Two Kingdoms

There are two distinct Kingdoms in the Bible,

the kingdom of this world and

the Kingdom of God /of the Heavens.

The one we physically live in, which is the kingdom of this world and its systems, and the prince of it is the devil. The New Testament describes satan variously as the ruler of this world” John 12:31, and the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 1 Corinthians 15:22-25,

 John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.

The second is the Kingdom within us, the Kingdom of Heaven. Luke 17:20-21 God’s Kingdom is within us – Some of the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the kingdom of God come?” Jesus answered, “God’s kingdom is coming, but not in a way that you will be able to see with your eyes. People will not say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ because God’s kingdom is within you.”

Describing the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 13:22 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches. This parable illustrates the growth of the Kingdom of Heaven from small beginnings to great influence.

Three times Messiah named satan as the prince of this world and scripture is clear that the world’s inhabitants are either under the influence of this world with its cunning, deception, and spell; or they are in Messiah and under the direction of the Spirit of God. We must be clear that there is no neutral ground. 

Keeping this in the forefront of our thinking and rationale will help to remind us of what is real and what is truth concerning our position in life. We must lay aside all we thought we knew and face truth. The wisdom of this world is foolishness and appeals to the carnal mind and the senses and lusts of the flesh. We often read Messiahs words in the beatitudes without seriously understanding or applying them. We think we know them having heard them or read them on numerous occasions, and we turn a deaf ear because we have already made up our mind as to their relative importance and how they relate to us personally. Let’s look again at the caveat and think for a moment. Messiah warned us, and it bears constant repetition, that the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches and the lust for other things will choke out the Life of God in us.

Matthew 6:25-30 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns..

This is about Messiah teaching his followers not to worry about their material needs, using the example of how our Heavenly Father as Creator of the universe and everything in it; how He takes care of the birds and flowers as a demonstration of His provision and care for His people in every way.

Matthew 12:22 captures a clear picture of Messiah’s mission when a man bound by demons causing his blindness, and muteness is set free by HIm. The verse reveals Messiah’s absolute authority over both the spiritual and physical kingdoms/realms, and of His fulfillment of promises, prophesied over previous millenia.

He warns us in John 16:33 that in this world we will have tribulation, tests, trials and problems; until we are with the Lord we will never be free from all the reoccurring waves of this warfare. Ephesians 6. The tests and trials are designed to prove our faith, to see who and where we turn to in times of need.

If the attacks are not directed towards clothing and food, it may be about our financial position or lack of funds. It could be about family members or friends, or lack of friends, health or lack of health, or any other difficult situations.

It is a constant assault on our senses and circumstances. They will roll over us like flooding waves unless we raise up the banner against it, by allowing the Spirit of our Heavenly Father to intervene.

We are not to worry about our lives. Messiah said to be careful/ serious about only one thing, our relationship to and with Him.

Common sense screams how absurd that is, we must think and figure out how we are going to live, to eat, to drink. Messiah says we must not. We must be aware of allowing ourselves to think that He says this because He does not understand our circumstances, since that was over 2000 years ago in a different time and culture.

Jesus/Yeshua knows our circumstances better than we do, He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our lives. When there are concerns vi-ing for attention we are to be sure we always put our relationship to our Heavenly Father first.

From many pulpits and teachers we’ve been told we are to have wealth, blessings, a trouble free life and if you are not, then you are the one with issues; this is not correct according to the Word of God. However the promise of Matthew 6:30 if God so clothes the grass of the field will He not much more clothe you? is a simple statement but it’s a puzzle to us because we often refuse to be simple. Simple is not stupid. Simple is having a basic trusting faith, just as a child trusts. This is how we can maintain the simplicity of Yeshua/Jesus so that we can understand Him. By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, our life will become amazingly simple.

He asks us to consider, to think on, verse 30. How much more will he clothe us if we keep our relationship right with Him? Every time we lose ground in our fellowship with the Father and Messiah, it’s because we have been disrespectful to Him, thinking that we know better than He does.

We have allowed the cares of this world to enter in 13:22, by forgetting the much more of our Heavenly Father. We can keep these cares out, that is our part. 6:26 look at the birds of the air. They are created to obey the instincts that He placed within them and He watches over them. Not one falls without Him knowing, being aware and allowing it as part of His plan. Messiah Yeshua/Jesus said that if we have the right relationship with Him and will obey His Spirit within us, then the Father will care for our feathers too.

6:28 consider the lilies of the Field.

They grow where they are planted. The truth is many of us refuse to grow where the Father plants us and because of that we don’t take root anywhere and we don’t mature. For the lilies, all they need require for growth is right there where they are planted. It’s the same for us, where ever we are placed, everything we need will be supplied right where we are. Yeshua/Jesus said if we will obey the life/chaim of God within us He would look after all other things.

How many of us really believe that?

How many of us are actively trusting and being a doer of that Word?

Did He lie to us? Absolutely not.

Are we experiencing the much more that He promised? If we are not, it’s because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have allowed our minds to become cluttered with confusing thoughts and worries. How much time have we wasted asking our Heavenly Father pointless questions when we should be totally free to concentrate on our service to Him. This takes concentration and dedication, as serious as marriage vows, which is exactly what our relationship to, and with Him, is to be. Concentration is the act of continually separating ourselves from everything except that which His Holy Spirit has appointed us to do. It’s not a one time experience, but an ongoing process.

To which kingdom do we truly belong? Are we continually separating ourselves and looking to our Heavenly Father every day of our lives?

6:34 sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

How much trouble has started to threaten us today?

What kind of mean little demons have been looking into our lives and whispering, tempting, testing our resolve and challenging our faith? Taunting us with relentless questions, for example: What are you going to do about this situation? How are you going to pay this bill, etc. etc.

In these times of unusual storms and weather related disasters, wars and rumors of wars, our faith is tested seemingly beyond what we can handle. But it is not, He knows, He sees, and is waiting on us to call for His intervention. He is showing us that we can’t make it without Him. This is why Yeshua/Jesus says don’t worry about these things and to call on Him. We should look again into His Word and His promises and keep our minds on the how much more of our Heavenly Father. Matthew 6:30; 7:10-12; 12:12. Rom.5:9; 9:5-11. Heb.9:14 are just a few examples. Our faith will grow as we allow His Word to dwell in us richly Col.3:16 and it, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word. Romans 10:17.

We should remember, For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes“) ascends to God for his glory. All His promises are yes and amen with the condition.. IF.  The choice of our free will to decide. We must put Him and our relationship with Him first place and then all these things will be added. We must do the things and live life His Way from the Kingdom of Heaven within us; all the while living in this kingdom of the world, and yet not conforming to this worlds way of being and doing.…

To which Kingdom are we emeth/faithful?

Shalom, shalom mishpachah/family

and cheverim/friends!

It’s all about Life and Relationship,

NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

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

His Story Is In His Name -Josiah

The story of Josiah

is also a cautionary tale

which is still relevant today.

It can be found in 2 Kings 22–23 and 2 Chronicles 34–35.

Josiah was the 16th King of Judah from

approximately 640 to 609 B.C.

2 Kings 22:2 introduces Josiah by saying,

“And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.”

The scripture then presents Josiah as the last God-fearing monarch of the Davidic line before the Babylonian exile, whose reign marks the final bright outburst of covenant faithfulness in Judah.

יאשׁיהו

Josiah’s name means: the one through whom God heals.

It comes from a Semitic root ‘ashah,

meaning: one who supports.  

It is also closely related to the word ‘ashur

which is the root word for Assyria,

the whole story of Josiah is told through his name.

In the Hebrew, JOSIAH  jō sī’ ə  יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ;

and in Greek: LXX ̓Ιωσίας, G2739,

The meaning is: may the Lord support or heal.

Name of a king of Judah, son of Amon and Jedidah.

Yoshiyyah or Yoshiyyahu: Josiah

Original Word: יאֹשִׁיָּה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Yo’shiyah
Pronunciation: yo-shee-YAH-hoo
Phonetic Spelling: yo-shee-yaw’
KJV: Josiah 
NASB: Josiah, Josiah’s
Word Origin: [from the same root as 

H803 (אֲשׁוּיָה – Work) and H3050 (יָהּ – LORD)]

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

Josiah 

Or

yo-she-yaw’-hoo;

from the same root as ‘ashuwyah and Yahh;

founded of Jah;

see HEBREW ‘ashuwyah

see HEBREW Yahh

Through Josiah YHVH

healed His nation

and it was Josiah who

supported God’s mission and call upon Israel.  

Josiah was the last of the good kings in Judah and was considered to be a righteous king, unlike many of his forefathers. Josiah was the son of King Amon and the grandson of King Manasseh, both of them wicked kings of Judah. However, Josiah was a godly king and known as one of the world’s youngest kings; He came to power at the age of 8 and ruled for 38 years after his father King Amon was assassinated.

His father, Amon, a short-lived and idolatrous king who worshipped idols, 2 Kings 21:19–26; was wicked, as were the Jewish kings and their culture for generations before him. Eventually, Amon’s own servants killed him. Josiah’s grandfather, Manasseh, was no better his long apostasy had filled Jerusalem with blood, as recorded in 2 Kings 21:16.
His sons names were Johanan, Jehoiakim (Eliakim),

Shallum (Jehoahaz),

and Zedekiah (Mattaniah).

1 Chronicles 3:15.

King Josiah became the King of Judah at the age of 8.

He not only served the YHVH, he loved Him and through the influence of his Godly mother, he destroyed all the idols.

He experienced a spiritual awakening at age 16. “He began to seek the God of his father David” 2 Chronicles 34:3.

There is an interesting comparison here of zeal for the Lord at an early age. At 8 years old Josiah sat on David’s throne; likewise Messiah Yeshua/Jesus at 12 was found in His Father’s house, about His Fathers business, discussing spiritual matters. Luke 2:49.

 In the 18th year of his reign,

Josiah raised money to repair the temple,

It was during the project and making reparation that a life changing discovery was made…..

Hilkiah, the High Priest/Cohen haKadol, 

found

the Book of the Law/the Torah scroll

that had been hidden away.

“the Book of the Law of the LORD given through Moses”

2 Chronicles 34:14-15.

Shaphan reading the law before Josiah.

Shaphan in Hebrew: שפן, means “hyrax”,

son of Azaliah,

is the name of a scribe or court secretary mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible.

Josiah sent a delegation of royal officials to seek out Yahweh’s will and they went to find Huldah, a prophetess in Jerusalem.  Huldah’s prophetic words confirmed the authenticity of the Book of the Law/Torah and warned of impending judgment on Judah for their disobedience.  Huldah the prophetess gave the king’s men this message from YHVH:

disaster would strike the nation because they had forgotten God and instead worshiped idols.

2 Chronicles 34:2.

Huldah’s prophecy to Josiah lines up with the rest of Scripture regarding judgment and mercy. She foretells that Judah will face consequences for sin, yet, reassures the king of personal peace.

Huldah authenticated the discovered scroll and exhorted Josiah to humble himself. 2 Kings 22:18-19.

She affirmed that judgment on Judah was inevitable but delayed because Josiah’s heart was tender before the LORD,

2 Kings 22:15-20

and she assured him that his humility had moved YHVH to delay that judgment.

Josiah held Huldah’s prophecy in high regard. He followed the instructions which were read out and assembled the people at the Temple in Jerusalem.

It was a delay of judgment but not cancellation of it. Josiah’s reforms stayed God’s wrath, 2 Kings 22:20; yet did not abolish the consequences of generations of sin, teaching that personal righteousness does not automatically protect an unrepentant nation.

Until the copy of the Torah was discovered Josiah’s understanding of doctrine and theology was incomplete; yet even before it was found, Josiah had a heart that was tender and submissive/rakak to YHVH.

Operating in her intellectual and spiritual gifts, Huldah was a true helper/ezer, as she came to the aid of her king and nation. The answer Huldah gave to Josiah is still valid today, humanity is condemned; but each one of us can accept salvation in an individual and personal way. Because of this prophetic directive, Josiah decided to help as many people as possible to accept salvation and seek the Lord.

When Shapan, the secretary, read the Torah scroll to Josiah, and he listened to the horrifying words of coming judgment, he tore his clothes, in an outward sign of mourning and repentance, humbling himself before YHVH.

2 Chronicles 34:19; 2 Kings 22:10–11

King Josiah called for a time of national repentance and covenant renewal.

“The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant”. 2 Kings 23:3.

The Law was read to the people of the land, and a covenant was made between the people and the Lord and a young king who led his nation towards spiritual awakening and renewal, led the people back to the Word of God and brought a great revival to the land.

When Scripture’s authority was rediscovered, and the impact of the Torah Instructions/Law’s given in public reading; it underscores the sufficiency and binding authority of written revelation on both the ruler/king and the people to whom it was read.

Many reforms followed.

The temple was cleansed from all objects of pagan worship,

and the idolatrous high places in the land were demolished.

 Josiah was 20 when this purge of idolatry took place.

2 Chronicles 34:3–7.

Altars, Asherah poles, carved images, and molten images were ground to powder and scattered on the graves of their worshipers. The destruction of the altar at Bethel and the disinterring of the bones of the idolatrous priests’ fulfilled the unnamed prophet’s prediction made some 300 years earlier.

1 Kings 13:2; 2 Kings 23:16.

Cleansing the house of YHVH is a prophetic mirror image of Messiah’s cleansing the Temple in Jerusalem recorded in

Matthew 21:12-13.

There is a great encouragement for us in the fulfillment of the prophecy against Bethel, which confirms the reliability of earlier prophetic words; and further illustrates that divine promises often come to fruition following long periods of apparent delay and seeming denial. 2Peter 3:9.

Delay and denial by our Heavenly Father is not a form of punishment or indifference, but rather a divine strategy for our growth and transformation. It is a way for Him to teach us patience, and that patience undergirds our faith to support and strengthen it. They are divine preparations. He sees what we cannot see and whatever He does is with our best interests in mind, so we need to trust His perfect timing, stay faithful in the waiting, and be ready for His sudden move in our lives.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28.

Joseph waited 13 years

Abraham waited 25 years

Moses waited 40 years (twice)

Joseph waited 30 years…

If our Father is making us wait….

we are in good company!

Josiah was a righteous and reformative king of Judah who not only re-instituted the worship of Yahweh but also restored the observance of the Appointed Time/Moed of Pesach/Passover.

2 Kings 23:2–23.

In 2 Chronicles 35:18-19 we are told

it was the greatest Pesach/Passover

since the days of the judges.

Also recorded in 2 Kings 23:23 
HEB: שָׁנָ֔ה לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ נַעֲשָׂ֞ה הַפֶּ֧סַח
NAS: year of King Josiah, this Passover
KJV: of king Josiah, [wherein] this passover
INT: year of King Josiah was observed Passover

The Pesach/passover of Josiah, 2 Chronicles 35, became the definitive guideline for later Moedim celebrations. All Israel and Judah participated in it, initiating a desire to restore unity in the fractured identity of the 12 tribes/sons of Jacob/Israel. 
The priests and Levites returned to the Mosaic order recorded in 2 Chronicles 35:2-6.
The king personally donated 30,000 lambs and goats and 3,000 cattle, 2 Chronicles 35:7, reflecting royal stewardship in worship.

This sacrificial generosity in the Pesach/Passover foreshadows the greater King who supplies Himself as the Lamb.

The writer of these chronicles placed great emphasis on these events which reveals that:

spiritual renewal involves both right doctrine, which is the Torah Instruction/Teaching/ Laws and Ordinances;

and right practice, obedience to the Torah instructions by celebrating the 7 Appointed Times of The Lord/ His Moedim.

Josiah also removed mediums and witches from the land.

Recorded in

2 Kings 23:24&25.

HEB: וּבִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם בִּעֵ֖ר יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ לְ֠מַעַן הָקִ֞ים
NAS: Moreover, Josiah removed the mediums
KJV: and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away,
INT: Jerusalem removed Josiah might confirm

“Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.”

YHVH’s wrath would later come upon Judah due to the evil King Manasseh had done, 2 Kings 23:25, but the judgment was delayed because of Josiah’s godly life and leadership.

2 Kings 22:20.

However, at the end of his life, Josiah feared the Assyrians would make an alliance with Egypt, and would regain their position as a world power and then come against Judah. Even when YHVH spoke through the Egyptian general Necho to stand down, Josiah still fought the battle the Lord had told him not to fight. After a lifetime of walking with YHVH and trusting Him to lead and guide him, he could not trust the Lord in the matter with the Assyrians; and took his army to stop the Egyptians. During the battle that ensued, Josiah was killed.

Sadly it was Josiah’s fear of Assyria that caused him to act in the flesh, he began to look at the circumstances in the natural and by trying to fix it in his own strength and it proved to be his downfall.

When Josiah died his two sons fought over the throne. The youngest Jehoahaz, seized the throne but 3 months later Necho the Egyptian general deposed him. Necho set his brother Jehoaiakim, whose name means: whom God has set up, as a puppet king for Egypt who ruled another 11 years. He is described as a ruthless tyrant in Jewish historical literature. Judah was eventually led into captivity by the Babylonians having never returned to the Lord.

King Josiah, was a man who loved the Lord with all his heart, who helped to start revival in the land and bring his people back to YHVH; then after 38 years of ruling Judah, at age 46 the Lord, took him home.  He could have served the Lord for many more years, but he failed at the end of his life. In one of his greatest tests, Josiah didn’t trust YHVH even after so many years of faithful service.

Josiah died in the battle at Megiddo in in 609 B.C.

2 Kings 23:29-30.

II Chronicles 35:22:  “Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.”

Above, the Egyptian Pharaoh Necho.

King Josiah was buried in Jerusalem in his own tomb,

and his son Jehoahaz took the role of king.

2 Kings 23:31 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 32 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done. 33 Now Pharaoh Necho put him in prison at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and he imposed on the land a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 34 Then Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Pharaoh took Jehoahaz and went to Egypt, and he died there. NKJV.

There is much we can learn from Josiah’s life that is very positive:

First, Josiah shows the influence a person can have from a very young age, even children have enormous potential to live for God and to have great impact.

Secondly, Josiah lived a life fully committed and obedient to YHVH and was blessed for it. He chose total commitment.

There was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, according to all the Law of Moses. 2 Kings 23:25.

Josiah models wholehearted obedience that engages the entire covenant of Deuteronomy 6:5.

Thirdly, Josiah responded properly to the Father’s Word. By the time he became king, the Scriptures had long been neglected, and Josiah’s heart was broken by the failure of his people to honor that Word. Josiah had Scripture read to the people and made a commitment to live by it.

Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken . . . I also have heard you,’ declares the Lord. 2 Kings 22:19.

Josiah son of Zephaniah, hosted the crowning of the high priest Joshua with a symbolic crown, Zechariah 6:10-14, linking Josiah’s house with messianic expectation.
New Testament writers carry forward the reforming king’s line through Matthew’s genealogy of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus in Matthew 1:10-11, marking him as a crucial link in redemptive history.

Josiah is mentioned in the genealogy of Yeshua/Jesus:

When we face real trials that test our faith and trust in our heavenly Father, we are many times strongly tempted to trust in the arm of the flesh, rather than in Him. There is a great lesson to be learned that even after many years of faithful service, there may be times when we really can’t see how He will intervene in our situation, it is in those times that we must be aware of what happened to Josiah.  Even after a lifetime of trusting and serving YHVH, he let fear overtake him, he relied on the arm of the flesh and he failed. For every believer it does not matter how many years of service and of trusting our Heavenly Father and of seeing His power work in and through our lives; the enemy is always lurking in the shadows, and he knows our weaknesses. We should never pride ourselves that we have made it, or are beyond temptation, because while we are in this flesh body we are still vulnerable to attacks, no matter how many years we have trusted in our Lord and Savior. We must always be on guard no matter how strong we think we are and how big our faith is, and we must resist in Messiahs name and not give in, no matter how strong the temptation is to lean on the arm of the flesh. 1Peter 5:8 Be sober minded and alert our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Reader you are not alone neither in your times of trial nor in reality. The truth is our Fathers Holy Spirit is with you to comfort, strengthen and uphold you, He will guide you through and deliver you from the hand of the enemy. He is the God of the impossible. Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?

Jeremiah 32:27…

and your breakthrough is here,

the Lord of Breakthroughs

or

the Lord who bursts through

1 Chronicles 14:10-11….

stand fast, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord today. Exodus 14:13, for today is the day of salvationFor he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2.

and He watches over His word to perform it….Jeremiah 1:12.

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim and mishpachah!

Peace to friends and family.

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.

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

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

You are very precious in His sight.

Not sure ..you can be…

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

SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

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

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

What are The Wounds Of A Friend ?

In Proverbs there are many helpful instructions for believers covering almost every area of our lives. It is a perfect daily reading for every month with 31 chapters! It is often called the book of wisdom being written mostly by Solomon who was known as the wisest man who ever lived. 1Kings 4:29-34.

In 1Kings 10 we are told that the queen of the south/Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon because of his reputation; and so did many others from far and wide.

He had insights from the Lord because wisdom is what he asked for in relation to being able to rule Gods people with righteous judgments. 1Kings 3:1-15.

There is a scripture in Proverbs 27:6 which says

Faithful are the wounds of a friend but deceitful are the kisses of the enemy.

What are these wounds?

It takes grace to give Godly correction; and it takes greater grace to receive it. Unlike David, in 2 Samuel 12 who accepted Nathan’s correction and humbled himself when confronted with his issues, many people will not.

Wounds of a friend  – Pats’ai ‘ohav  פצעי אוהב

Proverbs 27:6: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of the enemy.”

Today, with life’s unending difficulties and pitfalls, it causes many to be stressed out, and at times wondering when it will all stop. We should remember that Paul encouraged us all that without patience and faith, it is impossible to please God? Hebrews 11:6.

If we ‘know’ something, then clearly we don’t need faith to believe and wait for an answer. Faith is needed when we don’t understand what is happening to us or our loved ones, when there seems no rhyme or reason for the problems; or when there seems to be one thing after another piled on top of each other with no space to even come up for air. We can always look and find there are those worse off than wherever our situation is. Natural disasters that are happening worldwide, are leaving devastation and causing chaos for thousands, many with little hope of assistance or recovery. We often use our idiom of, ‘it never rains but it pours.’

These are the crises times when we need strong faith in our Heavenly Fathers ability to intervene and come to our aid and rescue us.

Maybe we can handle one, maybe two trials but when these hard testings come one right after the other, there is a choice to either begin to curse God or to hold tighter onto Him. Job being the prime example.

Strong faith is built up over time,  faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word. Romans 10:17.  We must have His Word planted deep within our very being. Just as muscles are built up by hard, tough exercise, we must exercise and strengthen our faith muscles long before we find ourselves in any crisis.

In the Hebrew text of Proverbs 27:6

At the beginning of the verse there is an interesting word, amen or faithful. So it reads: Faithful or amen are the wounds of a friend.

נֶ֭אֱמָנִים

Proverbs 27:6 
HEB: נֶ֭אֱמָנִים פִּצְעֵ֣י אוֹהֵ֑ב
NAS: Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
KJV: Faithful [are] the wounds of a friend;
INT: Faithful are the wounds of a friend

[אָמַן]  verb confirm, support

aman: to confirm, support

Original Word: אָמַן
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: aman
Phonetic Spelling: aw-man’
Definition: to confirm, support

We are more used to hearing amen spoken out to indicate that we are in agreement or so be it. It is very similar to aman = support or confirm, with only the vowel different.

It is more usual for us to read that commentators interpret this proverb as saying that, the helpful, truthful, honest comments and advice that come from a friend can sometimes hurt and wound our feelings even when they are true.

It may be advice on dress code, personal hygiene or other habits that are antisocial; and even comments concerning our spiritual wellbeing or sinful, unacceptable behavior. These friendly bits of advice are much preferred from one who loves us, than from someone who just agrees with us just to please us.

In reality the essence of this verse is, that even through all the difficulties being faced, we hear the words that our hope and trust are in our Heavenly Father. Jesus/Yeshua said He will never leave nor forsake us, especially in the midst of these troubles; this indicates the individual is remaining amen or faithful to God. 

In declaring our faith in His ability to sustain us and be with us through every situation, test and trial, we bring joy to our Heavenly Fathers heart.  

The word for faithful or amen has the idea of:

supporting, true, staying, and faithful.  

To be faithful to God means:

that we are staying with Him no matter what.  

God can deliver us from the fiery furnace, but if He doesn’t, let it be known that we will still be faithful to Him. Daniel 3:18-28.

This verse in Proverbs tells us something about the nature of faithfulness.  Faithful are the wounds of a friend.

In Hebrew the word wounds is pase 

which is the same word used for a eunuch.

6482 [e]
piṣ·‘ê
פִּצְעֵ֣י
the wounds
N‑mpc

wounding

From patsa’; a wound — wound(-ing).

see HEBREW patsa’

6481 patsa: to bruise, wound by bruising

Original Word: פָצַע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: patsa
Phonetic Spelling: paw-tsah’
Definition: to bruise, wound by bruising

Word Origin a prim. root
emasculated* (1), one (1), wounded (1), wounding* (1).

To be emasculated is what happens to a eunuch

  A eunuch is one who voluntarily goes under the knife.

The Hebrew word rendered as friend here is an unusual word to use for friend.  It is the word ahav, aheb or oheb which is the word for love. Some examples in scripture where this word is used are below.

Recall letters v and b are interchangeable in Hebrew and the vowels a,e,i,o,u, are added for pronunciation as there are only consonants in the Hebrew alefbet.

157 [e]
’ō·w·hêḇ;
אוֹהֵ֑ב
of a friend
V‑Qal‑Prtcpl‑ms

157 aheb: to love

Original Wordאָהַב
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: aheb
Phonetic Spelling: aw-hab’
Definition: to love

 This is in a ‘construct form’ in the Hebrew language and its sentence construction: link below

https://biblehub.com/hebrewparse.htm

and would be rendered as:

the loving one.

So we could read this as: 

the loving one who voluntarily allows himself to be injured.

Does this description remind us of someone?

Let’s be quite honest, none of us would willingly volunteer to go into a time of trouble unless we are helping someone we love.  If it were possible, many parents would willingly volunteer to take on their child’s illness or sickness, if it would heal them and prevent their suffering. There are many wartime testimonies of soldiers who have voluntarily laid down their lives for the sake of their friends, their brothers and sisters in arms. Stories of bravery, courage and self sacrifice are seemingly more common in times of life threatening crises for family and loved ones. Is it possible that this verse in Proverbs is making a reference to something even deeper in a subtle way? It may be a bit of a stretch, however we saw that we could read this as: 

the loving one who voluntarily allows himself to be injured.

We know for certain that in the eternal plan of the ages, our Heavenly Father sent His son Yeshua/Jesus into this world. He did have to come to earth to be wounded and to die and He did this as a voluntarily act for our sake out of pure love. We are no doubt all familiar with John 3:16.

 

Is it possible that this 6th verse in Proverbs 27 is revealing something about Messiah’s death on calvary’s tree that we may not have thought of or even considered? We know from scripture and all the prophetic declarations throughout the TaNaKH that there are many reasons why Yeshua/Jesus had to suffer and die on the cross. However, here is one more reason, revealed in this verse and that was that He wanted to declare the amen or the faithfulness of His love. He became: the loving one who voluntarily allows Himself to be injured.  

He is also showing us and teaching us, that He used His time of crisis in a positive way; as an opportunity to show His faithfulness to us. Surely we shouldn’t offer Him anything less, even though we may get wounded in the process? But that wound is just a way to show our love to God.  He told His disciples in John 15:15, I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. If we are His disciples then we too are His friends and He is our friend. Faithful are the wounds of a friend.

This week is the moed of Sukkot; links below for detailed posts on this wonderful 7th Appointed Time of our Heavenly Father. Our Season of Rejoicing!

https://www.minimannamoments.com/sukkot-the-promise-of-a-permanent-dwelling-place/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/sheltering-presence-god/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-sheltering-presence-of-god-cont/ 

https://www.minimannamoments.com/days-of-ingathering-for-the-final-harvest/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/in-the-end-its-all-about-yeshua-jesus/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/endings-are-simply-new-beginnings/

Shalom mishpachah/family

and cheverim/friends!

It’s all about Life and Relationship,

NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

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.

The Calling-Part 2

It is not strange that Yeshua/Jesus said in Matthew 7:13, 14, enter by the narrow gate because narrow is the gate and difficult is the Way which leads to life and few there are that find it!

So if your life is difficult, it’s the WAY, the right WAY. Easy-street is the broad road that leads to destruction. We, in our fleshly selves, are resistant to the talk of hard, difficult and sacrificial lives. We don’t want it. We just want the blessings of a life of comfort and prosperity with no problems.

That’s not what Yeshua/Jesus promised. His words were: in this world you will have tribulation. If we are going to live the life of a disciple of Yeshua/Jesus, it will help us to remember that anything of worth or excellence is going to be difficult. Of the 12, only John lived to old age and he was in exile!

This ‘knowing’, should inspire us to press on and overcome as Yeshua/Jesus has overcome this world.

God has saved us through the atonement of Jesus/Yeshua, by His sovereign Grace. Philippians 2:13. He works in us vs.12; our part is to work out that salvation in every day practical life.

It requires bravery, courage and holiness.

He is bringing many sons/children to glory; Heb. 2:10, and according to the scriptures, requirements of sonship are not associated with pampered, spoilt weaklings, still drinking milk, holding selfish, prideful attitudes of entitlement and exhibiting self-righteousness; or those with religious thinking, based on doctrines of demons and traditions of men.We Must answer His CALL IMMEDIATELY.

It takes a tremendous amount of discipline, to live the worthy and excellent life of being His disciple in the realities of life, especially in this day and age. And for the effect our lives are to make, it’s absolutely necessary for us to live a life of worth and excellence.

With this in mind, consider whether the disciples of Yeshua/Jesus were talmidim as understood by the people of His time.

They were to be with Him, Mark 3:13-19;

to follow Him, Mark 1:16-20;

to live by His teaching, John 8:31.

They were to imitate His actions, John 13:13-15.

They were to make everything else secondary to their learning from the rabbi. Luke 14:26.
When the teacher believed that his talmidim were prepared to be like him; he would commission them to become disciple-makers. He was saying ‘As far as is possible you are like me. Now go and seek others who will imitate you. Because you are like me, when they imitate you they will be like me.’ This practice certainly lies behind Jesus/Yeshua’ great commission; the focus of which, was the reconciling of our relationship with the Father. (Matt. 28:18-20).

DISCIPLES-MAKE-DISCIPLES!

While in one sense, no one can be like Yeshua/Jesus in His divine nature, or in His perfect human nature; when taught by the Rabbi, empowered and blessed by the Spirit of God, imitating Yeshua/Jesus becomes a possibility. The mission of the disciples was to seek others, who would imitate them and therefore become like Yeshua/Jesus.He chose disciples whom He would empower to become like Him and led them around, (the shepherd with His sheep), until they began to imitate Him.

Then after Pentecost/Shavuot/the gift of the Holy Spirit was given and received; He sent them out to make disciples…to lead people to imitate them, by obeying Yeshua/Jesus. Yeshua/Jesus calls us to be His talmidim and to know God’s Word and Yeshua/Jesus’ interpretation of it.

We must be passionate in our devotion to that Word and to His example, then, when we are filled with His Spirit, we must be filled with the desire to become like Him as far as is humanly possible.

This means that the present day talmid /disciple, must be no less focused on the rabbi.

We must be with Him in His Word,

we must follow Him even if we are not sure of the final destination,

we must live by His teaching; which means we must know those teachings well;

and we must imitate Him whenever we can.

In other words everything becomes secondary in life to being like Him.

When they had observed and learned for a time they were sent out to begin to practice being like the teacher (Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-24)

This is one of the most significant concepts of the New Testament. Jesus, the divine Messiah Yeshua, chose the rabbi-talmid system.

He taught like a rabbi in real life situations, using the most brilliant methods ever devised, (e.g. using parables).

He interpreted God’s Word and completed it.

He demonstrated obedience to it.

He says to us today, you are…

In Revelation we read that Messiah’s Bride is CALLED, CHOSEN and FAITHFUL:

Revelation/Chazown 17:14

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Master of masters, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

  1. Ve•hem yi•la•cha•moo et-ha•Seh ve•ha•Seh yig•bar aley•hem ki hoo Adon ha•a•do•nim oo•Me•lech ha•m`la•chim ootz•va•av ee•mo k`ri•ey El be•chi•rav ve•ne•e•ma•nav.

יד. וְהֵם יִלָּחֲמוּ אֶת-הַשֶּׂה וְהַשֶּׂה יִגְבַּר עֲלֵיהֶם כִּי הוּא אֲדוֹן הָאֲדֹנִים וּמֶלֶךְ הַמְּלָכִים וּצְבָאָיו עִמּוֹ קְרִיאֵי אֵל בְּחִירָיו וְנֶאֱמָנָיו:

Why 3 CALLED, CHOSEN and FAITHFUL?

Matt 22;14 holds a clue those who are CALLED then those who are CALLED AND CHOSEN; and finally in Rev. 17:15 CALLED, CHOSEN AND FAITHFUL.

Seems like there are 3 stages here.  

There are also 3 groups at the Wedding of the Lamb.

The guests who are CALLED

The 5 of the 10 bridal attendants who are CHOSEN 

and

The bride who is FAITHFUL.

However Jesus/Yeshua asks the critical ?

and continued to make it clear in Matthew 22

What is our identity as grafted in believers? Are we Called, Chosen, Faithful, Hebrews, Israelites, Jews or Gentiles?

The terms Hebrew, Israelite and Jew, originated through 3 different biblical personalities:

The first Hebrew was Abraham.The word Hebrew/Ibriym means ‘one who crosses over,’ as Abraham crossed over from paganism into a set-apart life with YHWH (YaHuWaH). Therefore, Abraham was the first one to become a ‘Hebrew.’ He was CALLEDand he obeyed the call.

The first Israelite was Jacob.

He was the first one to be called ‘Yisra’EL,’ which means ‘one who prevails or overcomes with Elohiym.’

He was CHOSENover his twin brother Esau.

And the first one to be called a Jew/Yahuwdiy was Judah.Jacob (ISRAEL), and Leah named their 4th son Judah/Yahuwdah; from where we derive the term ‘Jew’ and it means ‘I will praise YaHuWaH.’

Judah was ultimately FAITHFUL because he honored his promise to his father Jacob when he promised to ’bear the blame forever’ if something bad happened to Benjamin. (Gen. 43:9). Judah is the tribe that volunteered to become the scapegoat. And ultimately why Messiah was born into that Tribe because as the scapegoat, He was the sinless lamb who took the punishment for guilty sinners.

Hebrew = called out (Genesis 12:1; Revelation 18:4).

וָאֶשְׁמַע קוֹל אַחֵר מִן-הַשָּׁמַיִם קֹרֵא צְאוּ מִתּוֹכָהּ עַמִּי פֶּן-תִּגְּעוּ בְחַטֹּאתֶיהָ וְדָבְקוּ בָכֶם תַּחֲלֻאֶיהָ:

  1. Va•esh•ma kol a•cher min-ha•sha•ma•yim ko•re tze•oo mi•to•cha ami pen-tig•oo ve•cha•to•te•ha ve•dav•koo va•chem ta•cha•loo•e•ha.

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Could it be said that when we are saved/born-again, we begin as a Hebrew, because we obey the CALLING to come out of paganism and the sinfulness of this present world and cross over into our new life?

Yisra’el means an overcomer, or one who prevails. (Gen. 32:28; Rev. 3:12).

Then, we become like Jacob, an Israelite/Yisraelite when we wrestle with Elohiym to find our identity in Him. Like Jacob, we prevail against the enemy of our soul when we conquer the sinful nature (Rom. 8:37). This is what qualified Jacob/Ya’aqob to have his name changed to Israel/Yisra’EL. 

Likewise our names will be changed as seen in

Rev 3:12,

  1. Mee asher-oz•na•yim lo yak•shiv et asher ha•Roo•ach ma•gid la•k`hi•lot lam•na•tze•ach e•ten min-ha•man ha•sha•moor ve•na•ta•ti lo even le•va•na ve•al-ha•e•ven cha•kook shem cha•dash asher eesh lo yi•ko•ve•noo bil•tee ha•m`ka•bel.

  2. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

The scripture says that those who receive a new name, are those who overcome, or in other words, they prevail with Elohiym!

Jew/Yahuwdiy means one who praises YHWH. (Gen. 29:35; Rev.19:5).

Do we finally become a Jew/Yahuwdiy when we learn to praise YaHuWaH no matter what the circumstances are? This would seem to be the mark of a mature believer who is ready to be the bride!

The Hebrew Strong’s Concordance shows the definition of the name Judah as follows: 

#3063 Yhuwdah yeh-hoo-daw from 3034; celebrated; praised; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory, Judah.

It stems from another root word: 

#3034 yadah yaw-daw’ a primitive root; used only as denominative from 3027; literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands):–cast (out), (make) confess(-ion), praise, shoot, give thanks; thanksgiving; thankful.

#3064 Yhuwdiy yeh-hoo-dee’ patronymically from 3063; a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah):–Jew.

By the definitions above, the name Judah/Yahuwdah means one who praises YaHuWaH.

Remember everything is connected!

Many are CALLED (Hebrews) but few are CHOSEN (Israel/Yisra’el).

And of those who are CHOSEN, only the FAITHFUL (Yahuwdiy) are the ones who praise YaHuWaH!

There is a lot of misunderstanding about the term Jew/Yahuwdiy. The term Jew or Yahuwdiy comes from the Tribe of Judah /Yahuwdah. Melchizedek is from the Tribe of Yahuwdah (Hebrews 7:14).

(Remember the Priests of Jesus/Yeshua’s day were corrupt: click link below to see relevant post.)

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

Paul uses the term Jew/Yahuwdiy in Romans 2:28, to describe those whose hearts are circumcised. Why does he use the term Jew to define somebody who has a circumcised heart? Why does he not use the terms Hebrew or Yisraelite?

Could it be because a bride joins the tribe of her bridegroom when she marries him.

So to be called a Jew/Yahuwdiy, means that you have reached the place of maturity where you are ready to be called Messiah’s bride?

In a previous post about Ruth the scripture records that she was a Moabite, and Torah/Towrah says that no Moabite may enter the congregation of Israel/Yisra’el forever (Deuteronomy 23:3; Nehemiah 13:1).

So how was she able to marry Boaz who was from the Tribe of Judah? She ‘crossed over’ when she followed Naomi to Bethlehem, Judah and she said ‘Your God/Elohiym is my God/Elohiym, and your people shall be my people’.

in Ezek. 47:21-22 where any stranger may join the tribe of their choosing simply by ‘sojourning‘ with that tribe, and they would also inherit land with that tribe; so the principle is clearly referenced here too.

If, as believers in Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, we are ‘walking with’, or ‘sojourning with‘, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah/Yahuwdah (Rev.5:5); should it not follow that those who are His bride are going to be married into His tribe?

Followers of Messiah are called a royal priesthood. (1Peter 2:9). This royal priesthood is the priesthood of Melchizedek, and Melchizedek is the King of Salem. Salem is the ancient name for Jerusalem, and according to Hebrews 7:14 Melchizedek also sprang out of Judah/Yahuwdah. Followers of Messiah are therefore part of this priesthood after the order of Melchizedek.

See last 2 posts for more of on Melchizedek.

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

However we must still have our hearts circumcised in order to be counted as a Jew/Yahuwdiy by our Messiah. (Rom. 2:28-29; Rev.2:9 & 3:9).

Another amazing point to note is in the paleo Hebrew, alef bet, there is only one letter different from the name YaHuWaH

to YaHuWDaH.

The difference is the letter Dalet in the middle of the name Judah/ YaHuWDaH. 

The letter Dalet means the Door!

Also meaning (by the definitions above,) the name Judah/Yahuwdah means one who praises YaHuWaH.

Click link below for more on the alef bet

https://www.minimannamoments.com/alef-bet-alphabet/

Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is the DALET/DOOR to the Father (John 10:7-9)and

He came from the Tribe of Judah/YaHuWDaH (Rev. 5:5).

The only tribe that bears the Father’s name is Judah/YaHuWDaH!

Messiah’s name is Yeshua and can be written and said YaHuWShuWA which means YaHuWaH is Salvation, as seen in 

Hebrew Strong’s Concordance:#3091 Yhowshuwa` yeh-ho-shoo’-ah or Yhowshua {yeh-ho-shoo’-ah}; from 3068 and 3467; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader:–Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare both 1954, 3442.

Now it makes sense as to why our Messiah came from the Tribe of Judah/Yahuwdah , and why He told the Samaritan woman at the well that Salvation is of the Jews/Yahuwdiy (John 4:22).

It’s because the Levite Priesthood could not act as the permanent Kinsman Redeemer* for Israel/Yisra’el.

For the simple reason that they would eventually die because they were mortals. However in the scriptures we are told that Melchizedek, who sprang out of Judah/YaHuWDaH has an endless life, and he never dies behind the veil. (Hebrews 7:14-16).

(Boaz was Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer*, a type of Messiah, offering to redeem her and marry her, (covenant), and it took place located right on Mt. Moriah where Yeshua was crucified)!

Those who are the bride of Messiah are part of His ‘Royal Priesthood’ (1Pet.2:9), and they bear the Father’s name, YaHuWaH, just like Ruth we have crossed over.

Crossing over and entering the narrow WAY through The Door/Dalet of Yahuwdah/Judah, praising the Father YHWH, in every circumstance, appears to mean that we have reached the place of maturity where we are ready to be called Messiah’s bride?

The bride also is married into the Tribe, YaHuWDaH. The five wise virgins in Matt 25 will enter into the bridegroom’s chamber and the door will be shut!

The key of David which qualifies the bride to enter into the chamber is only open to those whose hearts are circumcised for they have kept His Word/Torah/Towrah and have not denied his name (Rev 3:8).

Remember Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah who called their 4th son Judah In Gen. 29:16-25, we learn that Jacob loved Rachel because she was beautiful, but her sister Leah was not very attractive.

The same thing happened with our Messiah, Jesus/Yeshua orYahuwshuwa. In Matthew 15:24, Yeshua/Yahuwshuwa said that He had come for only the lost sheep of the House of Yisra’el. Like Jacob who only loved Rachel, our Messiah only wanted to remarry His divorced bride, Israel/Yisra’el (Jer. 3:8; Hos. 2:19-20; Rom. 7:4).

The leadership in Israel/Yisra’el however, did not accept Him as their Messiah, and the gentiles were the ones who accepted Him.

Leah typifies the gentiles who were not the favored ones, and Rachel typifies Israel/Yisra’el who was favored by Messiah. Surely Messiah was disappointed in the same way Jacob was. He had come for his beloved Israel/Yisra’el, but instead, He was married to the gentiles who accepted His message, and thus, they were grafted into the olive tree of Israel/Yisra’el (Romans 11:17-25).  There were also many 1000’s who accepted Him at Pentecost who were not gentiles.

John/Yahuwchanon 1:11

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Leah typifies the bride of Messiah who first comes into the understanding of her salvation when she gives birth to a son (1Timothy 2:15). Leah was CALLED to be the bride of Jacob/Ya’aqob and she accepted the call to be married to him.

This means that she was CHOSEN by YaHuWaH.

Leah typifies the person who is called, then chosen. However, once she is chosen, she goes through affliction and testing.

Leah represents the bride of Messiah who will be married to Him first, just as Leah was the first to marry Jacob. in the future, possibly on a Feast of Trumpets /Yom Teruah, the faithful bride, typified by Leah, will be taken for seven days to the New Jerusalem for the wedding. Then she will return with Messiah in her new resurrected body riding white horses (Rev.19).

This event could take place on a future Yom Kippur, and could be when Messiah will meet the other bride who typifies Rachel, the House of Judah.

They will look upon Him whom they have pierced as His feet touch the Mount of Olives

they will mourn for him as one mourns his only son. (Zech. 12:10; 14:4).

Mount of Olives was and is,

Ha Makem nitsachon/the place of victory.

Ha Makem-The Place-המקום

Instructions are given in Lev. 16:18, for what the High Priest/Kohen ha’Gadowl has to do on Yom Kippur.

He is commanded to combine the blood of the goat with the blood of the bullock and to sprinkle that mixed blood on the altar.

What is this representing?

The Hebrew origin of Rachel’s name means ‘LAMB‘,’Ewe,’ or ‘female sheep’, and Leah’s, meaning ‘Gazelle’ which is ‘beauty and grace’,’contented One,’ ‘also worthy COW‘, as in the biblical days cows were very valuable and treasured.

This means that both brides shall combine and become one bride on a future Yom Kippur, under our High Priest Jesus the Messiah/Yahuwshuwa ha’Mashiyach.

Leah’s faithfulness to YHWH/YaHuWaH caused her sorrow and rejection to be turned into happiness, for she was rewarded with fruitfulness.

Faithfulness is doing what we need to do regardless of feelings or personal preferences, our desires need to be His desires then we make the right choices.

There is a prophetic picture of Messiah and His FAITHFUL bride told in the story of Leah & Jacob. Leah was willing to die to her own selfish desires in order to please her husband.

Similarly, those who follow the lamb wherever he goes (Rev. 14:4) are the ones who are ready to die and be buried with him:

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

הֲלֹא הֵם אֲשֶׁר לֹא-נְגֹאֲלוּ בְנָשִׁים כִּי בְתֻמָּתָם הֵם כִּבְתוּלוֹת וְהֹלְכִים אַחֲרֵי הַשֶּׂה אֶל-אֲשֶׁר יֵלֵךְ וּפְדוּיִם הֵם מִקֶּרֶב בְּנֵי הָאָדָם כְּבִכּוּרִים לֵאלֹהִים וְלַשֶּׂה:

  1. Ha•lo hem asher lo-n`go•a•loo ve•na•shim ki ve•too•ma•tam hem kiv•too•lot ve•hol•chim a•cha•rey ha•Seh el-asher ye•lech oof•doo•yim hem mi•ke•rev b`ney ha•a•dam ke•vi•koo•rim le•Elohim ve•la•Seh.

Romans/Romiym 6:4; Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Messiah/Mashiyach was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

Leah finally found contentment in her circumstances when she trusted in YaHuWaH and praised him. This is what made her a faithful bride to Jacob

Leah symbolizes the gentile who begins with an uncircumcised heart (Romans 2:26), but learns to place their trust in God.

Rachel symbolizes the one who only appears to be a Jew/Yahuwdiy externally, or in other words only beautiful outwardly (Rom. 2:28).

Those whose hearts are circumcised inwardly are true Jews/Yahuwdiy for they are the ones who faithfully offer up praises to God/YaHuWaH:

Romans/Romiym 2:29 But he is a Jew/Yahuwdiy, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of Elohiym.

A chosen remnant of Israel survives today namely those who have received Jesus/Yeshua, their promised Messiah, as the 3000 did on the day of the first Pentecost/Shavuot.

To the Jew first and then to the Gentile/Greek. Rom.1:16

Over the centuries Gentiles/ גּוֹי/ Goy (go’-ee)
Goyim/Nations, have been made partakers of the grace given to this remnant of Israel. Rom. 11:2–5

Israel is compared to the Olive tree because of unbelief. Many of the Olives branches had been broken off and wild Olive branches had been grafted into the stock.

Click link below for more on the Olive tree:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/grafted-in-to-the-olive-tree/

This is an unnatural act, performed by the sovereign hand of God. As gentiles we are to be humble, because we are grafted in on the basis of our faith and not by any merit we have in ourselves. We should be mindful not to boast in our position even as grafted in believers, since we are supported by the root, (Abraham and his family); and not by means of our own lineage or merit.

The root supports us.

ALWAYS.

Romans 11:9

Whether natural descendents or Gentile, the picture of the Olive tree illustrates that the branches are those who come To the Lord by trusting in His promises of deliverance, just as father Abraham did.

May our faith in Him be solid and unwavering.

Receiving The Hidden Manna And The White Stone. Rev. 2:17

17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

Once again, like the previous CALLINGS, the one who hears is CALLED to OBEY.

Hebrew has no word for obedience. The word SHEMA or SH’MA means HEAR and OBEY.To hear someone means to obey him. He who obeys is described as conqueror and overcomer. To this particular overcomer, Messiah is promising something very special – hidden manna and a white stone with a new secret name.

Manna is a symbol of God’s sustenance and provision for the people of Israel in the wilderness; as they came out/crossed over the Reed Sea, leaving Egypt in obedience to God’s call, risking their own lives to go by faith, to a land they would only later be shown.

When Jesus/Yeshua spoke with the Samaritan Israelite woman (John 4), His Judean, Israelite disciples were returning from a nearby town with food acceptable for consumption by the Judeans (Ioudaioi). The disciples asked among themselves if someone already had brought food to Him. He then answered them that He had something that, in the passage in Revelation, also being promised to the one who overcomes – the hidden manna.

He said: I have food to eat that you do not know about. (Jn.4:32)

This secret food that ‘the rest’ did not know about is nothing less than, divine energy of Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh, who is able to provide sustenance in the most unimaginable and perilous circumstances. This characterized what was soon to become a reality for believers in Pergamum. Jesus/Yeshua promised this power/energy/dunamis, to the one who obeys God’s Words. This is why the one who obeys also is the one who overcomes.

The Identity of the White Stone. 

Among the most-likely interpretations that may fit the context is a suggestion that the white stones, with names of the recipients inscribed, were given to contest winners of the Roman sport races. The white stone inscribed with a personal name presumably served as a pass to a prestigious banquet only attended by the winners.

Symbolic of the marriage supper of the Lamb, and the need to have a robe of righteousness, that would be the pass into the banquet.

This stone would have been received upon completion of the race. While this is not a particularly Jewish cultural reference, we do know of many biblical examples of the use of Greco-Roman cultural references as illustrations for and by the Jews. For example, the Apostle Paul used many Roman sports metaphors to make his points (Phil. 3:12-141 Cor. 9:24-272 Tim. 4:6-8).

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews also employed Roman sport imagery of running a race and receiving a winner’s wreath (See also Heb. 12:1). This kind of imagery was well known in Judea where there were elaborate sports arenas. The analogy much more closely matches the culture of the Roman city of Pergamum.

No doubt the persecuted believers, both Jewish and former pagans, were aware of this practice and the elaborate banquets of honor for the overcomers/winners of the race. Most of the believers did not take part in these games by the virtue of the fact that the games included a dedication to the Roman gods. Jesus/Yeshua tells them that in all reality they have not missed out on anything. The real race is the race of perseverance dedicated to the God of Israel. Whoever perseveres in this race and overcomes will receive ‘a pass’ into the heavenly banquet of eternal honor.

Another intriguing possibility continues with the theme of priestly attire as was already used in Revelation. The High Priest’s robe had 12 stones with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel.

One of the stones was actually WHITE – Yahalom

(it was WHITE stone number 6),

signifying the 6th son of Leah – Zebulun. What’s Important About Zebulun?

We read in Is. 9:1-7, quoted in Matt. 4:15 that:

“In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”

According to this interpretation, the sacred WHITE STONE is a symbol of Greco-Romans residing in Galilee who would receive light through the birth of Messiah.

Could the secret here be Messiah Himself?

Could the white stone point to Jesus/Yeshua through the yahalom stone once adorning the breast of the High Priest of Israel? … Perhaps.

As believers we are not called to force or make people receive salvation but rather to make DISCIPLES of those who have been CALLED and CHOSEN and have shown themselves FAITHFUL.

So the question we must ask ourselves is, are we true DISCIPLES and if we are

CALLED and CHOSEN

are we being FAITHFUL in following Him?

And

Have you heard the calling?

And did you answer?

Will our names be inscribed on a white stone?

Those who are with Him are CALLED CHOSEN and FAITHFUL.

ee mo k ri-ey El be-chi-rav ve-ne-e-ma-nav.

Don’t let anyone or anything take your crown!

Yes we are predestined in Father’s plan.. however, we still have a free will to CHOOSE! Choose this day and Choose LIFE, The Way and Truth.

Shalom!

PLEASE Don’t leave this page without making that life-saving decision – time is running out. Don’t miss the day of your visitation!

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…Don’t put it off one more moment…

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 all 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.

You are now Born Again by the Holy Spirit of the Living God and you are part of the ever growing family of believers. You will never be the same again!