient in the work He has placed closest to us. We will find that this will remain so until we have learned not to be obsessed with those exceptional moments He has given us in the past.
Readiness means, having a right relationship with our Heavenly Father and with Messiah; and having knowledge of where we truly are spiritually. Not where we think we are, or would like to be; or where we would like to go, be and do. It is the individual who is ready for the Lords call and the work He has for each of us, that receives the blessing when He calls.
Sometimes we are also guilty of wanting and thinking that some great opportunity will come our way, and if and when it does, then we are quick to respond saying, ‘Here I am’. We mistakenly think that some great task given by Messiah and His Father is worthy of our response; yet we are not ready for what we deem as the insignificant, menial duties of an obscure and simple task.
Our response to the Lord means that we are willing and prepared to do both the largest and the smallest things He asks of us, and to us it makes no difference which of them it is. This means ultimately we have no choice in what we want to do, but that whatever our Heavenly Father’s plans are – we are there and ready.
It’s our duty, just as it was for Yeshua/Jesus, that whenever the Lord calls, we hear His voice just as Yeshua/Jesus did, and we are ready with our total commitment because of our love for Him.
Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. John 5:19.
None of this should be a hardship considering He is the only one who would die for us. Messiah expects to be able to do with us, just as His Father did with Him, whether it’s what we consider pleasant or menial tasks; because our union with His Father is the same as His union with His Father – we are one.John 17:22.
Our life is not our own
and
we should stop living like it is.
Our life has been bought with a price –
the precious Blood of Messiah.
1Cor. 6:19-20.
We should be ready for surprise visits of the Father, because a ready person never needs to get ready… they are ready…and we won’t have time to get ready after the call, or we will miss the day of our visitation.
Bedressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes;
Luke 12:35-38 & Matthew 25:1-13.
Moses turned aside from what he was doing and went towards the burning bush, and then he was enveloped with the Fathers presence. For us, it is a picture symbolizing everything that surrounds the person who is ready and willing; one who has made a choice to turn towards the Father and His Messiah, one who is on fire with the presence of the Lord God Himself. Let’s continue to encourage each other to keep watch and be ready……..
Shalom aleikhem
chaverim and mishpachah!
Peace to friends and family.
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
Not sure ..you can be…
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,
SAY IT 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.
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine Transliteration:cela` Pronunciation:seh’-lah Phonetic Spelling:seh’-lah Definition:Rock, cliff Meaning:a craggy rock from an unused root meaning to be lofty; a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress) — (ragged) rock, stone(-ny), strong hold.
Corresponding Greek:– G4073 (πέτρα, petra):Often used in the New Testament to describe a large rock or bedrock, similar to “sela” in its metaphorical use for strength and stability.
The Hebrew word “sela” primarily refers to a rock or cliff, often used to describe a large, immovable mass of stone. It conveys the idea of strength, stability, and permanence. In the biblical context, “sela” is frequently used metaphorically to describe God as a refuge and source of protection for His people.In the ancient Near East, rocks and cliffs were significant geographical features that provided natural fortresses and places of refuge. They were often associated with safety and security, especially in the arid and mountainous regions of Israel. The imagery of God as a “rock” would have resonated deeply with the Israelites, who understood the protective and enduring nature of such formations.
It is a fortress built literally into a rock. The place called Petra is the same word as the Greek word πέτραl, and it is the best example of a sela’.
In the 4th Century BC it was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom. It’s a historic and archaeological city in southern Jordan and has been a location used in modern times by several film-makers.
This city was carved out of a stone mountain and the inhabitants were able to successfully defend themselves against enemy attacks by taking advantage of the mountainous terrain in that area.
In ancient times those under threat of an enemy army would run for the safety they found in the mountains. Whoever made it to the highest ground often had the best defensive position.
No doubt that is where we get the familiar saying; “It’s time to head for the hills.”
As believers in Messiah Jesus Christ/Yeshua haMashiach we are in a war, it is a spiritual war against evil led by the enemy of our souls. The sure way we defeat the enemy is to go to The Rock.
The Rock of our salvation/deliverance.
The Rock of Ages.
The Hebrew word sela’forrockused in this verse really means thecleft of the rock.
The term “cleft of the rock” appears in the Bible as a significant symbol of
divine protection,
refuge,
and revelation.
The cleft is an opening or a split in the mountain, which is the safest place to hide when pursued by the enemy in early times. it’s difficult sometimes to be in the cleft of the rock where our Heavenly Father has placed us, but that’s the best place to be, because it’s the center of His will for our lives.
Last post we learned that a Hebrew word for
fortress is matsud/matsuwd,
which has its origins in the word for:
a prey and
one that is hunted or being chased.
4686
matsuwd: Fortress, stronghold, net, bulwark
Original Word: מָצוּד Part of Speech: Noun Feminine Transliteration:matsuwd Pronunciation:maw-tsood’ Phonetic Spelling:maw-tsood’ Definition:Fortress, stronghold, net, bulwark Meaning:a net, capture, a fastness. From the root verb צוּד (tsuwd), meaning “to hunt” or “to lie in wait.”
The word eventually took on the idea of a fortress
for the one being chased will seek a sela’ or a fortress.
So the Lord is a sela’ for the matsud meaning:
The Lord is the fortress
in the cleft of the rock
for those being pursued or hunted.
The word sela’ is a word play on the Hebrew word selah which means: to rise up. In ancient times the army which achieved the higher ground was the army that could not be defeated. As we go to war against the enemy, we need to:
rise up and take shelter in the cleft of the rock,
which is the heart of our heavenly Father.
The safest place to be is in the center of His will and that is His heart.
Then finally Adonai is the Deliverer.
The one being hunted or pursued not only finds Adonai to be
a fortress in the cleft of the rock or sela’
but He will also deliver us from those that are pursuing us.
The Hebrew word deliverer is palat,
which is a word that is used for:
one who helps another person escape from a prison.
6403 palat
Original Word: פָלַט Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: palat Pronunciation:pah-LAHT Phonetic Spelling:paw-lat’ Definition: To deliver, to rescue, to escape Meaning: to slip out, escape, to deliver
palat — To deliver, to rescue, to escape. The Hebrew verb “palat” primarily conveys the action of delivering or rescuing someone from danger or distress. It is often used in contexts where divine intervention is implied, highlighting God’s role as a deliverer.
The term can also refer to the act of escaping from a perilous situation, emphasizing the successful evasion of harm.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, the concept of deliverance was deeply intertwined with the belief in divine protection and intervention. The Israelites often found themselves in situations where they needed deliverance, whether from physical enemies, natural disasters, or spiritual oppression. The use of “palat” in the Hebrew Bible reflects a worldview where God is seen as a powerful and active deliverer, capable of saving His people from any threat.
Our Heavenly Father not only hides us in the
‘cleft of the rock’,
but when the danger is passed,
He will lead us out of that secure place into a place of safety.
‘Rock of Ages‘ is a well known hymn by Rev. A. M. Toplady.
Another hymn about the cleft of the rock was written by Fanny Crosby. She was blind from the age of 7 and without doubt faced fears that we who have our sight will never understand; and yet between 1820-1915 she wrote 3194 hymns and over 8,000 inspirational poems. Probably the best known include ‘Blessed Assurance’,
‘Tell me the story of Jesus’
and the one that reflects this post:
‘He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock’.
Many people struggle with fears of various things, some may seem unreasonable, but nevertheless they are fears.
To overcome those fears we too can find safety in the sela’, the cleft of the rock, where our Heavenly Father eventually palat, led her, as He will with us into a safe place.
It is a possibility that the psalmist wrote the word sela’ because he was making a play on the word selah which means: to rise above.
Selah, (Hebrew סֶלָה), is a short but meaningful term woven into the fabric of the Psalms and Habakkuk. While its exact meaning may encompass: pause, exalt, or lift up, rise above; the overall effect is to draw readers and worshipers into deeper contemplation of our Heavenly Father’s majesty, mercy, and mighty acts.
When our Heavenly Father palat’s us, or delivers us,
we too will selah – rise above all our troubles and be at peace/shalom,
as we keep our mind focused on Him.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.
We can be certain of this because Yeshua is the Rock of our salvation, and the phrase occurs several times in the Old Testament. TaNaKH – Deuteronomy 32:15; 2 Samuel 22:47; Psalm 89:26; 95:1.
The term “The Rock of our Salvation” is a profound biblical metaphor that signifies
the strength,
stability,
and reliability
of our Heavenly Father,
as the foundation of faith and deliverance for His people.
Ps 62:2. God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe and the fortress where I am secure. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my high tower; I shall not be greatly moved. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress; I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor rest on God, my strong rock; my refuge is in God.”
In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul refers to Christ as the spiritual rock that accompanied the Israelites:“And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that Rock was Christ.”
The depiction of our Heavenly Father as the Rock of Salvation, carries significant spiritual implications. It highlights His immutability and faithfulness, assuring all believers of His constant presence and support; and particularly in reference to the Israelites journey through the wilderness and ours through this life. He is always with us and this metaphor also emphasizes His role as a protector and deliverer, offering salvation and refuge to those who trust in Him.
Furthermore, the identification of Messiah as the spiritual rock in the New Testament/Brit Chadashah, highlights the continuity of our Heavenly Fathers ongoing work of salvation from the Old Testament to the New. It affirms the belief that Yeshua/Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Fathers promise of salvation, providing a firm foundation for the faith of believers.
He indeed is the rock of ages and the idea that He is, simply means that,
He is stedfast and true,
unmoving, unyielding,
and He does not change.
Hebrews 13:8 affirms,
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The expression
cleft of the rock,
is found in
Exodus 33:22.
Whenmyglorypassesby, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.
The word sela’ is a word play on the word
selah which means:
to rise up.
In ancient times the army which achieved the higher ground was the army that could not be defeated. As we continue to fight the good fight of faith against the enemy, we need
to rise up and
take shelter in the cleft of the rock
which is our Fathers’ heart
and is most assuredly
the safest place to be!
Shalom, 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.
The Psalms are some of the most popular chapters in the Bible. Many will turn to them in stressful times for comfort, encouragement and direction; and Psalm 18 is no exception. In verse 2 David writes that…
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my strength in whom I will trust.” Psalms 18:2:
He wrote this Psalm after he had been delivered from Saul by the Lords intervention. Finding himself caught in a situation where he could neither retreat, nor could he move to his left or right, and standing still was not an option; so moving forward was the only way, right towards the enemy. It’s not just David that experiences that kind of situation because when a believer seeks to deepen his or her relationship with the Lord, the enemy will attempt to distract and dissuade any progress with outright attacks. This is what we usually understand as spiritual warfare.
This often happens when we have been energized and filled with the enthusiasm and zeal of the Lord, and the minute we move forward it seems like the target on our back flashes a signal to every negative spirit around. Initially it can make us stop in our tracks and wonder if our decision was a bad one and maybe it would be better to just stay right where we are in that comfort zone.
At this point we are in the same situation as David found himself, we can’t go back, and in going forward we will without doubt run into yet another obstacle or hindrance. This is the moment of faith and trust, and the decision we make will determine not only the way forward, but whether the outcome will be victorious or not. Instead of the flesh winning the fight here, telling us to go to bed and pull the covers over our heads; we must turn to our Heavenly Father just as David did, and in faith declare out loud..
“The Lord is my rock
and my fortress,
and my deliverer,
my God,
my strength in whom I will trust.”
It will change our perspective and build up our faith…
how?
… because
faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
So we need to keep saying it
until we really believe it
and the words have taken root in our hearts and minds.
Our Heavenly Fathers says in
Isaiah 55:11
and like David we will discover that
in such a predicament, our Heavenly Father is our “rock”.
The term is used metaphorically in the Bible to describe:
Adonai’s protection, or the security that is found in Him.
In ancient Israel, fortresses and strongholds were critical for defense against enemies. These structures were often built on elevated terrain, providing a strategic advantage. They were places of refuge during times of war and were essential for the survival of a city or community. The imagery of God as a fortress reflects the cultural understanding of safety and security provided by such structures.
matsuwd: Fortress, stronghold, net, bulwark
Original Word: מָצוּד Part of Speech: Noun Feminine Transliteration:matsuwd Pronunciation: maw-tsood Phonetic Spelling:maw-tsood’) Definition: Fortress, stronghold, net, bulwark Meaning: a net, capture, a fastness. From the root verb צוּד (tsuwd), meaning “to hunt” or “to lie in wait.”
Corresponding GreekG3794 (ochyrōma): A Greek term for fortress or stronghold, used metaphorically in the New Testament, such as in 2 Corinthians 10:4, where it refers to spiritual strongholds.
In the sense of being a captive for ones own safety. When under threat the authorities will often place a prime witness to a crime in custody in a safe house with 24hour protection. Its for their own good but can feel like being imprisoned. Our Heavenly Father provides this same round the clock place of protection for us. It may not be so much in the natural realm but rather in a spiritual sense, where we are temporarily restrained, held captive in His fortress, protected by His Holy Spirit and nothing and no one hurt us.
The Lord’s name is a full strong tower; the righteous run to it, and they shall be safe. Proverbs 18:10
Original Word:פָלַט Part of Speech:Verb Transliteration:palat Pronunciation:pah-LAHT Phonetic Spelling: paw-lat’ Definition:To deliver, to rescue, to escape Meaning: to slip out, escape, to deliver
The Hebrew verb “palat” primarily conveys the action of:
delivering or rescuing someone from danger or distress.
It is often used in contexts where divine intervention is implied, highlighting God’s role as a deliverer. The term can also refer to the act of escaping from a perilous situation, emphasizing the successful evasion of harm.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, the concept of deliverance was deeply intertwined with the belief in divine protection and intervention. The Israelites often found themselves in situations where they needed deliverance, whether from physical enemies, natural disasters, or spiritual oppression. The use of palat in the Hebrew Bible reflects a worldview where:
God is seen as a powerful and active deliverer, capable of saving His people from any threat.
In its Semitic root form, it has the idea of escaping.
For David, this was an ironic situation, and the same can be said for us, we can escape the captivity of the enemy, by being held captive in our Heavenly Fathers provision.
Original Word:צוּר Part of Speech:Noun Masculine Transliteration: tsuwr Pronunciation: tsoor Phonetic Spelling: tsoor Definition: Rock, Cliff, Boulder Meaning: a cliff, a rock, boulder, a refuge, an edge. From the root verb צוּר (tsur), meaning “to confine,” “to bind,” or “to besiege.”
Corresponding Greek– G4073 (petra): Often used in the New Testament to convey similar imagery of strength and stability, as seen in Matthew 16:18, where Yeshua/Jesus refers to Peter as the “rock” upon which He will build His church.
The Hebrew word “tsur” primarily denotes:
a rock or a cliff,
often symbolizing strength, stability, and protection.
In the biblical context, it is frequently used metaphorically to describe God as a reliable refuge and source of salvation. The imagery of God as a rock emphasizes His unchanging nature, dependability, and the security He provides to His people.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, rocks and cliffs were natural fortresses and places of refuge. They provided physical protection against enemies and harsh weather. This cultural understanding is reflected in the biblical usage of tsur as;
a metaphor for God’s protective and steadfast nature.
The Israelites, living in a land with many rocky terrains, would have readily understood the significance of God being their rock.
In Hebrew there are several words that can be used for strength. He begins the verse using rock as a symbol of Adonai and repeats that image again by using the Hebrew word
sur
which means
a rock
however this is
a cutting type rock, a rock used as knife.
The word comes from a Semitic root meaning
to advance forward by cutting your way through like cutting your way through a heavy brush.
For example in the same manner that a machete would be used when a pathway was needed in an overgrown area.
The word sur is spelled
Sade = s,
Vav = a connection, and
Resh = r
and these letters explain that
when we humble (Sade) ourselves and
connect (Vav)
with the Fathers Holy Spirit (Resh)
He will be our cutting tool.
In the last descriptive word, David declares that:
Original Word:מָגֵן Part of Speech:Noun Masculine Transliteration:magen Pronunciation:mah-GEN or meh-gin-NAH Phonetic Spelling: maw-gane’ Definition:Shield Meaning:a shield, a protector, the scaly hide of the crocodile. Derived from the root verb גָּנַן (ganan), meaning:
“to cover” or “to protect.
in Hebrew shield comes from the root word: ganan.
Ganan is a covering.
In reality that is what a shield does:,
it covers the holder as we go forward.
The Hebrew words magen and meginnah primarily denote a shield, a piece of defensive armor used in battle to protect the warrior from enemy attacks.
In a broader sense, these terms are also used metaphorically in the Bible to describe: God’s protection and defense of His people. The shield symbolizes safety, security, and divine protection.
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the shield was an essential part of a soldier’s armor. It was typically made of wood, leather, or metal and was used to deflect arrows, spears, and other weapons. The shield’s importance in warfare made it a powerful symbol of protection and strength. In the biblical context, God is often depicted as a shield to His people, emphasizing His role as a protector and defender against spiritual and physical threats.
And here within the letters of the word itself, we see how to acquire this ganan/shield.
If we take a look at the root word we see it’s spelled
מָגֵן
Gimmel, Nun, Nun.
This combination of letters suggests that:
a person is running or advancing in faith and trust.
It is the same idea as Paul speaks of in Ephesians 6,
the shield of faith as part of the believers spiritual armor,
in other words,
faith is our shield. Our faith in God’s ability strength and power.
Corresponding Greek word– G2375 (θυρεός, thyreos) – A large shield, as used in Ephesians 6:16: “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
There may be a time we don’t want to make that move forward, because of fear, that enemy opposing our faith, may try to grip our hearts; but suddenly as the scripture says, we will hear hear a voice behind us saying… Isaiah 30:21
You will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way. Follow it, whether it turns to the right or to the left.”
We are to move, to take that step of trust,
and we must move in faith and obedience,
because once we move … as
the Gimmel is advancing forward,
then the two Nuns of faith and trust
are supernaturally provided by our Heavenly Father
and we have our
ganan – a shield.
A shield – Ganan – גנן Gimmel Nun Nun
In Judges 6:1-6 there’s an account of Gideon and although he was a military commander, when he was faced with advancing into battle against the Midianites he became terrified to move forward. He was lacking in faith and Adonai provided the faith he needed right at that moment. However in order to receive that faith he had to go into the Midianite camp, he had to make a step forward into the very thing which he feared most; then our Heavenly Father answered him with a sign that strengthened his faith.
The scripture says He has given
the measure of faith to everyone
so our Father has given each of us enough faith to take that first step
and then
supplies what we need as we keep moving forward.
The first step in strengthening our faith is to step forward in the faith that we have, even if its only the size of a grain of mustard seed.
Matthew 17:20 “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Sometimes we are the mountain that has to move….
Shalom, 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
Who, what or where is Jezreel/Yizreel? 
Keep watch and be ready 
and young Samuel also replied quickly to the Lords voice. 
Sometimes we are also guilty of wanting and thinking that some great opportunity will come our way, and if and when it does, then we are quick to respond saying, ‘Here I am’. We mistakenly think that some great task given by Messiah and His Father is worthy of our response; yet we are not ready for what we deem as the insignificant, menial duties of an obscure and simple task.
In the previous post we looked at
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