Tag: Miracles

Alone

Alone

In Hebrew Strongs 910 the word is

badad: isolation, separation, alone

Original Word: בָּדָד
Part of Speech: noun masculine
Transliteration: badad
Phonetic Spelling: baw-dawd’
Definition: isolation, separation, alone

Word Origin from badad
Definition isolation, separation
NASB Translation
alone (6), apart (1), isolated (1), itself (1),

lonely (1), secluded (1)., desolate, only, solitary 

From badad; separate;

adverb, separately — alone, desolate, only, solitary.

The Hebrew word labad, which means entirely alone.

As we grow in our relationship with our Heavenly Father He graciously extends to us the gift of teachers and mentors. They are often in the positions of leadership, pastors and those individuals whose walk of faith has stood the test of time; who are mature not only in experience by age, but by walking with Him through many tests and trials which forge great trust in a faithful God.

It’s not wrong for us to depend on our Elijah for as long as our Heavenly Father gives him or her to us. However we must remember that the time will come when he or she must leave and will no longer be our guide and our leader; because God does not intend for them to stay permanently. Even though the thought of them leaving causes us to think and say initially, that we cannot go on without our Elijah.

Ecc. 3:1-8

Everything is for a season,

nothing stays the same forever,

only the Lord God is unchangeable.

The same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

However, our Father says we must continue. Even if those who are married have solace in one another, we must remember we still need a ‘one on one relationship’ with our Heavenly Father. For couples, the scripture reminds us in Genesis 2:24, Matt.9:5 and Mark 10:8. that The two shall become one flesh. But not one spirit. We shall all stand ALONE before the Lord God to give account; for no flesh shall inherit the kingdom of Heaven. 1 Cor. 15:49-50.49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man. 50 Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Messiah came to save and redeem our souls and rebirth our spirit man. He did not endure calvary’s cross to save our flesh, we will leave our bodies behind along with everything else.

Job 1:21. He said, “Naked (without possessions) I came [into this world] from my mother’s womb, And naked I will return there. …

1 Timothy 6:7. 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. Also Ps49:17 and Prov.27:24.

and the spirit returns to God from which it came. Ecc.12:7

We do ourselves a dis-service by clinging to people beyond the timing and purpose our Heavenly Father has for them in our lives. They are not our ultimate source for our needs and even spouse, family members and friends should never usurp the position reserved for the Lord Himself. Recognizing the seasons of the Lord in our lives is a sign of maturing faith and a sensitivity to the Lords leading.

ALONE at our Jordan.

2 kings 2:14

The Jordan river represents the type of separation where we have a God-ordained time of no fellowship with anyone else. and where no one else can take our responsibility from us. The Hebrew word for Jordan is Yarden, meaning: Descender; describing the downward journey of the waters from their source in the …… all the way to the sea of Galilee and onward down to its final destination at the dead sea.

For more on the Jordan click link below to post:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/what-is-the-connection-between-the-descender-a-spring-an-eye-a-dove-and-a-miracle/

The mountain top experiences we had with our Elijah are to sustain us as we descend into the dark valleys of the world where the needs are, and the shadows of death challenge our faith and relationship with our Heavenly Father. Remembering they are only shadows!

We have been to the Jordan many times with Elijah, but now we are to face it ALONE.

At our Jordan, we now have to put to the test, and practice what we learned when we were with our Elijah.

There is no use in saying that we cannot GO because the experience we need for our growth is here, and we must GO.

We have received the mantle, the representation of the anointing to equip us for our role; similar to the passing of the baton in a relay race, the last of the team members reaching the goal of the finish line. Here too we may become a mentor to another Elisha by passing on what we have received of the Lord to another generation.

Since the Holy Spirit of the living God was poured out at Pentecost/shavuot, there began the ecclesia, the messianic congregation and the multiplication of mentors and followers as Messiah commanded all of us to GO therefore and make disciples of all nations….Matt.28:19-20

If we truly want to know whether or not God is the God our faith believes Him to be, then we must GO through our Jordan/Yarden/Descender ALONE. WE must receive our mentors mantle of scriptural truth in knowledge and experience, and make it our own. We are to strike the waters of the Yarden/Descender in faith and believe for miracles to be manifest on our own life …these signs shall follow them that believe. Mark 16:17-18 and Greater things than this shall you do. John 12:13-14…

Remembering Elishas request was for a double portion of his mentors spirit. 2 Kings 2:9. Which was clearly manifested in the miracles recorded in scripture.

Here is another type of GO.

We looked at some others in: 

https://www.minimannamoments.com/go-go-go-go-go/

ALONE at our Jericho. 2Kings 2:15. Jericho represents the place where we have seen our Elijah do great things. Yet when we come ALONE to our Jericho, we have a strong reluctance to take the initiative and trust in God, wanting instead for someone else to take it for us. Yet those from the guild/school of prophets recognized the same spirit that was on Elijah was now on Elisha.v.15

However, if we remain true to what we learned while with your Elijah you will receive a sign as Elisha did, that God is with you. Here he brought a solution to the bad water that was causing miscarriages and healed the water. 19-23.

We have to step out in faith and that means having faith and trust in the One who works the miracles. We must have faith in Gods’ ability to do exactly what He says He can and will do, not faith in ourselves.

 Picture below is the same spring as it still exists today.

ALONE at our Bethel. 2Kings 2:23/24

At our Bethel we will find ourselves at our wits end, meaning, we have no answers of our own and don’t know what to do. It is then we are at the beginning of our Heavenly Fathers wisdom. James 1:5 reminds us:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

When we come to our wits end and are looking physically at the seemingly impossible situation we find ourselves in, we feel overwhelmed and inclined to panic. This is where we don’t panic but instead, stand true to the Lord God and He will bring out His truth in a way and solution to the problem, that will make our lives an expression of worship. Then He gets all the glory. The personal abuse and impending attack that was threatening Elisha by 42 boys, cost the perpetrators dearly. God used His creation in the form of 2 mother bears to defend His servant in a way we would probably not thought of.

(Noted in the painting below is that the figure for Elisha has a full head of hair!)

Here in 2Kings 2:23-25 the question often asked is:

Why did God through Elisha kill 42 boys who called him baldy?

It seems an extreme reaction. However, if we examine this scene more closely from a Hebraic perspective, there is a more reasonable explanation.

Elisha purifies water in Bethel and saves the town from disease and the women from suffering miscarriages. A large gang of 42 youths/boys, as some translations render it, suddenly surround Elisha yelling “go away baldly” to which Elisha points at them and, curses them and they are ripped to shreds by 2 large female bears that simply appear out of nowhere.

It would seem Elisha has these young children mauled for calling him bald, but this encounter requires context. The word used for youth/little boy, refers to any person below 40 years of age in the Bible. So these were young people of about 20 years of age or older. (The same term is used of Solomon in 1 Kings 3:7).

Biblical tradition also holds that the gang was actually a cartel, controlling the water source, Elisha had ruined their business! Surrounding him and yelling, ‘go away’, implies they were not allowing him to leave peacefully but that they were going to beat him very severely, possibly to the death. Note that Elisha did not call out the bears, God did! Two female bears came out and tore up forty-two young men.

Isaiah.58:8-9  Gods ways are not our ways and they are always the best, even when we don’t fully understand what He is doing. When we look back, we see and understand.

We are all wise in hindsight.

These are the times we are to put into practice what we learned while with our Elijah, to use the mantle we have received and pray. (2:13-14). We must make a determined decision to trust in God and do not even look for Elijah any more.

We are not to give in to fear, it’s a faith killer. God’s Kingdom operates on faith, trust, love and life; the devils kingdom is ruled by fear, betrayal, hate and death.

When we look at circumstances in the natural realm around us, we sometimes believe what our 5 physical senses are telling us rather than the true reality that our spiritual senses will perceive, if we operate by them. We read in Matthew 8, where even the disciples who were with Him in the storm had doubts, so we should not condemn ourselves too harshly. However He did say to them, “Why are you fearful o you of little faith.” Matt 8:26.

This expression ‘little faith’, is better translated as ‘immature faith’, faith that has not yet grown into a mature, deep trust and still has aways to go. It must have cut to the heart of them, and they no doubt thought that once more they had missed the mark and fallen short of the expectations of their Rabbi. So too, we will feel the sting, when we realize we could have brought great joy to our savior by remaining absolutely confident in Him, in spite of what we were facing.

When we are afraid the least we can do is pray to the Father. However He has a right to expect that those who call on His Name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him, that in any crisis, they are the ones who are reliable; and in that position are able to render service to others. Yet sometimes our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the panic stricken prayers like those who do not even know God.

We come to our wits end, which is the end of our natural senses and abilities, the end of ourselves; revealing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To those who don’t have a personal relationship with Him, He seems to be asleep or not concerned or interested in our plight; and we can see nothing but giant breaking waves on the sea ahead of us.

There are times, although seldom, when there is no storm or crisis in our lives and we continue to do all that is humanly possible. But it’s when a crisis arises, then we instantly reveal upon whom we really rely.

Where does our help come from?

If we have been learning to worship our Heavenly Father and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him. Faith is like a muscle, a spiritual muscle, and only gets stronger when it is stretched to splitting; then when it heals it has increased resistance, power and durability.

In previous posts we have been looking at faith, trust, sanctification and holiness but what will be the result in our lives? As we continue to look to Him, the author and finisher of our lives, relationship will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God; truly filled with His shalom, which will make us not only blameless in His sight but also bring a great joy to His heart.

We may feel ALONE and He may sometimes require us to be ALONE for our personal instruction.

However, the truth is we are never entirely ALONE.

He is ALWAYS there, and many times if we don’t perceive His presence, He is not the one who moved away.

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.

Who Was Jerubbaal and What Was He Wearing?

In Judges 6:11 a man called Joash the Abiezrite

calls his son Jerubbaal, meaning:

Let Baal Contend Against Him,

or, let Baal show increase;

The Lord Contends; Baal Contends.

JERUBBAAL jĕr’ ə bāl יְרֻבַּ֣עַל,

jer-u-ba’-al, je-rub’-a-al  yerubba`al,

ירבעל

Why did he do that?

The son of Joash the Abiezrite was Gideon, the fifth judge of Israel

And the name Jerubaal was given to Gideon when he destroyed his father’s Baal altar at Ophrah. 

The name

Jerubbaal

is a combination of two Hebrew words:

the first is

riyb or rub,

which means literally

to grapple

and holds the figurative meaning

to wrangle

or

to hold a controversy.

From (1) the verb ריב (rib), to contend,

ריב

This very common verb ריב (rib) means

to strive or contend

and ranges from

a mere bickering to full scale combat.

Noun ריב (rib) means

strife, dispute or plea.

Noun יריב (yarib) denotes

an opponent or adversary.

Noun מריבה (meriba) refers to

a place or agent of strife or contention.

and

The second is the proper noun

Baal, the name of the Phoenician god

that Gideon contended against.

the verb בעל – ba’al, to be lord. 

The verb ba’al

בעל

means to exercise dominion over;

to own, control or be lord over.

The noun ba’al means

lord, master and even husband,

and its feminine counterpart

ba’ala

means mistress or landlady.

Jerubbaal/Gideon, had seventy sons by several wives, and he had one son, named Abimelech, by his servant girl, or his concubine. Gideon, as one of the judges in Israel, was a true servant leader, as were all of the judges of Israel, in those days.

גדעון

Gidon: a judge of Israel.

Original Word: גִּדְעוֹן.

Part of Speech:

Proper Name Masculine.

Transliteration: Gidon.

Phonetic Spelling: (ghid-ohn’) 

The name Gideon comes from the Hebrew verb

גדע 

gada’ 

meaning

to hew down or cut off: 

mostly of religious regalia and holy trees. 

There are no nouns formed from this verb,

suggesting that whatever was cut off,

was no longer discussed and

even cut off from speech itself.

The waw/vav-nun/noon extension

of the name Gideon

denotes a personification of the verb:

he who does what the verb means.

His name is connected with his occupation, that is,

he was a Hacker 

or 

One Who Hewed Down the enemy.

Now we know why computer hackers are so named!

GIDEON

גדעון

Gimmel Daleth Ayin Vav Nun

Strong’s Hebrew: 1439. גִּדְעוֹן (Gidon) — a judge of Isr.

Strong’s Greek: 1066. Γεδεών (Gedeón) — Gideon, an Israelite

Transliteration: Gedeón. Phonetic Spelling: (ghed-eh-own’) Definition: Gideon, an Israelite. Usage:Gideon, one of the Judges of Israel. 

The account in Judges tells us that when Israel was experiencing invasive attacks for 7 years by the Midianites, an angel of YeHoVeH  appeared to Gideon.

 

When the angel of the Lord first met Gideon he was hiding out in a winepress threshing wheat – Judges 6:11.

You don’t thresh wheat in a winepress.

The threshing floor stood in the open,

the winepress was usually below ground or in a low area,

a place where someone could easily hide

which Scripture tells us Gideon was actually doing, hiding or fleeing.

The word in Hebrew is

lenis or lehanis

from the root

word nos or nus 

(noos)

which means

to flee or disappear. נוּס

Strong’s Hebrew: 5127. נוּס (nus) — to flee, escape

At that time, the Midianites were in control in Israel who had no standing army, There was no one to lead an army against the Midianites who were a well armed band of mercenaries who would suddenly appear and raid the Israelites homes killing everyone in that town or city and take what they wanted and destroying the crops on the land, It was a horrible time for the children of Israel and they lived in perpetual fear of an enemy attack that would come without warning. This scenario could be likened to the nations in the world today Many are living in constant fear of attack from both a seen and an unseen enemy such as a virus.

As is the case in most places where people have faith in the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob/Israel, some were on their knees, some interceding by weeping and petitioning in prayer. However, Gideon was not praying, his attitude needed an adjustment because, when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and announced he was a great and mighty warrior (verse 12) his response was to ask why has God forsaken us, why are we being tormented by these Midianites, where are all the miracles, the promises of God? Many are asking that question today and God is answering, we just need to listen and pay more attention to what He is saying. First, the angel of the Lord said that God had called him to deliver Israel and that He would be with Gideon and would empower him (verse 14). Gideon’s response was not exactly full of faith! (verse 15). The second time the Angel of the Lord reassures him in verse 16.

This was still not enough for Gideon and he asks for a sign in verse 17. Gideon prepared an offering and the Angel of the Lord touched it with his staff and immediately it burst into flames.

Gideon was so impressed that he became fearful that he had just seen God Himself and might die. Due to the belief that if anyone saw God they would die or you were dead. However Gideon now had enough confidence to confront the Midianites pagan god and tear down the idol of the and offer a sacrifice to God on the same place.

Judges 6:11-24

The angel of the LORD came and sat down – under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite,

where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites

and instructed him to cut down the altar of Baal that same night

and to destroy the nearby

image of Asherah, אשרה אשירה

plural, אשרים or Asherim

 a primary Canaanite goddess namely אשרות or Asheroth.

Judges 3:7, & Judges 6:25.  

In the Bible, Asherah is mostly associated with

sacred trees or poles Exodus 34:13, Judges 6:25.

When the people who lived there found their shrines destroyed the next day, it didn’t take them long to find out who had done it.

They went to Joash and demanded that he surrender his son Gideon, because they wanted to execute him.

Joash responded by saying that if Baal wants his revenge, they would be foolish to ruin his pleasure by killing Gideon before their god could get him. He cleverly challenged them by saying that if Baal was truly a god, Baal would contend with Gideon, and if he were not, then Gideon would contend with Baal!

This is why Joash named his son Jerubbaal.

The people were not worshipping the one true God and their false gods and idols had to be removed before they could have victory over their enemies.

This is true for believers in Yeshua today we are to tear down any altars we have made to anything or anyone else in our lives. Putting our Heavenly father first place in everything we do is essential in walking a victorious life by His spirit.

After that Gideon goes after the Midianites and the other members of the Eastern Coalition. 32,000 men from Israel joined up for the battle, after God instructs Gideon to separate out the chosen ones only 300 remain.

He gives the 300 each a trumpet, a pitcher and a torch and at midnight they attack because of their unusual approach it caused the Midianites to stampede. As they fled, Gideon summoned the entire Israeli army and they pursued them, killing their leaders and 120,000 swordsmen.

Judges 7:15, 20: The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword of the LORD and of Gideon!”

After Gideon’s victory over Midian, Israel remains undisturbed for 40 years. When Gideon dies, his son Abimelech  takes the office of Judge of Israel.

Gideon had 72 sons, namely Abimelech, the seventy brothers he killed, and Jotham who got away.

Paul mentions Gideon in his letter to the Hebrews 11:32

calling him a hero of the faith spelled Γεδεων, Gedeon

There is much more to the story of Gideon but for the purpose of this post there are 2 points one is in 6:34 where

Judges 6:34 So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who

Came upon

Strong’s 3847: Wrap around,

to put on a, garment,

clothe Gideon, גִּדְע֑וֹן (giḏ·‘ō·wn)

Noun – proper – masculine singular

Strong’s 1439: Gideon — 

a judge of Israel and he blew וַיִּתְקַע֙ (way·yiṯ·qa‘) 

God Put On Gideon!

Strong’s Hebrew: 3847. לָבַשׁ (labash or labesh) — to put on

law-bash’, law-bashe’

 to dress, wear, clothe, put on clothing, be clothed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put on clothes, be clothed, wear

1a2) to put on, be clothed with (figuratively)

1b) (Pual) to be fully clothed

1c) (Hiphil) to clothe, array with, dress

2304) sbl (לבסה LBSh) AC: Clothe CO: Clothing AB: ?

  1. V)sbl(לבסה LBSh) – Clothe: To put on clothing. [Hebrew and Aramaic] KJV (115): (vf: Paal, Hiphil, Pual) clothe, put, array, wear, arm, came, apparel, upon – Strongs: H3847 (לָבֵשׁ), H3848 (לְבַשׁ) 

  2. dm)sfbl(לבוסה LBWSh) – Clothing: [Hebrew and Aramaic] KJV (34): clothing, garment, apparel, vesture, clothed, put, raiment, vestment – Strongs: H3830 (לְבֻשׁ), H3831 (לְבוּשׁ) 

adm) sfblm (מלבוסה MLBWSh) – Clothing: KJV (8): apparel, raiment, vestment – Strongs: H4403 (מַלְבֻּשׁ) 

icf2) tsfblt (תלבוסהת TLBWShT) – Clothing: KJV (1): clothing – Strongs: H8516 (תִּלְבֹּשֶׁת)

It has to be noted that in the Hebrew it is written

which is very interesting!

And second,

the angel called him a mighty man of valor

or a valiant warrior

we saw him hiding in fear in the threshing floor

yet the angel spoke of him as a man of valor

what is this word

in Hebrew?

Mighty man or masterful man

is

גִּבּ֥וֹר

gibbowr or gib·bōr

Strongs 1368

And

of Valor

הֶחָֽיִל

he·ḥā·yil. Or chayil

Strongs 2428

He ha yil gib bo w rim me ka Yahweh

יְהוָ֥ה עִמְּךָ֖ גִּבּ֥וֹר הֶחָֽיִל

Gideon was filled with fear and even after five miracles he still needed help to overcome his fears. But there is a reason that He delivered a nation, that God gave him a wonderful victory and restored his land:

 

He was obedient.

He prayed,

he called out to God

and ultimately let God take charge

so that the world could see this deliverance

was from God and God alone.

echil gbur

masterful man of the valor

translated as

mighty man of valor

If as the scripture says

He

meaning God

put on Gideon

then it would seem clear that His Ruach haKodesh

filled Gideons spirit;

both his inner man as well as his physical body.

Reading it one more time

God PUT ON and wrapped Himself in Gideon!

And as the meanings above say,

like He was putting on a garment of clothing

which really seems like

God was wearing Gideon!

Hebrew for PUT ON…

Our bodies cannot function without us inside them so as we are born again by His spirit the scripture tells us Yeshua said,

I and My Father will come to live abide IN you!

If He is inside us then He is wearing us too!

With this thought a inexplicable spiritual reality and His ways not being our ways shouldn’t we then be walking in all manner of holiness.

Christ in us the hope of glory! So when we think are we wearing God as His representative

or is it that like Gideon,

He is wearing us.

This gives another aspect of the things Yeshua said about not being concerned or anxious about what we shall wear, our physique, what we look like or following the fashion.

Fashion is nothing more than the worlds attempt at beautifying the flesh.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Romans 7:18

and this is a liberating message. Gender,skin tone, shape size weak strong, its all physical and temporary. We will not be taking these bodies with us.

The new ones we are promised may not be exactly as we are now for even Mary did not recognize Messiah in His glorified form outside the tomb until He called her by name (Jn 20:14-16).

This flesh will die, it’s not acceptable in any form to the Father; flesh is full of decay as a result of sin. We must look beyond what our senses say and walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. Yes be a good steward of your mode of transportation and means to fulfill the Lords will for our lives. Cleanliness is indeed next to godliness and we need to feed it healthy food just as we feed our spirits on His life giving word.

We are filled with His Ruach which is joined to our own.

YaHoVeH PUT ON Gideon.

He had prophetically called him mighty man

and then like a garment He put Gideon on!

Conclusion in Part 2

May His true Shalom/Peace

rest upon each one in Jesus/Yeshuas’ Name.

‘Mishpachah’ ‘Family’

משפחה

Mish-pa-KHa

you are greatly loved and prayed for daily..

NOT SURE if you are part of His Family?

YOU CAN BE..

Say the following and mean it from your heart…

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 came in the flesh and 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 in my spirit 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.

Why Was Elisha Digging Ditches To The Sound of Music?

The background to the story is that of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, a relatively good, God-fearing King, but he made a critical mistake by making an alliance with the wicked son of Ahab, Jehoram. 

2Kings 3:5-24

But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6 So at that time King Joram….7 sent this message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?”

Israel was at war with the Moabites but their king had led them in a roundabout route for 7 days, leaving them with no water and dwindling hope. 

Kings 3:9-26, 9 “So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched on that roundabout route seven days; and there was no water for the army, nor for the animals that followed them. 10 And the king of Israel said, “Alas!

King Jehoshaphat

המלך יהושפט

Yehoshaphat.

Phonetic Spelling: (yeh-ho-shaw-fawt’)

Definition: the LORD has judged or

Yah Hath Judged/Yahweh Has Judged/The Lord Judges.

The name Jehoshaphat consists of two elements:

1) The name יה(Yah) = יהו(Yahu) = יו(Yu), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton; the name of the Lord: YHWH.

2) The verb שפט (shapat), meaning to judge or govern:

King Jehoshaphat plan was to try to take over the land of Moab…but as we know, the end doesn’t justify the means.  The plan backfired on him and he found himself with thousands of soldiers and animals and no water.  

God never wants us to align ourselves in a common goal with wickedness, those not walking in covenant relationship with Him.

Both old and new testaments remind us

32 Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.  Exodus 23:32-33

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Cor. 6:14  

Jehoshaphat had not done right in terms of separating himself from unbelievers, and it ended up costing his people because now their very lives were in danger. 

Having commanded some 40,000 men to march 7 days over a hot desert with minimal food and water.

When his options had run out, he finally decides to go to the man of God for counseling; this should have been his first action along with seeking the Lord for His direction. He realized he needed to separate from them, and yet there is no water…

What was the answer to his dilemma?

“Let’s consult ELISHA, a prophet and a man of God to inquire of him. He knows about water. He poured water on the hands of Elijah.”

And Jehoshaphat said, Whether any prophet of the Lord is here, (so) that we (can) beseech the Lord by him? And one of the servants of the king of Israel answered, Elisha, the son of Shaphat, is here, that poured water upon the hands of Elijah (Elisha, the son of Shaphat, is here, who poured water upon Elijah’s hands). 2Kings 3:11

Elisha

  אלישע

Modern: ʼElīšaʻ,  My God is salvation or

God is salvation

Greek: Ἐλισ[σ]αῖος, Elis[s]aîos or Ἐλισαιέ, Elisaié)

So they did, however, the answer was probably not what they were expecting because…..

Sometimes He asks us to be a part of His solutions….

and sometimes in rather strange and unusual ways.

Elisha says:

2Kings 3:15-17

15 But now bring me a musician.”. Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. 16 And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of [ a]ditches.’ 17 For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’.

This word “valley” in the Hebrew is

ואדי

“wadi“,

which is a “dry riverbed

More Hebrew words for wadi.

noun וָאדִי.

gully, ravine.

noun נַחַל. s

tream, river, brook, valley, ravine.

“Cherith, Kerith (Hebrew: נַחַל כְּרִית ‎ Naḥal Kərīṯ), or sometimes Chorath (/ ˈ k ɔːr ɑː θ /; from the Septuagint’s Greek: Χειμάῤῥους Χοῤῥάθ cheimárrhous Chorrháth), is the name of a wadi, or intermittent seasonal stream mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.

Now bring me a minstrel/musician…  One that can sing and play well upon an instrument of music.

He sent for a minstrel, possibly to calm his mind from the impressions of the physical problem and having been disturbed at the sight of idolatrous Jehoram,

the soft tones of the lyre/harp brought composure to his mind and soul so that he might be inspired to more fervent prayer, and thereby be prepared to receive the prophetic inspiration.

When the musician played, the hand of the Lord came on him and his spirit gave instructions to work the miracle.

minstrel

2 Kings 3:15
HEB: קְחוּ־ לִ֣י מְנַגֵּ֑ן וְהָיָה֙ כְּנַגֵּ֣ן
NAS: bring me a minstrel. And it came
KJV: But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel

also

נָגַן  Nagan

Phonetic Spelling: naw-gan’

Definition. to touch or play a stringed instrument. NASB Translation. minstrel (1), minstrel played (1), musician

Strongs #5059 

2 Kings 3:16-18
“This is what the Lord says: I will fill this valley with pools of water. For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord; he will also deliver Moab into your hands.“

God lays it on Elisha’s heart what

He,

the Lord,

will do to rescue them:

All they have to do is dig some ditches!

Why?

It sounds completely crazy!

So Why?   ….

Because God said to.

Even though He said in v. 17 there won’t be storms or rain!

…but

there’ll be water…

God has spoken.

Dig ditches…..

תְעָלָה

ditch, channel, canal, gutter, culvert, water course

They needed

to act

on their faith,

regardless of how illogical it sounded!

Imagine what passers-by must have thought….

an army digging ditches???

Digging a valley full of ditches,

for water,

to win a battle with no sign of rain!

He didn’t need human logic,

no rain was required,

no river,

just

His power and

simple faith, trusting in Him.

if He says it, He does it!

From the irrational display of desperation to the next morning

….they find that…

Water has flowed uphill and across this ancient plain

that was once a stream bed.

In verse 20, the valley is full of water for the troops

Then a further miracle happens:

the Moabites mistake the water for blood and through this they are defeated.

Nothing is impossible for God, and He achieves it through

His plans,

no matter how illogical and unexplainable they are to us.

He even provides in abundance,

far more than we would expect, for them

AND their animals.

But they had to trust God,

His plan

and what He asked them to do.

So should we.

We think often that God will give us faith to change or to persevere and stand until the situation changes.

However, true faith comes when we walk into the valley,  often situations that are opposite to mountain top experiences; and instead of trying to fill the valley, we instead dig until they are filled with ditches.

The Lord requires places/ containers for His waters to collect, so that it won’t run off and dissipate into another stream.

He wants to fill our valleys.

biqah: a valley, plain

 בִּקְעָה

Phonetic Spelling: bik-aw’

Strongs#1237

 

Not only so we can drink, but to have enough for everyone around us who needs it, including crops and animals/ livestock.

Faith is not looking up and seeing rain clouds and seeing the rain fall.

Faith is looking at a clear sky

but being full of expectancy

that the valley will be filled.

You will not see wind nor rain.

He wants us to do things like, dig ditches, with the promise to fill them and in unexpected unconventional ways.

He wants a faith filled people.

He is looking for people who don’t need rain in order to have rainfall!

Faith people who will dig ditches to collect water that never falls from the sky!!!

People who will believe

He will bring water

in His own way and time

all we have to do is act in obedient response,

that is faith!

The ‘ridiculous’ faith of Elisha!

We must sometimes dig a ditch so God can fill it! 

That is a clear lesson from this scripture account. 

Our Heavenly Father specializes in

FILLING

things

which are

EMPTY. 

We are to empty ourselves of the cares of this world, and that makes room for God to fill us! 

As we remember, the cares of the world choke the Word of God.

When we empty ourselves of the flesh

and then the Spirit comes flowing in like a rushing river,

filling the valley of our souls!  

Our Heavenly Father gets all the glory when He uses our provision of emptiness to fulfill His will in and through us in overflowing ways!

His OUTPOURING into our need!

In the following chapter we see the familiar story of the widow and her empty vessels which God filled for her.  Elisha, who challenged the widow woman to create more emptiness for the Lord to fill, had just seen it happen himself as he dug ditches so God could fill them. 

        Have faith…trust…

lay aside all self-sufficiency,

and instead,

find some emptiness! 

The widow of 2Kings 4 brought all the jars she had faith to bring! 

How many would we bring?

Sometimes we are called to create some emptiness so God can fill it.  

        … Dig a ditch,

or God won’t fill it!

A mind occupied with planning

pays homage to the idol of control.

Planning takes little to no faith because it is fore-thought and carefully and deliberately arranged and what is worse, it leaves God completely out of the picture and then we ask Him to bless our way.

Many spend all week planning the weekend, thinking it is Gods’ will when in fact it is just simply what they want to do.

One of the greatest hindrances to living a faith filled life is not making room for God.

In this account, Elisha shows how faith works.

It is echoed in Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see.

The principle here is 

putting

faith

into

action.

Don’t just say you have faith!

Show it by our actions

James said in 2:17…

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” shew me thy faith without thy works/actions, and I will shew thee my faith by my works/actions.

 

Fulfillment comes in emptiness of self, and being filled with the Spirit maybe its time to dig some ditches???

May His true Shalom/Peace

rest upon each one in Jesus/Yeshuas’ Name.

‘Mishpachah’ ‘Family’

משפחה

Mish-pa-KHa Mish-pa-KHa

you are greatly loved and prayed for daily..

NOT SURE if you are part of His Family? YOU CAN BE..

Say the following and mean it from your heart…

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 came in the flesh and 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 in my spirit 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.

He Touched Me

Why did Yeshua/Jesus touch people?

What made Him touch them?

touch

נגע

Strong’s Hebrew: 5060.

נָגַע (naga) — to touch, reach, strike

A primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. Lay the hand upon

First of course, He did what His Father told Him

Yeshua/Jesus always obeyed His Father, but it was not by routine actions devoid of feeling and concern .  Yeshua/Jesus cared deeply for the people and all the situations around Him.  

 In other words, Yeshua/Jesus being moved with compassion was an expression of His Father. Surely, our Heavenly Father ‘feels’ things as deeply as Yeshua/Jesus.  

There was a force within Him that was able to alter the elements of reality around Him and effect changes in the lives of the multitudes that followed Him.

Matthew 9:36. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 

Matthew 14:14. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. 

Mark 8:2-3 “I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat.

Mark 1:41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, I am willing; be cleansed. Luke 7:13.

Matt 20:34 And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and straightway they received their sight, and followed him.

When we read in Scripture that Yeshua/Jesus was moved with compassion; it was a deeply heart-felt reaction to any given situation that led to an action.  When confronted with the evidence that satan had deceived people, and kept them in sickness and oppressed them. He reacted with help, to undo the wrong, to set people free.

In different situations the scripture records Yeshua/Jesus was “moved with compassion.”  In other versions it is sometimes translated as

take pity, Indignant, and heart went out to….

However they fall short of the Greek meaning. 

“Moved with compassion”

is more than feeling pity or sympathy for someone.  This word means a feeling that comes out of the innermost being. 

It is that gut-wrenching, feeling we get in the pit-of-the-stomach when something really bad happens or we believe that it is going to happen.in the bowels hence the saying bowels of compassion. Colossians 3:12-13 – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, however, it is not a feeling of powerlessness.  

At those times when Yeshua/Jesus was moved with compassion, He did something, a physical action followed; whether it was casting out demons, raising the dead, healing the sick or teaching about the gospel of the kingdom of the heavens in order to bring people out of ignorance about their Heavenly Father and His ways. 

True compassion involves resistance to the wrong and why some translate it as “indignant” and includes action to correct it or, at least, bring comfort through it.

In our own pain we need to look on others not in pity or with sympathy for what they are going through, but be moved with compassion.  We need to become the hand of Yeshua/Jesus in ministering to them.  They need to look into our eyes and see the love and compassion of the infinitely caring God looking back at them through us. 

in Matthew 20 where Yeshua/Jesus asked two blind men, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”

Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him” Matthew 20.32-34.

In Mark we are told about a man with leprosy who “came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed.” The man said, “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

Again, Scripture reports,

“Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed” (see Mark 1.40-42).

There are other similar occurrences in Scripture. Each time Yeshua/Jesus feeds the multitudes, we’re told,

Yeshua/Jesus “had compassion on them”

(e.g., Mark 6.34; Mark 8.2; Matthew 14.14).

Often, when Yeshua/Jesus saw crowds of people who seemed lost, He was moved with compassion.

His compassion always leads to action

whether healing, feeding, providing.

Compassion

Strong’s Hebrew: 7356. רָ֫חַם (racham) — compassion

The three Hebrew Letters are Reysh, Chet and Mem.

This is compassion and it has been said that all women have more of this gift of compassion, not only mothers.

Ra-chem,  (give or have mercy)

is the imperative form

(commanding or requesting something from others).

The imperative form is considered an actual tense in Hebrew, in additional to past, present and future.

Example of ra-chem (verb):

The sound cha in ra-cha-mim is pronounced like

the Spanish ja in the word Jalapeño.

Ra-cha-min is a noun, but it can also be used as a verb, as it often happens in prayer. When it is a verb: ra-chem for have mercy.

 Mercy, compassion, womb – רַחֲמִים

It is quite fascinating that mercy or compassion, nra-cha-min, is derived from the name of the most motherly place in the human body: the womb, re-chem.

This is where the strongest connection of compassion and love are bonded between the mother and the baby, respectively. Men may need to learn this, if you are a mother, you will have experienced this compassion first hand.

This connection has been referenced in previous posts and although it is generally understood that our faith is in Gods ability and must be present to heal; there are many scriptures where the word compassion is used as a precursor to the power for healing being manifested or miracles taking place.

Some examples referenced below:

Jesus was moved with compassion, Matt. 9:36 (Matt. 20:34; Mark 1:41; Luke 7:13). A certain Samaritan had compassion on him, Luke 10:33.

Ephesians 4:32 – And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Mark 6:34 – And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

Colossians 3:12-13 – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

James 5:11

Rom. 9:15 2; Cor. 1:3-4; Phil. 2:1-3; Matt. 9:35-38; Matt. 20:29-34; Matt. 14:13-21; Matt. 15;29-39; Mark. 6:30-44; Luke. 15:11-32.

Compassion seems to be a spiritual force that moved Yeshua/Jesus to action and without that action it is simply observation and sympathy.

In the Torah there are clear guidelines that anyone touching a leper would be unclean

Did Yeshua/Jesus give evidence of His deity because He cleansed the leper and the leper did not make Him unclean or did it?

In reading scripture during the course of study there are differing opinions as to the meaning of this as concerns Messiah the options follow so the reader can draw their own conclusions.

This story which most people are familiar with. On one of His return visits to the Galilee, Yeshua encounters a leper who begs for healing. Yeshua, being filled with compassion, touches the leper and he is healed instantly. However, there is more going on in this incident than what lies on the surface.

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Mark 1:40-44)

It is important to take a look at leprosy from a biblical perspective. The typical mental image is of a debilitating disease which leaves a person scarred and disfigured, with missing fingers and toes.

This seems to be a misrepresentation being forced onto the Scriptures due to the use of the English word, leprosy.

Biblical leprosy is known as tzara’at (צרעת)

and has no relation to modern leprosy, otherwise known as Hansen’s Disease. which is a bacterial infection affecting the skin and the nervous system,

biblical leprosy tzara’at  involves none of these symptoms.

The parameters of tzara’at can be found in Leviticus  13 and 14. In the introduction to Leviticus 13, most Bibles will have a footnote saying something to the effect of,

Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases.

The text,says that tzara’at was very specific in its identification and had to meet certain criteria before it could be labeled tzara’at by the cohen (priest) NOTE: not a doctor/physician.

Also, we find that not only is it associated with a skin condition, but it can also be a type of mildew-like substance that can appear on the walls of a house (Lev. 14:33-53), or in fabric or in leather-goods (Lev. 13:47-59).

Other distinguishing factors of biblical tzara’at are its severity and transmission. According to the biblical texts, tzara’at does not transmit physical ailment akin to Hansen’s Disease. It does, however, transmit ritual impurity (making one “unclean”).

“A person or object in contact with a leper becomes both unclean and contaminating.” 

What does this mean?

It means an ostracizing of the metzora (a “leper” in biblical terms).

In other words, when one has been diagnosed as being a metzora, one must remove himself from the community so as not to “infect” others

The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp. (Lev. 13:45-46)

leper  מצורע

lazar. lā′zar, לזר

one afflicted with a loathsome and pestilential disease like Lazarus, the beggar.

Strong’s Hebrew: 6883. צָרָ֫עַת (tsaraath) — leprosy

Strong’s Hebrew: 6879. צָרַע (tsara) — to be struck with …

The Septuagint, a translation of the Hebrew Bible originally used by Greek-speaking Jews and Gentile proselytes, translates the term tzaraath with Greek lepra (λέπρα), from which the cognate “leprosy” (a term now referring specifically to the bacterial infection aforementioned  as Hansen’s disease) was traditionally used in English Bibles.

Although this seems like a harsh treatment for someone who has a non-life-threatening, semi-communicable impurity (and not a disease, per se), one must remember that this command was given while the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness and encamped together in close quarters.

Any contact (intentional or not) with other people or objects would immediately transfer ritual impurity to the person or object, thus rendering them tamei (טמא) as well.

This contact with ritual impurity would make these individuals unable to participate in communal worship and the sacrificial system. In order for this to be contained, the priesthood was commissioned with identifying and quarantining outbreaks of tzara’at.

A metzora had to undergo routine inspections to monitor the condition of their infection.

We have to keep in mind, however, that ritual impurity (being “unclean”) is in no way equivalent to sin.

Remembering that the definition in Torah of being unclean, was not the same as committing a sin!

Being “unclean” was part of the routine of life during the days when the Tabernacle or the Temple were standing. Women became ritually impure during their monthly cycle or during childbirth. Both men and women became unclean with any kind of bodily emission. 

Tzara’at, however, was one of the most severe cases of ritual impurity, even surpassing corpse contamination, since one was only able to be purified on the condition the symptoms had vanished.

Once the symptoms were completely gone an elaborate series of sin offerings, sprinklings, immersions similar to the purification rituals of corpse contamination were required in order to be declared officially clean (“ritually pure”).

The only way sin would be connected to impurity is if an unclean person entered the Holy Temple. They would be guilty of defiling the earthly abode of the Almighty and be held liable.

There is, however, an odd condition in regard to tzara’at which makes its spiritual / ritual nature explicit. Once a metzora was completely consumed with tzara’at, and covered from head to foot and has turned completely white, he was pronounced tahor (טהור) clean / ritually pure and was free from his quarantine (Lev. 13:12-13).

Once new skin began replacing the infection, however, he was quarantined once again and the entire inspection cycle was begun anew.

There was no known cure for tzara’at. The priesthood did not affect the affliction, but only diagnosed it.

Based on several inferences in Scriptural, there are seven sins for which one may be afflicted with leprosy: slander, the shedding of blood, vain oath, incest, arrogance, robbery and envy.

The word metzora as a compound word comprised of the words “motzi [shem] ra”

this means one who “brings forth [an] evil [name].”

In other words, a leper is one who spreads gossip and slander. The sages viewed evil speech as so damaging that they interpreted slander to be one of the most grave sins:

If this is the case, it is interesting to note that this is one of the few instances in which Yeshua did not also tell the one he was healing that his sins were forgiven. Why? Because sins committed against God can be pardoned by either God or His earthly agent. However, the only way sins committed against another living human being can be pardoned is from the one whom we have wronged (Matt 5:23-24; John 20:23).

After considering the details of tzara’at, returning to the passage in which Yeshua encounters the metzora, a man who has contracted biblical leprosy. The man requests one thing of Yeshua.

“If you will, you can make me clean” (v. 40).

Notice his request was not healing, but purity.

This is an especially important aspect to the story now weve learned what Leviticus says in regards to tzara’at.

The man must have had advanced stages of tzara’at, because Luke 5:12 describes him as one who was full of leprosy. However, it is reasonable to say that he could not have been completely covered Leviticus 13:12-13 or he would have been considered tahor, ritually pure/clean. If he was already clean/ritually pure, then why would he have need of Yeshua’s touch to make him clean/ritually pure?

With this in mind, this man was still a legitimate metzora and brought uncleanness/ritual impurity upon anyone touching him.

Some teach that although Jesus/Yeshua touched the metzora, He did not become unclean and proved His Divinity.

However, if that is correct and Yeshua could not contract ritual impurity, then He was not truly human?

Scripture says, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

He was not merely human in appearance, but human in every regard.

If we think now with a Hebrew mind would it be true to say thta being in an unclean state was not a new experience for Yeshua? He would have no doubt dealt with this numerous times in His life. Examples being: the woman with the hemorrhage who touched Him; and then He went on to touch Jairus’ dead daughter raising her to life.

Also the raising of the widows son in Nain.

Remember, being ritually unclean is NOT the same as sinning.

His identification with humanity through taking upon Himself flesh and blood allowed for Yeshua/Jesus to truly identify with the temptations and the sufferings of mankind.

Mark tells us that Yeshua was

moved with pity, and therefore “stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, ‘I will; be clean.’”

Called the Leper Messiah by the Rabbis in Accordance to Isaiah 53:4‘Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him a leper, smitten of God, and afflicted.’ 

Yeshua used this understanding as evidence that He was indeed the long-awaited Messiah when questioned by the disciples of John the Immerser:

And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk,

lepers are cleansed

and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” (Matthew 11:4-5)

Did He became the Leper Messiah for our sake, bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows by intentionally touching the lepers and taking upon himself their afflictions? His skin did not break out in white scabs. However, it seems He did  become unclean/ritually impure for the sake of this man. Rather than speaking a word of healing and remaining clean / ritually pure, His compassion and empathy prompted His hand to reach out and touch the impurity of another.

Yeshua not only understood this and demonstrated this, but taught hHs disciples to do likewise by telling them,

Heal the sick, raise the dead,

cleanse lepers,

cast out demons (Matthew 10:8)

With the healing of the leper, Yeshua sends the man away with a mission:

“Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them” (Mark 1:44).

In doing so, Yeshua was commanding the man to travel to Jerusalem (a 2/3 day journey from the Galilee) to be inspected by the priesthood in the Temple. Once he was seen and declared clean, he was to offer up “what Moses commanded” for the purification of a metzora (from Leviticus 14).

This included:

Two live clean birds for purification ceremony

One male lamb for a guilt offering

One female lamb for a sin offering

One male lamb for a burnt offering

Flour and oil for grain offerings

Reading Yeshua’s instructions to this man, it raises some questions

One, if he is already clean, why does he need to show himself to the priesthood and undergo the purification rituals?

This involves an issue of obedience to Torah. Although the man has already been purified, he still needs to be declared clean by the administrating priesthood according to Leviticus 14:1-32. Without the declaration from the priesthood, the man would not be allowed admittance back into his community (or any Jewish community for that matter). Also, to refuse to do so would have been a direct violation of the Torah. In other words, he would have been sinning. By telling the man to show himself to the priesthood, Yeshua upheld the command of Torah which tells the proper procedure for declaring a metzora to be clean

Two, main stream Christianity usually teaches that Yeshua came to do away with the Temple, the priesthood and the sacrificial system/law and that we are under grace alone. so why would Yeshua/Jesus give the man specific instructions to “offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded?”

This involves the priesthood and the sacrificial system. By having the man show himself to the priesthood and offer the prescribed sacrifices in the Torah, Yeshua demonstrated the intended interpretation of his teaching in

Matthew 5:17, in which he said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.”

By doing this He upheld both the commandments and the earthly function of the levitical system. He showed that His soon coming atoning work was not in competition with the levitical priesthood and system, but that His work was greater than these and the very thing upon which they were based/foundation.

His sacrificial death and resurrection were in place long before the creation of the heavens and the earth.

In Revelation, John declared Yeshua to be

the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Rev. 13:8.

It is this pre-existing act of Yeshua on which the entire sacrificial system is based, reflects and points toward?

Three, what was Yeshua hoping to prove to them by sending this man to the priesthood as proof?

This involves evidence submitted to the priesthood.

But what did it point to?

It actually makes a connection to the two previous questions. Yeshua/Jesus remained a lamb without blemish in regard to all of the righteous requirements of His Father, by having the man submit to the commands, the authorities and the procedures given by YaHoVeH in the Torah,

He would have immediately invalidated Himself as the anticipated Messiah and would have broken at least one, if not several, of the commandments and thus become a sinner Himself, if He had ignored or changed any of these procedures or had instructed the man whom He healed to do so. Matthew 5:19

The man would have presented a threefold evidence to the priesthood:

Firstly, that he was indeed healed and could begin the rituals which would allow for him to be declared clean and thus re-enter his community.

Secondly that there was indeed a healer of lepers in Israel, which would have given rise to messianic hope.

Thirdly that Yeshua was indeed qualified as one who could lead his people as the righteous Messiah and not a lawless false prophet who had come to tempt the Israelites away from Torah with signs and wonders. Deuteronomy 13:1-5.

Exodus 29:37.  you shall make atonement for the altar and sanctify it and it shall be an altar most holy whatever touches the altar shall be holy.

This is clearly prophetic of Messiah Yeshua.

He is the atonement for sin. Hebrews 9:12.

The part of this story which has relevance to us today is in this scripture.

Lev 6:20 whatever whoever TOUCHES the flesh of the SIN offering becomes HOLY cleansed, sanctified, made atonement for.

He was fulfilling Old Testament – Torah – law and He said

I came to fufil it.

He touches us in our state of sin in the same Way He touched the leper

 Whoever touched it became holy.  Leviticus 6:18.

As already noted, Leprosy was also a type of sin.

Lashaon hara – evil speech. RA opposite of shalom.

Evil = out of harmony with God and His will.

Healing + Instant cleansing.

The flesh of the sin offering was Jesus/Yeshuas physical body. The human contact, the physical contact, the transference of Gods healing/restoring /redeeming/ cleansing power

The leper touched the flesh of the ultimate SIN offering.

The spotless lamb of God.

The leper was kneeling, submission, homage, respect and with the TOUCH

he was made holy/whole/ kadosh/set apart /cleansed unto the Lord.

His life changed forever he was no longer a leper, no longer a stigma, a named category of society shunned an outcast.

The TOUCH of God

the TOUCH of Messiah

caused his life to take another direction..

towards the priest to be accepted and restored to society.

His sins forgiven. His body restored and healed and

made holy – so that the at one ment with God was redeemed

and broken relationship was re-established.

Whoever touches the flesh of the sin offering becomes holy!

Reach out and Touch Him!

When we come and humble ourselves in a true genuine authentic attitude of repentance with deep Godly sorrow we touch Him and He touches us as our sin offering and we become holy!

When we understand and accept that He is our sin offering we are instantly cleansed.

Because the lamb of God has shed His blood as the ultimate sin offering and

our sins are not only covered but removed forever.

He is also our High Priest, so verse 4 for us is included within our relationship and He presents us to the Father as our mediator.

This is the good news -this is the gospel!

This is the creator of the universe TOUCHING His creation

and bringing us into the kingdom of His heavens.

Eternal love and everlasting life/chaim.

Let Him touch each one of us today.

He is willing

verse 4

I am willing

His life touched the world

His death at Pesach touched the world

His resurrection at First Fruits touched the world

and it has never been the same since because

He is still touching the world today through us.

He touched us and we are made whole and as He resides within us.

He touches others through us and darkness must flee,

light fills the souls that are touched and

human spirits are reborn and reconnected to their heavenly father

reconciliation, restoration, redemption and royalty are the result.

The touch of Yeshua/Jesus is what we need.

The touch of the masters hand

The touch of the saviors love

The touch of the redeemers forgiveness.

And the hope of His return.

IF you need the touch of Yeshua/Jesus

make sure He is given access to the sanctuary of our hearts

let Him in to heal, cleanse and deliver and fill us

that He may in turn touch others through our lives.

He touched me, oh, He touched me 

And, oh, what a joy that floods my soul

Something happened and now I know 

He touched me and made me whole

adjective שָׁלֵם. complete, entire, intact, perfect, total.

made me whole

 in Hebrew is

עשה אותי שלם

שלם 

The verb שלם shalem  means:

to be or make whole or complete,

and is also used to describe

a righteous recompense

or proper restitution

(whether positive or not).

The familiar noun שלום shalom means:

wholeness, completeness or peace.

Many will be familiar with the older chorus above, never truer than today:

May His true Shalom/Peace

rest upon each one in Jesus/Yeshuas’ Name.

‘Mishpachah’ ‘Family’

משפחה

Mish-pa-KHa Mish-pa-KHa

you are greatly loved and prayed for daily..

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

please make sure you are secure in the knowledge that you are saved….

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.