What does this mean and does scripture give us any insight?
Is there anyone in scripture who was waxing strong?
The word waxing has several meanings :
In astronomical terms it refers to the ‘Waxing Gibbous’ phase of the moon and it is when the lit-up part of the Moon’s face grows from about 50% to 100%. It starts just after the First Quarter Moon and lasts until the Full Moon.
A waxing gibbous moon is more than half lit, but less than full.
The Sun’s light creates the eight phases of the Moon, including waxing crescent and waning crescent which is agradualdecreaseinmagnitudeorextent.
It more modern terms it can mean, a sound recording by a band and also describes the cosmetic process of applying wax: as in polishing, or filling, and also removing hair from skin. Waxing is used as a term to describe the maintenance of water and snow skis, snow boards and surf boards. As a hair treatment, and also in candle making with various types of wax: paraffin wax, soy wax, beeswax and coconut wax.
In our question:Are we waxing strong?
The meaning is:
Are we gradually increasing inmagnitudeor in the extent in our strength?
We would say that would refer to a person of courage, someonecourageous; and more importantly strong spiritually and mentally as well as physically.
In Hebrew the word Courage is
Chazak
חָזַק
Chazak v’ematz means
“be strong and of good courage”.
Without risk, there is no need for courage.
The corresponding Greek is G2901 Krataioo: to strengthen, to make strong. The Hebrew verb ‘chazaq’ conveys the idea of strength and power. It’s used to describe physical strength, emotional fortitude, and spiritual resilience.
The term can imply:
the act of strengthening oneself or others,
prevailing in battle or conflict,
and taking firm hold of something.
It is often used in contexts where encouragement, support, or reinforcement is needed. In the Hebrew cultural and historical background, the Israelites strength was a highly valued trait, both spiritually and physically. The concept of chazaq was integral to the their understanding of their relationship with God, Who was seen as the ultimate source of strength. This term is frequently used in the context of military endeavors, personal trials, and spiritual exhortations reflecting the importance of resilience and divine support in the face of adversity.
In Hebrew, one of the words for courage isamatz, אָמַץ.
Our Heavenly Father tells Joshua in the form of a commandment.
“Be strong and courageous – chazak v’amatz
kha-ZAHK
Hope in the Lord and “chazak!” – be strong!
The Septuagint translateschazak
as andridzou –
meaning: act like a man!.
That is, hope in the Lord, be stout hearted and decided in your convictions,
The term Septuagint, meaning “seventy,” actually refers to the seventy-two translators—six from each tribe of Israel—involved in translating the Torah/Pentateuch from Hebrew to Greek in the third century before Messiah was born. When Greek became the more popular language of the Roman Empire, assimilation became important for the Israelites. Many Jews, especially those further from Israel, grew up learning and speaking Greek, not ancient Hebrew. While the Law and the prophets remained tremendously important to the Jewish people, the Hebrew Bible became inscrutable to non-Hebrew-speaking Jews.
It’s no surprise that a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible emerged. The Septuagint isn’t even the only one. It’s just the translation that became most popular, and it’s the only Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible that has survived fully intact.
Strength, without courage, will only lead to brutality.
Courage, without strength, will only lead to futility.
Only genuine courage is commitment to our values, backed by the individuals will.
Strength is a great virtue, but when it stands alone it can be kept at a level of confinement only being used as a protective attribute.
2388 chazaq:
To be strong, to strengthen, to harden, to prevail,
to take hold of
Original Word: חָזַק Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: chazaq Pronunciation: khaw-zak’ Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-zak’) Definition: To be strong, to strengthen, to harden, to prevail, to take hold of Meaning: to fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer
Is there anyone in scripture who was waxing strong or courageous?
We have a saying, an idiom, about reaching the end of our strength, often saying ‘it was the final blow’; as in a fight when one of the contenders strikes the other with a blow that ends the contest.
We also sometimes say, ‘this is the last straw‘, meaning it’s the final negative thing that happens to us in our long list of harassing circumstances. And just when we think we cannot go one more step, or take, or handle one more thing going wrong; then there comes ‘that final blow” or ‘the last straw’, and we buckle under the load like the subject in the idiom: “the last straw that broke the camels back”.
The animal was so loaded down, that it was not able to move forward and just crumpled under the excessive weight; it was one too many to bear up under. It is also true when people receive bad news that their knees give way as strength drains from our bodies with the shock; and it is why people are encouraged to sit down before being told bad news and of tragic events. We are in frail human flesh bodies, which are not designed to receive continual punishment and will eventually stop functioning. However our spirits are not subject to decay and death and when fortified by our Heavenly Fathers Holy Spirit, an individual can become supernaturally strong in the face of adversity and impossible odds in the natural realm.
In Psalm 22:14David writes of how he feels:
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are are out of joint My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me.
This verse expresses the feeling of being weak, helpless and suffering, like water spilled on the ground. It is part of thePsalm of the Cross, which was prophetic of the crucifixion of Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ. He describes that;My spirits are spent and gone likewater, which, once spilt, can never be recovered; my very flesh is melted within me, and I am become as weak as water.
Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:6 As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time has come for my departure. NCV. My life is being given as an offering to God, and the time has come for me to leave this life.
The ‘libation’ or “drink offering” refers to a cup of wine a Jewish priest poured out beside the altar following the offering of a ram, lamb, or bull in the temple (Numbers 15:1–10; 28:4–7).
Just as the drink offering symbolized the end of the offering, Paul’s life was about to come to an end.
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.”
Melting hearts lev mashahלבמה
masah: to melt, dissolve, be liquefied
Original Word: מָסָה Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: masah Phonetic Spelling: (maw-saw’) Definition: to melt, dissolve, be liquefied
Word Origin a prim. root Definition to melt, dissolve, be liquefied NASB Translation consume (1), dissolve (1), melt with fear (1), melts (1).
Joshua 14:8 HEB: עָל֣וּ עִמִּ֔י הִמְסִ֖יו אֶת־ לֵ֣ב NAS: of the people melt with fear; but I followed KJV: of the people melt: but I wholly INT: went with melt the heart of the people
make to consume away, make to melt, water
A primitive root; to dissolve — make to consume away, (make to) melt, water.
As with any liquid which always seeks the lowest point it always flows down.
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.”
We all know the story of the twelve spies sent out to scout out the Promised Land. Ten returned with a bad report and a recommendation that they not enter the land due to an overwhelming display of power. Only two spies, Joshua and Caleb said:“God gave us the land, let’s go get it.”
The report of the ten spies made
the heart of the people melt.
The Hebrew word for Heart is:
לֵב
leb: inner man, mind, will, heart
Original Word: לֵב Part of Speech: Noun Masculine Transliteration: leb Phonetic Spelling: (labe) Definition: inner man, mind, will, heart
which is used in a Hiphal form 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 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 simply fear, it was the final ‘melting of the wax’ that hope, that had kept alive the flame of all their expectations. This ‘candle of hope’ had been melting since the beginning of their journey because the wax of this candle was made of self-sufficiency, pride, and an expectation of comfort and security. Their journey had not been easy by any stretch of the imagination, they had faced fear in the forms of starvation, thirst, poisonous snakes, invading armies, disease, etc. Our Heavenly Father had always faithfully delivered them, however the travelers were becoming very tired and discouraged wondering when it would all end. In other words, ‘their wax was melting’. At this critical point in their journey, just when they were about to reach their final destination, and finally receive their reward for all their struggles in the wilderness, what do they find out?
As the 12 spies return they give a disturbing report! Yes, it’s a land of milk and honey, BUT, it is also a land filled with giants.
That report was ‘the final blow’, ‘the last straw’.
The children of Israel had reached their breaking point.
As a trial or test, in fact it wasn’t much different than all the previous challenges. Many times they had faced certain death due to starvation, thirst or even attacks from foreign armies. They had experienced many miracles, they had seen water come from a rock, angels food fall from heaven and the sea divide as an escape from Pharoah’s army. With this in mind, the report that there were giants in the land, should not have caused them to doubt the promises of their Heavenly Father and the covenant He had made with them.
The difference in their circumstances was that now they had a choice to move forward or not. Their candle wax was made of selfish desires and not filled with the desire for God. Previously, they’d had no other choice but to depend upon Him when they needed water, food or deliverance. Now when they had a choice, they could once again face the impossible odds and place their trust in their Heavenly Father, or they could just throw another piece of straw of comfort, safety, on the camel’s back. This time when they were faced with what they knew rather than the unknown, the camel was loaded beyond it capacity to move and the fear prevailed.
They were not waxing strong!
This idiom was taken from an old Arab proverb about how a camel wearing shoes is loaded beyond its capacity to move. It’s meant to express that there is a limit to every one’s endurance, everyone has a breaking point.
However, when Joshua relates this story he says:
I wholly followed the Lord my God.
The word followis not in the Hebrew, all you have is the word:mala’ti
which literally means:
to be completely filled.
mil·lê·ṯî — 3 Occurrences
Joshua 14:8 HEB: הָעָ֑ם וְאָנֹכִ֣י מִלֵּ֔אתִי אַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה NAS: the LORD my God fully. KJV: melt: but I wholly followed INT: of the people I fully followed the LORD
4390 male or mala: to be full, to fill
Original Word: מָלֵא Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: male or mala Phonetic Spelling: (maw-lay’) Definition: to be full, to fill
Definition to be full, to fill NASB Translation accomplished (1), aloud (1), armed (1), become full (1), been completed (1), come (1), complete (3), completed (9), completion (1), confirm (1), consecrate* (3), consecrated* (4), covered (1), dedicate (1), drenched (1), drew (1), ended (1), endowed (1), expired (1), fill (38), filled (78), filling (5), fills (1), finished (1), fulfill (6), fulfilled (10), full (37), fullness (1), fully (8), gave in full (1), given fully (1), gratified (1), live (1), massed (1), messengers (1), mount* (1), mounted (1), ordain* (4), ordained* (4), ordination* (1), overflowing* (1), overflows* (1), passed (1), presume* (1), refresh (1), required (2), satisfied (1), satisfy (2), set (1), settings (2), space (1).
Joshua 14:8 HEB: הָעָ֑ם וְאָנֹכִ֣י מִלֵּ֔אתִיאַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה NAS: the LORD my God fully. KJV: melt: but I wholly followed INT: of the people I fully followed the LORD
Joshua 14:9 HEB: עוֹלָ֑ם כִּ֣י מִלֵּ֔אתָאַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה NAS: the LORD my God fully.’ KJV: ever, because thou hast whollyfollowed INT: ever because wholly have followed the LORD
Joshua was saying: I was completely filled with God.
Unlike the rest of the people who let their flame of hope go out, Joshua’s flame only got stronger. His wax was not in the arm of the flesh but in
a heart which was completely filled with faith in the Lord His God;
and this kind of wax will never melt, the flame will only increase. To Joshua, this final test was not another hindrance to entering the Promised Land; it was another opportunity to see the power of God, and this time by his own choosing.
It’s doubtful there is anyone reading who has not experienced the last straw or final blow during their lives; and for many it will have been on more than one occasion. The enemy will assault our faith with situations that will test our resolve to the max. It all depends on our spiritual viewpoint because it hinges on how we see our Heavenly Father and how we see ourselves. If we are really and truly ‘in Christ/in Messiah’, then He is both our defense and protection because we are IN Him.
Their hearts melted and they gave up because they listened to the words the people were saying and their negative reaction to the report. It is critical in the days we are living that we live by faith not by sight; that is, we are not to make decisions or be influenced by what we see and hear in the natural realm, but on what we perceive and know by the guidance of the indwelling of our Heavenly Fathers Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit. 2Corinthians 5:7
We are to have faith in the King of the Universe Who created everything by the words He spoke. Nothing is a surprise to Him and He looks at how we respond to our circumstances in all the testings and trials we face.
Where is our trust?
On what and in Whom do we place our faith?
Our Heavenly Father is more than able, and ‘in Him‘ we are too.
2 Tim.1:7
We have NOT been given a heart of melting wax, of timidity and fear but one of chazaq/courage, a heart that is waxing strong. There are so many men and women in the scriptures who showed chazaq, among them: David, Abigail, Moses, Hannah, Daniel, Esther, Shadrach, Meshach Abednego, Rahab, the list goes on….
We have all the resources of the Almighty Everlasting King of the Universe at our disposal. Greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world. 1John 4:4
To have chazaq/courage, we must be ready for anything that comes our way, remembering that our Heavenly Father already knows about it because… it is a commandment NOT an option! We are to fully and completely follow the Lord as Joshua did, then our hearts will not melt like wax under the heat of the fiery trial. Instead in the Name and power of Yeshua haMaschiah/Messiah Jesus, we will be waxing strong.
Shalom mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
It’s all about Life and Relationship,
NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
and where it was evident in the lives of biblical characters.
There are many references to the number 40 in both the old and new testaments. Mentioned 146-149 times. The English word “forty” appears 158 times in King James Bible verses. This breaks down to 134 occurrences in the Old Testament and 24 times in the New.
Hebrew Strongs #705
arbaim: forty
Original Word: אַרְבָּעִים Part of Speech: noun plural indeclinable Transliteration: arbaim Phonetic Spelling: ar-baw-eem’ Definition: forty
The number 40 is associated with seasons of probation and preparation where spiritual awareness is deepened. It also represents a time of leadership, fasting and victory as well as testings of faith, trials and chastisement. This chastisement is not the same as judgment, like the association represented by the number 9 which operates in connection with punishment of enemies; but rather is in connection to the chastisement of sons, family and of a covenant people who are loved.
As we are in the days of counting from the Omer, which comprise 7×7 weeks, equaling 49 days and on the 50th day is Pentecost/Shavuot. We are aware of the 40 days that Messiah remained with His disciples/talmidim after His resurrection and appeared to many.
As Shavuot/Penetcost is also the Moed/Appointed Time of remembering the giving of Torah to Moses/Moshe. We remember that Moses was called up onto Mount Sinai. Exodus 19:1-3 Moses went up the mountain and in v14 he came down; then in verse 20 he goes up the mountain again -25.
He goes up the mountain in Ex. 24:1-3 with others plus the 70 elders. In verse 9, they ate and drank. Moses went up in verse 12 -18 and stayed 40 days and forty nights; then in chapter 32:15 he came down again.
In chapter 34:1-4 it is recorded that Moses went up the mountain again. In verse 18 he was instructed to keep the feast of matzah. In 34:10 God says: I am making covenant. From verse 22 to verse 27 it records Moses was another 40 days and 40 nights on Mt Sinai and verse 29 tells us when Moses came down his face was shining.
Moses was up and down Mt Sinai several times and twice for 40 days and nights.
Exodus 24:18, 34:1 – 28.He was there in order to receive God’s Torah/teaching/instructions and directives for the children of Israel.
The first 40 years of Moses’ life entails him from growing up in Pharaoh’s royal household and living in Egypt until he slays a man and has to flee to Midian.
The second part of his life is spent as a shepherd in Midian tending Jethroes sheep in the wilderness, until God calls him at age 80 (2×40), to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.
During the last third of his life he leads the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness until he dies at age 120. 3×40 years.
Deut. 34:7
40 years is also applied as encompassing a generation according to Numbers 14:26-38 as with the children of Israel 40 years wandering while the generation died out.
Moses had sent spies, for 40 days, to investigate the land God promised the Israelites as an inheritance. Numbers 13:25, 14:34.
Believing the report of the ten doubters, the people lost heart and rebelled. They “raised their voices and wept aloud,” grumbling against Moses and Aaron, saying, “If only we had died in Egypt…Num. 14:1-10
Num 14:34
According to the number of days in which you spied out the land [of Canaan], 40 days, for each day, you shall bear and suffer a year for your sins and guilt, for 40 years, and you shall know…
They then had to experience the consequences and cost of disobedience and unbelief. The 40 year Wilderness wandering for what was only an 11 day journey!
God told Moses that Because of their sins and initial unwillingness to enter Canaan, God swore that the generation of Israelites who were 20 years old or older, (except for Joshua and Caleb), who left Egyptian bondage would not enter the Promised Land; they would wander in the wilderness until this generation died and a new one could inherit what the Lord promised.
16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies
Hebrews 3:16 -4:11
Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against Me . . .
And your children shall feed in the wilderness forty years and bear your whoredoms until your dead carcasses have been consumed in the wilderness (Numbers 14:29, 33, HBFV).
Some more instances of 40:
The book of Exodus, KJV, is the only book that has 40 chapters.
The chapters Exodus 25, Numbers 29, Judges 6 and 11, 1Chronicles 7, 8 and 12, Job 31, Psalm 37, Jeremiah 23 and 31, John 18, Acts 8, 16 and 21, 1Corinthians 7 and 14, along with Hebrews 11, all have 40 verses in the KJV.
From the time they entered the Promised Land, to the time of King Saul, Israel was sporadically governed by a number of individuals known as Judges. Though they did not rule like a king, they nevertheless had a tremendous influence on the people, as they represented God and were inspired to execute His will. Judges who served 40 years include Othniel, Deborah and Barak, Eli and Gideon.
The first three human kings over the children of Israel, Saul, David and Solomon, each ruled for forty years (1050 to 930 B.C.). After the united kingdom split into two separate pieces, King Joash served 40 official years (39 actual years) as one of Judah’s better kings.
Absalom’s rebellion was near David’s death. The time cannot exceed the stated 40 years. Saul reigned forty years as first king Acts 13:21. And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom …
Abraham began his bargaining with God to save Sodom and Gomorrah if 50 righteous were found, then he asked if they could be spared if 45 existed Genesis 18:23 – 28. He then pleaded to save the cities if only 40 righteous people were found.
And he (Abraham) spoke to Him (the Lord) yet again, and said, “Perhaps there shall be forty found there.” And He said, “I will not do it for forty’s sake.” Genesis 18:29.
Both Isaac and Esau were 40 years old when they were first married Genesis 25:20, 26:34.
Elijah went 40 days without food or water at Mount Horeb. Yeshua/Jesus was tempted by the devil many times during the 40 days He fasted days in the wilderness, after His immersion in the Holy Spirit and before at the start of his public ministry.
40 days of repentance/teshuvah, is observed every year before Rosh Hashanah.
40 days from conception to the initial formation of a human baby, and 40 weeks of gestation until birth.
God flooded the earth by having it rain for 40 days and nights. Genesis 7:12.
After the patriarch Jacob (Israel) died in Egypt, the Egyptians spent 40 days embalming his body. Genesis 50:3.
God allowed the ancient Israelites, from time to time, to be harassed and dominated by certain enemies in order to chastise and humble them for their sins. The Philistines, in the southern and western parts of Israel’s land, harassed them from 1105 to 1065 B.C. God’s resolution to the harassment was Samson who would become one of Israel’s JudgesJudges 13:1, 1Samuel 7:13, 15 – 17.
The prophet Jonah powerfully warned ancient Nineveh, for 40 days, that its destruction would come because of its many sins.
And Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the Word of the Lord. And Nineveh was a very great city of three days’ journey across. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” Jonah 3:4,
The prophet Ezekiel was commanded by God to first lay on his left side for 390 days for the Kingdom of Israel. He was then told to lay on his right side for 40 days for the Kingdom of Judah. This act represented, in years, the length each kingdom would suffer correction for their disobedience to God.
For I have laid on you the years of their (Israel’s) iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days. So you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when you have fulfilled them, lie again on your right side, and you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days; a day for a year; a day for a year, I have set it upon you. Ezekiel 4:5 – 6.
Yeshua/Jesus, just days before His crucifixion in 30 A.D., prophesied the total destruction of Jerusalem. Matthew 24:1-2, Mark 13:1-2. 40 years after his crucifixion the mighty Roman Empire destroyed the city and burned its beloved temple to the ground, A.D.70.
There are 21 words and phrases in the Bible’s original languages that are recorded exactly 40 times.
Number 40 is equal to 2 x 2 x 2 (or 2 cubed) x 5. Both 2 and 5 are prime numbers.
In the Hebrew AlefBet, the 13th Hebrew letter called Mem, has the numerical value of 40 and is thereby associated with the following: 40 days and nights of flood waters; 40 years in the wilderness; 2×40 days Moses was on Mt Sinai.
Traditionally the letter Mem has several related meanings: waters, people, nations, languages and tongues.
The name of the letter in its most ancient form resembles waves of water. With this in mind such sayings as: sea of torah, the ocean of knowledge and wisdom are often used.
Mem is regarded as the letter of water/mayim; symbolizing the spring of the Torah – Rivers of Living water, i.e. Gods Word. Just as the waters of an underground spring rise upward from an unknown source to reveal themselves, so does the spring of wisdom rise up from the mysterious Source that is our Heavenly Father. This flowing stream of the inner wisdom can be expressed through the gift of human speech. Proverbs 18:4 the words a man speaks are deep waters, a flowing stream, a fountain of wisdom.
In the Hebrew alef -bet, the letter Mem has 2 forms when it is written: an open form and a closed form.
The open form, peucha, is said to represent the revealed truth of God as demonstrated by Moshe/Moses. The use of the closed letter Mem, stumah, is said to represent the concealed truth of our Heavenly Father as was demonstrated by Yeshua/Jesus, the revealer of mysteries.
Matthew 13:10–11 10. The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”
and
Matthew 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hiddenfromthefoundationoftheworld.
Yeshua/Jesus is the only One Who truly satisfies the inner thirst we have for real life, He is the only One Who can satisfy and quench our thirst. Faith/emunah in Him brings refreshment and healing for those He has called His own. John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
The letter M is represented in the Greek alphabet by the letter Mu.
The Old Testament writings use the word “forty” for the number 40. The ones containing the most, are the book of Numbers (19 times) followed by Genesis and Deuteronomy (15 times each). The New Testament books that use the word the most forty, are the book of Acts (10 times) followed by Revelation (6). It is first used in Genesis with its last appearance in Revelation.
And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters. Genesis 5:13, KJV.
The Hebrew word ephah, Strong’s Concordance #H374, is written 40 times in 29 Hebrew Old Testament verses. Its spelling stays the same in the KJV. It is found the most in Ezekiel (17 times) followed by the book of Zechariah (5).
An ephah is used in Scripture as a measure of dry goods such as flour, barley meal, parched corn, wheat and so on. It is roughly equivalent to 22 liters or 20 dry quarts. One of its first uses is in the book of Leviticus.
But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering . . . Leviticus 5:11, KJV.
Caleb, who was 40 years old, and Joshua, were two of the twelve spies Moses sent to the Promised Land, as previously noted, He and Joshua were the only two to have the faith to encourage the people to take the land God had promised them.
Forty-five years later he requested from Joshua the land he was promised for obeying the Lord. He received part of the hill country of Judea which included the cities of Hebron and Debir.
Joshua 14:7 – 15.
King Ahaz, who ruled over the Kingdom of Judah from 735 to 715 B.C., died when he was forty years old.
God’s law allowed a wrongdoer, in certain cases, to be beaten with 40 stripes (scourging) as part of their punishment. Deuteronomy 25:1-3. The Jews would later change this to 39 stripes in order not to exceed this amount per Deuteronomy 25:3. Both Messiah and the Apostle Paul were scourged five times by the Jews for preaching the gospel. 2Corinthians 11:23 – 24.
The Bible was written by 40 different people. There were 32 writers of the Old Testament and only 8; Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James, Peter, Jude, and Paul of the New.
A brief note on the covenants.
The Mosaic covenant, Ex 19:3-6, on the basis of the Abrahamic covenant and promise made to Abraham in Gen.15; God delivered the children of Israel from Egypt and established another covenant with them at Sinai. God used Moses as the deliverer and mediator of this covenant between Israel and Himself. It’s not a covenant of salvation but instead a covenant of blessing and cursing based on trusting and faithfulness on Israels part. The Mosaic covenant is similar to a marriage covenant/contract. This is called a Ketubah or a vassal treaty between God as husband and king, and Israel as His wife and people. It spells out the boundaries and guidelines of the relationship between them, and is summarized in Ex. 19 and 20. The Mosaic covenant includes blessings and security in the land for faithful obedience, Deut. 28; and curses and exile for faithless disobedience. Deut. 27.
The Mosaic Covenant further includes a promise that even though Israel will not keep this covenant fully, and will ultimately be removed from the land; God will not completely forsake them, but He will punish them and scatter them among the nations. From their exile God will circumcise their hearts and they will return to Him in repentance/teshuvah. The Lord will gather Israel back and atone for His people and the land. Deut. 30-33. This promise is to confirm and keep His promise to Abraham. This generation that made the covenant with God at Sinai was not able to enter into the land. The next generation reaffirmed the covenant and entered the land under Joshua, who was a type of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus. Each generation of Israel in the land and diaspora must confirm the Abrahamic Covenant by the circumcision of their males; and confirm the Mosaic Covenant by binding the words of God on their foreheads, called teffilim. Though they waver in their faithfulness to the covenant, God remains faithful.
The promises of this covenant must be fulfilled. Messiah Yeshua/Jesus says in Matt. 5:17-19 that until heaven and earth pass away based on the covenant with Noah, the smallest letter or stroke of letter will not pass from the Torah /Mosaic covenant until it is all fulfilled.
Our Heavenly Father said through His prophets that, as long as the heavens and the earth remains, consistent with the Noahide Covenant, Israel would remain a people before Him. The Mosaic covenant is not a replacement of the covenants with Noah and Abraham. It is dependent upon them and along with them is presently in effect. The Davidic covenant also affirms and expresses the earlier covenants. Therefore the new covenant fulfills, adds to and completes, rather than merely replacing the previous covenants. Some denominations are mistaken when they claim that the new has replaced the covenant made between Moses and the children of Israel and God at Sinai. It is simply renewed and added onto the existing covenants, line upon line and precept upon precept. Messiah Yeshua/Jesus came to show us how to live them and complete them according to Gods teachings, ways and decrees, not mans rules regulations and laws.
The Highlight of Revelation, Sinai and the Messiah – Exodus 19:6
When the children of Israel arrived at Mount Sinai, Adonai made Himself known to all those people and gave them the Torah by the hand of Moses. Jewish tradition says that this encounter occurred on Pentecost/Shavuot – the Festival of Harvest or Weeks, based on the chronology and Exodus 19:1, 10–16.
Since the event is the highlight of God’s revelation to Israel, it is also known as the Festival of Revelation. At a earlier occasion when Moses encountered the burning bush, God declared that Mt. Sinai was the goal of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.When you have let the people out of Egypt you will worship me on this mountain. Exodus 3:12.
Throughout the Exodus story leading up to this climax, the Lord repeatedly declares that He will make Himself known both to the children of Israel; Exodus 6:7, 10, 29:46; 31:13 and to the Egyptians, Exodus 7:5, 17, 9:29, by His Mighty acts of deliverance. At Mount Sinai this process of self revelation reaches its climax, as all Israel witnesses God’s presence on the mountain. Exodus 19 Deuteronomy 5:2. They accept God’s instruction contained within the Torah. Exodus 24:3 –8
According to Jewish commentators the fact that the nation of Israel witnessed the Lord speaking to Moses from Mt. Sinai, established the Torah as Gods Word; a Word that includes Gods call to Israel to be a kingdom of priests /cohanim.
For me a nation set apart. Exodus 19:6.
Ex. 19:5 -7 the children of Israel and their 12 tribes were supposed to be a whole nation of priests, a kingdom of priests/cohanim, but it ended up with only the Levites being the priestly tribe out of 12 sons and their families.
Messiah Yeshua/Jesus Himself, is an even higher pinnacle of revelation. He doesn’t supersede Torah but rather embodies and perfectly fulfills/completes it. He has made His Word above His Name. Psalm 138:2 For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. |
Like Israel, called to be a nation of priests at Mount Sinai, and although they do not replace the nation of Israel, Messiahs followers are also a chosen people, the Kings Cohanim/priests, a holy nation, a people for God to process.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1Peter 2:9
Are our lives a true reflection of what we are called to be?
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, Deliverer 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.
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 “thewonderfulnumberer“; or, “thenumberer of secrets”, or “that has all secrets numbered” (g); and apply it to Christ, whose name is “Pele”, wonderful; the 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, “thenumberer of secrets, or, the wonderfulnumberer“. “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, פלמוניpalemônı̂y, occurs nowhere else in the Scriptures. The similar form, פלניpelonı̂y, occurs inRuth 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 parables; I 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 oftesting, 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:
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 4:2Messiah 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 eventualatoning 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.
7 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;8 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,9 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.
The book of Matthew opens with the genealogy of Jesus/Yeshua
This post is not intended as an in depth study, this is a look at the next woman in the line of 5.
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by
TAMAR,
and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,[a]4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon
,5and Salmon the father of Boaz by
RAHAB,
and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth,
and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king.
And David was the father of Solomon bythe wife of Uriah, Bathsheba
7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph,[b]8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos,[c] and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel,[d] and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of
Miryam/Mary,
of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
Rahab in Hebrew:
רָחָב
Rachab
Rahab; meaning: broad, large;
From the verb רחב (rahab), to be wide or spacious.
This courageous woman is really the second in line, as from Genesis; remembering we highlighted Mary/Miryam first even though she is the last one mentioned in the scripture.
Rahabs’ story begins in the book of Joshua, the children of Israel were ready to take possession of the land they had been promised after they had been in the wilderness for 40 years.
Moses’s successor Joshua send two spies secretly to check out the first City of Jericho. Joshua 2:1 tells as they came to a house of a woman named Rahab.
“And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho.’ And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there”
Joshua 2:1.
The scripture says she was a harlot, or prostitute.
But was she really?
Three times Rahab is referred to as
the harlot,
the Hebrew term zoonah,
and the Greek word porne
these words have never meant anything else but
harlot
dictionary defined as:
a woman who yields herself indiscriminately to every man approaching her.
Some branches of Jewish tradition emphasize Rahab as an innkeeper, who, may or may not have found other ways of bringing in revenue, as she was a businesswoman.
The Hebrew word, zōnâ, is interpreted in the Septuagint as pórnē.
The women are designated in the Hebrew text as zōnōṯ (זוֹנוֹת), which is the plural form of the adjective zōnâ (זוֹנָה), prostitute. However, some propose a different meaning for this word in the context of the story, such as:
tavern owner or innkeeper.
Below an example of a medieval tavern/inn.
The Hebrew zōnâ may refer to secular or cultic prostitution, and the latter is widely believed to have been an invariable element of Canaanite religious practice, although recent scholarship has disputed this. However, there was a separate word, qědēšâ, that could be used to designate prostitutes of the cultic variety, (referenced in Part 2).
Another example of the use of this word is in the story of Samson; (Hebrew: שִׁמְשׁוֹן , Shimshōn, man of the sun); showing it can also symbolize the fickle love and loyalty shown by the children of Israel. His night with the prostitute (זנה zōnâ) recalls God’s charge against the Israelites for prostituting (זנה zānâ) themselves with all manner of foreign gods in spiritual unfaithfulness, fornication and adultery.
Judges 12-16.
It may very well have been that Rahab was a religious prostitute in connection with the canaanite pagan practices.
The Hebrew term
bayith-ishahah
בּיִת אִשָּׁ֔ה
The Hebrew word for woman is אִשָּׁ֔ה
(ishshah, also transliterated ishah).
It normally means woman, female, or wife.
The Hebrew word for house is בּיִת bayith (beit/beth/bet)
Phonetic Spelling: (bah’-yith) a house, a. dwelling, habitation.
so
bayith-ishahah
literally means:
house woman,
could also mean innkeeper.
The word translated harlot, zona
from the root word zanah,
which normally means: to act as a harlot or commit fornication; could also indicate a woman who had legitimate commercial associations with men.
It was probably a rowdy place, frequented by unscrupulous and idle men. Notoriously bars, and red light districts have often functioned as infamous meeting places for military and other forms of espionage.
So, we should not be surprised that Joshua’s spies knew to go to Rahab’s Place. It is possible that the men hid there because people would be accustomed to seeing strangers come and go at all hours of the night. So their arrival would not have been suspicious.
Picture above: The city itself was surrounded by an inner and an outer wall, as most cities were at the time above, a picture of a reconstruction, of ancient Jericho, with outer and inner walls, walls in bad repair, and houses/rooms built into the outer wall itself; the collapsed walls made it much easier for Joshua and the Israelites to gain access to the city.
The outer walls surrounded the whole city, protecting it from foreign intruders. The inner wall enclosed a central administrative compound for palace, temples, and large-scale food storage. Wealthier people lived in the central compound. Apparently, those considered, poor and disreputable people (like Rahab) lived in the outer compound, between the two walls. They could be filled with earth in times of siege to make a strong defense against battering rams and similar siege engines. They also formed an inner ring road circling the town, in several Palestinian cities houses were built up along it close to the inner wall, and the inside of the wall used for storage or housing.
This would explain why they lodged/stayed in her house as it was an inn where people would stay when they came to the city, it was situated right by the walls, probably close to the city entrance with easy access and why it was in, as in attached/built into, the city wall which were up to 60feet/20 metres thick.
Houses had flat roofs, often shaded with a thick woven cloth; women used this space as a work and storage area.
Other occurrences of words from the root word zanah (nearly 100), are clearly meant to imply physical or spiritual harlotry. Again this kind of harlotry often referred to worshiping false idols and foreign gods and was often termed adultery meaning unfaithfulness to the one true living God.
The New Testament/Brit Chadashah, associates the word porne with Rahab. Interesting as that is the beginning of our word for pornography which we usually shorten to the word porn.
This word porne in Greek means prostitute as in Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25, however again, it can refer to spiritual unfaithfulness.
But that’s not all, Rahab was also a Canaanite, who were the hated enemies of Israel.
The grace of God can transform lives,
however sinful,
however seemingly impossible,
often taking the most unlikely of candidates for His purposes to be fulfilled and revealed!
Paul was a great example calling himself the chief of sinners 1Timothy 1:15
We need to remember that in
Ephesians 1:4-6we are accepted in the beloved because of the sacrificial blood of Jesus/Yeshua.
Why?
Because
He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world!
Their lives became endangered when the king heard about them, when, during the night there was a banging on the door of her inn. When she answered, two soldiers stood there.
They were looking for Hebrew spies and the men sent to seize the spies asked Rahab to bring them out.
Stalks of flax drying.
Instead, Rahab covered them under bunches of flax on the roof, protecting them from being captured
and she said to the spies:
“I know that the LORD has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. “Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” Joshua 2:9-13
Joshua means ‘Yahweh/God is my salvation’
Rahab lied when asked where they were, telling the inquirers..
vrs 4-5
sending them on a wild goose chase in the wrong direction.
Vrs 9,11-14
seem to indicate that she had come to believe in the God of Israel.
Rahab recognized the God of Israel.
She trusted in Him for the righteousness she could not produce in her own life!
Click link below for more on the Biblical meaning of the color scarlet.
When Joshua ordered the attack against the city and Jericho fell, because of Rahab’s agreement with the spies she and her entire family were saved.
Meanwhile the two men were still in mortal danger, trapped in a hostile city.
The resourceful Rahab took care of that too.
Maybe her house had small rooms, which were enough to house a family, built into the otherwise solid mass of the city wall.
One of these rooms must have had a window large enough for a man to pass through, and she, presumably with some help from her family members, let the two men down on a rope through this window to the ground below.
She told them to escape into the hills and stay there for three days, by which time the coast would be clear.
15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall.16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”
After escaping, the spies agreed to spare Rahab and her family after conquering the city, even if there were to be a slaughter
IF
she would mark her house by hanging a red/scarlet cord out of the window.
This was just a beginning because she was then joined by marriage into the tribe of Judah and her family were included among the Jewish people and Rahab became a part of the genealogy of the Messiah, Yeshua/Jesus.
In the chart below we see that Salmon was destined to become great, great, grandfather of King David.
He married Rahab, their child was called Boaz,
he in turn became Ruth’s husband.
All the people in the genealogy of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua show the grace and mercy of God in lives down through the generations.
Boaz, her son, was one of the main characters we read about in the book of Ruth, and it’s clear that Rahab had raised a very godly son. He was a wealthy well respected businessman who was a righteous man; being a leader in the town of
Bethlehem in Judea!
He showed great compassion concerning Ruth’s situation, even though she was a downtrodden foreign widow.
Rahab would have had no idea what the future impact of her decision to help the spies sent by Joshua would be. In fact it is true to say the future of the world was at stake!
The faith and courage of a canaanite woman saved herself and her entire family. She was a pagan idol worshipper and yet she became inserted directly into the genealogy of God’s Beloved Son. There is no reference to her raising Boaz in the Scriptures; to those who serve the Lord in ways that the world cannot see; it is an encouragement that the Lord sees and He rewards every act of devotion and service in His Will, plan and purpose.
It is not normal practice for families to hang skeletons on their front doors for everyone to see, scandals are normally kept hidden in the closet; yet here in scripture we have the facts for all to read.
Whether Rahab was a Canaanite prostitute, or an inn keeper; Our Heavenly Father chose her to become part of the genealogy of our savior; to be included in the Royal line of Israel’s Messiah Matthew 1:1 -6, remembering that this gospel was originally intended for Jewish readers.
Rahab left a red cord at her window to save herself and her family. There are echoes here of the red blood on the doorways of the Hebrew slaves in Egypt, when the Angel of Death passed over their house so that the family within was safe.
This was a condition of attaining her salvation just as the blood on the door posts of the Israelites and also for every believer the blood of Messiah is our scarlet cord of redemption IF we will accept His conditions.
Joshua the agent of her deliverance was a type and shadow of Jesus/Yeshua, the meaning also in their name; plus the fact he was the first of a generation to step into the promised land.. we too are on our WAY into the promised land…Messiahs blood on the doorposts of our hearts.
Here on the first page of the Brit Chadashah/New Testament in Matthew, she is clearly in Jesus/Yeshuas’ genealogy placed here as a respected member of Israel and in Hebrews 11:31 she is raised as an example together with the great people of faith.
James associates her with the faith of Abraham whose willingness to sacrifice His son is probably one of the greatest examples of faith in Hebrew Scriptures. In both the references the true nature of faith is reflected Rahab’s actions.
We may wonder how her lie James 2:25 could be considered justified by works. Rahab did what she probably had done hundreds of times to protect herself, she was a very new believer and although it was wrong, according to the 10 Commandments; we all continue the process of Gods transformation by His grace and mercy, and as we mature we throw off the habits that are in direct contradiction to the Word of God.
James was not talking about the faith that saves us from sin but the faith that delivers and saves us from failing the test in trials that come in every believers life. Those trials which is the testing of our faith is how we react to the situation.
It would seem that Rahab was being shown to be already righteous because she received the messengers and sent them out another way James 2:25 she had already acknowledged to God of Israel as the God in heaven above and on the Earth beneath.
Joshua 2:11
The Greek word for justify is used in 2 ways one is
to declare righteous, dikaioo, in
Romans 3:23-24; 27 – 30.
There’s a second meaning in Luke 7:29 and James 2
to show to be righteous.
Genesis 22
Abraham was shown to be already righteous because he was
willing to sacrifice Isaac
so he was declared righteous by God.
Interesting after the events at Jericho, Rahab is not mentioned again in the Tenach, the final Scripture concerning her is in Joshua 6:25 and the Tenach does not indicate her fate. so the only direct reference to her inclusion in the royal lineage comes in Matthew chapter 1 although the Jewish genealogy do mention the family into which she married they never mentioned her specifically.
Whatever Rahab was before Israel crossed into the land of the Canaanites, she became someone new in the promised land.
For Rahab believed.
She not only believed in God but she also acted.
For Rahab trusted in the God who fulfilled the covenantal promise to Abraham, that he would be given land from which would bring a nation, and a descendant, who would bless the earth.
And we must always remember that this woman, Rehab, was chosen by the Creator of His universe to be a chosen instrument in bringing about salvation to the ends of the earth.
“And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way” James 2:25
Rehab became a central, strategic figure of incomparable courage as she helped Israel to enter the promised land and subdue her own people.
When the army of Israel entered Canaan,
Rahab acted
according to a prearranged plan and
hung out a scarlet cord from her window.
Thus, she and her family were saved.
It is significant that a scarlet cord, likely, an emblem of ill-repute, became a sign of salvation. In the same way it is a beautiful thought that it is a scarlet cord of the covenant of God’s grace that binds all of the Word of God together; and in Messiah Yeshua/Christ Jesus, the blood-stained, crimson cross of shame became the gleaming symbol of faith hope and salvation for whosoever will.
Rahab’s faith in Israels’ God engrafted her into a new family.
Rahab’s husband is chronicled in both the Old and New Testaments
1Chronicles 2:10-11,Ruth 4:20-21, Matthew 1:4-5 and Luke 3:32
The woman who had been called a harlot became a godly wife and mother in Israel. She and her husband became the parents of a boy named Boaz. And that boy would one day marry a widow woman by the name of Ruth. Ruth 4:5,10.
Thus, as God worked all things together for the good, using the humble and the most unlikely,
God raised up a harlot to become the great-great-grandmother of King David.
From the line of Rahab came the Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world, our God and King, the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is no more touching story of God’s glorious grace than the genealogical introduction to the birth of Yeshua/Jesus by faith through the line of Joseph in the first chapter of Matthew. Among the many stories that are interwoven in that wonderful section of the Bible, the woman of the scarlet cord takes her honored place.
If we ask how could Almighty God, the Holy God of heaven, use sinners like us? We need look no further than the woman with the scarlet cord, the relative of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ/Yashua HaMashiach.
She is not remembered for her sin.
She is remembered for the remarkable transformation in her life
and her womb/racham, became a carrier of His line.
Rahab – one of five chosen in a line unbroken…
The word harlot is undoubtedly repeated so that we will know that whatever we have done…. God will forgive us if we come to Him by faith in His Son Jesus/Yeshua. Rahab is the ever-present message of God to each of us:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” 2 Cor.5:17
This genealogy is in the Bible to let us know that He had forebears with backgrounds a lot like ours.
He called himself the friend of sinners, and He said He
didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
He said,
The Son of man has come to seek and to save that which is lost Luke 19:10
The same grace that Rahab experienced is now available to each and every one of us.
Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the Lord while He may be found, call you upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
Shalom, shalom, mishpachah!
You are loved and appreciated and prayed for daily.
Please don’t leave this page without the knowing in your heart you are totally His.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
Its all about Life and Relationship, not Religion.
NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
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