He Closed Their Mouths?

In Matthew 16:24-26

24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?…

Matt 16:25 AMP. or whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].

Also in Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

John 12:25
Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Mark 8:35
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

In Revelation 12:11 Messiah again speaks of not loving our physical earthly lives above Him. And they loved not their lives unto the death –

Meaning that they did not so love their lives that they were unwilling to die as martyrs. They did not shrink back when threatened with death, but remained firm in their attachment to their Savior, and left their sacrificial death as a testimony to the truth and power of faith.

In the well known chapter of Hebrews 11:33 where the heroes and heroines of faith/trust/batak are recorded. Verse 33 says who by faith [that is, with an enduring trust in God and His promises] subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions…

Closed the mouths of lions,

is a reference to Daniel and the story we are quite familiar with.

In the course of study for the post link below:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/is-there-such-a-thing-as-an-excellent-spirit/

The following historical information may not only be of interest but help to explain the reason for the strong faith exhibited by Daniel in the lions den and his 3 companions who were thrust into the fiery furnace. Both are extra-ordinary accounts of faith filled men whose lives were lived in exile and under tight control of idol worshippers.

Many in the west are unfamiliar with any government /royal kingdom that operate under strict rules with penalties that include death/torture for breaking the conditions by which all citizens and or foreigners in exile there, are to live their lives. Regimes that enforce unrighteous regulations are notably those who serve false gods and not the true living Creator of the universe. Many of these so called gods are the fallen angels who followed Lucifer and are still, like their master, deceiving the masses into false religions, idol and demon worship; an ongoing issue recorded all through the Bible.

Like Daniel and the 3 who did not fail their testing times, we are to stand firm on what we know to be the Way the Truth and the Life. Scripture warns us that times are at hand when every persons faith will be tested.

When faith is tested, we can expect to be tempted, however we can also expect to be strengthened; even when it brings out our shortcomings and inadequacies. In this respect, testing is a positive and good thing because it allows us to see where our lives need improvement. Only when our beliefs are tested can we truly know ourselves and if we are principled men and women of integrity; and that He is our Father and we are truly His children.

Matthew 4:1-11

The story of Messiahs’ testing/temptation,
shows how the Son of God/Son of Man was to fulfill His calling by only using His power in obedience to His Heavenly Father’s purposes and plans; and we are encouraged that  “No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

“…we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:3-5.

Testing proves the quality of our faith and of our character, by  confirming the integrity of our beliefs and values; thus building confidence in our Heavenly Father and imparting to us a greater strength of resolve.

We know that there will be times when we will be put to the test and have to stand strong in our faith in Him.  When that time comes, we must remember His promise to us to be strengthened and that He will be with us.

In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7.

Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

James 1:3

Going from the verse in Hebrews 11:33 to the Book of Daniel 3:8-30, readers are introduced to three young men: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

This account takes place about 600 years before Messiah was born during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who besieged Jerusalem and took captive into exile, many citizens of Israel. Among them were four young men from the tribe of Judah who, after they were living in captivity, they were given new names. Daniel was called Belteshazzar, Hananiah was renamed Shadrach, Mishael was called Meshach, and Azariah was named Abednego.

As well as being fellow Hebrew captives, they were also Daniels’ friends. The four young Hebrews soon proved themselves to be exceptionally wise, they found favor with King Nebuchadnezzar when Daniel was found to be the only man capable of interpreting one of his troubling dreams. The king placed him in a high position serving as chief governor over the whole province of Babylon, including over all of the wise men of the land. Then at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as Daniel’s advisors.

These brave believers in the Most High God held on to their faith even when threatened with death by fire. Their lives serve as inspiration for those whose faith is challenged or those who face persecution, torture and hardship for their beliefs.

But why were they so courageous?

Why did they not try to save their own lives?

Sometimes martyrdom fulfills the Father’s plan and other times divine intervention better accomplishes His purpose.…

Isaiah 55:8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

The lesson for believers is that we must be ready and willing to serve the Lord whether in life or by physical death.

King Nebuchadnezzar had a huge golden image built as a symbol of his power and glory. He then commanded his people to bow down and worship this image whenever they heard the sound of his musical herald.

Those who disobeyed the order would be thrown into an immense, blazing furnace.

According to classical historians, Nebuchadnezzar was, the man responsible for making Babylon one of the wonders of the ancient world, and was credited with building the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Interestingly ‘Nebuchadnezzar’ seemingly wasn’t his name,  because the second ‘n’ was apparently an error?

His Babylonian name was Nabū-kudur-usur, if so, he should be called Nebuchadrezzar.  The ‘mistake’, supposedly by author of the Book of Daniel, has become the most frequently known name by which the Babylonian king is now referred to.

Nebuchadnezzar, like most absolute rulers, insisted on his subjects coming to the gold statue of himself and paying homage to it,  and by association, to worship Nebuchadnezzar himself.

Because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego worshipped only the One True God, they refused to bow down to the false idol and by association to the king.

3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

For some reason, Daniel is not on the list, so he avoids this punishment, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are summoned to appear before the king; yet, they remained courageous in the face of Nebuchadnezzar’s demand to bow down in front of the golden statue. They said:

Daniel 3:16-18: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer you in this matter. If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O King. But even if he does not, let it be known to you O King, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Not only did they refuse to bow down to his idol, but they just call him ‘Nebuchadnezzarnot prefixing it with ‘King’, and they did not finish what they said with ‘live forever;’ and the letter ‘O’  in most translations is not there in the original Aramaic. Their reply was, lo chashechin  and in the KJV it’s translated as: “we are not careful to answer you.” which is basically the meaning of lo chashechin saying in a blunt fashion: “we do not need to answer you.” In a way it’s a disrespectful answer, like saying,

“I don’t have to answer to you.”

But note they add the word pitegam

which is rendered:

on this matter.

Pithegam is not a matter but a decree, a demand or command.

The word matter is pithegam which is: a decree.

The three Hebrews were not defying the king in everything, only in this specific decree. There is a lesson for us here, that when we are living under leadership that is not in line with scripture, we are only obligated to obey unless it is in directly against the command of our Heavenly Father.

When Nebuchadnezzar heard that the three Hebrews had refused to worship his idol he was furious. He summoned them and would normally have had them cast into the furnace immediately, but instead he gave them a second chance. However, by doing this, he gave himself a challenge in front of everyone; was he going to face disgrace and embarrassment by backing down to their God?

The three young Hebrews may have known that Nebuchadnezzar respected their God, which in turn may explain the attitude toward him. What the young men told Nebuchadnezzar was, “If our God is able, He will deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire.” The next word should read as then, not and. Then he will deliver us from your hand /or your power.

The word deliver is shazav

which means: to rescue,

but in this form, it would really be inciting the king because they were saying: If our God is able he can rescue us from the fire, then we will really be rescued from your power…. or in other words:

If our God is able he can rescue us from the fire we’ll never have to submit to your power and it will prove who’s really in charge.

Then they added a final insult to the one who dared to defy their God. But even if He doesn’t choose to rescue us, we are still not going to worship your gods.

For the three men the emphasis was not that they were confident that they would be saved from the fire, but rather on their commitment that they wouldn’t bow down to any other god/idol.

All through the history of the ecclesia, right to the present day there are Christian believers similar to these three young Hebrew men who took their stand in faith for God, but they’re not delivered. Many have been thrown to lions, burned at the stake, tortured, shot, hung, beheaded and many other horrors. Just as the 3 Hebrews, they stood strong saying: “My God can rescue me, but even if He doesn’t, I am not about to deny Him.” Have we ever had to face such a decision, or maybe we are about to?

Nebuchadnezzar was furious and ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were bound and cast into the flames. The blast from the flames was so hot, it killed the soldiers who had put them in.

Then he was amazed marveled at what he saw:

“But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:25, ESV

Calling the men to come out of the furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged unharmed, and not even a hair on their heads was singed and their clothing didn’t even smell of smoke.

This made such a huge impression on Nebuchadnezzar that he made a declaration saying:

“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.” Daniel 3:28, ESV

Due to the miraculous deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the King made a decree that the rest of the Israelites in captivity were now to be protected from harm and that they were guaranteed freedom of worship; furthermore they all three received a royal promotion.

The most important fact is that being Hebrew/Israelite/Jewish, they were forbidden by the Ten Commandments to worship any ‘graven image’, because it is a form of idolatry, these men could not in good conscience kneel before the Babylonian king’s statue. There are rare instances within Hebrew/Israelite/Jewish law that mandate an individual to sacrifice their own life rather than engage in something that violates the commandments written in the scriptures.

They were still determined to die rather than bow to the idol, even if God did not raise them from the dead.

Yehareg ve’al ya’avor

“Let him be killed rather than transgress”

refers to the requirement to give one’s life rather than transgress a law.

Although ordinarily one is permitted to transgress halakha when a life is in danger, certain situations require an individual to give one’s life.

There are three sins for which one is always required to die rather than transgress:

idolatry

sexual misconduct such as incest, adultery, homosexuality, or bestiality

murder

Adultery and idolatry are also excluded; according to most authorities, a person must give up their life rather than violating these prohibitions. The Talmud (not scripture) also says that if the violation would be public — and especially if it’s a time when the ruling authorities are seeking to get Jews to violate the Torah’s commandments — one must give up your life rather than commit even the smallest infraction.

The first exception, idolatry, is extrapolated from Deuteronomy 6:5 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might,” meaning that one should even surrender one’s life rather than serve any divinity aside from God.

For us the meaning of the story of the fiery furnace is that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship a graven image/idol of the Babylonian king, for the simple clear reason that God forbids it; and for their faith and loyalty, they are saved from the oven or furnace. The story also reveals God’s power directly to Nebuchadnezzar and offers a moral lesson to everyone living under tyrannical regimes and also to those rulers who would try to set themselves up higher than the One True Living God.

In chapter 6 we read of Daniel also defying a kings decree.

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

Praying 3 x a day refers to the 3 daily requirements:

shacharit the morning prayer

minchah the afternoon prayer

and ma’aariv the evening prayer

These date back to the time of the patriarchs and are referenced in Daniel 6.

Apparently the king Darius Daryavesh the Mede didn’t want to deliver Daniel over to the lions. Daniel would have been in his 80’s. However the new Persian law forced him to deliver Daniel up to his accusers since no decree or edict once issued by the king could be revoked. Verses 15/16 15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.

Has anyone ever wondered why the importance of the lions?

Why a lion pit?

Below is a picture that shows King Darius’s son Artaxeres II standing before the figure of the goddess Anahita riding on a lion.

Anahita is the Sun God of ancient Persia and the protector of Persia. (Persia is modern day Iran.)

Mithras, or the lion is the symbol of the Persian identity depicting strength and unity.  

That unity was very important as the Persian Empire was made up of many conquered nations, but each conquered nation shared in the governmental structure of the Persian Empire. Daniel was one of its three presidents who was a prince of the Judean Empire.

The lion symbolized the strength of the Persian Empire and it’s this strength that would maintain the united Empire together with the conquered nations. They believed that there was strength and power in unity. For this unity to be kept, all those who were a part of it had to agree and worship one primary god and in this case Anahita was picked and the picture shows her riding on the lion.

The Lion and Sun Motif of Iran

On the left is King Artaxerxes II he is facing the goddess Anahita who sits on top of a lion.

In the background to Anahita can be seen the clear display of the sun which is a representation of the ancient Iranic god Mithras, the sun emanates 21 rays, the same symbol which is used by varous ancient Iranic cults among the Kurds of Iran, Iraq and Turkey. The 21 rays related to the festival date of Mehregan (Festival of the Sun-god Mithra) which takes place from the 16th to the 21st of Mehr of the Iranian calendar.

If anyone violated or placed another god above Anahita, they would have to face the wrath of the lions and this is the reason why the lion’s den was kept.

These lions were kept to punish anyone who desecrated the authority of the reigning god or goddess.

That is why it was so easy to set Daniel up and get King Darius to sign the proclamation that no one could worship any other god than Anahita!

This was not simply a battle in the physical realm but it was in the spiritual realm too. If Daniel survived being thrown into the lion’s den, it meant that the whole religious order, if not the existing governmental structure of the kingdom would be under threat. This is the reason why King Darius ordered everyone to worship Jehovah, Daniels’ God. All the elite of Darius’ kingdom witnessed their sun god Anahita challenge Daniels God Jehoveh and there was no comparison. At the same moment he was thrown into the lion’s den, Daniels’ God Jehovah supernaturally

closed the mouths of the lions.

Research shows and scripture suggests that there must have been very many lions in there. 

This is because the servants of Anahita were thrown into the same den afterwards and they with their families numbered almost 300 and the Bible says they were devoured before they hit the ground!

Once in the lion’s den is it a possibility Daniel, who in his wisdom, understood the secrets of God, exercised some scriptural dominion, (Genesis), over the lions and they became docile and full of shalom? 

However one thing is certain, King Darius knew that Daniel had a personal relationship with the Creator God of the universe; and not only that Daniel would be protected by this God Jehovah but also  because this God clearly loved Daniel. This was a great deal more than could be said for false goddess Anahita, who did nothing to either save or protect her servants when they were thrown to the lions.

It appears King Darius was so impressed with Daniels dedication to God that he adds something very revealing. He said that

God will deliver him.

The Aramaic word used here for deliver is shazav

which means

to rescue or deliver,

but it is a deliverance made out of love and affection!

Scripture records that King Darius is really saying,

‘that if your God loves you so much, He will not let you suffer this fate.’

It could be true to say that sometimes God will not only deliver us out of a trial because He loves us, but He will also act to protect His Name and good reputation revealing what kind of Righteous and Loving God He is.

Both Daniel and the 3 Hebrew youths were very aware of the fact that they had all been raised to know and keep the 10 commandments; and to not deny the living God, nor to bow in worship to any other idol even unto their own death.

We need to understand the Hebraic mindset and that they were prepared to die, having no fear. They were full of faith in Gods’ ability for the outcome, whatever that may be.

They trusted their Heavenly Father that because they had been faithful in their obedience to His commandments, to not to bow and worship any idol; that He would either deliver them from the lions and fire by a miracle, or raise them from the dead if they burned or were mauled. Or, they would simply die and be in His presence. Either way was win-win situation for them all.

Having an excellent spirit like Daniel  and

Is There Such A Thing As An Excellent Spirit?

an unshakeable immovable faith like

Belteshazzar/Daniel, Hananiah/Shadrach, Mishael/Meshach, and Azariah/Abednego is what every one of us is going to need in the days that lie ahead, and starting today, not in somewhere off in the distant future.

We need to ask ourselves the very serious questions..

Do we truly love Him?

Are we keeping His commandments? because…

 “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.

John 14:15

And echoed by Messiah in

Mark 12:30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment

Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” John 14:21

That includes those given in Deuteronomy 6:5
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Are we loving our lives more than Him?

Is our faith unshakable unto death?

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God; we need to stay in His Word and remain strong in the Lord and the power of His might. NOW is the hour of preparation, keep your lamps filled family, and keep your eyes on Him the author and finisher of our faith…keep looking up for our redemption our deliverance and our exodus is drawing very nigh!

Messiah is coming

He is even at the door….

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם‎,

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.

Are You 99 Yet?

Genesis 17:1

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; Walk [habitually] before Me [with integrity, knowing that you are always in My presence], and be blameless and complete [in obedience to Me]. AMP.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk before me, and be blameless. NHEB

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect. ASV

The word BEFORE

is

Strongs 6440

Original Word: פָנִים
Transliteration: panim or paneh
Phonetic Spelling: paw-neem’

Hebrew Rabbis teach that the words we have in English Bibles translated as

(walk) before me

ə·p̄ā·nay
לְפָנַ֖י
before Me

should read as

walk WITH me.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

Plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh {paw-neh’}; from panah); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.) — + accept, a-(be-)fore(-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ – out), till, time(-s) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), WITH (-within, + -stand), X ye, X you.

This changes the perspective

of Abram’s relationship with the

Almighty God – El Shaddai –

which we render as:

the all sufficient God

or the Almighty-Breasty-One.

The Hebrew language incorporates numerical value to letters and words and it is understood that the number

9 is the number of completion

and

90 is the number of Humility.

According to this it would indicate that when Abram became

99, complete in humility,

he recognized and understood that God was truly

El Shaddai – all-sufficient

and he could

walk WITH God.

Torah scholars definition of humility is that, we are not for one moment to be trusting in self, in the arm of flesh, our own capabilities, knowledge, talents or any kind of security we have built; or any dependence on wealth or provision from any source other than the Lord/El Shaddai.

It is having complete total TRUST in our

Heavenly Father as El Shaddai,

to be all-sufficient for us.

We are to put our trust/batak in our Heavenly Father as He and Abram did. Messiah never put His trust in people because He knew and understood the shortcomings and weaknesses of the fallen human nature.

Jesus didn’t commit Himself to them. John 2:24,25.

He was never suspicious, yet He was discerning and wise.

He was never bitter, resentful or offended, nor did He take vengeance toward anyone; and yet at the same time, He never gave up hope for them.

Why?

Because His BATAK/TRUST

was totally and completely in His Father first.

If we place our trust in people before Him and not in the Father, we will quickly experience despair, hopelessness and disappointment towards them. This can lead to bitterness and resentment because they didn’t measure up to how they presented themselves. Understanding that not one individual, except Messiah Yeshua/Jesus, can ever be right or perfect in this life, prevents the negative assessments in others. The only part of a person or ourself we can trust, is God’s spirit of grace and mercy in us.

Hebrews 10:9. He came to do God’s will.

An individual’s obedience is to what they see and determine to be a need. Messiah’s obedience was to His/our Fathers will. To seek and save the lost and tell the heathen about Him. However, first we are to make sure that God’s needs and His will in us personally are being met. Jesus/Yeshua said for us to be mindful of this in Matthew 6:5-15

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.[a]
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,[b]
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c]
12 and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.[d]

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The purpose of our training as His disciples, is to get us into the right relationship towards the needs of our Heavenly Father and His will, plan and purposes, NOT ours. Once our Father’s needs in us have been met, He will then open the way for us to accomplish His will, which is meeting His needs, plan and purposes somewhere else.

 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18

We are also to remember that He said: Matthew 18:5 who ever receives one little child in my name receives me.

Messiah came as a child Himself. He is entrusting Himself to each of us and desiring our individual lives to be a Bethlehem; where He can grow up, where the natural life could be slowly transformed by the indwelling life of the Son of God. His ultimate purpose is that the life of Messiah be manifest in and through us. The same life/ chaim that was in Him can also be in us, by the power of HIs Holy Spirit, just as it was in

Luke 1:41. and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh.

And we are to be always ready with a listening ear for the slightest whisper of His Voice/kol, calling to us. In the Song of Solomon there is a verse that says:

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land; 2:12

A season of the voice of Messiah, the bridegroom is calling.

This season is also a time of pruning, to bear more fruit for His Kingdom.

The dove, Yonah (Jonah) in Hebrew, reminds us that Messiah Jesus pointed to Noah and Jonah as end-times signs.

The dove was a sign for Noah and Yonah/Jonah/Dove

was a sign to the people of Nineveh

to repent and turn to the Lord before His judgment came.

Matthew 12:39; 24:37.

The entire book of the Song of Solomon is a picture of Messiah’s love for His bride; into whom we are grafted and His voice calls to us in unconditional love and devotion. He is calling to His Bride.

Those who truly love Him will respond to His loving call.

Like always attracts like- what is common between people will draw like a magnet, just like the old saying, birds of a feather flock together.

Like desires, like lifestyle, like interests, like goals, etc.

If you ever feel you don’t fit, like you are a square peg in a round hole, then you’re probably in the wrong place with the wrong group. The Spirit of God within people draws them together.

Phil. 2:2-8. fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit.

1Pet 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded [united in spirit], sympathetic, brotherly, tender-hearted, and humble in spirit;

Romans 15:5 Now the God of endurance and of encouragement give to you to be like-minded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus;

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be perfected, be comforted, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 

We are to have Messiah as the center and the priority of our lives.

Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Spirit which is given to us and like Elizabeth/ John leaped when in the presence of his Messiah.

We too have that inner knowing… we are one in Him with fellow believers/ disciples and love has always been the test of true discipleship.

Those listening to the voice of their beloved, will not be deafened by the cries of man. In a world filled with noise, all clamoring for our attention; we need to hear only the voice of our beloved and those who love Him will hear and recognize His voice and will respond just like the sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me John 10:27

They will even hear the tender gentle cooing of the turtledove above the chaos of the world busyness. And just as Elizabeth’s inner involuntary response was to the close presence of Messiah within Mary.

We are up to watch for Him, wait for Him, with baited breath, and anticipation as the bride for her groom; and as we do, our heart will not only listen for Him… our hearts will hear.

There are times when many bewildering experiences challenge the peace/shalom in our souls; however, when we truly love Him and are listening, and our spirits are submitted to Him willingly, He works all things together for good.

 

Just as the scripture records the story of Joseph in Genesis 50:20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

God has His Plan and purposes, His ways are not our ways.

’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’” Isaiah.55:8,9.

The one who truly loves Him submits to His discipline and chastening, also called pruning, shaking and sifting. His love holds us steady beneath the chastening rod.

“I will make you pass under the rod [as the shepherd does with his sheep when he counts them, and I will count you as Mine and constrain you] and bring you into the bond of the covenant.

Ezekiel 20:37-38

The verse says that the sheep

pass under the rod.

Besides being an instrument of both offense and defense, the rod was, in effect, a two-foot club;

it also functioned as a tool, under which the sheep passed.

What does this picture?

First of all, it pictures counting. The shepherd would count the sheep in his flock to make sure they were all present and accounted for.

This is also a picture of something else, because as the sheep passed under the rod, which is a symbol of the Word of God, they would undergo a very close examination. The shepherd would run his rod backward or across the sheeps body, which separated the wool. This action allowed the shepherd to look down onto the sheep’s skin, enabling him to see both the condition of the wool and the skin which was hidden beneath.

Our Savior the Good Shepherd, is illustrating that by means of His rod, He is giving us a careful, close examination: it gives Him the opportunity to check the quality of His sheep and it also provides a means of separation. As His disciples, both quality and separation are the reasons that He carefully examines us. The rod and the path it leads us on, will take us to deep and difficult places, taking us right into the hidden man of the heart where holiness is formed.

In Matthew 25 we read of the separation of the sheep and the goats. The rod helps to identify, or is a means of making sure of ownership. Sheep’s ears were often bored through or distinctively notched as an identifying mark. When the shepherds could not always clearly see the identifying mark because  several flocks had mixed together in the fields, they would make the sheep

pass under the rod.

When they did, the shepherd would flip back the EAR to see the mark of ownership. Again, it also gave them a chance to examine and check the health and quality of each of the sheep.

Note the EAR… that listens and hears! 

Right now we are all

Because now,

this season,

is the time of our judgment – I Peter 4:17,

and we are being evaluated to make it clear to whom we really belong: the Heavenly Father or the adversary.

Who is our Shepherd?

Who are we following?

The rod is a vitally important instrument for a shepherd and no good shepherd would be without one.

This process is critical and should not be avoided but rather welcomed because it means He loves us.

Hebrews 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

1Corinthians 13:7 because love believes and hopes and all things and love will never fail.

Love endures what ever comes. It seeks not its own doesn’t retaliate because it rests in Him rather than in the circumstance. As long as we are focused on and our desires are fulfilled in him we will never be deprived of comfort.

Luke 1: 53

He who goes away Will always be empty in spite of his riches. He who seeks the Lord first will never be unhappy or poor.

David said in Psalm 146:3 Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation–

6 Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them, Who keeps truth and is faithful forever,

What is first in our lives?

We must trust in Him 1st

We must put His will 1st.

We must put Messiah 1st.

The questions we should and indeed

must ask ourselves are:

Are we 99 yet?

and are we in other words,

at a place where we are

walking before/WITH the Lord El Shaddai?

Is He all sufficient to us?

Are we doing Gods will for our lives?

Are we hearing His voice directing our path or our own choices of future plans?

Will we respond to His loving call?

Are we watching for Him, waiting for Him, with baited breath,

and anticipation, as the bride for her groom?

Can we say with the Shulamite?

The dove

was a sign for Noah and Yonah/Jonah/Dove

pruning before He returns…

Are we willing to be sifted like the disciples?

Luke 22:31

Are we truly 99 – complete in humility, yet?

If we are obedient and willing

we shall eat the good of the land

and we will be ready to walk WITH Him.

 

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim/friends and mishpachah/family!

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week,

you are greatly loved and prayed for.

Please don’t leave here without assurance of your salvation

Not sure ..you can be…

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.

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 The Number 40, Caleb, Joshua And A Candle?

Caleb is a Hebrew name that means:

faithful, whole-hearted, bold, or brave.

Some people also think that it might mean:

devotion to God.

CALEB. ka’-leb (kalebh; in the light of the Syriac and Arabic words, the meaning is not “dog,” which is kelebh, in Hebrew, but “raging with canine madness”; Chaleb): 

Hebrew, the name is pronounced [kaˈlev]

Strong’s Hebrew: 3612. כָּלֵב (Kaleb) — a son of Jephunneh .

Strong’s Hebrew: 3091. יְהוֹשׁ֫וּעַ (Yehoshua) — “the LORD …

Word Origin. from Yhvh and yasha.

Definition. the LORD is salvation.

The Hebrew name יהושע ( yehoshu’a, Strong’s #3091)

is the combination of יהו ( yeho ),

a short form of the name יהוה (YHWH, Strong’s #3068),

and the verb ישע

( Y.Sh.Ah, Strong’s #3467),

The Hebrew word, יְשׁוּעָה Yeshuah, means

Salvation, or Deliverance.

Its Primitive, 3-letter Verb Root is יָשַׁע Yasha,

meaning to Save, or Deliver. 

There are many places in scripture that the number 40 is used; some say 146, others 149 times, in both the Old and New Testaments.

What does 40 mean?

What is its’ symbolism in scripture?

And what can it mean prophetically?

Our Heavenly Father is a God of order. This means He is precise in every detail and has calculated every aspect of the universe since before the beginning of time. Without a way to measure, order is hard to explain. 

Order is often expressed numerically, and the Scriptures are filled with numbers. We find the first measure in Genesis 1:5, where the end of the first day is indicated.

Seasons, days, weeks, months, and years are measures used many times.

Distances are also measured, and patterns can be seen as the meaning of all these numbers are examined. These numerical patterns provide insight as to the meaning of these numbers and reveal another layer of understanding to be found in the Scriptures. We are told:

it is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search them out. Prov. 25:2.

It’s up to the reader to pay attention to these numbers and look for their deeper meanings. Interestingly in

Daniel 8:13, Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking,

the then future Messiah is referred to as the Palmonee, sometimes translated as Palmoni, or the Wonderful Numberer.

The name is ” PALMONI ” and it means. ” the numberer of secrets, or the wonderful numberer “. 

Hebrew: פלמוני, romanized : Palmōnî

In the Hebrew concordance, Strong’s 6422, it states that ” Palmoni means ” certain “. It derives from ” Peloni “, Strong’s 6423, meaning ” a certain one “. ” Peloni ” derives from ” Palah “, Strong’s 6395 { A primitive root }, meaning ” apart .

Palmoni is Pala which is spelled Pey Lamed Aleph.

Palmoni, a numberer or revealer of secrets, … or Palmoni, which some render “the wonderful numberer“; or, “the numberer of secrets”, or “that has all secrets numbered” (g); and apply it to Christ, whose name is “Pele”, wonderfulthe eternal Word of God, that is in the bosom of the Father, and knows all secrets, and the number of times and seasons.

The Hebrew meaning, “the numberer of secrets, or, the wonderful numberer“. “Pali” means “secret” while “pala” means “wonderful” or marvelous; and, “mena/mone” means “to count or number”  The mysterious Palmoni of Daniel 8:13 is none other than the Messianic figure of the Old Covenant period–now known as the Son of God, the child born for our salvation–Yeshua, our Messiah.

Unto that certain saint which spake – Margin, Palmoni, or, the numberer of secrets, or, the wondeful numberer. The Hebrew word, פלמוני palemônı̂y, occurs nowhere else in the Scriptures. The similar form, פלני pelonı̂y, occurs in Ruth 4:1, “Ho, such a one, turn aside;” in 1 Samuel 21:2, “appointed my servants to such and such a place;” and 2 Kings 6:8, “In such and such a place.” The Italic words denote the corresponding Hebrew word.

The king answered Daniel and said, “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.” Daniel 2:47

This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parablesI will utter things [unknown and unattainable] that have been hidden [from mankind] since the foundation of the world.” Matthew 13:35

If we are to understand that repeating a thing indicates its’ significance, then considering the number of times 40 appears, it must be very important! 

God flooded the earth for 40 days and nights.

Moses fasted for 40 days, and

Messiah was in the wilderness for 40 days.

40 generally symbolizes:

a period of testing, trial, proving, probation and revealing;

and the

hardships one must endure to become more spiritually aware.

Another way to understand the meaning of 40 is to look at the Hebrew alphabet, which has its roots in pictograms/pictures. Recall from previous posts that each letter has a symbol and a numeric value. Click link below for more details:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/ancient-pictographic-hebrew-language/

The 13th letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, (Alef bet), is the letter Mem;

has a numerical value of

40

and is the picture symbol of

water.

 The original pictogram for Mem

was a zig-zag pattern that depicts water or chaos.

Although the picture symbol has changed,

today the meaning is the same.

There are many references to the sea in Scripture and used many times, in situations that cause fear or are chaotic. Two examples are the storm that ended with Jonah swallowed by the fish; and when the disciples were caught in the midst of a storm in a boat. Such events with water help us understand the picture of the letter Mem.

While chaos and turmoil are connected with the testing in the two examples, we also see Gods’ Grace as He restored calm

Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is the Living Water, 40 and Mem mean water and chaos, however He is also the Prince of Peace.

Below are a few examples of where the number 40 is clearly seen in the Scripture and what it may mean.   

Moses, Elijah and Jesus each fasted in the desert for 40 days.

It is significant that three of the most important individuals each endured 40 days without food or water as the ultimate test of faith, these fasts were used to reach specific goals.

Moses proved his loyalty to God and received the Ten Commandments/Sayings.

Elijah’s faith was shaken after threats from Jezebel. He went on the run, fleeing to mount Horeb, or the mountain of Elohim, to hear from God. He was fed by an angel and walked 40 days and 40 nights without further sustenance. After 40 days, he heard from God and returned to challenge the priests of Baal which brought an immediate change to the situation in the land.

Elijah gained instruction on how to lead the children of Israel; Messiah Jesus overcame Satan’s temptations, they both passed their tests and in the process gained new insights into the Father’s ultimate plan.

 After His baptism, Messiah Jesus was filled with the Fathers’ Holy Spirit and was immediately separated into the wilderness. His compliance showed His instant obedience and reminds us of the need for fasting and prayer in our lives. Messiah Jesus/Yeshua fasted from both food and water for 40 days and nights and He overcame the devil when He was tempted afterward.

Likewise, today we will face temptations and difficulties. Father’s Holy Spirit may call us to prepare for 40 days before a challenging time. We may even be tested and tempted for 40 days or go through a trial for 40 days as our Savior did. Luke 4:2 Messiah told us He was leaving so He could give the Gift of His Holy Spirit to us as a helper through such times. Messiah set us an example so that we could know how to overcome our challenges.

The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years:

After being freed from Egypt, Moses and the Israelites needed direction. Our Heavenly Father planned for them to go to the Promised Land, this was only possible after the whole generation of those who’d doubted His plan had died. The Hebrews had to travel through the wilderness, living on God’s daily provision of manna, for 40 years, due to the unbelief in their hearts. Only when the last of that generation had died did He allow His people to enter the promised land. This clearly shows that sometimes to fully reveal God’s divine will, patience is necessary.  Despite this testing, He provided for them faithfully. They always had food, protection, and their provisions had a supernatural lifespan.

 

 The prophet Ezekiel was instructed by God to lay on his left side for 390 days and his right side for 40 days to “bear the iniquities” of Israel and Judea (respectively). Ezekiel 4:4-8. The days corresponded to the number of years each kingdom insulted the name of God through wickedness and rebellion. Ezekiel suffered greatly, but his insights helped prepare the Israelites for the coming of Messiah Jesus.

The three great Hebrew kings, Saul, David and Solomon, were each recorded to have ruled for 40 years. This is significant because 40 years is considered by many as a biblical generation; meaning: a new group of Israelites rises up, sustains itself, then dies out. For the 3 kings, this measure of time also serves as a warning as 20 years of their rule was marked by prosperity and 20 years by ruin. It highlights the Prophet Samuel’s misgivings over inducting kings in the first place: as eventually, they’ll take from the people more than they give.

The above examples and context of the number 40, gives us clues regarding the meaning. As 40 is a mark of a generation, it doesn’t refer to how long a person lives but indicates changes are made after this time period. This principle is seen when many kings ruled for 40 years those above and also Rehoboam.

Goliath was a giant Philistine soldier who took pleasure in taunting and humiliating the Israelites. The Philistine and Israelite armies stood on opposite sides for 40 days. A new Hebrew champion would come out each day to meet Goliath face-to-face, only to be destroyed. After 40 days, a young shepherd from Bethlehem, named David, was sent by God to defeat the Philistines, this began a new chapter for the children of Israel bringing solidarity to the kingdom.

40 is connected to change.

The change can occur quickly, sometimes it is very unpleasant and at other times, the change is a process which takes years. Perhaps how quickly the change happens for us to come in line with God’s plan depends on our obedience. In Davids case, he believed God would give him victory over the giant; so the change came immediately when David chose to believe God’s promise.

Another well known 40 is in the story of Noah. Because the sins of humanity had become too great, God called Noah to build an ark that could hold two of every living creature on earth, as well as his own family. God flooded His earth for 40 days and nights. When Noah and his family found dry land once again, our Heavenly Father made a covenant with Noah promising that He would never completely flood the Earth again. By doing this a level of trust was restored that had been lost since Eden.

Some more references to 40:

The bible was written by 40 different people.

The Holy Place of the Temple Sanctuary was 40 cubits long.

The rains fell in Noah’s day for 40 days and nights. Genesis 7:4

Israel ate manna and wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Exodus 16:35

Moses was with God on the mountain, 40 days and nights, without eating bread or water. Exodus 24:18, 34:28

The spies searched the land of Canaan for 40 days. Numbers 13:25

40 lashes (stripes) was the maximum whipping penalty. Deuteronomy 25:3

God allowed the land to rest for 40 years. Judges 3:11, 5:31, 8:28

Abdon, a judge in Israel, had 40 sons. Judges 12:14

Israel did evil; God gave them to an enemy for 40 years. Judges 13:1

Eli judged Israel for 40 years. 1 Samuel 4:18

The holy place of the temple was 40 cubits long.  1Kings 6:17

Elijah had one meal that gave him strength for 40 days. 1 Kings 19:8

Joash reigned 40 years in Jerusalem. 2 Kings 12:1

Egypt to be laid desolate for 40 years. Ezekiel 29:11-12

God gave Ninevah 40 days to repent. Jonah 3:4

Goliath presented himself to Israel for 40 days. 1 Samuel 17:16

Saul reigned for 40 years. Acts 13:21

Ishbosheth (Saul’s son) was 40 years old when he began to reign. 2 Samuel 2:10

David reigned over Israel for 40 years. 2 Samuel 5:4, 1 Kings 2:11

Solomon reigned the same length as his father, 40 years. 1 Kings 11:42.

Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for 40 years. Acts 13:21 

David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 40 years.  2 Samuel 5:4

Ezekiel bore the iniquity of the house of Judah for 40 days. (Ezekiel 4:6)

Jesus fasted 40 days and nights. Matthew 4:2

Jesus was tempted 40 days. Luke 4:2, Mark 1:13

Jesus remained on earth 40 days after the resurrection. Acts 1:3

Our Heavenly Father gives us types and shadows, or symbols, as warnings and precursors of the real event for that day and time and for later generations. The example of the Hebrew children wandering in the desert for 40 years after Moses was being given the Torah/Law/Teaching/10 Commandments for them, by God.

Moses was raised and educated for 40 years in pharaoh’s household. After murdering the Egyptian, Moses himself was exiled for 40 years. He was forced to learn a completely different lifestyle in Median to prepare him for the next 40 years until the encounter with the burning bush.

The last 40 years of his life required the preparation from the previous two 40 year seasons.

 

1500 years later, Messiah spent 40 days in the wilderness prior to the start of His ministry and eventual atoning death at Calvary. He spent 40 days on earth after the resurrection. The new believers and disciples received His Holy Spirit at Pentecost/Shavuot and all were given 40 years to accept the Fathers gift of grace, then, in AD 70 the Roman destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem, judgment came upon the those who would not believe.

Now to connect the number 40 with Joshua and Caleb who were 2 out of 603,550 that left Egypt!  This surely is a remnant!

(Numbers 26 is a similar numbering to Numbers 1)

Numbers 13 begins an insight into the life of Caleb

when he is aged 40!

Josh 14:7 records:

40 years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart”.

The last time we hear of Caleb is at age 85 in Joshua 14. This is a kudos to Calebs integrity and the example of his consistent faithfulness throughout those 45 years. There is no reference to any word of complaint from him, which is commendable considering the fact that he waited for his inheritance wandering with the faithless generation for 38 years in the wilderness. Both Joshua and Caleb were sustained by the Lord through the consequences of the peoples unbelief.

Caleb was a living testimony to the absolute certainty of the promises made by God, as well as a consistent example of faith. Our Heavenly Father kept Caleb as a continual witness to the children of Israel, preserving him as a testimony to the faithfulness of His Word. He is mentioned throughout the record as a witness: 

Numbers 26:65 “For the Lord had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun”.

Numbers 32:11-12 “Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land…Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the Lord”.

Deuteronomy 1:35-36 “Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers, Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the Lord”.

Caleb had another spirit!

The spying mission had not altered Caleb’s outlook, because his reaction was, to go up and possess.

He was embracing the command of God to possess the land! Later in his life, Caleb made the statement: “Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart” Josh 14:7.

Again, the different spirit of Caleb is clearly demonstrated in what he says here. He does not report according to the sight of his eyes, but according to his faith in God’s power. It is not based upon sight, nor perception, nor according to the thinking of others, but according to his own understanding of God’s promises. It was a report based on faith, not fear. He wanted to go ahead immediately in full assurance of God’s good deliverance. 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Heb. 11:1

Sometime we find that in our own lives we can be reluctant to do anything at once/immediately, preferring to procrastinate to wait and see instead. This putting off and delaying, could take place within our own lives, where we have identified an issue, sin, but are reluctant to take action to correct it.

Within the Word of God, Caleb is portrayed as an example of one who is consistent because he had a different spirit and it is surely an example for us.

Caleb, his different spirit, and the very important fact that

he wholly followed the Lord his God.

If something needs correcting in our lives and there needs to be a change for the better; then there is sometimes a need for an immediate/at once kind of action. It is in these times we can show this spirit of immediate obedience, and as in the case of Caleb we will without hesitation... wholly follow the Lord our God. 

Caleb was also an example to the nation of Israel, particularly to the tribe of Judah into which he had been absorbed. This spirit in Caleb not only motivated him, but it also had a positive effect on all of Judah, it affected Othniel, and Caleb’s daughter Achsah, to take hold of their inheritance.

Concerning the report given by the spies, the issue was not the accuracy of the report and the facts were certainly very clear and real.The issue was whether the spies were seeing with their eyes of the flesh or with their eyes of faith and although the report was a true one, it was not a faith-filled one.  The conclusions made by the 10 spies were completely different from those of Joshua and Caleb.

They all had knowledge, but the knowledge they had gained did not automatically lead to faith and the same could be said for us. Just because we read the Scriptures, it does not mean we automatically become faithful servants; in the same way attending weekly meetings doesn’t prove our will is in line with the Father’s will.  The Scriptures must both be read and acted on so that our hearts and minds are affected by its inerrant power and only then our own personal desire will line up to godly principles.  Transformation can only occur as we begin to line up our thoughts and desires to our Heavenly Father’s way of thinking, doing and being.

Calebs different spirit is seen in a number of ways.

He was:

A gentile willing to join the children of Israel no doubt when the nation was still in Egypt.

Well-known and respected among the people. 

A wise man who did not fear man, he feared God.

More faithful than many of the natural children of Israel. 

Able to give a report not out of fear but according to faith.

He employed his eye of faith and not just the eyes of his flesh.

and he was convinced of the promises made to Israel and to the patriarchs.

Compared to the world around us, we should all like Caleb, have another spirit.

Even though we might be thought of as weird, peculiar, and  different in the worlds eyes, being different in this way is a good thing. We need to express a lifestyle that has godly principles, by working hard, being honest and upright in all we do. Sometimes our very stance on certain issues and politics can make us stand apart, especially when we are asked to explain our scriptural view and it can feel that we are quite alone, and that the majority is against us.

This is an opportunity to show that we stand with those like Caleb.

If Calebs example is to teach us anything, it seems that having a different spirit is something our Heavenly father encourages! He looks for those who would stand apart from worldly ways, He seeks those who do not see only with eyes of flesh.

Instead, we should be like Caleb, confident in that which we cannot see, for us it may be the promises which have not yet happened. Instead of us trying and wishing to fit in with the norm, by way of  topics of conversation, local social events etc., etc. we need to be  like Caleb…different…

We should keep our language clean, the topics of our conversation should remain wholesome and the things of the Lord should be preferred over work events. By choosing to set ourselves apart from the world we will have the opportunity to stand with our Lord and with the multitude of His bride/ecclesia/set-apart saints in the Day of Judgment. Those who have followed a different spirit during the times of their testings and trials.

Numbers 14:24 Caleb had a different spirit in him and has followed me fully. And his descendants shall inherit the land.

When we pray and expect answers are we fully ready for what will follow because answered prayers always bring new challenges.

Imagine if all the prayers prayed were answered all at the same time? Yes there would be rejoicing however, there would also be new added responsibility.

With any crisis, there are always changes.

Solomon prayed and asked for wisdom and we too should not only ask for things according to our Fathers will, but also that our hearts will be strengthened to receive, plus that we be given added wisdom for all that follows. It is possible we have seen some people succeed only to end in failure. This happens when individuals seek outer blessings and their inner spiritual strength is neglected, revealing the difference between the carnal and spiritual life. The Hebrew children saw God’s glory, signs and miracles and yet they tested Him 10 times and did not listen to His voice. Because of disobedience and rebellion, not all those who treat our Heavenly Father with contempt will see the promised land/eternity. Verse 26 calls them evil, they grumbled and complained and they died in the wilderness bearing the consequences of their idolatry.

Caleb was not the only faithful spy. When we read Joshua 11:21-22 and the summary of the conquest of the land, we see Joshua as well as Caleb. Both of these men drove out the Anakims, defeating them. What they had believed over 38 years earlier was coming to pass!

It was in Hebron that the spies in Numbers 13:22 saw the Anakims, and it is Hebron Caleb longs to take in victory. Moses swore to Caleb that he would receive the land “whereon thy feet have trodden” Josh 14:9. Caleb trod all over the hill country of Hebron and he was now going to be given the very places he so longingly desired.

Caleb would lead them in the battle; his confidence is the same as it was 45 years earlier. He believed that God could still use him.

In all of this there is a lesson for us:

We should look to the consistent example of those elders in the body of Christ, the ecclesia and our local assembly of believers, we should value their faith, listen to their wise teachings, respect their experience and follow their example. Look how the faith of one person can inspire a generation as it did with Caleb. Let’s not be restricted by our generational age categories but instead, take the time to speak to those who are older, those who have weathered the storms of life and understood the deep things of God because they will not always be around. There is a lesson here also for the older ones amongst us, to continue the work of the Truth while there is strength in our bodies, and that retirement from a paying job or career doesn’t necessarily mean retirement from the work of the gospel of His Kingdom of Truth.

So there is a connection between the number 40, Caleb and Joshua but what about a candle?

Joshua 14:8: “Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God.”  

the heart of the people melt

hearts melted  In Hebrew: himesin ‘eth lev 

את לב המסיו  

Hei Mem Samek Yod Vav   Aleph Taw   Lamed Bet

In Hebrew the meaning is:

melting hearts…as in a candle melting –

candle hearted…. lev mashak.

The 12 spies were sent out to scout out the Promised Land.  

10 returned with a bad report and a recommendation that they not enter the land due to an overwhelming display of power.

Only 2 spies, Joshua and Caleb said:

“God gave us the land, let’s go get it.”   

The report of the 10 spies made

the heart of the people melt. 

 But not so with Joshua and Caleb

The word melt is masah

which is used in a Hiphal form

himesin (hi me sin)  

and literally means

to cause to flow down.

Some modern translators will insert the word fear in here

to indicate that the people were

overcome with such fear, that their hearts melted. 

That is a part of it, but not all of it. Another use of the word

masah is melt

which is a picture of

a candle with a bright flame being fueled by the wax.

Once the wax has melted the flame has gone out.

It wasn’t just fear;

it was the final melting of the wax that held the flame of their expectations alive.

This candle had been melting since the beginning of their journey.

The wax of this candle was made of:

self-sufficiency,

pride,

and an expectation of comfort and security.

Their journey was anything but easy. They faced fear of starvation, thirst, poisonous snakes, invading armies, disease, etc.  God delivered them, but they were getting tired of it all.

Their wax was melting.

Now when they were about to reach their final destination, to finally receive their reward for all the struggles in the wilderness, what did they find out?  Indeed it was a land of milk and honey, but it was also a land full of giants.  

There is a limit to every one’s endurance, everyone has a breaking point.

For the children of Israel this was that breaking point. Although this final challenge wasn’t much different than previous challenges where they had faced certain death due to starvation, thirst or even attacks from enemies armies. They’d seen water come from a rock and manna/food from heaven, and a sea divided to deliver them from pharoahs armies. Now they are told there are giants in the land, but the only difference is that now they had a choice whether to go forward or not.  

Their candle wax was made of selfish desires and was not filled with the desire for God, for His will and plan and purposes.  In the past they had had no other choice but to depend upon Him when they needed water, food or deliverance. Now they had a choice, would they could once again face an impossible situation and trust in God?

Yet, when Joshua relates this story he says:  

“I wholly followed the Lord my God.”  

The word follow/followed is NOT in the Hebrew text,

all there is, is the word:

mala’ti

which literally means:

to be completely filled.

Joshua was saying: I was completely filled with God. 

Unlike the people who let their flame of faith and hope go out, Joshua’s flame only got stronger. His wax was not in the arm of the flesh but in a heart completely filled with God.

Such wax will never melt and the flame will only grow brighter.

To Joshua, this last test, the final trial was not another obstacle to the Promised Land; it was another opportunity to see the power of God, this time by his own choice.  

While the Israelites had all the skills required to run a nation which they had gained from their time in Egypt, they really had no faith and trust in the covenant God had made with them. Instead they trusted their inability to conquer the land! They forgot just Who the great “I AM” really was/is… Isn’t this also true today for some believers, who have little to no understanding of the covenant they have been given with Messiah Yeshua/Jesus and how, if we are obedient to His covenant, He will provide, protect and be with us all of the time?

Our hearts should bear witness with this because if we give our Heavenly Father the glory, it’s impossible to lose. The fact that our Heavenly Father made a covenant with Himself is because only He is able to keep one perfectly.  When our faith is in His Covenant, we please Him and then we can rest, knowing we are always protected and provided for.

The number 40 was also used prophetically in God’s Word, and because of that, we must believe that it holds significance today for us. The inhabitants of Nineveh were given a warning with a testing time frame of 40-days and the punishment on the city was held back because of the Grace of God giving them time to repent.

In Luke 11:30, Yeshua/Jesus points out that as Jonah was a warning to Nineveh, for 40 days, so will He Himself be the warning to His generation. As He stated it in the present tense, the word generation is again a reminder of the number 40. 

Surely this is a warning to every generation, including ours, to turn/teshuvah, from all evil and wickedness and live a life of repentance, in harmony with the will of our Heavenly Father.

Sin in our life may or may not be evident to other people. It may be a sin of fear, doubt and unbelief; however, if we will turn to Him with a humble, repentant heart, He is faithful to forgive us and care for us in every way.

Messiah came to warn us and also to show us He is the One Who can calm the chaos of the waters, the MEM, and all our lifes’ stormy circumstances. Sometimes the duration of our situation depends on us and how long it takes us to totally trust that He is faithful to His Word.

Continuing today, our Heavenly Father tests His children and many times, as in the account of Job, this testing is not always for  correction or punishment; it is to see if His children will remain obedient to His Word, if they will seek Him and still praise Him even in the chaos and storms of life.

And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. Deut. 8:2.

so that the [a]proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and [b]full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of [c]your souls. 1Pet.1:7-9

Faith is not faith until it is tested!

A faith that is not tested cannot be trusted.

If we are in the middle of a fiery trial or a time of testing, don’t grow weary or faint and don’t give up; because our Heavenly Father may not be chastising or disciplining us. He may instead be testing us to see just how strong our faith and trust in Him really is, both for Him and for ourselves to know! This is a great opportunity to pray for our brothers and sisters in Messiah, that we can all pass the tests presented before us; and stay obedient to our Father, keeping our trust in Him unshaken by whatever we may experience in the natural realm.

The scriptures tell us clearly that we’ll have times of trials, tests, sufferings, and we may be wandering in a spiritual wilderness for awhile; and we are to:

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

2 Cor.13:5.

Rest, peace/shalom is coming; the true rest, peace/shalom, that is found when we put our trust/faith in Messiah Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach.

For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. James 1:2-3

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Our Heavenly Father is always in the midst of the test and there is always an end to it and He promises…

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Cor. 10:13.

There does seem to be a connection between the number 40, Caleb, Joshua and a candle: 40 being the years of testing the faith of both Joshua and Caleb, who were the only 2 who passed the test because their hearts were not like candles, they did not masah/melt in the face of seemingly overwhelming obstacles. Their faith /trust was also a living testimony to the surety of the promises made by God.

Let’s not have Melting Hearts – Lev Mashah –  לב מה  but rather..

Let that same spirit be in you Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Phil. 2:5-11  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind, or self-control, discipline, and sound judgment 2.Tim. 1:7.

Let’s be like Caleb …of a different spirit…

faithful, whole-hearted, bold and brave.

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם‎,

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.

Omer’s Halfway Point

We are halfway to Pentecost/Shavout.

Many of us are counting each day

From

the Omer

in Passover /Unleavened Bread week.

There are 50 days between the Appointed Times/Feasts, and they are set apart as a time of introspection, repentance and preparation; making ourselves ready for His coming, in the outpouring of His Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh at Shavuot (Hebrew) or Pentecost (Greek meaning 50).

The Cyclical Hebrew Calendar below shows the Hebrew months and the Appointed Times of The Lord.

The infilling of His power for us to become His witnesses. The Appointed Times/Feasts of the Lord, were part of the annual cycle of Adonai’s Plan of redemption and kept by the Israelites as part of their normal lifestyle.

The Days of Omer

are a time of

reflection and growth

in preparation for

Shavuot.

For those new to

Our Fathers Appointed Times in His Annual Calendar

here is a brief explanation of

what it is

when it is

and

what it is for.

For those more familiar with the Fathers’ seasons, the last part of this post looks at:

Adams connection with the Omer?

More can be read about the Omer at:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/counting-our-blessings-with-omer/ 

https://www.minimannamoments.com/daily-devotions-for-the-49-days-of-omer/

Saying the

בְּרָכָה blessing/berakah

for

Counting the Omer (transliteration)

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, asherkid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sfirat ha’omer. 

Hayom yom echad ba’omer.

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

The season of Passover/Pesach

includes the week of Unleavened Bread

and the start of the Counting FROM the Omer

50 days towards Pentecost/Shavuot.

Some scholars say The Omer is counted every evening after nightfall, from the second night of Passover/Pesach, until the night before Shavuot/Pentecost.

There are disputes as to which day is the first day, and this has been going on since before Jesus/Yeshuas’ time; and can be studied further if the reader so desires.

Here is given a basic understanding of

the pattern

a reason to follow the main outlines for personal growth;

and

to remember and realize what Messiah has accomplished for us.

The 2 links given above have more details concerning the Omer.

The Book of Leviticus, ספר ויקרא

Vayik’ra 23:9 – 16

From the day after the Shabbat for 49 days.

In chp. 23 after the 7 day feast of

unleavened bread/Matzah

which western Christianity totally misses…

we come to a moed/appointed time

that does not have a name.

However the scripture says that at this moed or appointed time the children of Israel are commanded, notice it is not a suggestion! They are commanded to bring

an omer to the priests.

 

An omer is simply a sheaf;

specifically a bundle of grain

from the beginning of the first crop or harvest.

Which was most likely barley see Exodus/sh’mot 9:31…

Shemot, Shemoth, or Shemos

שְׁמוֹת ‎  Hebrew for: Names,

Book of Exodus.

…referring to the names of the Israelites who come to Egypt with Jacob.

The priest is then to

wave the omer

before Adonai/Lord God, as a

wave offering,

so that the omer

and the entire harvest will be accepted.

 Note on Leviticus 8:27:

He then put all these on the hands of Aaron and on the hands of his sons and presented them as a wave offering before the LORD.

Moses took the sacred portions of the peace offering along with the breads of the grain offering and placed them into the hands of Aaron and his sons. (See previous post for more detail). As they held the sacred elements, Moses presented them as a grain offering, implying that Moses must have joined hands with the priests in holding these elements. Hand in hand with Moses, still clutching the sacred portions of the sacrifices in their hands, the new priests offered the elements before God in a wave offering.

Facing the Sanctuary/Mishkan where the shekinah presence of the Father rested, they lifted the portions before the Almighty.

Then Moses took the elements back from the new priests and offered them up on the altar.

This has a Messianic implication for believers!

People may often feel unworthy to pray/talk with the Father, and sometimes people find it difficult to lift his or her heart to heaven.

We ask ourselves, how can we even dare to approach the Father when we are bowed down with the shame of sin and guilt?

Lets think on this as we approach our Heavenly Father in worship and in prayer, offering before Him the service of our hearts, the scarred hands of our High Priest/Messiah Jesus/Yeshua join with ours to lift the offering/presentation before the Father.

He lifts our hands together with His

in a wave offering

before the Almighty! Wow!

We are to understand the pattern

that our Heavenly Father set in place by WAY

of His Appointed Times/Feasts/Moedim,

which were given to us as

an annual rehearsal

for the future fulfillment by Messiah.

This was what Yeshua/Jesus completed

He was the

first fruit

the omer of the harvest of souls

presented to His Father

so that the entire harvest

all those who in the then future and still continuing today

would be acceptable to the Father. Wow!

Then from the day of your

bringing in the omer of the wave offering

count 50 days

and you will bring near a new offering to Adonai.

Vayikra 23; 15,16

The Book of Leviticus, ספר ויקרא

‘Va•ik•ra,’ means ‘And [the Lord] called,

Hebrew: ויקרא‎, Wayiqra, 

This was the precursor to

Shavuot/Pentecost

and the outpouring of

His Ruach HaKodesh

upon all flesh

fulfilling Joels prophecy of

the last days/end times/ end of the age.

This Shavuot was preceded by

the day of the wave offering and

49 days were to be counted forward to

bringing the new offering from the wheat harvest.  

shmot 34:2

and on that day 3000 souls were added…  

There is an inference to the time of counting, that the wheat crops are continuing to grow and ripen but will be ready for harvest when the counting is complete!

It also ensures the correct time (agriculturally), for the farmers to harvest the crops.

A further prophetic picture emerges if we recall that Egypt/מצרים (mitsrayim / meets-rah-yeem), is the type of the world system. This was where both the children of Israel/Yisrael, and ourselves have been freed from its’ slavery; and the one who had prepared the way for them to sojourn and be safe during the plagues so long before was Joseph. Joseph, a type of Jesus/Yeshua who had the dream of the 12 sheafs bowing /waving to his sheaf. The 12 tribes did bow down to Joseph, the type of Messiah; and One day every knee shall bow to the One who was the fulfillment of the Omer, the Wave offering before the Lord/Adonai.

Some call this day

Yom haBikurim/bikuriym Day of the First Fruits.

The scripture 23:9 does not mention bikuriym

which is the word often translated as

first fruits

in verse 10 is actually

reshiyt which means beginning

(familiar from bereshiyt/Genesis) .

The day following the first day of

Unleavened Bread

is called

Yom HaBikkurim י ום הביכורים 

the Day of Firstfruits,

or

Reshit Ha’Katzir  ראשית הקציר

the first of the harvest.

Reishit Qatzir ראשׁית קציר

The spring-time feast of Reishit Qatzir

Beginning of the Harvest

Numbers/B’midbar 28:26 clearly says that

Shavuot/Pentecost the moed/appointed time,

occurring 50 days later

is yom habikuriym ..

Shmot 23:16 and vayikra 23:17

also agree that

bikuriym

in this context is associated with

Shavuot/Pentecost.

Walking through the spring feasts moedim /mo’ediym we see a picture of our own walk with Messiah.

At Pesach/Passover, we are reminded of how we are set free from the bondage of sin;

then during the feast of matzah/unleavened bread, we have the chance to practice walking in our unleavened state/without sin.

As we continue towards Shavuot/Pentecost, we can count from the Omer. We are like the crops of wheat growing towards maturity, ultimately to become an abundant harvest for the Lord/Adonai.

Some important themes or subject matter for this season would be: sowing

growing

increase

being fed and nourished by His word

and

being mindful and focused

of how we are growing towards maturity in Him.

This time is often referred to as:

s’fiyrat haomer – counting the omer;

this is not exactly correct as it is

not the omers being counted but the days, that is:

the days from the day of the first offering of the Omer.

We should therefore say

counting FROM the omer  

s’fiyrat meomer /sefirat ha-omer 

מרעמ   ספירת  

The counting is to begin

according to scripture the 16th day of the first month.

Which is the first day after the first day of matzah/unleavened bread.

Yom haBikkurim /Day of the First Fruits

is at the same time.

Counting of the Omer 

סְפִירַת הָעוֹמֶר‎,

Sefirat HaOmer,

sometimes abbreviated as

Sefira or the Omer;

is always on 16th of Nisan /Aviv.

From sunset to sunset and is counted AFTER sunset.

This מִצְוָה – mits-vah – command, decree; derives from the Torah commandment to count forty-nine days beginning from the day on which the עֹמֶר  oh-mer – omer is offered.

The week of matzah unleavened bread

together with the

counting from the omer

is part of the

spiritual preparation

prior to the outpouring of His Spirit of Holiness 50 days after His Resurrection at Pentecost/Shavuot.

They had to wait in Jerusalem/Yerushalayim which would have been very dangerous for the Talmidim/Disciples of Messiah. However they were obedient and received the fullness of His Spirit/Ruach, to empower them to go out into all the world with the good news and make disciples/talmidim of all nations…….

Each year this is a great opportunity for every believer who wants to walk as His disciple/talmid

to do a spiritual check up.

We willingly get physical/medical check ups and its often required by employers/insurers. We get our vehicles/cars/transport checked regularly change the oil and tires yet we often neglect the most important area of our life and that is where we are spiritually.

This is an important if not a critical point of assessment and we tend to keep going along, without checking ourselves to see if we are still in the right condition to continue the journey as well as the right direction. We could even check our own oil level and pressure! For a car it’s important that the oil lubricates the engine parts, stopping friction from overheating and blowing up; and that there is the right amount so the engine does not dry out and seize up. So an annual spiritual checkup is just as critical for us and we should not leave it just for one time a year; however, this is a good time to do a personal one. Spiritual maintenance helps to prevent burnout when we will become unable to function effectively in our own lives and of little to no use in aiding and serving others.

In our personal assessment of our spiritual condition, we are reminded that it is the very first question our Heavenly Father asked Adam all the way back in Genesis/B’resheet:

Where are you?

Genesis 3:9

 

It was not that He didn’t know where Adam was physically because Our Heavenly Father knows and sees everything and nothing takes Him unawares.

Adams new spiritual condition was not a surprise to the Father but He wanted Adam to own up as to what had happened to him spiritually after he was disobedient and fell in sin.

We could and should put our own name in that very searching question….

Where are we?

Right now today ….where are we?

Our Heavenly Father is asking us

about our spiritual condition

and

about our position in covenant relationship with Him.

Where are we spiritually?

Are we still on the narrow Way?

We may be doing great in the natural sense, everything may be going along fine. Or we may be filled with our own ways, our own goals and dreams; and not pressing in to the things of Jesus the Messiah/Yeshua, as we know to do if we are to call ourselves His talmidim/disciple.

So there is somewhat of a connection with Adam and Omer in that, Adam needed to check his spiritual condition and do what he was required to do on his part to fix that broken fellowship caused by his sin.

In the same way we are to take the time to assess our spiritual position before the Father and refresh our relationship in covenant with Him by the power of His Ruach haKodesh/Spirit of Holiness. This is a time of turning towards the Father, a time of introspective teshuvah /repentance.

As we count from the Omer it’s a time of

reflection and growth

in preparation for

Shavuot/Pentecost/Feast of Weeks.

When we also remember Moses/the Giving of Torah and the celebration of covenant/marriage with the children of Israel who had just come out of bondage and needed guidelines for life/chaim.

 

According to the Torah (first 5 books of the old covenant), it took seven weeks for the Israelites to travel from Egypt to Mount Sinai.

The name Shavuot/Pentecost, meaning “weeks,”

refers to this seven-week period.

Each day is counted, which is known as the Counting of the Omer, or Sefirat HaOmer.

In the days of the Temple, the counting marked the seven weeks from the wheat harvest on the spring festival of Passover, to the harvesting of barley on Shavuot.

Festival of Reaping – חג הקציר (Exodus 23:16)

The Three Pilgrimage Festivals,

in Hebrew Shalosh Regalim (שלוש רגלים),

are three major festivals in Judaism

Pesach (Passover),

Shavuot (Weeks or Pentecost),

and Sukkot (Tabernacles, Tents or Booths)

when all ancient Israelites who were able would make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem, as commanded by the Torah.

Each of the three pilgrimage festivals marks a new period in the agricultural season:

Passover is also known as Chag ha-Aviv, the Spring Festival, which marks the beginning of the new planting season. The basic meaning of the word aviv, is the stage of growth in grain when the seeds have reached full size but have not yet dried.

Chag ha-Katzir, or the Jewish Harvest Festival of Reaping, is when the first crop of the season is ready. This happens at the time of Shavuot.

The next agricultural step is for all of the crops to be gathered. This happens with the third pilgrimage festival, Sukkot, which is also referred to as the Festival of Gathering, Chag Ha-Asif.

Day of the First Fruits – יום הבכורים (Numbers 28:26)

Yom Habikurim (Day of the First Fruits) comes from ancient times, when people would bring Bikkurim, their first and best fruits, as an offering to the Holy Temple. Bikkurim were brought from the Seven Species for which the land of Israel is praised: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates (Deuteronomy 8:8).

Shavuot and Pentecost

The Greek name for the Shavuot holiday, Pentecost, means “Fiftieth day.” This name refers to the fifty days between Passover and Shavuot.

 See other posts for more detail.

The scripture

teach us to number our days

takes on a new meaning in light of

counting from the omer.

Counting 49 or 7 weeks 7×7 is like counting a complete cycle counting 7x shabbats/Sabbaths. Weekly Shabbat is a cycle straight from Genesis and 7×7 is also like a cycle. The Moedim/Appointed Times of The Lord, and His set apart people, is an annual cycle following a planned specific pattern repeated, so we will remember His instructions, His Patterns that we are to follow –

fulfilled in Jesus/Messiah

that we may continue to remember and

follow the pattern, the WAY. Come Follow Me!

One final thought is that it was during these days of

counting from the omer

that the risen/resurrected Messiah Yeshua

was seen by His talmidim /disciples. John 20:19-25.

It is recorded that Messiah stayed forty days after His resurrection on this earth. He met with His talmidim/disciples again on the mount of Olives and ordered them to wait until they received His Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit. 

This has to be significant because nothing is happenstance with our Heavenly Father. There indeed is something about this period of time between His Resurrection and the giving/outpouring of His Spirit  that is so prophetic and powerfilled that it should give us great pause for thought!

He also appeared to so many other people.

Mary of Magdala Mark 16:9

Joanna Mary mother of James Matthew 28:9

the 2 on the road to Emmaus. Luke 24:13-32

References include: the gospels. Matt 28:8-10. Mark  

Peter had also met the risen Christ. Luke 24:34.

Eight days later again Messiah manifested Himself before His disciples/talmidim, and this time Thomas was there and he touched Yeshua/Jesus and believed Him from that moment. John 20:26-31

The third time Messiah came to meet His talmidim/disciples where they were on the seashore and He had breakfast with them.

He also showed another miracle by telling them to cast the net and the net was full of around 153 fish. John 21

   There are references both in John and in Acts.

Jesus/Yeshua ascended to heaven after this meeting with His disciples. Acts 1:3-12.

Messiah appeared five times on the first day of the week. He continued to meet His disciples and teach them during the forty days between Passover/Pesach and His Ascension.

Saint Augustine in his book 

De Consensu Evangelistarum 

(Harmony of the Gospels from about AD 400)

catalogues ten appearances of Christ.

1st to the women at the sepulchre;

2nd to the same on the way from the sepulchre;

3rd to Peter;

4th to the two disciples going to the town of Emmaus

5th to several of them in Jerusalem when Thomas was not present

He came again a 6th time when Thomas saw Him

7th time was by the sea of Tiberias at the capture of the fishes;

the 8th was on the mountain of Galilee, according to Matthew;

the 9th occasion is expressed by Mark, ‘at length when they were at table,’ because no more were they going to eat with Him upon earth;

the 10th was on the very day, when no longer upon the earth, but uplifted into the cloud, He was ascending into heaven.

However, Saint Thomas Aquinas notes, “But, as John admits, not all things were written down. And He visited them frequently before He went up to heaven,” in order to comfort them. Hence it is written (1 Corinthians 15:6-7) that “He was seen by more than five hundred brethren at once . . . after that He was seen by James”; of which apparitions no mention is made in the Gospels.

 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, it is recorded that Messiah was seen by over 500 people at one time after His resurrection. Over a period of 40 days up to the day Yeshua/Jesus went back Home He was seen by, and talked to a number of individuals. He said He would come back the same way He went to Heaven.

From the very B’resheet/Genesis – beginning we were created to walk before the Father in obedience to His statutes, ordinances and ways.

The first Adam failed – the last Adam succeeded

and showed us the WAY back to the Father, the truth/emet of our condition and the life/chaim that we can live and have because of His sacrifice.

He was also

The Unleavened Bread from heaven

The Omer that was waved and

The Firstfruits from the dead.

And furthermore counting from the

Omer to Shavuot

He is the outpouring ON the harvest

through His Spirit of Holiness/Ruach HaKodesh.

This was so He could be with us always even to the end of the age; empowering all believers who unlike the first Adam, will choose to be obedient and follow Him.

50 days for us to reflect and repent and be ready for the outpouring that we will remember at Pentecost/Shavuot; refreshing and reviving us again to be witnesses to Him as He has commanded us.

Time to consider our ways

and choose life.

The question that Adam and Eve were asked still applies, because the very same question that He asked mankind in the Beginning, (B’reshyt/Genesis), is the same question He is asking mankind today!

Where are you?

So it would seem there is a connection between

Adam and Omer

Let us allow the re-newed spirit imparted to us by the last Adam direct our steps these next days as we count them from Omer; not as a religious observance, but as one

desiring the fullness

of all Messiah won for us at Calvary

so we can be effective and bring glory

to the Name above every name.

Father teach us to count our days!

and let’s… 

Make each and every day count!

 

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם‎,

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim/friends and mishpachah/family!

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week,

you are greatly loved and prayed for daily.

Please don’t leave here without assurance of your salvation.

Let the deep inner knowing that you are sealed to the day of redemption by the Blood of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua bring you His shalom right now!

Not sure ..you can be…

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.

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.