Category: More Manna

Extra Helpings

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.

A Timely Tale of Two Sons

Is the story of 2 brothers connected to

Matthew 24:21

and Yeshua/Jesus’ reference to the Days of Noah and the acharit hayamim/latter days; the Birthpangs/footsteps of Messiah/ikvot Mashiach and Jacobs trouble?

With all the focus on the nations in the middle east, an overview based on some historical facts may help us to understand what is happening and why. Governments and leaders around the world are beating war drums in the aftermath of recent events but as they say, the first casualty in war is truth; and maybe a better understanding of the different groups in that region, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the PLO, will help us understand what is going on and what may happen next. 

In all of what is unfolding we are certain of one thing, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob is not taken by surprise because He is in control of everything. We must stay grounded in Him and not be moved or fearful by what we see and hear in the natural; but rather trust in Him and His Word. Psalm 121:4 tells us, The God of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps and His Word and all that is prophesied will indeed come to pass and be fulfilled in His time and way.

The tale of 2 sons, who were also brothers, goes back to Genesis.

In Genesis 4 we read about Cain/Kayin and Abel/Hevel and the 1st act of violence ended in Cain murdering Abel. It was the 1st time human blood was spilled. It was the beginning of the end when in Genesis 6:13 The Lord God saw that the earth was filled with violence and flooded the earth to cleanse it. Noah and his family were saved to start over.

Noah had 3 sons, Shem Ham and Japheth. Ham is the ancestor of Nimrod, and Abraham can be traced back through 10 generations to Shem.

The tale of 2 sons continues with Abrahams sons Ishmael and Isaac, who were half brothers.

Isaac continued the story when he fathered 2 sons Esau and Jacob; and we know that Esau was first born but gave up his birthright to Jacob for food. From Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, come the Israelite tribes; and from Esau come the Edomite tribes as both of them had 12 sons.

This feud between the sets of brothers continues to this day through Ishmael and Esau and their respective descendants. This is an expansive subject and this post cannot cover all aspects, however an overview may help our perspective of the issues facing us today.  Referencing only what scripture tells us and in regards to the turmoil, violence, wars and rumors of wars, which we are told of in Matthew 24 will precede the return of Messiah.

The map below of ancient Israel, features the Biblical boundaries of the Land of Israel as described in Genesis 15:18 and Genesis 17:8. Possession of land and eliminating rivals are the focus of much biblical literature.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא כָּרַ֧ת יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־אַבְרָ֖ם בְּרִ֣ית לֵאמֹ֑ר לְזַרְעֲךָ֗ נָתַ֙תִּי֙ אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את מִנְּהַ֣ר מִצְרַ֔יִם עַד־הַנָּהָ֥ר הַגָּדֹ֖ל נְהַר־פְּרָֽת׃

On that day Hashem made a covenant with Avram, saying, “To your offspring I assign this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:

ba-YOM ha-HU ka-RAT a-do-NAI et av-RAM b’-REET lay-MOR l’-zar-a-KHA na-TA-tee et ha-A-retz ha-ZOT mi-n’-HAR mitz-RA-yim ad ha-na-HAR ha-ga-DOL n’-har p’-RAT

Genesis 15:18

וְנָתַתִּ֣י לְ֠ךָ֠ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ֨ אַחֲרֶ֜יךָ אֵ֣ת ׀ אֶ֣רֶץ מְגֻרֶ֗יךָ אֵ֚

ל־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן לַאֲחֻזַּ֖ת עוֹלָ֑ם וְהָיִ֥יתִי לָהֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִֽים׃

I assign the land you sojourn in to you and your offspring to come, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting holding. I will be their God.”

v’-na-ta-TEE l’-KHA ul-zar-a-KHA a-kha-RE-kha AYT E-retz m’-gu-RE-kha AYT kol E-retz k’-NA-an la-a-khu-ZAT o-LAM v’-ha-YEE-tee la-HEM LAay-lo-HEEM

Genesis 17:8

The map of ancient Israel is a document that has been studied by scholars and laymen for centuries. It has helped historians understand how external influences have shaped the land over time, and it reveals the ever-changing borders of ancient Israel.

Ancient Israel was initially inhabited by various Canaanite tribes, which were later conquered by the Israelites in the 13th century BCE. The Israelites then established their kingdom in the land, which extended from the Mediterranean coast to the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf).

The map above of ancient Israel shows the country’s territorial divisions during different periods of history. During the reign of King David, the kingdom of Israel included the land from the Euphrates River in the east to the River of Egypt in the west. Under King Solomon, the kingdom of Israel was at its peak and included parts of modern-day Egypt, Jordan, and Syria.

However, after the division of the kingdom into two states, Israel and Judah, in the 10th century BCE, the territory of ancient Israel was reduced once again. The northern kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians in 721 BCE and the southern kingdom of Judah was conquered by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, leading to significant changes in territory, population, and culture. Later, the Greeks established their own boundaries, and then the Romans.

The map reveals how these different forces have shaped the borders of the land over time. It also shows how certain cities or regions were important centers for trade or cultural exchange between different peoples during different historical periods.

Back to the sons… Abraham was called 1948 years after creation which is an interesting point!

Abraham had 2 sons one born of the flesh and one born of the spirit

One was by his own ability and one was by Gods ability.

Abraham tried to fulfill Gods promise to him by his own strength and did not wait on Gods timing. The son/fruit of the flesh always precedes the son/fruit of the spirit.

We act in our carnal understanding trying to help God out, by making the promises happen in our way and time. Fruit of the flesh always causes problems, flesh is flesh and spirit is spirit.

Ishmael’s mother was Sarahs handmaid Hagar; some scholars believe she was Egyptian, possibly pharaohs daughter? Type of the world/ gentile nations.  Islam considers her Abraham’s second wife, which was a custom in those days that to produce an heir if the wife could not conceive.

However Abraham should have waited for the son of the promise who would fulfill the prophecy that he would be the father of a multitude or many nations. Isaac gave birth to Jacob whose name was changed to Israel and he had 12 sons. The word to Ishmael was also that God would make him nations and Esau Jacobs brother also had 12 sons who became 12 tribes like the 12 tribes of Israel.

We often hear comments that Ishmael was a mistake that Abram and Sarai made that was a problem to all their future descendants. Ishmael was born according to the flesh that is by means of human design and effort.

Isaac was born through the promise and power of God. One lesson we learn is that actions inspired by works of the flesh without patiently waiting for Gods timing and provision will inevitably lead to conflict, hostility and produce fruit of the flesh.

However we see that YHWH spoke to her and blessed her and said that her descendants through Ishmael would be so many that they could not be numbered. If this was a mistake why would God cause Ishmael to increase his numbers? God knew of this before it happened and allowed it because it was always part of his plan. that these two nations should coexist to bring about the purposes of the Creator.

יִשְׁמָעֵאל Ishmael, Arabic Ismāʿīl, son of Abraham through Hagar,

The name Ishmael means: God will hear – yish maw ale.

Hagar, also spelled Agar, in the Old Testament

Gen. 16:1–16; 21:8–21.

Hagar called the Lord, the God who sees. El Roi

and the place was named: Beerlahairoi – the well of the living one.

Rom 4:1-25 Gal 4:21-5:1 Hebrews 7

Paul says Hagar represents the covenant God made with Israel at Mt.Sinai which bears children for slavery since her children are those who respond with the aspiration Ex.24:3 Deut 5:27 all the words which the Lord has spoken we will do. Whereas Sarah represents the covenant God made with Israel through the child of promise. (Yeshua) who bears children who are free and inheritors of the grace of God.

The Hebrew and middle eastern culture is very focused on family lines and having sons carries on the fathers house line and the inheritance always goes to the firstborn son. He carries the name and the responsibility of the family. Abraham fathered Ishmael first and that is the claim of the Ishmaelites better known as the Arab nations who are mostly muslins and believe Mohammed was the prophet sent from God and that Jesus/Yeshua was just another prophet along with all those of the Old testament.

Charts below:

Hamas? Hezbollah? The PLO?

Who’s Who in the Conflict with Israel.

There is a tendency to join the various anti-Western groups together as “Islamic terrorists,” however, the reality is a bit more complicated, so here is a brief look at some of these groups in more detail.

Some background on Palestine and Gaza.

Palestinian Arabs have occupied the area now known as Israel from the time the Romans exiled the Jews nearly 2,000 years ago.  Only very small Jewish communities survived until the 1880s when European Jews began emigrating to Palestine.  Jewish numbers increased in the area slowly at first but then more sharply after World War I.  

Palestine had been ruled by the Ottoman Empire for hundreds of years.  However, when the Ottoman Empire collapsed after World War I, Britain took control of the area.  In 1917, Britain issued its Balfour Declaration, encouraging the creation of a Jewish state.  Many Jewish populations within Europe were fleeing the devastation wrought by World War I, and Britain thought that Palestine might be a good place to resettle them.  Additionally, with the passage of more restrictive immigration laws in the U.S. in the 1920s, Jews simply found it easier to settle in Palestine.  

Naturally, tensions arose.  Many fights broke out between Jewish settlers, Palestinian Arabs, and the British government between the two World Wars.  However, after World War II, Britain could no longer afford to manage its overseas empire, and the United Nations agreed to divide Palestine between Jewish and Arab groups.  

In 1948, one day after the announcement of a new Jewish state, the surrounding Arab nations of Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq attacked Israel.   At the end of a year-long war, the Israelis won.  With the passage of the Israeli Land Acquisition Law in 1953, most of the land within Palestine was formally transferred from its former Palestinian owners to the new Israeli government.

But tensions never really ceased.  War broke out again in 1967 between Israel, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan.   After this war, Israel won control of both Gaza and the West Bank,  leaving the now-landless Palestinians living under the control of the Israeli government.

On top of many other issues, the Palestinians have a very high birthrate, which has made the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt one of the most densely-populated places on earth.  Poor, crowded areas, full of largely unemployed young people, are ripe grounds for terrorist groups to recruit.  And this is exactly what’s happened in Palestine. Though it must be said that not all those in Gaza nor all Palestinians are terrorists we know there are both good and bad people in every nation.

The PLO

The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was founded in 1964 in Cairo, when leaders of 13 Arabic countries pledged to take action to liberate Palestine from Israeli rule.  The PLO acts as an umbrella group for six different Palestinian groups, the most prominent of which has been Fatah, to which Yasser Arafat belonged.  

While the PLO denied Israel’s right to exist for decades and conducted terrorist activities that ultimately killed thousands of Israelis, in 1993, Arafat entered into an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in the Oslo Accords.  Arafat renounced terrorism and recognized Israel’s right to exist, and Rabin agreed to recognize the PLO as the official representative organization of the Palestinians.  

But fighting continued nonetheless. 

As the PLO claimed to back away from violence, other, more militant groups like Hamas have stepped in. 

The word Hamas means violence and was founded in the late 1980s, partially in response to the seeming ineffectiveness of the PLO.  Hamas is apparently an explicitly Islamic organization and is not about peaceful solutions or improving the lives of Palestinians. It’s about violently purging the state of Israel from the world.   

Hezbollah emerged from the Lebanese Civil War in the late 1970s.  They are a Shiite Muslim group, also dedicated to the eradication of Israel. 

The Iranian government provides the overwhelming majority of funding for Hezbollah, though Hezbollah has always insisted that they are in favor of Lebanese independence.  

Because Hezbollah is so much more sophisticated than Hamas, the Israeli government has been stationing troops at the Lebanese border

This post is only the briefest of overviews. People study Middle Eastern history for years and years, only to come away with the thought that we all need to get our spiritual houses in order.  

The Middle East conflict was prophesied in the Old Testament. The conflict is between two sons and, the descendants of Isaac and the descendants of Ishmael.

On the day of feasting during which Abraham celebrated the weaning of Isaac, Ishmael was “mocking” or “playing with” Isaac (the Hebrew word מְצַחֵֽק, “meṣaḥeq” is ambiguous). This caused Sarah to tell Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away.

Abraham circumcised Isaac on the eighth day, making him a party to the holy covenant God had established with Abraham. 

Isaac became Abraham’s sole heir, and Ishmael and Hagar were banished to the desert, though God promised that Ishmael would raise up a great nation of his own.

Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac form the link between the world’s three major monotheistic religions, Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

Isaac and Ishmael: Spirit and Flesh 21:8-11

In Galatians 4:28-29, Paul makes it clear that Ishmael represents the believer’s first birth (the flesh) and Isaac represents the second birth (the Spirit). Ishmael was “born of the flesh” because Abraham had not yet “died” and was still able to beget a son Gen. 16. Isaac was “born of the Spirit” because by that time his parents were both “dead” and only God’s power could have brought conception and birth. Ishmael was born first, because the natural comes before the spiritual 1 Cor. 15:46.

When you trust Jesus Christ, you experience a miracle birth from God John 1:11-13, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit of God John 3:1-8. Abraham represents faith, and Sarah represents grace Gal. 4:24-26, so Isaac was born “by grace … through faith” Eph. 2:8-9. This is the only way a lost sinner can enter the family of God (John 3:16-18.

It is worth noting that, in the biblical record, God often rejected the firstborn and accepted the second-born. He rejected Cain and chose Abel Gen. 4:1-15. He rejected Ishmael, Abraham’s firstborn, and chose Isaac. He bypassed Esau, Isaac’s firstborn, and chose Jacob Rom. 9:8-13, and He chose Ephraim instead of Manasseh Gen. 48. In Egypt, the Lord condemned all the firstborn Ex. 11–12 and spared only those who were “twice-born” because they were protected by faith in the blood of the lamb.

Isaac pictures the child of God not only in his birth but also in the joy that he brought. Isaac means “laughter,” and this time it was not the laughter of unbelief Gen. 18:9-15. In the parables recorded in Luke 15, Jesus emphasized the joy that results when lost sinners repent and come to the Lord. The shepherd rejoiced when he found the lost sheep, and the woman rejoiced when she found the lost coin, and they both asked their friends to rejoice with them. The father rejoiced when his prodigal son came home, and he invited the neighbors to a feast so they could share in his joy. There is even joy in heaven when sinners turn to God Luke 15:7, 10.

Nowhere do we read that Ishmael caused great joy in Abraham’s home. Abraham loved his son and wanted the best for him Gen. 17:18. From before his birth, Ishmael was a source of painful trouble Gen. 16, and after he matured, he caused even greater conflict in the family 21:9. The old nature is not able to produce the fruit of the Spirit, no matter how hard it tries Gal. 5:16-26.

 

Note a third comparison between Isaac and the child of God: He grew and was weaned Gen. 21:8. The new birth is not the end, but the beginning, and the believer must feed on God’s Word and grow spiritually Matt. 4:4; 1 Cor. 3:1-3; Heb. 5:12-14; 1 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Peter 3:18. As we mature in the Lord, we must “put away childish things” 1 Cor. 13:9-11 and allow God to “wean us” Ps. 131 from temporary helps that can become permanent hindrances.

Like every child of God, Isaac experienced persecution Gen. 21:9; Gal. 4:29. Ishmael was apparently an obedient son until Isaac entered the family, and then the “flesh” began to oppose “the Spirit.” It has well been said that the old nature knows no law but the new nature needs no law, and this is certainly illustrated in Abraham’s two sons.

Jewish children were usually weaned at about age three, so Ishmael was probably seventeen years old at the time Gen. 16:16 But God had said that Ishmael would become “a wild donkey of a man” 16:12 , and the prediction came true. The flesh and the Spirit are in conflict with each other and always will be until we see the Lord Gal. 5:16-26.

When, like Isaac, you are born of the Spirit, you are born rich Gen. 21:10. Isaac was the heir of all that his father owned, and God’s children are “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” Rom. 8:17). Abraham cared for Ishmael while the boy was in the home, but “Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac” Gen. 25:5).

Finally, Isaac was born free, while Ishmael was the son of a slave Gal. 4:22. Freedom is one of the key themes in Galatians 5:1 and one of the key blessings in the Christian life 4:31.

No one is more free than the child of God who delights in His will and does it from the heart.

 God honored His promise to bless Abraham’s offspring through Sarah, but He also acknowledged and blessed Ishmael and Hagar. Ishmael, Abraham’s firstborn son with Hagar 

יִשְׁמָעֵאל Ishmael, Arabic Ismāʿīl, son of Abraham through Hagar,

Hagar, also spelled Agar, in the Old Testament Gen. 16:1–16; 21:8–21,

Descendants of the Ishmaelites

After roaming the wilderness for some time, Ishmael and his mother settled in the Desert of Paran, where he became an expert in archery. Eventually, his mother found him a wife from the land of Egypt. They had twelve sons each of whom became a tribal chief in one of the regions from Havilah to Shur, from Assyria to the border of Egypt. His sons:

Nebaioth (נְבָיוֹת Nəḇāyōṯ)

Kedar (קֵדָר Qēḏār), father of the Qedarites, a northern Arab tribe that controlled the area between the Persian Gulf and the Sinai Peninsula. According to tradition, he is the ancestor of the Quraysh tribe, and thus, ancestor of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Adbeel (אַדְבְּאֵל ʾAḏbəʾēl)

Mibsam (מִבְשָֽׂם Mīḇsām)

Mishma (מִשְׁמָע Mīšmāʿ)

Dumah (דוּמָה Ḏūmā)

Massa (מַשָּֽׂא Massāʾ)

Hadad (חֲדַד Ḥăḏaḏ)

Tema (תֵימָא Ṯēmāʾ)

Jetur (יְטוּר Yəṭūr)

Naphish (נָפִישׁ Nāfīš)

Kedemah (קֵדְמָה Qēḏəmā)

Ishmael also had one known daughter, Mahalath or Basemath, the third wife of Esau.

Ishmael appeared with Isaac at the burial of Abraham. Ishmael died at the age of 137.

 

According to the Book of Genesis, in the Hebrew Bible, Isaac rather than Ishmael was the true heir of the Abrahamic tradition and covenant, while at the same time being blessed by God with a great nation.

In some traditions Ishmael is said to have had two wives, one of them named Aisha. This name corresponds to the Muslim tradition for the name of Muhammad’s wife. This is understood as a metaphoric representation of the Muslim world (first Arabs and then Turks) with Ishmael.

Rabbinical commentators in the Midrash Genesis Rabbah also say that Ishmael’s mother Hagar was the Pharaoh’s daughter, making Ishmael the Pharaoh’s grandson. This could be why Genesis 17:20 refers to Ishmael as the father of 12 mighty princes. According to Genesis 21:21, Hagar married Ishmael to an Egyptian woman, and if Rabbinical commentators are correct that Hagar was the Pharaoh’s daughter, his marriage to a woman she selected could explain how and why his sons became princes.

 

According to other Jewish commentators, Ishmael’s mother Hagar is identified with Keturah, the woman Abraham sought out and married after Sarah’s death. It is suggested that Keturah was Hagar’s personal name, and that “Hagar” was a descriptive label meaning “stranger”.

Ishmael’s descendants “settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the border of Egypt as you go toward Ashur” Genesis 25:18 . 

Looking at the historical significance of the worldwide violence/ hamas, prevalent in Noahs day and the facts concerning the stories of two brothers; there is a connection to Jesus’ Messiahs reference to the Days of Noah and the acharit hayamim.

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains. Matthew 24:5

The existence of hamas/violence is surely a sign of Messiah’s soon return…look up for our redemption draws ever closer and while we are looking, let’s intercede for all those innocent people caught up in the conflicts. Let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem as scripture tells us to and focus on our Heavenly Father, Who sees everything and is working all things together for good; for His ways are not our ways and we must trust His plan. As Messiah tells us not to be shaken by worldwide events because we are seeing biblical prophecy being fulfilled before our eyes.

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.

What Kind Of Seeds Are We Sowing?

What Kind Of Seeds Are We Sowing?

and

what is the Harvest we are reaping?

Seedtime and harvest will continue while the earth remains.

Genesis 18:22

All the days of the earth, seed and harvest, cold and heat, summer and spring, shall not cease by day or night.

 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. 

This is a natural law of planting, growth and reaping a harvest.

The first thing we need to understand about the law of seedtime and harvest is this: everything that happens on the earth revolves around this law, because this is also a spiritual law and was set in motion from the beginning/genesis.

The Bible says that as long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest will remain Genesis 8:22.

Immediately our mind things crops, grain, wheat, hay; however whatever harvest we are reaping in our lives is the result of the seed of that same harvest. If we sow wheat seed, we know that without a doubt we will reap wheat. This is a natural law, we don’t sow wheat and expect grapes that is obvious. What may be less obvious to us is that our very lives reveal what kind of seed we have been planting and sowing, both into our own and into that of others.

These that scatter generously and reap abundance. Prov. 11:24 There is the one who [generously] scatters [abroad], and yet increases all the more; And there is the one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want and poverty.

2 Cor. 9:6 Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

If we are lacking in an area, sow seeds of that need into anothers life and see the abundant harvest come into our own life.

This is spiritual law  – give and it shall be given, according to:

Luke 6:38 Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

If we need time, give time to another; if we need friendship, be a friend and if we desire love and affection, we are to be be loving and affectionate towards others, etc. etc.

Plant the seeds of whatever our need is into the lives of others and watch the law of reciprocity work, which is all about an action being rewarded with another action in return.

We will receive in the same measure we give out. It is a spiritual law put in place by the hand of our Heavenly Father. And often the position or set of circumstance we find ourselves in, is the harvest of the seed we have sown, and it may not always be positive. `

The word says if we live by the sword, we will die by it; and violence reaps only violence. Hate gives birth to hate and everything negative will also bring its’ own harvest.

That’s why we need to abide and live under and in the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:2

The laws of the spirit realm are more certain than we care to realize and although we may not see the results immediately, the laws of attraction go along with reciprocity; and how we behave and live our lives will attract people and elements of similar lifestyles. Just like a magnet, there are 2 sides to a magnet, and one side a magnet will attract another magnet; but if one is reversed they will repel each other. Just as it is in the world which rejects and repels anything to do with Messiah.

The old saying of birds of a feather flock together is clear in all clubs, groups, teams, social gatherings of like minded people with communal goals, aspirations, interests, beliefs, these all separate people into groups. Taking this to its inevitable conclusion we all sow to the basics of either good or bad, light or darkness, black or white; there is no grey in the Kingdom of God. There are only 2 kingdoms, one of light and one of darkness and we will be in one of them. Light always attracts light and darkness attracts darkness.

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! Matthew 6:22,23.

We are children of light. 1 Thess. 5:5 for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. because

1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

Therefore we have no business with any darkness we are to

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Eph. 5:  11. 

The bottom line is, whatever we want in our lives we should plant corresponding seed; and if we don’t want darkness, death, fear and the works of the devil, we should have nothing to do with it, just as scripture says. Decorating our homes with emblems and items related to the devils highest point of the year, is an open invitation for demonic spirits to invade and take up residence in homes and families. We are inviting them by our involvement and willing participation.

Let’s not compromise and put our homes, children and lives at risk by attracting the darkness to them and us. These activities mark people in the realm of the spirit and darkness and all its companions will be drawn to and attracted to those individuals.

Don’t be fooled or think it’s harmless fun, it is NOT.

It is very serious and spiritually dangerous.

No one who calls themselves a child of the living God, who is born again from above and a follower, disciple of Messiah, should have anything to do with any of the activities around October 31st. 

Instead of celebrating death, let’s take the opportunity to sow seeds of life to those who are deceived.

We must make the quality decision to sow according to the leading of our Fathers Holy Spirit, and trust that He will bring our harvest to us, as we are diligent to reap. Then, we will be working with the Lord of the harvest and not against Him. Matthew 9:38.

From a spiritual perspective, seed time and harvest can refer both to people coming to Messiah Jesus Christ and to the spiritual growth of those living for HIm. 

Mark 4:26-29 

From Seedtime to Harvest. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us: To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven. A time to plant and a time to harvest. 

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest. Isaiah 23:3 

This is a harvest of souls and what better time than now, to be a reaper of souls unto eternal life…..

We need to be constantly reminded that our Father put in place seed time and harvest time, and that we are called to plant, as well as to harvest. 

2Corinthians 9:6: “This I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall

and Galatians 6:7

Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption. But he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life If he sows for his own lower nature his harvest will be the decay and death of his own nature. But if he sows for the Spirit he will reap the harvest of everlasting life by that Spirit.

Galatians 5:11-12

 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in 

The works of darkness are unfruitful; they produce no goodness, give rise to no satisfaction, to no moral results that are “a joy forever;” or, if fruit they have, it is shame, remorse, despair. 

 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. NIV 

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Reposted below is

No Treats Here – Its All Tricks! ..

the expose and historical background to this demonically inspired day celebrating death, horror and fear. It is deadly and should be avoided at all costs.

 

 Open The Eyes Of Our Hearts Lord…Is Halloween An Invitation to the Occult?Hidden dangers that we may not see, are often subtly just under the surface and cunningly disguised by the enemy of our souls as seemingly ‘harmless fun’.Despite economic gloom casting a spell on consumer confidence, this year America’s darkest holiday is looking bright for retailers.  According to industry research firm IBISWorld , Halloween sales are expected to exceed a record-breaking $6 billion, sales are up in treats, candy and costumes for even more scary numbers.Let’s not be among those who line the pockets of greedy retailers and the fat cats of commerce, who would like to get their hands on our hard earned income and who also seek to profit from scaring and frightening our children at such a young and innocent and impressionably tender age.

Rather let’s

protect our children

from anything that would frighten them

and cause them to have sleepless nights and nightmares;

and not subject them to fears and anxieties that may

follow and torment them for years to come!

Jesus said suffer, (do not prevent),

the little children from coming to Me,

(not to the occult things of darkness)

for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

The scriptures encourage us in Eph 5:11 KJV: And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Amp: Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them.Phillips Translation: For of this much you can be certain: that neither the immoral nor the dirty-minded nor the covetous man (which latter is, in effect, worshipping a false god) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Don’t let anyone fool you on this point, however plausible his argument. It is these very things which bring down the wrath of God upon the disobedient. Have nothing to do with men like that—once you were “darkness” but now you are “light”. Live then as children of the light.The light produces in men quite the opposite of sins like these—everything that is wholesome and good and true. Let your lives be living proofs of the things which please God. Steer clear of the activities of darkness; let your lives show by contrast how dreary and futile these things are. (You know the sort of things I mean—to detail their secret doings is really too shameful). For light is capable of “showing up” everything for what it really is. It is even possible (after all, it happened to you!) for light to turn the thing it shines upon into light also. Thus God speaks through the scriptures: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

 

Habbakuk 4:6 says ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge’.  When we have all the facts and understand the truth behind the curtains of seducing deception and we are educated, then we can make an enlightened and informed decision concerning future actions and participations. This is not a ‘party pooping exercise’, simply a heartfelt effort, with only a humble and loving motive, to protect and enlighten, while exposing the enemy.It’s always helpful to remember that darkness is looking for any way to capture our children and as fear is the opposite of faith, he uses things and events that scare and produce fear. The kingdom of darkness is based on fear and hate. Gods kingdom is the total opposite and is based on Faith and Love. It’s a good thing to consider which of these we would rather have our precious children exposed to. All the devil comes to do is steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).He uses seduction, temptation and deception among his arsenal of weapons. Many problems in adult life can be traced back to harrowing experiences associated with scary incidents at times such as Halloween. With this in mind… and not wishing to dwell on the subject more than to highlight its dangers...

Do we know where the word Halloween came from?

Halloween a day celebrated around the world when people dress up in costumes, collect candy from neighbors and have parties, but do we ever take time to think about the origins of Halloween? Most people don’t think twice about participating in it saying ‘It’s all in fun’ or ‘Its not evil to me’, but is this so called hallow evening really so innocent?

Do we know that a holiday named Samhain was celebrated on October 31st for centuries before the word Halloween was invented?

Do we know that Samhain is still celebrated by many, many people today?

Do we know that many Halloween traditions of today can trace back to the pagan practices of ancient peoples?

Do we know that the Lord commanded us not to be involved in the types of activities that take place on Halloween?

Once we learn the truth behind Halloween we’ll be stunned.

The Biggest Pagan Holiday Of All

“Halloween has been imposed by an esoteric- satanic culture which induces the community to perform rituals of witchcraft, spiritualism and satanism which can even lead to ritual sacrifices and violence. For satanists, Halloween is the most magic day in the year and during this night they perform black masses, esoteric-magical ceremonies and encourage witchcraft.”

“Christian parents and all those who believe in the values of life should know that Halloween is the adoration of Satan which has been disguised through games and parties for young people. Halloween is especially dangerous for young people because it encourages an esoteric-magical mentality which seeks to subvert religion by attacking spiritual values and what is sacred through an initiation of occult arts and images.”  
No fascination or pictures! – just the Facts!

This is always a difficult time for Christians, especially those with children. It has been suggested that for a Christian to be asked to celebrate Halloween is like asking a Holocaust survivor to celebrate Hitler’s birthday!

It is also a dangerous time for some, since many of the seemingly harmless involvements associated with Halloween can also be entries for the occult, and can prove very tragic for the unwary.In ancient Britain and Ireland, the Celtic festival of Samhain was observed on October 31, the end of summer. November 1 was the new year for both Celtic and Anglo-Saxon calendars and was one of the most important and yet sinister calendar festivals of the Celtic Year.

Settling in northern France and the British Isles, the Celtic people engaged in occult arts and worshiped nature, giving it supernatural qualities. The ancient Druids were the learned priestly class of the Celtic religion. Many of their beliefs and practices were similar to those of Hinduism, such as reincarnation and the transmigration of the soul, which teaches that people may be reborn as animals. The Druids believed that on October 31, the night before their New Year and the last day of the old year, Samhain, the Lord of Death, gathered the souls of the evil dead who had been condemned to enter the bodies of animals.The Druids also believed that the punishment of the evil dead would be lightened by sacrifices, prayers and gifts to the Lord of Death. 

The souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day, and the autumnal festival acquired a sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, black cats, fairies, and demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature.On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther drove a stake into the heart of many of the prevailing non-Biblical concepts by nailing his famous 95 theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany, which started the movement known today as the Reformation. The single most important event in modern history. and appropriately, he did this on Halloween.In the eighth century Pope Gregory III decided to turn the pagans important day into a day of the church by calling it All Saints’ Day. 

Chosen to be a spiritual counteract against the previous nights occult activity; in the same way as many churches were constructed over pagan sites, to encourage those who were unsaved to participate in the Christian services that were then held in the same location.

In Western Christianity it’s celebrated on 1 November by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Methodist Church, the Lutheran Church, and other Protestant churches.Also known as All Hallows’ Day, Hallowmas, Feast of All Saints, or Solemnity of All Saints. This became a Christian festival celebrated in honor of all the saints, known and unknown.

So now we call Oct 31st All Hallows Eve or evening, or as we are familiar with today, Halloween.

Various customs have developed related to Halloween. In the Middle Ages, poor people in the community begged for soul cakes, and upon receiving these doughnuts, they would agree to pray for departed souls. This is the root of our modern day trick-or-treat.

Modern Halloween Traditions

In early American history, Halloween was not widely practiced until the 20th century, when it was introduced by the Irish Catholic settlements. Gradually, Halloween became a secular observance, and many customs and practices developed. The carved pumpkin may have originated with the witches’ use of a skull with a candle inside to light the way to coven meetings.

The Occult is Increasingly Popular

Halloween is, for many, a crossover involvement in which innocent games can lead to serious entanglement with real witches, neo-pagans, New Agers, and other occultists.

A common pastime is the use of a Ouija board to attempt to contact ghosts or spirits that are believed to be roaming about. This can lead to serious consequences including unwanted activity from evil spirits.Evil spirits have a vested interest in Halloween because it supports the occult, and it also offers novel and unexpected opportunities to control and influence people.

Occultism includes Satanism, astrology, Kabbalah, Gnosticism, theosophy, witchcraft and many forms of serious magic. It includes activities seeking the acquisition of hidden things, which are expressly forbidden by God in the Bible.

Jesus paid the price for our freedom with His Blood. 

The Biblical View

Halloween practices can open the door to the occult and can introduce forces into people’s lives that they are not equipped to combat.

There is genuine power in the occult, but it has its origin from darkness not the power of God through His Holy Spirit.

Any serious study of Biblical demonology will reveal Satan as the power behind false religion, witchcraft, idolatry and the occult.

The Word of God makes it clear that these are all to be shunned as dangerous. There were many superstitions and false concepts in ancient Israel about which the Bible is silent. However, occultism, in any form, was punishable by death! Why?

Because – The spiritual power and reality behind idols involves evil spirits.

 A Halloween Project?

Every year, many people are perplexed as to how to deal with the children’s celebrations surrounding Halloween. On the one hand, participating in the perpetuation of the usual pagan (and occult) rituals are hardly the enterprise of a Biblical Christian however on the other hand, creating constructive alternatives can be challenging.

Many churches and families organize a ‘Harvest’ festival with games, prizes, etc., as an alternative. 

Your ProtectionIntellect alone is insufficient.

“If it were possible, it would deceive the very elect.”

This is another example of the necessity to truly understand the Armor of God as outlined in Ephesians 6.

It’s not just the physical dangers of Halloween, of pranks gone too far, or the dangers of tampered with treats, as serious as those are, there are real spiritual dangers of this season.There are other activities though that go on around Halloween that we who are Christians must be aware and wary of. In the past two decades there has been a resurgence of paganism and witchcraft in our culture, largely in response to the secularization of our nations.

If people feel a spiritual void, they will fill it with something.  

The often colorful, folksy rites and accoutrements of popular witchcraft and paganism are attractive and can be quite appealing to the senses.

Anything that is used to find power apart from our Holy God, can be dangerous to our immortal souls.It seems that it’s at Halloween time that many otherwise devout, God-fearing people will go to a seance, allow someone to read the Tarot for them, will dabble in a little harmless white magic and otherwise play around with things forbidden by Scripture.

(In truth, there is no such thing as harmless magic.)

THAT is where the danger lies. The Powers of Darkness draw us in, not so much by great temptations, but by little enticements. “Oh, but that Tarot reading was just silly fun! (But, the reader did seem awfully accurate, didn’t she?)”, “I know we Christians don’t believe in reincarnation…but that little past life regression game…well, it was so real!”, “Oh, I don’t really believe in these candle burning rituals, but the colored candles are so pretty and, well, they do help me feel better.” And on and on. But doing these things…small and innocent as they may seem to us…not only opens the door, (even just a little) to evil, these are sinful in the eyes of a loving and Holy God.They contradict the honor,

respect, and loving fear

that we owe to God alone.

Spiritual PlumblineWhen in doubt?… Don’tAs we accept Jesus,

we are saying

YES to LIFE

and

NO to DEATH Halloween is a celebration of death!

Just say NO because When God gives you light… walk in itwe are encouraged that…  so here are some real treats

to look at, ponder and think on..

The God we love who sent Jesus

has created so many, many beautiful things…

 

He is TheLets fill our hearts, homes and gardens with

His love, beauty and peace…

Be Safe this week..

you are greatly loved!

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.

 

Is there a connection between NASA and the Exodus?

These Are The Travels

נָסַע

Numbers 33:1

Says these are the travels of the children of Israel ..

So today we might comment saying:

That was then, this is now!

How is this relevant to us today?

Scripture reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:16  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, conviction, rebuking, correcting and training/instruction in righteousness,

The journey, the travels of God’s children includes us, if we too are His children.

The Word tells us that salvation is of the Jews /Israelites…

John 4:22  22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews

..and it’s given to the Jews, the Hebrews, the children of Israel first, and then to the goy/gentile /heathen nations.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16/17

Numbers 33 is a reference to our own spiritual journey and our relationship with God, our Heavenly Father. The ups and downs, twists and turns of their path through the wilderness, is a journey to discover Who God is as our Heavenly Father; and to deal with personal issues in regards to our relationship with Him and the rest of God’s family.

We know all too well if a relationship is not consistently worked on by both parties, it will slowly but surely die. Communication is the basis of life and if there’s no interaction, then it will first become stale and stagnant because no effort is put into keeping it alive and fresh, then it will wither and die. The parties becoming more and more separated and the distance increases over time to the point where, even a bridge cannot reach them both to reconcile them. It is not strange then, that  we have been given the ministry of reconciliation, and Messiah is the bridge because nowhere is too hard for His arm to reach.

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 

 

Here in Numbers, the word for travel in Hebrew is

nasa

which means:

to pull up, pluck up, tear up, put away, to remove.

Strong’s Hebrew: 5265.

נָסַע (nasa) — to pull out or up, set out, journey

5375 nasa or nasah:

to lift, carry, take

Original Word: נָשָׂא
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: nasa or nasah
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-saw’)
Definition: to lift, carry, take

This is not the kind of travel, in the sense of traveling for a holiday or a vacation journey, or for a business trip as the world thinks of travel. The travel in Hebrew concept is:

to a new life – a new destination.

So here we see the travels, the nasa, of the children of Israel, had plucked them from Egypt and pulled them up out of bondage. These travels/nasa, were taking them and removing them from slavery and bondage. The nasa was

to a new life, a new destination, in a new land.

Here it’s is worth noting that the letters nasa, are used as an acronym for the National Aeronautic Space Agency, and what are they focused on? Space exploration and travel to new destinations, though some will say it stands for never a straight answer!

As believers in Messiah Jesus we often use spiritual concepts and we call it spiritualization. These are important because otherwise we would miss some of the things God is saying to us when we read statements like Numbers 33;1; thinking it’s just a historical fact or information with no spiritual message relevant for us today. Again if 1Timothy tells us that every word of God is inspired, then, theres a reason it is there; and we should therefore take the time to see what it is there for!

In Hebrew, a spiritual concept is sometimes called an Inyan; which is more like a general idea, as opposed to something specific.

 Inyan – matter, business, thing –

een-YAHN : עִנְיָן

Yesh li inyanim – I’ve got things (to do), errands – יש לי עניינים

Hayu inyanim – There were “things” – “היו “עניינים

These concepts or ideas sometimes have subheadings which some call Bechinos.. בקינוס

Such terms of speech, by way of concepts and ideas, have been used for thousands of years by the Hebrew sages and rabbis/teachers. In the re-new-ed Testament, Yeshua Messiah Jesus used them all the time and an example is when He quoted from the scriptures.

Man shall not live by bread alone

to illustrate His own situation.

He was using an Inyan – a spiritual concept.

So the scripture in Numbers 33:1 is an inyan, revealing the concept of – going from slavery to freedom. It is the story of the children of Israel and us. They left Egypt which is also the picture of us coming out of the world system/the kingdom of darkness, and into the promised land the Kingdom of the Heavenly Father; and ultimately into a new land, a new heavenly kingdom of the spirit, the eternal realm of the creator of the universe.

Every place they camped, was a new challenge and a place to learn new lessons and grow, maturing in faith.

They were learning about themselves, as well as learning of the God of their Fathers. They saw His miracles, signs and wonders but they did not know His ways; they did not know His character as Moses did. He made known His ways unto Moses, His doings unto the children of Israel. Psalm 103:7

God had taken them out of the world, now He had to get the world out of them. Their deliverance from Egypt was more than physical bondage, they were bound spiritually and needed the delivering freedom that only a covenant relationship could provide. Their whole lifestyle had to change, just as it does for every believer; the old man, the carnal flesh life lived by the 5 natural senses, had to die and be transformed into the spiritual walk of the new life and the new relationship with our Heavenly Father.

As a personal inyan, this is our story; that of our journey, our nasa, to know God our Heavenly Father after we have accepted Jesus/Yeshua as our savior/Messiah.

In Matthew 7:13 Messiah spoke of our lives as that spiritual journey, walking a spiritual road, path or way..

 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.

…and in Mark 4 He describes the types of people and characteristics who will nasa/ travel along the paths.

Everyday is a new challenge and we take up our cross daily the symbol of death to the self life, to follow Him, not to follow our own way, not to follow religion, not to follow other people or popular preachers, nor ideas or idols. We must go forward and upward as there is no standing still in God; and in this statement we could insert an Inyan. Our walk could be likened to climbing a steep incline or hill, one covered in ice. A person can only go forward with consistent effort, and must keep going or they will slide backwards/backslide. We cannot stand still and every day in our walk it either brings us into a closer relationship with the Father and deeper within the boundaries of His kingdom; or further away from the light into the darkness of this worlds systems and all its’ temptations..

The ground has to be prepared so that when the seed of the Word of God is sown into our hearts, the ground is ready, all the stones and thorns have been pulled out and the soil is deep enough to allow healthy growth. Here in Mark 4 is another inyan:

In this first verse that seems at first glance to be just a statement, or headline, or title of what is to come next, here is the word nasa. The letters in Hebrew are:

nun, samek, ayin – n’sa

The meanings in the letters of the word help to remind us everyday that we have the opportunity to:

rise to a new level of faith-  nun

dependence on the father – samekh

and to Ayin – see His miracles at work in and through us.

Our nasa is a spiritual one because, it’s not by the energy of the flesh that we journey through the wilderness and enter into the Kingdom of the Heavens.

In Numbers 33:1 – 36:13 All the inhabitants of the land must be dispossessed and all their imagery had to be destroyed, then they could enter and possess the land.

No compromise. No negotiations. No diplomacy.

Luke 21:9 In your patience possess ye your souls – By your endurance gain ye your lives…

We are to be calm and serene, masters of ourselves, and superior to all irrational and disquieting passions by keeping the carnal flesh submitted to the spirit.

Before we can possess our souls we must clean out the land and in this case the land is us.

We too are to show no mercy, our feelings are irrelevant, we are to clean out the land. It seems ruthless and we are not to be shocked at the intensity and seeming lack of compassion; because these are the enemies of our souls. They are stumbling blocks to our spiritual growth and we are to purge our own lives and take possession of our God-given inheritance once and for all. We must be brutal and unforgiving toward sin and we must be merciless and cold blooded toward the flesh if there is any hope of driving out the enemies we have given refuge to. We must be hard with ourselves and refuse to be swayed and seduced into accepting any peaceful co-existence because, it will only be a false peace.

If we are to be Holy and set apart, the land/us, must be cleansed. If not these areas which remain will be as thorns in our sides, and pricks in our eyes vs.33:55,56. The consequences of not driving out every last resident will be a continual source of trouble. Any remnant left in a wound will fester and cause infection and further devastation and we should not underestimate its potential; think of how painful an eyelash can be! The removal is far less painful than the unending torment of their presence, which will not end until the root cause is permanently removed. We must not invite them to stay or see them as part of our personality and be comfortable with them. Once we allow sin to establish its stronghold, we are faced with the inevitability of 2 most unpleasant alternatives; either we allow it to fester and in the end give up to its deadly effects or, consent/agree to being kept still, as it is permanently ejected from us. If we don’t, vs. 55/56 warn us those that remain will be our ruin. The fight for our inheritance is right now, today. The inhabitants will cause us harm if we don’t drive them out.

We are often so quick to move forward and unwilling to wait. We want to get there quickly the sooner the better, we have a problem with it taking too long; this is why we need to develop patience. Our Father sees this not as arriving at our destination, but as the process of our maturing through the experience. We learn to trust in Him, we learn to walk according to the still small voice, we learn not to complain, not to get frustrated or irritated. We learn that He will supply our needs and we learn His word and His ways. It requires a long time because we learn slowly, line upon line and precept upon precept. Our true self is always exposed when we are under pressure, this is the refining of silver and the furnace for gold. Job 10.  All the impurities come to the top when heated and that is what is required, for us to see and deal with the flaws in our character. This is the reason we have trials in life, they are for our ultimate good.

There is a future Exodus ahead for us and we are in the wilderness now, on our journey our nasa, camping and moving from level to level, learning and being prepared to enter in to the promised land – heaven. Their journey, their travels their nasa is also ours and we have the benefit of His. written Word and His grace to strengthen our resolve so we can endure and end in victory; meanwhile these are the travels, our travels, our nasa towards our final exodus.

Come quickly Lord Jesus.

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.