Tag: covenant

The LOOK of Shavuot?

The last of the 4 Spring Appointed times is Shavuot in Hebrew and in parts of Europe Pentecost is also known as Whit/Whitsuntide. Whitsun (Old English for “White Sunday”) is the forty-ninth day (seventh Sunday) after Easter Sunday.

It is also the anniversary of the conversion and baptism of 3,000 people. It is believed that the name comes from Pentecost being a day for baptisms, when participants would dress in white. The name Pentecost comes from the Greek word ‘Pentekostos’, meaning ’50.

‘Whitsun’ is also thought to derive from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘wit’, meaning ‘understanding’, to celebrate the disciples being filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. As in many languages “to see” and “to know” are interrelated concepts. So that “to wit” is not only about knowledge but witnessing.

On the knowledge side, it is also easy to see the link with wise and witty and wittingly. The “Witan” being the Anglo Saxon assembly of wise men – knowing enough to have their word in the destiny of the community.

Wit could therefore, be said to infer “He makes Himself known!” God, is love, He made known His Wisdom, His Power, and His mind, He made Himself known, they were filled with the Ruach HaKodesh/Holy-Set Apart-Spirit Yeshua/Jesus/The Word made flesh!

Shavuot – שבועות – was both an agricultural festival and a celebration of God giving His newly-free people the Torah at Mt. Sinai. Through the giving of the Law, He taught them how to live as a redeemed community, a kingdom of priests, and a holy (set-apart) nation (Ex. 19:6).

The name of the festival is actually derived from the Hebrew word shavuah, שְׁבוּעַ meaning week. Shavuot (weeks) is the plural form. Shavuot marks the end of the seven-week period called Sefirat HaOmer (Counting of the Omer), which began at Passover/Pesach.

From a Hebrew roots perspective, one of the most significant occurrences has to do with the historical understanding of what Shavuot during the second temple period meant to the Jewish nation. The disciples of Messiah Yeshua were gathered together, and when there were loud noises, tongues of fire, and voices speaking in many languages, this was an obvious clue: it was the second ‘coming/giving’ of the Torah and the fulfillment of the prophesy given by Joel. 

Shavuot has several other connections:

One being Zechariah, John the Baptist father, who was in the Temple at Shavuot when the angel appeared to him.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/why-was-the-priest-in-the-water-conclusion-of-the-mystery

For more on Shavuot connections to Ruth Boaz and Shavuot /Pentecost as the perfect picture of the harvest wedding and covenant.
https://www.minimannamoments.com/50-days-later-an-earthly-and-spiritual-harvest-pentecost-shavuot/

The Scroll of Ruth (מגילת רות) – a beautiful story about God’s redemptive love – is read on the second day of Shavuot. As the Goel (kinsman-redeemer), Boaz was a wealthy man of the tribe of Judah (Bethlehem) who married a Gentile bride. Boaz’s name means “in Him is strength,” a picture of the Mashiach Yeshua, The book of ruth is read, which is the ingrafting of the gentiles and Exodus records where the Lord descended in fire. Also Ex 1:13,14 mentions coals of fire; and out of the fire went forth lightning. Ezekiel Chapter 3 the sounds of great rushing; then in Acts 2:3, the account of the rushing mighty wind and the fire sitting on them is not coincidence!

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/

In Jerusalem it all started with 120 in the upper room.

Yeshua had ascended 10 days before, having spent 40 days with His disciples teaching them and preparing them during the Omer count.

The on-going transformation of the Disciples  finally led up to Shavuot-Pentecost. This day was the most powerful day for Yisrael as it was when the Torah was given to Moses/ Mosheh. Now it also became the most powerful day among the Talmidim/Disciples, and those who would become Sh’liychiym /the Apostles, as it represented the new thing that Adonai/the Lord was doing among His people in fulfilling prophecy.

The coming of the RUACH at Shavuot/Pentecost released a new dimension of God’s power from on high and from that moment on the fire/zeal of God, that was imparted not only changed the world in which they lived but ultimately spread the Good News to the four corners of the whole earth. 

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Set-apart Spirit has come upon you and you shall be My witnesses in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) and in all Yahuḏah (Judea) and Shomeron (Samaria) and to the end of the earth.”

Instead of imagining that all the Disciples were in fear and hiding in some private place, from scripture we read that they were in assembling daily in the Temple Courts/Beyth Ha Mikdash.

This was where they would come daily and as they grew in number; here they would continue in the teaching and the understanding of the renewed covenant/the Brit Chadashah.

This event had been prophesied through all the Tanakh/the Old Testament and which finally found fulfillment in the sacrificial blood of the Messiah, Yeshua.

He was the promised seed of David, the Messiah, the son of Elohim through whom all have redemption and access to the Chesed/ the Mercy and favor of Our Heavenly Father as revealed from the beginning/Genesis/Beresheet.  

Acts 2:46 And they (the Disciples or taught ones) continued daily to meet together with one accord in the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Set Apart House of Yahweh- The Temple)and of breaking of Lekhem (bread) from House to House and did eat their food with gladness and singleness of Heart.

Acts 3:1-2 Now Kepha (Peter) & Yochanan (John) went up together into the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Temple) at the hour of petition, the ninth hour. 2 and a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried whom they laid daily at the gate of the Temple which is called beautiful (the Yapho Gate or today the Jaffa Gate) to ask alms of them that entered into the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Temple);

 

Then after the Ruach HaKdesh – the Set Apart – Holy Spirit was poured out upon them fulfilling Joel, they grew to 3000 on the Shavout following Messiah’s death on Passover. That was just the beginning however, something special was about to happen that would cause them to grow even more, and it would also cause them to enter into conflict with the nations leaders.

In the book of Acts we find

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 

This has been mistranslated and from the original should read…

Peter and John entering the Temple at the hour of THE prayer.

Why is this significant?

Because It was 3:00 in the afternoon, approaching evening. According to the Torah, sacrifices were to be offered in the morning and in the evening (see Numbers 28) – beginning and ending Israel’s day at sundown, with atonement and drawing closer to God. These times became special times of prayer for the Jewish people – which they still are to this day.

THE prayer is referring to saying the Amidah.

In the literal translations it is called the hour of THE Prayer.

The Amidah (Hebrew: תפילת העמידה, Tefilat HaAmidah, “The Standing Prayer”), also called the Shemoneh Esreh (שמנה עשרה), is the central prayer of the Jewish liturgy. 

 Among observant Jews, it is referred to as HaTefillah, or “the prayer” of Judaism. The prayer is also sometimes called Amidah (“standing”) because it is recited while standing and facing the Aron Kodesh, the ark that houses the Torah.

The Amidah Standing Prayer in English is also know as the standing prayer. It has been suggested that this is what the disciples were doing in the upper room when Yeshua joined them.

Traditionally every individual should wash their hands before saying this prayer and it is said by the Jews, along with the Shema, three times a day. These Prayers are to teach how to present ourselves in Awe, Fear, Respect, and learn to approach the King as the servants of the Living God. 

The individual praying should if at all possible, stand with one’s feet together while reciting the Amidah as a show of respect for God. The rabbis add that this stance reflectss Ezekiel’s the vision of angels in which the feet of the angels appeared as one (Ezekiel 1:7).

The custom is to face the direction of Israel, and if in Israel, to turn to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. This is because all prayers head towards the Temple Mount and then rise up. This also shows respect for the Temples, which were central to Hebrew life, and reminds us that the synagogue was established to try to fill the gap in Hebrew life left by the Temple’s’ destruction. In many synagogues in the west, the ark is on the eastern wall of the synagogue for this reason.

The Amidah is the core of every Jewish worship service, and is therefore also referred to as HaTefillah, or “The prayer.” Amidah, which literally means, “standing,” refers to a series of blessings recited while standing.

The translation of the word AMIDAH means to standup, so the prayers are normally recited while standing and facing the East as the Messiah, YHVH, Jesus, will come back from that direction.

The Amidah is commonly referred to as the silent prayer. This, however, is a misnomer, for the Amidah is to be said softly, not silently, to yourself. The words should be audible to your ears and your ears alone.

This was the situation with the prayers of Channah/Hannah.

The Amidah includes three distinct sections. The first section includes prayers that praise. The middle section includes 13 requests. These requests focus on practical needs like health, and the ability to make wise choices but also more lofty yearnings for redemption and justice. These requests can change depending on the time of year or holiday. The last section includes prayers of gratitude. You can also include your own personal prayers anytime during the middle or end.

On festivals, particularly the pilgrimage holidays of Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, the middle portion of the Amidah similarly describes how God has given these holidays as a gift to the Jewish people for joy and celebration.

There are also references to the biblical patriarchs, King David and Jerusalem to be remembered in glory.

Despite the official absence of requests, the holiday prayers of the Amidah do in fact ask that God enable us to enjoy and celebrate the holiday with gladness of heart. They end with a blessing, thanking God for sanctifying the people of Israel and the holiday.

At the start of the prayer:

My EloHim/Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise.

Each of us is aware of our abilities and potential, and we all experience fear, doubt and hesitation. Many of our limitations in life are more perceived than real. Often, it is only fears/false imaginations, that are holding us back.

In Hebrew the word for lips is the same as the word for banks, as in river banks.

The Hebrew word for lip is שפה. Interestingly, this word is quite versatile: it also means language and bank (of a river, a sea, etc). In a connected “of” (construct) state, שפה becomes שפת, so that a river bank is שפת נהר – literally, a bank of a river.

The banks of a river define its limits.

When we say “God, open my lips,” we are also saying, “God, help me to see beyond my perceived limitations, banks, boundaries. Help me to see all the way to the horizon of my potential.”

And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

This was a strategic location to beg. Religious people are to be charitable to the poor and needy. 

Nearing the Temple, we see that it is a very beautiful building. All around the outside are the porches, which are covered walks, separated by rows of large pillars or posts. The floors are of marble of many colors.

The pillars are so large that three men can scarcely stretch their arms so as to meet around them. Some of the pillars are one hundred feet high.

Along the walls we see seats for people to sit on, and all day long the people rest on the benches or move about between the pillars.

The Hekel Gate, which leads to the Temple is made of dazzling brass, more costly than silver and gold, and it is very richly decorated. The double doors to this gate are so heavy that twenty men are needed to open and close them.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/mystery-of-the-hekel/

As Peter and John made their way to the Beautiful Gate. Here they stop.

When the crippled man saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.

For many, many years this poor crippled man has been carried to the Temple gate. Day after day he has been sitting there begging for money from those who come to the Temple. He is now over 40 years of age, but has never walked. 

But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!”

He looks up at Peter.

He hoped this man would give him money. For an instant, Peter disappoints him by saying, “Silver and gold have I none.”

But Peter has more to say:

“Such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”

Acts 3:4- 7 And Kepha (Peter) fastening his eyes upon him with Yochanan (John) said “look on us”. 5 and he gave heed to them expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Kepha (Peter) said “Silver and Gold have I none but such as I have give I you; In the name of Yahshua the Messiah of Netzereth rise up & walk. 7 and he (Kepha) took him by the right hand and lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

They gave him the LOOK of Shavuot – we could say it was a Pentecostal look!

And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “In the name of Messiah Yeshua the Nazarene walk”!

(“in the name” means “because of who Yeshua is, and what He is able to do, and because of the authority He has given me”) 

 Peter seemed to know exactly what God wanted to happen in this situation, and he was given authority – Messianic authority, the Son of God’s divine authority, and he used it by commanding the crippled man to walk.

This healing had a specific purpose with regard to advancing the kingdom of God’s Son. 

Many times miracles are given for the testimony of Jesus Christ;

as was the man blind from birth.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/heres-mud-in-your-eye/

The lame man was a well known figure at the gate called Beautiful. (Eastern Gate.) No one would be able to deny what had been done in the name of Jesus.

Then Peter takes hold of the right hand of the lame man and lifts him up, and a great miracle happened to the lame man. 

And immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

The miracle was immediate and it was very public – right at one of the entrances to the Jerusalem temple, and at the time when the religious Jewish people were entering to take part in the closing prayers of the day! 

The feet and ankles of the helpless man received strength. For the first time in his life he stands alone! He walks! He leaps! He goes into the Temple with Peter and John, praising God as he enters!

The happiest day of his life! No more need he be carried about; no more begging for money, for he is healed! All through the power of God.

The people in the Temple know the man who is healed. They all likely turn to see and listen as he praises God. For many years they probably had passed by this man as he sat at the gate and begged, and many times had dropped a coin into his lap. Now he is walking and jumping. They cannot understand what has just happened.

As the three men walk out on Solomon’s porch. All the people follow us out on the porch. They stand and wonder. They cannot believe their eyes, but there before us stands the man whom God has healed.

Is it possible it happened at the very moment that the part of the prayer for healing was being said, that the man started giving God the glory??

“Look at me!

I’m standing during the Standing Prayer!!

God does heal!!!”

For 40 years he had heard or said this prayer, no doubt wondering if it was really true!

(Part of the prayer is to be healed, so he had prayed 3x a day for 40 years and wanted to stand as this was a standing prayer!)

Acts 3:6-9 tells us he was praying, let me stand for the standing prayer and finally he was able to stand for the standing prayer. And this is no doubt why Peter pulled him to his feet!

This was to show everyone there that he stood at the time of the standing prayer.

He was not healed prior to that time because Yeshua/Jesus wanted everyone to witness the miracle on Shavuot – His ways are higher than ours.

Just like the blind man who was blind from birth was for the glory of god to confirm the prophetic word stating that “the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness” (Isaiah 29:14, 18).

Miracles were not everyday events for the Chosen People. There were only a couple of times and with only a few men when an outpouring of miracles took place in their history: Moses and Joshua and the Exodus from Egypt through their entry into the Land of Israel; then in the time of Elijah and Elisha. Other than those special times and those few men, miracles were a rarity.

However there had been an exception to that history in that, many great miracles had just happened the previous three or four years involving the young Rabbi from Nazareth. But He had died, and the miracles had stopped!

Except, there were those unusual events that had taken place on the Shavuot following the Nazarene’s death, when a very loud noise had been heard when Yeshua’s followers had been meeting, and then a group of Yeshua’s Galilean Jewish followers spoke to the people of Jerusalem in the languages of the lands where many had come from, and those Galileans claimed that they had never learned those languages.

And now, a great miracle of healing and restoration had just taken place through two of Yeshua’s closest followers. What did it mean?

How was Peter able to say to the sick man, “Rise up and walk”? Was it because he had seen Yeshua/Jesus heal the sick? At one time Yeshua/Jesus took hold of the hand of Peter’s wife’s mother, when she was sick with fever. Yeshua/Jesus lifted her up and the fever left her [Mark:1:30];[Mark:1:31]).

It was not only because Peter had seen Yeshua/Jesus do these miracles; Peter was able to do this because he had the power of God with him. He had been saved and sanctified and he was one of those who were in the upper room when the baptism was given. He had received the Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost/Shavuot. Yeshua/Jesus had told the disciples that when the Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit came, they should receive power to work for Him. Now Peter had that power and he was using it, too!

Peter knew exactly what it meant, and wanting to fulfill his mission, and tell these people the Good News about the final atonement and salvation made possible by the Crucified-Yet-Risen Messiah, Simon Peter used this God-given opportunity to give his  great sermon.

Like Peter, we constantly need to use our God-given opportunities to tell people the Good News about the Messiah!

This was a most wonderful transformation in the lives of His called ones, in that only a short while ago they were in unbelief; but through the work of the RUACH (Spirit) their faith had grown and also their understanding. 

Then, at Shavuot, a new dimension of that faith had emerged with the coming of the RUACH Ha Kodesh /the Holy Spirit, giving them boldness to speak. With that step of faith, came authority & power from on high that saw the mighty works of God revealed both through the Word and power, and those who repented and believed numbered about 5,000 men.

What is amazing in the actions of Kepha (Peter) & Yochanan (John) is that they were so full of faith that it says that Kepha took the man by the right hand and lifted him up.

Acts 3:11- 12 And as the lame man which was healed held Kepha (Peter) & Yochanan (John) all the people ran together to them in the covered walkway that is called Shelomoh’s (Solomon’s) portico, greatly amazed. 12 And when Kepha saw it he answered the people. “You men of Yisrael why marvel you at this? Or why do you stare at us as though by our own power or our Torah or Shabbat piety we had made this man walk.

The Elohim of Abraham and of Yitzchak (Isaac) and of Yaacov (Jacob), the Elohim of our fathers has esteemed his son Yahshua; 16 through belief in his name has made this man strong whom you see and know; yes the belief which through Yahshua’s name has given him this complete health in the presence of all. 

The Mighty miracle that was done in this man was the means by which Our Heavenly Father was drawing His people to Himself.

It was also the perfect opportunity for the disciples to speak the wonderful words of the Salvation found only in Yeshua/Jesus.

Then they further expounded the truth of the Mashiach (Messiah) as revealed through the Scriptures of the Torah, the Nevim (Prophets) & the Ketuvim (the Wisdom Writings). Through the work of the RUACH Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) we see the assembly of believers supernaturally multiplying. 

Kefa and Yochanan were arrested … were questioned as to what power or name they had done this … they boldly stated.. The Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Yeshua Mashiach of Natzeret).

An important point we may have missed is that this man, who according to Acts.4:22 was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was showed.

That meant Yeshua/Jesus probably walked past him a minimum of 100 times in the temple and never healed him! This happened after Yeshua/Jesus died at around 33 yrs of age and this man who was only 7 yrs older than Yeshua/Jesus had been lame from his birth.

Seen from the Jewish perspective this was undeniable:

At the hour of prayer he asked for money, he was over 40, sat daily for 40 yrs, every single time Yeshua/Jesus went through that eastern gate, He passed by that man and never helped or healed him, even the day He rode into Jerusalem and he had not been healed but surely his healing at this time was the perfect timing of our Heavenly Father, Who had him right there at the Temple gate awaiting this exact time to heal this man.

God waited 40 years for all to be gathered in the Temple, so at the very moment of the Amidah, while all Israel was praising God.

(Until now we as gentiles, have missed the full significance of this event).

Divinely designed, to not only esteem the Messiah and be a miracle for this man but that it would be so significant as to trigger a greater revival than that of Shavuot, bringing a large crowd of Yisraelites to faith in name of Yeshua the righteous one.

One thing we must be sure to remember is to Keep our eyes on Yeshua/Jesus.

To FIX our eyes on Him and continually LOOK on HIM…   

This is where miracles begin!

He is the author and finisher of our faith and the LOOK of Shavuot

is

Love

Compassion

Healing

and in His perfect timing,

His plans and purposes will be fulfilled.

Shalom Shalom!

Chag Sameach Shavuot Mish-pa-KHa!

Please don’t leave this page until you have fixed your eyes on Him and without knowing you are saved and assured that you belong to Him; with a deep conviction that you know where you will go, when your body can no longer sustain you in this realm. 

Make certain Jesus is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him. 

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

Its all about Life and Relationship not Religion.

NOT SURE?

Then simply SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

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

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus 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 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. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sapphire – Ten Sayings – Part 2 – and a Rebel Lion?

Sapphire from a word in the French language, which in turn comes from a Latin word, this comes from a Greek word which originates in an ancient Hebrew word  סַפִּיר  SAPPIR. sap-peer’ Strongs 5601.

The root of the Hebrew word is SAPHAR and it means:

to speak,

to tell,

to declare.

So it would follow that if the tablets were made of sapphire (SAPPIR) they declared the Word of the Lord, the content of His covenant in their meaning –

they spoke, told, and declared.

EX 24:10 work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body

כְּמַעֲשֵׂה֙ לִבְנַ֣ת הַסַּפִּ֔יר וּכְעֶ֥צֶם  הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם .

 

His Word is the most precious stone above any jewel and here every Word of God is a sapphire and a spoken one, declaring His love and commitment to His people. Every Word of His is a priceless treasure, a saphar. The Word is a Jewel – a sapphir – Yeshua was the Word made flesh.

He is the precious stone beyond all price.

He SPOKE,

and DECLARED the word of Lord,

He came to TELL us the good news of the renewed covenant.

We in turn are sapphires for Him,

speaking, declaring and telling of His love. 

Isaiah 62:3 – Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Zechariah 9:16-17 – And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they [shall be as] the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.

One day we will be jewels in His crown.

So much of the, beyond earthly phenomena, concerning the things of the Lord cannot be comprehended by our finite minds. These constructs are outside of our normal thinking.

The tablets were said to contain the whole of the law, which sounds ridiculous and yet, even 50 years ago, no one would have believed, or imagined a computer, that could fit in your pocket, (mobile cell phone). Equipped with massive storage capacity and worldwide access to infinite information at our fingertips!

In a recent article above.  Did these Sapphires come from heaven???

The question to ponder is.. The Word says John 1:3  that nothing was made without Him..

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made;

..therefore, technology is not superior to God and He must be the originator of it. Think of Elijahs ‘chariot of fire’ and Ezekiel’s wheels within wheels.

The Ancient Of Days, the Glory Of God, appears to the Prophet Ezekiel. He Sees Messiach Yeshua ( Messiah Jesus ), “the likeness of a Man above, upon a throne, which had the likeness of a Sapphire stone“.

This glorious unfolding open vision of God’s extreme glory was revealed to the Prophet, before sending him to the rebellious house of Israel.

There are many instances where biblical events could be understood as possible references to ‘technology’, as we understand and how we would describe it today. These things are not a surprise to God!

Isn’t it interesting that we call the hand-held-portable ones ‘tablets’!

Today technical specialists are working with crystalline materials. Crystals have magnetic properties, which enable them to retain much information. Granite and many other stones have a similar structure. (Magnets and magnetic properties are used in all computers and data storage components, even back to the reel to reel tape and compact cassette.)

Clear crystal and blue sapphire are also among the foundations of the New Jerusalem.

Apparently the first set of tablets that were smashed were kept and placed in a second ark/box and stored beside the main ark of the covenant.

Were the 2nd set also cut from the sapphire throne?

How did he engrave them?

Hammer and chisel?

These were forbidden, so sometime we have to go to the world of legends to find the revelation of truth. 

The sages of the Hebrews puzzled long over the apparent difficulty of building the grandeur of the temple of Solomon without the known building tools of the iron chisel and hammer. Yet the very use of these instruments was forbidden by the Lord of hosts.

“In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.” 1 Kings 6:7

There is also a reference in the ancient writings to a worm called a Shamir.

This is not the only time that worms are used for God’s purposes.

Click below

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-secret-of-how-a-worm-preached-the-gospel/

Another reference to sapphire stone is in Exodus 28:15

Sapphire was one of the precious stones set in the high priest’s “breastplate of judgment”.

So there are several references where sapphire is connected to both rebellion and judgment. 

Below are some possible options of how the engraving was done in both cases.

Whereas the Talmudic traditions, such as the BT Sotah 48:B, suggest that the gemstones were set in the breastplate while ‘in the fullness’ it appears that the faceting and size of these stones appear to be uniform and equal. 

According to tradition the incredible stone cutting Shamir worm was rediscovered by Solomon who learned of this amazing little worm, no bigger than the grain of barley that could cut through any stone on earth. It was better than the sharpest iron instrument known. 

Solomon learned that Moses also used this ‘worm’ in order to engrave the ten commandments on the stone that Yahweh had entrusted to him. Again according to tradition, since that day, the ‘worm’ was kept in the custody of the demon Ashmedai, the Prince of the Sea, who in turn kept it in the safe custody of the hoopoe bird (or woodcock). 

In the Mishnah Avot 5:6, the Shamir was created on the sixth day of creation and was given to the hoopoe-bird (woodcock) who kept it in her custody throughout the ages in the Garden of Eden.  This marvelous bird would on occasion take this worm and carry it across the earth, carrying it tightly in her beak, letting it down only to create a fissure on a desolate mountain peak so that the seeds of plants and trees could sprout and provide her food.

When the Israelites were camped near Mount Horeb/Sinai, the Lord brought the Shamir and gave it to Bezalel, בְּצַלְאֵל, to engrave the names of the twelve tribes on the twelve stones of the breastplate of the high priest, Aaron.  Then the Lord gave it back to the custody of the hoopoe-bird.  Here she kept it in a leaden box, with fresh barley, wrapped in a woolen cloth.  That is until Solomon needed it to build the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.  Since that day, the Shamir has been lost.

Of course, most Talmudic arguments were debated during the Roman imperial rule. In Latin, the Shamir was known as smiris corundum, the substance of sapphires and rubies and the hardest known gem next to the diamond.  The substance of legends has a kernel of truth and now we know the ‘rest of the story’. 

The process of engraving by the shamir included a special method of splitting the gemstones open but at the same time not missing any part of the stone. 

Maybe within the hoard of the treasures of Solomon’s temple, we will find evidence of the technological sophistication, such as diamond drills, diamond and corundum bit saws that scholars have long felt did not exist in the 11th century BCE. 

The Ancient Solar Premise is another suggested option:

Archimedes and the burning mirror.

The premise embraces ancient cultures from all over the world. It shows how they all used potent mirrors to turn stone to glass, vaporize metals and win wars.

When this tool is combined with the operation of the world’s iconic pyramids, shrines and stone circles, a paradigm shift is forced. The picture below shows an intense dynamic tube of energy.

The power has been made as high as 15MW/sqm with this method. This easily splits or melts just about any stone.

Is this the fabled ‘Shamir worm’ mentioned in the Old Testament? It is certainly capable of delivering many of the results associated with the Shamir.

For further research, there are photos online of the results of using the devices and videos showing this technology actually in use.

What was the finger of God?

Does He have fingers like us.. as Yeshua/Jesus had?

Could it have been some form of laser? God is not human form or He could not be omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent.

According to 1 John 1:5; He is Light, Light is energy. He has lightning proceeding from the place of His presence/His throne.

Lightning is plasma energy, electric emanations.

People often say the touch of God’s power to heal and restore feels like a tingling sensation; similar to electricity flowing through the body, and also many times like heat.

Heat is energy… think solar…

Ever touched something and got a shock from it? Static electricity will even make your hair stand on end!

Luke 11:20 says But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you

The finger of God is Ruach HaKodesh.

We are electric beings in an electro-magnetic universe!

How does one restart a heart that has arrested?

We send a strong electric current through it!

Our brains are computers and neurons continually fire across the synapses with electrical current sending information to the rest of the body……

The 1st broken set of tablets is somewhere…. And maybe will be revealed in Gods perfect time, together with the ark of the covenant that was hidden by Josiah.

In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah of Judah ordered the caretakers of the Ark of the Covenant to return it to the temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 35:1-6; cf. 2 Kings 23:21-23).

Tradition says that the Ark was hidden by Josiah (Mishna, Shekal 6:1–2; Talmud: Yoma 52b, 53b–54a; Horayoth 12a).4 Irrespective of this and despite the two preceding accounts regarding Ethiopia and Tannis, the Ark appears again in the biblical narrative when King Josiah ordered the return of the Ark of the Covenant to the temple.  the Ark had to have been hidden between the 18th year of Josiah, (when we are told he had it taken to Solomon’s temple), and 35 years later, when the temple was destroyed; it was NOT taken to Babylon, based on the information from the Scriptures which told what went to Babylon & what was returned).

 It was most likely hidden just prior to the destruction of the temple, when Jerusalem was surrounded by the Babylonian siege wall; and it was hidden somewhere within the confines of the city wall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian siege wall. The entire city AND the temple were destroyed in 586 BC by the Babylonians, so the Ark could have only escaped destruction or captivity by NOT being anywhere in the city.

The destruction of the 1st set was a consequence of rebellious behavior on the part of the people. A lack of patience gave way to taking things into their own hands and doing their own thing.

They had just exited Egypt and were still full of the worlds ways. They had been set free but were not fully delivered or renewed in mind. They assumed Moses was dead after almost 6 weeks had passed waiting in the desert and they became fearful of their future with no leader.

This rebellion at Shavuot when the covenant was given resulted in judgment and death 3000 perished.

Yeshua came to fulfill the law.

God’s instructions included the 7 Appointed times! Moses delivered it Messiah fulfilled it.

At the Shavuot of Pentecost when the Ruach HaKodesh, was given there was salvation – eternal life and it is recorded that 3000 were present. 3000 came to life, here fulfilling the statement, the letter kills but the spirit gives life.

The old and renewed covenant are joined together, both initiated on the same date.

The spirit given the same day as the law; because

the law can tell us the will of God

but only

the Spirit can give us the the power to live it.. and for it to be evidence in our lives of His indwelling presence.

Then, His presence was contained in a specially prepared vessel – an ark. In the second His presence contained in specially prepared vessels – believers who had counted the Omer of 50 preparation days.

The definition of a rebellion is a resistance against something, particularly the government, authority or other controlling forces.

Strongs 4784 marah: מָרָה

to be contentious or rebellious

Phonetic Spelling: (maw-raw’)

Strongs 4805 meri: מְרִי rebellion

Phonetic Spelling: (mer-ee’)

Strong’s Number: H4776  mĕrad מְרַד rebellion

Biblical Pronunciation: meh-RAHD

An example of a rebellion is a refusal by a large group of people to follow a law.

The Jews rebelled against the Roman rule of tyranny – so not all rebellion is wrong!

Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority.. A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and then manifests itself by the refusal to submit or to obey the authority responsible for this situation.

 It is action against those in authority, against the rules, or against normal and accepted ways of behaving.

If we look in Matt.23:1-12, at some of the comments and actions of Jesus/Yeshua in connection to the hypocrisy Pharisees and Sadducees and the then Sanhedrin who ruled over the people, He actually was ‘in rebellion,’ according to the dictionary definition, against their (man-made) laws.

However this rebellion, was a righteous stand against those who had perverted and twisted God’s original commandments.

The original rebellion against God was ha satan Satan personifies rebellion. It was Lucifer’s rebellious action that saw him tossed out of heaven and renamed Satan, Adversary:

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! Isaiah 14:12

In referencing Satan’s fall from heaven Yeshua/Jesus said in

Luke 10:18 “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven”.

The five “I will” statements made by Satan in Isaiah 14 each take a step toward God, with each new step being greater than the previous. Satan’s desire to “climb the ladder” and ascend to heaven may mean that his rebellion began on earth. He desired to raise his seat above that of all the other angels.

In chapter 3:7 John called the religious leaders..

Jesus/Yeshua said they were of their father the devil and pronounced Seven Woes Upon the Scribes and Pharisees, Matt. 23:13-36; John 8:44.

Only Matthew records this scathing denunciation of the Jewish religious leaders.

These woes, in contrast to the Beatitudes, denounce false religion as utterly abhorrent to God and worthy of severe condemnation. No passage in the Bible is more biting, more pointed, or more severe than this pronouncement of Messiah upon the Pharisees.

It is very significant that He singled them out, as opposed to the Sadducees, who were more liberal, and the Herodians, who were the politicians. The Pharisees, while attempting to honor the Word of God and manifesting an extreme form of religious observance, were actually the farthest away from God.

No wonder it was something to rebel and have a righteous revolution against!

His first condemnation, in 23:13, related to the fact that they did all they could to shut out others.

False religion and pretense are always the worst enemies of the truth and are far more dangerous than immorality or indifference.

As the religious leaders of the Jews, they were held guilty before God of blocking the way for others seeking to enter into the kingdom of God.

 Messiah’s condemnation of the Scribes and Pharisees pretensions, does not rule out reasonable recognition of authority in Israel or in the church, but obviously prohibits making this a goal in itself.

Instead, He held before them the desirability of one who ministers, and being a servant concluding,

“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (v. 12).

His disciples were not to seek to be called ‘rabbi’, and were forbidden to use the word ‘father’, indiscriminately, even though Paul used ‘father’, correctly in 1 Corinthians 4:15, and John addressed fathers in 1 John 2: 13-14. The general teaching is clear.

They were not to seek man-exalting titles such as rabbi/teacher, father, or minister, in order to gain the recognition of men; they are not titles but descriptive of the functions of service. Disciples of Messiah are not to exalt themselves but should seek to serve others and leave the exalting to God Himself.

Yeshua/Jesus concluded with the seventh woe, in verse 29, in which He charged them with building tombs of the prophets and garnishing them with decorations and claiming that they would not be partakers with their fathers in martyring prophets.

Yeshua/Jesus called their very witness to account, that they were the children of those who killed the prophets, and He told them, in verse 32,

“Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.”

In other words, do what your fathers did and even do worse.

Yeshua/Jesus was, of course, referring to their intent to kill Him and to their later persecution of the church.

In the severest terms, in verse 33, Yeshua/Jesus addressed them,

“Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”

He described the Scribes and Pharisees as poisonous snakes, destined for terrible judgment which would be theirs in hell, specifically Gehenna, the place of eternal punishment.

So in this instance, the definition of a rebellion: being a resistance against something, particularly the government, authority or other controlling forces; and an example of a rebellion, is a refusal by a large group of people to follow a law… It would seem to be the correct word!

Furthermore, while looking at the word rebellion

itself and dividing it in two.. we get

REBEL LION!

Could it be said that Yeshua/Jesus was the Rebel Lion of the tribe of Judah!?

He came and reversed the curse and re-established our spiritual connection to our Heavenly Father.

It seems this rebel-lion was more of a revolution, an insurrection prior to the resurrection!

We need to rise up and become rebel lions, rebelling and standing against the antichrist system of the world and occupy till He comes. Even though the devil is the ‘god of this world’ and was able to offer it to Jesus/Yeshua, He refused and went to the cross; then He said  

but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Eph. 6:12  (KJV). For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

This is what we are to rebel against as we follow Him so we are to be rebel lions against all false teaching and the traditions of men that make the Word of God of no effect.

Let us become those Rebel Lions of the tribe of Judah and rise up in the TRUTH of His Word and His Luchot cut from Sappir, the Saphar – speaking, telling, declaring the victory – not by sight but by faith – Because…

we have been crucified with Christ, and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. The life we now live in the body, we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us. Gal 2:20

Please don’t leave this page until you are no longer in

rebellion

towards The Father/Av or Messiah Jesus/Yeshua but make sure you are a

Rebel Lion of the Royal Tribe of Judah walking

on the stones of

heavenly fire – the paved work of sapphire.

Shalom Alecheim!

Please don’t leave this site without knowing you are saved and assured that you belong to Him; with a deep conviction that you know where you will go, when your body can no longer sustain you in this realm. 

Make certain Jesus is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him. 

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

Its all about Life and Relationship not Religion.

NOT SURE?

Then simply SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

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

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus 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 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. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Sapphire And 10 Sayings

At this date in God’s calendar we are over half way in the Omer count to Shavuot – Pentecost –

We normally associate this time with the giving of God’s Spirit by Ruach HaKodesh and the receiving of the Holy /Kadosh power of His presence into individual lives;

first by the disciples waiting in Jerusalem and since then to all believers ‘who so ever will’, ask and receive.

It’s the anniversary of the birth, genesis, the beginning of the called out – ecclesia; and also the anniversary of the Sinai covenant, together with the giving of Torah to Moses on the 2 stone Tablets engraved with the 10 commandments.

The ‘Aseret haDibrot -“Ten Commandments” to us, however, as it is written in the Hebrew scroll, it is not “The Ten Commandments” because The Torah calls it the “aseret ha-d’varim.”

In later rabbinic texts the collection is referred to as Aseret ha-Dibrot, Ten Sayings.

Both mean “ten statements,” or “ten utterances,” or “ten declarations,” but It is never referred to as the Aseret ha-Mitzvot, Ten Commandments.

On the 1st day of the month of Sivan, which was the third new moon since leaving Egypt, the children of Israel camped opposite Mt. Sinai. This was the same location where Moses had received his calling from the Lord with the burning bush.

Moses ascended the mountain and God commanded him to tell the leaders that if they would obey Him and keep His covenant, then they would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation unto Him. When Moses/Moshe conveyed this message to the people they agreed and responded saying, all that the Lord has spoken we shall do.

Moses went back up the mountain and was told to inform the people to sanctify themselves prior to the Lord descending on the mountain in three days time. Exactly 7 weeks after the exodus, (49 days); on the 6th of Sivan, which was the morning of the third day.

As the children of Israel waited at the foot of Mount Sinai the Lord descended in billows of smoke and fire accompanied with thunder, lightning and the loud blast of the shofar.

The Lord declared the foundation of moral conduct that He required of the people by giving them the 10 Commandments –

Aseret ha-Dibrot

Literally the 10 sayings, (a translation based on the paleo-Hebrew

and Archaic Hebrew)

The words d’varim and dibrot come from the Hebrew root Dalet-Beit-Reish, meaning: WORD, SPEAK or THING;

thus, the phrase is accurately translated as the Ten Sayings,

the Ten Statements,

the Ten Declarations,

the Ten Words

or even the Ten Things,

but not as the Ten Commandments, which would be Aseret ha-Mitzvot.

עשרת המצוות

Judaism teaches that the first tablet, containing the first five declarations, identifies duties regarding our relationship with G-d,

while the second tablet, containing the last five declarations, identifies duties regarding our relationship with other people.

There is an interesting account in the Jewish writings describing this event and according to this account, Sivan 6 was the morning of a Shabbat and the children of Israel were woken up by the loud thunder, only to see the smoky fire and lightning bolts surrounding Mount Sinai. It is recorded that the sound of the shofar continued to increase in volume until the people were completely terrified.

Moses told the Israelites to draw closer to the mountain and as they did the heavens were ripped open

and the entire mountain was uprooted and suspended in the air!

The dirt and rock of Mount Sinai were transformed into pure crystal, so much so, that the children of Israel were able to look up through the transparent layer. Then suddenly the voice of the Lord called out to the Israelites, ‘either you will accept the Torah or be buried here’. The Israelites cried out again in response:

Kol asher diber Adonai na’aseh.

All that the Lord speaks we shall do.

The Lord then spoke in a single utterance all 10 commandments at once.

The heavens and the earth trembled and rivers reversed their course.

After the people regained their composure, the Lord slowly repeated the list of the Commandments (mishpatim) beginning with the first one: I am the Lord thy God who took you out of Egypt. As the Lord began speaking the second commandment however, the people began falling back in fear that they would die in His presence and begged Moses to be the middleman or mediator before God.

So the people stood far off and Moses came alone into the thick darkness where God was.

Here is an opportunity for us to show how grateful we are that the Lord has provided us with a greater mediator than Moses to enter into the darkness where God is.

Jesus the Messiah/Yeshua the Mashiach is our high priest of the better renewed-covenant based on better promises. Hebrews 8:6. By means of His sacrificial work, we can now draw near to God without fearing His wrath. The third day of Moses at Mount Sinai meant death and fear for ancient Israel; but the third day of Yeshua at Moriah means life and love for all of Israel and all grafted in believers forevermore.

Moses, Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu together with 70 of the elders of Israel, 74 in total, ascended Mount Sinai to eat a meal with the Lord to confirm the covenant.

Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under his feet … a paved work of……[a] sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. But on the nobles of the children of Israel he did not lay his hand. So they saw God, and they ate and [they] drank. Exodus 24:9

It is the same as our traditions today, after a wedding we eat a meal. From the ancient practice that after a covenant is sealed, you have a meal. Jesus/Yeshua sealed the re-new ed covenant in the upper room in the New Testament at the last seder/supper.

Here the elders experienced the magnificent glory of the God of Israel.

Under whose feet was a PAVEMENT of SAPPHIRES like the very heaven for clearness.

Ex. 24:9.10; Deut. 4:12; Ex. 33:20-23; Ez. 28:14.

 Other scripture that mention the sapphire stones and stones of fire:

Ezekiel 28:14-16 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC). 14 You were the anointed cherub that covers with overshadowing [wings], and I set you so. You were upon the holy mountain of God; you walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire

Mexican Fire Agates

[like the paved work of gleaming sapphire stone upon which the God of Israel walked on Mount Sinai].

 

The first foundation of the New Jerusalem is an emerald green crystalline hue, like jasper, with the Throne of God and the Almighty sitting upon it within its midst. The second foundation is the brilliant blue of sapphire, the same as the foundation below the throne of God, seen as the sea of glass, clear as crystal.

Sapphire refers to God’s chariot throne (Eze.1:26-28; 10:1). Without the refining work of the All-Consuming Fire (Job 23:10; Heb. 12:29) who sits on the sapphire throne; being a reality in believers’ lives, there is no throne room (intimate face-to-face) relationship like Moses had. This is where the fruit of perpetual righteousness, holiness – (set apartness), and truth is.

King James Version (KJV) … and as it were the body of heaven in his … that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire ..

Would there be any lasting, eternal ministry without the sapphire throne? The place under the feet of the God of Israel appeared to be paved with sapphire stone when heaven made contact with the earth. (Ex. 24:10). 

The figure upon this throne was the likeness of the glory of YHWH (Ezek. 1:28). Like the appearance of God to the elders of Israel, this too was God in the person of the Son. These two accounts of God appearing are of such a similarity that it is reasonable to conclude that the sapphire foundation and the sapphire throne are the same.

He saw Messiahs’ Throne as sapphire (blue). The firmament is a crystal floor extending out from Messiahs’ Throne that goes out into the vast Sea. It is the same color as the Fathers’ Throne.  Rev. 4:6; 15:2

Ezekiel 10:1, 20 was seeing the very same throne where Yeshua/Jesus is enthroned as the Lamb of God; which John saw concerning the end of the world.  The same scene is recorded in Revelation 4:6-9

It was after returning from the mountain with the elders that the Lord commanded Moses to go back up to receive the tablets of stone,

luchot ha’even,

inscribed with the 10 Commandments as well as other additional instruction and commandments of Torah which Moses had to learn plus the instructions for building the mishkan/tabernacle in which the presence of God would dwell in the ark along with the luchot.

   (Mitzvoth מצוות)

These were written by God Himself.

Ex 24: 12-18 verse 12 which I have written

KJV: and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone,

HEB: לְךָ֜ אֶת־ לֻחֹ֣ת הָאֶ֗בֶן וְהַתּוֹרָה֙

Tablets in Hebrew – LuChot – Strongs 3871 luach לוּח (loo’-akh) – a tablet, board or plank, a plate.

Or luach {loo’-akh}; from a primitive root; probably meaning:

TO GLISTEN;

a tablet (as polished), of stone,

wood or metal — board, plate, table.

 In traditional Jewish sources, the size and shape of the Luchot are derived in the Talmud based on the dimensions of the Ark.

   – written by the finger of God. Ex 31:18

The words were written in a new and very unique texts, we might call it heavenly texts, by the fingers of the Almighty. The letters were in use for some time until they were changed and later replaced by the present Hebrew texts, although the names of the letters remained.

The image below are the ten commandments in Exodus in the present Hebrew texts equally divided in two tablets.

 

Again according to ancient Hebrew Jewish texts, the tablets of stone were made of blue sapphire as a symbol of the heavens and God’s throne and written by the finger of God.

The Hebrew letters were said to be bored fully through the stone; (Ex 32:15) Which was a miracle since the inner part of some of the Hebrew letters e.g. the letter Samekh and the final Mem, floated in place.

Even more remarkable was that even though the letters were bored fully through the stone, both sides appeared normal, meaning, that the back of the tablet looked exactly the same as the front. (Shabbos 104a)

These were the tablets that were destroyed as Moses came down the mountain to find them worshiping the golden calf.

Later Moses was told to prepare a new set of tablets and once again go up the mountain where God would graciously reinstate His covenant with the children of Israel. He was followed by Joshua who remained at the base of the mountain; Moses re-ascended the mountain of God, which was still covered by a shining cloud of fire.

The ancient texts note these events: on the 6th Sivan Moses went up onto the mountain. On the 17th of Tammuz the tablets were broken, this was the first 40 days he was on the mountain.

On the 18th Moses burned the golden calf and judged those who were involved.

On the 19th he went up for 40 days and pleaded for mercy this was the 2nd 40 days.

On the 1st of Elul, He went up to receive the 2nd set of tablets and was there for 40 days. This was the 3rd forty days.

On the 10th of Tishri, God wholeheartedly restored His goodwill with the children of Israel and told Moses, I have forgiven as you asked and gave him the second tablets.

Understanding the timing of these events as explained in their tradition.

Festival of Pentecost celebrated as the giving of Torah

The 17th of Tammuz is observed as a time of national tragedy.

The month of Elul is a time of appeals for forgiveness, called selichot.

The 10th of Tishri marks the day of Atonement.

Some thoughts on this amazing scene:

Did the 70 elders see the sapphire throne of the place of His presence? Probably, as they were standing on it.

Where did the Luchot come from?

Did God cut them from the sapphire of His throne?

Exodus 24:12

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and [the] commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.”

The literal rendering in the Hebrew reads:

…I will give you tablets of THE STONE…

that’s the definite article. 

What stone is this referring to? The only other stone, that’s mentioned, is in verse 10 being the sapphire stone that His throne (the place of His presence) is made of. It sounds probable that the Ten Commandments were carved out of that blue sapphire stone that makes up God’s standing platform and throne. And in Exodus 32:16 Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on tablets. not only did God write it — God made those tablets.

Worth a mention here is Numbers 15: 37-39 “Speak to the children of Israel: [and] tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a BLUE thread in the tassels of the corners… And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them… that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy for [I am] your God. I am the Lord … God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt…

Why would BLUE in the tassels/zitzit of the prayer shawl/tallit, remind them of the commandments?

Could it be because the commandments were written on … BLUE… sapphire … stone?

https://www.minimannamoments.com/mysterious-secret-of-the-hilazon/

Also in Ex.28:31 “You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.” For Aaron and his sons to wear as the priests.

Taken from the official historical document, Legends of the Jews, Volume 3 by Louis Ginzberg, page 118 and 119 “Moses departed from the heavens with the two tables on which the Ten Commandments were engraved and they were made of a sapphire-like stone.” “Ancient Jewish scholars state that the sapphire employed for the tables was taken from the throne of Glory.”

The law was placed in the ark.

The ark is a symbol of the throne of God.

And between those two angels was the mercy seat.

Above the mercy seat the Shechinah Glory — which represented the very presence of God Himself, so here, in the most holy place of the sanctuary is the mercy seat, the throne, and what’s under the throne? …the tablets of stone made out of blue sapphire cut from the very throne of God!

…to be continued..

Shalom shalom!

Please don’t leave this site without knowing you are saved and assured that you belong to Him; with a deep conviction that you know where you will go, when your body can no longer sustain you in this realm. 

Make certain Jesus is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him. 

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

Its all about Life and Relationship not Religion.

NOT SURE?

Then simply SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

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

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus 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 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. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Afikomen – Mysterious and Hidden

Most Christian believers know what is meant by ‘taking communion’, or ‘the Lord’s supper’ or ‘the breaking of bread and drinking of wine’.

However what is not always taught is that it is rooted in, and has its’ origins in, the Passover meal of the Israelites Pesach Seder.

Also called Pesah, Pesakh – פֶּסַח and pronounced Pay-sak.

Seder סֵדֶר

pronounced SEE-dur-(seyder);

Seder is a Hebrew root word meaning order/arrangement..the same root from which the word siddur comes, meaning: prayer book.

Passover begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nisan

(late March or early April in the Gregorian calendar).

Passover is celebrated for seven days in Israel.

In the same way Israelites have celebrated Passover as a celebration of freedom observed by Jews everywhere.

The name derives from the story of the angel of death passing over the homes of Hebrews; when the 10th plague, the death of the first-born children, came upon the Egyptians.

However many are not aware of how it is connected and integral to the Lords supper/ communion. This is because many have not yet accepted Yeshua as Messiah. They are not aware of the implications of, and the messianic secrets revealed in the Seder and in the order sequence of the Meal itself.

It is not a sumptuous 5+ course-style banquet, but contains symbols of remembrance of the miracles that the Lord performed for the children of Israel as they were leaving Egypt.

The telling of the Passover story.

The Maggid – מטיף – Hebrew: maggīdh – literally, narrator, messenger, is the highlight of the Seder. 

The Seder, which follows a carefully prescribed series of steps, includes a dinner of highly symbolic foods that are prepared on a Seder plate.

There are different versions and some have 14 steps and some 15.

The Sages designed the Passover Seder as 15 steps to make a participant enormously successful and the key to unlocking the code is that Passover is the time when each Jew embarks on a personal journey from slavery to freedom.

The Haggadah, which is pronounced ha-gah-da, is a small book that is used at the Passover table each year.

The Haggadah – הַגָּדָה – means: The telling.

And it’s a fulfillment of the mitzvah – מִצְוָה, to each Israelite.

mitzvah – מִצְוָה

The first use is in Genesis 26:5 where God says that Abraham has “obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments (מִצְוֹתַי mitzvotai), my statutes, and my laws”.

The charge to tell your son, of the Hebrews liberation from slavery in Egypt; as described in the Book of Exodus in the Torah.

“And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying: It is because of that which the LORD did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.” Ex. 13:8).

Ha Laḥma Anya

מָא הָאלַחְ עַנְיָא  

‘This is the bread of affliction‘…

(literally: Behold the poor bread)

are the opening words of a declaration in Aramaic, designating the matzah as the bread of affliction and inviting the needy to join the meal.

Ha lachma anya, d’akhla avatana b’ar’a d’mitzrayim.

This is the bread of affliction, which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt.

It ends with:

This year we are here, next year may we be in the Land of Israel. This year we are slaves, next year may we be free men.

The Haggadah – הַגָּדָה – telling;

The purpose of the Haggadah

Ve-higgadta le-vinkha –

And thou shalt tell thy son,

Ex. 13:8,

The outlines of the steps of the Passover Seder.

1 Kaddesh (Sanctifcation):The word is derived from the Hebrew root Qof-Dalet-Shin, meaning holy.

Kiddush: (Blessing over wine) Blessed are You, O Lord our God, (Ruler/King or) Sovereign of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine.

This is a blessing over wine in honor of the holiday.
The first cup, the Kiddush, of wine is drunk, and a second cup is poured.
The 4 cups of wine, known in Hebrew as arba kosot.

2 Urechatz (Washing), A washing of the hands without a blessing, in preparation for eating the Karpas.
3 Karpas (Vegetable): A vegetable (usually parsley) is dipped in salt water and eaten. The vegetable symbolizes the lowly origins of the Jewish people; the salt water symbolizes the tears shed as a result of our slavery. Parsley is a good vegetable to use for this purpose, because when you shake off the salt water, it looks like tears.
4 Yachatz (Breaking): One of the three matzahs on the table is broken.

Part is returned to the pile, the other part is set aside for the Afikomen.

Matzot that have been placed in a white bag called a matzah tosh are taken out and shown to everyone.

The leader then says.

This Is the lechem oni – the bread of affliction – which our forefathers ate in the land of Egypt.

All who are hungry – let them come and eat. All who are needy – let them come and celebrate Passover with us.

Very significant of Jesus/Yeshuas’ declaration “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35) To eat these promises is to eat this living bread and live forever (John 6:51).


5 Maggid (The Story): A retelling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt and the first Passover. This begins with the youngest person asking The Four Questions, a set of questions about the proceedings designed to encourage participation in the seder. The Four Questions are also known as Mah Nishtanah. (Why is it different?), which are the first words of the 

The Four Questions –

Mah Nishtanah  מה  נשתנה .

Mah nishtanah halaylah hazeh mikol halaylot.

(Pronounced: Mah Nishtanah Ha-lailah ha-zeh mee-kol ha-leilot.)
Mah Nishtanah, are the first two words in a phrase meaning Why is tonight different from all other nights? usually asked by the youngest guest. Then the seder leader replies by asking what differences they notice. There are variations on the questions, however the youngest person then replies that there are four ways in which they notice a difference about Passover:
On all other nights we eat bread or matzah, while on this night we eat only matzah?
 She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim chametz o matzah, halaylah hazeh kulo matzah?
On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables and herbs, but on this night we have to eat bitter herbs?
 She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim she’ar yerakot, halaylah hazeh maror?
On all other nights we don’t dip our vegetables in salt water, but on this night we dip them twice?
She-bechol halaylot ain anu matbilin afilu pa’am echat, halaylah hazeh shtei pe’amim?
On all other nights we eat while sitting upright, but on this night we eat reclining?
 She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim bain yoshvin u-vain mesubin, halaylah hazeh kulanu mesubin – מסובין?
The fourth “question” refers to the ancient custom of eating while reclining on one elbow. It symbolizes the concept of freedom and refers to the idea that Jews would be able to have a celebratory meal while relaxing together and enjoying each others’ company.

This question became part of The Four Questions after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. Originally the fourth question, mentioned in the Talmud (Mishnah Pesachim 10:4) was: “On all other nights we eat meat which has been roasted, stewed, or boiled, but on this night we eat only roasted meat.”
This original question referred to the practice of sacrificing the Paschal lamb at the Temple, a practice that ceased after the Temple’s destruction. Once the sacrificial system was abandoned the rabbis replaced the fourth question with one about reclining during the Passover seder.
6 Rachtzah (Washing): A second washing of the hands, this time with a blessing, in preparation for eating the matzah.
7 Motzi Matzah (Blessings over Grain Products and Matzah): The ha-motzi blessing, a generic blessing for bread or grain products used as a meal, is recited over the matzah. A blessing specific to matzah is recited, and a bit of matzah is eaten.

8 Maror (Bitter Herbs): A blessing is recited over a bitter vegetable (usually raw horseradish; sometimes romaine lettuce), and it is eaten. This symbolizes the bitterness of slavery. The maror is eaten with charoses, a mixture of apples, nuts, cinnamon and wine, which symbolizes the mortar used by the Jews in building during their slavery

9 Korech (Sandwich): some maror on a piece of matzah is eaten with some charose. The sandwich used to include a piece of the paschal offering (Lamb). As there are no more animal sacrifice, so there is no paschal offering included.

10 Shulchan Orech (Dinner): is a simple meal, gefilte fish and matzah ball soup are traditionally eaten.

11 Tzafun (Dessert):The piece of matzah set aside earlier is eaten as “dessert,” the last food of the meal. Different families have different traditions relating to the afikomen. Some have the children hide it, while the parents have to either find it or ransom it back. Others have the parents hide it. The idea is to keep the children awake and attentive throughout the pre-meal proceedings, waiting for this part.

12 Barech (Grace): The third cup of wine is poured, (the Ge’ullah – Redemption) and grace after meals is recited. This is similar to the grace that would be said on any Sabbath. At the end, a blessing is said over the third cup and it is drunk. The fourth cup is poured, including a cup set aside for the prophet Elijah, who is supposed to herald the Messiah, and is supposed to come on Passover to do this. The door is opened for a while at this point (supposedly for Elijah, but historically because Jews were accused of nonsense like putting the blood of Christian babies in matzah, and we wanted to show our Christian neighbors that we weren’t doing anything unseemly).
13 Hallel (Song):Several psalms are recited. Yehallelukha Adonai Eloheinu al Kol Ma’asekha (“All Thy works shall praise Thee”) is a benediction of praise, or Nishmat Kol Ḥai (“The breath of all that lives”), is the Nishmat hymn – Birkat ha-Shir.

A blessing is recited over the last cup of wine and it is drunk.

14 Nirtzah (Closing): A simple statement that the seder has been completed, with a wish that next year, Pesach may celebrated in Jerusalem meaning that the Messiah will come within the next year.

For believers in Messiah it is the fulfillment of the Passover lamb by His own sacrifice.

So all the elements have a particular and specific meaning to them and are significant for both the original and spiritually fulfilled Passover thousands of years apart.

The Mysterious hidden Afikomen  אפיקומן ; pronounced: ah-fi-co-men.

During the 4th part of the seder meal (called Yachatz – divide), a plate of unleavened bread is lifted up.

On it are three pieces of matzah stacked On top of each other.

The Seder leader takes the middle piece, calls out “Yachatz,” and breaks it in half.

Splitting the matzah is a memorial to the splitting of the sea.

These various understandings of Yachatz underscore that both slavery and salvation are within the broken matzah, thereby highlighting the central theme that salvation can instantly emerge from the most abject situations of suffering.

“lehecm oni”, (“Poor Man’s Bread”), the Gemarah in Maseches Pesachim (115b) derives that the matzah of seder night must be broken: “ma darko shel ani beprusa…just as a poor person eats a broken piece of a loaf, so too matzah must be eaten as a broken piece”.

Afikomen  אפיקומן means:

That which comes after!

At the Passover seder table, three matzahs are placed in a stack, inside a special bag called a matzah tosh.

Before it is broken the following is said.

This is the bread of brokenness…… 

These 3 are said to represent Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The middle one representing Isaac, is broken to recall how he was offered himself in sacrifice in obedience to the will of his father! The binding of Isaac is a clear picture of how Jesus/Yeshua yielded Himself to be sacrificed by God, His Father.

Consider how the Akedah provides a prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God – SEH haELOHIM, who takes away the sins of the world. John 1:29.

Both Isaac and Jesus were born miraculously,

both were only begotten son’s,

both were to be sacrificed by their fathers of Mount Moriah;

both were to be resurrected on the third day. (Genesis 22:5; Hebrews 11:17 – 19).

Both willingly took up the means of his execution, both demonstrate that one life can be sacrificed for another –the ram for Isaac and Jesus for all mankind.

Another tradition is that the three matzot represent the people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, respectively. This raises some questions; why would the priests be depicted as broken in this case? Isn’t Jesus/Yeshua the high priest of our confession? (Hebrews 3:1) Didn’t He provide eternal redemption by means of shedding His Blood in the Holy of Holies made without hands? (Hebrews 9:11–12; 10:11–12, 21–23).

Why would the symbolism of the broken priests included in the Passover Seder? Didn’t the prophet Isaiah in chapter 53 foretell that the Messiah would be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities and by His stripes we are healed?

Could it be a reference to a broken corrupt system that Messiah came to heal in more ways than one?

In the Hebrew mindset the middle of something is it’s heart. LEV. When the middle matzah is broken it’s a reminder to all believers of how the Fathers’ heart must have been broken to see the pain that Jesus/Yeshua endured by taking our sins upon Him at the cross. We looked previously at the matzah and the stripes and the holes in it and their significance.

Remembering that like the unleavened bread, He was pure without any trace of leaven in it, as His body was without any sin. This is the LEV, the HEART of the Passover message It is the LEV – HEART of the gospel.

The larger piece of this matzah is called the afikomen. The smaller half is returned to its place between the other two matzahs, and the larger half is placed in a bag,

or wrapped in a cloth,

and then it is set aside to be eaten as a dessert after the meal.  It is in commemoration of the paschal sacrifice. Set aside so it does not get mixed up with the other pieces on the table.

In ancient biblical times, the Passover sacrifice used to be the last thing consumed during the Passover seder during the First and Second Temple eras. The afikomen is a substitute for the Passover sacrifice according to the Mishnah in Pesahim 119a.
The practice of hiding the afikomen was instituted during the Middle Ages by Jewish families to make the seder more entertaining and exciting for children, who can become antsy when sitting through a long ritual meal. 

The Afikomen has been part of the Passover since the second Temple times that would’ve been part of the Passover service during the time of Yeshua. The Greek word used in the New Testament is aphikomenos it is a participle that means he is coming that has definite messianic nuances.

Was it symbolic of a divine Trinity?

This is certainly possible as an image of hashilush hakodesh – the three fold/ triune nature of God; having the focus on the broken middle piece of the matzah, which is a picture of suffering Messiah Yeshua Ha Mashiach.

When we consider that this piece is taken and wrapped up and carefully hidden from view only to be discovered at the end of the Passover seder by little children.

This surely is the image of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus/Yeshua from the dead. It is only after partaking of the lamb of God who was slain for our transgressions and sins; do we understand and take hold of the reward given to those to seek for Him.

If so, then that which pointed to the second part of the trinity, is broken and it is even given a name – called by Afikomen.

It was saving the best until last and to be looked forward to, as something special and to be rejoiced over when found and consumed! (Very symbolic!)

The broken matzah wrapped in a cloth or napkin, was also as a remembrance of the way the Israelites left Egypt with their soon-to-be matzahs, as described in the Torah:

‘The people picked up their dough when it was not yet leavened, their leftovers bound in their garments on their shoulders.’

Depending on the family, either the leader usually the head of the household in the group hides the afikomen during the meal or the children at the table “steal” the afikomen and hide it. Not every family ascribes to the ‘stealing’ part so as not to encourage stealing as being acceptable behavior.
If the seder leader hid the afikomen the children at the table must search for it and bring it back. They receive a reward (usually candy, money or a small gift) when they bring it back to the table. Likewise, if the children “stole” the afikomen, the seder leader ransoms it back from them with a reward so that the seder can continue. 

This ransom or reward is indicative of Mark 10:45.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Yeshua/Jesus is recorded in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 referring to Himself as “a ransom for many,”

When it is found they remove the cloth wrapped around it revealing the broken Afikomen. Once the afikomen is returned to the seder table, each guest receives a small portion at least the size of an olive.

This is done after the meal and normal deserts have been eaten so that the last taste of the meal is matzah.

After the broken afikomen is eaten, the Birkas haMazon (grace after meals) is recited and the seder is concluded.

It is only at this point that the Passover is complete!

Although the afikoman represents the Israelites liberation from Egyptian exile.

That redemption, however, was not a complete one, as they are still awaiting the final redemption with the coming of Moshiach.

Setting aside or hiding the larger half of the matzah reminds us that the best, the real redemption, is yet to come, still hidden in the future.

The symbolism is clear as they all would have understood the references to the broken matzah was the action taken by Jesus/Yeshua as He sat with His disciples, taking the middle piece he broke it and said;

This is My Body broken for you.

Then it was wrapped in cloth just as His broken body would be wrapped in a burial cloth not many hours later.

The broken matzah was hidden away just as His body was placed in the tomb hidden from view. Messiah has been hidden from His people for over 2,000 years and many have not found Him yet…

As before stated, the Passover Seder cannot be complete without finding Afikomen and and returned to the table so each guest can eat a piece of it. So Israel as a nation cannot find its completion without the Messiah. This signifies that the Jewish people will search for their missing Messiah, their Afikomen and they will fulfill their destiny as He is revealed to them.

Afikomen is actually a Greek word which as mentioned earlier means that which comes after.

Hebrew: אֲפִיקוֹמָן, based on Greek epikomon [ἐπὶ κῶμον] or epikomion [ἐπικώμιον], meaning “that which comes after” or “dessert”) is a half-piece of matzo which is broken in two during the early stages of the Passover Seder and set aside to be eaten as a dessert after the meal. a word that comes from the Greek word for “dessert.”

It is so called not because it is sweet, but because it is the last item of food eaten at the Passover seder meal.

Zechariah 12:10 Luke 22:19; Romans 11: 25-26.

Messiah is not among His people at this point BUT.. He will be, because…

He is the Afikomen,

the One who comes after,

and He WILL come again.

Similarly as with Passover, so it is with all to whom He comes.

Only in His coming can we find our completion.

When He is found – He is the missing piece/peace/shalom; and He is the one broken for us. The Afikomen of our lives.

The conclusion,

the completion,

for we are complete in Him.

The matzah is the bread of communion, some call it the Eucharist from the Greek word Eucharista. It is in the scripture, however, it has nothing to do with the bread.

Psalm 136, Luke 22:14–23,  1Timothy 6:6–8. It is what He spoke over the bread.

Eucharista means to give thanks or say a blessing and it is what has been the traditional Hebrew Blessing for millennia. The confusion maybe because Jesus/Yeshua said it over the bread and it is not the bread itself; then tradition, doctrine and dogma take over and we miss the truth of the root meaning.

The Israelites have said this Hebrew Blessing/ Eucharista for a long time and it is called the MOTZI.

HaMotzi Pronounced: ha-MOE-tzee

The traditional HaMotzi blessing is recited before eating bread (or bread stuffs) and is one of the most frequently said of the Hebrew blessings, used for Shabbat, holidays, and other occasions:

That bread was unleavened bread. Unleavened bread is any of a wide variety of breads which are prepared without raising or leavening agents; (ingredients that cause flour to rise); such as yeast, baking soda, baking powder and beaten egg whites. 

  Known as Matzah within the Jewish community–it represents a symbolic element with great importance. Unleavened breads are generally flat breads; however, not all flat breads are unleavened.

Round Matzah bread for Passover

This is probably what Jesus/Yeshua would have said over the unleavened bread.

Hamotzi (Blessing over bread)

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, (Ruler/King or) Sovereign of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Phonetic Hebrew transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha-alom ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz.

This is an indication that the emphasis is not the bread itself that is the most important it is the blessing of thanks that is.

Luke 12:15, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

God is the author and preserver of man’s life; goods are not.  But of the place and position and fullness of the giver in the life of the receiving believer. What is important is how much thanks we give for what we have. Spiritual poverty is worse than physical poverty.

In Messiah we are rich and prosperous spiritually because the bread, the Afikomen that He spoke the Eucharista over was the symbol of His suffering and death and He knew it and still gave thanks for it, knowing what He was about to go through.

The Power secrets of the Eucharista is in it’s meaning for Thanksgiving and those who give thanks in all things, bring the power of God into a curse and turn it into a blessing. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1Timothy 6:6 -8

The hidden Afikoman of eucharista is Messiah the blessing of the one….

who returned from the tomb, and will soon return to us again, the Afikomen will return to complete our Passover seder….the blessing of that which comes after.

Shalom Aleikhem Mishpachah  שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם‬  מִשְׁפָחָה

Please Do Not leave this page without the surety in your heart that this Passover you have

Messiah our Passover Lamb, our Tamid in your life and heart as the days draw ever closer to the end of the age..Open the Dalet of your heart and let the King of Glory in..

Make sure Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

NOT CERTAIN?

YOU CAN BE..

Its all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and very precious in His sight.

He longs to give you the Shalom He paid the ultimate price for..

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. Amen.