Category: More Manna

Extra Helpings

Coming Out Of Egypt?

Egypt we know is a type of the world, and all the systems and kingdoms of this world belong to the adversary. We know this because in Luke 4:6 The Devil said to Him, I will give You their splendor and all this authority, because it has been given over to me, and I can give it to anyone I want.

And Yeshua/Jesus did not argue with him and later in John 18:36 Yeshua/Jesus said to him, My Kingdom is not from this world; if my Kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting that I would not have been delivered up to the Judeans

In 2Corinthians 6:17

we are told:

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Do we still have a foothold in both kingdoms?

Are we trying to straddle both at the same time?

What the Hebrew nation were required to do was to leave Egypt behind. The ways of the world were in them and the Egyptian gods had become their gods.

Their culture had become entwined with theirs and developed root systems that were influencing their whole way of life and belief system.

They had been slaves for so long many had forgotten the reason their ancestors had moved to Egypt in the first place. In light of todays world systems and cultures, have we as Messianic believers truly come out of Egypt?

Are we truly delivered from bondage?

After their physical deliverance from Egypt, in order to get Egyptian culture, and the unclean spirits that were behind their culture, out of the Israelites they had to walk away from the source and leave it all behind them.

These desires came from the unclean spirits and were attached to their flesh and to their mindsets. Their flesh screamed when God gave Moses the new instructions and boundaries for living a life based on His ways, clean, holy and set apart to Him. Doesn’t our carnal nature sometimes do the same? Their flesh cried out for what they had left behind!

We are told they longed for the melons, garlic, cucumber and fish.

Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, Who will feed us meat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; Numbers 11:4,5

As we have been looking at the days of Noah, Lot and the end times; recall Lot’s wife who turned back; looking longingly at what she had left behind……….. this is dangerous and can be deadly for believers.

Luke 9:62 records words that were spoken by Yeshua/Jesus, No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.

Jesus/Yeshua was careful to explain that those who considered becoming His disciples would be well advised to first count the cost.  (Lk 4:28) Because there was no going back once one stepped onto His path, and that it was better to have not begun the journey at all rather than to start and then give up.

These were strange examples in Numbers 11 and some scholars have noted that they were more likely references to the freedom of sexual perversions they had enjoyed in the Egyptian culture. It was very much like today, extremely liberal with an ‘anything goes’ mentality, the same as was prevalent in the city of Sodom.

The new instructions were restrictive to their life and behavior, and for the mixed multitude who left Egypt with the Hebrews, it was too narrow and strict; and their appetites and desires lusted after the old ways of promiscuous freedom. Many of the mixed multitude were no doubt those who murmured, complained and influenced others to be discontented. Numbers 11:4-6. The mixed multitude were not of the family of Isaac and Jacob/Israel.

There are many words in Hebrew for lusting.

One is

Strong’s Hebrew: 5689. עָגַב (agab) 

to have inordinate affection

and another is

Strong’s Hebrew: 185. אַוַּת (avvah) — desire 

and comes from the root word Avah, which means lusting after bodily desires, not just food but sexual desires as well; and in this case it was more than likely a reference to forbidden sexual relationships. Sexual vices were acceptable for Egyptians but not under Moses.

Lusting – ה,תאוו

Numbers 11:4-6: And the mixed multitude that [was] among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again,

Numbers 11:4
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ הִתְאַוּ֖וּ תַּאֲוָ֑ה וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ
NAS: were among them had greedy
KJV: that [was] among them fell a lusting: and the children
INT: who were among had greedy again

Strongs 183 avah: to incline, desire, covet, greatly desire, be desirous, long, lust after.

Original Word: אָוָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: avah
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-vaw’)
Definition: to incline, desire

In verse 6 it reads, there is nothing at all,

in Hebrew; Eyn kel bilethi.

Literally means: without any responsibility or law.

This promiscuous freedom and perversion leads to jealousy hatred, extreme selfishness, abuse, crime, and a total disregard for other people. It is the single-most destructive force to the family unit, which is why our Heavenly Father dealt so harshly with these foreigners, because potentially they would destroy the sanctity of the families among the children of Israel. When individuals get pleasure from material things it is mostly by comparing what they have to what their neighbors have. So although they could enjoy every taste they wanted in the manna which was provided, they gained no pleasure from it because everyone had exactly the same.

Today many countries of the world have lifted off all restrictions in lifestyles, to what was once frowned upon and illegal; and not even thought of in Christian circles, let alone allowed.

Acts 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

Leviticus 17:7  And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.’

7 They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols[a] to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come.

The word in 17:7 is se’irm – goat idols,

which many Hebrew scholars identify with the

Egyptian goat deities.

The Egyptians did not make a distinction between lamb, sheep and goats and they were very similar in appearance. Sheep, rams and goats were worshipped in association with the gods/unclean spirits/demonic entities, named banebedjedet and knhum. The words for ram and soul sound the same in the Egyptian language and because of this, the ram or sheep deities were at times believed to be the appearance of other gods. Scholars say that these two previously mentioned entities, were the earliest known Egyptian deities and were originally the gods of the source of the Nile river.

The annual flooding of the Nile brought with it silt and clay. It was believed the sheep/ goat gods created the bodies of human children from this silt and clay; which was then placed in the mothers wombs. This may help us to understand why Pharaohs daughter was fascinated by the child, (Moses), she found floating down the river Nile as she would have considered it a direct gift from the god knhum.

It is believed she was bathing in the Nile at the time for ceremonial purposes in hopes to bring about a pregnancy. This association gives insight into the killing of the firstborn among the Hebrews and the final plague of the death of the firstborn of the Egyptians.

It was also significant in the placement of the Passover lamb, which to the Egyptians was a picture of the god khumn. When the Hebrews took a lamb, the Egyptian deity, into their home for 4 days with the intention of slaughtering and eating it; it would have caused a significantly bad reaction, angering the Egyptians who would have seen this act as a total disrespect of one of their important gods. Furthermore to actually kill one of their gods and use its blood to protect the Hebrews from the last plague of the death of the 1st born was the final insult to Pharaoh who was considered a direct descendant of the gods.

Leviticus 17:8 warns the children of Israel to keep from sacrificing to the se’irm or the goat/sheep god.

7 They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols[a] to whom they prostitute themselves. 

The wilderness was believed to be the home of field demons and unclean spirits associated with the goat and sheep. The god pan is pictured as a goat demon, half man half goat, who would play a flute and dance among the sheep. The wilderness home of these field demons/spirits was regarded as the place where such diseases as leprosy had their roots. In Leviticus 14:7. In an act of religious blending of more than one religious belief into a new system, birds would be offered to these sheep/goat gods as an act of atonement. The soul of the bird would be released to carry the disease back to the desert. While worshipping and serving the One True God, Creator of the Universe, many Hebrews were also justifying a service to pagan gods just to ensure some extra protection against diseases.

Is there a possible connection to what the Apostles were addressing in Acts 14:15.?

and saying, Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

Does Acts 14:15 seem to reflect this ‘religious combining’, which was well established in the first century, and was condemned by the Apostles? Some Jews had formed their own interpretations of their Hebraic laws which would allow them to seek favors from pagan gods, while at the same time serving the One true living God. It seemed they had created ‘loopholes in the laws’ to accommodate their pagan worship, exceptions to the rule so to speak. It seems shocking, however, we should not be too quick to condemn them seeing as popular sports events and modern special traditional holidays have been known to dictate whether meetings/services are postponed or even cancelled because they were scheduled at the same time!

Genesis 35:2-5 turn aside from the gods of the foreigner which are in your midst cleanse yourselves and change your garments and then we will rise..

We need to come completely out of Egypt … out from among them and all their traditions and worldliness and be not partakers of their ways.

2John 1:11 and  Ephesians 5:7

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.

8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

A final warning from Messiah is in Revelation 18:4 KJV: And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

This is important for believers in Messiah Jesus/Yeshua if we do not want to experience the plagues described in this book to come upon us. The questions we must ask ourselves are:

Have we truly and fully come out of Egypt/the world or do we still have one foot in it?

Do we still have any idols in our lives that take precedence over our Heavenly father that we need to cast down?

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.

Days of Noah vs. Lot & Today.

Solomon had great wisdom and insight he said :

Everything that happens has happened before;

nothing is new,

nothing under the sun.

In Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 he wrote:

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

Taking this together with what Messiah Yeshua/Jesus told us confirming this fact in Matthew 24 and Luke 17:26—37 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark…. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom. 

Yeshua/Jesus said that the days of Noah and Lot would be like the days just prior to His return and the establishment of His Kingdom.

We hear this referred to many times and even more lately in light of recent events… wars and rumors of wars…

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Matthew 24:6-8

This certainly sounds like things that are happening right now….

Maybe we should take another look at what the days of Noah and those of Lot were really like and compare them? It may give us more of an indication if our days are similar to theirs.

We are told that most people will be going about their normal activities, unaware of the times. When He returns, society will be degenerate and wicked, just as it was before the Flood came. 

In the days of Noah and the days of Lot, only one family was protected. Yeshua/Jesus compared both to the End Times, so the same will be true just before His return. 

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. 

The Hebrew phrase,

acharit ha-yamim – אַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים

often translated,

“latter days”

refers to the “end of days, or “last days”,

mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, and points to a critical period late in human history. 

The Greek phrase “in the last days” 

ἐν ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις

also refers to the prophesied “End of Days,”.

Strong’s Hebrew: 319.

אַחֲרִית (acharith)

— the after-part, end

The Lord God told Noah and Abraham for Lot, that judgement was at hand. Yeshua/Jesus was telling us that it will be the same just before His return.

Here are some similarities and differences between the two events, as we read them, how many are in evident in the world today?

In the days of Noah wickedness was universal.

In Lots’ days wickedness was universal and we read of the five cities that God destroyed.

The events before the destruction, Noah built the ark and preached righteousness not allowing the wickedness to affect his family.

Whereas Lot moved into the wicked city of Sodom and the evil of the city vexed his righteous soul. Lot offered to give his daughters to the wicked men of the city.

God Himself brought the judgment on the wicked. Genesis 6:13.

God Himself brought the judgment on the wicked. Genesis 19:23.

Noah saw the violence that existed during this time but no violence was committed against him.

Lot saw the violence that existed during his time and experienced violence against him from the homosexual men of Gomorrah.

Regarding Family: Noah’s sons married wives who became righteous removing themselves from the wicked society.

Lots daughters were betrothed to wicked men these men were destroyed in the wicked society.

Noah and his sons and their wives were in unity in their beliefs and their work on the ark. They stood together against those who were wicked in that generation.

Lot and his family had no family unity. His sons were not even in contact with him. His daughters were influenced by the wickedness of Sodom and his wife turned back and was destroyed.

The judgment in Noah’s time lasted many days. Genesis 1:11, 8:14.

The judgment and lots times lasted only part of the day. Genesis 19:23-27.

The judgment of the flood even included the highest mountains.

The judgment on Lot’s time was only in the valleys.

Noah brought living animals out of the judgment.

No animals were saved in the location of the judgment in Lots time.

God caused His Spirit to pass over the waters to cause the waters to subside. Genesis 8:1.

There is no mention of Spirit in the destruction in Lots time.

Noah did not know that judgment was over until God told him to leave the ark.

Lot did not know when the judgment was over and he feared that there was more to come so he fled to a cave even though judgment had ended.

Noah was not vexed by evil, he found grace in the eyes of God. Genesis 6:9. God said that Noah was a righteous man in the midst of an evil generation. It does not say that Noah was vexed by their unrighteous deeds. Righteousness is defined as keeping the Commandments of God in other words keeping Torah.

Lot was vexed by evil and apparently he had not told his family to keep the way of Torah according to 2Peter 2:8. He lived in Sodom one of the five cities that were destroyed.

Noah was told to gather food for himself and the animals.

Lot was not told to gather food.

Noah knew of the coming judgment he had been told by God that the earth was going to be destroyed by a flood 100 years before it happened. Genesis 6:13. After the ark was built, God told Noah that the flood was going to start in seven days. Genesis 7:4 There was no panic just simple obedience to God’s command.

Lot did not know of the coming judgment that God was going to bring on the city until the angels came to take them out of it. Abraham knew of the coming judgment because he commanded his children to follow the ways of God, however he interceded for the righteous in the cities that were to be destroyed.

Noah did all that God told him.

Lot argued with the angels about where he was to escape to. Genesis 19:18.

Noah and his sons worked for 100 years to prepare for the time of judgment.

Neither Lot nor his family worked to prepare for the coming judgment.

Noah was warned directly by God.

Angels brought the warning to Lot.

Noah was given specific plans

Lot was not given specific plans.

Noah was told that the judgment was on the whole world.

Lot was not told that the judgment was only on the five cities so he may have believed that it was on the whole world.

Noah was called a preacher of righteousness; and He preached repentance for 100 years to all who came to mock him for building the ark.

Lot had spoken little about righteousness as we can see by the reaction of those who wanted him to bring out the angels. Genesis 19:9.

As a preacher of righteousness, Noah and his family were known to be in opposition to the accepted way of life in his time, they did not fit in.

Lot and his family were well known in Sodom. Although he did not accept the life style of Sodom, he was not known to be in opposition to it until he objected his last night there. He also offered to give his daughters, something that Noah would have never done. Lot had lived in Sodom without affecting it for good. He and his family had fitted into life as usual there, he sat at the city gates which was a sign of a leader of the city. Genesis 19:1.

Sexual wickedness was rampant before the destruction, in the form of multiple wives one for pleasure and one for reproduction. This custom had started with Lamech and had progressed to rape and seduction. This was perpetrated by the sons of the rulers who took women by force, leaving children who never knew their father. When these children grew up they brought an increase in the violence in the world. Genesis 6:1-5.

Sexual wickedness before the destruction of Sodom had increased greatly in all the five cities. Homosexual men forced themselves on all strangers who had the misfortune to enter the city. Genesis 19:5.

Noah had a very close relationship with the Lord God and did not need anyone to intercede for him.

Lot may not have been saved if Abraham had did not interceded for him. Genesis 19:29.

The door was shut by God in Genesis 7:16.

The door was shut by angels in Genesis 19:10.

All of Noah’s family were saved because they obeyed God, however, none of the world was saved because they did not obey him. All of mankind are descendants of Noah and his sons after the flood.

Lot’s sons-in-law would not leave the city so they were destroyed. Lot’s wife disobeyed the angels instructions and she was destroyed. The men of the cities were destroyed because of their unrighteous deeds. Lot and his two daughters were saved by obeying although they did argue with the angels.

Conditions at the time of deliverance: Noah and his family walked onto the ark on the day the rain came. There was no panic or confusion, just obedience to God’s commands even though the earth was covered in violence/hamas.

With Lot and his family, there was panic and confusion and there was violence in the city of Sodom as well as in the other four cities.

Noah and his entire family including his daughters in law were taken into the Ark.

Lot and his family had to flee on foot, his sons in law would not leave the city and his wife looked back and they were destroyed.

Noah sent a raven and a dove to see if the waters were receding.

Lot and his daughters had no way to know if the judgment was over.

What was saved from the destruction? Noah saved all that he needed The Lord God told Noah to bring the animals on the Ark to save them. He had all that he needed to replenish after the flood was over.

Lot did not save anything. He was saved as someone who runs out of his burning house with nothing but clothes he was wearing. All his works were burned up.

For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.… 1 Corinthians 3:12-13

The Lord God made a Covenant with Noah after the flood, to never again destroy the earth by water. He used the rainbow as a sign of the covenant. Genesis 8:20-22.

No covenant was made with Lot, however the Lord God did not make a covenant to never judge the earth by fire again.

After the destruction: Noah offered a sacrifice after the flood.

Lot was fearful of continuing destruction and fled to hide a cave.

Noah knew they were the only people left on earth and that they were to be fruitful and multiply.

Lots daughters believed that they were the last three people on the earth and could only repopulate the earth through incest with their father.

Noah and his sons were commanded to be fruitful and fill the earth and they did so. Genesis 9:1.

Lot and his daughters were not commanded to be fruitful and fill the earth but they did so in a sinful way.

God put the fear of man into all animals.

Lot and his daughters were fearful. Genesis 19:30.

Wine and sexual perversion after the destruction: Noah got drunk and was unaware of what took place. ‘His nakedness was seen by his son Ham.’

Lot got drunk and was unaware that his daughters had sexual relations with him.

God remembered Noah and caused the waters to subside.

Abraham, not Lot, was remembered by God and because of this, Lot was saved from the destruction of the fire. Genesis 19:29.

Dates are given for different stages of the judgment of the flood.

No date is given for the judgment by fire.

All mankind and all nations are descendants of Noah and his sons.

All of Lot’s descendants came through him and his daughters. Only the nations of Moab and Ammon, the two enemies of Israel came from Lot.

Honor and dishonor of their descendants: Noah’s descendants through Shem were men of honor whom the Lord God used; and this included Abraham, Isaac and Jacob together with Jacob’s 12 sons. God made a covenant with all of them. Some of Noah’s descendants through Ham were cursed; this included Amalek, who God said he would be at war with until the end of time.

Lot’s descendants were dishonored and were enemies of those under the Covenant. His descendants were born through incest with his own daughters , these are the people of Moab which means: ‘from father’. The other daughter named her son Benammi, which means: ‘son of my people.’ He became the father of the people of Ammon. This is the name of the capital of the nation of Jordan. Although Lot was related to Abraham, he did not follow in his ways.

The method of destruction: water destroyed the world in Noah’s day. Water is usually a substance that brings life because life cannot exist without it. The Lord God said He will never again destroy the Earth with a flood. Judgment came from the heavens and from the fountains of the deep.

Jude 1:7. “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, of punishment.

Fire destroyed Sodom and the others cities in Lots’ day. Fire brings death and purification, the judgment came from the heavens. Genesis 19:23.We know that the destruction at the end of this age will be by fire. 2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

The extent of judgment: In Noah’s day, all animal life on the earth except what lived in the oceans and those on the Ark. Plant life recovered after the flood without any help from Noah or his family.

In Lot’s day, all life in the area of the five cities including plant life did not recover because the sulfur caused the soil to become too acidic, there is little that grows there even today.

In Noah’s day the wicked had no idea of the coming judgment, they were doing all the normal things of daily life.

In Lot’s day the wicked did not know of the coming judgment, they too were doing all the normal things of daily life.

In Noah’s day the wicked were taken out of the world and made examples for others who would want to live like them.

In Lot’s day the wicked were taken out of the world and made examples for others who would want to live like them.

Noah and his family were not taken out of the world.

Those who were delivered from Lot’s family were not taken out of the world.

In Noah’s day the judgment started in the daytime when the fountains of the deep burst forth. Genesis 7:11.

In Lot’s day the judgment started in the evening when the angels came, but the fire fell at dawn. Genesis 19:1.

Noah and his family could not see the judgment because they were in the ark with the window and door shut.

Lot and his family were told not to look at the judgment but his wife did, and she was destroyed together with the wicked.

Noah preached righteousness for 100 years without one convert because there was great spiritual blindness in the people.

In Lot’s day, the angels caused the wicked people to be struck with physical blindness.

Noah and his family were the only eight people out of the whole world, so the ratio of those saved to those destroyed could easily have been 1 in 1 million.

Lot and his two daughters were saved out of several small cities. The ratio could have been 3 out of 3000 or 1 in 1000 as those cities were small.

Noah and his family were transported in the ark above the mountains, they did not need to do anything to escape.

Lot and his daughters had to flee on foot over the rough ground. They had to make their own way in their own strength and could not carry much with them; they never left the surface of the earth.

After the flood, Noah and his family had a large place to live on top of the mountains. He may well have lived in the Ark after the animals had left and their home would have been 450’ x 75’ with 15 foot ceilings. Those who are righteous when Messiah returns will live in the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven.

Lot and his daughters first went to the small city of Zoar then they became fearful and ended up living in a cave with very few possessions.

Those who are unrighteous and who see Messiah returning in great glory, will try to hide themselves in caves and rocks. Revelation 6:16 And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,

There are too many similarities today to the days of Noah and Lot to ignore and as violence/hamas is again filling the earth and Matthew 24:12 tells us because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Many are falling away from the faith. Now is the time for our light to shine in the darkness and offer the good news of the gospel of the kingdom. It is time to tell people there is forgiveness of sin and of the grace and mercy we can receive through Messiah to restore our relationship with His Heavenly Father. Messiahs sacrificial death at calvary was on purpose to redeem us and give us eternal life.

If you have not received Yeshua/Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord and if you are not certain where your eternal future lies…make sure right now. Today is the day of salvation for we do not know the day nor the hour of His return…let’s all be ready …time is running out..

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.

Bride of Isaac vs. Bride of Messiah

Last post we looked at the story in Genesis 23- 25 where Abrahams servant Eliezer, was sent on a long journey to choose a wife for his son Isaac. This search resulted in Rebecca becoming the bride of Isaac.

So many instances in the old testament scriptures are fore-shadowings of future events; and this account of finding

a bride for Isaac

is a foreshadowing of

the bride of Messiah.

First let’s compare

the Bride of Isaac to the Bride of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua.

Bride of Isaac (Rebecca)          

Bride of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua (Obedient Believers).

She fell in love with someone she had never met.

We fall in love with Messiah Yeshua/Jesus we haven’t seen.

Eliezer is a type of Holy Spirit: he told her all about the father(Abraham) and the son Isaac) but never gave his name. He referred to himself only as the servant of Abraham..

Holy Spirit tells us about the Father and Son. John 14:26

Eliezer was to bring the bride to the groom.

Holy Spirit brings the bride of Messiah into Fathers presence.

Eliezer gave the bride gifts as directed by father Abraham.

The Father gives gifts to the bride through His Holy Spirit. Hebrews 2:4.

Eliezer said that father Abraham had given all his possessions to his son. Genesis 24:36

The Father loves the Son Messiah Yeshua/Jesus and has given Him all things. John 3:35

Rebecca was asked if she would go with this man and she answered yes.

We must make a decision to follow Holy Spirit and the ways of the Father in order to become the bride of Messiah.

Rebecca was blessed for going.

Those who follow and go with Messiah will be blessed.  Psalm 16:11

Rebecca would jointly rule the house/ Kingdom of Isaac as his bride.

We will jointly rule the kingdom under Messiah. Revelation 1:6

Isaac came to meet her after prayer to the Heavenly Father.

Messiah is interceding for us and will come to meet us when our Heavenly Father says it is time.

Rebecca met Isaac after a long journey to the land.

Messiah describes Himself as a nobleman who went to a far country to receive a kingdom and return. Luke 19:12

Eliezer led Rebecca on a long and difficult journey.

Holy Spirit leads us through the difficult journey of life.

Eliezer’s name is not mentioned in this whole passage.

Holy Spirit does not speak of Himself but only of the Heavenly Father and the Son.

The hospitality and kind acts performed by Rebecca led Eliezer to worship the Heavenly Father.

This is the first time that the word worship is used in the Torah, (first 5 books of the Old Testament). Because Eliezer is a foreshadowing of Holy Spirit, we see that the Spirit of our Heavenly Father leads us into worship when we are obedient to His desires.

Next is a comparison of

Isaac as a foreshadowing of Messiah:

Isaac was the long awaited promised son Genesis 17:17

Messiah Jesus/Yeshua was the long awaited promised Son from Genesis 3:15.

Isaac was called Abraham’s only son.

Messiah is the only begotten of the Father. John 3:16

Abraham gave all his possessions to his son. Genesis 24:36

The Father loves the Son and has given Him all things. John 3:35

Isaac was offered in type and shadow on mount Moriah after a 3 day journey. He was considered as dead from the beginning of the journey because he was to be a sacrifice.

Messiah was offered up on the same Mount Moriah. He was in the grave for three days and nights. Matthew 12:40

Isaac came to Mount Moriah with Abraham and two servants, a total of four people.

Messiah Yeshua/ Jesus came to Jerusalem on the day of Nisan 10 and was crucified on the 14 Nisan a total four days.

There is no record of Isaac committing any sin.

Messiah lived a sinless life.

Isaac submitted completely to his father’s will even to the point of death.

Messiah submitted completely to His Father’s will even to death.

Isaac was raised from the dead in a type and shadow.

Messiah was raised from the dead after His death on the tree.

A nameless servant went to a far country to take him a bride.

The Spirit of the Heavenly Father came into the world for the bride of Messiah.

The bride had never seen him.

The bride of Messiah has never seen Him

Isaac waited for his father to get him a bride.

Messiah waits for His Father to say when it is time to get His bride. Matthew 24:36

Isaac and Rebecca came to meet each other in the field.

We will meet Messiah in the air. 1Thessalonians 4:17

Isaac married Rebecca, a beautiful bride adorned with the jewels that were given to her by the father of the groom.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaac did the work his father had done Genesis 26:18

Messiah does the works of His Father. John 5:19

Isaac marries his bride on the day they met it was evening.

Messiah will marry His bride today He returns at the end of the 6000th year day?

Interesting notes on a Hebrew/Jewish wedding.

Revelation 19:7 -9

The Jewish wedding is a unique illustration of Messiahs’ relationship with His followers. It is not strange then, that there are numerous references to it in the New Testament. In Bible times the process of getting married was made up of three phases that took more than a year to complete. The actual ceremony was the culmination of these three stages:

The first stage of the process is called

shiddukhin

and the word means

match

and it begins with the selection of the bride.

This is called:

making a match

in hebrew shidduk,

and it is performed by a match maker,

in Hebrew shad khan.

There is a reference to this in Genesis 24, where Abraham sends Eliezer his servant to make a Match for his son Isaac/Yitz’chak; trusting that God will guide the search. Women often become matchmakers and sometimes the father of the groom would make the match. In either case this is no longer commonly practiced; however, this is still a picture of all believers in Messiah Yeshua/Jesus having been chosen as Messiah bride. Ephesians 1:4

The second stage it is called

eyrusin

and means

betrothal.

It is the formal one year period of time when the two parties receive the betrothal blessings and become officially engaged.

They are not to live together, but the commitment is so secure that it would take a religious divorce, which is called a get, to nullify the agreement and the get is an option available only to the husband. So here we see a clear lesson from the Hebrew/Jewish wedding,

that believers are eternally secure in Messiah covenant,

because it cannot be broken unless He breaks it, which He says He never will.

As Jesus/Yeshua said: I give them eternal life they will absolutely never be destroyed and no one will snatch them from my hands.

John 10:28.

During this time of eyrusin, the groom has responsibilities, and the most pressing one being preparing the couple’s future home. Messiah Yeshua/Jesus said in my fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be alsoJohn 14:1-3 …

The nissuin completes the 3 part process and the spiritual picture of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus – the Bridegroom and His bride.

According to ancient tradition, the groom comes for his bride at the end of the one year- eyrusin. Everything is made ready and the bride eagerly awaits his arrival. The groom could come for his bride only after the grooms father had given the command and when the father had given his approval that the place prepared for the son’s new bride was ready. Which is very clear here, that only the father knows that time; the son did not know the hour or the day when this would take place.

Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of [ a]heaven, but My Father only.

When the father said it was a time the groom leading the procession through the streets of the village to the brides home; the shofar would be sounded to the shouts of the bridegroom comes!

At the close of nissuin there is a very happy celebration as is the modern Jewish wedding. In Revelation 19:7-8 there is a description of the time when Jesus Messiah marries His bride – the body of messianic believers. Let us rejoice and be glad. “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”. Revelation 19:9 will be a great blessing to those who are invited.

Betrothed in Hebrew is ‘aras

There is a reference in Hosea 2:19

and I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.

The book of Hosea and the book of the song of Solomon both seem to portray our relationship with God as a betrothal. As noted, betrothal is similar to an engagement, only the couple are really married but do not live together or engage in intimate relationships. It lasts for about a year when the bridegroom comes to the bride’s father’s house and takes her away to his father’s house where he has built an addition to the family home and then they consummate the marriage.

The comparison here is that we are betrothed to Messiah Yeshua/Jesus while we are on the earth but the day will come when we pass from this earth when He comes to take us to His Fathers house to consummate the marriage covenant. This is what He was alluding to,  that we are merely in a betrothal stage in John 14:2

As already mentioned, the Hebrew the word

betrothal is aras

the lexicon simply says it means to betroth. Looking a little deeper into the Hebrew language and the Jewish meaning will give us a better understanding and help us to make a clearer comparison to our relationship with Messiah.

The word aras comes from a semetic root in the Sumerian language which means to desire. So the whole idea behind a betrothal is to build a desire between a man and woman. Many times a young man and woman did not really meet until their wedding day. So the betrothal was a time to get to know each other. Physical looks chemistry and love did not have anything to do with marriage. Love came after they were married or betrothed.

When a young couple were betrothed, traditionally the parents were to support the young man so he would not have to work during this period. The length of time for the betrothal was generally one year but it could be more or less. The idea was that this time would be spent where the couple would begin to learn about each other understand one another and learn to love each other and as they were falling in love their desire and passion for each other would increase to the point that the man would one day become to snatch his bride away and make her his wife by consummating the marriage covenant in the room he built onto his fathers house.

This is the same for believers, where our desire to be with our Savior grows daily and as we come to know him more intimately and long to be in His presence forever. No one, not even the bride knew when the bridegroom would come for his bride; everyone would anxiously await that day, watching all the signs that the bridegroom was getting ready. Then when the father gave the word and said it is tonight, then everyone would light a lamp and follow the groom as he went to his brides house. (think 10 virgin parable.)

Not even the bride knew the time,

but she knew the seasons,

and she had a good idea ,so much so that she would be

dressed and ready

when it was time and the bridegroom comes knocking at her door.

This is so clearly a picture of our lives here on earth. We accept Messiah Jesus/Yeshua as our Savior and then we are

betrothed to Him.

We live our remaining days in a betrothal with Yeshua/Jesus, learning to love Him, spending time alone with Him, letting Him meet our needs. All the time our desire for Him grows deeper and deeper, until the day comes we will no longer be separated from Him, and our Heavenly Father says it is time. Then He will come to take us to live in His Fathers house forever because we are part of Messiahs Bride.

The question we must ask ourselves is:

are we dressed and 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.

A Sign For Direction?

This story in Genesis 23- 25 is about Abrahams servant Eliezer, who was sent on a long journey to choose a wife for Abrahams son Isaac.

 and the Lord had blessed him in every way. 2 He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. 3 I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, 4 but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”

5 The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?”

6 “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said.7 “The Lord, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring[f] I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. 8 If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

10 Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim[g] and made his way to the town of Nahor. 11 He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.

12 Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16 The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.

17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”

18 “Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.

19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.

22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka[h] and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels.[i] 23 Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”

24 She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor.” 25 And she added, “We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night.”

26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, 27 saying, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”

Following a sign from our Heavenly Father is of course very important, but how can we tell the difference between the guidance of the Lord and our own wishful thinking? In the case of Abrahams servant it was easy, even before he had finished asking the Lord his prayers were answered!

This is not always the case when we don’t get  an immediate reply, we sometimes think that by mixing our circumstances together with prayers the Lord will somehow give us a sign through it. Sometimes we treat our Heavenly Father like a fast food drive-through, choosing from a menu to pick just what we want fulfilling the particular craving that our carnal nature lusts after. We so often need some kind of sign, something to hang our hopes on, because otherwise it seems so hard for us to hear Him.

This story in Genesis about Abrahams servant Eliezer is interesting because he seemed to make up this particular scenario as a way to choose Isaacs wife.

Or Did he???

In 24:7 Abraham said “The Lord, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring[f] I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. 

If we read carefully we see that Abraham had already received a promise concerning how he was to find a future wife for Isaac.

I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. 

The Angel or messenger had already prepared the way of this entire situation and how it would unfold. There is a huge difference between grasping for direction in random circumstances or in self-fulfilling prophecies; and not truly being directed by the Spirit of the living God.

Our Heavenly Father can and does guide us, and many times He will give us specific signs to follow but certainly not every time. The question we should ask ourselves is, do we know Him well enough to recognize His signs when we see them? We are not to focus on or look for specific signs because they are in the sense realm and that is where the enemy can interfere and try to mislead us away from the path that the Lord has chosen for us.

Col. 3:15-17

His Way is always peace, we will always have a deep seated peace within us. His Peace is the umpire, the settler of our hearts. He will never do anything nor tell us to do something contrary to His written word. His Spirit and His Word will confirm each other.

John 16:14

He will always speak to us through His Word by His Spirit of Holiness, confirming that the way of the Spirit is the way of the Word. His Holy Spirit speaks through and in agreement with His Word. As our minds are renewed, we are then receptive to godly principles, the implications of obedience and disobedience, and how each of us can uniquely apply His truth revealing the direction of our life.

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]. Colossians 3:15 Amplified Bible.

Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. Gen. 24:15

There are many reasons why we can miss the signs and direction of the Lord; however the most likely one is, that we have already made up our minds about the way we think things should go. Maybe we should give God a chance to show us His way first, it might just be that He has a better idea!

When we ask our Heavenly Father for direction in our life and it seems like our prayers aren’t even being heard, let’s remember how easy it was for Abrahams servant Eliezer. Could it be that the reason we have so much trouble discerning answers from the Lord is because we are praying with a pre-determined plan in our head?

Is it possible that the creator of the universe has something different for our future than the outcome we see?

We need to trust Him more for the outcome He has already planned for us.

Ps 139:16

Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, 27 saying, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master.

When our prayers seem to go out unanswered, we are often too quick to murmur and complain. Have we ever considered that we receive not because we ask amiss, wanting to fulfill our own worldly and fleshly lusts? James 4:3. So sometimes it is for our own good that things are withheld from us.

However, what about the times when God answers clearly, then we are quick to bless Him with thanksgiving, praise and worship. It seems we are then more likely to forget Him until the next time we want something.

Answered prayer is one of the many ways that our Heavenly Father shows His loving-kindness and faithfulness towards us. Proving that He not only remembers us but He is concerned about our daily needs and desires to be both the direction and destination on this journey and the provision in our lives.

We are not to set our minds according to our own desires but know that His ways are not always our ways and when He does respond, we must remain faithful to Him in return and continue to give Him the glory.

One thing is certain from the scriptures, if we are walking close to our Heavenly Father, we will not only hear Him and heed His directions but; everything we need will already have been prepared, ready and waiting for just the right time so we can fulfill the plans He has prepared for us. These provisions are on His pathway not the one of our choosing. Sometimes it is a good indication we are on the wrong path when there is no provision.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Because our Father is no respecter of persons, in the same way as the messenger/angel promised to Abraham that he would go before him and orchestrate the future meeting at the well; and we often call these encounters divine appointments. We can be certain that He will also perfectly complete the plan He has for each of us.

Phil. 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

When we pray according to the will of our Father it is already taken care of, we just have to be obedient to walk by faith in what He has prepared, even when we don’t see it in the natural.

From last weeks post readers may find this video of interest:

(Utube link below)

https://youtu.be/hOJqLTc6RkU

 

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.