Tag: Appointed Times

WHY WAIT?

The disciples/talmidim were instructed to

tarry/wait

in the city of Jerusalem/Yerushalayim.

Luke 24 :49.

qavah is Hebrew for wait

לַחֲכוֹת

Tarry/wait/qavah in the city.

 More Hebrew words for wait 

verb לַחֲכוֹת await, hang on

verb לְהַמתִין await, hold on

verb לְיַחֵל hope, expect, look forward to

verb לְמַתֵן wait, moderate, slow down, temper, tone down

לחכות wait

 להמתין wait

 please wait a moment – בבקשה חכה רגע

Strong’s Hebrew: 6960. קָוָה (qavah) — wait

qavah: wait

Original Word: קָוָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: qavah
Phonetic Spelling: kaw-vaw’
Definition: to wait for

KJV: Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed:

INT: Indeed who wait not will be ashamed. Psalm 25:5

HEB: יִשְׁעִ֑י אוֹתְךָ֥ קִ֝וִּ֗יתִי כָּל־ הַיּֽוֹם׃

NAS: of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.

KJV: of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

INT: of my salvation for wait all the day. Psalm 25:21

There are a few words in Hebrew for wait. 

In Isaiah 40:31 we learn that those who 

wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.

This wait is qavah

which is a twisting or binding.

It is the word used for making rope and the ancient method of making rope is still used today.

Hundreds of thin strands of fabric, each one alone could easily be broken, but when tightly bound together they form a rope that cannot be broken.

We may here recall the scripture:

A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

Ecclesiastes 4:12.

In some weddings, a three-cord braid is included as part of the ceremony, here the three cords that are not easily broken represent Our Heavenly Father, the bride and the groom.

So in Isaiah 40:31 this waiting is just not sitting back, doing nothing, it is a process of binding/blending/melding/merging ourselves with the Father and the more we bind ourselves to Him, the stronger we become.

In Isaiah 30:18, however, he uses a different word for wait.

which is the word chakah this is a:

patiently waiting,

like someone waiting for a train.  

However, this word is in a Piel or imperfect form,

so it has the meaning of:

a continuing process, it is patiently waiting.

יָחַל verb Niph`al – wait;
Pi`el – await (compare Late Hebrew יִחוּל expectation);
to Niph`al – Perfect feminine singular – נחֲלָה in Ezekiel 19:5
also
Imperfect: וַיִּיָּ֫חֶל in Genesis 8:12 + 1 Samuel 13:18 וַיּחֶל;

and 
wait: Genesis 8:12 and he waited yet seven days.

WAITING – CHAKAH – the Hebrew letters: 
 חכה – Cheth Kap Hei.

The word chakah is spelled:

Chet, Kap/Kaph, Hei/Hey.  

The Chet indicates:

moving to a higher level,

something like:

waiting in line and then moving forward.  

Our Father is patiently allowing us to go through our human/carnal ways, trying to satisfy all our needs by ourselves; then all of a sudden He appears next in line.  

Here we find the next letter in the word for

waiting – chakah 

which is the letter Kap/kaf

this has the picture word for: 

the palm of the hand.  

This shows us that all this time our Father has been holding out His hands in order to receive us; and finally after years of searching for answers, we ask Him to come into our lives.

The 3rd Hebrew letter in the word

to wait, chakah, is Hei

and is akin to:

the conclusion of His waiting, entering His presence which is filled with all of His graciousness and mercy.

Isaiah 30:18 tell us about it:

 blessed are those who chakah (wait) for Him.   

Our chakah is not in the sentence construction/parts of speech as a Hebrew Piel or imperfect form, it is a Hebrew Qal participle (a word formed from a verb (e.g., going, gone, being, been) and used as an adjective or noun.

This means in others words: 

blessed are those who

have been waiting for God. 

Without realizing it we have been waiting for Him all the time; we just did not know or understand it.   At least our Father’s waiting has been in the Hebrew (Piel Imperfect sentence construction) as in: He is waiting

rather than a (Piel Perfect) form which would say

He has waited.

Why is this important?

Because for us this means,

He hasn’t given up, He is still waiting. 

If that were in the form of

He has waited,

then, He would have given up a long time ago

and we would be without hope.

Another Hebrew word is

Strong’s Hebrew: 3176. יָחַל (yachal) — to wait, await

yachal: to wait, await

Original Word: יָחַל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: yachal
Phonetic Spelling: yaw-chal’

In the following versions of Luke 24:49

English words used are:

remain and tarry

Berean Literal Bible
And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But you, remain in the city until that you should be clothed with power from on high.”

King James Bible
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Amplified Bible
Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit] upon you; but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high.”

מט .הִּנֵהָאֹנכִיׁשֵֹלַחֵאתֲאׁשֶרִהְבטִיַחלָכֶםָאִב יוְַאּתֶםהֹוחִילּוּבָעִירְירּוׁשָלִַיםעַדִּכי

-ִתלְּבְׁשּועֹזמִָּמרֹום:

  1. Hee•ne ano•chi sho•le•ach et asher hiv•ti•ach la•chem Avi ve•a•tem ho•chi•loo ba•eer Ye•roo•sha•la•yim ad ki-til•be•shoo oz mi•ma•rom.

This must have been an extremely stressful time immediately following the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus/Yeshua. There was much unrest in the city which was filled with 1000’s of people who had travelled there for the Spring Meodim/Appointed Times of Passover/Pesach; which was one of the 3 annual Shalosh Regalim. Passover/Pesach/הַפֶּסַח, Pentecost/Shavuot/שבועות & Tabernacles/Sukkot/סוכות.

Though they are called Feasts by many, the correct Hebrew translation is Rehearsal Pattern because it is a rehearsal. It was/is a practice for the real thing to come, similar to rehearsals prior to a wedding ceremony; and why they were required to be in Jerusalem precisely at those times. We looked at this in previous posts.

This had been a momentous time; unlike any other previous year and the turmoil following those events had made the talmidim/disciples and followers of Messiah further targets for those who had plotted to kill Him.

On the road to Emmaus, one of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in recent days?”

verse 18.

Luke 24:13-24

In verse 25: Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken!…

This was confirming that HE WAS the fulfillment of Gods’ prophetic plan of redemption.

Luke 3:16
John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

John 1:26
“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.

John 1:33
I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. Acts 1: 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6

5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.… But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”…

Strong’s Greek: 4037. περιμένω (perimenó) 1 Occurrence

Acts 1:4 V-PNA
GRK: χωρίζεσθαι ἀλλὰ περιμένειν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν
NAS: Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father
KJV: but wait for the promise
INT: to depart but to await the promise

לחכות ל wait for

לחכות wait

The length of time they were told to wait was not just for a couple of days, it was for the next 49 days until Pentecost/Shavuot.

Yeshua/Jesus had said He had come to fulfill the Torah which has the Moedim/Appointed Times of the Lord as pivotal to the annual cycle of Israeli life.

We miss the full revelation of what Messiah accomplished as we in our western christianity and calendar festivals, jump from Passover/Resurrection Sunday (which we have called easter), to Christmas. There is a very precise sequence of Appointed Times/Moedim, whose meanings were prophetic in nature in their annual rehearsal for fulfillment in Messiahs’ life.

What was the purpose of this waiting?

He told them they would be

endued with power from on high

but why did they have to wait so long?

What does it mean for us?

The purpose of waiting is part of our training as talmidim/disciples.

It is for us to get into the right relationship to meet the requirements of our Heavenly Father and His Will not ours. Once those needs /requirements for being His child /disciple are met then He will open the doors and make the WAY clear for us to GO and DO and fulfill His will, plan and purposes.

One thing we should have learned during our 49 day walk/halak, it is this; we cannot artificially accelerate the growth of our crops and we cannot force them to produce out of season!

We need to see that we are not in control and being impatient will only cause frustration.

It will also choke the seeds and prevent them from bringing forth the harvest; which will result in us being impatient farmers with only barren and unfruitful fields. We must bear the fruit of patience if we are to grow in Messiah, without it we become impatient, impetuous, unsatisfied and are always looking for a future we cannot change. This is sad because it means we are ignoring what we have been blessed with today in the here and now.

Our training is accomplished by the power of His Spirit/Ruach within us, as we are also

endued with power from on high!

and for what?

To be witnesses to Him.

We must allow our lives to be slowly and continually transformed by the indwelling life of His Son; which is the ultimate purpose and goal ..that Jesus/Yeshua be exhibited in us.

This Shavuot/Pentecost, let’s be in an attitude of waiting after our days of preparation, and allow Him to do the necessary work in us and then He can fill us again. Just as we recharge batteries and continually refill our cars’ tanks with fuel, we need to be-being filled with His Spirit – continuously.. to go on being filled not just one time. Meaning to completely surrender our life and give Him full control. Ephesians 5:18 commands that we be filled with the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 the command is given, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” Paul gives the simple principle when he says, “Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” Gal. 5:16. The important experience of becoming a Spirit-filled disciple results in the progressive sanctification of a believer in Messiah. The result will be that the individual will manifest the fruit of the Spirit as stated in Galatians 5:22-23,

The 49 days leading up to Pentecost/Shavuot is a time of looking at our own lives and allowing God to do His work in us so He can work through us.

Hebrews 10:9 Behold I have come to do your will O God.

Jesus/Yeshuas life was one of obedience to His Father and He said Follow Me; so we are to be obedient to His/our Fathers will also.

We must take the time to be continually filled up or we will have nothing to pour out. If all we are doing is seeking to be blessed personally, we are missing the point of servanthood. We are blessed to be a blessing – freely we have received, freely we give. If we are always taking in/receiving, and not giving out, we will stagnate like the waters of a pool with no outflow; then we will become like the Dead sea and not a sea of Galilee. Living waters flow continually, that is what flowed through Messiah and what we are to release to others. Let Him pour into us so we can pour out.

For Them…?

The time of waiting was not a new thing for the disciples as every year the counting of 7 weeks or 49 days from the Omer following Peasch/Passover to Shavuot/Pentecost/Weeks was part of the Spring Feasts/Moedim/Appointed Times of the Lord which they followed every year.

Leviticus 23:1-2 God introduces His Moedim/Appointed Times when He begins by declaring to Moses

My appointed times are these….

This statement makes clear that these Moedim/Appointed Times, originate with our Heavenly Father, they cannot be claimed to have been appointed by any nation, including Israel. While they were initially given to the children of Israel for them to observe as their calendar/way of life, they are just as applicable to the followers of Messiah today.

  Many have grown up believing that the Jewish Feasts have nothing to do with the New Testament body of Messiah – the ecclesia, the called apart ones.  A few have grown up trying to take back the feasts and celebrate them, while rediscovering Christianity’s Hebrew Heritage. Some have never heard of the Feasts at all, however there are a growing number who are interested in what the Moedim/Appointed Times/Feasts of the Lord, have to impart to us prophetically.

Questions for us are: why are we ignoring what the Father has instructed us to do and why are we only understanding and remembering 2 of the 7?

We have the benefit of the completed Word of God so we can study His plan of redemption; and one of the ways in which He prophetically revealed His big picture plan, is through the Appointed Times/Moedim/Feasts of the Lord.  Approximately 4000 years ago, God commanded His people to gather in sacred assembly for very specific celebrations – His Feasts.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,  “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.”  (Leviticus 23:1-2)

If we are not aware of the Moedim/Appointed Times when we read that verse, we do not understand the whole picture.

God commanded a yearly remembrance of each of His Holy convocations. The Hebrew word for sacred assembly or holy convocation is miqra, which carries the meaning of a dress rehearsal.  Every time these festivals are celebrated, it is a visual and spiritual aid to remind humanity of the prophetic plan of God.

Prior to each feast’s fulfillment, it points forwards to Messiah. 

During each feast’s fulfillment, it points directly at Messiah. 

Subsequent to each feast’s fulfillment, it points backwards to Messiah.

These seven appointed times are collectively called the mo’edim and are detailed in Exodus 12-13, Leviticus 23, Numbers 28-29 and Deuteronomy 16.  Together, they represent the Fathers’ entire redemptive plan from Messiah’s death through His millennial rule.

This is what Yeshua/Jesus was referring to in Matthew 5:17-18 when He said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.  For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law/teaching till all is fulfilled.” 

Because the common western understanding of fulfill

means done away with,

Christians have believed that Yeshua/Jesus meant the prophetic pictures pointing to Him are now no longer needed. This is not what He meant, because to Jewish rabbis at that time, the word that is translated into English as

fulfilled was understood to mean: 

the true or correct interpretation of Scripture,

while the word destroy meant: to give a false or incorrect interpretation. 

Yeshua/Jesus was telling them that:

He did not come to do away with the Hebrew Scriptures/or destroy i.e. lead them astray by false teachings 

Rather, He was:

the human embodiment of their true meaning and spiritual reality.

Again we can see other reasons for the WAITING…

First it was for their own preparation and

second because Messiah was not yet glorified.

As soon as He was glorified Acts 2:33 tells us:

therefore being exalted to the right hand of God and having received from the father the promise of the Holy Spirit/His Spirit of Holiness He poured out this which you now see and hear.

The second reason is in the statement in John where he clearly tells us in 7:39..

for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.

This is not the case for us today because His Spirit of Holiness/Ruach haKodesh, has been given and Messiah is glorified; our waiting is not dependent on the promised future outpouring; but rather on our own spiritual condition/preparation, to receive what is readily available.

We know from scripture that the influence and power of His Spirit were at work before Shavout/Pentecost because He was upon individuals, prophets, priests and kings of the Old Testament; and in some instances, He filled them with His Spirit: e.g. both John the Baptists parents. Luke 1:41

However, once Messiah was glorified in His ascension, His Spirit of Holiness/RuachHaKodesh, came into the world in an unrestricted way and has been here for the last 2000+ years. It is critical that we believe and receive this revealed truth that He is indeed here in our midst; and within each believer who welcomes His presence, influence and power. He will not force His presence upon us but patiently waits for us to invite Him in as we yield to His offer.

The attitude of receiving and welcoming His Spirit into our lives is to be the continual attitude of a believer. When we receive His Spirit we receive His life/chaim which revives us, imparting the same resurrection life that raised Him from the dead, which will quicken us and make us alive in Him.   Romans 8:11

As our ascended Messiah He is able to give New Life.

It’s not the so termed, baptism of His Holy Spirit, that changes people, but it is the power of the risen Messiah coming in to dwell in our lives that changes us through His Holy Spirit working from the inside out. We sometimes have a tendency to separate things that the New Testament/Brit Chadashah does not separate. The termed, baptism of His spirit of Holiness, is not an experience apart from Jesus/Yeshua – it is the real and living evidence of the risen Messiah.  He has given us chaim/life everlasting and full of glory.

John 17:3 This is eternal life that they may KNOW You  

it’s something that begins at new birth and never ends….

We often speak of types and shadows in the scriptures…

The giving of the Torah (teaching/law) at Sinai was the type/shadow

that was fulfilled at Shavuot/Pentecost.

Sinai marked the birth date of the dispensation of Torah/Teaching/Law, and involved great displays of God’s power through thunderings, lightning, fire and the sound of His reverberating voice.

The fulfillment at Shavuot/Pentecost was the giving of the Spirit of the Law to the followers of the Mashiach/Messiah. 

Shavuot/Pentecost, marks the birth date of the ecclesia/church/called apart ones, and what some term as the dispensation of Grace.

This occasion was also accompanied with great displays of God’s power through fire and a sound like a mighty rushing wind.  According to Ephesians 4:30, from this point onward, His Ruach HaKodesh/Spirit of Holiness dwells within each follower and seals the Body of Messiah for the day of redemption.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)

The gift of tongues is simply the Holy Spirit giving us the supernatural ability to speak in a foreign tongue/language that we have no knowledge or ability to speak out on our own.

There are two types of tongues He can give us. One is a tongue of this earth; e.g., if our native language is English, then He can give us the ability to speak in Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish, etc. For the simple reason we may be in that country or with people who speak that language and will understand it.

The other type of tongue that He can give us is a tongue direct from heaven, a heavenly language that is not of this earth. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that there are tongues of angels.

Whichever it is, it will be a foreign language that we will not be able to speak out on our own, and only His Holy Spirit’s supernatural transmission of this language out of our spirits will give us the ability to be able to speak it using our voice.

Whatever tongue Holy Spirit gives us, we will be able to use it all the time, whenever we want. It will be our own personal, private, prayer language between us and the Lord.

One thing to remember with this gift is that for the most part, we may never know or understand what we are praying about when we operate in this gift, however we can pray to interpret what the Lord has spoken through us.

The Bible tells us that we will be speaking out “mysteries,” and only the Father and His Holy Spirit will know exactly what the prayer is about on any given occasion.“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26)

Here we are told clearly that they were ALL filled and spoke in other tongues… which was the physical evidence of His Spirit in them, there were no exceptions and so we can expect the same today, and includes all the other gifts of His Spirit as in 

The Word of Knowledge
The Word of Wisdom
The Gift of Prophecy
The Gift of Faith
The Gifts of Healings
The Working of Miracles
The Discerning of Spirits
Different Kinds of Tongues
The Interpretation of Tongues

our Father has not changed..

He is the same yesterday today and forever. Heb.13:8

In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.  (Ephesians 1:13-14) Here we see the sealing by His Spirit to enable us to continue our walk. 

It is interesting that the Father waited 50 days after Messiahs’ resurrection, (10 days after His Ascension) before He sent His Holy Spirit.  As our Father is precise in all His details it is without doubt because He was waiting for the Appointed Time/Shavuot/Pentecost.  He is never early and He is never late in fulfilling His promises.

The other symbol of His Spirit and presence is FIRE.

From the Ex.3:2 burning bush, to the pillar in the wilderness, to the outpouring in Jerusalem …

our God is a consuming FIRE Heb.12:29

and as Malachi states like a refiners fire.

In Malachi 3:1-4, the prophet declares the

imminent return of the Lord

and with it,

His holy judgment of refining fire.

 We are all too well aware that being a follower of Messiah does not spare us from experiencing testings, trials, conflict and trouble; and the process of refinement is one that He continually applies to our lives.

This fire is Holy Fire – Esh Kadosh/qadosh. אש קדושה

The Fire that cleanses, refines and purifies; it burns up all that is not acceptable to the Father and also speaks of His power so that like Jesus/Yeshua, we may work the works of Him who sends us. John 9:4, for greater works than these will you do. John 14:12.

BUT as always, there is a condition, an IF …

We have to be willing..

we have to lay down our lives, our plans and allow Him to be sovereign in our lives.

The choice is ours…His offer is there for whosoever will… The events of Acts 2 includes the

empowering

of His spirit

and the imparting of His boldness to proclaim the good news of Messiah’s Kingdom. The boldness of the fire like Jeremiah* had.

Are we truly on fire for God? .. or

are we just barely glowing embers, dying without the breath of His Spirit … we need the mighty rushing wind of Shavuot to blow on and re-ignite the fire.

More on Bones of fire link below..*

https://www.minimannamoments.com/bones-of-fire-and-graffiti/

Holy Spirit of Truth is certainly God, however, He is not the Person of Yeshua/HaMashiach/Jesus Christ.  The scriptures seem to indicate that it was the Father who sent the Holy Spirit – “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”  (John 14:16-17)  And then Messiah says – “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”  (John 14:18)

The early spring Appointed Times/Moedim: (Pesach/Passover, Chag haMatzot /Unleavened Bread, Bikkurim/Firstfruits); were fulfilled in order, all in the same year, through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach.  When we look at the harvest times, Yeshua/Jesus and the many saints that were resurrected with Him, were the barley harvest.  Notably, the ripeness of the barley is what decides if a new year can begin, or if a leap month, called Adar2, needs to be added to the calendar.  This is always taken into account when the date of the late spring feast – Pentecost/Shavuot is calculated.

Pentecost/Shavuot experienced at least a partial fulfillment in the same year the three spring feasts were fulfilled.  As we already noted, 50 days after Firstfruits/Bikkurim, or 10 days after Yeshua/Jesus’ ascension, His Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh, descended upon the Jewish believers waiting in Jerusalem. Partial fulfillment in that He has been indwelling and sealing believers ever since, until the day of their redemption –

as He said, we are to

look up for your redemption draweth nigh,

so it is not yet completed!

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28

Since Holy Spirit is God, He is omnipresent, everywhere at the same time. 

Pentecost/Shavuot marks the time of the wheat harvest in Israel.

As we have walked through the spring Appointed Times/Moedim, we can see a picture of our own walk with Messiah.

At Pesach/Pasover we are reminded of being set free from the bondage of sin and death, then during the Feast of Unleavened Bread/Matzah week, we have the opportunity to practice our unleavenedness; and rejoice in our saviors Resurrection as Firstfruits from the dead. Then as we count from the Omer we are like the wheat crops growing towards maturity, ultimately designed to become an abundant harvest for Him.

During this season of counting we can focus on certain spiritual themes such as: sowing, growing, increase, being fed and nourished by the Father and being mindful of how we are growing toward maturity in Messiah. By examining our ways we discover if they are truly aligned, submitted and conformed to His.

This is why we are to WAIT on the Lord, for His power to fill us and enable us to be witnesses unto Him; this is how He goes with us, and will always be with us, and will never leave us nor forsake us.

Isaiah 30:18: “And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted that he might be merciful upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment, blessed are all that WAIT for him.”

Like the farmer who waits for the precious fruit of the earth, we too have to wait for God to mature us and grow us. Part of our being mature in Messiah, is knowing when to put our hand to the plough and work hard but also knowing that when we have done all we can do then it is time to WAIT/CHAKAH. We must ask ourselves if we have been listening/hearing to His call and responding by doing that which He has required of us?..We must walk and work in maturity and continue to be patient, stabilize our hearts because the coming of the Master draws near. James 5:7-8

Let’s be mindful of the season we are in…..

on each of us..

For those new to the site previous posts linked below cover more detail on Shavuot/Pentecost..

https://www.minimannamoments.com/2-x-3000-a-marriage-made-in-heaven/ 

https://www.minimannamoments.com/shavuot-2-x-3000-a-marriage-made-in-heaven-conclusion/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-look-of-shavuot/

Shavuot 2022 begins Saturday, June 4 at sunset and ends Monday, June 6 at nightfall.

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim/friends and mishpachah/family!

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week,

you are greatly loved and prayed for daily.

REMEMBER..

Please don’t leave here without assurance of your salvation

Not sure ..you can be…

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer,

Savior, Lord, and soon returning King

and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are very precious in His sight.

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.

Rosh Hashanah

Some information regarding Rosh Hashanah greeting

רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה 

Rosh Hashana

The Jewish New Year

for Hebrew Year 5782

Rosh Hashanah

Hebrew: ראש השנה,

literally “head of the year”,

is the Jewish Civil New Year. It is also in remembrance of Breresheet/Genesis and the day of earths re-creation, or New birth, which can be likened to our new birth in Messiah Yeshua/Jesus.

It is the first of the High Holidays or

Yamim Noraim

(“Days of Awe”),

celebrated ten days before Yom Kippur.

Rosh Hashanah is observed on the first two days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. It is described in the Torah as יום תרועה (Yom Teru’ah, a day of sounding [the Shofar]).

The New Moon Day of the seventh month is called

‘Yom Teruah’ (יוֹם תְּרוּעָה).

This is oftentimes translated as the

‘Day of Trumpets’,

although it actually translates more like the

‘Day of Blowing,’

or the ‘Day of Shouting.’

Yom Teruah literally means the Day of the Shofar Sound.

It is also called The Feast of Trumpets.

It occurs six cycles of the new moon (i.e. six months) after Pesach on the first day of the seventh month in the Biblical calendar.

It marks the end of a long, hot, and dry summer and the beginning of the fall festivals.

Most importantly Yom Teruah is a day of

shouting and alarm

to remind men that Yom Kippurim is near.

“There are only 10 days left”

for the wicked to repent of their wickedness

and join themselves to True Israel.

Each month throughout the year the reminder,

the warning cry, has been blown;

the seventh month is coming

and soon

it will be too late to repent.

Teshuvah.

Some greetings are:

 “Brachot l’shana tova ve…”

“ברכות לשנה טובה ו….”

“Greetings for a good and…year”.

“Have a happy and sweet new year” 

is Shanah tovah u’metuka.

 לשנה טובה תכתב.   l-shanah tovah tikatev

May you be written and inscribed for a good year!

Generally, “shana tovah” 

or “l’shava tova tikatev”

or “shana m’tuka”

and not the whole greeting and blessing.

There are four forms.

The correct greeting for Rosh Hashanah is

“L’shanah tovah”,

which translates to 

“for a good year”.

 People may also use a longer phrase, “Shanah Tovah um’tukah”,

Hebrew for “may you have a good and sweet new year.” 

Both form parts of the traditional full greeting of

“L’shanah tovah tikatev v’taihatem”

 L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu: The literal Hebrew to English translation is

“May you be inscribed (in the Book of Life) for a good year.”

This traditional Rosh HaShanah greeting

wishes others a good year and is often shorted to

“Shanah Tovah” (Good Year) or “L’Shanah Tovah.”

לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה. [To a] good year. [leʃaˈna toˈva] Hebrew.

Used as a greeting during Rosh Hashanah and the Days of Awe.

Also used, simply

” shanah tovah ” (שָׁנָה טוֹבָה),

meaning “a good year”,

or

” shanah tovah u’metukah ” (שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה)

meaning “a good and sweet year”.

A more formal greeting commonly used among religiously observant Jews is

Ketivah VaChatimah Tovah

(Hebrew: כְּתִיבָה וַחֲתִימָה טוֹבָה‎), which translates as

“A good inscription and sealing [in the Book of Life]”,

or

L’shanah tovah tikatevu v’tichatemu meaning

“May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year”.

Shanah Tovah means good year, with no context. 

In L’Shanah Tovah, the “L” is a Hebrew preposition

that corresponds in this case to the English preposition “for”,

and the context is the greeting

“May you be inscribed for a good year!”

טובה שאנה

 

Jerusalem from above.

The Golden Gate through which Messiah is believed to enter

Jerusalem.

Many believe that He may return around the day of blowing of trumpets, or that the catching away of the ecclesia will occur at this season; however Yeshua/Jesus said Himself  

Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

Yes we can see the day approaching and must be ready but we must remember He will come at an hour that we do not expect Him!

Luke 12:40 Be you therefore ready also: for the Son of man comes at an hour when you think not.

Luke 21:34-36. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares…. Matthew 24:42,44

This picture

and

the intriguing headline is worth a look:

The following video below was of interest to accompany the curious phenomena!

 

Link below to the post from last year as the content is always pertinent, simply change the date from 5781

to the new Hebrew Year 5782

https://www.minimannamoments.com/yamim-noraim-days-of-awe-or-high-holy-days/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/are-we-boxed-in/

further links for the Fall Appointed Times

are to be found on Home Page under heading

7 FESTIVALS/APPOINTED TIMES/FEASTS

May His true Shalom rest upon each one in Yeshuas’ Name.

You are greatly loved Mishpachah, Family,

משפחה

and prayed for daily..

 make sure you are secure in the knowledge you are saved

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Where Was Keifa The Week Of Chag haMatzot?

We have just completed the week of

Chag ha Matzot/

Unleavened Bread/ חג המצות

which began with

Passover/Pesach/פסח.

Exodus 12:13

Passing over into new year and

commemorating the Hebrews’ liberation

from slavery in Egypt and the

passing over

of the forces of destruction,

or the sparing of the firstborn of the Israelites,

when the Lord “smote the land of Egypt”

on the eve of the Exodus.

People wish each other a

kosher and joyous Passover. 

In Hebrew it is:

chag Pesach kasher vesame’ach 

pronounced:

CHAG PEH-sach kah-SHER ve-sah-MAY-ach.

This is the beginning of the spiritual new year/

the cycle of

Appointed Times of the Lord

His Moedim

moe-eh-DEEM

מועדים

Firstfruits (ום בכורים),

also called

Reishit Katzir.

Now we are headed into

seven weeks/49days of

counting the Omer

before

Shavuot/Pentecost/שָׁבוּעוֹת

Counting of the Omer (ספירת העומר)

Pentecost (Koinē Greek: Πεντηκοστή)

Also known as the

Feast of Weeks or Shavuot – שָׁבוּעוֹת

This is a time of preparation to be ready to receive the impartation of His Spirit of Holiness/Ruach HaKodesh.

Following His מועדים / Moedim/

Appointed Times /feasts, helps us to stay close to the understanding of their meaning and of how Yeshua/Jesus fulfilled them and also how it affects us in our individual lives.

Traditional Christianity focuses more on Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday. Not that there is anything wrong with this, however, there is so much more that we have missed because of a lack of teaching and the lack of understanding of what the Scriptures are really saying to us. (See links at end for more.)

2 Corinthians 3:16 – 18 tells us this.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.

16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[ a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Now that we are in Messiah, we have complete and total freedom because the veil is removed.

This is not the freedom to simply do whatever we please; it is freedom from the penalty of sin, which is death.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death,

but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Messiah we are free to live in the ways of

life /chaim which are:

holiness kedushah קדושה

purity ṭaharah טָהֳרָה

and truth emet אֱמֶת

.

We are free to be alive in Him because

sin and death no longer bind us.

This scripture also says that,

we are in the process of being transformed

into the same image,

the image of the glory of the Lord.

The process of going from glory to glory is increased every year as we follow the cycle of His Appointed Times.

They are there for us to take the opportunity to annually examine ourselves and to recommit ourselves and allowing Him to bring us higher, into maturity of His spirit by understanding the truth of the abundant life He has provided.

The significance of His Appointed Times becomes clear in the life of Messiah and its purpose is for our growth in the Lord.

 During the days of

Unleavened Bread/ Chag ha Matzot,

the book of Acts 12:3-11

recorded a miraculous incidence

involving Peter/Keifa/Kefa/קיף.

In Hebrew Peter’s name is kef, קיף

spelled kaf-feh meaning rock.

The Jewish tradition regarding Shimon Keifa (his name in Hebrew/Aramaic) can be found in various Medieval sources.

According to these sources his name was Shimon Keifa, which means Shimon the Rock because he was a type of Nazarite (nazir, in Hebrew) who sat for many years on the same rock, praying and learning Torah.

Peter/Keifa was thrown into prison by Herod who thought he could gain a political advantage by persecuting Jewish believers in Yeshua/Jesus.

3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also.

Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.

4  And when he had apprehended him,

he put him in prison, and delivered him to

four quaternions/squads of soldiers to keep him;

intending after Passoveer/Pesach

to bring him forth to the people.

He secured Peter/Keifa in the prison under heavy guard until the time of his sentencing.

Not only was the prison door being watched by guards but his hands were bound with chains as he slept with a soldier on either side of him. His fate seemed certain for there was no obvious escape from this prison.

However Herod had not counted on the fact that there was one who would have no trouble getting inside the prison.

This scripture tells us that was a sudden burst of light

and a messenger/angel/ appeared before Peter

and within seconds the chains fell off his hands.

The soldiers were still asleep and although Peter was still in prison he was no longer chained up, his reality has changed.

But as long as he stayed where he was, he was a free man but still inside the prison.

The only thing holding him back was himself. He needed to get up and go.

For those of us in Messiah our reality has also changed, we have been set free and the chains of sin and death no longer bind us. Some of the change in our lives is up to us because even though He can make the chains fall off from our hands; and even though He can make gates to open before us of their own accord; if we do not rise in haste, gird ourselves, bind on our sandals and put our garments around us and follow Him, we can never be truly free.

Let us rise in haste and be following Him who entered the prison from which no man could escape, that we might be set free. He led us into our deliverance so that we can follow in the way of His salvation.

As disciples of Messiah our identity is also reflected in what was the defining moment for Israel remembered at Passover/Pesach. They left Egypt/Mitzrayim /מצרים and so have we Egypt/Mitzrayim /מצרים is our past.

The Exodus: Hebrew:

יציאת מצרים, Yeẓi’at Miẓrayim

literally: ‘Departure from Egypt’

As the children of Israel saw the way through the sea open up before them leading to their salvation; we trust that He will make a way where there seems to be no way in our own lives.

We need to make that step of faith into the sea to see our Savior; and not be tempted to return to Egypt…

We have a choice…

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

and Messiah has made us free.

Exodus 14:13 fear not and still yourselves and see the salvation of the Lord which he does for you today

for as you have seen the Egyptians/Mitzrayim today you will never see them again.

If we will go forward, this is true for us too.

This last week has reminded us all that Messiah accomplished…

Let us rejoice in the freedom then

with which Messiah has made us free and

stand fast.

Galatians 5:11 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 

Having done all, to stand Ephesians 6:13

and

Luke 19:13

We were not brought to the edge of the sea to be drowned, or to be dragged away in chains like Peter/קיף/ Keifa.

We are to get up as he did,

and to go forward

out of the prison.

He has delivered us.

In Messiah, our reality has changed.

 

Let’s not yearn for the things of Egypt/ Mitzrayim that had us bound, but leaving behind the former things, forgetting the past and pressing on towards the future and stay under the Blood of Messiah.

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Let’s not ponder on things of the past.

This is the spiritual new year

and as we begin

the new cycle of life/chaim/חים;

Chai חי

is a Hebrew word and symbol that means

life, alive, or living.

It is spelled with the Hebrew letters

Chet ח and Yud י.

Adding the letter m/Mem/ם

gives the plural chaim

let’s press forward to the prize of the high calling …

looking unto Jesus/Yeshua the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2

Why??

Because..

Links below for more posts on:

First Fruits, Seder Meal, Afikomen & Omer…

https://www.minimannamoments.com/revealing-the-overcoming-resheet-of-bikkurim/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/afikomen-mysterious-and-hidden/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/first-fruits/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/13-for-supper-and-only-4-cups/

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

His true שָׁלוֹם / Shalom / Peace

rest upon each one in Jesus/Yeshuas’ Name.

The ancient Hebrew meaning of shalam was

“to make something whole”!

‘Mishpachah’ ‘Family’

משפחה 

Mish-pa-KHa

you are greatly loved and prayed for daily..

May Yeshua make you whole!

This season make sure you are secure

in the knowledge you are saved

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Five Chosen In A Line Unbroken – Part 4 continued

Five Chosen In A Line Unbroken –

Part 4 continued from…

 https://www.minimannamoments.com/five-chosen-in-a-line-unbroken-part-4/

In Bethlehem, Ruth looked after her aging mother-in-law Naomi, as if she were her own mother; and to keep them from going hungry, Ruth gleans grain in the field of Naomi’s relative, Boaz.

Boaz בעז

Meaning:

In Strength, By Strength

From the prefix ב – be, in,

and

the verb עזז – ‘azaz,

to be strong, powerful or strong.

Boaz = fleetness.

Strong’s Hebrew: 1162.

בֹּ֫עַז

Boaz — quickness.

Here while gleaning in the fields of Bethlehem, Ruth meets Boaz.

He was a wealthy Bethlehemite,

a rich land-owner

and kinsman to Elimelech the husband of Naomi.

Ruth 2:3 says that

‘as it happened’

Ruth went to the field of Naomi’s rich relative, Boaz.

This phrase

as it happened

is often used in the Bible to suggest that God is setting the scene for something significant.

It also implied, with a touch of Jewish humour, that Naomi and the people of Bethlehem saw a good match for Ruth and edged her into meeting Boaz. (Matchmaking!)

Naomi knew that Ruth was beautiful and respected, Boaz was the ideal choice. He was available, childless, well respected and rich. and she knew that a rich husband for Ruth would solve all their problems.

He was also a relative of Naomi’s through her husband’s family, (see Leviticus 19:9-10). so he had a legal obligation to help Naomi and to redeem the estates of her deceased husband Mahlon. (Ruth 4:1)

Boaz was second in line to the position of go’el in Naomi’s, and therefore Ruth’s, family.

In English, the word go’el

is often translated as ‘nearest kin’,

but in ancient Judah it meant much more than that.

A go’el was a close male relative with the duty of looking after a family when the male head of the family was absent.

In earlier times, the go’el of the family was expected to marry the widow of an Israelite man if she wished it

Deuteronomy 25.

Ruth, who may not have understood the formalities of Israelite law,

called Boaz – go’el =

Kinsman Redeemer.

It seems to have been love at first sight for him, and he ordered his workers to treat Ruth well when she worked in his fields. picking up leftover grain

Ruth 2:1-23    

He went to great lengths to get extra grain for Ruth, to protect her from young men who might harass her, and to see that she was properly fed.

 

‘At mealtime Boaz said to her “Come here, and eat

at some of this bread, and dip your morsel in the sour wine”.

So she sat beside the reapers, and he heaped up for her some parched grain. She ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.’

Naomi saw immediately what had happened, and encouraged Ruth to keep on working in Boaz’s fields. who has heard about her kindness to Naomi.

Ruth 2:11,12

Boaz replied, “I have been made fully aware of all you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and how you came to a people you did not know before. May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge.”

Following Naomi’s guidance, Ruth visits Boaz at night.

When Boaz finally lay down and is

fast asleep after winnowing barley on the threshing floor,

she approached

and lay down at his feet.

Someone always slept there at night until the grain was removed, to guard against thieves.

Ruth 3:1-18

‘When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and he was in a contented mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came stealthily and uncovered his feet, and lay down.’

The threshing floor is the same that David bought from and it became the site of the Temple!

It is Mount Moriah the scene of many meetings and sacrifices.

The Threshing floor and

the significance of threshing:

The context of King David’s initiative to purchase that threshing floor was the need to stop the Angel of Death, who was exacting the punishment for sin.

2 Samuel 24:15-16

As believers this connection makes sense – it’s the place of God’s victory over sin and where the power of spiritual death was stopped.

King David purchases the threshing floor of

Araunah the Jebusite

and, according to one classic rabbinic opinion,

the entire city of Yerushalayim /Jerusalem.

That threshing floor,

the place where he intends to offer sacrifices,

is now called the

Har HaBayit –

Temple Mount in Yerushalayim/Jerusalem.

Araunah in Hebrew: אֲרַוְנָה ‎

’Ǎrawnāh was a Jebusite mentioned in 2 Samuel,

who owned the threshing floor on Mount Moriah

which David purchased and

used as the site for assembling an altar to God.

1 Chronicles, a later text, renders his name as

Ornan – in Hebrew: אָרְנָן ‎ ’Ārənān.

David built an altar on Ornan’s – Araunah’s threshing-floor

2 Samuel 24:18-24 1 Chronicles 21:18-27,

which later became the site of the Temple.

2 Chronicles 3:1.

David probably chose this place for his altar because it was elevated, and the ground was already level and prepared by the rolling action from all the threshing activity.

It is very significant that the threshing floor of Araunah was on 

Mount Moriah–the Temple Mount–

where the temple was built because it was

where Messiah was also threshed/beaten for us:

2 Chronicles 3.1

Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.

The angel of Adonai

was then by the threshing floor

of Araunah the Jebusite.”

2 Samuel 24:15-16

So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 50 shekels of silver. Then David built there an altar to Adonai , and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.

A threshing floor like that sold by Araunah, would have been a large, open, elevated area to facilitate threshing and winnowing.

A threshing floor was a large, open, hard surface, so threshing floors were often located on hilltops. After bundles of stalks were laid on the surface of the floor, oxen were repeatedly led over the piles until the dried plants were broken up. Then it was thrown up in the air to separate and remove the chaff as the wind blew upon it.

More details at:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/why-a-threshing-floor/

He awakes to find Ruth at his feet.

Why did Ruth do this? Her action would seem strange unless you knew that in ancient times ‘foot’ was a euphemism for the male reproduction, as ‘sandal’ was for the female.

Threshing floors at harvest time were often the scene of intimate misconduct but not in Ruths case. Lying beside Boaz, Ruth suggested that he, as the go-el of Naomi’s family, should ‘cover her with his blanket’, a euphemism for marriage, And this would no doubt have been his prayer shawl which even in present day is used as a canopy over a couple getting married.

It is also a reference to the healing in His wings of Isaiah of the future Messiah and the place of safety under those wings which is the name given to the corners of the Tallit/Prayer shawl

Click links below for more on the Tallit Prayer Shawl.
https://www.minimannamoments.com/life-on-the-fringe/
https://www.minimannamoments.com/knot-just-another-string-theory/

Ruth had the right to demand marriage of the go-el of her family. Following Jewish customs, Ruth lets Boaz know he is a kinsman-redeemer and that she is eligible to marry him –

Ruth 3:1-18.

 Yeshua/Jesus is our Go’el and He says the same to each of us today and we can put our name in here ……… I will redeem you!

So…

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you [g’al’tika]; 

I have called you by name; you are Mine!

Isaiah 43:1-3a

Boaz happily agreed, but pointed out to her that there was another man who had that right, a closer relative even than himself.

Boaz promises to act as kinsman-redeemer for her if the one closer male relative will surrender his right to the position.

Ruth stayed beside Boaz until morning, leaving before first light to return to Naomi.

Boaz had to give him the option first, before he could marry Ruth. He was careful to do everything correctly, so that there could be no question about the legality of the marriage.

Ruth 4:1-12    

To fulfill the laws of inheritance, another kinsman – who is more closely related to Ruth than Boaz – is given the option of buying the land, but he cannot afford it. So Boaz buys the land from Naomi and then marries Ruth in order to keep the ownership of the land within Elimelech’s family.

Boaz negotiates with the other man and obtains the right to redeem Ruth and Naomi.

Kindness and loyalty permeated Ruth’s character. Further, she was a woman of integrity, maintaining high morals in her dealings with Boaz.

As a relative, Boaz agrees to help Ruth and Naomi by buying a plot of land which belonged to Naomi’s husband Elimelech. 

Leviticus 25:25.

Naturally as people in small towns usually are, the people in Bethlehem were well aware of what was happening. When Boaz went next morning to the meeting place at the gate of the town, he was met almost immediately by the official go-el of Naomi’s family – and probably by a good many interested onlookers as well.

Some complicated negotiation went on regarding a small parcel of land that Naomi either owned outright or had put up for sale at some previous time, but this was just a formality.

Ruth 4:9-10
Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!”

‘So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son.

Then the women said to Naomi “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next of kin. May his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourishment for your old age. For your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him”.

Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse.’ Ruth 4:1-22

  Boaz marries Ruth;

together they care for Naomi.

Ruth and Boaz have a son Obed,

He becomes the father of Jesse,

the father of King David.

In due course, Bethlehem becomes the ‘City of David’.

Book of Ruth 4:16-17
Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. 

The women of Bethlehem exalted Ruth as the loving daughter-in-law who meant more to Naomi than seven sons, the ideal number.

Ruth 4:15. 

Although people from Moab were often hated by the Jews, God selected Ruth to be a direct ancestor of Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach.

The book of Ruth is a beautiful illustration of God’s impartiality and faithfulness to those who are true to Him.

She had little idea that her decision would affect the future of multiplied millions and 

that a sequence of God ordained events that had been unfolding 1000’s of years before, were dependent on her choice!

Gods’ promise of a Savior in Genesis, through the promise to Abraham, that all families would be blessed through him and his offspring – encompassed her, a foreigner, a widow, a Moabite, a gentile, heathen, goyim…

She would have had no idea at that point that her choices and subsequent actions would lead her into a country where she would meet a relative of Naomi named Boaz.

This man would become her

kinsman redeemer

according to Israelite law and would

restore the lost heritage.

Just as we saw in the story of Tamar.

The truth is that her great grandson would become the king of Israel; and David was called the man after Gods own heart and was the royal line that eventually brought forth the long awaited and long promised Messiah. (The phrase man after Gods own heart was due to his repentant attitude.)

Remember that Boaz is Rahabs son

and his great grandmother was Tamar!

As we have seen, Ruth was a Moabitess and her ancestors were called Moabites because Moab was the incestuous son of Lot and one of his daughters after the destruction of Sodom and Gororrah. See charts…

Ruth and Boaz become the parents of Obed, the grandparents of Jesse and the great-grandparents of David, the king of Israel, and finally the ancestors of Jesus/Yeshua the Nazarene.

Matthew 1:5

 Ruth is spelled Ρουθ, Rhouth in Greek.

Strictly speaking, therefore, Yeshua/Jesus

was not only a son-by-law of Joseph,

he was also a son-by-law of Mahlon and not of Boaz.

It is interesting that the word love never appears in the book of Ruth, even though it is story full of love. The love is recorded in the words and action, rather than being cited as an emotion or feeling. Love is action its doing and being. God is a God of love and of unconditional love, not the same kind as our feelings and emotions dictate to our flesh life.

Its this unconditional love that God extended to all the heathens, gentiles and Goyim when He sent His Son Jesus/Yeshua to show by action the ultimate act of love; by dying in our place, by sacrificing His life on our behalf… how many individuals do we know today that would lay down their own lives for another, for us; and would we do that for someone else?

 

Its always a good time to reassess what Jesus/Yeshua did for us to remember where we came from,

where our Moab was;

and where we are today….

grafted in by grace and mercy, forgiven, redeemed, sanctified, justified, by His precious Blood that continually cries Mercy from that kapporet in heaven mercy seat –

the throne of grace in Hebrews 9:23–26

 

Hebrew כפורת , Kaporet, meaning atonement seat.

What manner of love is this??…

it’s beyond our comprehension –

how marvelous – how wonderful

is our Saviors love for us.

the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3.

Lets return to our first love and ask Him to renew the joy of our salvation and strengthen our resolve like Ruth; to follow Jesus/Yeshua, the One we love above all else. To make Him the focus of our life and the director of our future.

Let our steps along the WAY to the house of Bread – Beth lechem – be guided by the One who was The Bread from Heaven and whose life began in that very town; fulfilling the words of the prophets so many millennia ago.

In an age when childbearing was seen as the highest honor for women, Ruth played a key role in the coming of the promised Messiah. Ruth, being one of Messiahs’ Gentile ancestors, showed that Yeshua/Jesus came to save all people whosoever will.

Ruth’s life seemed to be a series of timely happenstances/ coincidences, but her story is really about the perfect plan and providence of God. In His loving way, He orchestrated natural circumstances toward the birth of David, then from David to the birth of Yeshua/Jesus. In the natural course of events, it took centuries to put in place, and the result was God’s plan of salvation for the world.

Ruth and Naomi were rare female heroines at a time when women were often consigned to a secondary role and status. To survive as outsiders, they had to remain true to themselves and their God.

The main themes of Ruth’s story?

Friendship: Ruth was poor and a foreigner, but she listened to the advice of an older, wiser woman. In turn, Naomi was rewarded by Ruth’s unfaltering loyalty.

The message?

Courage and loyalty – triumph over misfortune.

Family:  The story of Ruth celebrates the family and the way it continues through many generations. Ruth, a childless widow at the beginning of the story, became the great-grandmother of Israel’s great king, David.

God’s plan: The story of Naomi’s family and the way it endured is a universal theme. Even Ruth, a foreigner from the despised Moabites, could move God’s plan towards fulfillment.

Faithfulness 

kindness

honor

and

redemption

are key themes of this book.

We see Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi,

Boaz’s faithfulness to Ruth,

and everyone’s faithfulness to God.

In return, God rewards them with great blessings.

These characters’ faithfulness led to

kindness toward each other.

Kindness is an outpouring of love.

Everyone in this book showed the type of selfless love toward others that God expects from His followers.

By this all people will know that you are my disciples,

if you have love for one another.

Romans 5:8

There is a great sense of honor that is also highlighted as Ruth was a hardworking, morally chaste woman. Boaz treated her with respect while fulfilling his lawful responsibility showing examples of obeying God’s laws.

She was also a hard worker in the fields, gleaning leftover grain for Naomi and herself.

Finally, Ruth’s deep love for Naomi was rewarded when Boaz married Ruth and gave her love and security.

Book of Ruth 2:11-12

Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband–how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (NIV)

A sense of safekeeping is emphasized too.

Ruth took care of Naomi, Naomi took care of Ruth, then Boaz took care of both women, and God took care of all of them, blessing Ruth and Boaz with a child they named Obed, who became the grandfather of David.

From David’s line came Jesus /Yeshua of Nazareth, Savior of the world.

Finally, redemption is the underlying theme.

As Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer, saves Ruth and Naomi from a hopeless situation, he illustrates how Yeshua/Jesus redeems our lives.

Some thought provoking facts:

Ruth worked in the field belonging to her relative Boaz and ultimately became his wife.

The reputed site of this field –

the Field of Ruth –

can still be seen at 

Beit Sahur 

Village of the shepherds

near Bethlehem!

Where the lambs were raised for the sacrifices!

For more on the shepherds field links below

 

https://www.minimannamoments.com/a-lambs-tale-and-a-mysterious-tower/ 

https://www.minimannamoments.com/because-he-came/

Bethlehem is also the site of the tomb of Rachel, the wife of Jacob, who had died here about six hundred years earlier, in c.1690 BC.

Rachel’s tomb can still be visited today, on the main road leading from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.

Almost a thousand years after the death of Rachel

Genesis 35:16-20,

the prophet Micah, writing between 747BC and 722BC, declared,

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are too small to be among the army groups from Judah, from you will come one who will rule Israel for me”

Micah 5:2.

This prophesy was fulfilled seven hundred years later when Yeshua/Jesus – a descendent of Isaac, Jacob and Judah, and of Ruth and Boaz – was born at Bethlehem in Judaea

Matthew 1:2 & 5 and Genesis 49:10.

The kinsman redeemer it’s a story again of salvation

Yeshua/Jesus is our kinsman redeemer.

Yeshua/Jesus said

Follow Me…

Ruth said

wherever you go I will follow you.

 

For Ruth, it led to her salvation…

we must be ready,

willing and

available

to follow Him

wherever He goes;

and Ruth was loving not her life unto death,

she said, where you die I will die.

She had to follow up her words with actions

and was faithful to do so.

Can we say the same?

Ruth’s words are so remarkable that they are still echoing today  through several thousand years and for good reason.

They indicate a love so faithful and strong that she would stay with Naomi always and that only death would separate them. She was prepared to leave everything behind abandoning her old life in every aspect.

Jesus/Yeshua said He called us friends and yet He requires that we leave all behind to follow Him.

And again I say unto you, my friends, for from henceforth I shall call you friends, it is expedient that I give unto you this commandment, that ye become even as my friends in days when I was with them, traveling to preach the gospel in my power; John 15:15.

When we are called, He also equips or qualifies us: it has a twofold meaning; one, that He has given us giftings to match our callings and second, He establishes and strengthens us.

Romans 8:30; Ex.4:10-11; Hebrews 13:21.

By bringing tests and trials into our lives that qualifies us to become what He has destined for us. Ruth once more encourages us that whatever our background,

wherever we have come from,

and whatever we have done

there will be a situation or a person

that points us to Yeshua/Jesus,

which in turn leads us to salvation.

It is our choice to accept the gift of all gifts;

but like Ruth

we too will have to leave the past behind,

take up new family,

new land,

and become the bride of the heavenly bridegroom –

our kinsman redeemer..

Ruth was one of five in a line unbroken

as she would not let Naomi go without her…

let’s hold onto Yeshua/Jesus

with even greater hope and love in our hearts .

Do not fear,

for I have redeemed you [g’al’tika]; 

I have called you by name;

you are Mine!

We would still be spiritually destitute, heathen, gentile, goyim, dead in our sins, poor in spirit and without hope…without Messiah….

BUT now…

Ephesians 2:12 -14, 18-19.

Ruths decision for the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob/Israel led her to being grafted into the family of God. The second of the gentiles incorporated into the line of the Tribe of Judah.

When we decide for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel, we too are grafted in and through Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah/Yeshua HaMashiach. We are saved by Him our Kinsman Redeemer; Who cared enough to make sure the gentiles are included in His plan of the ages.

Let’s not simply discard the monumental actions of Ruth

because her descendent was and is

our Savior, Lord and soon returning king.

Ruth was indeed one of five,

another brave woman sealed into

the line unbroken

another story connected to the

House of Bread

and of Him, who when we eat of,

we will never hunger again for

He is the Bread of Life!

 

Don’t leave this page until you are certain this is true for your life too….

Shalom, shalom, mishpachah!

You are loved and appreciated and prayed for daily.

Please don’t leave this page without the knowing in your heart you are totally His.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

Its all about Life and Relationship, not Religion.

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.