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Are You shittim me?


poop
Shittim is stinky!

A little humor to introduce this next Torah Portion that comes from Numbers 25 and is titled “Pinchas | פנחס | “Phinehas”

In this blog, I will highlight the journey Israel took by the names of the places they stopped at, and my own journey by the names of streets my husband and I have resided on. I also want to reflect on being pierced in the heart versus being pierced in the belly.

In this Torah portion is the name of the place where Israel was camped when 24,000 leaders died. It was east of the Jordon and called Shittim.

“The name Shittim means Acacias.”

Acacias are very special trees—

This location is mentioned by numerous prophets and has several hidden gems. Let’s look at one passage before we begin.

“And in that day

The mountains will drip with sweet wine,

And the hills will flow with milk,

And all the brooks of Judah will flow with water;

And a spring will go out from the house of the LORD

To water the valley of Shittim.” Joel 3:18.

Sounds wonderful!

Unfortunately, the valley of Shittim was used by the Israelites as a valley of sin.

“While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the LORD was angry against Israel.” Numbers 25:1-3 NASB.

“Baal Peor is a Moabite god, which service specifically included sexual acts.”

It seems that Balaam had more to do with this story than we may have noticed. Apparently, he helped wet Israel’s appetites through bad counsel. For deeper revelation concerning the teaching of Balaam click here: The Teaching of Balaam | GRACE in TORAH.

“And Moses said to them, “Have you spared all the women? “Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the LORD.” Numbers 31:15-16.

The rest of the story in this Torah portion is difficult to read. The Father commands Moses to take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before Him. “But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light.” Ephesians 5:13.

They’re up Shittim creek without a paddle.

A man named Phinehas stops the plague. He was Aaron’s grandson.

“And when Pineḥas, son of El‛azar, son of Aharon the priest, saw it, he “rose up” (authority) from among the congregation and took a spear in his hand, and he went after the man of Yisra’ĕl into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Yisra’ĕl, and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague among the children of Yisra’ĕl came to a stop.

And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.” Numbers 25:7-9 ISR.

Wow, 24,000 slain! What a large number of lives fell that day.

Image result for Phinehas

I find it interesting that at our last Feast, the Feast of Shavuot/ Pentecost, over 3,000 came back into the Covenant, and that same number represented the number who were slain after committing adultery with the golden calves. Let’s read that passage.

“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Every man of you put his sword upon his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbor.’” So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day.” Exodus 32:27-28 NASB.

Then during Shavuot, a very peculiar thing happens. Peter preaches the good news and 3000 souls were added that day.

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:37, 38, 41 NASB.

24,000 leaders were slain in this Torah portion, but the number 24 also represents a perfect form of leadership. “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.” Revelation 4:4.

While in the valley of Shittim, Phinehas was able to stop the plague by taking a spear and piercing the man and woman through.

Why such lustful cravings?

It has to do with our bellies.

Peter pierced the hearts and Phinehas pierced the bellies. The belly is the place of appetites, sexual lust, rich foods, and passions.

“The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, But the stomach of the wicked is in need.” Proverbs 13:25.

Yeshua said that out of our belly would flow rivers of LIVING waters. And that’s what we need to cleanse all the Shittim out!

The stomach area is also the place where we ingest food—good bread from the table of Adonai or bread mixed with impurity. The Israelites had cravings. We all do.

Back in chapter eleven, they had landed in a place called Taberah.

The name Taberah comes from the Hebrew verb בער (ba’ar I), meaning to kindle, burn or consume:

The Father was ready to consume them for a multitude of reasons. They wanted food. They were tired of eating His heavenly bread.

Awe the belly cries out. Our nephesh always does.

It’s HUNGRY!

A very curious thing happens in the story. It’s the same thing that happened when Miriam and Aaron had spoken poorly about Moses wife. The Lord Adonai hears it.

Yes, He hears us when we complain and murmur.

“Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. The people therefore cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the LORD and the fire died out. So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the LORD burned among them. The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? Numbers 11:1-4.

Beten is the Hebrew word for belly, stomach, womb, and our inward parts.

How many of us can honestly say we have acted just as ungrateful. Raising my hand.

And why were the Elders slain? Many will pray healing from the top of the head to the souls of the feet, but let’s look at that verse again.

“Why should you be beaten anymore? You continue in apostasy! All the head is sick, and all the heart faints.

From the sole of the foot, to the head, there is no soundness in it – wounds and bruises and open sores; they have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment.” Isaiah 1:5-6 ISR.

Most the time we can look at leadership and see why a business failed–a nation crumbled–a family fell apart. The top has a trickle-down effect.

“Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” Romans 16:17-18 NASB.

While in Taberah they wanted food–pleasant meats and melons. In shittim they wanted sex and they lusted to fulfill their passions.

“For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.” Philippians 3:18-19 NASB.

In the valley of Shittim, their minds were on their appetites.

Shittim means acacia. Acacias is a tree that is used for multiple items in the Temple. This wood is something mysterious. The Sages say that HaShem created the tree—the cure before the sin occurred. It’s like a parent who keeps a box of Band-Aids on hand and a bottle of peroxide. He may pour in the cleansing waters that bubble forth and sting or even burn, but eventually, He will bandage us up. He will pour in the wine and the balm.

“Moreover, you shall make an altar as a place for burning incense; you shall make it of acacia wood.” Exodus 30:1 NASB.

“They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high.” Exodus 25:10.

thorn

This tree is a tree that is not attractive and to top it off, it’s thorny like the crown that was pierced into our Messiah’s head. Many believe it might have been thorns from that very tree that were used. Below is a picture of an umbrella thorn acacia tree.

acacia

Isn’t it interesting that their lust for golden idols, fleshly meats, and sexual lust was greater than their fear of Yah? Many were killed by plagues and swords and the earth opened its mouth to swallow them, and still they were not afraid of the G-d of Abraham—The G-d of Isaac, and the G-d of Israel.

The Creator of ALL—

Are we at times guilty too? How soon we forget His warnings and end up smelling like Shittim and stepping in it.

Awe, it’s a thorny business. We need our hearts pierced and our bellies.

The next portion of this teaching is going to recap a personal journey.

When I first met my husband I lived on Oak Side Ct. After a year of homelessness due to sickness I landed in a tiny apartment. We married later and I moved in with him. He lived on Irvin Pines Drive in ‘Timber Bend” Subdivision, and Oh how we did bend (humbled) there. We felt rejected by those we loved the most. Irvin means high cliff (pride) and also fresh waters. People in the Bible are often compared to trees. We had oak trees and pine trees for titles. One was hard and resilient—one had a sweet smelling fragrance.

After marriage, we realized we needed a place that was ours. We placed his house on the market and it sold one year later, closing on Passover/ Pesach. We thought that it was interesting to close on that date. Next, we landed for a very short time at a place called Preston Crossings Condominiums. Now Holy Ruach Spirit had me looking into this the other day, and I was intrigued by how His hand can even be in the name of a place. He took us from Egypt through the waters.

Preston means a “Spiritual Place.” “From an English surname which was originally derived from a place meaning “priest town.” We lived on Preston Springs Drive. This place was small compared to my husband’s three story house, but we were able to get rid of a huge chunk of debt. The rented condo was a place where we removed a lot of old relics, and we also removed a lot of junk from our spiritual houses. My husband was stripped of his titles of Chief of police and Associate pastor. I was being stripped in other ways. On moving day I was too weak to climb the steps into our new occupancy and scooted backward on my bottom up the flight of steps.

We spent a lot of time at the lake that year frolicking in the water and also in the pool. After being single for twelve years the shock of a new bride was uncomfortable for some and we needed good Counsel. Abba supplied our needs and we were able to heal from many hurts, but some of the pain was still tender to the touch. While living at Preston Springs we were parched and eager for these springs of water to quench us. A short time later, we were thrown into the wilderness. Literally.

My father lives on acreage in a rural area in KY. Our first week there was met with two snakes in the house, mice, and spiders the size of my hand. Since my mother had become sick with Parkinson’s and passed away shortly before I wed, my father had spent most his time taking care of her. The house needed a thorough cleaning—so did our Spiritual houses. My dad only cleared enough trees to build the house, so much of the critters felt right at home inside his home. Me– not so much. The name of the town he lives in means dove in Latin “Columba.” It looked anything but like a dove to me!

A snake we caught in the kitchen on a mouse pad.

snakeeespidey

This time of great testing was more than I could bear. I was hospitalized five times and had surgery. My right arm went numb from MS and I was given many rounds of steroids. I spent a long while in my motorized scooter there. We missed our children and family members who were a hundred miles away. I cherished my time with my father who now is 82 years young, but I had to leave. Sickness, snakes, murmuring and complaining and demanding flesh instead of His baked manna was part of our training ground. We needed a water bearing rock. We needed The Rock!

The Israelites were in Shittim and they had partaken of the flesh. Let’s read the verses again.

“While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the LORD was angry against Israel.” Numbers 25:1-3 NASB.

The Israelites bellies are ripe with desire.

Shittim in the Septuagint translation (Greek) of the Scriptures, is translated as aphthartos or incorruptible. The wood from the acacia cannot be corrupted. It’s covered in gold and housing the Words of LIFE.

“They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. “You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it. “You shall cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet, and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it. “You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. “You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them. “The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it. “You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.” Exodus 25:10-16 NASB.

The Ark of the Testimony is The Word of Yahweh kept in the “heart” of the Tabernacle. It is the heart of the matter. This Ark is covered in gold, and on top of it, the Mercy seat. The wings of the cherubs spreading out from tip to tip as a covering. Thank Yah for His Mercy Seat and the blood that covers all our Shittim!

After the deaths of the leaders, the Father makes a covenant with Phinehas. A lasting Priesthood of peace. Abba always keeps His Vows. He is not a man that He should lie.

“The Lord said to Moses, “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal. Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.” Numbers 25:10-13.

Now, what about the names of those who were spearheaded through their bellies?

“The name of the Israelite who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family. And the name of the Midianite woman who was put to death was Kozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.” 25:14-15.

“For a meaning of the name Cozbi, NOBSE Study Bible Name List reads False. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names proposes Lying.” “In Israeli, the name Cozbi means-a liar sliding away.”

The lust of our fleshly appetites will always lie to us. Our nephesh, with its many appetites, will rise up and speak falsely.

“The name Zimri is the word זמר post-fixed with the possessive yod. It may mean My Musician, My Gardener, My Mountain Sheep. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names leans towards the verb that means to sing or make music, and reads Song Of The Lord, taking the yod to be not a possessive but a remnant of יה, the abbreviated form of the Name of the Lord: יהוה (YHWH).”

We can stop and stifle our music, our gardening of planting His seeds, and our mountain journey by becoming one with a Harlot. The Harlot will always present a false message using an appearance of light—sparkling—beauty that ends in death.

After a spending a year in the wilderness at my father’s house, we both reflected on our attitudes at times.  How we acted and our actions during this testing were what really mattered. We both agree now looking back, that at times we were just as ungrateful as the Israelites in the wilderness, and we were often looking to fulfill the lust of our flesh because we were not pleased with our surroundings.

One night while living there, I had a dream that I was going to be living on cemetery road. I write extensively about this experience in my blog titled “My Funeral” where I go into how each of us must die to ourselves. We left the wilderness and landed on a street named Fenwick Creek place. Fenwick means “Village on the marsh”. What is a marsh? A marsh, according to the dictionary, is an area of low-lying land that is flooded in wet seasons or at high tide, and typically remains waterlogged at all times. We wanted water. We were thirsting for water, and He gave us a marsh and a creek. We landed here right before Pesach/ Passover and were able to enjoy His Feast in our new place.

“My people, what have I done to you,  And how have I wearied you?

Answer Me.

“Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt

And ransomed you from the house of slavery,

And I sent before you Moses, Aaron and Miriam.

“My people, remember now 

What Balak king of Moab counseled             

And what Balaam son of Beor answered him,           

  And from Shittim to Gilgal,           

  So that you might know the righteous acts of the LORD.” Micah 6:3-5 NASB.

Awe, we must get out of Shittim and move on to where the Father’s Torah is written on our hearts and where it pierces our hearts. May we use His Torah to pierce the serpent of our bellies and rise up drinking from the waters that He will pour out from the bowels of the Jordan. May it overflow its banks in this season and purify us and bring us lips that praise–that bless instead of curse. May we be grateful and not bitter. May we be strong in Him and the Power of His Might.

eagle fly

 

 

Sources:

Acacia thorn tree picture found here, https://www.bing.com/images/search?

Umbrella tree found here, https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=

Phinehas photo from preacheroftruth.com

NASB Version.

Grace in Torah

Abarim Publication

 

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Leah the Wild Cow


Leah the Wild Cow

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A friend of mine sent me an interesting podcast the other day about Rachel, the wife of Jacob. She was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. She said, “I keep seeing Rachel everywhere!” When she said it, I thought that’s funny because “I keep seeing Leah.”
Oh, Leah, you break my heart . . .  What can women learn from you and your eyes that cried a million tears?
Our backdrop starts in Genesis where we learn that Jacob, the patriarch later named Israel has just fled from his brother Esau who is looking to kill him. Why is he on the run? Jacob, with the help of his mother, takes the savory game she has cooked and pretends to be the first born (Esau) in order to get the blessing. He’d already stolen his birthright. He deceives both his brother and his father Isaac. Let’s look at that real quick.
” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.”
After Isaac blesses Jacob with beautiful words –mighty and true, Esau arrives with his game he has cooked and he tells his father he is there and to please bless him, but Isaac says, “What?” Who did I just bless? Your brother has deceived you.
“When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me—me also, O my father!” BLESS ME!
Have you ever had your blessing taken away? Right before your eyes–? By someone close to you? Yes, it’s a horrible feeling, but this story is about Leah. . . Rachel.
Leah was not the wife Jacob wanted— Rachel was the sexy dark-eyed beauty Jacob had his heart set on, but Laban tricks Jacob and gives him Leah- his first born, on his wedding night. Do you see the swap? Jacob the trickster has just been tricked. Jacob who dressed up as Esau has now met the oldest daughter dressed up as the youngest.
Imagine being so in love with a woman you agree to work seven years for her hand in marriage. Seven is the number of completion, but for Jacob, his dowry is now doubled to fourteen. There’s a message there but I’m going a different route. Imagine being Jacob for a moment. Young—handsome—on the run from your brother with his stolen birthright and blessing. Got an image? He runs and kisses Rachel at first sight. Her father agrees to the terms. And then comes the great wedding day. Ah, who is under the veil? Who is hidden from sight and unrecognizable? Again, there is a message there, but I am taking a left turn for a bit. Can you ponder what it was like when Jacob’s fingertips ran down her smooth back and kissed the nape of her neck? He became passionately one with his new bride whispering sweet tender words into her ear, but then woke up as deceived as his brother had been when he said Father don’t you have a blessing for me? BLESS ME—ME ALSO MY FATHER!
In the morning light Jacob arose only to find not Rachel the pretty little ewe lamb but Leah her tender eyed sister. Wild cow. Yes, that’s what Leah’s name means, that and weary, grief, and offense. Sorrow. One old legend explains that Rachel understood that her father had given Jacob her sister first and that she humbly helped her prepare her dress and become his bride knowing that she would be second. That is heartbreaking too.
However, Rashi tells us that there is an old rabbinic tale that explains Leah’s eyes and how they became weak or tender.
“According to this story, Leah was destined to marry Jacob’s older twin brother, Esau. In the Rabbinic mind, the two brothers are polar opposites; Jacob being a God-fearing scholar and Esau being a hunter who also indulges in murder, idolatry, and adultery. But people were saying, “Laban has two daughters and his sister, Rebekah, has two sons. The older daughter (Leah) will marry the older son (Esau), and the younger daughter (Rachel) will marry the younger son (Jacob).”[5] Hearing this, Leah spent most of her time weeping and praying to God to change her destined mate. Thus the Torah describes her eyes as “soft” from weeping. God hearkens to Leah’s tears and prayers and allows her to marry Jacob even before Rachel does.”
There is no greater sadness on the earth than a woman unloved by her lover.  Leah knew he would never love her like he did her sister. He wants her beautiful sister whose name means ewe—a lamb.
Instead of the “Bless me mantra” Leah’s words sound more like this—“Love me” Please love me. I know you have some love left inside your soul to wring out for me. A crumb my lad? Please do not let my fruitful womb go unnoticed! “
Can you hear the weak-eyed Leah crying?
When you go unnoticed for something you are good at it’s a miserable feeling. In the midst of Leah’s sadness, weakness and weariness grows a strong woman whose name is that of a wild ox-strong and mighty.  One day he’ll see what a beautiful woman his wife Leah is and he will ask to be buried with her. Rachel will die in childbirth to Benjamin on the way and she will be buried between Bethel and Ephrat. Rachel weeps for her children, not just the Joseph tribes (Ephrain and Manasseh) but Benjamin and the entire House of Israel and Judah who were taken to Babylon. Can you hear her voice coming from the cave? Crying out for her children to become one? I can. The Father tells her to restrain from weeping that her voice will be heard. WOMEN ARISE!
But I am getting ahead of myself.

“Now the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Leah conceived and bore a son and named him [Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.”  Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon. She conceived again and bore a son and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore he was named Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.”
Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing. “Genesis 29:31-35.
Ah, Judah—The scepter will not depart from you! Jesus Yeshua the lion from the tribe of Judah will be praised. Leah finally reaches the point where she says forget about Jacob, my Father Adonai Elohim loves me! To every broken woman reading this know that He hears you and He loves you more than you can think or imagine. One day Leah and Rachel will be one bride. Unity is what we pray for.
I got pregnant at the age of 17 with my firstborn. We named him William. The name William means a determined protector—a strong helmet and he did become that for me and his brothers.  An old soul. After two years, many rough roads and multiple eviction notices I became pregnant with my second son and I just knew that with two sons and more responsibility, things would be different. Surely he would love me now and provide for his sons— — stop gambling—become grounded. My mother named this second son after both his grandpa’s “Robert,” but not much changed. The name Robert means bright- shining—famed one, and he is bright and filled with light. After seven years of crying and praying I gave up and went out to sow my wild oats, but we ended up back together due to his salvation journey and a new start.  He looked like Jesus and he wanted to go to church—read the bible and pray, but by this time I looked like death and the thing I had cried out for seemed like a curse.  I no longer loved him. My heavenly Father named my third son Samuel (Yahweh hears). Yahweh does hear, however, we don’t always remain faithful or obedient. I prayed for my husband to change but by the time he did I had too.  I went to church with him and tried to renew my vows, both of them. Soon he slipped back into his old habits and I wasn’t perfect either–everything looked like it did before. I stayed seven more years. Divorce breaks childrens hearts. Men and women take it from me, a woman who has made mistakes- raise them up in the ways of the Lord Adonai and His instructions.
After Samuels birth, I asked the doctors to tie—burn—cut and destroy my tubes because I did not want to bring any more life into the earth that would not be cared for. I knew this was not what the Father wanted but I disobeyed. The doctors tried to convince me not to do this because I was so young (23). The day after Samuel was born they took me back for surgery and after it was over the doctors told me they never had a case like mine that was so hard to do. They said you’ll be bruised. We had to really work to get them tied. My entire stomach turned black and blue. How many beautiful sons would He have given me? A troop possibly. My grandmother had 12. If I could go back and talk to my younger self oh the things I would say.
I’d surely try and be more like Leah, Rachel, and more like Ruth the woman I am named after.
Yah does hear and He opens Rachel womb and gives her Joseph. He is doubly FRUITFUL! Doubly BLESSED!
After the birth of Joseph, something happens to Leah that has always bothered me. I honestly can relate to this part of the story in a weary way. I know it has a greater meaning about the order of spiritual things but it still grieves me.
The moment has finally happened—Jacob, the one who was called a deceiver—the one who wrongfully seizes and usurps his way to blessings–Yes, this Jacob has wrestled with an angel of God and received a hip out of socket, a new name (Israel) and is prepared to meet his brother Esau. The one who wished to hunt him down and take his life is headed in his direction. Jacob has fear. Now, something happens that moves me to tears.
Jacob lines up his jewels—his wealth—his possessions—the things he cherishes and he has them in an order of what he deems they are worth. He places the ones he loves the most in the back for protection. Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants.  He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear.  He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.”
As Leah walked with her young sons around her she still knew that her younger sister was treasured above her and the young child Joseph was safely tucked in the back with his mother–the little lamb. I have been there. Perhaps you are a woman whose husband has always placed something ahead of you and I’m not talking about Yahweh. Perhaps it’s his job—the children—money—sports—his ex—his desires. What would a woman like Leah do?
She gave up asking for his full love on the 4th try and said I’ll Praise my Lord Adonai. Her sons were blessings from Abba, my sons are too, and one day they will be mighty on the earth and the Torah of Adonai will be upon their lips and in their hearts. Yes, I am calling things that are not as though they are.

The other day this same friend who was talking about Rachel interpreted a dream for me about a little doe I saw coming through a gate and another about a male deer. She reminded me that the scriptures describe the tribe Naphtali as a deer on their banner. Ah, the handmaidens have given birth too! and their sons are also part of the 12-13. Could I be from the tribe of Naphtali? Oh, what a wondrous thought. Rachel had a handmaiden named Bilhah. According to Abarim publication, her name means timid, foolish.
The adjective בלה (baleh), meaning worn out (Ezekiel 23:43, Joshua 9:4).
The masculine noun בלוא (belo), meaning worn out things, rags. This word occurs three times in the Bible; all three times in Jeremiah 38:11-12.
The feminine noun תבלית (tablit), meaning destruction (Isaiah 10:25 only).” I have been all of those things and more! Jacob’s oldest son sleeps with Bilhah and loses his birthright and the blessing. Bilhah has a colorful background and her words describe someone I used to be. I am so thankful that my Father, My Abba Daddy, way back in that book some of you call old said, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.
This woman named Bilhah gives birth to Dan the judge and also Naphtali.
“Naphtali is a doe let loose, He gives beautiful words.” Genesis 49:21.
Words are my favorite thing. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Each letter was carefully crafted by the FINGER of YAH.
Naphtali also means to wrestle. Jacob wrestled all night with an angel and would not let go until he was blessed. Ah, this reminds me of both women and myself. What are you wrestling with?
My husband came into the room the other night and said he wanted to pray for me. I had been studying for hours about the red heifer and its significance to our Yeshua and this Lamb that was also perfectly slain for you and I. How wonderful that these women, the ewe and heifer gave birth to the twelve.  How magnificent our Bibles are if we would just eat them—savory bites of goodness. My Husband opened his mouth and said, “Father bless my wife and may her words fall like dew. May she hear in her ear all you want to show her about this tabernacle and Yeshua. May her pen be mighty. May she write every beautiful word that you have placed into her heart onto the pages for your glory and may you bless her books and her desire to know all about you.”
Tears.
My wrestling has ended with a blessing.
Can you hear Esau’s words—bless me too father. And he will. Love me too Leah cries and is answered. Rachel weeps for her children and he hears. “Retrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears for your work will be REWARDED.” Jeremiah 31:16.
So to all you weary Leah’s out there wrestling with your younger sister, remember you are a wild ox- strong like the red heifer. To all you Rachel’s out there you are a tender ewe, beautiful and powerful too. And to Bilhah, the one whose name means timid—worn out—rags—useless—you will give birth and your sons too will be mighty. Their words are beautiful. And how can we not mention ZILPAH!  Jacob slept with Leah’s handmaid and had Gad and Asher. According to Abarim publication, “ The name Zilpah comes from the verb זלף (zalaph). Its meaning is to drip, drop, sprinkle, pour.” POUR!
He said that in the last days He would pour out His Spirit- His Holy Ruach HaKodesh on His HANDMAIDENS and He is and I see it and they will start out as a drip—a drop—a sprinkle and then POUR! My Father My Abba Daddy has not forgotten His girls.
We praise you Yahweh for making us ONE. For bringing us together in unity—sweet unity.

 

http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Zilpah.html#.WIl25YWcFlE

 

 

 

  1. Jump up ^ “What’s in A Name,” Vayetzei (Genesis 28:10-32:3) at aish.com

 

 

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Sweet Perfume!


b w daisy

“And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house and sat down to meat. And, behold, A WOMAN IN THE CITY, which was A SINNER, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an ALABASTER box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him WEEPING, and began to WASH HIS FEET WITH TEARS, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and KISSED his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.” Luke 7:36-38 KJB.

This woman was a sinful woman. The text rightly shows she was, and many scholars claim she was a prostitute. Not only that but in the middle of her affection it says in the book of Mark that many people who were present “REBUKED HER SHARPLY”.  Have you ever been rebuked sharply by people who were ESTEEMED MORE THAN YOU? These men in the room were the elite of the elite.

What’s amazing to me is that she is in the presence of a Pharisee, a great spiritual leader of that time. She was not invited to the home of this man. No, she just heard Jesus-Yeshua was there, AND YET, she boldly enters the room and falls to her knees. It would have been one thing if she just would have gone over and washed his feet. Yes, it would have been one thing if she would have walked over to the basin and poured out some water and took a towel and began to clean the dirt. But she didn’t do that. THIS WOMAN CAUSED A SCENE!  Her tears washed his feet and then she dried them with her hair. Can you see her weeping? Can you hear her cries for forgiveness as she rubs her hair over his feet? Can you remember that moment when you had to get to an altar and you didn’t care who was in the room?

She poured out a bottle of savings that was worth a year’s wages.

Her critics exclaimed, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?

Do you think it was only her they criticized? Of course not, any time you do a work for Yeshua/ Jesus, there will be nay-sayers. The host says to himself, THIS MAN IF HE WERE A PROPHET, would have known who and what MANNER OF WOMAN this is that touches him: FOR SHE IS A SINNER.” Luke 7:39 KJB.

The GREATEST PROPHET that ever lived was sitting at this Pharisee’s table having dinner, but he couldn’t see that. However, he could see what manner of a woman she was. She was a prostitute no doubt, but he couldn’t see her heart.

Jesus said, “… her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she LOVED MUCH. But he who is forgiven little, LOVES LITTLE.” Luke 7:47 ESV.

Forget the critics in the room! The people in the room had their eyes on a woman, whom they deemed “a sinner” and the woman in the room had her eyes on a KING. Who or what are your eyes on?

Photography by Ândrēw Yīsrâ’Ęl

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Leave the JUNK Behind


Junk

Have you ever been deprived of something special? Have you ever waited and held your breath for a moment like the one in the movie “Mr. Holland’s Opus”?  In the movie, a school teacher’s dreams do not turn out as he had envisioned they would. However, his greatest symphony was captured by all the people’s lives he touched and at the end of the movie, during his retirement, he got to recapture the moments and meditate on his journey as each person celebrated his accomplishments.

Sometimes we wait for the moment and we are deprived of it and robbed of it. Yes, sometimes it never gets birthed. My husband and I were discussing moments in our life that we were deprived of– proms, graduations, retirement parties, wedding days, books publishers, and the list continued. As my husband and I conversed, I began to meditate on Jacob. “When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” Genesis 29:25 NIV.

Jacob worked hard. He worked seven years for a wife. Although he was deceived and given Leah, he received Racheal the next day but had to work seven more years for her! Can you imagine making love to someone you have worked seven years for? Kissing them in the darkness and brushing your fingers against their skin and then realizing in the morning you have been tricked?

I was talking to the Lord about things I have worked hard for. People who have deceived me. He began to speak to me about Laban. Laban was family even. He was Jacob’s mother’s brother. This man deceived his own nephew on his wedding night.

I began to meditate on deceit and trouble and The Father continued to use Jacob as an example to me.

“Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.” And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.” Genesis 31:1-2 NIV. They even said he had stolen his father’s glory!

This has happened to me recently. Some folks got together and discussed me and certain people’s hearts were not the same towards me. Sometimes like Jacob, be it family as Laban, business or friends, it’s just time to part ways. It doesn’t mean you don’t love or forgive or search your heart for your mistakes in the matter, but sometimes you just have to let go AND LET GOD…

“So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were. He said to them, “I see that your father’s ATTITUDE TOWARD ME is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me. You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength, yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me. If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked young. So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.” Genesis 31:4-9 NIV.

Hashem always warns his prophets and people ahead of time. He always lets them know when danger is coming. The Father revealed to me in a dream, two thieves dressed in black with masks over their faces. They were outside on my patio and they stole my umbrella. Now an umbrella is a COVERING. The next night he showed me these same two thieves and they were stealing things out of my house. They wore a mask like cowards! The Father seem to say, “They can’t take your covering. They think they can, but I am your great and mighty shield.”

I heard a lady say, these evil spirits work through people and make them think they know your innermost secrets– the condition of your soul. They make many think that God would give them the power to discover what lies under your skirts. It really is sad when you ponder it. Now my friend did not literally mean “private parts” she meant your soul and your heart condition. Sometimes we tend to think we can look under skirts; we need to stop that.

Psalm 133:1-3 KJV says,

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the PRECIOUS OINTMENT upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”

This oil of unity ran down Aaron’s beard and down to his skirts and covered him. Our HaShem will cover us. No demonic forces can steal your covering. Only you can remove it and leave your Father for the life the prodigal son chose. Even then, the Father ran to meet him when he came to his senses.

Aren’t we all just trying to become more like Yeshua/Jesus? Can’t we all realize that we are in a battle? “As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.” Romans 3:10 NIV. So while Laban’s heart might have changed towards Jacob and people’s hearts may have changed towards you…realize we all sin and fall short. Let us take our eyes off our brother or sisters faults and place them on ourselves and our amazing King.

Part ways if you have to, but leave the junk behind!

Rachel failed to do that.

“Now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house; but why did you steal my gods?” Then Jacob replied to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. The one with whom you find your gods shall not live; in the presence of our kinsmen point out what is yours among my belongings and take it for yourself.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.” Genesis 31:30-32 NASB.

We must leave sometimes, but we don’t need to bring the junk from the past into our future and perhaps we even made it our god? Sometimes we make people gods. Remember, if their heart is not right towards you, it may be time to shut the door. Love, forgive, and leave the rotten stuff behind. Don’t slander, don’t call names and remember we don’t have the power to look under the skirts to know the inward parts of a man’s heart. We must let the Father do that.

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Love Letters!


love letters

There is nothing like being in love. You wake up and you anticipate the sound of their voice. When the phone rings you wonder if it’s them. You get nervous and spend way too much time on your hair. Your stomach does things it shouldn’t do and you start buying new items that make you smell good.

Do you remember when being in His presence gave you a pleasing aroma? 2nd Corinthians 2:14 says, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” NASB. Or this verse, “Your lips, my bride, drip honey; Honey and milk are under your tongue, And the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.” Song of Solomon 4:11 NASB.

Marriages come and go. Divorce among the world and the Called Out Ones are on the rise. People will say, “I love (insert name) but I am not in love with them.”

Sometimes after we have been with a person for a while, we stop doing what we may have done at first. If you are a man, perhaps you stopped opening the car door, gained some weight, stopped listening to her, or wooing her? I could name numerous signs of neglect on both parties. These things happen when we become comfortable with our spouses. Yes, we start taking them for granted and all the extra things they do for us become expected. Sometimes we forget what all they sacrificed. Sometimes we forget what HE sacrificed.

Do you remember when spending time with your spouse used to give you butterflies and make you nervous? Sometimes, after years, things just aren’t as exciting. Jesus-Yeshua said the same thing to His bride.

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” Revelations 2:4-5 NIV.

He says, stop and meditate on how much faith, zeal, and excitement you had at the beginning and the compassionate words you used to use when you spoke of me. Then he says, repent. The word Nahum in Hebrew means – to lament, to grieve with great emotions that will motivate us to turn around and run back to our first love in obedience and with a heart that longs to please The Father.

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth– for your love is more delightful than wine.” Song of Solomon 1:2 NIV.

I used to know a lady, whose husband was stationed in Vietnam. She was pregnant when he left and he had been gone for over a year. They had no internet, no face time, and no way to communicate except snail mail. My friend could not wait to get that love letter. She checked the mailbox every day, waiting and looking for the mailman.  We have a love letter from ABBA our Father, his Holy Word! Do you think when that woman received her husband’s letter from afar, that she just threw it on the coffee table and said, ‘Oh I’ll get to that later. I need to start a load of laundry, or the ball games coming on at 6 p.m. I have to start dinner.”

No, I am thinking she went into the bathroom or bedroom and shut the door and held that letter to her heart. She probably smelled the paper and read each word carefully. Not only that, she probably read that letter over and over again, until she got the next one.

Do you have a love letter? Do you have a lover you’ve been neglecting?

“”I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine, He who pastures his flock among the lilies.” Song of Solomon 6:3 NASB.

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Filet Mignon and Broken Necks


This message is one that has taken me days to get the right words for. I pray it speaks to you and to leaders and families. “Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD.” 1 Samuel 2:12 HCS.
Who was Eli? He was the High Priest. He was of the highest ranking order in Yahweh’s house. During Eli’s day there was no king, so he was the big guy! What was the big guy’s biggest sin? I will just use the Father’s words to tell you.
“Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? “WHY DO YOU HONOR YOUR SONS MORE THAN ME.”  by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’ 1 Samuel 2:29 NIV.
Eli was warned. He had seen his son’s many sins, but he winked at it.
Eli’s sons were the priest. They were the elite. They were dressed in an array of priestly garments and had a title of much honor because of their father Eli. The bible says this, “The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, the servant would stick the fork into the pot and demand that whatever it brought up be given to Eli’s sons. Sometimes the servant would come even before the animal’s fat had been burned on the altar. He would demand raw meat before it had been boiled so that it could be used for roasting. And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “NO, YOU must give it NOW, and if not, I will take it by FORCE.” 1 Samuel 2:13-16 ESV.
They took HaShem’s FAT AND HIS SWEET SMELLING FRAGRANCE and they took the portion commanded in Leviticus for Adonai and grilled them up a FILET! They had T-bone, Mercedes, mansions, and they slept with many women in the temple.  They caused the people to abhor the offerings of The Lord Adonai.
Eli’s sons were unsatisfied with the breast and shoulder, so they took the T-bone. They looked over the menu and they ordered the most expensive thing because they didn’t care if it belonged to HaShem or that it was supposed to be an offering for the people. Of course the T-bone and the Filet are not actually kosher meats but to make a point I used these. Eli’s son’s didn’t care if their father was the High priest to the God who created everything that has breath. They weren’t paying for the prime meat– it didn’t cost them anything. They acted as if they were more important than the Father and they had NO FEAR OF HIM. No Awe. Surely they had heard about Aaron’s sons being consumed in fire in a moment?
Their father asked them why they did such unholy acts. He scolded them, but he didn’t remove them from their office as the priest. He lacked the righteous indignation which Jesus/Yeshua manifested when he cleansed the temple. John 2:13-17.
What does The Father think today when He looks down on HIS House and Eli and his son’s who are running it?
When we get to chapter four of 1st Samuel something amazing happens. The philistine army begins to attack them and many are slaughtered, but what do Eli’s sons do?
THEY GRAB THE ARK OF THE COVENANT WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT (Ruach HaKodesh)DWELT AND THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD USE IT LIKE ONE WOULD USE A RABBITS FOOT OR A LUCKY CHARM TO WIN THE BATTLE. . .
How did it end for Eli and his sons? Thirty-thousand footmen in the army fell that day over their sins. Eli was 98 years old and when a man ran to tell him his sons were dead and that the ark had been taken, he fell backward and broke his neck. The bible says it was because he was so fat that he broke his neck. . . Oh, Father, have mercy! He was taking the choice meats for him. It was about that time his son’s wife gave birth to a son and named him Ichabod, which means the glory is departed from Israel.
Jesus/ Yeshua said if you love me you will KEEP My Commandments. So much lawlessness abounds now and so our love waxes colder and colder. I’ll end this blog now because all this steak talk has made me hungry. Shalom!