Sunday, August 30, 2009

The End is Declared From the Beginning - Part 2

This is part two of seven parts studying the seven Hebrew words of the first verse of Genesis. Each of the seven words shows the Messiah and together are a picture of God’s redemption plan for man.

Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’ (NKJV)

Everything was created through Messiah and for the sake of Messiah, as it is written in the Gospel of John:

Joh 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (NKJV)

Messiah is in each word of the very first verse in the Bible.

Ge 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

There are seven words in Genesis 1:1in the original Hebrew which is read right to left. Seven is the number of spiritual completion. The act of creation took six days and on the seventh day God rested.

בראשית ברא אלוהים את השמים ואת הארץ
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The Second Word

The second word in Genesis 1:1 is pronounced in Hebrew “bara”. Strong’s reference #1254. ברא bara', baw-raw' a primitive root; meaning to create. To cut down, as in a tree, to feed, create (creator), dispatch, do, make (fat). It implies a direct hand, to physically do.

There are two word pictures in bara.

Hebrew word Picture 1: Hebrew is read right to left.
Created: ברא
Bet reysch: בר “Bar” means “son.”
Aleph: א First letter in one of the words for God, Elohim.
Create: The Son of God is in creation.

Hebrew word Picture 2:
Created: ברא
Bet: ב House
Resh: ר Head, highest, person
Aleph: א Strength, first, leader
Create: The strong man of the house is in creation.

Proverbs tell us who this strong man from within the house is.

Pr 30:4 Who has gone up to Heaven and has come down? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in His garments? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name? Surely you know. (MKJV)

ברא Bara, the second word of Genesis 1:1 is a picture of Messiah as the “Son of God, the strong man within the house” who is the hand of God who “gathers the wind in His fists” and binds the “waters in His garments.”

שלום ברוך
Shalom and Be Blessed

Saturday, August 29, 2009

The End Is Declared From the Beginning - Part 1

This is part one of seven examining the first verse in Genesis showing Yeshua the Messiah in each of the seven words. This verse also reveals the story of the ultimate redemption of man.

Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’ (NKJV)

Everything was created through Messiah and for the sake of Messiah, as it is written in the Gospel of John:

Joh 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (NKJV)

Messiah is in each word of the very first verse in the Bible. Ge 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

There are seven words in Genesis 1:1 in the original Hebrew which is read right to left. Seven is the number of spiritual completion. The act of creation took six days and on the seventh day God rested.

(The hebrew is read right to left)
בראשית ברא אלוהים את השמים ואת הארץ
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth

The First Word

The first word is pronounced in Hebrew “Bre’sheet.” It is from the word ראשית (re’shiyth) with an added ב (Hebrew letter bet) at the beginning of the word. This letter adds the meaning “in” or “through”, “because of”, “with thought of”. The rest of the word is ראשית (re’shiyth Strong’s #7225) means: the first, in place, time, order or rank, (specifically a firstfruit): beginning, chief(-est), first fruits, foremost. Thus, the word is translated “In the beginning.” But, the word can also be translated two other ways. In the Hebrew thought, each of these translations adds depth of meaning to the word.

So we can translate Gen 1:1 as “In the beginning, with thought of the Firstfruits, through the Foremost, God created the heavens and the earth”. This teaches us that God created the heavens and the earth with “Re’sheet” or with the purpose of “Re’sheet.”

Who is the Re’sheet or First Fruits of creation? He is Messiah as it says in 1 Corinthians:
1Co 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (NKJV)

The first letter the bet, ב, in the original Hebrew pictographs was a house. Again the first word can be seen as the “house of the Firstfruits.” So God’s creation is the “house” of Messiah, His ultimate dwelling place and through Him it was made.

Heb 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (NKJV)

He is heir of all created things, thus creation is the house of Firstfruits, which was created through him, the Foremost.

Watch for part 2, the second word, in a few days.

Shalom and Be Blessed

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Yeshua - The Second Adam

(The following is a study lesson from “Shadow of the Messiah in the Torah – Vol. 1” by Dan & Brenda Cathcart. The volume contains 12 independent lessons examining God’s word and searches for shadows of the Messiah in the scriptures. Yeshua (Jesus), while on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:27) spoke to His Apostles and told them what was in all the scriptures concerning Himself. We search those very same scriptures in the "Shadows of Messiah in the Torah". The complete volume of 12 lessons is designed to be a tool for you to use for a home based Bible study is available from El Shaddai Ministries on the web at http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/ )

In Romans 5, Paul speaks of Messiah as a second Adam explaining that Adam was a type of Messiah.

Romans 5:14

Hebrew word pictures: Hebrew is read right to left.
Adam: אדם means ruddy, human being, mankind Aleph: א firstMem-dalet: דם bloodAdam was the first man literally the “First blood”. Earth (a-da-mah): אדמה
Hey: ה RevealAdam: אדם Adam revealed. Adam was taken out of the earth. (Gen. 2:7)
Mem is depicted either ם when at the end of a word or מ elsewhere in a word.

How is Adam like Messiah? Adam is like Messiah in his relationship with Eve. He is also like Adam in that both were created without sin. Yeshua, as the child of God and Mary, was not of the seed of Adam and, thus, was born without sin. Unlike Adam, Yeshua chose to be obedient to God. Through His obedience, we have access to eternal life. Believers in Messiah are described as being His Bride. The model of the marriage relationship can be taken from the creation of Eve. Eve was created from Adam for Adam.

Genesis 2:23

The Apostle Paul describes the church as being part of Messiah’s body.

Ephesians 5:29

Adam was put into a deep sleep to bring forth his bride. Jesus was put into the sleep of death and brought new life to all those who believe. And those who believe are His bride. The name Eve (Chavah) means “living”.

Genesis 2:21

Romans 6:4

Hebrew word picture: Hebrew is read right to left.
Eve: Chavva: חַוָה
Chet: חַ Because it is the 8th letter. It begins a new cycle of 7, and thus stands for new beginnings or new life.
Vav: וָ the nail or peg, secures, connects
Hey: ה open window, to reveal, behold
Eve is the revelation of new life secured.

Genesis 3:20

Because Eve was part of his flesh, he would cleave to her. Jesus cleaves to us!

Genesis 2:24

Romans 8:38-39

The word “cleave” is from the Hebrew דבק Cleave: #1692 דבק dâbaq daw-bak' A primitive root; properly to impinge, that is, cling or adhere; figuratively to catch by pursuit: - abide, fast, cleave (fast together), follow close (hard, after), be joined (together), keep (fast), overtake, pursue hard, stick, take.

In Hebrew, the word has a primary meaning but the secondary meanings add depth to the passage.

If we look at dâbaq as to catch by pursuit, we see an additional meaning. The man pursues the woman in a relationship. They seem to be hardwired that way. Jesus also pursues us. We don’t pursue Him.

1John 4:9-10

Romans. 3:10-12 (Quoting Psalm 14:1-3)

דבק Dâbaq in its primary meaning to join together is echoed in the instructions of Moses to the Israelites.

Deuteronomy 10:20

How are we to cleave to God? The Jewish sages taught that by “cleaving” to a teacher of Torah, that is becoming his disciple, they could connect with God through that teacher. A disciple of a teacher would literally live with the teacher learning by observing his life as well as by listening to his teaching. In a sense, they were right. If we cleave to the teacher, Jesus, we will be joined not only to Christ but through Him to God.

The passage in Ephesians continues with Ephesians 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (KJV)

John 15:5

John 15:10

We are to cleave (dabaq) to our bridegroom Jesus, our Adam, and through him we can fulfill Moses’ instructions to cleave to God. Paul contrasts Adam with Messiah in 1 Corinthians. What Adam was incapable of doing because he was of the dust of the earth, Yeshua is able to accomplish because He is from heaven.

1st Corinthians 15:45-49 (quoting Genesis 2:7)

A comparison of Adam and Messiah

Adam:
First living man given a spirit
Natural
From the dust of the earth
We have borne his likeness

Messiah:
Life giving spirit
Spirit
From Heaven
We will bear His likeness

In Romans 7, Paul describes how sin leads to death. It is almost as if Paul was putting himself in Adam’s place.

Romans 7:9

The commandment not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is given to Adam. Adam had a choice to obey God or to choose his own path.

Romans 7:7

Genesis 2:16-17

Adam is tempted. Although Genesis says it is the woman who is tempted, Adam was with her and he was the one actually given the commandment.

Romans 7:8

Genesis 3:6a

Adam gave in to temptation. He went along with Eve instead of standing for what he knew was right.

Romans 7:9-10

Genesis 3:6

Death came to Adam. If Adam had obeyed the commandment, he would have had continued access to the tree of life.

Romans 7:10

Genesis 3:22

Adam blamed anyone but himself. He first blames Eve and indirectly blames God Himself for giving the Eve to him in the first place. Adam chose to disobey God—he didn’t eat by accident. Paul, in his discourse in Romans, says it wasn’t his fault; he was tricked!

Romans 7:11

Genesis 3:12

Paul says that all men are without excuse for their wicked actions.

Romans 1:18-20

Moses set before the people of Israel two choices—life or death. The same choice is before us. Moses exhorts the people to cling, or cleave to God!

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

The commandment is good. It reveals the heart of man. Adam is ashamed.

Romans 7:12

Genesis 3:7

Adam and Eve recognized the evil they had chosen. Everything changed. They had separated themselves from God and their attitudes about each other changed. They began to hide from each other. Sin’s consequence is death. Adam and Eve were removed from the garden of Eden and no longer had access to the tree of life. Cherubim were set to guard the entrance so they could not return.

Romans 7:13

Genesis 3:17-19

Adam could not redeem himself.

Romans 7:14

Genesis 2:7

Adam was formed from the dust. He had no substance that was not God given and God breathed. It was God Himself who gave him the breath of life. It is only God who can redeem him. God promises a redeemer.

Romans 7:24-25

God told the serpent that one would come who would be of the seed of woman and thus, fully human, but not of the seed of man, who would crush him—A new Adam.

Genesis 3:15

Yeshua is a second Adam. He became flesh for us.

John 1:14

He was tempted in every manner like Adam.

Hebrews 4:15

As we look at the temptations Yeshua faced we see that they are just like the temptations Adam faced. Yeshua was taken into the wilderness and faced three tests. Lust of the flesh:

Luke 4:3-4 (quoting Deuteronmy 8:3)

Genesis 3:6

Lust of the eyes:

Luke 4:5-7 (quoting Deuternomy 6:13)

Genesis 3:6

Pride of life:

Luke 4:9-11 (quoting Deuteronomy 6:16)

Genesis 3:6

Yeshua was obedient to the Father in all His actions. He came to do the Father’s will and was obedient even unto death.

John 5:30

Matthew 26:39

John 6:38

Philippians 2:8

Adam, by his disobedience brought death to all his descendants. But through the obedience and grace of Yeshua, the second Adam, the gift of life was extended to many people ending death’s reign over those who believe.

Romans 5:15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ (Yeshua), overflow to the many! (NIV)

Shalom and Be Blessed

Sunday, August 23, 2009

The Name Yeshua

In the Hebrew language, names have meanings. Jesus’ Hebrew name is ישוע pronounced “Yeshua.” Its literal meaning is he will save (see Strong’s Dictionary #3442).

The record of His birth in Matthew connects His name to His mission to save His people from their sins.

Mt 1:21 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." (NKJV)

The written Hebrew language started out as pictographs. The letters are associated with both a sound and a picture. The pictographs frequently add an extra depth to the word. For example, the word for father is אב pronounce “ab” or “av” with the word read right to left. The first letter is the aleph, א, which was originally the picture of an ox head denoting strength, the leader or first. The second letter is the beit, ב, whose originally pictograph was a floor plan of a three room house. It means tent, house, household or family. The word picture for אב, father, is “the strength of the house or family. A father is the strength of a family.

An important word picture is that of the name of God יהוה, usually pronounced “Yahweh.” Jesus the Messiah is revealed in this name of God. The picture meaning for each letter in יהוה are as follows:

Yood: י A closed hand, a deed, to make, work
Hey: ה Window, lattice, “the”, to reveal
Vav: ו Nail, “and”, to add, to secure
Hey: ה Window, lattice, “the”, to reveal

Yahweh: The hand revealed the nail revealed. The salvation plan and the mission of Jesus are in the very name of God; the Father reveals the Son.

Ps 2:7 "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. (NKJV)

So, what about the name Jesus or Yeshua? Since Jesus is revealed in the Father’s name, do you think the Father could be revealed in the Son’s name? Jesus said the Father was in Him and He in the Father.

Joh 10:37 "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 "but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him." (NKJV)

Further, He said that He did the works of the Father. Two of the Father’s works are to bring salvation and judgment, and two of God’s names evidence this. The name Yahweh first appears in the Bible in connection with the creation of man. Before that, only his name as Elohim is used. It is by the name of Yahweh that God delivers the Israelites from Egypt.

Le 26:13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright. (NKJV)

The name Yahweh reveals His mercy and grace. A second name is Almighty. In Hebrew that name is שדי, pronounced “Shaddai.” It comes from the word “shadad” which means burley, powerful, destroyer. The characteristic of God revealed by Shaddai is His power and judgment. We see both of these names in Joel 1:15.

Joe 1:15 Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD (Yahweh) is at hand; It shall come as destruction from the Almighty (Shaddai). (NKJV)

One more piece of background information and we are ready to look at the word picture for Jesus’ name. The first letter in God’s names are accepted abbreviations for the name. The picture meaning for ישוע “Yeshua” is as follows:

Yood: י Yahweh, God in His capacity of mercy and grace
Shin: ש Shaddai, God in His capacity as judge
Vav: ו Nail, “and”, to add, to secure
Ayin: ע eye, to see, know, experience

Yeshua: Mercy, grace and judgment secured by knowledge and experience. To know Yeshua is to know God in His mercy, grace and judgment. Yeshua came once to bring mercy or salvation. He will come again to bring judgment. In His own words as recorded by John He says:

Joh 12:47 "And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. (NKJV)

Isaiah, like Joel, writes of the Last Day as being a day of judgment and destruction.

Isa 13:6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. (NKJV)

Shalom and Be Blessed