Tag: Tekoa Manning
Jumping for Joy
This blog comes from a chapter of a book called Jumping for Joy. I am working on it slowly. I pray it ministers to you.
In the late 1970’s and 1980’s, my mother took to sewing. She used to wear lovely maxi dresses, which she hand-stitched using McCall’s patterns and added adornments. My mother, Vicky, was beautiful and always looked much younger than her years. A lady who lived in the neighborhood had been watching my mom leave for church and other engagements in her long floral maxis dresses. One day, she came over and inquired about borrowing one of my mother’s gowns for a special occasion. My mother weighed about a hundred and thirty pounds, and the woman who stood before her weighed at least three hundred. She thought she could borrow one of my mom’s dresses because she, like us at times, kept passing by the mirror and seeing what she wanted to see reflecting back at her.
There is another story about my mother that I will never forget. One day she was invited to a Tupperware party. The party was hosted by a lady whose husband worked with my dad. My mother and his wife were good friends. They were Pentecostals; we were not. I do not think they wore headscarves or Tzitzit’s, but they had their own attire. Long hair, long dresses, no makeup, and a strict unspoken rule book. My mother showed up to the party with her eyeliner, mascara, bleach blonde hair, and a pair of jeans and a T-shirt that said, “Jesus Loves You.” Many of the women soon gathered in the kitchen, away from my mom. They whispered. They snickered. They made remarks, and my mother overheard, Jezebel, harlot, and sinner. Perhaps these women had memorized 1st Peter chapter 3, but they had missed the gentle spirit and the audience it was written to at that time.
“Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” (I Peter 3:3-4).
Finally, my mother stood in front of them as the Tupperware presentation was coming to a close, and she said, “If you really think I’m a Jezebel headed for hell, shouldn’t you have shown me love and told me about your God—my God—our God? Is not love the greatest gift? Won’t the world know we are Christian’s by our love?” The woman who had invited my mother came to console her, but you could have heard a pin drop in the room. It was a Harper Valley P.T. A- moment. If you’re not familiar with the Harper Valley P.T.A., pull up the old song on YouTube and listen. My mother, in tears, made her way home feeling like an outcast and judged wrongly. I remember this moment for she had taken me with her to the party. Walking home, with mascara running down her face, she told me that the Father looks on the heart. Men always judge the outward appearance.
In both these stories, lessons were learned through mirrors being held up. This, too, is a process of transformation. Caterpillars go through transformation before becoming beautiful butterflies. We are to go from glory to glory. This process may last a long season, but when the butterfly burst forth in all its beauty and begins to fly, what a joyful day that is. The butterfly is no longer hidden in the dark cocoon–the developing room.
“Butterflies are known for having the widest visual range of all wildlife. With a larger visual field than humans and excellent perception of fast-moving objects, their keen sight could be why the species is so abundant. All butterflies have the ability to distinguish ultraviolet and polarized light through their photoreceptors, the light detecting cells in color vision.” for more, click HERE.
Sometimes we learn the most hidden in the darkness and wrapped in the Father’s Wings. “The LORD has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness” (II Chronicles 6:1).
” And the people stood at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was” (Exodus 20:21).
Sometimes joy arrives in the strangest of circumstances. It comes from those deemed outcasts. It takes a conversation with a homeless veteran to remind us that we have heat blowing through vents in our homes. It takes our car breaking down for us to realize the joy of transportation. At other times, it takes a person in a room that we do not want to be labeled as being seen with, like the woman with the alabaster box. The Pharisees rebuke Yeshua. “If this man (Yeshua) were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner” (Luke 7:39, NASB). All the eyes in the room were on one woman who they deemed unworthy. The elites were so blind they could not see that the greatest prophet who ever lived was in their midst, but this woman had eyes to see.
One night, years ago, before a conference with a pastor, a small group of us in ministry had gathered outside the sanctuary. We were all talking on couches when several others came and sat with us. Some of them had issues with mental health. One was convinced he was the anti-Christ. Many, like him, were coming to these meetings for prayer– and healing from mental disorders. One night, a woman, who made the ministry team uncomfortable due to her beady eyes, strange sense of humor, and continuous mirth at all the wrong moments, sat across the way from me. We’ll call her Brenda. Brenda began to talk, tease, and chatter to the persons next to her. Brenda rode a public transit bus there and had some form of disability.
I glanced at her backpack on wheels with its Jesus stickers and hearts and pondered her idiosyncrasies. She had never married or had children. One by one, I watched people scurry away. Suddenly, they were in need of using the restroom or began to gather into another area by the coffee machine, but Abba whispered to me at that moment—”see her.” “Look at her.” Tekoa, do you want to be with the so-called elite, or do you want to love my sheep? Will you isolate her too? Can you love My sheep with all the love and even more than you have for these you are looking up to—these who are impressed by Biblical knowledge—these who have asked you to speak on Thursday night– because, Tekoa, I am not impressed.”
Heart conditions:
Me, out of everyone there, should have understood. I was the child who was forcefully pulled down the hallway by my sister and the principal in the first year of my schooling. Crying, gagging, and kicking as I went. I was the last one picked for sporting events in P.E. I was the shy pigeon-toed girl who sat at lunch in elementary school alone at times. Children were holding their noses at my smelly paper sack lunch with hard-boiled eggs that stunk. Young children, and later on, teenagers, were often making fun of me. I learned to throw my food away on the way to elementary school. I was ganged in Middle school by a group of girls who beat my head into an aluminum fence post so badly I couldn’t wash my hair for a week. I learned to disappear in a room. Now, I was watching adults do what was done to me. They were treating her as if she were a ghost, invisible, and without worth. I had done the same at times.
But that evening, I walked over and sat next to this woman created by my Father and began to make small talk. I eased into the chair and complimented her colorful stickers adorning her travel case. I began to ask her things and smile even though she made me uncomfortable. I looked deeper into her tiny eyes and imagined His eyes shining back at me. I tried to ignore that it was summer, and she was wearing thick tights the color of a 1990’s hunter green kitchen countertop or that her paisley mauve dress looked dated from 1950, or how she cracked 3rd-grade jokes, laughing hysterically. And then I began to ask her about her life—dreams—aspirations. Mostly, what I remember is this woman in her 40’s crying buckets of tears and her telling me about her pain—her heavenly Father (personal), her earthly father who died, and her tragic upbringing. And underneath the strange mirth used to mask fears and awkward spaces was a soul that needed to be loved. Oh, friends, this is what the Body Needs.
And at that moment, my mother, misunderstood at a Tupperware party, attired in pink lipstick and eyeliner, could have been sitting next to me in a room full of religious spirits. If we think it does not exist in our newfound Torah fellowship, our smiling Joel stadium, our small rural congregation, our shul, our synagogue—, we might need to find a mirror. Cliques happen. Outcast happen. The lady with the piercing blue eyes and the hunter green stockings unfolded the sad details of her life articulately. Oh, how much childlike love she had for Abba. I felt smaller than small. I tried to imagine all the ones He created and shaped on his Potter’s wheel that we ignore—angels unaware.
We hurt—we judge—or we think we know what could come forth from their heart and parted lips—the ones who fade into the background of our lives. The lepers are crying out in this season. Can you hear them? They scream, “Son of David have mercy on me!” while the crowd tries to shut their mouths. Have mercy they roar– as we hurry to the other side of the street—the room, or worse, we pretend we do not hear them or see them.
There was a Canaanite woman whose daughter was vexed with demons, and she was in great need, but what did his chosen men say at that time? “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us. She keeps laughing too loudly. She has dirty laundry. She wears too much make-up. She’s embarrassing. She lacks knowledge. She’s a Canaanite. I’m too tired.” The healthy, chosen disciples, who one day would ponder which side—the right or the left– they could sit on in His kingdom, had no compassion or empathy for a Canaanite woman with a daughter who was demon-possessed. It was not their problem. Who cares if her daughter screams all night—hisses—put holes in the walls—wears green stockings–not our problem? Send her away, we scream! Can you hear my voice echoing from amongst His talmidim (disciples?) Can you hear yours? We, like them, wait to do what’s right—what we know is right. We wait like Moses until our wives have to circumcise our sons to spare us from death. We wait until it’s dark to get an appointment with the King of All Kings. We wait until it’s the Day of Atonement to get on our faces and weep over our condition.
Sometimes people with titles who are well known get better treatment, and we make sure to respond to them quickly. Sometimes cliques happen, and the people in them do not even know that they have formed a group of elites—big dogs. We can walk in a room and feel loved, cherished, and wanted, or we can walk in a room and feel like a square peg amongst a group of circles. We can walk in a room with new eyesight and compassion, but we usually do not acquire this without being crushed, rejected, slandered, and unheard. When we recognize ourselves as the woman in hunter green stockings, blue eyeliner, crying out for our children to be delivered from their vexing’s, or as the man lying in the street who was beaten and bloody, we won’t receive what the Father has for our hands to do. The place that lacks—the place lacking an ounce of joy comes from our self-seeking, arrogance, and knowledge without humility. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Great joy comes from anointing the sick, listening to the outcast, and having empathy for those who suffer in silence. May we not be like the men who pointed at the woman with the alabaster oil who was anointing Yeshua. They proclaimed He was indeed not a prophet, for if He were, he would see just what kind of woman she was. Oh, friends, may we bow lowly at His Feet regardless of what those in the room are saying. May we minister to a broken world, and His broken Body for a King is coming.
If this blog blessed you, you may like my devotional called Thirsting for Water. Click HERE.
Photos–my mother in black and white
Unsplash–glasses Nonsap Visuals
feet–Zee Zoran
Mirror-Kal Visuas
Them Bones, Them Bones
A note to my readers: Obadiah’s Cave will be closing soon, and I will be moving many of these writings over to my Tekoa Manning site. The blog below was originally written in 2019 at Obadiah’s Cave.
One of my favorite songs is by Jim Croce, “I got a Name.” When I was newly divorced, I would sing this song and think of my maiden name, My father and mother, and all those who went before me. Joseph went to Egypt before his family did. Like the shmita year of redemption, he would be delivered from Egypt by a prophet like Yeshua, Moses. In one part of the song’s lyrics, he says, “I got a name, and I carry it with me like my daddy did.” Those of us who keep His commandments and walk in His ways carry our Father’s Name. Bones are interesting.
David writes concerning Yeshua Messiah, “I can count all my bones.” Psalms 22:17.
The title of the passage is: For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David.
Aijeleth Hashshahar means “Deer/hind of the dawn,” and is said to be about Esther as well as our Messiah. Esther would have to enter a throne room and stand before a King. She was counting the bones of her people too.
Yeshua counts his bones. Isreal is counted throughout scripture. Each tribe and people numbered. Dry, dusty bones come to life and take on flesh. We are bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. He is fashioning us and preparing us. We will leap like a doe at dawn, but we must come fitly joined together. We need unity, honor, and respect. The children of Isreal went out of Egypt in 50’s. Many are afraid of the 5-fold structure, but it is the very structure that brings unity and maturity to all the Body–all the bones. Without it in place, we are off balance and prone to witchcraft.
“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels” (Psalm 22:14, NKJV).
Out of joint. . .
When my children were small, we rented a humble house in a subdivision. One night, one of my sons knocked a lamp over that had no shade, and it fell on the comforter. The lightbulb smoldered and caught fire. I awoke in the wee hours of the morning to the scent of smoke and was thankful to find all three sons asleep in front of the television. I shut the door to the burning bedroom, grabbed them, and took them outside to my mini-van. Then called the fire department and proceeded to snatch my Bible and a photo album close by. When we exit a place, and we have little time, we grab our most treasured possessions.
Moses grabbed bones!
“And Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” (Genesis 50:25, NASB).
“All my bones will say, “LORD, who is like You, Who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him, And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?” (Psalm 35:10, NASB).
Our bones speak! They have a voice.
Bones are a funny thing. Without them, we would be a puddle on the floor. Yes, I’ve written about bones before, and the “Luz” bone that cannot be burned, crushed, or destroyed, and how it relates to the resurrection of the dead. I want to pick a bone with you, not as in grievance but more like a crisply fried chicken bone, delicious bone broth—and how deep into every cell His Word is hidden if we hide it.
What are we soaking up in our bones?
Sunlight (Yeshua is the LIGHT) is the best natural source of Vitamin D– and is essential for healthy bones. The letter D in Hebrew is dalet and is a picture of a door. Yeshua stands at the door of our hearts and knocks.
From the very beginning in Genesis (Bereshit), we read of bones.
Adam said of Eve (Chavah), his wife,
“This is now bone of my bones, (The animals were not bone of his bones)
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man” (Genesis 2:23-24, NASB).
“According to the opinion of Rashi and many other medieval commentators, “woman” was created from one side of Adam, not from his rib bone. His side.
Abarbanel states that Chava (Eve) was not created from Adam’s foot so that he would not consider her a lowly maidservant, nor from his head so that she would lord over him. Instead, she was created from his side so that she would be equal to him.”
“For this reason, a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”
Chavah (Eve) was in a deep sleep, resting while the Maker of All fashioned her. He is fashioning us, His Bride! And He will wake us up.
The second man Adam, Yeshua, will come with a voice of triumph, and the dead in Messiah will come forth out of the grave.
The Sages say that the seed of the body is in the bone marrow. One Hebrew word for ‘bone’ is (etzem) and also means self or essence. Our bones represent wisdom.
What exactly is bone marrow? How much does it weigh?
Adults have an average of 5.7 pounds of bone marrow. Five is the 5th feast, Yom Teruah, or Feast of Trumpets, a time when all our bones rise up, and seven is the number of completion. Five added to seven is 12, the number of the tribes.
Human marrow produces approximately 500 billion blood cells per day. This is how we get oxygen.
Other interesting tips:
Red blood cells don’t last long in your bloodstream, so they need to be replaced continuously by new cells, which originate in your bone marrow. The next time you have a rich bowl of bone broth, think on this.
The Word of Yah pierces our bone marrow.
Our bones hold resurrection glory. A crime scene can look at bones and tell if they were male or female, their age, if they suffered trauma, and much about their lives.
Yes, all our bones will say, “Who is like YOU? Oh, YAH!
“And it has been explained by the Masters of the Mishna that a wicked person has his sins (black) engraved on his bones. And so it is with a righteous person, his merits are engraved on his bones. Since his actions were connected with higher wisdom, the bones would be engraved as a bright light on white.”
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:12-13, NASB)
What can our bones tell us? It seems such an intricate Creator, who forms life in the womb and causes our very bones to grow, might have a massive plan for them. Joseph’s bones are his last request at death. Can you imagine? People prepare for death all the time. They buy caskets and plots, erect stones, and pick out clothing. Others say, cremate me. I’m dead. Who cares. They may even say, “I’m not going to be in there anymore; I’m floating to heaven.” But Joseph said carry my bones out of Egypt.
“Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” And Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones up from this place” (Genesis 50:24, NASB).
Joseph, the dreamer–his brother’s hatred and jealousy sent him to Egypt, but his brothers would have to make sure he was carried out–later, their bones will come forth too. A whole army of bones will stand dressed in righteousness. Judah and Levi need Joseph too.
And 300 years later, Moses must carry up Joseph’s bones. Think about that. Ponder each generation discussing these bones and crying out for freedom. Ephraim had a name of doubly fruitful.
Think about a King on a cross whose bones could not be broken. If Adonai can raise the dead, can He not knit bones together again? Yes, but no flaw of any kind was in the spotless Passover Lamb, and no bone would be broken in His pre-resurrected body. May there be no brokenness between His people, just oneness. Make them one, Yeshua cries out to His Father–Make them one, as we are one.
Moses’s name means ‘he who draws out’ and ‘he who extracts.’ He was drawn out of the water, but he also drew the people out of Egypt. He extracted some special bones, those of Joseph, and carried them with him. Where is Joseph in the Body? What bread does he have during a famine? What bread did Elijah have? May the apostles, prophets and teachers all come together as one and learn from one another.
“And Jacob went down to Egypt, and there he and our fathers died. “From there they were removed to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem” (Acts 7:15-16, NASB). The name Shechem is identical to the noun שכם (shekem), meaning shoulder.
Joseph’s Tomb” by David Roberts, 1839.
“Since it would be 40 years or more before those bones finally were re-interred at their resting place in Sh’chem, it could also be reasoned that the same bones (or the merit of the man behind them) were responsible for other miracles that occurred in the wilderness. Indeed the oral tradition records that two arks were carried throughout Israel’s wilderness wanderings; one the Ark of the Covenant containing the tablets of the 10 Commandments; and the other, the coffin of Joseph. The same Hebrew word, ARON, is used to describe both.” Torah Voice in Exile.
Joseph, of course, is a picture of Yeshua in many ways. Both had very much in common. So carrying his bones up out of Egypt seems to display a broader picture.
There are some famous bones mentioned throughout scripture, but do they speak? Let’s look at this deeper.
“As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood up on his feet” (II Kings 13:21, NASB).
Oh, OUR BONES HAVE POWER! Even the bones of sick people.
“When Elisha became sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over him and said, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” (II Kings 13:14).
Jeremiah had to give a very stern word to a priest.
“When Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer, who was chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, Pashhur had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put him in the stocks that were at the upper Benjamin Gate, which was by the house of the LORD.”
Afterward, Jeremiah spoke of having this ‘fire’ shut up in his bones and how he had to release it. The prophets have to release things to the Body. Many times they are misunderstood.
” LORD, You have deceived me, and I was deceived;
You have overcome me and prevailed.
I have become a laughingstock all day long;
Everyone mocks me.
For each time I speak, I cry aloud;
I proclaim violence and destruction,
Because for me, the word of the LORD has resulted
In reproach and derision all day long.
But if I say, “I will not remember Him.
Or speak anymore in His name,”
Then in my heart, it becomes like a burning fire.
Shut up in my bones;
And I am weary of holding it in,
And I cannot endure it” (Jeremiah 20:7-9, NASB).
This fire is shut up in his very being.
Yeshua is like a refiner and a fuller’ that washes and engraves our bones.
Hebrew word ‘atsemot’ bones) comes from the verb ‘atsom, to be strong and mighty. There is a television show called Good Bones, where a team of people demolition abandoned houses and keep the skeleton of each to rebuild it. They often find the homes have mold (infection), bad foundations, plumbing issues, and electrical issues, but the skeleton is good so that they can rebuild it new.
“He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.” Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.’ “Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. ‘I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 37:3-6, NASB).
“Your dead will live;
Their corpses will rise.
You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy,
For your dew is as the dew of the dawn,
And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.” (Isaiah 26:19, NASB).
Our bones speak, they rattle, and they even have the power to resurrect the dead.
How’s your vitamin D levels? What are your bones absorbing? May we absorb His Word and power.
The Whole House of Israel:
“The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.” (Ezekiel 37:1-).
Sources:
Sources:
Strongs: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6106.htm
Bone marrow–https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/bone_marrow.htm
Bone and seeds, binah, and engraving: https://www.inner.org/healing/healing11.htm
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/tractate-shabbat-chapter-23
Photos: Unsplash
Fire–Vadym Lebedych
Broth–bluebirds provision
Hand skeleton–Owen Beard
Number 1–Jon Tyson
Skeleton–Phil Hearing
Bewitching and Identity, Part 2
In part one, we looked at bewitching in the Body. I also discussed travel at the airport. I want to continue this theme as we look at other ways of being bewitched. Let’s start with popular airlines and see if we can explore more ways to fly the friendly skies.
Delta Air Lines—Delta means Born 4th—Comes from the Mississippi Delta region. Mississippi means “Father of Waters.”
JetBlue Airways—formally called New Air—Big Breath of Ruach.
Allegiant Air– loyal or faithful
Spirit Airlines—Ruach HaKodesh Breath—wind-Holy Spirit.
The 4th Feast is Pentecost or Shavuot. This is the giving of the Torah and the outpouring of the Spirit. Hebrew number 4 means authority and government. Flying in a jet is flying with high-speed winds. Oh, how we need His Wind. This is when miracles take place, and people are transformed. It is also when we feel our Father’s grief or when we feel His Breath in the room, hovering and moving. When this happens to me, I usually weep in wonder that He would be mindful of us or change the room’s atmosphere and the sweet aroma of His presence. Blue is the color of the heavenly abode. Our father is loyal and faithful, and He longs for us to fly on His Spirit Airlines. Knowledge is a beautiful thing, but we need both, and I think we have to look at knowledge with different spectacles for a moment. “But knowledge puffs up while love builds up” (I Corinthians 8:1).
Wisdom and knowledge go together, and both should bring us to action.
When flying, we have to go through security to get on the plane. We must remove laptops/ and I-pads. Small phones, games, and our kindles are placed aside. We remove our shoes, coats, etc. But before this happens, we need our luggage checked in. We cannot soar with heavy baggage over 50 pounds unless we pay. Continue to think spiritually–the weightier matters require extra oil, extra cost, and action. Weightier matters can include baby lambs, widows, orphans, and the care of them. Deep introspection is needed, and this takes time and effort—a cost. On the flip-side, weighty baggage such as doubt, fear, and disobedience cannot be checked in. These get left behind to soar higher.
Before entering the Aircraft, at times, a person’s hands and feet may be tested for gun residue. Likewise, the priests had to wash their hands and feet on entering the Tabernacle or before approaching the altar of burnt offerings. The same is said for approaching a king.
“Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet from it; When they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, so that they will not die; or when they approach the altar to minister, by offering up in smoke a fire sacrifice to the LORD. “So they shall wash their hands and their feet so that they will not die; and it shall be a perpetual statute for them, for Aaron and his descendants throughout their generations.” (Exodus 30:19-21).
Would we be so quick to come before Him, enter the Most Holy Place, and make our request known if we thought we would die? Do we act like coming before the Holy One is a taco bell drive-thru where we pray and ask for certain men to be put in office, or we ask Yahweh to give us a new house, car or to save our loved ones when our feet and hands are covered in gun powder and anger? Uncleanness? Do we run into throne rooms without the heart of Esther? Oh, friends, may we be humbled to know He is in the Heavens. “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore, let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2, BSB).
On a plane, we can have a window seat or a seat in the aisle. Both seats have benefits. First-time flyers may need the window for extra vision. When we go to purchase our tickets, we must give our location and our destination. Some questions to ask ourselves would be: Where am I? Where am I going? Am I airborne? Do I have honor for my flight attendants who bring refreshing water or food? Correction? Do we have reverence for the pilot and those who work at the airport? Has the co-pilot removed Our Father and placed him or herself in the pilot seat? We must enter through the correct gate at the airport. The wrong gate will lead us to a different location.
What about this flight mentioned in Ezekiel– soul flight? Is that even possible? The other day, I heard, “Tell the people to Check themselves.” I saw an airport lobby and people lined up to go through the metal detectors and scanners. I heard this concerning witchcraft and the seats of authority, both politically, socially, and in His leadership. We must check ourselves and be scanned before getting on an airplane. We must go through airport authority but beware of authority. Remember, certain women during Ezekiel’s day had assigned themselves to positions of authority, and they were leading Abba’s people astray through witchcraft. They were called prophetesses.
We must remember Deborah and Huldah and others were called this. Not because they were fortune-tellers or gave prophetic oracles but because they were women who had much wisdom and Spirit concerning His Torah, and yes, they could foretell certain things and hear Abba’s voice, but they had more than this. When Josiah wanted to know whether the book of the Law found in the temple was authentic, Josiah sent a group of government officials, all males, to seek the word of a woman. Her name was Huldah. Male dominance was vital in this society, and these men could have gone to Jeremiah, but they chose a woman. But these prophetesses here in Ezekiel 13 are not who they proclaim to be. They bedazzled the people of Adonai.
For Ezekiel to spend so much time correcting these teachers or oracle experts, we know this was not just a small group. Remember the number of false mouthpieces Jezebel had at her dinner parties? Do we mock His mouthpieces or say what the one King said about Abba’s true prophet? The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man who can ask the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah, son of Imlah.” (II Chron. 18:7). We can hate the messenger. We can call them cynical. When we do not like the message or the messenger, we should sit at His feet and ask the Father why. We should check our hearts. Have we become foolish in all our wisdom? We get puffed up like bread with yeast. Bread with yeast tastes good. Who doesn’t love a buttered loaf of sourdough or sweet pizza dough? Some things that make us feel puffed up and buttery are just feeding our egos.
Adonai said these false women in Ezekiel had saddened the hearts of His people. Saddened—Oh, friends, a false joy, false humility, and a false identity lead to sadness. May we take our shoes off and stand on Holy Ground. May we wash and look into the copper mirrors at our reflections. May we look back and ask ourselves if we were closer to Him last year or the year before than we are now.
Continuing with Ezekiel 13, “And you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who are prophesying out of their own heart, and prophesy against them.”
Verse 18: “And you shall say, ‘This is what the Master יהוה said, “Woe to the women sewing (Magic charms) cushions for all joints of the hand, and to those making veils for the heads of people of every size, to hunt beings (souls/nephesh)! You hunt the beings of My people, while you keep alive your own beings!”
Verse 18 in Orthodox version: “And say, Thus saith Adonoi Hashem: Hoy (woe, doom) to the seamstresses of magic charms on wrists, who make mispachot (amulets) for the rosh of every size to hunt nefashot! Will ye hunt the nefashot of My people, and yet save your own nefashot alive?
Notice the word “magic charms.”
כְּסָת֜וֹת (kə·sā·ṯō·wṯ)
Noun – feminine plural
Strong’s Hebrew 3704: 1) band, fillet, covered amulets, false phylacteries 1a) used by false prophetesses in Israel to support their demonic fortune-telling schemes.
False phylacteries—Remember those boxes on the head and the tefillin that are wrapped up the arm? Tefillin is leather boxes containing Torah verses worn by some Jews when praying, or an amulet or charm, worn for its supposed magical or supernatural power.
(In line with the plain and normal reading of the text, Rabbi Meïr Leibush ben Yehiel Michel Wisser (“Malbim”) in the Nineteenth Century made the poignant and insightful observation that the amulets and veils in the verse were the analogs to the tefillin and phylacteries, which were to represent the Law of Moses on the heart and mind (that is, on the hand and head). Thus the “magical” charms appear to be substitutes for the Covenant of Moses, which were to be affixed on the hand and head (that is, on the heart and mind per the verse from Deuteronomy).
Therefore thus said the Master יהוה, “See, I am against your cushions by which you hunt the beings there like birds. And I shall tear them from your arms, and shall let the beings go, the beings you hunt like birds.” This is wickedness. These women were bewitching His people.
“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:33, BSB).
What happens when a people forget their God but are still keeping the Sabbath, the New Moons, and coming together to celebrate? Isaiah paints a fearful picture we would all do well to meditate on.
“The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth;
For the LORD speaks,
“Sons I have reared and brought up,
But they have revolted against Me.
“An ox knows its owner,
And a donkey its master’s manger,
But Israel does not know,
My people do not understand.”
Alas, sinful nation,
People weighed down with iniquity,
Offspring of evildoers,
Sons who act corruptly!
They have abandoned the LORD,
They have despised the Holy One of Israel,
They have turned away from Him.
Where will you be stricken again,
As you continue in your rebellion?
The whole head is sick
And the whole heart is faint.
From the sole of the foot even to the head
There is nothing sound in it,
Only bruises, welts and raw wounds,
Not pressed out or bandaged,
Nor softened with oil.
Your land is desolate,
Your cities are burned with fire,
Your fields—strangers are devouring them in your presence;
It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.
The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard,
Like a watchman’s hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.
Unless the LORD of hosts
Had left us a few survivors,
We would be like Sodom,
We would be like Gomorrah.
God Has Had Enough
Hear the word of the LORD,
You rulers of Sodom;
Give ear to the instruction of our God,
You people of Gomorrah.
“What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?”
Says the LORD.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle;
And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.
“When you come to appear before Me,
Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?
“Bring your worthless offerings no longer,
Incense is an abomination to Me.
New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies—
I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
“I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,
They have become a burden to Me;
I am weary of bearing them.
“So when you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are covered with blood.
“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.
Cease to do evil,
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Reprove the ruthless,
Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow.” (Isaiah chapter one, BSB version)
Are we a people who listen to lies? Do we lie to ourselves concerning our condition? Have we made the gospel a business? Are we seated in cushion seats with no Apostles or prophets to bring balance? Have we grown fat with knowledge but unaware of our condition?
Check your teachers and your walk and see if they encourage you to know your identity and gifts. To be led by a cloud by day and a fire by night. And check me too if you think of me as a teacher. And check yourself if you have reached a point where you feel superior to others or the opposite. Ask yourself if you feel free, anointed, and secure enough to minister to others and share the Good news with humility instead of an “I know more than you attitude.” Ask yourself if you look down on others who you deem less knowledgeable than you. Ask yourself if you fear being ostracized from a group due to your lack of knowledge? Ask yourself if you have been getting your worth from being in a clique or being acknowledged for your knowledge?
Identity is something we all struggle with. Many times I do not see myself as I am. I recently won an award for a novel I wrote. I used to be ashamed of this novel and never thought it was very well written. I started writing it in 1998 in a spiral notepad. If someone tried to purchase it at a book signing, I would tell them my other books were much better, but this book won an award. This book was accepted to the Kentucky Bookfair. I never saw the book as having worth until almost 20 years later. What if we do not see ourselves as having worth? What if we think we have more worth than others? See how this identity is tricky?
Do you feel insecure? Unable to speak. Were you in an abusive relationship or told as a child that you were never going to amount to anything? Have you lost your voice and identity due to a puppet master or self-anointed teacher who makes you feel unworthy or ashamed? Do you feel condemned or of no use to the Body? Do some use fear tactics and condemnation to keep you chained to a doghouse? Many people see puppet mastery going on in the political realm, but do you see it in His Body?
Ask someone who watches CNN to explain what is going on in the government, and you will get a totally different answer than those listening to Fox news. Both news media use catchy titles and words that promote fear of the future or fear and disdain for the opposing parties. Fear is a powerful tool. It can keep a person feeling too inadequate to do anything for the Father, but two demonized men living in a graveyard turned their city upside down after they were set free. They were no longer naked but clothed in their right mind.
Here is something to ponder: If you were bewitched before by leadership and removed yourself from a particular denomination or “church,” could there still be untruth in what you consider truth and I am not talking about theology–I am talking about bedazzling. Remember, Ezekiel was not talking to a people who had thrown out the Commandments written by the Finger of Yahweh.
The gospel of the Messiah should be unity, oneness, humility, and set apart. The Apostle Paul said he did not come to them with knowledge and difficult speech, and yet Peter says his letters are hard to understand for those lacking knowledge. Why would Paul even need to mention that he came to preach suffering? “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Yeshua Messiah and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2). I want to share a paragraph from Dr. Skip Moen in his blog titled Grave Cloth.
“Paul is not delivering a message of salvation theology.
He is talking about character and attitude. When it comes to presentation style, the emphasis is not on the glorious resurrection. It is on the humility and obedience of the crucifixion. Paul wants his readers to know that he came to them in fear, trembling, and utter humility. He didn’t come as a great scholar, a tremendous preacher, or an influential evangelist. He came as a servant of the crucified God.
Imagine how we would act if Paul were scheduled to preach at our church next week. Would we rush to the media, proclaiming his worldwide fame? Would we pile on the accolades, invite dignitaries, make sure that the local networks were present? Would we attempt to mimic Hollywood in our promotional campaign? Probably. We would have missed Paul’s point. The message of the gospel comes clothed in the rags of righteousness.” (Dr. Skip Moen).
Meditate on passages. Ask questions. Yeshua’s Disciples and John’s were arguing over who made more converts. They argued over who could sit next to Him on the throne. We argue over other things that at the end of the day do not make us more holy or more humble. We can have all that knowledge and not an ounce of love or humbleness or Ruach flowing through us. Are we keeping His Commandments like those in Isaiah’s day, oblivious to our condition? Oh, friends, may we seek Him with all our hearts to know His Son Yeshua and the fellowship of His sufferings.
“And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” (I Corinthians 13:3, NASB).
Part One HERE
Photos by Unsplash
mask-Tamara Gak
watch–Laura Chouette
Suitcase–Alina Preobrazhenskaya
Flying lessons–Bee Felton
Windo–Martin Widenka
Have We Been Bedazzled or Bewitched? Part I
During the 1960s and ’70s, a show aired titled Bewitched. The show was about a married couple. Darrin is a mortal human; his wife, Samantha, is a witch with powers. She does not divulge to him about her witchcraft until their honeymoon night. At this point, she has already enticed him. Today witchcraft has become a booming business. But what about the Body of Messiah? Are we too involved in witchcraft? And I am not talking about disobedience but Tom Foolery.
Bewitching is defined as capturing someone or casting a spell on them—enticing a person or people. We say people are under a spell when they have been hypnotized. We can become mesmerized by social media, politics, or people who sit in cushioned seats of authority. Some are bewitched by Biden or Trump–Fox News or CNN. Some have become bewitched by the things of this world, but witchcraft is not just something that happens in secret around a cauldron with women dressed in pointy hats with black cats—no, this is going on today. Bewitching is right in the open before our eyes, and many do not see it.
Yeshua said, “At that time (tribulation/ Jacob’s trouble), if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.” (Matthew 24:23, 26). Yeshua continues: if they say, He (Messiah) is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them.”
On a deeper note, here is the Messiah–let me describe the Messiah to you, if I describe Him as throwing out His Father’s commandments and changing the Sabbath, and say, “Look, here He is, do not believe it for Yeshua kept all His Father’s Commandments. If I say He is in the wilderness, and the scriptures tell us He came out of the wilderness with great POWER after He used the Word of the (Torah/ Old Testament) to defeat the enemy–then do not believe me. If I say He is in the inner rooms–a secret chamber, no, no, do not believe me, for He is coming as a Lion. “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:27). He will not be hidden, but roaring.
Yeshua said, “Do not believe them”– why would one believe this if they did not admire or trust the source they were getting it from? One would have to be BEDAZZLED!
Paul said, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” These Believers had fallen under the influence of man-made traditions, yet they saw miracles.
“Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law (Oral law), or by hearing with faith?” (Galatians, 3:5).
Rabbi Sha’ul continues: “This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law (oral/traditions), or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:2-3).
Traditions aren’t wrong. They can be good.
“Now I praise you because you remember me in everything, and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you.” (1 Corinthians 11:2 NASB). Yeshua endorsed both the written and oral Torah – and he upheld both in His actions. However, some of the leaders did things for show and wanted to impress men. It is a matter of inner intentions versus outer actions.
When we remove Yeshua, Messiah, we are bewitched. Yes, there are multiple ways to be deceived or drawn into strange apocalyptic tales, but what about the things we would never suspect. After all, a person who realizes they are being bewitched usually leave the cult or remove themselves from the power of the bewitcher. Yeshua says that these men could even deceive the elect. We say, “Oh, that could never happen to me.” But we would be wise to meditate on this.
We were never meant to remove the Instructions (Torah) of Elohim from our lives. The Torah is holy. Paul desires the Galatians to follow Torah through the Spirit. He longs for them to get rid of pagan traditions and traditions some Jews were bewitching them with—they were trying to work for salvation. In Messiah’s time, the Jewish people followed the Torah according to the Rabbinical interpretation (Oral Torah, the tradition of the elders, works of the law). The expressions “works of torah” and “under torah” are not found in the Tanakh (Old Testament). The Torah is instructions for a blessed life–It is holy and good.
Today, I see people working for knowledge. And we all need knowledge, but for some, the more knowledge they acquire, the less humility and love they seem to have. Many sit under trolls. What is a troll? A person who intentionally antagonizes others through mocking, sarcasm, and causes disruptions and arguments. We need to be immersed in the Spirit. Picture a head that weighs so much its body topples over. A person with a head so large they cannot see their feet or how they are walking. Or picture a head of authority that loves the best seats. Applause from men.
The man Sha’ul (Paul) was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He was from the tribe of Benjamin. He said, “I have applied in a figure to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you might learn not to think beyond what is written, so that none of you be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.
For who makes you to differ? And what do you have that you did not receive?” (I Cor. 4:6-7).
What is Paul talking about here? Ego inflation. It is causing division. It is everywhere today. Do not think beyond what it is written. Let’s take a group of Christians, those who now see that well-meaning men with titles have duped them —these now are eating everything they can and yearn to learn so much knowledge that they can never be deceived again. Oh, Hebrew Rooters, without Water and Son Light, you will die. You will rot. We may be learning but are we producing the good fruit of the Spirit? On another note, what many in Hebrew Roots call witchcraft is actually the Spirit, but some fear the very thing that can give them joy and intimacy.
Today’s media is full of bewitching matters concerning masks, vaccines, corruption, voter fraud, and on it goes. Sadly, bewitching is enchanting many in the Body of Messiah. Bewitching end-time fears of changing our DNA, the mark of the beast via vaccines, but there is a whole other beast working.
Ezekiel chapter 13 talks about witchcraft and deception. Who was Ezekiel’s audience? Wiccans? World leaders? No, Abba’s own people. One perplexing verse in Ezekiel 13 describes women in leadership who make souls fly like birds. Before we get to that verse, I want you to meditate on being airborne. Being air (Ruach) born is being born of the Spirit. Oh, Nicodemus, can’t you see, we must be reborn? We must worship in Spirit and Truth.
“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8).
Is His Wind blowing through your gatherings? Can you feel His Spirit? Are we taking time to be in His presence or just learning, and learning, yet never coming to the knowledge of the truth?
Many have thrown out the gifts of the Spirit, the prophets, the five-fold, and have become caught up with teachers who profess to have knowledge no one else has, and perhaps they do. Paul did. Humble Sha’ul said, “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Yeshua, Messiah and Him crucified. (I Cor. 2:1-2).
“My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s POWER.” (I Cor. 2:4).
Oh, the power of the Ruach–the Spirit’s power!!
Corinth had professional orators, Greek philosophers, and the majority of the people were wealthy. He was bringing a simple gospel that I feel has been lost. Do we have love and simple words for those who may not see what we do? Are we busy trying to correct those who may be way wiser than we are? Have we grown so busy in our learning that we scarcely pull up a chair and spend time with our Savior?
O foolish Hebrew Rooters, who has bewitched you?
When a person goes to the airport (air– port–Ruach (Holy Spirit) portal), their “baggage” is checked in. All items are looked at— hidden objects that may be dangerous are removed. Think about what some of these hidden things in our luggage could be. Are we carrying a religious spirit, arrogancy, falseness, slander, lust, low self-worth, pride or fears, etc.? At the airport, our shoes are taken off and inspected. Hands and feet may be checked for gun powder. A person must have a passport to fly to other territories and higher heavens. One must have their identity in check. A picture i.d or photo reflects our outward appearance, but what about our insides or heart condition? What’s in your wallet? Are we more worried about how we appear to men?
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. “So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:27-33-53).
We know people by their fruit, and yes, we can inspect fruit. We are to judge people in our community. “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within (church/gatherings). But those who are outside God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves” (1 Corinthians 5:12-13, NASB). When people say we can’t judge fruit, I beg to differ and stand with Paul. What about ourselves?
Dr. Moen, in his blog, titled Pay Day, explains how we can be hypocrites who practice our righteousness before men to be noticed by them:
“If we are motivated by self-interest, does that self-interest align with the Father’s will or are we seeking recognition from another source? This is not a simple matter to determine. The yetzer ha’ra is quite clever, capable of tinting even our purest motives with a hint of self-satisfaction. That’s where the instruction and guidance of our Rabbi Yeshua become essential. He pushes us to take the deepest look. And he does so by revealing a truly frightening possibility—that God will not acknowledge what we would use for self-glory. Think about the last act of righteousness you preformed. Think about your motivation. Was there any desire for recognition except from God? If you find something amiss, maybe that act will be a zero on the record and you will have to start over.” (Dr. Skip Moen—Pay Day)
Yeshua said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ “So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. “Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?”
This is an extraordinarily strong word. These religious leaders appeared to be righteous. Yeshua continues, and please meditate on this last portion.
“Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute in town after town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.”
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”
They had not kept the Torah in Spirit and Truth.
Have we been resisting the Holy Spirit? They had. Have we stoned His prophets and wise men? Have we thrown out the five-fold structure, becoming unbalanced–with big heads. Have we gone so far with our knowledge that puffs up that we don’t even realize we have become numb. Lacking oil? Teachers, prophets, and wise men with big heads and no love, empathy, compassion, or power of the Spirit– just looking spiffy to everyone outside while inside we are dead?
Yeshua said these Torah scholars had uncircumcised ears and hearts? Say it isn’t so? Is it so today? The Spirit longs to be intimate with us. The prophetic is not just witch hunters snatching people and holding them captive like those in Ezekiel. Whether anyone is interested in the “prophetic” or not, the prophets are coming. Elijah’s voice will come forth. There was not just Moses and Yeshua on the mount of transfiguration; Elijah was there too. Elijah must come and tear down the false altars. He must come and say, “Choose this day whom you will serve.” If Adonai be God, serve Him, if Baal be God, serve him, but Baal is alive and well today and so is witchcraft.
We repeat our mistakes.
Do those who boast of having excellent knowledge, do they have Spirit? Are Spirit and truth coming together? What about humbleness? What about mercy? Chesed?
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Messiah Yeshua (Philippians 2:3-5).
Oh, Abba, have we become like dead men with dry dead bones. Can we come together and live? A whole army? Unified? Can You do CPR on us? Oh, Abba, may we become like little children. May we be servants who wash feet. May we be about our Father’s business not looking for accolades or to be seen by men. May we not prophesy smooth itching ear words or fear. May our words be Yours and draw people to YOU and Your Spirit.
All our ways seem right to us, but You, Oh, Father weigh the hearts of all. May we wake up out of our slumber. May we find balance, walking in Spirit and Truth with great humility.
Part Two HERE
Photos by Unsplash: Lion by Robert Thieman
Airplane–
Johan Van Wambeke
Dove–Joshua J. Cotten
Joseph’s 4 Coats and David’s 3 Anointing’s
I remember the day I lost my coat, or rather, had it taken from me. Like Joseph, I was falsely accused and ended up running from the ministry I was in. It was all part of the Father’s plan. About a year later, my husband would also retire his position as an associate pastor, and we both would go on a journey that looked nothing like we imagined it would. During that period of introspection and searching out His Feasts and Torah, we missed ministry but learned so much. Four years later, I was praying about my coat, our ministry gifts, and asking Abba if we would ever get back to speaking and teaching at an assembly again. We longed to gather with like-minded believers. For weeks, I had been getting confirmation that Abba was going to give me another coat.
I thought of Joseph, who had a bloody coat, a servant’s coat, a managing warden coat, and then a royal robe. How many coats and shoes do we exchange walking through this thing called life? A man of many hats. A woman of many purses. Time passes by, and we change. We change our converse for work shoes or our shoulder bags for diaper bags. But sometimes, we change the most in the prison or hiding in caves. The hardships, the crushing grief, the sickness, the addiction, the divorce, the loss of a loved one, the silence from those we thought were our confidants. Heat the kettle, and it screams. Abba places us in the furnace, and we change. The ultimate goal? Gold. Shiny–gold. (Proverbs 27:21) “The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold. And each is tested by the praise accorded him.” (Psalm 66:10) “For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.” (Zechariah 13:9) “This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.'”
So back to the coat.
A woman gave us a prophetic word that we were going to plant a sword in KY and that it was going to make a sound and that people would hear. Shortly after our confirmations, one day after watching a children’s movie, and bawling at the message that was piercing my heart, a message about perfect love casting out fear and being able to take the gloves off and celebrate our giftings without harming others, my husband walked through the door carrying a bag. My husband has never bought me clothes. I am not talking about money; I am talking about picking out clothing as a surprise. He came waltzing in with a boutique bag and sat it down in the chair next to me. I said, “What is this about?” He said, “I went to a boutique to get my mom a gift and felt strongly that I was supposed to buy you this. I don’t know if you’ll like it, I don’t even know if it’s your style, but it seemed the Father wanted me to get it.” Inside the bag was an angora coat like cape. It was burgundy red and cream with stripes that made a V shape– a one size fits all. When I put it on, the Holy Spirit hit me! I knew what it meant. It was my coat of many colors. And no, I am not Joseph. Far from it. But at that moment, I knew Abba, and my husband had just given me my coat. I had felt like Mary Poppin’s without her umbrella or carpet bag.
P.L. Travers, author of the childhood tale got the idea of Mary from her aunt Ellie (Name meaning great light/ El as in El Shaddai). Ellie, was a spinster who carried a carpetbag. When children came to stay, she gave them lessons in etiquette, suffered no-nonsense, and instructed them to “Spit spot into bed!”
I want to share a wonderful comparison of the anointing and journey of Joseph and David and ask you to think about your own life. Joseph was given 4 coats. These had intricate meanings. David, too, was given articles including, a coat. David was anointed three times. Both Joseph and David experienced similar journeys concerning hatred, humility, crushing, and maturity in order to receive the final mantle and the oil once they were mature enough for their assignments and prepared for Leadership. What comparisons can we learn from their journey, and how can this pattern guide us in our own lives? Anointing is a symbol that indicates authority that is given to a person. Each time David was anointed, his measure of authority increased. When he was to receive a new measure of authority, he was anointed again. Each time Joseph was given a new coat, his measure of testing and learning increased until he was wise enough to save a people during famine.
David’s 1st Anointing: “So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah” (I Samuel 16:12-13, BSB).
The Holy Ruach Spirit rushed upon him, and his eyes were beautiful to see into spiritual things. He is anointed by Adonai and not men. He is anointed in front of his family. After being hunted by King Saul for around 8 years, David is told to go to Hebron, and he is anointed the second time there.
David’s 2nd Anointing: “Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” (II Samuel 2:4).
David is anointed now by the men of Judah. This was the anointing of acceptance.
The third anointing is a picture of Messiah. David is anointed the 3rd time, and he rules over all of Israel and Judah. He is 30 years old when he becomes king. Yeshua is 30 years old when he starts his ministry. “Joseph was 30 when the king made him governor, and he went everywhere for the king.” David was the young shepherd tending his father’s sheep. Yeshua was the Chief Shepherd tending His Father’s Sheep. Some scholars believe Yeshua died exactly 1,000 years after David’s death. A day unto the Lord is but 1,000 years and a 1,000 years a day.” David was prophet, priest, and king, just as Yeshua.
David’s 3rd Anointing:
“So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.” (II Samuel 5:3-4). This is a prophetic picture as well. Yeshua is 33 years old when crucified. We also see the 7 years and 6 months as a picture of tribulation and the Messianic Kingdom.
After David’s first anointing, we see jealousy and suspicion, and hatred coming from family. Joseph experiences the same hatred shortly after receiving his coat of many colors.
“Joseph’s coat of many colors was a kethoneth. Also, the fine robes of the king’s virgin daughters were kethoneth (2 Sam. 13:18). It is used as an evidence of honor of high position in Isaiah 22:21. Such robes were drawn up when working or running (2 Kings 4:29; 1 Kings 18:46). Similarly, Peter tells us to “gird up the loins of our mind” (1 Peter 1:13).” (Ancient Hebrew Clothing—Jeff Benner).
David’s 1st battles with family: David’s father tells him to take grain, bread, and cheese and check on his brothers. For forty days, the Philistine Goliath came forward every morning and evening to take his stand and mock the army of Yah.
“David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” The people told him about the offer, saying, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”
Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!” (I Samuel 17:26-28).
Although Eliab was tall and handsome like Saul, Adonai told Samuel that he was not to be king. Eliab knew that David had been anointed by Samuel for a great assignment and was jealous of his younger brother’s favor with God. He accuses him of the very thing in his own heart, pride, and envy. Shortly after defeating the giant, David is given his first coat/ girdle, sword, belt, etc.
David’s Girdle/coat: Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.” (I Samuel 18:3).
This is a prophetic picture of Jonathan (Adonai) passing down the kingship. Jonathan means YHVH (The Lord has given). Now, David, like Joseph in Egypt, is given his first assignment after his victory over the giant.
This is more of a message for early leadership and young prophets, but it stands true in many other positions Adonai is preparing a person for. Compare your own battles and favor from the Father.
“So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.” (I Samuel 18:4-5).
(1 Samuel 18:30) “Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed.”
- David is anointed by Samuel after protecting his father’s sheep from the lion and the bear.
- David defeats the Giant with a slingshot and 5 smooth stones (Torah). This can be about our own battles in the mind/thoughts. Yeshua was tempted and battled the adversary for 40 days just as this philistine giant had mocked and taunted all Israel for 40 days. Yeshua and David defeated the adversary with the Torah (5 stones).
- David afterward is given several positions by King Saul, and he is highly esteemed.
- Now, David will be hated by his father-in-law, king Saul. Saul has a spirit of fear, jealousy, suspicion, dread, and a murderous spirit for David. “They have ascribed to David ten thousand, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.” (I Samuel 18:8). “Now Saul was afraid of David, for the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul” (I Sam. 18:12). “When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded him” (I Sam. 18:15). Saul continues plotting schemes against David. “When Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus, Saul was David’s enemy continually.” (I Samuel 18:28).
After the intense hatred comes a period of battling–this may look different depending on the assignment or calling, but it will be a battle no less. This is when your enemy or enemies recruit others to hate you, lie about you, chase you down to remove your assignment. This is the hounds of hell on your heel’s day after day. This is the period that seems to break a person. That is just what Adonai is looking for—a complete death to everything in this world and anything in us that is not of Him. Complete brokenness– like a wild horse trained for battle. This is when one acquires the anointing of humility—yes, great humbleness like the man Moses acquired. It is a time when you may be alone like Joseph in the prison or as David hiding in caves and rocks. This is the major preparation period, and this period usually lasts a long time. It ends with a second anointing, but the training is still not complete.
After David is given a test to destroy his enemy and take his life, he passes these by not touching the one who was anointed before him. Repeat that. Once King Saul and his sons are slain in battle, David only mentions the good Saul did and not the bad. He is ready for that second anointing and then the 3rd. It is now around 15 years later since he was 1st anointed. Notice during this waiting period, he is still working and writing a large majority of Psalms. He is still defeating enemies and taking wives.
“The Talmud (Horiyot 11b) explains that whereas all High Priests were anointed, a king was only anointed if he began a new dynasty or if there was some controversy surrounding his appointment. It should be noted that since oil was typically used to anoint people to greatness, the Torah occasionally uses the term to anoint (“mashach”) where it simply means to appoint to high position, without the use of oil (see e.g. I Kings 19:16,19 regarding Elijah’s appointment of Elisha as his successor, and Isaiah 61:1). Likewise, the Torah occasionally uses the term “the anointed one” = “mashiach” / “messiah” to refer to any person appointed to carry out an important task.” (Aish.com).
Elijah passed his mantle down to Elisha. The prophets had their own robes of beauty and authority. Although they did not look like the priest, they would have been distinct and recognizable.
Joseph’s coats: This will entail the prophets’ journey. Joseph, like David, is anointed. His father, Jacob, gives him his colorful prophetic coat. After receiving the coat, he begins to have vivid dreams. This is when hatred from his brothers and suspicion and pondering from his father occur. To my readers, your anointing will first be attacked by those closest to you—family/friends.
Joseph’s 1st coat: “Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons, because Joseph had been born to him in his old age; so he made him a robe of many colors” (Genesis 37:3).
Joseph’s battle with family: His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms. (Gen. 37:4).
This may not come from jealousy of the young prophet being loved greater by a parent, but it could. It could also come from the young prophet marrying someone the family becomes jealous of or sibling rivalries like Cain and Esau. This may also be a parent who is very jealous of their own child or son in law.
“Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.”
This isa season where the prophet is just tasting the gifting of a Seer, and it is met with much jealousy and envy, just as David’s battle victories were. In the passage below, we see Joseph was in the valley of Hebron. Later, the Father gives Hebron to king David as the capital of his kingdom (2 Samuel 2:1).
“Then Israel told him, “Go now and see how your brothers and the flocks are faring and bring word back to me.”
So, he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron. And when Joseph arrived in Shechem (Shoulder—ridge), a man found him wandering in the field and asked, “What are you looking for?” “I am looking for my brothers,” Joseph replied. “Can you please tell me where they are pasturing their flocks?” “They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph set out after his brothers and found them at Dothan.” Dothan means two cisterns or wells. Joseph today is looking for His brother Judah and learning much from his Big brother, and Judah is seeing Messiah as Joseph unveils his identity. One day we all will be at that table eating and drinking–echad.
But for now, in our story, Joseph, the prophet, is wandering around looking for “his brothers.” The prophet must find those who are also seers and gather as they were doing at the school of the prophets that Samuel started later. But the first assignment given to the prophet is often among his or her own family.
Pay close attention young prophets, apostles, teachers, and leadership. After the favor from (Abba Father—Israel), and the coat of many colors comes intense hatred. After the gifts are revealed, the hatred is even greater. Also, Joseph is searching for his brothers. His brothers want to abort his assignment. They want to snuff out his dreams and his life. David says his enemies hate him without cause. He says his enemies are more than the hairs on his head. Can you see the jealousy and envy Joseph will have to fight and endure over the mantle given to him? Can you see the long journey ahead for David as he runs for his life and even feigns himself a madman at one point.
(The city of Dothan is mentioned once more during the kingdom years, when it appears to have been the hometown of Elisha the prophet) (2 Kings 6:13) Again, Dothan means two wells or two cisterns.)
“Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him. “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to one another. “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal has devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams!” (Genesis 37:18-19).
As we follow along, we see that after the giving of the mantle, the anointing oil poured out, and spiritual gifts comes jealousy and hatred that is so violent that they throw him in a pit and discuss murdering him. The young prophet and even the older prophet experience this in major ways. When Joseph’s coat is given to his father with the blood of a goat, he says, a vicious animal has done this—yes, their wild beastly nature had taken over. Notice the goat is used to dip Joseph’s mantle in. Often the prophet is made the scapegoat in the family. Prophetic ones often cause the other members of the family to see their reflection, their faults, and injustices. The scapegoat often sees the things in the family that needs corrected, healed, changed, and made holy, but most people do not like looking in the mirror, and they don’t want to hear correction from their younger brother.
“Rabbi Chiya: Regarding Isaac [when he felt Jacob’s goatskin-covered arms] the verse states, “Are you indeed my son Esau or not?” (Gen. 27:21). And therefore regarding Jacob the verse states, “Is it your son’s tunic or not?” This is all because the Holy One, blessed be He, is meticulous with tzadikim to a hair’s breadth.”
“Then they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a young goat, and dipped the robe in its blood. They sent the robe of many colors to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe or not.” His father recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” (Genesis 37:31-33).
Yes, the young prophet is torn to pieces by his own household. The young prophet is also a tad arrogant and not fully ready for the gifts. They may need to keep the gloves on for a bit longer. When the prophet is given the first mantle, they are usually in denial. Surprise. Wonder. Curiosity. Asking questions and revealing dreams and visions to those around them. Those who need not hear.
After Joseph is saved by Judah from death, he is taken to Egypt and is given another coat, which is a comparison of David’s journey. He learns to be a servant. He wears the servant’s coat. Notice how David and Joseph are given positions of power, much favor from Adonai and how both will be wrongfully accused.
“And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and made him prosper in all he did, Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant.” (Genesis 39:3-4).
After Potiphar’s wife becomes lustful for Joseph, he is tested here and ends up fleeing and leaving that coat behind, but it is his coat once again that is used in deception against him. According to some Hebrew scholars, he was wearing a servant or slave attire and would have fled almost naked. And yet, if he had not been accused and placed in prison, he would have never been able to interpret the dreams of the baker and cupbearer and be remembered with favor and brought before the Pharaoh. All our trials are leading us to our destination. The harder the trials and testing, the greater the assignment. We have to have a greater fear of Adonai, a Holy fear, and no fear of man, which brings a snare.
The medieval Sefer HaYashar, a commentary on the Torah, gives Potiphar’s wife’s name as Zuleikha, as do many Islamic traditions. Zuleikha means brilliant beauty, but Joseph was strong enough to resist it. Your testing may not come in a man or woman but fame or fortune, esteem of men and others. But even our adversary appears as an angel of light.
“So Potiphar’s wife kept Joseph’s cloak beside her until his master came home. Then she told him the same story: “The Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me, but when I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” (Genesis 39:16-18).
The next mantle Joseph will receive will be the coat of humility. He will be placed in prison but once again in a position of power. The final testing is the greatest. Like David running for his life year after year, Joseph will be imprisoned and placed in the fetters. Psalm 105 is rich with treasures to glean from.
“He permitted no man to oppress them,
And He reproved kings for their sakes:
15“Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”
16And He called for a famine upon the land;
He broke the whole staff of bread.
17He sent a man before them,
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18They afflicted his feet with fetters,
He himself was laid in irons;
19Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the LORD tested him.
20The king sent and released him,
The ruler of peoples, and set him free.
21He made him lord of his house
And ruler over all his possessions,
22To imprison his princes at will,
That he might teach his elders wisdom.” (Psalm 105:14-22).
Notice, Joseph gets his greatest wisdom, as does David, after being crushed. Those who have suffered greatly teach the elders wisdom. Ponder that. An Elder is not only a person advanced age but a man of social status and wisdom. Joseph taught those in authority, wisdom. But he would never do that without the pit, the prison, the false accusations, and the hatred from those he loved. So, we count it all joy when we go through trials!!
Notice how similar this passage is to some about David earlier.
“While Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him and extended kindness to him, granting him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. And the warden put all the prisoners under Joseph’s care, so that he was responsible for all that was done in the prison. The warden did not concern himself with anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.” (Gen. 39:20-23).
By the time Joseph was released from prison and appointed as head over Egypt, Joseph was 30 years of age (Genesis 41:46). Just as David, Just as Yeshua. Joseph was 17 when he was sold to Egypt, so his first anointing may have been around the same time as David’s.
Joseph is taken from the prison because of interpreting the Baker and the Cupbearer’s dreams. Although he is forgotten and 2 years go by, he is eventually remembered and ushered in.
Now, he will remove his prison attire because he is humble and mature enough for the position. He now will save a people. Can you see Yeshua? “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).
“Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?” So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are. “You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put the gold necklace around his neck.”
Pharaoh commands the people to bow the knee to Joseph. We know that every knee will bow before Messiah when He returns in power and great Glory.
I believe we can see Messiah Yeshua in both these men, and prophetically speaking, I would advise you to study II Samuel 5:5. This is a picture of Messiah and His Kingdom. May your journey be filled with awe and wonder and more so through your trials and suffering. May joy pour forth. May oil be poured upon your heads. May your bloody coat be exchanged for a beautiful robe, for you are a King’s daughter or son.
Blessings,
Tekoa
Word definitions–Abarim Publications
Photos–Unsplash
High Strikers
What if everything we spoke in secret was played over a loudspeaker each morning to everyone we know? Tzara’at (leprosy) is a spiritual sickness, not a physical one. No one today gets this moldy exposure in their homes, on their clothing, or skin. If this were available today, the world would be ridden with it because we have no filters. A curse word or a tattoo in my adolescence had a different meaning than today. But sometimes we can curse without saying one vulgar word. Sometimes we are marked with leprosy that no ink gun can give.
Yeshua was and is the Great Physician. One day he was sitting, eating, and drinking with the sick. Their sickness was not physical but spiritual. “And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His taught ones, “Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And hearing this, יהושע (Yeshua) said to them, “Those who are strong (healthy) have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.” (Mark 2:16-17, ISR).
Have you ever been to the doctor and had a bad experience? Perhaps their bedside manner was not very refined, or they lacked compassion, empathy, or worse, they decided all your aliments were your fault or a figment of your imagination. They would not listen to your problems. They offered no oil for your bruises and no prescription for your pain. My husband used to have a family doctor who was obese. My husband was not feeling well. He had high stress on his job, high blood pressure, and multiple issues that had taken a toll on him. He was roughly 25-pounds overweight. His physician was a good 75 pounds overweight but was very stern with him and a tad sarcastic about his weight. He told my husband he needed to lose weight and start an exercise regimen. Was the doctor aware of his own condition? How can we see to get rid of a splinter in our neighbors’ eye if we have a plank in our own? Words are powerful. What if we had to pour our words through a water purification system before speaking them?
Questions to meditate on:
- How do we speak to the lost?
- Are we instructive on potions and herbs, diet and exercise they need to incorporate, but just as obese/sick as them?
- Are we compassionate to the sick and the sinner? Do we have empathy?
- Do we shame people who have not seen what we see with our words?
- Do we eat and drink with the sick or chastise them or even separate ourselves from the healthy like Peter did until Paul rebuked him? Paul rebukes him publicly because he had acted in a manner that led the rest of the congregation to think his behavior was okay. It was not a public post on social media but for the community who gathered there. (Galatians 2:11-21).
- Would a sick sinner want to share a meal with us or Invite us to a wedding?
- Do our lips have honey that is so sweet from His Word that others want to learn? How we speak to the sick tells a lot about us. If the sick need a doctor, doctors must go to medical school to wear a white coat and get a certificate. This can take over a decade. We can be called to be a doctor but lack schooling and a correct bedside manner.
- Are we a doctor that cannot speak in layman’s terms? Do we listen to answer, or do we hear the heart cries of the sick?
- Do we know when to go to our brother or sister, private or publicly in our community?
- Who did Yeshua chastise?
“The Hebrew word for a prophet, navi ( Nun-Beit-Yod-Alef) comes from the term niv sefatayim meaning “fruit of the lips,” which emphasizes the prophet’s role as a speaker.”
Fruit of the lips: Take a seed and plant it in the earth. Water the seed and make sure it is planted where it can get sunlight. It will grow, but what kind of fruit will it produce? Jeremiah said, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts” (Jeremiah 12:1-2).
A good tree cannot produce bad fruit. A bad tree cannot produce good fruit. Yeshua went on to explain, we will know them by their fruit. How? I once bought a beautiful pink lady apple. I brought it home and cut into it, and the inside was rotten. Fruit can be deceiving. This apple had the appearance of beauty to the eye of the beholder but was rotten to the core.
Picture a carnival and the sledgehammer game.
“A high striker, also known as a strength tester, or strongman game, is an attraction used in funfairs, amusement parks, fundraisers, and carnivals. It operates by utilizing the lever where one end holds a puck attached to the tower and the other end is struck by the person or contestant using a hammer or mallet. The aim of players is to ring the bell suspended on top of the tower. If the lever is struck with enough force, the puck will rise high enough to hit the bell, indicating a success.” (Wiki)
Are we high strikers, striking the cheeks of the sick, the lost, the immature person we used to be? Our words can strike with such force they are received like a hammer. Adonai’s word is a hammer breaking the rocks in pieces, but are we using our words in a manner where we think the bell ringing is a sign of strength when its actual weakness?
Examples with sarcasm/pride: “I really told them!” Boy, I let them have it with my political/ spiritual knowledge.” “I set those Christians straight about how they are not saying His Name correct, keeping His Calendar, Feasts, etc.” “I told them they were celebrating pagan holidays and full of evil.” “Yes, I pointed out all their wicked ways, as I was instructed to do just that by the Holy Spirit.” Hmm. Really?
Are we suffering from the strong man?
Has anyone ever changed a person’s mind by posting a nasty meme or a post with condemnation? Even Nathan knew a parable about a little ewe lamb would have more weight than his finger-pointing. He spoke for Adonai. He did not slander David all over the Kingdom but went to him in private. Even David’s enemy, Saul, hunting him down with an army daily, was spoken of by David at death with honor and respect, but many today will murder a dead man with their lips. David could have said “Praise Yah! that no good, lying, witch of Endor seeking sinner is dead!” Instead, he said this:
“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life,
And in their death they were not parted;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were stronger than lions.
“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.” (II Samuel 1:23-24).
How to speak involves many layers. In the Book of Timothy, we see a list of words for leadership to follow. “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction” (II Timothy 4:2).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law “(Galatians 5:22-23, BSB).
Rebuke: “The definition of rebuke = to scold or criticize or reprimand someone for their actions.
“You shall surely rebuke your neighbor and incur no sin because of this person” (Leviticus 19:17). But who is our neighbor?
Knowing who, when, how, and why to rebuke is the key. “To correct a troublemaker or rebuke a wicked person is to bring down abuse on oneself. Do not rebuke a scoffer, for that person will hate you. Reprove a wise person, and that person will love you.” (Proverbs 9:7-8)
“Those who rebuke find favor and a good blessing falls upon them.” (Proverbs 24:25)
“Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed.”
A loving friendship that never has rebuke (correction) is really not a friendship. But rebuking involves mercy and tact, and receiving a rebuke involves humility. A mocker such as King Ahab, who rebuked Elijah, was given a sterner rebuke back. His blaming the prophet for famine and calling him a troublemaker was due to his lack of looking in a mirror.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” (Proverbs 27:5-6).
Septuagint, “More to be trusted are the wounds of a friend than the spontaneous (ἑκούσια) kisses of an enemy.”
Judas seals the deal with a kiss. We often picture Judas as the evil villain, but he was right there listening, collecting baskets of bread and fish, watching blind eyes open, and yes, betraying the Son of God and then hanging himself. The villain in Esther hanged himself too by his own cords.
(Proverbs 14:1) “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.” Remember, a hand in Hebrew is also a mouth.
Are we hanging ourselves due to our words?
Have you ever kissed someone and then betrayed them? Have we as a Body allowed a spirit of Judas to live in our hearts? Have you ever wounded a friend? Did the friend, like Peter, need wounding? Did you do it in front of the group or go around behind Peter’s back and whisper about how immature he acted. How he isn’t fit for leadership? That would have been more harmful than correcting him in front of them. The darkness is exposed to light; Peter can repent and do what he should have been doing. The matter ends. No one needs to gossip about Peter. We better start getting this right. It is past time!
The harlot seals the deal with a kiss too.
“And there a woman met him,
With the attire of a harlot and a crafty heart.
She was loud and rebellious,
Her feet would not stay at home.
At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
Lurking at every corner.
So she caught him and kissed him”
Has Abba Father kissed you with the kisses of His Mouth, or has the harlot enticed you with her lips? HOW we speak tells others who we have been kissing, how we’ve been kissing, and where we’ve been kissing.
There are many ways to say something. How we speak, when, where, and to whom matters.
For example: If I wanted to teach children raised to wear Velcro shoes how to tie shoelaces, I could illustrate this by retying my shoes and giving instructions and examples of why lacing one’s shoes is the better way to go. First, I want to show how this simple teaching can go wrong due to words. Then I want you to imagine how a simple post to correct, reprove, and rebuke someone concerning their beliefs, both political and spiritual, can go wrong. As you read about Velcro and laces, think Torah/ think Christianity, and if you must, think politics.
1st Example: (Unfiltered)
What are people thinking? Are they taking their children hiking in Velcro shoes? Have you ever seen the military wearing Velcro boots? Even an idiot knows correctly laced shoes provide better support than poorly-fastened Velcro straps. The Martin family lets their kids wear Velcro. I saw them wearing Velcro the other day, even the 12-year-old. What kind of parents are they? Don’t they know it’s shameful? They are harming their children’s feet. And then they want to try and correct me on my children’s behavior. Have you ever?
2nd Example: (Filtered)
I feel teaching my five-year-old son to lace his shoes is essential. He will be an adult one day, and Velcro shoes may not exist then, plus Velcro shoes may not work on the job. He may need steel-toed boots or wing-tipped dress shoes. Research shows that correctly laced shoes provide better support. Velcro may come undone during track, rock climbing, or other sports. Laces fit different foot shapes better and are less likely to cause pain in general because the shoe is tightened across the foot’s entire length. I was raised wearing Velcro shoes and was taught that tying shoes was outdated and done away with. I was told it was just more work for me as a mom to teach my child to tie his shoes, but now he can tie up his boots, jacket string, make a square knot, and a fisherman’s knot. I am proud of his accomplishments, and I hope you will purchase a pair of laced shoes for your child.
How we speak also involves who is in front of us, our audience.
Who:
Who is in front of you? Is it a broken woman with an alabaster box of perfume that the leaders consider a whore? A child (this can be a newborn believer or a literal child) is a demonized man in a graveyard who cuts himself? Is it a leader who is harsh and judgmental? Is it a leper? A friend? A drug addict. A king (David/ Nathan). A politician (Herod). An educated scholar? The list goes on and on. If we were to travel to Spain today and sit in a cafe, we would need to know how to speak Spanish to get the type of coffee and dessert we wanted unless our server spoke our language. If we speak Chinese and order it in our native tongue, chances are the Spaniard will not understand. Early in my ministry, I posted a small teaching on my facebook wall. A family member inboxed me and said, “I love to read your post, but lately I can’t understand anything you’re saying. I have to look up almost every other word and I am at work and don’t have time.” The Apostle Paul said something that needs to be meditated on with much thought. First, he told them if they were speaking in tongues without a translator, no one would understand them. Have you ever heard a clanging pot and pan fall un-expectantly?
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (I Cor. 13:1-3).
Many will argue that they are using love in some of their videos, post, memes, etc. to correct others, but I must say we all need to taste our words. We need to ask ourselves who we are speaking to. Are we talking to a child? A newborn baby? A brand-new believer? Are we speaking to Christians, Messianic or unbelievers? Are we trying to speak to all of these on social media without thought that our audience is full of different people on different levels and journeys?
Are we speaking to leadership? Do we honor leadership? Have we appointed ourselves to be police officers who must expose everyone else’s actions and beliefs we deem wrong or wicked? Even the dead? Police represent authority, but authority must be trained. We may need a change of heart, especially if we compare ourselves as righteous and only see others as way below on our ruler and standard we have defined as holy—set apart. If we are yelling at people to repent and pointing at them, separating ourselves from anyone who has made an error, we may want to pull the plank out of our eye so we can see to remove the speck in our brother’s eyes. Yeshua and Paul know their audience when they speak.
Paul said, “Or do you not know, brethren for I am speaking to those who know the law/ Torah.” (Romans 7:1). Paul was speaking to an audience in this passage who knew the Father’s Torah/ Law. Some people do not have an understanding of His Torah, or they may have been taught it was nailed to the cross. Many times, these same people are keeping many portions of it. David can help us understand His Torah.
Psalm 119,
“O how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged,
Because I have observed Your precepts.
I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
I have not turned aside from Your ordinances,
For You, Yourself have taught me.
How sweet are Your words to my taste!” (Psalm 119:97-103).
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” His Words are sweeter than honey, but are ours?
At one point, Yeshua explains that certain people are blind and deaf. He gives those who knew Torah an antidote to being healed after he restores a blind man’s sight. “If you were blind, you would have no sin. But since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains” (John 9:41). What did He possibly mean here?
They say, “we are not blind–We see!” We see His Torah. We see our righteousness. We see–we are not like that sinner over there. We fast twice a week. We dress modestly. We do not keep Halloween. We do not keep Sunday. We don’t wear pants. We don’t smoke or chew or even say the curse words listed in the Bible. Oh, we think we see ourselves, but do we see the naked, sick, hungry, and broken soul created in His image that’s standing before us in need of oil and not condemnation. Do we see the Messiah we claim lives inside of us? Are we like Him?
After Yeshua cast out demons, the leaders and scholars said he did this by the prince of demons.
Who was He harsh with? When was He harsh? Why was He harsh at that moment? Yeshua answers the leaders like this:
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers (seed of the woman/seed of the serpent)! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Yeshua spoke differently to the sick, the demonized in the graveyard, and even the leader who met with him in private. Would you place a 1st grader in a class with an 8th grader? Would an English professor speak to her English Literature class in the same way as her GED class? Do you speak to babies in the same manner of speech as you would your counselor? If you are posting or saying words that are sharp, unpolished, sour, bitter, judgmental, arrogant, or angry, who are they healing that is sick? When Paul spoke sharply with rebuke, it was to those who knew the Torah or were learning it. They were cheating on their wives, getting drunk at the gatherings, and doing things worse than those of the world. We must know our audience. And yes, there have been times when the Father had me post something that those who are of the world did not understand. I have also been guilty of posting things out of anger, a judgmental attitude, self-righteousness, ignorance, and words that sure could have used some ajax and sandpaper. Laying things aside for a day or two and rereading what we want to say after calming down or praying on it may bring enlightenment. One may even decide they no longer need to say what they thought they did. And sometimes, we can reword it better after some time away from it.
I hope this blog helps us all think before we grab our keyboard or microphone. Remember what comes out of our mouths, lives in our hearts. Please check out Grace in Torah’s message called Taste Your Words HERE.
In Part Two, we will look at how to answer a fool in his folly and more.
Sources: all Photos by Zoltan Tasi, Lesley Juarez, Engin Akurt, Nina strehl,
Camila Damásio, except high striker.
Free Chapter on Sickness
This is an excerpt from my book Doctrines of Demons Part One:
When I was severely sick with a neurological disease and fibromyalgia, I attended a small congregation with a kind pastor. I noticed the pastor often looked at me, my cane, and my wobbly legs strangely. On one occasion, he prayed for me. It was a loud, boisterous prayer. “Lord, get to the root of this sickness, the very root!” I felt as if the root he may have been referring to was my sin. He had suggested more than once to me that sickness can be a spiritual issue. I wondered if he thought the root was something evil in my life like pride, lust, or anger. I remembered the scripture in Timothy about laying hands on the sick and seeing them recover. It also said, “And if they have sinned it shall be forgiven them” (James 5:13-15 KJV).
Many well-known Evangelist and pastors had prayed over me, but I was still suffering horribly. I pondered this and went over a list of people I had forgiven and the prayers I had prayed for HaShem to search me and cleanse me. I cried out to my Father that I knew I had sinned and had things I needed to work on, like most of us do, but still felt awkward in the presence of this pastor. It seemed every time he prayed for me; it was suggested I was responsible for this disease. I felt like I was constantly surrounded by Job’s friends. Of course, I was no Job. My past had its colorful moments. But I had returned to the Father with all my heart, just like the prodigal son, and I knew the Father had run to meet me, kiss me, and clothe me with a new robe. I was now in covenant with my Father.
The following Thursday night Bible study was quite a shock for me. I waddled in on my cane, and there was the pastor with one shoe off. His right foot looked swollen, and he was using a cane. Gout had set in his foot. Had God allowed this to happen for a reason? I was not sure, but I felt quite relieved that a minister I deemed to be very holy could also go through pain. It was confirmation that perhaps it happens to the best of us. He spoke about how his gout had caused him to get still before the Father because he couldn’t go to work and how he had a wonderful time in prayer at home resting. Sickness can be an unusual friend at times.
This chapter will enlighten you about scriptures, and your eyes and mind will be opened to sickness in a manner you may have never been taught. Have you ever wondered who the first person to become sick was written about in the Bible? Job would be the first, and I believe the next person written about was Jacob. After Jacob wrestled with an angel all night, his hip was out of the socket, and he walked with a limp afterward. Indeed, he walked with a limp until the day his sons buried him. Hosea says this about Jacob, “Yea, he had power over the ANGEL and prevailed.” (Hosea 12:4 KJV) Perhaps you have never pondered Jacob’s hip being out of socket? The devil had nothing to do with maiming Jacob. It was an angel! We have been taught that angels only protect us. This one WRESTLED with Jacob and injured him.
Many times the children of Israel were sick or even died because of complaining and bitterness. Snakes sent from God bit them, and the quail they requested came up through their nostrils. The earth even swallowed some. “The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died” (Numbers 21:6 KJV).
Miriam spoke against Moses, and HaShem struck her with leprosy, and then Moses begged HaShem to restore her, and He did. Yes, over and over again, we see sickness caused by sin. Now we know this is not always the case. Look at Job and all his troubles, and there are others that I will illustrate to you shortly.
When Adam and Eve fell, many believe we were then cursed, and that is when sickness came into existence, but that is not what God’s word says, “cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt, thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns and thistles shall it bring forth… (Genesis 3:17-18 KJV)
The Lord Adonai placed a curse upon the ground and the serpent. This curse on the soil is followed by Adam’s son Cain after he kills his brother: “The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you” (Genesis 4:10-12 NIV).
After the flood came and Noah came out of the ark and built an altar to the Lord, that curse on the ground and the earth was broken. “And the Lord smelled a sweet savor; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground anymore for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I smite any more everything living, as I have done” (Genesis 8:21 KJV). So, God knew that we had evil in us, even from our youth, yet He removed the curse on the ground.
Noah knew the curse was removed, and he planted a vineyard afterward. The land would once again be fruitful. Yahweh goes on to say this. “I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Gen. 8:21-22, ESV). This is a loving God who goes on in chapter nine to say that not just the plants and vegetation would be for food but also for the animals.
“And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee” (Deut 7:15, KJV). Now, wait a minute, did you catch that? God is going to put sickness on people that hate His people. Wow! That doesn’t mean that every person who gets sick hates Israel. We know that is not the truth. This verse was more than likely speaking about the terrible plagues of boils and other ailments sent to Egypt during Pharaoh’s rebellion against Yahweh.
Sickness wasn’t something we hear Adam or Eve dying from, nor was it something Abraham or Isaac had, but Elisha, one of the mightiest men, died of a disease. “Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died” (II Kings 13:14, KJV). Elisha raised the dead, made an ax head float, cured Naaman of leprosy, and so forth, yet he died in his sickness. Several missionaries who were with Paul became sick, and Paul was not able to heal them but told the people these men had risked their life for the sake of the Gospel. You can read about Epaphroditus in Philippians, the second chapter, and a man named Trophimus in 2nd Timothy chapter four. “Erastus abode at Corinth; but Trophimus have i left at miletum sick” (II Timothy 4:20, KJV).
Both men were doing work for the Lord, and both men were with Paul. Now Paul was the apostle who could heal the sick with his apron. Why would Paul leave a man sick if he could heal him? Why then were they not healed? I hear men and women proclaim, “Greater works shall we do,” but Paul left Trophimus sick. Sickness can be challenging to grasp. Paul told Timothy, “Be no longer a drinker of water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities” (1 Timothy 5:23, KJV). The water back then wasn’t fit to drink, and the wine helped kill the parasites and bacteria. So, we see wine as a medicine prescribed by the Apostle Paul. He doesn’t say, “Timothy, don’t speak your stomach troubles, don’t even claim them, life, and death are in the power of the tongue. tell the devil where to go.” No, that does not happen, nor will you find one of these great men of God ever prescribing that formula.
Now, I want you to think about medicine differently. 2nd Kings 20 tells a story about a king named Hezekiah. Adonai told him to get his house so that He was taking Hezekiah’s life. Now this man was Godly, he was not a sinner, and when he heard it, he began to weep and argue his case with God. “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amos came to him, and said unto him, thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live” (II Kings 20:1, KJV). Wow, can you imagine being greeted with this type of Word from God? He was only around forty years old. We all like to hear a prophetic word from the Lord, but not one of such doom. Hezekiah begins to cry out to the Lord and bring before Him how he has served Him with a perfect heart. The Bible says, “He wept sore.”
Before Isaiah left the court of his kingdom, God tells him to go back and listen to the beautiful promise He gives him. “Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up into the house of the Lord” (II Kings 20:5, KJV).
“And Isaiah said, take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered” (II Kings 20:7 KJV). Yes, good ole herbs, figs, and plants can cure many diseases.
Adam lived to be nine hundred and thirty years old, now that’s a ripe old age. The Bible says Moses lived to be a hundred and twenty years old and that his eyes were not dim, and his natural force was unabated. He still had the strength of a young man. No sickness there.
Remember, Yeshua healed. However, He didn’t just do it for any reason; there was always a lesson to learn. I hear people say, “Yeshua healed all; however, He didn’t heal everyone entirely. Yeshua has trouble in His hometown and says, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on A few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief.” (Mark 6:4-6, KJV). So we have unbelief. We also read about a man at the pool of Bethesda who was healed, but we don’t read anywhere in that story that the many others lying there were healed. Then we have an account after Jesus’ resurrection about a man who was laid at the temple gate for years. “Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts” (Acts 3:2, NIV). Now Peter and John walk past him and say, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk”(Acts 3:6 KJV). Now we know Yeshua walked into the temple many times He must have passed this man.
Each time we study healings in the Bible, the process amazes me. Even from the Old Testament, Elijah laid his body upon the Shunammite’s son, who died, and then the boy sneezed seven times and came back to life. You have Naaman, who had to dip seven times in some water far from clean to get his healing. Then you have the priest who would quarantine the sick for seven days before checking their ailments, but how did Yeshua do it? Most asked Him to heal them. The lepers said, “If you will, you can make us clean,” and so Yeshua did. Blind Barnabas cried out all the more for his healing. The people tried to quiet him, but he would not give in. One blind man was healed after Yeshua took some clay or mud and spat on it and placed it on his eyeball. Then the man had to wash his eye in a pool of water. All the way there, the man’s faith was brewing, and he was saying, after I wash, I will see.
The woman whose daughter was vexed with a demon would not relent but had faith. Yeshua never met her daughter, but the Bible says the demon left her the same hour. Yeshua wanted to hear them speak it. He wanted to know that they believed He truly was able to make them whole. Sometimes He told them their sins were forgiven after He healed them, and sometimes He just felt virtue go out of Him, as He did with the woman with the issue of blood. Other times Yeshua didn’t heal them; he waited until they were DEAD, and then He called them to come forth. Yes, He is amazing!
Sickness and disease are mentioned in full detail in the book of Deuteronomy. There is a list of blessings and a list of curses. Most ministers and sheep are very familiar with the scriptures that ring, ‘You will be the head and not the tail, above and not beneath,” but little is discussed the curses and why they come. The 28th chapter of Deuteronomy begins a shortlist of blessing, around twenty or so, and then it goes on to list the sickness and suffering of curses which far outweigh the blessings. These things would fall upon the nation and people who worship idols and do not keep God’s commandments and statutes.
“The LORD will send upon you curses, confusion, and rebuke, in all you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me. The LORD will make the pestilence cling to you until He has consumed you from the land where you are entering to possess it. The LORD will SMITE YOU with consumption and with fever and with inflammation and with fiery heat and with the sword and with blight and with mildew, and they will pursue you until you perish. The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth, which is under you, iron. The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust; from heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed. The Lord will smite thee with the botch of Egypt and with tumors, scabs and itch, sickness that cannot be healed” (Deuteronomy 28:20-24, 27).
The list is much too long to go over, but here are a few more. “The Lord will smite thee in the knees and in the legs with a sore botch that cannot be healed from the sole of your feet to the top of your head” (Deut. 28:35, KJV). So many forms of sickness and blindness are mentioned that it’s too much to list them all. Also, every sickness and every plague and all the diseases of Egypt He promised to bring until everyone is destroyed. These don’t come from Satan, but from Yahweh and on a people, who are sold out to idolatry.
I hear many people today talk about sickness. They make comments about a lack of faith, wrong confessions, and hidden sin, and they usually blame it on Satan. Most of the time, what I hear does not line up with the word of HaShem. How can we have a miracle—a healing—without sickness and suffering? Today, many ministers think sickness enters due to sin and the devil, but that cannot always be the case. “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him”(John 9:1-3).
Moses told the Lord that he was not eloquent or good at making speeches, but God answers him with this, “Who has made man’s mouth? or who makes the dumb or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?” (Exodus 4:11, KJV).
Many would call blindness, deafness, and paralysis a curse from Satan. But we just read God created it. When we read the New Testament, we find how they prayed for the sick. Today much has been distorted, especially in the Charismatic movement. Let us examine this again.
“As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up” (Acts 9:32-34).
Peter, did not ask God to get to the root of his sickness. He did not plead the blood over him or break generational curses. He did not bind anything. Peter did not say, “Aeneas, I’m sorry, but you just don’t have enough faith right now. Study Hebrews chapter eleven for a few more years, and I will be back to lay hands on you.”
King David said this about sickness and suffering, “Before I was afflicted, I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. Thou art good and doest good; teach me thy statutes” (Psalm 119: 67-6, KJV). He goes on in verse seventy-one to say, “It is GOOD for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.”
Job makes a statement in chapter twenty, one about what the wicked man’s life is like. He says, “Their houses are safe from fear. Neither is the rod of God upon them.” He talks about how they spend their days in wealth. King David speaks almost the same word in Psalm 73:3-5, “For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They (The Wicked) have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.”
Job makes a comment to his wife after she tells him to curse God and die. He tells her she speaks as a foolish woman would speak. “What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God and not receive evil?” (Job 2:10, KJV).
Sometimes we give Satan too much credit. Occasionally, I think we spend too much time talking to Satan and about him. Many have been taught that every sickness comes from Satan or hidden sin. They never consider that this earth is getting old and that we have polluted it badly with factories, chemicals, landfills, oil spills, and water that is no longer fit to drink. Some believe we need more faith, and that medicine is not of our Father. I have seen countless people go off their medication and become severely sick, especially the mentally ill.
Sickness in a positive form is often mentioned in the Bible. If you read the parable of the great supper, you will find that the healthy, wealthy, and wise in their own eyes, did not have time to come to this great feast of the Lord. “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame” (Luke 14:21, NLT).
Yes, the wealthy, busy people of the world rejected his invitation but not the sick and the poor. Why were they so willing to come? Sickness and poverty can humble a person significantly and cause them to realize that they need a Savior.
A man named Paul was one of the greatest apostles of all time. Paul didn’t start out that way. In fact, he was one of the persecutors of the church. He was one of the main ones who helped stone the Christians and threw them into prison. And the Bible says that as he was on his way to Damascus, he saw a bright light shining down from heaven, and he heard a voice, and he fell down on the ground. “And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink” (Acts 9:6-9, KJV)
So we have just read how HaShem struck Saul (Paul) blind for three days. He got Saul’s attention. By striking him with blindness, he was able to humble Paul. We even read here how he fasted and prayed during those three days. We also hear the voice of the Lord say that he will show Paul how greatly he must suffer for His name’s sake. Now Paul went on to influence Christian thinking in a way no other apostle could. He wrote at least seven books in the New Testament, books on bringing praise and glory to God. Through his suffering and famine type circumstances, he became a humble Apostle. He also said he was given a thorn in his flesh, a messenger from Satan to buffet him. He asked God three times to take it away, but God said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (II Corinthians 12:9).
Sickness may be something you pay more attention to in the scripture now. Our bodies are supposed to get old. Paul said, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (II Corinthians 4:16).
“Remember, “Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died” (II Kings 13:14). Years later, a dead man was thrown into his tomb, landed on his bones, and was revived. He came back to life and stood upon his feet! He might have died of sickness and disease, but God’s word was still shut up in his bones, and his bones brought forth life.
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Our nation–Job’s Wisdom
If you follow my Tekoa page or Facebook page, this blog is a couple of posts I’ve combined with a passage from an upcoming book on America and the wisdom of Job for our nation. I still have no working title but do feel it will be a book for a season that looks bleak to bring hope. If you already have read my post, scroll down to the free chapter. Blessings and Happy Sukkot!
The first post is from 9/30/2020:
I have read many comments and posts concerning the debate last night. I’ve also been reading many posts concerning The Return. Some were very harsh on the D.C. gathering– warning of the anti-messiah, freemasons, being too patriotic and a false revival, false repentance, etc. The most heartbreaking words were toward a messianic Rabbi Who spoke with great humility and said a prayer as close to Ezra’s or Nehemiah’s as I have ever heard. His prayer During The Return caused both my husband and I to get on our faces and weep. Does that mean we agreed with all who spoke or everything said? No.
Rabbi Kohn was sent years ago to a pastor who had cheated on his wife, embezzled money, and was put in prison for a season. With humbleness, I have watched him sit with Christmas trees behind him and teach the Father’s Feast days. It might not look right to some, but I’m sure taking a wife of harlotry (Hosea) or walking naked And barefoot (Isaiah), or making a city out of pots and pans didn’t look right either.
During the Day of Atonement, we ask for mercy for our sins, and we desire His mercy, but do we have compassion and mercy for others? Do we fear to slander men who are trying to do what they can to spread the Gospel? Do we have a Jonah attitude, or do we accept that our Father is merciful, slow to anger, and full of compassion, and we are grass? Who are we that He is mindful of us? Are we screaming to be heard, and spreading fear, instead of becoming one? Are we sick from the top of the head to the soles of the feet?
Are we the religious police who must draw men to ourselves as if we are the only ones capable of teaching the truth or capable of warning them of falseness? Again, heartbreaking. If it were up to some, they would be the only teacher anyone was allowed to be taught by.
There are many verses written ages ago warning of false messiahs that had come and will come. John said,
“Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared.”
There is another verse that I’m reminded of:
“At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.” Matthew 24:23.
There is also an anti-messiah spirit, and it can work through any of us.
Two men stood up to speak last night, and my heart broke for both of them. Why? Because when men like Ezra speak, people fall on their faces and repent. When men argue and talk over one another, it’s hard to listen. These men need prayer. Humility is refreshing. A heart that’s for a nation that is burning, being destroyed from the inside and full of bloodshed and unrest needs more than make America great again; it needs America to fear a King who is coming again to set up an everlasting kingdom. How will He rule?
“And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear; But with righteousness, He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.” (Isaiah 11:3-4).
This nation needs repentance. I saw some of that at the Return. Maybe it was patriotic, and maybe there were issues, but I was pleased to hear shofars and songs by Paul Wilbur exalting The Great Elohiym. Our nation needs revival, but many are against even speaking the word revival because it’s not Torah enough. Because great tribulation and a day of darkness are coming–this is true, but out of great darkness comes great light.
And I’m hearing from friends who are preaching in Streets and parks and baptizing people. Ministers are going to the streets and loving the angry and broken to weeping. And yet many are slandering that they aren’t using the correct name of His Son, Yeshua. I say, know your audience. I say do what you can with what you have. A man in Acts didn’t have all the story, but he was preaching boldly, and then the Father sent helpers.
“Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. (Acts 18:24-26).
Abba is faithful to send humble servants to help those spreading all the light they have with boldness.
These two men, Trump and Biden, who stood debating Will one day bow their knees to a higher power. Yes, one day, every knee will bow, even those who sow discord among brethren. I’m starting to think fasting words are more powerful than food, especially if they are full of finger-pointing and negativity and slander.
Men of flesh cannot come up with words or actions that pierce hearts or change the people of a nation without being engrossed in His Word and fearing Him–Him who places men on thrones and removes them. No amount of money, lost votes thrown in trash cans, corrupt media, or any other deceit can stop the Father from placing which man he wants on the thrown. And He may not want the one you are picking for His own reasons. He sent His servant Nebuchadnezzar. He erected gallows for Haman by Haman. I’m praying for them both. I’m praying for our nation. No matter who is elected, if you say, “Well, our nation is going to collapse now. We are finished.” Then you are placing trust in one of these men and not the one in control. Sometimes our temples need to be destroyed so He can rebuild them.
Ezra 9:
“O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens. From the days of our fathers to this day, our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities, we and our kings and priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the earth and put to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation, as we are this day.
But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant and to give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes. Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but He has extended to us grace in the sight of the kings of Persia, giving us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and giving us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.
And now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commandments that You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the impurity of its peoples and the abominations with which they have filled it from end to end. Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’
After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant as this), shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not become so angry with us as to wipe us out, leaving no remnant or survivor?
O LORD, God of Israel, You are righteous! For we remain this day as a remnant. Here we are before You in our guilt, though, because of it no one can stand before You.”
The second post is from 10/1/2020:
More thoughts this morning:
Pull up a debate from the 40s to the ’80s and compare it to today. It’s much more civilized. Reagan was even able to cause Mondale to laugh at his humor directed at him. But we’ve become so desensitized to our words and how we speak about people, we may not hear the full assassination of our words. Did Elohim give these men running for office life? Is His Breath in their lungs? Satan has created nothing, matter a fact, he was created by HaShem for His purposes. Was not Biden, as well as Trump, created in their mother’s womb? Will they not stand as you and I before the Judge of all the earth one day? Do they appear to be full of knowledge and wisdom from on High? Do they look strong and righteous having the ability to tame their tongues? Do their words like Job mentions, cause men to wait and listen for words that were as rain to parched souls? The wisdom that causes silence–
“To me they listened and waited,
And kept silent for my counsel.
“After my words they did not speak again,
And my speech dropped on them.
“They waited for me as for the rain,
And opened their mouth as for the spring rain.” (Job 29:21-32).
Possibly, we were allowed to see the opposite during the debate so we can get a better understanding of how frail and incapable men who have but a breath in their nostrils are of healing any type of pestilence and unrest on the earth.
I have to wonder what it would be like today to have such a job as president of the U.S. when our nation is burning. Our streets are full of violence and pestilence, and our economy, due to COVID, has suffered dramatically.
If someone gave me the job tomorrow, I wouldn’t want it. I’d lay prostrate in fear and ask as Solomon for wisdom. We need to pray for our president.
Many go to excellent links to make their candidates appear more worthy, more righteous, and more concerned about the people of America, but more than 2.2 million acres have burned in the state of California alone–Fires started by wicked men. The damage from riots and looting across the U.S. is estimated to be the costliest in insurance history – between $1 billion and $2 billion or more. Due to riots, thousands have been arrested, and many deaths have occurred, both to police and civilians. We wear a mask, but our mouths spew evil, and we wash, but we aren’t clean.
Can a fleshly man who puts his pants on like you and I fix evil and lawlessness? Can a fleshly man heal hearts and bring justice and mercy and shalom? Can a man or woman with any skin tone under the heavens fix America? I think we all know the answer to that but they can stand for LIFE, and put out fires, both internally and externally.
When other nations look at our streets on the news, what do they think? Looting, burning, violence, bloodshed, drugs, sex trafficking, child abuse, and cursing… evil upon evil. Hatred and rage and unrest. The earth is Crying Out.
I know Babylon is a harlot system, but One passage comes to mind– in one-hour judgment comes upon her.
“The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour, your judgment has come.’
“And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more: merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in one hour, such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’
“They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour, she is made desolate.” Revelation 18:9–.
Things are coming upon us that we may not be prepared for. May it cause us to look UP and not at men to save us. Egypt cannot save us. No amount of wealth, power, or men with enticing words can save us. Men who have to read from an iPad because their cognitive mental capacity is weak. Men who cannot stop talking over other men because, like us, they have no idea how to be silent and tame their fire lit tongue for 2 minutes. Oh, that humility would fall on a nation. From the top of the head to the souls of the feet.
While this debate goes on and we draw closer to the election, I pray that we look to the Maker of Heaven and earth with humility and repentance. I pray that we do not place our hope or trust in men. I’m praying the Father gets our attention to the point we see our frailty and sickness and try to be lights to all people, even those we disagree with. This may not be our home, but it’s our home now, and the Earth is the Lords Adonai. He is not going to throw it away. We are not going to be taken out in a rapture. Where are the ones who were taken in scripture? Who are they?
“There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.” And answering they said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.” Luke 17:35-37 NASB.
Vultures gather to eat the flesh of the dead just as they gathered in Noah’s day after the flood. We will be left not taken, and
One day He will restore this earth to its proper condition. We go back to the garden.
Have a wonderful Sukkot, and as we celebrate the birth of the Messiah remember these words and who we place our trust in. (John 7:37-38) Now on the last day of the festival, Hoshana Rabbah, Yeshua, stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking! Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!”
Before I get to the excerpt from the upcoming release, Please pray for me as I have several books being edited and I need to know which one is to come forth first and also if the Father would want a publisher to take over. It is hard and tedious to pay for editing, make changes and new editions, and market. We also want to make sure it is His Word’s and anointing flowing through this pen and not just my own thoughts.
3 Job
“Behold, He restrains the waters, and they dry up;” (Job 12:15).
During the time of the Great Depression, the people waited for rain. They walked outside and searched for clouds with weary eyes. Their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. Their eyes stung from the dust that pricked their irises and made them walk like blind men. Dust kicked up and filled their parched throats. They prayed for rain, they sighed for rain, and they threw their hands up in the air for rain, but not a drop fell.
Many Americans are praying for peace, healing, justice, and order. Rioters in Minneapolis caused over 55 million in damages alone. As our nation searches for a drop of His Spiritual rain, none falls. I know that Adonai can open the windows of heaven and pour out His healing balm, but that will require us to take action through repentance and change. Many are expressing that it feels as if God has removed His strong right Arm of protection. Job felt like this. He sat in the dust and scraped his oozing sores with broken pottery. His own wife told him to curse Adonai and die. But if you want to know the secret to an abundant life, Job can tell you. There are genuine riches and gold that cannot be bought with money.
This man, Job, had a great life before his destruction hit. When he went out to the gate of the city, young men fled, older men stood, princes, refrained from talking, and nobles held their peace. Men kept silent at this man’s counsel, and after he spoke, they were left in awe. We know Job, though, for the time of famine he went through. Whether Job was a real person or a fable, this man went through a Great Depression way before the nation of America existed. This man went through the death of his children and lost his joy and all he had worked for in a moment.
In Job chapter 29, Job talks about the days before his destruction. He describes a life some have dreamed about, but I believe it can be attainable. Many of the answers to our financial, spiritual, and physical needs are written in this one chapter. Job is reminiscing about his past, the life he had lived under the protection of the Almighty. While reading these words, carefully meditate on the richness.
“And Job again took up his discourse and said,
“Oh that I were as in months gone by,
As in the days when God watched over me;
When His lamp shone over my head,
And by His light I walked through darkness;
As I was in the prime of my days,
When the friendship of God was over my tent;
When the Almighty was yet with me,
And my children were around me;
When my steps were bathed in butter,
And the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
“When I went out to the gate of the city,
When I took my seat in the square,
The young men saw me and hid themselves,
And the old men arose and stood.
“The princes stopped talking
And put their hands on their mouths;
The voice of the nobles was hushed,
And their tongue stuck to their palate.
“For when the ear heard, it called me blessed,
And when the eye saw, it gave witness of me,” (Job 29:1-11, NASB)
When was the last time we had princes and nobles astounded at our words? Has America ever washed her steps with butter? Butter and oil were symbols of wealth, luxury, and the anointing. And how often do we see men such as Job speak in front of the leaders of our nation? How did Job ((Iyov) get this esteem —this wealth? How did he get this prestige and favor from HaShem and man? The next verses hold the answers.
“Because I (Job-Iyyob) delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him, the blessings of him that was ready to perish came upon me: And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My judgment was a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame: And the cause which I knew not I searched out” (Job 29:12-14, KJB).
How can a nation and people be feet to the lame? We carry them. How can a nation be eyes to the blind? This comes when we see their sorrow and direct them with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Why would a widow’s heart be filled with joy? If her husband just passed away and she has children to feed, and then Job shows up at her door, she knows he is going to take care of them. He will feed her children and clothe them! He puts on righteousness as a garment because he is busy doing righteous acts. These are robes of the noble.
The Bible states in Job 29:13, that when the people died, they left their possessions to Job. Why would people leave their belongings and property to this man and not their relatives? Job helped them during their darkest hour when they had no rain. Job came when no one else would. He did much for others, even to his hurt. Job does not stop there. He says, “I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth” (29:17).
“Unto me, men gave ear, and waited, and kept silent at my counsel. After my words, they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. And they waited for me as the rain: and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. I chose out their way and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners” (Job 29:21-25, KJB).
Did you notice how very similar this verse is to the one in Deuteronomy that we read earlier?
Have you ever met someone who was known for his or her greatness? Maybe it was an actor, sports star, author, or righteous leader. Whoever it was, you could not wait to tell your friends and family about meeting the person. Job was a celebrity in this way. He said if he laughed with them, they thought it was too good to be true that they were cutting up and having a good time with none other than Job. Job was so blessed that his presence and his words were like rain to the people around him. We will look at this rain with better vision in our next chapter.
“And they waited for me as the rain and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain” (Job 29:23). KJB
Blessings!
Check out my devotional Thirsting for Water for the New Year.
Unsplash photo by Engin akyurt
A Dismembered Body/Nation Part #2
Part # 1 Here
Part #2
This story of the concubine is strangely familiar to a story in Genesis with Lot and his daughters. The chain of events with the Levite and his wife/concubine is interesting. Firstly, it was the Levites who did all the work connected with the temple. Aaron’s descendants were the priests, but we also learn that the Levites were described as angry.
“Simeon and Levi are brothers;
Their swords are implements of violence.
“Let my soul not enter into their council;
Let not my glory be united with their assembly;
Because in their anger they slew men,
And in their self-will they lamed oxen.
“Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;
And their wrath, for it, is cruel.” (Genesis 49:5-7).
The woman in the story invites the angry husband she’s left into her father’s house. Her father, like our heavenly Father, serves bread and wine. He wants to keep them safe. He is from the House of Bread. Stay in my House, He says. Stay protected under my roof. But on the 5th day, the son-in-law decides to leave while it is getting dark outside.
“Then the man arose to go, but his father-in-law urged him so that he spent the night there again. On the fifth day, he arose to go early in the morning, and the girl’s father said, “Please sustain yourself, and wait until the afternoon,” so both of them ate. When the man arose to go along with his concubine and servant, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Behold now, the day has drawn to a close; please spend the night. Lo, the day is coming to an end; spend the night here that your heart may be merry. Then tomorrow, you may arise early for your journey so that you may go home.”
The father tries to keep the man there. He tells him it’s getting dark outside. And we do attest to this present hour of darkness over our nation. Day five or the 5th feast is the feast of trumpets. This is described as a day of darkness.
“Alas, you who are longing for the day of the LORD,
For what purpose will the day of the LORD be to you?
It will be darkness and not light;
As when a man flees from a lion
And a bear meets him,
Or goes home, leans his hand against the wall
And a snake bites him.
Will not the day of the LORD be darkness instead of light,
Even gloom with no brightness in it?” (Amos 5:18-20).
The father said to the son and daughter, “Please agree to stay all night, and let your heart be glad.”
This should remind you of another story where Abraham has three visitors. “Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that, you may go on, since you have visited your servant.” (Genesis 18:4-5).
The man and his concubine, donkeys, and servant leave the safety of her father’s house, and the servant tries to get them to spend the night in Jebus, which is Jerusalem.
“One of the nicknames of Jerusalem is Jebus (Judges 19:10, 1 Chronicles 11:4), and the Jebusites are listed among the nations descending from Canaan, one of the sons of Ham, who is the youngest son of Noah (Genesis 10:16). The name Jebus means He will trample down or trodden underfoot.” (Abarim Publications).
The man in our story doesn’t want to stay in Jerusalem. Jerusalem means a foundation of peace. He wants to get to a place he feels will be safe, Gibeah, but this place is anything but safe. (To the Hebrews, a hill country resembled humanity that consisted of separate and rivaling tribes, clans and families, while a plain resembled humanity at peace). (Abarim Publication).
Gibeah is where the tribe of Benjamin resided. They were not in Sodom. They were not spending the night among people who had no knowledge of the Torah.
An old man from Ephraim took them into his home. Isn’t it interesting that the “old man” is supposed to serve the younger? The beastly nature is supposed to submit to the spirit and walk uprightly. Genesis 25:23 says, “The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, And two peoples will be separated from your body, And one people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”
The older man, Esau, was hairy like a beast. He sold his honor and birthright because his beastly nature was needing a bowl of red stuff right then! Now, these folks have gone to spend the night in the “old flesh man’s house.”
Benjaminites began to bang on the door, demanding that the old man would give them his guest for them to rape (reminiscent of the goings-on in Sodom; Genesis 19:5). The Levite’s concubine got shoved out the door. The Benjaminites raped her all night. Can you say wolves? Can you say sex trafficking? At dawn, they let go of what was left of her. We are now on the sixth day. This is the day man and beast were created. Remember, we are created in the image of Elohim, and we are to make sure our beastly nature is not erupting.
“The rabbis of traditional Judaism understand that the God of Israel gave the seven days of creation in the book of Genesis as Torah/instruction to teach His people that there are 7,000 years of time from the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to the end of the Messianic Age. In Psalm 90:4, it is written: “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.”
In our story, it is the sixth day, and each day in creation represents 1,000 years of time. We are waiting for the Sabbath rest, the 7th day when we rule and reign with Yeshua. The people in our story have some clues we can see. The woman is not a bride like Sarah but a concubine. Paul said,
“For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But, the son by the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.
For it is written,
“REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR;
BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR;
FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE
THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.”
And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.
But what does the Scripture say?
“CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON,
FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.”
So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.” Galatians 4:22-31.
However, the concubine’s father is from Bethlehem, the city of Obadiah, Ruth, Naomi, Obed, Jesse, King David, and Yeshua, Messiah. They do not stay in the safety of the father’s house. It is getting dark outside, and they leave on the 5th day. The man will not listen to the servant and stay in Jebus. The woman is raped and mistreated all night, and what is her husband/ Master doing while this is happening to her? He is asleep!! Oh, beloved, we must WAKE UP and stay right there with Abba Daddy in His house with His bread and His wine and not open the door for the enemy and not allow the old man to rise up and our beastly nature to rule us because we will be defiled. The story in Genesis is very similar. The men wanted to sodomize the men.
“Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; and they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.” (Genesis 19:4).
What does Yeshua tell us? “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” (Luke 17:28-30).
What does the man in our story do? He cuts his concubine in 12 pieces. The twelve tribes scattered. A picture of the United States at this time—cut up, divided, bloody, and defiled. Where else have we seen a story such as this? It was in 1st Samuel chapter 11.
“But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “I will make it with you on this condition, that I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, thus I will make it a reproach on all Israel.” (What does Nahash mean? Serpent, bronze oracle) What does Oracle mean? “a priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods in classical antiquity.” Oxford dictionary.
Before we finish our story concerning Saul and the ox, let’s continue with this cloudy vision and witchcraft. How does witchcraft blind the eyes? As a nation, we have blinders on as many in positions of power are full of deceit, fraud, and are enemies of righteousness. We need men and women like Sha’ul, who was an apostle and prophet put back into leadership to expose the fraud. We need healing and love for all colors of skin. This sickness is rooted in fear. Perfect love cast out fear! How does witchcraft get healed?
“But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? “Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately, a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. Then, the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord” (Acts 13:8-12).
Yeshua told those in authority if they were blind they could see. We need to become blind to what we think is right and seek His instructions. One day our nation and we as a people, will longer see through a dark glass. We will say, “Oh, now I see clearly!” But in this story concerning Nahash, the people are considering eyes gouged out. How’s our eyesight? Our we as a nation seeing with His Eyes or with what the media feeds us?
The elders of Jabesh speak to Nahash and request seven days. They want to send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If no one will deliver them, then they will allow this gouging of the eyes. What? The messengers approach Saul and tell him of the plans of the Ammonites, and all the people lift up their voices and weep. Who wouldn’t?
“Now behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen, and he said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So they related to him the words of the men of Jabesh. Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became very angry. He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” (I Samuel 11:1-7).
Oh, Saul, what are you trying to do? He seems to be using fear tactics. Is this righteous anger, or is this his beastly nature? He is reminding the people of the concubine who was cut up into 12 parts. The tribe, his tribe, Benjamin, was almost wiped out completely. Interestingly, 600 men of Benjamin were left. There’s that 6th day. So what happens next?
The next morning Saul put the people in three companies, and they struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
The Nahash’s in leadership long to gouge out our right eyes. They use witchcraft and speak bronze words with the forked tongues of serpents. Can you see them, or is your vision cloudy? Dip in the blue crystal waters that spring from His well and His Torah. If we are hot and full of anger, we have no eyesight. May our land heal. May we weep in anguish for both George and Derek. May we pray so that the Father of glory will heal our land. A house divided and cut up into parts cannot stand. Adonia is the One who says that if His people, called by His Name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways; then He will hear from heaven, and will forgive our sin, and will heal our land, but every prophecy will come forth. We were warned long ago that we would be hated, handed over, placed in prison, and killed. We are told that all Israel will be surrounded by every nation, yes, included in “every” is perhaps even our great nation, America. What’s the good news? “On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.” “In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will strike every horse with bewilderment and his rider with madness. But I will watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the peoples with BLINDNESS. “Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘A strong support for us are the inhabitants of Jerusalem through the LORD of hosts, their God.’ In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD before them. “And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn (Zechariah 12:3-10). How does the book of Zechariah end? “And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one” (Zechariah 14:9).
And after this, a great kingdom with a Holy King who will not judge by what his eyes see. This King will rule and reign and all men, all skin color, all nations, will bow before the Lamb that was slain. Can we begin practicing now? I pray so!
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