Abraham was the First Pilgrim

Shalom Kol Yisrael,

You have probably been wondering what has happened to Chazak. Well, we just took a little hiatus. While away for the last few weeks, we conducted a wedding. Yes, it was a surprise to us too! It happened during Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). This made the festival very full indeed! Though it was on short notice it was an honor and a blessing to participate as we have seen Abba working in the lives of this wonderful couple. It was designed close to the ancient Biblical/Hebraic wedding. It was planned in lightning fashion as we found out we were doing it on Tuesday, the first day of Sukkot, and the wedding was on Shabbat of that week (3 days to plan)!! I think people were blessed because we were not concerned about how perfect it was. We can put our plans in order. But, sometimes we have to be ready and willing to allow our plans to be altered. Isn't that how life is? We plan as much as we can for what we may face, but really it is Abba who is there to assist us to guide the way.

Next week we will be return to our series on the Restoration of Yisrael: Mystery of the Ages, Part 5 - Yoseph: A Dreamer for Our Times. For this week, I am going focus on the pilgrims and the day that is celebrated as Thanksgiving. I know some of you are not Americans, but I believe this message is still relevant because it focuses on the first pilgrim, Avraham.

The First Pilgrim was a Hebrew

Hear my prayer, YHWH, and give ear to my cry; hold not peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with You, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. (Psalm 39:12)

What are Pilgrims?

Current Understanding

Pilgrim fathers, a name popularly given to the one hundred and two English colonists who landed from the Mayflower and made the first settlement in New England at Plymouth in 1620. They were separatists from the Church of England, and most of them had sojourned in Holland.

Definition of A Pilgrim

Webster's definition of a pilgrim, “1. A wayfarer; a wanderer; a traveler; a stranger. ex. Strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 2 One who travels far, or in strange lands. 3. To journey; to wander; to ramble.  What they believed made them aliens or pilgrims to the people around them.

Abraham was the First Pilgrim

Bereshit (Genesis) 12:1 And YHWH said to Abram, “Go yourself out of your land, from your relatives and from your father’s house, to a land which I show you. 2 “And I shall make you a great nation, and bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing! 3 “And I shall bless those who bless you, and curse him who curses you. And in you all the clans of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram left, as YHWH had commanded him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.

First reference to the word “Hebrew”

Bereshit 14:13 And one who had escaped came and informed Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshkol and brother of Aner, and they had a covenant with Abram.

In the Strong's Dictionary of the Bible it is numbered H5677. Hebrew = "one from beyond".

Some Americans can relate to the Pilgrims that came to America, but few Americans who believe in the Bible even see a connection in their lives to the first pilgrim in the history of the world, our father Abraham.  The Apostle Paul explained to all believers of the Saviour of their connection to the first Pilgrim Abraham in Galatians.  Galatians 3:29 And if you are of Messiah, then you are seed of Abraham, and heirs according to the promise.

The Promise to the First Pilgrim

Bereshit 15:18 On the same day YHWH made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates.....”

Bereshit 17:6 “And I shall make you bear fruit exceedingly, and make nations of you, and sovereigns shall come from you. 7 “And I shall establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be Elohim to you and your seed after you. 8 “And I shall give to you and your seed after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Kenaan, as an everlasting possession. And I shall be their Elohim.”

Since we are ancestors and heirs of the first Pilgrim let us strive to grab a hold of the same inheritance and the same blessing given to our father Abraham the first pilgrim. May this give us a renewed understanding each year as we celebrate Thanksgiving. And may all believers understand who are dispersed in the four corners of the world, that you were once soujourners and strangers for Y'shua has brought you back to the covenant. The previous Scriptures have shown that the convenant involves both a Land and a People. So welcome home pilgrims for it is time to return home both in your heart and in your mind. YHWH asks of all us to prepare for the Second Exodus which will be greater than the first (see Yeshayahu/Isaiah 11:10-14)!

Shavua Tov,
--
Tzefanyah Pappas
Chazak Chazak v’nitchazek
Let us be strong, let us be strong and let us
strengthen (encourage) one another!

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Chag Same'ach - Sukkot Blessings

Shalom Kol Yisrael,

I have just finished the Sukkah in time for our Succot celebration tomorrow at our home. I secured in the last boards, cleaned up and went it inside. Then, it began to rain!!

YHWH gave us wives to encourage their husbands. I started this Sukkah initially and was ready to give up. But, Reyyna only spoke words of encouragement and I rallied under those words. It really is a picture of the tribulation. When we are at our weakest, the Holy Spirit will encourage us to continue to fight the good fight of faith. This Sukkah really was an act of worship for me. Scripture says that whatever you do, do your work heartily as for YHWH rather than for man. For from YHWH, you will receive the reward of the inheritance for it is the Master Y'shua you serve (see Collosians 3:23-24). And since I was building a Sukkah, the reward of the inheritance will be living in the Land of Yisrael for my family!!

I pray that this Succoth season will be one filled with joy and strength. May you realize the greatness of the Spirit of Messiah that dwells in you!

Shavua tov,

--
Tzefanyah Pappas
Chazak Chazak v’nitchazek
Let us be strong, let us be strong and let us
strengthen (encourage) one another!

Part 4: The Restoration of Yisrael: Mystery of the Ages – Two Wombs, Two Houses

Shalom Kol Yisrael,

We return to our series, Part 4: The Restoration of Yisrael: Mystery of the Ages – Two Wombs, Two Houses. We left off with seeing the completion of one of Lavan's deceptions when he gave his older daughter Leah and not Raqel as a wife to Yaacov. Since man is only capable of loving one woman, YHWH looked with compassion on the victimization of Leah in Lavan's scheme. Interestingly, most of Yisrael's tribes would come forth from her womb.

Two Wombs, Two Houses

Below is a table showing the sons coming from Leah's and Raqel's womb and the meaning of their name. Please note that in ancient times if a woman offered her female servant to bring forth children, these children were still considered to be from their master's womb (see Bereshit/Genesis 29 and 30).

Leah's children	Meaning
1. Reuven	Behold a son
2. Shimon	He has heard
3. Levi	Attached to YHWH
4. Yehudah	I praise YHWH.
Raqel's children
5. Dan (from Raqel's servant Bilhah)	Judge
6. Naphtali (from Raqel's servant Bilhah)	My wrestling
Leah's children
7. Gad (from Leah's servant Zilpah)	Overcome
8. Asher (from Leah's servant Zilpah)	Happy
9. Yissaskar	He will bring a reward
10. Zebulun	Habitation
Dinah (a daughter)	Justice
Raqel's children
11. Yoseph	Let Him add
12. Benyamin	Son of the right hand

The two wombs and two nations arising from Raqel and Leah would continue with much discord and strife throughout the years. Just as Raqel and Leah contended with each other so would these brothers of Yisrael. Yet despite a future civil war YHWH had plans to bring family unity.

What About Those Sheep?

Bereshit 30: 25 And it came to be, when Raḥĕl had borne Yosĕph, that Ya‛aqoḇ said to Laḇan, “Send me on my way, to go to my own place and to my land. 26 “Give my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go, for you yourself know my service which I have done for you.” 27 And Laḇan said to him, “If I have found favour in your eyes, please stay, for I have diligently watched that YHWH has blessed me for your sake.” 28 And he said, “Name me your wages, and I give it.” 29 So he said to him, “You know how I have served you and how your livestock has been with me. 30 “For the little you had before I came has increased greatly, and YHWH has blessed you since my coming. But now, when am I to provide for my own house too?” 31 And he said, “What do I give you?” And Ya‛aqoḇ said, “Give me naught! If you do this for me, I shall again feed and guard your flocks: 32 “Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all the black ones among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the goats. And these shall be my wages. 33 “And my righteousness shall answer for me in time to come, when you come concerning my wages: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the lambs, it is stolen if it is with me.” 34 And Laḇan said, “See, let it be according to your word!” 35 And on that day he set aside the male goats that were speckled and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had some white in it, and all the black ones among the lambs, and gave them into the hand of his sons. 36 And he put three days’ journey between himself and Ya‛aqoḇ, and Ya‛aqoḇ fed the rest of Laḇan’s flocks. 37 And Ya‛aqoḇ took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees, peeled white strips in them, and exposed the white which was in the rods. 38 And he set the rods which he had peeled before the flocks in the gutters, in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, and they conceived when they came to drink. 39 So the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted. 40 And Ya‛aqoḇ separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the streaked and all the black in the flock of Laḇan, but he put his own flocks by themselves and did not put them with Laḇan’s flock. 41 And it came to be, whenever the strong ones of the flock conceived, that Ya‛aqoḇ placed the rods before the eyes of the flock in the gutters, so they would conceive among the rods. 42 But when the flocks were weak, he did not put them in, so the weak ones were Laḇan’s and the strong ones Ya‛aqoḇ’s. 43 Thus the man increased very much, and had many flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys. (emphases added)

I will have to admit that I've read this passage many times and scratched my head. Perhaps, that is why I have a bald spot in the middle of my head today!! Well, the Ruach lead me to look at 3 words in this passage and what I found significant was Yaacov's description of the sheep. Verse 37 speaks of flocks that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. The Hebrew meaning of the descriptions opens up a whole new revelation. The root word in Strong's for streaked means “to bind”, for speckled “to pierce”, and for spotted “to cover”.

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 53:4 Truly, He has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains. Yet we reckoned Him stricken, smitten by Elohim, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our crookednesses. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.....12 Therefore I give Him a portion among the great, and He divides the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His being unto death, and He was counted with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (emphases added)

Y'shua bound up our sicknesses, pains, and sin upon Himself. He was pierced for our transgressions. And He covers our present sin making intercession for us (see Hebrews 7:25).

Y'shua does not put us with the flocks of the world. As we “come out from among them” and are separate from the world as He is, we become strengthened (above verses in Bereshit 30:40-42).

The Propensity of Ephraim for Idolatry

In Bereshit 31, YHWH intervenes and speaks to Lavan to allow Yaacov to go freely. YHWH warns Lavan to not speak good or evil of Yaacov.

Also in this section, we see Raqel took the family idols with her and hid them in her tent. Is this the precursor to Ephraim's propensity for idol's?

Hoshea 4: 17 “Ephrayim is joined to idols, let him alone. 18 “Their drink is sour, they have whored continually. Her rulers wildly loved shame. 19 “A wind has bound her up in its wings, and they are ashamed because of their slaughterings. (emphases added)

Yet the promise of YHWH is sure to heal backsliding Ephraim:

Hoshea 14:4 I shall heal their backsliding, I shall love them spontaneously, for My displeasure has turned away from him. 5 “I shall be like the dew to Yisra’ĕl. He shall blossom like the lily, and cast out his roots like Leḇanon. 6 “His branches shall spread, and his splendour shall be like an olive tree, and his fragrance like Leḇanon. 7 “Those who dwell under his shadow shall return. They shall revive like grain, and blossom like the vine, and become as fragrant as the wine of Leḇanon. 8 “What more has Ephrayim to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after him. I am like a green cypress tree, your fruit comes from Me.” (emphases added)

Machanayim, Two Camps

In Bereshit 32, Yaacov so remembered the hatred fuming from Esau, it was as if his departure from his father's house was just yesterday. Fear gripped Yaacov as he divided his household into two camps (Hebrew machanayim). Yaacov took these precautions to protect his family by dividing them. All things work for the good of those who love YHWH and are called according to His purpose. Despite the reasons for the division of Yisrael into 2 nations, YHWH has used it to protect a large number of unbeknown Yisraelites. Was this prophetic as Yisrael is divided still today into two camps? Many Christians today have been hidden from their Yisraelite identity for Abba has divided them from their brother Yehudah to this very day. Is this to be until the destruction of the House of Esau (Edomites) has taken place? Or will these believers in Y'shua awaken to their identity in time to assist Yehudah to vanquish the Edomites? Perhaps the latter, for Yaacov soon receives his new name as Yisrael before his encounter with Esau.

The Y Chromosome

I believe that the revelation of one's destiny is a precursor to one's path to victory. Your destiny is your marching orders from the King. Yaacov received his marching orders from YHWH.

Bereshit 32: 22 And he rose up that night and took his two wives, and his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford of Yabboq. 23 And he took them and sent them over the stream, and sent over what he had. 24 And Ya‛aqov̱ was left alone. And a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 25 And when He saw that He did not overcome him, He touched the socket of his hip. And the socket of Ya‛aqov̱’s hip was dislocated as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I am not letting You go until You have blessed me!” 27 So He asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Ya‛aqov̱.” 28 And He said, “Your name is no longer called Ya‛aqov̱, but Yisra’ĕl, because you have striven with Elohim and with men, and have overcome.” 29 And Ya‛aqov̱ asked Him, saying, “Please let me know Your Name.” And He said, “Why do you ask about My Name?” And He blessed him there. 30 And Ya‛aqov called the name of the place Peni’ĕl, “For I have seen Elohim face to face, and my life is preserved.” 31 And the sun rose on him as he passed over Penu’ĕl, and he limped on his hip. (emphases added)

In Part 3, I shared how Yah showed me a vision of Yaacov's ladder as that of a DNA strand (a double helix). Now we see the emergence of the Y chromosome. It is interesting that the English letter Y is the equivalent of the Hebrew letter yud. The name Yisrael begins with the Hebrew letter yud and the English letter Y. In genetics the Y chromosome is the chromosome that is carried by all males. Females are XX and males are XY. YHWH preserved the genetic code of Yisrael through the fathers. It stands as a witness of the Torah which declares that both curses and blessings will be passed on through the fathers (see Shemot/Exodus 20:5-6 and Vayikra/Leviticus 26:40-41). Was it prophetic to call the male chromosome the “Y” chromosome just as the “Y” is in Yisrael?

What other hidden meanings can be found in the Y chromosome? Look closely at an interesting characteristic of the English letter “Y”. Is not the “Y” 2 sticks coming together?! Who, in prophetic history, will be 2 sticks coming together? (see Yeheskel/Ezekiel 37) Patriarchal lineage has everything to do with the “Y” chromosome. In every male human being on earth a fossil remains to give testimony to YHWH's creative order. Yaacov's refusal to not let go until he was blessed imprinted a chromosomal fossil that to this day desires to express itself in the sons of men.

Romans 8: 19 For the intense longing of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of Elohim. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not from choice, but because of Him who subjected it, in anticipation, 21 that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage to corruption into the esteemed freedom of the children of Elohim. 22 For we know that all the creation groans together, and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only so, but even we ourselves who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, we ourselves also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. (emphases added)

If we read chapter 9 of Romans, we realize that Shaul/Paul was talking about the redemption of the sons of Yisrael in the above verses. Could the “Y” chromosome of Yisrael be part of the creation that is crying out for the revealing of the sons of Elohim? If each “Y” chromosome responds to their call, shall redemption rage within the body? Could creative spiritual energy from YHWH alight the “Y” chromosome as it meets its spiritual and created order and destiny? Romans chapter 8 finishes with an exhortation that we are over-comers. Yisrael means to overcome with El (God). It appears as if Shaul himself is describing this to a part of the nature of the “Y”/ Yisraelite chromosome.

Can we then understand what the prophet Malachi said in chapter 4: 6 “And he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with utter destruction. The “Y”chromosomes of the children when they turn to their fathers Abraham, Yitzchak, and Yaacov who became Yisrael – the “Y” chomosome of the fathers through Y'shua will regenerate and redeem the bodies of YHWH's children, Yisrael, and set a prophetic, creative force loose into all the world. Yisrael will then truly be a light to the nations!

Shavua Tov,

Tzefanyah Pappas
Chazak Chazak v’nitchazek
Let us be strong, let us be strong and let us
strengthen (encourage) one another!

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Sound the Shofar/Trumpet and Warn the People

Shalom Kol Yisrael,

I have been hearing prophetic reports that life as we know it may change very soon. I will echo that. With bank failure after bank failure occurring, I sense a black cloud descending upon this nation. I will admit I don't have my physical house in order. I don't have food or water stored up. Living in South Florida is hand to mouth. But, I have the assurance of the implanted Word inside of me. This is not a time to be tossed to and fro by sayings of men. This is a time to seek His face with all diligence. Y'shua our Messiah will be the only One to get us through the coming days ahead.

I believe events will take place that we never imagined could happen in this country and in this world. If our physical freedoms are taken away in the places where we live, we must remember that our only true freedom is in Y'shua freeing us from the power of sin.

Many will enter into despair hoping for a "rapture". Beloved ones do not let these events rob your joy! Throughout Scripture it was joy that defeated the enemy. His Word never changes. So we can count it all joy whatever trials
may be ahead.

Shavua Tov,

--
Tzefanyah Pappas
Chazak Chazak v’nitchazek
Let us be strong, let us be strong and let us
strengthen (encourage) one another!

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The Ancient Paths Are Rest for You

Shalom Kol Yisrael,

First, if the Ruach leads we will return to our series next week. However, this week Abba put something on my heart based on a verse a brother shared with me. Here is the verse.

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith YHWH, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Today, Christianity is suffering the consequences of saying they will not walk in the old/ancient paths. I have talked to some believers where the resistance to the old paths was so strong that it brought about both anger and rage. And yet not once did I say to them about living a Torah lifestyle. I just lived my life and did not say anything. I guess my life example was even too much for them. I would hear responses, “I am not going under the law, I am free! Besides, I keep the 10 commandments. Those are the only laws that are necessary.” I have been in discussions where they will refuse to even listen to a verse from the Tenach (or Old Testament). They would, however, quote from the text if it served their own purposes. In their ignorance, they fail to look beyond the 10 commandments which are filled with guidelines to live a righteous life. For instance, admonitions against having relations with a beast are not in the 10 commandments. So does that mean this action is permissible since it is not in the 10 commandments? Yah forbid. The definition of sin has been lost – the transgression of the Torah (see 1 Yochanon/John 3:4).

But, some say it is not possible for us to live a righteous life. Yes, while it is true that we have no righteousness on our own, we have have a righteous Holy Spirit living inside of us that we can submit to who will empower us to live righteously!

I believe most have forgotten what freedom is. The Apostle Shaul/Paul asked the question, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" (Romans 6:12) Shaul answered may it not be so. Kefa/Peter said of Shaul's writings that they are hard to understand and unlearned and unstable will misinterpret them to their own destruction. (see 2 Kefa/Peter 3:16) In other words, if you do not know that the old/ancient paths are good for you, you will never understand the Apostle Shaul/Paul's writings. Today, when someone gets saved the first thing we do is give them a New Testament. Hmm. The first century believers who lived a life empowered by the Spirit never had a New Testament! They had a manual to the ancient paths – the Tenach. If you don't know the Tenach first, it will lead you to a life of not finding rest for your souls. If you refuse to walk in the ancient ways, you will even open doors to false prophets. Thus, the problems that plague modern Christianity.

This past Torah portion shows the great blessings that are awaiting those who walk in the old/ancient paths. But, it also spells out the curses that follow if you refuse. (Devarim/Deut. 27 and 28). By submitting to the Holy Spirit, we are released to live in the ancient paths and be a witness to a darkened world.

Shavua Tov,

Tzefanyah Pappas
Chazak Chazak v’nitchazek
Let us be strong, let us be strong and let us
strengthen (encourage) one another!
www.chazakyisrael.blogspot.com

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A Short Letter - Dividing Up His Land

Shalom Kol Yisrael,

I have been "under the weather" this weekend recovering from a bad cold, thus no Chazak letter.  But I would like to share two verses that encouraged me this morning.

Elohim delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.
--Psalm 72:12

Y'shua spoke:

Will not Elohim give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily.
--Luke 18:7-8

I heard a brother this weekend who compared Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ike moving up the backbone of this country as a warning against Abba's judgments to those who would participate in dividing His Land of Yisrael.  

Brothers and Sisters, if you love Yisrael and pray for her regularly; Abba knows.   He will not ignore your prayer.   You will be protected from His judgments.   Was not Lot rescued from Sodom and Gomorrah before its destruction?

Shavua Tov,

--
Tzefanyah Pappas
Chazak Chazak v’nitchazek
Let us be strong, let us be strong and let us
strengthen (encourage) one another!

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Part 3: The Restoration of Yisrael: Mystery of the Ages - The White Lies of Lavan

Shalom Kol Yisrael,

After one week off, we return to Part 3 of the Restoration of Yisrael: Mystery of the Ages series. I pray that you know that you are being kept and nestled in the palm of Abba's hand. I say that because we need to be reminded of this in these perilous yet exciting times.

We last left off learning about Yaacov and his flight to his uncle Lavan. We learned that Lavan means “white”. Thus, the title of Part 3 - The White Lies of Lavan. In Part 3, we will cover only one of the “white” lies of Lavan.

A White Lie

What really is a white lie? The common definition for a white lie is, “A little lie that does not harm anyone.” Isn't that what we always say about a lie? In fact, we fail to confess this behavior by even failing to say the word! “Oh, I didn't tell a lie; I told an untruth.” Now when I am talking about a lie I am not talking about Tamar's deception which was righteous because the motivation of the act was to continue a lineage which eventually led to Messiah. In addition, I am not talking about Rechab (Rehab) who lied about the spies with the destiny of Yisrael at stake, nor of Esther who hid her identity to save all the Jewish people from annihilation. I am talking about a lie that involves self gain.

May I propose a different definition of a white lie? How about this? A lie where the person giving it attempts to make themselves look good or giving a false impression of self. Have you ever been in a situation where somebody shared information with you and you said, “Oh I already knew that.” When in reality you did not have a clue! Have you reminded somebody of something they said several weeks ago and they said, “What are you talking about I never said that?” This sounds like a convenient bad memory. I will admit it I have been on the receiving end and I have doled it out too. But, the lie is not a harmless lie. You have harmed the relationship with the person you told this lie to. And you have done harm to yourself. Is this the character of the Ruach Ha Kodesh? No. What does this have to do with Lavan? Good question. Will you take a Scriptural journey with me?

Preparation Against the White Lies of Lavan

Bereshit (Genesis) 28: 5 So Yitsḥaq sent Yaaqov̱ away, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laḇan son of Bethuĕl the Aramean, the brother of Riḇqah, the mother of Yaaqov̱ and Ěsaw. (emphasis added)

On his flight to Aramea, a significant event occurred which I believe spoke to Yaacov that YHWH was holding him in the Palm of His Hand. It also was confirmation to Yaacov that indeed he was the one to receive the blessing of the first born.

Bereshit 28: 10 And Yaaqov went out from Beĕrsheḇa and went toward Ḥaran. 11 And he came upon a place and stopped over for the night, for the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed and saw a ladder set up on the earth, and its top reached to the heavens, and saw messengers of Elohim going up and coming down on it. 13 And see, YHWH stood above it and said, “I am YHWH the Elohim of Aḇraham your father and the Elohim of Yitsḥaq. The land on which you are lying, I give it to you and your seed. 14 “And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall break forth to the west and to the east, to the north and the south. And all the clans of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your seed. 15 “And see, I am with you and shall guard you wherever you go, and shall bring you back to this land. For I am not going to leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” 16 And Yaaqov̱ awoke from his sleep and said, “Truly, YHWH is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of Elohim, and this is the gate of the heavens!” 18 And Yaaqov rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a standing column, and poured oil on top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bĕyth Ěl, however, the name of that city had been Luz previously. 20 And Yaaqov made a vow, saying, “Seeing Elohim is with me, and has kept me in this way that I am going, and has given me bread to eat and a garment to put on – 21 when I have returned to my father’s house in peace, and YHWH has been my Elohim, 22 then this stone which I have set as a standing column shall be Elohim’s house, and of all that You give me, I shall certainly give a tenth to You.” (emphases added)

Why would someone use a stone for a pillow? The Hebrew word for pillow is very similar to a Hebrew word for dominion. Perhaps, Abba has hidden a mystery in the similarity of words. For it is at this place Abba reinforces the dominion given the descendants of Yaacov. Abba further reinforces the same blessing given to his grandfather Avraham years earlier that He would bring them back to the Land He had chosen for them.

Years ago while living in South Africa I had a vision of Yaacov's ladder. I saw a DNA molecule extending from the heavens and to the ground. The Ruach reminded me that DNA is the molecular building blocks of a people. It is also the molecular foundation for man. So the ladder was not only a reminder that Abba would set aside a people for Himself, but also Y'shua, the man, would be our ladder or bridge to the heavens as our Advocate. (see Yochanon/John 1:51)

This moment in Yaacov's life prepared him for the white lies of Lavan. This life is filled with man's manipulations, but we will never break from them and find our true liberty until it gets embedded into our being that Abba alone is sovereign over our lives. Truly, a foundation was laid that would aid Yaacov through many difficulties he would face from this time forward.

The Wells of Salvation

Bereshit 29:1 And Yaaqov̱ moved on and came to the land of the people of the East. 2 And he looked and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying by it, for out of that well they watered the flocks, and a large stone was on the well’s mouth. 3 And all the flocks would be gathered there, then they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth. 4 So Yaaqov̱ said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Ḥaran.” 5 And he said to them, “Do you know Laḇan son of Naḥor?” And they said, “We know him.” 6 So he said to them, “Is he well?” And they said, “Well. And see, his daughter Raḥĕl is coming with the sheep.” 7 And he said, “See, it is still high day, not the time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.” 8 But they said, “We are not allowed until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, then we shall water the sheep.” 9 While he was still speaking with them, Raḥĕl came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 And it came to be, when Yaaqov saw Raḥĕl the daughter of Laḇan his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laḇan his mother’s brother, that Yaaqov went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laḇan his mother’s brother. (emphases added)

The wells of salvation are Yisrael's refreshment. Prophetically, Yaacov had to wait for all of Yisrael to receive the refreshment of the mayim chayim. The waters of the well itself represent Y'shua and the stone rolled away represent the covering over His tomb. The four flocks represent not only Yisraelites scattered to the four corners of the earth, but the gathering of all of Yisrael around the four corners of the Mishkan (tabernacle). YHWH's presence was the well of salvation for the Yisraelites assembled around the Mishkan. Yaacov (a father of Yisrael) rolling the stone away represented Abba Father rolling the stone away from the tomb of His Son Y'shua. The waters of the well of salvation, our Savior Y'shua, were the very waters that refreshed the thirsty nation of Yisrael and the world.

I believe a holy love kindled in Yaacov's heart for Rachel. He knew that Abba had shown him his wife. Many, I believe, have incorrectly romanticized (a pagan affection from Rome) the devotion Yaacov felt for Rachel. For this holy affection would be the same expression YHWH had for Ephrayim (descendant of Rachel), “Is Ephrayim a precious son to Me, a child of delights? For though I spoke against him, I still remembered him. That is why My affections were deeply moved for him. I have great compassion for him,” declares YHWH. (Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 31:20)

It is this holy unmitigated love for Rachel that would ease the anguish of being under manipulative spirits of control and domination found in the household of Lavan. Indeed, Abba was doing a tremendous work in Yaacov's life; preparing him for his destiny to be the first Yisraelite whose seed would manifest as a firstborn nation.

Lavan's Deception

Bereshit 29:13 And it came to be, when Laḇan heard the report about Ya‛aqoḇ his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Then he told Laḇan all these matters. 14 And Laḇan said to him, “You are indeed my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month. 15 Then Laḇan said to Ya‛aqoḇ, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for naught? Let me know, what should your wages be?” 16 And Laḇan had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lĕ’ah, and the name of the younger was Raḥĕl. 17 And Lĕ’ah’s eyes were weak, but Raḥĕl was lovely of form and appearance. 18 And Ya‛aqoḇ loved Raḥĕl, so he said, “Let me serve you seven years for Raḥĕl your younger daughter.” 19 And Laḇan said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” 20 So Ya‛aqoḇ served seven years for Raḥĕl, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. (emphases added)

Revelation (chapter 3, verse 7 and following) talks about the congregation of Philadelphia having a love so strong for one another and for Abba and His Son that they their lives will be preserved during the coming tribulation. Shall our love for Abba Father and for Yisrael be so strong that the seven years of tribulation seem like a few days?

Bereshit 29:21 Then Yaaqov̱ said to Laḇan, “Give me my wife, for my days are completed, and let me go in to her.” 22 And Laḇan gathered all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 And it came to be in the evening, that he took Lĕah his daughter and brought her to Ya‛aqoḇ. And he went in to her. 24 And Laḇan gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Lĕah as a female servant. 25 And in the morning it came to be, that see, it was Lĕah. So he said to Laḇan, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Raḥĕl that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?” 26 And Laḇan said, “It is not done this way in our place, to give the younger before the first-born. 27 “Complete the week of this one, then we give you this one too, for the service which you shall serve with me still another seven years.” (emphases added)

Lavan's white lie was now complete. Yet, all things work for the good of those who love YHWH and are called according to His purpose (see Romans 8:28). Yaacov did not allow his anger to get the best of him. Instead he chose to accept what he had been dealt for deep inside he knew Abba was seeing him through every situation. It was unfortunate that Leah was a victim in Lavan's greedy scheme. For Scripture is clear that man is only capable of loving one woman. Abba looked upon the victimization of Leah and with compassion blessed the fruit of her womb.

Continued Next Week Part 4 – Restoration of Yisrael Mystery of the Ages:

Two Wombs, Two Houses

I pray for a deep flowing love of Abba and the nation Yisrael to flow into your hearts. May it manifest itself in a greater understanding of your role in Yisrael which is the hope of your calling.

Shavua tov,

Tzefanyah Pappas

Chazak Chazak v’nitchazek
Let us be strong, let us be strong and let us
strengthen (encourage) one another!

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