Light at a Time of Darkness.

The Book of Ruth, in the Tanakh (the Old, or First, Testament), is a love story with a difference! It is certainly not a "Mills & Boon" romantic novel. There is the love shown by Ruth, to her mother-in-law, Naomi; and the love that blossomed between Ruth and Boaz. There is also, on the part of all three, an obvious love of Almighty God, characterised by their trust in Him.

We may better appreciate the significance of this story by placing it in its proper context. The stories described in the Book take place at the same time as the events of the Book of Judges – a dark and difficult era for the people of Israel. After the death of Joshua, the tribes of Israel each operated independently of one another. Lacking unity, the tribes were weak and vulnerable to attack from neighboring countries and plundering tribes. At the same time, without consistently strong leadership, the Israelites frequently turned away from God and worshiped the pagan gods of surrounding nations. The Book of Judges can be described as a painful cycle: the people become complacent and turn away from God; God sends foreign enemies to subjugate the people; the people cry out and God sends a savior to redeem them; finally, saved from their enemies, the people become complacent and the cycle is repeated once again.
Is there a message, here, for the people of Israel today, as the war with Hamas rages on?
After selflessly following her mother-in-law to Judea, Ruth is rewarded with a life of poverty and no marriage prospects. However, Ruth finds herself at the farm of a man named Boaz who, unknown to her, is a near kinsman of Naomi, and he is kind to her. (One can almost hear the wedding bells!) But once again, Ruth is disappointed. The harvest season ends and nothing happens. Boaz fails to act.
In a bold move, Naomi instructs Ruth to sneak into the threshing floor where Boaz is asleep. And yet, instead of a romantic scene, Boaz essentially tells Ruth: “There is another redeemer-kinsman, more closely related than I. Wait, and I shall speak with him tomorrow.” This other relative is given the opportunity to marry Ruth, but he turns it down – yet another moment of rejection and disappointment! It is only then, at the very end of the book, that we finally reach the moment we’ve been waiting for. Boaz takes her to be his wife. Ruth was a Moabitess; Boaz was descended from Rahab, the prostitute from Jericho.  Yet from this union, the Messiah is born. How amazing is the grace of Almighty God!
The lesson of the Book of Ruth is particularly important for both Jews, and Gentile and Jewish disciples of Yeshua (Jesus). In many ways, the modern State of Israel is re-experiencing the era of the Book of Judges. Modern Israel is divided into “tribes” – religious and secular; Orthodox Jews who seek to scrupulously live by the Torah and Messianic Jews who have accepted Yeshua as HaMashiach; Jews of Middle Eastern origin and Jews from Europe; Jews who believe the State of Israel is the harbinger of redemption and Jews who reject its religious significance altogether. At the same time, dangerous enemies like Iran and its terror proxies such as HamaS (remember HamaN? see Esther 3:6 ff), threaten Israel from without, while "Palestinian" terrorists murder as many Jews as they can within Israel. From this perspective, Israel is living through an era of great pain and national disappointment.
But the Book of Ruth teaches us that it is precisely during times like this that the seeds of redemption are sown. Perhaps, at this very moment of civil strife and external threats, the story of the final Redeemer, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus, the Messiah), is being set in motion – right under our noses!
Ruth reminds us that the people of Israel, and disciples of Jesus, must never give up hope, for God will not forsake His people - whether His Chosen people, or those who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Take strength, for the redemption will come!

Lost! Pt. 3

In Jesus' "Parable of the Lost", we come to the final part of the triptych - the lost son. The sheep, we have noted, was lost through its own foolishness; the coin was lost because of the woman's carelessness; but what about the son? May I suggest that he was lost because of his own wilfulness?

The first thing we may notice about this young man is the great start in life that he had. He was born, we might say, "with a silver spoon in his mouth"! Born into a land-owning family; a seemingly religious family, in which he would have received a good education in the Tanakh (the "Old Testament"), and the various rituals associated with orthodox Judaism; a loving family, in which he would have received all that he needed in life. Yes, he had a good start!

I suspect that many of those who are reading these words have also had a good start in life. Perhaps not in the same financial way, but certainly better than many in the "developing world! Sadly, just as was the case with this young, there are also sins that we have committed! In his case, the sin was one of rejection. It was, we read, sin against his father. He came to his father, and said: "Father, give me the share of property that falls to me." (Lk.15:12). He knew that, under Jewish law (and, I understand, modern French law!) his father wasn't free to leave his estate just as he wished - the family had a fixed claim. So this young man knew that a certain amount was his, by right, when his father died. But with what one commentator describes as "a certain heartless callousness", he said, in effect: "I can't be bothered waiting for you to die. Give me my inheritance now!" Such ingratitude! And he couldn't even claim that his father had driven him to such a situation.

How often you and I sin against those who love us most; those to whom we owe most. How ungrateful we show ourselves to be! But the son, as he later admitted, also sinned against God. Now, this is something that not everyone realises - that when we wrong another, we sin against God! Jesus has assured us that, when He "... comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne." (Matt. 25:31). He will then judge the nations, and some will be told: "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;" (v.41). On asking why they should be so treated, the King's reply is simple: "Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me." (v.45; emphasis added). Jesus sees how we treat others as the way in which we treat Him!

Praise God, however, the parable doesn't end there, as we discover the salvation that this young man experienced. J.B.Phillips translates the words of Luke 15:17: "Then he came to his senses …" The implication is clear - that when we are in a state of rebellion against God, we are not ourselves; we are acting in a way contrary to that which God intends for us. The young man (and, of course it can be a young woman!) suddenly realised what a fool he had been, and his reaction was immediate: " I will arise and go to my father, …" (v.18) and, we read on: "... he arose and came to his father." (v.20).  His action now led to a new relationship of love. We hear no more about him - the rest of the parable has more to do with the elder brother, but that is a different story, and lesson. But I can only see the younger son respond to the great love shown by his father with the deep love of his own heart. The amazing lesson for us is that when I throw myself on the mercy of Almighty God, I likewise find myself enveloped by His great love, fully and freely given to me by His grace. And, as I come to Him, I enter into a new relationship of love. 

Finally, for the son there was a new evaluation of life. Again, I confess that there is an element of conjecture here, but I cannot see this young man returning to his former way of life; accepting, again, his former values. And so it is with the re-born child of God. My sense of values changes as I walk with the Son. I see things, now, as God sees them. My priorities are changed. And all of that is the evidence that I have entered into a new life in Him. (Note v.2 of the song below!).

The lost son. I wonder if that part of the parable is speaking to you as you read! If is is, then come to the Father, Who is waiting and ready to receive you - in spite of your disobedience and rebellion - and welcome you into His family. 

In the Beginning - Pt.7

The record of Genesis 6:5-22 is possibly one of the best-known, and most controversial, passages to be found in the whole of the Tanakh (the "Old Testament"). It is, of course, with the following chapter, the record of the Flood.

Verse 5 gives us the verdict of the Creator on the humanity that He had created, but that had quickly fallen into disobedience, and had been banished from His near presence. « YHWH saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. » As someone once put it, « The heart of man's problem is the problem of man's heart. » There was, however, one exception - the man named Noah who, we are told « … found favour in the eyes of YHWH. » (v.8).

What was YHWH to do? He could see that « … the earth was corrupt in [His] sight, and the earth was filled with violence. » (v.11 - and doesn't that sound just like the situation in which we live today?!). So, He shared His divine thoughts with that one « … righteous man … » ( v.9), Noah. « And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh; for the earth is filled with violence through them; behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch." » (vs.13-14). The means of that destruction was, we later discover, a flood that covered the whole earth, so that the tops of the highest mountains were under 15 cubits (about 22'6", or just under 7 metres) of water! It was an historical, global, catastrophe. 

Now, of course, there are those who would try to show that this was just a "local flood". I have seen "local floods", and none covered the tops of mountains - or even small hills! Certainly, other Biblical writers have no doubt as to its extent!  Peter, for example, writes of « … the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished." (II Peter 3:6). The issue has been the subject of many academic books and other studies, and is certainly much too big to deal with here, but I will simply state that the evidence for a worldwide flood is more than a little solid, and we shall look at this a little more closely next time, DV.

What, then, are the basic lessons that we may learn from this part of the record of the flood? It shows the reaction of Almighty God to the human sinfulness that had become so prevalent. It shows, first of all, 

1. God's grief

Notice the sharpness of the language in vs.5-7, and 11-13. We know how much sin hurts, and sickens, us - but how much more must it pain our Creator? It's little wonder that He decided to wipe out humanity! Indeed, the amazing thing is that He has not done so again - totally and permanently. Of course, that is partly because He keeps His promises (spoiler: 8:21-22). However, this Flood record also shows

2. God's grace.

In His love, Almighty God rescued the one family that honoured Him and, through them, gave humanity a fresh start. Notice how orderly righteousness is. Sin destroys, but the description of Noah: « Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. … … he did all that God commanded him. » (vs 9,22) provides a model of health and growth. 

God's rescue act - prepared, remember, since before the beginning of time! - is planned to perfection. It is practical and precise in every detail. And it is an advance model of a still greater rescue act, from which each of us may benefit.

Peter writes: « For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him. » (I Peter 3:18-22).

The death, and resurrection, of the Lord Jesus were just as perfectly planned and executed - and, you may recall, they too were no "afterthought"! In Gen.3:15 we read these words, spoken by YHWH to the serpent: « I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. » At Calvary, the Lord Jesus bruised the head of the satan, even although « He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with His stripes we are healed. » (Is.53:5).

Praise God for His love, and grace, and mercy - and for the wonderful salvation that is the lot of all who trust, wholly, and solely, in the Son. May that be your personal experience. It will be for your good, and to His glory.

News Bulletin.

I have made no secret of the fact that, with regard to Covid-19, I am something of a "conspiracy theorist"! I am also what has become known as an "anti-vaxxer". Okay, I reckon that I may have lost a number of friends just by posting those two sentences!

However, I have not made those decisions lightly, and unthinkingly. I have made them because I have gone to the trouble to do some basic research of my own, and not simply swallow all that the politicians, and the mainstream media, have churned out - in the UK; in France; and, it seems, in the rest of the world!

When one checks, for example, the actual number of deaths that are attributable to only Covid-19, then one discovers that they may be less than what is experienced with influenza! I use the word "may" simply because it is difficult to obtain totally accurate figures from any source! Of course, I don't expect anyone to take my word for it! Do your own research. It could be a real eye-opener!

However, in the book of Deuteronomy, in the Tanakh (the Old Testament of the Christian Bible), and in chapter 7 is a far more serious warning that any given out about Covid-19 - and this one is genuine! I would encourage you to read vs 6-16. Overall, that passage is a positive expression of the blessing of YHWH. It expresses His willingness to help those who trust Him. But that's not the whole picture! In v.10 we read: He "requites to their face those who hate Him, by destroying them; He will not be slack with him who hates Him, He will requite him to his face." 

Did you catch that "News Bulletin"? YHWH alerted His chosen people to be 'on the lookout' - not for bad men roaming the streets, but for a good God Who will destroy all those who hate Him!

It's true. A virus, however harmful it may be, is far from the only thing to be feared. Much more fearful is Almighty God! Even although He is merciful, and full of compassion, His awesome holiness makes all other kinds of fear look mild by comparison. 

In Matt. 10:28, we have these recorded words of the Lord Jesus: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear Him Who can destroy both soul and body in hell." "It is not hell-fire we are to fear, but it is God; without the stroke of Whose justice hell itself would be no punishment, and Whose frown would render heaven itself insupportable." (Adam Clarke's Commentary). This is the God who is described, by the writer of the Letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus, as "... a consuming fire." (Heb 12:29).

Just before I was about to publish this post, I received an e-mail that included these words:

"The God Who can speak the billions of galaxies into existence with the “breath of His mouth” (Psalm 33:6) is a God Who can cast ungodly men into eternal hell for their defiance and rebellion against “the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4)."

We may not like to face this sobering truth, but Almighty God will not always be patient with those people who have no love or respect for Him. That, I would suggest, is a "News Bulletin" that we cannot afford to miss - or to ignore!

The Word.

As I continue, in my personal devotions, through the Book of Psalms, I arrived this morning at the longest one - Ps.119. When I was in full-time ministry, I sometimes considered preaching on this psalm - but realised that just reading it would take almost as long as the message!!!

Of course, one tends not to deal with this psalm in one go, and I shall take some three weeks to reach the end. However, it is a very interesting psalm, and I want to share some general thoughts in this post.

It's a psalm that "majors on the Word of God", and the ministry of that Word in the lives of those who seek to worship and honour Him. Many people are aware that it is one of the "acrostic" psalms. That means that each of the twenty-two sections begins with the consecutive letters of the, in this case, Hebrew alphabet. However, each of the eight statements in each section also begins with the relevant letter! This was not a psalm that was composed in a hurry!

It is a psalm that contains a number of well-known words, e.g., "How can a young man keep his way might not sin against pure? By guarding it according to Thy Word." (v.9); "I have laid up Thy Word in my heart that I not sin against Thee." (v.11); "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things in Thy Law." (v.18); "Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (v.105);The unfolding of Thy words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple." (v.130).

The name of the writer is not provided, but he is certainly one who had a passionate desire to understand God's Word in as deep a way as possible. The psalm is rooted in the Book of Deuteronomy ("second law" - the retelling of the covenant  between God and his people Israel, presented in three addresses by Moses.). However, in Deuteronomy, as opposed to the account of the giving of the Law in the book of Exodus, the emphasis is on love, and obedience from the heart, rather than mere "ritual" that can be cold and unloving! How many, who claim to be disciples of Jesus, need to seriously ponder that thought!

Some months ago, I was invited to share with a group of anglophones on the importance of the "Old Testament" for disciples of Jesus. The first point that I made was that the use of the word "Old" did not mean that it was "out-of-date", or "past its best". Indeed, I suggested that "First Testament" would be a more accurate name! However, one of my main points was that the First Testament (the Tanakh, in Hebrew) was the only Bible that was available to the early Church! Yet with just the Tanakh, they were those who were turning the world upside-down (Acts 17:6)! 

The Tanakh was used to great effect, in the power of God the Holy Spirit. Yet many, today, tend to ignore the 66% of the Bible that it constitutes! It is constantly referred to in the Second Testament writings. Of course it contains 'law', but it also contains grace. And the law was, and is, necessary. Read Romans 7 if you want to learn more about that! To those who truly have the Spirit of God in their lives, the law is a servant, helping them to see the character of Almighty God, and to increasingly appreciate the saving work of the Lord Jesus.

"... you have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to Him who has been raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. While we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit. ... ... Yet, if it had not been for the law, I should not have known sin." (Rom.7:4-7).

The dear man of God who penned Ps.119 was not satisfied with having the Law in his home, his hand, or even in his head. He wanted it to be in his heart. We who have received so much more than he, should surely be satisfied with nothing less!

It is highly likely that I shall return to this great psalm over the coming weeks, as the Lord permits. I hope that you will join with me!

Broken cisterns

Many years ago, in the town of Largs on the coast of the Firth of Clyde, one of the magnificent mansions that had been built in the late 19th century was converted into a Conference Centre - retaining the name of the original building: Netherhall. It was used by many Christian groups and, even before we were married to one another, my wife and I spent a number of enjoyable weekends there at Missionary Conferences and suchlike events.

Of course, one of the problems about such an old building was that the plumbing was not up to even mid-20th century standards. The noises that came from the pipes, at the most unwelcome times, is something that anyone who stayed in the building will never forget! One old hymn was often referred to - "I tried the broken cisterns, Lord, but ah! the waters failed"!

Cisterns, of course, are not a modern invention. Archaeologists frequently discover cisterns that have been hewn out of solid rock. Can you imagine - swinging a pick-axe, or using a primitive hammer and chisel, digging such a cistern out of hard, unyielding, stone. You work, and work, through the biting cold of winter, and the blazing heat of summer.

After perhaps years of work - if this is to be a domestic cistern - you finally complete the task. You then step back, and wait for the cistern to fill - and it leaks! You discover that, in spite of your hard work, there is a hairline crack in the rock, and your supply of water slowly seeps away.

That is, in fact, a picture of the futility of our attempts to find real satisfaction in life. It's an age-old problem. We read, in the Tanakh (the Hebrew Scriptures; the First/Old Testament) that Almighty God told the prophet Jeremiah that His people "... have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." (Jer 2:13). The Children of Israel were doing what, sadly, their descendants appear to be doing today. They were looking for satisfaction - but not looking to YHWH, the God of the Covenant. 

About the same time that many of us were spending time in Netherhall, the musical group "The Rolling Stones", sung a song entitled "I can't get no satisfaction!" Ignoring the poor grammatical structure of those words, they convey the experience of so many, even today.

Are you driven by an inner longing; yearning for satisfaction? There is a spring of living water, rising from hidden depths, that is available to you, and will pour into your heart, satisfying you even as it makes you thirst for more. But you must be willing to stoop down and drink!

Only your Creator can satisfy your heart. Everything else will deceive and disappoint. The apostle John records an incident in the life of the Lord Jesus, when He spoke with a Samaritan woman at a well. He said: "... whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14).

That is a cistern that will never leak; will never fail; and that is available to all who will come to Him, the fountain, or source, of that living water. The hymn-writer, John W. Peterson wrote these words:

"I thirsted in the barren land of sin and shame

And nothing satisfying there I found;

But to the blessed cross of Christ, one day I came,

Where springs of living water did abound."

You,too, may come - and be satisfied.

Ruth - a model of devotion.

It is sometimes claimed that everyone loves a love story. I am not in a position to verify that claim - or otherwise. However, I do know that the Book of Ruth in the Tanakh (the Old Testament) is a beautiful story of love and devotion. You may have already read the story, and think that you know all about it - but I would encourage you to take about seven minutes of your time to watch this overview of the book. You might even learn something new!!

Repetition helps!

As I continue the process of learning the French language, I know the importance of repetition! It's probably considered to be an old-fashioned process in the brave new world of modern education. However, I have always found it to be very effective. Certainly, I now speak reasonably fluent French (although I still have difficulty in understanding my French friends - possibly because most of my adult life has involved me in speaking more than listening!!!)

Anyway, as we move through the Tanakh (the Old Testament), we come to the book of Deuteronomy - which means "Second Law". This is not (entirely!) a new set of laws for the Children of Israel, but a repetition of the laws already given. So, take less than eight minutes to watch the video - that explains a great deal about this interesting book.

Approaching the Creator.

Many people have made the laudable decision to "read the whole Bible", from cover to cover! Sadly, that is exactly what many of them start to do - forgetting that it is not a single book, but a library of books. However, they have no difficulty with the books of Genesis and Exodus. They are fast-moving narratives, that can easily hold the reader. Then they arrive at the third book - Leviticus. Oh dear! How different this is. This is where many fail - and forget about their original plan and intention.

Yet the book of Leviticus has much to teach even those who live under the new covenant. It is also worth remembering that the Tanakh (what most of us know as the Old Testament) was the only Bible that Jesus and the early disciples ever knew! Yet those early disciples of Jesus were able to use those books to even lead people to a saving knowledge of the Lord! 

Find out more about this book, right here! If you have, in the past, been "bogged down" by Leviticus, you really do need to watch this clip! 

The fragrance of Lebanon.

Lebanon is a Middle Eastern country that is often in the news  - sadly, for reasons that are not good! However, did you know that the same country is mentioned at least 68 times in the Tanakh (that's the Old Testament part of the Bible)? 

In those days, it was a great, high, mountain range covered with mighty cedar trees. As these trees were felled, a pungent, pleasant, odour was released, pervading the the air surrounding the majestic heights. Those who had been to its towering peaks to secure the choice specimens that grew there, came away with their clothing saturated with a lasting fragrance. It was just as, last night, my wife opened the door of our wood-burning stove - and there was a delightful woody fragrance that pervaded our home, and was still there when we arose this morning.

We may apply these facts to the life of the true disciple of Jesus. When we spend time with Him - quality time! - then something of Him remains with us. There is a lingering aroma of holiness that surrounds those who, like Peter and James and John, have been on the mountain top with the One Who loves them with an everlasting love.

When the Dome of the Rock was being constructed, in Jerusalem, at the end of the 7th century A.D., it was customary to bring loads of incense and aromatic shrubs into the shrine, which was named al-Sakhrah.* As a consequence, anyone worshipping there carried with him so much of the perfume of the place that, when people passed him by, they would say to one another: "He has been to the Sakhrah today"!

Is it not the case that too many of us tend to dwell in the dark valley of defeat and despair when we should be living on our own Lebanon? However, it is only as we commune on the heights of sanctification with the Saviour, that the refreshing fragrance of His grace will permeate our personal testimony to His saving power.

May I suggest that you examine yourself - as I examine myself - to determine whether, or not, you have set your affection on things above. Have you cast aside the enticements that contemporary society offers, and chosen the high road of holiness that will take you to the peaks of praise and fellowship? When you do, you will hear, with great joy, His sweet whisper: "my bride; ... the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon." (Song of Solomon 4:11). 

 * the Arabic word for the Rock, as it is claimed, by Islam, that it was from that spot that the founder of the religion, Mohammed, ascended to heaven after his miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem on the winged steed al-Buraq. In the much older, and true, Jewish tradition it is the spot on Mount Moriah on which Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son, the son of the promise, Isaac.

The best-laid plans ...!

It was the Scots Bard, Robert (Rabbie) Burns who, in his poem "To a mouse" states that "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley" (No matter how carefully we plan, be we mice or man, those plans often go awry). These past couple of days have certainly proved the truth of that comment in our own situation!

We left home, early on Monday morning, to head north for our annual visit to family and friends, in Scotland, for Christmas and the New Year. We were also towing the Eriba caravan that we had been unable to register, and that had been sold in the UK. The action of "Les Gilets Jaunes" (the Yellow Vests) has lessened, so we had very little delay 'on the road'. Our first overnight stop was in Orleans and, the next morning we headed up to our familiar watering-hole in Arques. 

So far, so good. It was on Wednesday that the 'fun' began! We left Arques to drive the 35 km to the port of Calais, to board the ferry that would take us to Dover. As we drove into the port area, my wife discovered that her passport was not in the pouch in which both are usually kept. Panic!!! We drove to the parking area, and searched everywhere else that we could think of. No passport! My poor wife was frantic, and blamed herself for the situation. However, we were discovering (not for the first time, I must add) that "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley"

The decision was made to return home. We left some of our luggage in the Eriba, and headed south. After about 50 km, my wife wondered if she had checked some of the bags carefully enough - so we went back to Calais. Definitely no passport. Head south again - with stops only for some food, and for 'comfort breaks'. We arrived home about 0130, Thursday. Five hours sleep, then attempts to change the booking on the ferry to Friday. P&O were sympathetic, but as we had booked through Direct Ferries, they could do nothing. DF are in the UK, so there office didn't open until 1000, French time. We set off, back up the road, managing to have the booking changed - we were grateful for the mobile 'phone!

Of course, we also had appointments made, and visits arranged, in the UK - not least the return of the Eriba. Countless other text-messages were sent back and forward. We arrived back in Dover at about 2330, and managed a few hours sleep in the caravan before boarding the ferry, and heading to Dover - two days later than we had intended. All the forward planning was, effectively, for nothing. "The best-laid plans ... ...!

However, the situation, and Burns' words, set me thinking - isn't it wonderful that, although our plans so often get turned upside-down, God's plans are always fulfilled. Right at the beginning, when man's disobedience allowed sin to enter the perfect world that God had created, Almighty God made it clear that He already had a plan. In the first of what are referred to as "Messianic passages", He says to the serpent: "... cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (Gen. 3:14-15). This is acknowledged as a reference to the Lord Jesus, the incarnate God, whose coming into the world, "... at the right time ..." (Rom.5:6; see Gal.4:4), we celebrate next week.

The Tanakh (the Old Testament) is filled with prophecies that Almighty God has made - and countless numbers of them have already been fulfilled. I shan't go into any others here, but it doesn't require too much basic research to discover many of them!

So the Bard was right - but only as far as mice and men are concerned! When it comes to the Creator of all that exists, His plans are perfect, and they are fulfilled. Indeed, there are prophecies that are being fulfilled in our own time, even as the Lord Jesus was asked by the Jewish religious leaders if He was indeed, Messiah, simply because they were expecting Messiah to appear at that time, in accordance with prophetic utterances. Of course, they were looking for the wrong kind of Messiah!

It was a simple mistake that led to the disruption of our plans; other plans may be disrupted for countless other reasons. But let us be thankful that "God is working His purpose out as year succeeds to year" (A.C.Ainger), and rejoice that His faithfulness is so great!

Isaac - the son of the promise (2).

The last post ended with the assurance that, in this one, we would look at the concept of "types", or "foreshadows". Our shadows can tell certain things about us - our general size and shape (depending, of course, on the precise position of the source of the light that has caused the shadow!); what we are doing, and how we are doing it. However, our shadows are not us. They only 'point' to us; to the real you and me. In theological terms, your shadow is a "type" of you, and the real you is referred to as the "antitype".

In a similar sort of way, the Bible has many types, or foreshadows, that say a lot about their antitype in future time. They tell us, to a certain extent, what will happen and what it will look like. They are not prophecies that predict the future; but they can help us to better understand, and recognise, the antitype to which they point, when it comes into being. A 'type' of Messiah, for example, can help us to understand what Messiah will be, and what He will do - but that type is not Messiah! Obviously, Typology is not some kind of 'exact science', as identifying, and interpreting, types and antitypes can depend, to a large extent, on one's own perspective. However, typology is not confined to Christian theology. The Hebrew sages have a similar doctrine that helps them to understand how YHWH has been working in the Tanakh.

Okay, that's the theology! Now, what about Avraham who is asked to sacrifice his beloved son, Yitzchak - the one he loves; the one who brings him joy; the one named 'Laughter'? Is there any aspect of foreshadowing in this story? The answer, as you may have already guessed, is "Yes"! In this post, we shall consider the 'secular' view, and some Jewish views.

1. the secular view.

This view states that this story is just that - a story for its own time. It does no more than demonstrate how the Hebrew nation was established by YHWH to be different from the pagan nations that surrounded it. The implication is that YHWH was testing Avraham, in order to emphasise that human sacrifice - common in ancient times (and, many would say, common today under the name of abortion!) - was unacceptable, and that the one true God would have nothing to do with it.

Certainly, the Tanakh makes absolutely clear that YHWH does not condone child sacrifice. Some of the passages in which child sacrifice is condemned as an abomination before God are: Lev.18:21; Jer.7:31; Ezek.20:31. So is this story nothing more than that? I think not.

2. Jewish views
(a) the incident was a test prompted by the satan.

This view states that the Akedah (the Hebrew word for the incident) was a testing similar to that of Job, who was tested by the satan (the adversary) with the permission of YHWH. Certainly we read in Rabbinic literature that, in a similar scene to that of Job 1 and 2, the satan was accusing Avraham before YHWH: "Of every feast that Avraham made, he did not sacrifice before You one bull or ram" He [YHWH] said to him "Does he do anything but for his son. Yet, if I were to say to him, 'Sacrifice him before Me', he would not withhold him." (Rabbi Rashi). However, this is but a commentary by one man, and there is no such suggestion in the Tanakh. So is that really what happened? Again, I think not!

(b) the Akedah is a type (foreshadowing) of atonement.

God set up a system for the Hebrew people, even in the Garden of Eden, when animals had to be sacrificed in order to provide the covering for Adam and Eve after they had sinned.Their own attempts, with leaves, were not acceptable to the Creator. As the writer of the Letter to Hebrew disciples of Yeshua was to state, many centuries later: "... without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." (Heb 9:22). The Mosaic Law emphasise this requirement of blood for atonement (another word that is dealt with in "Great Words"!) in a system that involved a blood offering from a spotless, flawless, animal - usually a lamb, a goat, or a bull. (see, e.g., Lev. 4 and 16).

Many contemporay Rabbis teach that human blood has never been an accceptable offering to YHWH and cannot, therefore, atone for the sins of man. Therefore, they maintain, according to Judaism, the Akedah cannot foreshadow an atonement by a person such as Yeshua, as Christians claim. However, there are Rabbinic commentaries that seem to disagree.

In Gen. 22:13 we are told that Avraham "... took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son." Is it not sufficient that YHWH provide a ram? Rashi (quoted above), asks: "Why does Scripture say 'instead of his son.'? Those four words didn't have to be there - or did they?!

Rashi's explanation as to why it is important to know that the ram was sacrificed instead of Yitzchak was this: "Over every sacrificial act that he [Avraham] performed, he prayed, 'May it be [Your] will that this should be deemed as if it were being done to my son; as if my son were slaughtered; as if his blood were sprinkled; as if my son were flayed; as if he were burnt and reduced to ashes'"

Now, if Rashi was correct, then every time Avraham sacrificed a lamb or a goat, he thought in his mind and heart that he was slaughtering his own son, Yitzchak, and sprinkling his blood over the altar! But why would Avraham consider such a thing if YHWH does not accept human blood as a covering for sin?

A renowned Reform Jewish Rabbi (Wolf Gumther Plaut, 1912 - 2012) offers this answer to that question: "There was a remarkable tradition that that insisted that Abraham completes the sacrifice and that, afterward, Isaac was miraculously revived. According to this haggadah [telling], Abraham slew his son, burnt his victim, and the ashes remain as a stored-up merit and atonement for Israel in all generations." It would appear that some Rabbis believed that a single, willing, human sacrifice on behalf of mankind would, indeed, atone for sin!

One modern Jewsih scholar writes of "The notion of a dual godhead with a Father and a Son, the notion of a Redeemer who, himself, will be both God and man, and the notion that this Redeemer would suffer and die as part of the salvational process." He also states that "At least some of these ideas, the Father/Son godhead and the suffering Saviour, have deep roots in the Hebrew Bible as well, and may be among some of the most ancient ideas about God that the Israelite people ever held." (Daniel Boyarin; The Jewish Gospels).

That sounds remarkably close to the Christian interpretation of the Akedah - but that, DV, will be the subject of the next post.

Isaac - the son of the promise.

As we return to our look at some of the best-known, and most important, of the characters from the Tanakh (the Jewish Scriptures; the Old Testament in the Christian Bible), we turn to Yitzchak (Isaac). Avraham, you may recall, was promised by El Shaddai, that he would be the father of a mighty nation, whose numbers would be as the stars of the sky - and that at a time when there was none of the light pollution to which most of us are subjected, and that hide the majority of stars from our sight. All very well - except for the fact that, at that time, Avraham and his wife, Sara, were childless! It is difficult to be the progenitor of a nation if one doesn't have even one child with which to start!

Avraham did what many of us try to do - he decided (or, to be more accurate, Sara suggested, and he acquiesced!) to give God a helping hand. In what was culturally acceptable at the time, Sara gave him her handmaid to bear a child on Sara's behalf. Hagar, the maid, did bear a son to Avraham - a boy who was named Ishmael, and from whom the Arab peoples are descended. 

Some fourteen years later, El Shaddai appeared to Avraham, and assured him that, in the following spring, Sara would bear a son. At this time, Avraham was 100 years old, and his wife was ten years younger. She was, to put it mildly, sceptical! "I am old, and so is my lord; am I to have pleasure again?" (Gen. 18:12). Well, who could blame her?! However, "... with God everything is possible." (Matt. 19:26) and, in the spring, Sara did, indeed, give birth to the boy who was named Yitzchak.

The most important part of the story of Yitzchak is, surely, the command of God, to Avraham, to sacrifice this son of the promise. Not only was the command given, but it was given in such a way as to, metaphorically, "twist the knife"! "Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Yitz’chak; and go to the land of Moriyah. There you are to offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will point out to you." (Gen.22:2). Not just your son, Avraham, but your only son! Not just your only son, but the son whom you love! And in case there is still any doubt, his name is Yitzchak.

This is an episode with which the Jewish world has wrestled. How could a loving God ask any human father to sacrifice his own son? One key to understanding this event is to recognise the way in which what are called "types" (or "foreshadows") are used in the Tanakh to point us to events that would take place in future time. 

Avraham and Yitzchak set off to climb Mount Moriah

Early the next morning, and having made the appropriate preparations, Avraham sets out, with Yitzchak and two servants, on a three-day journey to the land of Moriyah - possibly the treeless ranges of Sinai down near Kadesh.  When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, Avraham and Yitzchak set off up the mountain, leaving the servants behind. As they climbed, Yitzchak asked: "I see the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" His father immediately answered "'God will provide Himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son'; and they both went on together."

On the mountain, a stone altar is constructed; the wood is laid out; and Yitzchak is bound and placed on the wood. It is worth remembering that Yitzchak, by this time, was a young man so, while we consider Avraham's obedience, we must also note that Yitzchak was willing to be bound and offered.  Avraham slowly takes the knife, placing it at Yitzchak's throat, ready to make the fatal cut. It is only at this point that El Shaddai intervenes by sending "... the angel of YHWH ..." (often identified as the Son)  to stop him from sacrificing his son. “Avraham? Avraham!” He answered, “Here I am.” He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy! Don’t do anything to him! For now I know that you are a man who fears God, because you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Gen.22:11-12).

Avraham looks behind him, and there is a ram, caught in a thicket. He takes the ram, and sacrifices it instead of Yitzchak.

In the next post, we shall look at this concept of "types". I shall try not to have you wait for too long!!!

48 - and counting!

It would be very nice, in some ways, to have the heading refer to my biological age. However, I must confess that it doesn't. 😞

What it does refer to is the number of years of marriage that my wife and I have celebrated, today. 😊

Yes, it was a full forty-eight years ago that I stood at the front of the sanctuary of St George's-Tron Parish Church, facing my minister, the late Rev George B.Duncan, and with one of my brothers standing by my side. Adam Hair, the organist, was playing a gentle medley of familiar Christian tunes when, suddenly, he stopped and, after a moment's pause, the strains of Handel's beautiful 'Largo', from his opera Xerxes, wafted from the organ pipes.

I knew what that signified, and turned to look over my left shoulder to see a vision in white come walking down the aisle, on her father's arm. If Mr Duncan had leaned forward at that moment, and asked me if I was certain that I loved this girl enough to be willing to spend the rest of our lives together, I would have replied that it was impossible for any human being to love any other human being as much as I loved this girl who was about to become my wife. And I would have meant every syllable!

Forty-eight years later I realise that I would not have known what I was talking about! My love for my wife, today, is a million times greater that it was all of those years ago. She has been my wife, my lover, my support, my encourager, the mother of our two beautiful daughters, homemaker, friend - the list could go on. My life would certainly not have been the same without her by my side. She has stuck with me through good times, and not as good times. I thank Father God for her every day, and pray that, as the Rapture is delayed, we will be granted many more years to love, and share, and be with one another; and to serve Him both as individuals, and as a couple.

The Word of God makes much use of the marriage analogy. In the Tanakh (the Old Testament), the nation of Israel is referred to as the wife of YHWH; in the New Testament (the BritHadasha), the church is seen as the bride of the Christ (HaMashiach). The obviously common theme is that of love. "For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid My face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says YHWH, your Redeemer." (Is.54:7-8). "I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ, to present you as a pure bride to her one husband." (II Cor.11:2) However, the love of God is infinitely greater than even the greatest love that any couple may have for one another - even after 48 years (or 50, or 60, or 70, or more!). Indeed, as John writes in his account of the Gospel: "God loved the world so much that He gave His only-begotten Son - the unique One - that whoever places their trust in Him may not perish but have, here and now, eternal life." (3:16; slightly paraphrased).

It is also the case, certainly for the true disciple of Jesus that, as we live our lives with Him, and are drawn ever closer to Him, we love Him more, and long to love Him more than even that. And we try to please Him in all that we do. That, I would claim, is my desire towards my wife. Of course, as a mere mortal, I don't always achieve that desire - when the jokes have all been finished, I know that I am not, and never have been, the 'perfect' husband. And I am not a perfect man. However, I am so grateful that my dear wife is still with me, and that we have been able to work through the difficult times. And I am so grateful that the Lord forgives me as I come to Him in repentance and faith. It must also be said that He has never, ever, let me down! 

This is where the Third Persona (see my book 'Great Words of the Faith', the chapter on 'The Trinity') of the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit, comes in. It is as He works in me, that I am, little by little, made to be more like Jesus. A little home-made plaque on my study wall reads: "In this life I shall never be sinless; but by the grace of God, I may sin less." That is sanctification - and that is the Work of Holy Spirit, Himself, in my life.

I don't know if you are married, or not. If you are, I don't know for how long you have been married. I do know that even the best marriage is no substitute for the relationship that you may have with your Creator. My marriage to my wife is "until God shall separate us by death". My relationship with Father God, through the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus at Calvary, is not only for time, but also for eternity. Married, or not, have you entered into that relationship? If not - why not?!

Abraham - the father of the faithful. (2)

So, there was Avram, setting off on the greatest 'mystery tour' in history! He set off, not knowing his destination, but in obedience to the command of El Shaddai, and with His promise ringing in his ears: "... I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves." (Gen.12:2-3).

The promise was not only to Avram's descendants, but to all of mankind - "... all the families of the earth ..."! Almighty God, the Creator of all that exists, chose to reach out to the entire world, by choosing Israel to represent Him - and He started with Avram.

On Sunday, I was preaching on Paul's description of disciples of Jesus, as given in II Cor.5:20, where he writes: "So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us." One of the points that I made was that an earthly ambassador is important, not on his own merit, but because of the monarch, president, or emperor who has chosen the ambassador to represent him. With such "chosenness" comes the great responsibility of correctly expressing the ideas, and carrying out the plans, of the one represented. However, this is not done solely for the benefit of the ruler. The ruler and his many ambassasdors work together to serve all of the peopleof the country.

Likewise, El Shaddai choosing Israel was not God favouring one nation (as yet not even in existence!) oveer another. It was about the Creator manifesting His love to the entire world - and He chose Averam as His first ambassador to carry out His plan.

God longs to have a relationship with each and every person individually. That is why we were created. El Shaddai longs for each of us to have a personal knowledge of Him. His plan for communicating His identity to the world, and how to repair the relationship that was broken in the Garden of Eden, would be through the nation of Israel - the descendants of Avram, Yitzak, and Yacob. Within that larger scope, His plan has been working out through many people and events: Moses; the Torah; the prophets; and, in the fulness of time, through Yeshua haMashiach (Jesus the Messiah, or "Anointed One").

Israel became a conduit of God's blessing to the world, and the path for the world to reach Him. A Son of Israel, Yeshua, would manifest this blessing further as "... a light that will bring revelation to the Goyim (Gentiles) and glory to Your people Isra’el." (Luke 2:32; CJB). Israel reveals both the heart of God, and the ways and depth of His love. This unique relationship with Israel draws mankind to Him. "Adonai-Tzva’ot (the LORD of Hosts) says, ‘When that time comes, ten men will take hold — speaking all the languages of the nations — will grab hold of the cloak of a Jew and say, “We want to go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.”" (Zech.8:32; CJB). With His identity forever linked to Israel (the nation!), God's reputation is wrapped up in Israel's destiny!

Biblically-aligned believers, defined by their personal relationship with Yeshua, understand that "... salvation comes from the Jews."(John 4:22; CJB). That salvation would come through the One Who spoke those words - haMashiach, for Whom the Jewish people have been wating for millennia. Jewish people pray, on a daily basis, for the coming of Messiah as foretold in the Tanakh (the 'Old Testament'). Israel has already had the privilege of her Messiah's coming - to Bethlehem, as prophesied by Micah: "But you, Beit-Lechem near Efrat, so small among the clans of Y’hudah, out of you will come forth to Me the future ruler of Isra’el, whose origins are far in the past, back in ancient times." (5:1).

Yeshuah made apublic declaraion that He was the Anointed One when He read, in the synagogue in Nazareth, this prophecy from Isaiah; "The Spirit of Adonai Elohim is upon me, because Adonai has anointed me to announce good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted; to proclaim freedom to the captives, to let out into light those bound in the dark;" (Isaiah 61:1; CJB).

God's message of salvation and redemption, which Yeshua (Jesus) taught during His three years of public ministry, was directed specifically, to the Chosen People. He was fully conscious that He "... was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Isra’el." (Matt.15:24; CJB). Yet, He ministered to all who put their faith in Him, as Messiah, and instructed His Jewish followers to reach out to all mankind: " Then He said to them, “As you go throughout the world, proclaim the Good News to all creation. Whoever trusts and is immersed will be saved; whoever does not trust will be condemned." (Mark 16:15-16; CJB).

God's plan of spiritual redemption through Yeshua HaMashiach, is available to all who repent and believe that Yeshua paid the penalty for our sin. He paid a debt He did not owe, because we owe a debt we cannot pay! His followers now await His second coming, when He comes to defend the Children of Israel, and reign from the Holy City - Jerusalem. Are you ready?!

A complete view!

A few days ago, I downloaded some teaching material from the internet. One of the topics that I shall now be able to study, at some depth, is "The Historical Jesus". I expect it to concentrate on the Man, Christ Jesus.

Many people, of course, recognise Jesus' humanity - but fail to accept His Deity. They are content to accept the historical existence of One who was known as Jesus of Nazareth. They are not prepared to acknowledge the One Who is God the Son. One is reminded of the young woman who was engaged to be married to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, before he rose to fame. Impressed by what she considered to be more handsome men, she became disenchanted with Mozart because he was so short. So, she broke the engagement and went with someone tall and, in her eyes, more physically attractive (Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder!).

However, it is recorded that, when the world began to praise Mozart for his outstanding musical accomplishments, she regretted her decision! "I knew nothing of the greatness of his genius." she said. "I only saw him as a little man"!

One sometimes wonders why the Jews, who knew the Scriptures (the Tanakh; the Old Testament), failed to see Jesus' true greatness. The Tanakh is, of course, filled with prophecies of HaMashiach (the Messiah). He was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); He was to be born of a virgin (Is.7:14); He was to be a descendant of king David (Jer.23:5-6, 33:15); He was to heal the sick, and raise the dead (numerous prophecies, e.g. Zech.9:11. See also Matt.11:2-5); He would enter Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey (Zech.9:9); He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zech.11:12); His hands and feet were to be pierced (Ps.22:18); He was to be buried in a rich man's tomb (Is.53:9).

Only one Man fulfilled these and many other prophecies. However, perhaps the most telling fact is that there was only a very narrow time-frame in which they could be fulfilled! At the very time in which Jesus of Nazareth was ministering, Jewish leaders were actually looking for HaMashiach!  This was why they asked John the Baptiser if he was the One they were expecting (John 1:19) – something he immediately denied.

So why was HaMashiach expected at this particular time? It was because they knew the Tanakh, and they knew that HaMashiach would appear at that precise time! This is based on the Book of Daniel. The archangel Gabriel revealed to Daniel, while he was still in captivity in Babylon, that precisely 483 years after the command to rebuild Jerusalem was given “the Anointed One” (i.e. HaMashiach) would come (Dan.9:25). The Book of Ezra reminds us of the situation regarding that rebuilding. Cyrus (in fulfilment of another prophecy in the Book of the prophet Isaiah (44:28 – 45) had commanded that the Temple be rebuilt and, under the leadership of Sheshbazaar, some 42,000 exiles returned to Judah. However, this work did not continue and it was then Artaxerxes who commanded that officials in the province “Beyond the River” (the Euphrates) provide Ezra, and the additional exiles who returned with him, whatever they needed for the rebuilding of the Temple and the city. (That is a very potted version!). This took place in what we refer to as 457 BC. If we then count forward 483 years, we arrive at 27 AD, and this is the time when the Chief Priests, the Scribes, and the Pharisees were, indeed, looking for HaMashiach. It is also the time when Jesus of Nazareth commenced His public ministry!

Perhaps the Jews of the time were looking for the beautiful King described in Isaiah 33:17. They did not understand that, before Messiah came in all of His glorious beauty, He must come as the Man of sorrows described in Is. 53 - a chapter that is never read in synagogues today!

Some of Jesus' contemporaries said that He had "... an unclean spirit." (Mk.3:30). Others tried to throw Him off a cliff (Lk.:29). At first, even His own half-brothers failed to recognise His true identity (Jn.7:5). Indeed, most of Jesus' peers saw Him only as a man (Mk.6:3), and refused to accept Him as God.

The big question is still the one that the Lord Jesus put to the disciples on the way to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. We read it in all three of the Synoptic Gospel records: "Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare′a Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli′jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”" (Matt.16:13-15; emphasis added). Do you think of Jesus as a mere man - or do you know Him as Saviour and Lord? Your eternal destiny depends on your having a complete view of the Christ!

How may one be saved? It's actually as simple as ABC!
Admit that you are a sinner, and can't save yourself (Rom.3:23).
Believe that Jesus died in order to pay the penalty for your sin (Acts 16:31).
Confess Jesus as your personal Saviour and Lord. (Rom.10:9-10).

Noah, and the Flood.

Okay - as stated last month, I am planning (DV) to look at one well-known passage from the Tanakh (the Hebrew/Jewish Scriptures; the 'Old Testament/Covenant') each month. Each passage will take 3-4 posts but, if enough people show an interest, I plan to follow this through for a number of months.

This month we move from the Creation record, to the Flood, and look at the Biblical character of Noah (Noach in Hebrew) - the only man in his generation who was considered, by God, to be righteous. So we read that: "In his generation, Noach was a man righteous and wholehearted; Noach walked with God." (Gen.6:9; Complete Jewish Bible).  In the Hebrew language, Noach is described as "tzadik" (righteous = right in the sight of God), and "tamim" (pure; innocent; complete, faultless). This is in complete contrast to the time in which he lived: "The earth was corrupt before God, the earth was filled with violence. God saw the earth, and, yes, it was corrupt; for all living beings had corrupted their ways on the earth." (vs.11-12, CJB). Only six chapters into the Bible, and the world is already filled with violence and corruption. Of course, this is what happens when mankind turns its back upon its Creator, and seeks to live its own way, rather than follow His way!

The result of all of this was that Almighty God vowed to destroy every living person - with the exception of righteous Noach and his family. These eight people would be miraculously saved in an "ark" - the English language word comes from the Latin 'arca', meaning a chest or box in which items were kept safe. The Hebrew word, "tebah" means simply "box" so, in spite of the fact that it's described/depicted as a boat in a lot of children's books, it was simply a large wooden box! This also answers the criticism that Noach and his sons would not have had any boat-building skills as they did not live close to water (some unwarranted assumptions in that claim, but we'll let them go!). Almost anyone can build a box! Of course the point of the ark was not that it would be seaworthy, but rather that it would preserve the lives of the people in it!

Noach may not have understood what he was doing; he may have been subjected to mockery; he may have been totally ignored. But Noach obeyed God, even although he saw no evidence of the coming deluge, and had never experienced anything like it before. Indeed, that is the reason why he is included in the the letter to Hebrew disciples of Yeshua, in the Brit Hadashah (New Testament/Covenant): "By trusting, Noach, after receiving divine warning about things as yet unseen, was filled with holy fear and built an ark to save his household. Through this trusting, he put the world under condemnation and received the righteousness that comes from trusting." (Heb.11:7; CJB). His absolute faith on God, that resulted in such an uncompromising obedience, was the reason that he was able to truly enter a place of total rest, when the flood eventually came. In fact, the meaning of his Hebrew name is "rest"! He was not a man who leaned on his own understanding of a situation, but one who trusted in the Word of the Lord - and was obedient to it!

Too often we try to reason everything out - the Greek influence! - and make sure that something makes sense, or agrees with our theology, before complying with Father God's commands. The Letter to the Hebrew disciples of Yeshua, again: "For the one who has entered God’s rest has also rested from his own works, as God did from His. Therefore, let us do our best to enter that rest (noach - the rest of obedience); so that no one will fall short because of the same kind of disobedience." (4:10-11; CJB).

If there is just one lesson to be learned from the record of Noach, it is surely one of unquestioned obedience - regardless of the cost. May all of us who claim to follow Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus, the Messiah) be found also to be obedient - for our own good, and for the greater glory of Father God.

Beginnings!

After the brief series on "From Hebraic roots to Greek philosophy!", this is the first of an occasional series in which I hope, D.V., to look at some passages from the Tanakh (the Old Testament) from the Hebrew perspective from which they should be viewed – and also to see how their teaching may be relevant to the teaching of the Brit Chadashah (the New Covenant/Testament).

As this is the first in the series, where better to start than at the beginning, with the book of Genesis. The English language name comes from the Greek word γενεσις (genesis, “origin, source, beginning”). However, in Hebrew, the book is named by its opening word – Bereisheet (“In the beginning”).

“In the beginning [Bereisheet] God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1). In as few as 31 verses and 469 words Moses, the inspired human author of Genesis, describes how God takes confusion and emptiness (tohu v’vohu) and creates a perfect, delicate balance of order and beauty.

“The earth was unformed and void [tohu v’vohu], darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God hovered over the surface of the water.” (Genesis 1:2).

The Ruach Elohim (the Spirit of God) hovers over the waters [mayim] as God separates the light from the darkness and land from the water.  He creates vegetation and creatures – fish of the sea and birds of the air, as well as land animals. YHWH Elohim (the LORD God) looks at everything He has made and declares it good. However, He is not quite finished.

On the sixth and final day of creation, God brings forth the first human – Adam – out of the dust of the earth (adamah). “Then YHWH Elohim formed man [Adam] of the dust of the ground [adamah], and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”  (Genesis 2:7).

Notice that it takes the breath of God to transform Adam into a “living soul” – a being of flesh and blood with personality, emotions, and desires. Notice, too, that contained within the name of the first “man” on earth is the Hebrew root word dam (blood).  This is not a coincidence, since God tells us that life is in the blood (Genesis 9:4; Deuteronomy 12:23; Leviticus 17:11).

Notice as well that humankind – both male and female – are created in the very image and likeness of God. Hebrew uses the word b’tzelmo (in His image).  The Hebrew root word tzelem (image) is used in modern Hebrew to mean taking a photograph, or making a photocopy, and there is a very definite family resemblance between us and our Heavenly Abba (Daddy).

“And God created man [Adam] in His own image [b'tzelmo], in the image of God [b'tzelem Elohim] created He him; male [zachar] and female [nikeivah] He created them.” (Genesis 1:27).

While we don’t necessarily resemble God in our temporary vessels made out of dust, we do resemble Him in our souls and spirit. One of the ways we resemble God is our capacity for creativity. Just as God delighted in the creative process of earth and life, so is there an innate quality within each human being to also be creative, which can express itself not only as art, writing, or music but also strategic thinking, engineering, programming, etc.

But how did God create the universe?  The Bible says He spoke it into existence using words.  For that reason, each act of creation begins with the phrase “And God said ....”

“And God said: ‘Let there be light.’  And there was light.”  (Genesis 1:3).

Although you and I are not gods, as some in the New Age movement claim, we have been given creative power in our words.  Even the power of life and death is in the tongue!  (see, e.g., Proverbs 18:21). We see this principle at work when God tells the Children of Israel that He would give them that which they had declared with their own words.  They fostered unbelief and disobedience and spoke death over themselves.  The result of their faithless words was that the entire generation perished in the wilderness. “‘As I live,’ says YHWH, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will surely do to you; your corpses will fall in this wilderness.’”  (Numbers 14:28–29).

Keeping this in mind, let us carefully guard our mouths and watch our words – for they have the power to create good things in our lives, and in the lives of others; or to cause destruction.  (see Prov. 15:4; James 3:5-10; I Pet.3:10).

[I hadn't realised how much I had written for this post until I started on the "labels"! This is now only the first part of three on "Beginnings"! The others will follow quickly!]