Israel was sustained for 40 years by a substance that is
called “manna.” What was the significance of this amazing substance? Are
there important and vital lessons that we can learn from it? Indeed there are!
He was also typified by the unleavened bread of Passover and days of Unleavened
Bread, as well as the meat offering in the sacrifices, and the sheaf of
firstfruits. Let’s see what lessons we can learn from the manna!
By Jerry Healan
While we don’t
desire for this study to be tedious, there are many important and vital things
that need to be revealed concerning Yahshua. Therefore, it is our prayer that
Yahweh will cause this treatise to enter into the hearts and minds of the
readers, especially the disciples of Yahshua for very vital understanding.
Parables are a very important and integral part of the
Scriptures. But what is a parable? So many ministers and people believe that
parables are a simple little made up stories that make something that is
difficult to understand, a little more clearly understood. And that certainly is
the case as far as the parables of men are concerned! But that is not the case
where Yahweh’s parables are concerned.
Yahweh says that His thoughts are not our thoughts, nor
are our ways His ways, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are
your ways my ways, saith Yahweh. For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts,” Isa.
55:8-9.
Furthermore, there is the wisdom of man, and the wisdom of
Yahweh. The problem is that the wisdom of man declares the wisdom of Yahweh to
be foolishness, while Yahweh declares that man’s wisdom is foolish,
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,” Ro. 1:22. “For it
is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the
understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is
the disputer of this world? Hath not Yahweh made foolish the wisdom of this
world? For after that in the wisdom of Yahweh the world by wisdom knew not
Yahweh, it pleased Yahweh by the foolishness of preaching to save them that
believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we
preach the Messiah crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the
Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called,
both Jews and Greeks, the Messiah the power of
Yahweh, and the wisdom of Yahweh. Because the
foolishness of Yahweh is wiser than men; and the weakness of Yahweh is stronger
than men,” 1 Cor. 1:19-25.
This is the reason that the parables of men are far
different from the parables of Yahweh. Yahshua revealed the true intent of the
parables of Yahweh. His disciples came to Him asking, “Why speakest thou unto
them in parables? He answered and said unto them, ‘Because it is given unto
you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever
hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever
hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to
them in parables: because they seeing see not; and
hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is
fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and
shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this
people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their
eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and
hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be
converted, and I should heal them’,” Mt. 13:10-15.
In John 10 Yahshua began to speak in another parable about
the Shepherd, the sheep, the door, the porter, etc. In verse 6 it is recorded,
“This parable spake Yahshua unto them: but they understood not what things they
were which He spake unto them.”
Are you beginning to see the difference? Had He been
speaking in man’s type of parables, He would have been speaking in simple
little (made-up) stories so that they would make the meanings more clear. But He
was speaking in the parables of Yahweh, which are from the Spirit of Yahweh,
therefore they couldn’t understand unless He explained them clearly to them.
When reviewing these Scriptures and many others concerning parables, the
conclusion is that parables are spoken and given in order to hide the real
meanings rather than to reveal.
We read in Romans chapter 11 that the Israelites
(excluding the elect) were blinded (verse 7). Paul reveals that Israel will
continue to be blinded until a certain specific period of time is over, “For I
would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should
be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel,
until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in,” v. 25.
What is really being said here? When did the times of the
Gentiles begin? Didn’t they begin at the time when both the northern kingdom
of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah were overthrown? Didn’t this begin
with the rise of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon? Won’t this times of the
Gentiles continue until the Messiah Yahshua appears to establish the kingdom of
heaven which will restore the kingdom to Israel? The overall preponderance of
the Israelites will continue until the overthrow of the rule of the rule of the
Gentiles. That is when the times, the fullness of the Gentiles will be come in.
This is what Paul is speaking of here. That is the time when the blindness of
Israel will end.
So, how did Yahweh blind Israel? If we turn to the book of
Hebrews chapter 9 we will begin to find the answer, “Then verily the first
covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For
there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the
table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second
veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden
censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was
the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of
the covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of
which we cannot now speak particularly. Now when these things were thus
ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the
service of Yahweh. But into the second went the high priest alone once every
year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the
people: The Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all
was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure
for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and
sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining
to the conscience,” Heb. 9:1-9.
Notice that these things are called a “FIGURE” in
verse 9. This word “FIGURE” is translated from the Greek word “parabole.” It is the same word that is utilized in
Matthew 13, and John 10 where Yahshua was speaking in parables. Even though the
things given to Israel were real physical things, they were also parables and
types of spiritual heavenly things. Just look at all of the parables in chapter
9 verses 1-9 of Hebrews! They were ordinances of divine service, the worldly
sanctuary, the tabernacle, the candlestick, the table, the showbread, the
holiest place, the golden censer, the ark of the covenant, THE GOLDEN POT OF
MANNA, Aaron’s rod that budded, the tables of the covenant, the mercy seat,
the cherubim of glory, the priesthood, the sacrifices, etc., etc.
These, along with many other things, were all given to
Israel as parables! These parables served the purpose of blinding Israel! If
they blinded Israel, the people to whom they were given, would they not also
have served the purpose of blinding the rest of the world? What about our own
world today?
Even as late as 56 CE the Apostle Paul wrote, “And I,
brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom,
declaring unto you the testimony (witness) of Yahweh.
For I determined not to know anything among you, save Yahshua the Messiah, and
him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much
trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but
in the power of Yahweh. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are
perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world,
that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of Yahweh
in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which Yahweh
ordained before the world unto our glory,” 1 Cor. 2:1-7.
Do you get that? Paul says that the apostles were still
speaking in MYSTERIES to the outside world and especially to the princes of this
world! One of those princes of this world was Augustus Caesar… another was
Constantine Caesar…another was King James of England! Through their own
wisdom, the foolish wisdom of man, they decreed that Sunday, and the annual
holidays were better than the seventh day Sabbath and annual holydays of Yahweh!
The Caesars were not only declared to be the authoritative dictator, but they
held the office of Pontifex Maximus, that is, the great mediating priest between
heaven and earth. They declared that Yahweh’s law was obsolete and cast them
behind, “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The
kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against
Yahweh, and against his anointed (Messiah), saying, Let us break their bands
asunder, and cast away their cords from us,” Psa. 2:1-3.
They substituted another savior, rather than the true
Savior! King James of England even had a so-called Authorized Version of the
Scriptures published, but the true name of the Creator and the true name of the
Savior were replaced by substitutes! While their efforts seemed to be noble and
wise, they were only exercising the nobility and wisdom of man, the wisdom of
this world, which is foolishness with Yahweh! Scripture reveals that the kings
of the earth have caused their subjects to commit spiritual fornication! Read it
for yourself in Revelation 17:1-4 and 18:3! (Coupled
with Psa. 2:1-3 above.)
Paul says that the apostles were still speaking in
MYSTERIES to the outside world, and especially to the princes of this world!
Paul continues, “But we speak the wisdom of Yahweh in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom,
which Yahweh ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of
the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have
crucified the Sovereign of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor
ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which Yahweh
hath prepared for them that love him. But Yahweh hath revealed them unto us by
his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of Yahweh.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in
him? Even so the things of Yahweh knoweth no man, but the Spirit of Yahweh. Now
we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of
Yahweh; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of Yahweh.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but
which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But
the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of Yahweh: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned,” 1 Cor. 2:7-14.
SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES
Herein is the “key” to unlocking the Scriptures and to
begin to understand what they mean. First, we must realize that the Scriptures
are locked up in “spiritual parables.” We read in Proverbs 25, “It is the
glory of Elohim to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a
matter,” verse 2.
This English translation covers up some very important
things. Firstly, the words “glory” and “honour” are both translated from
the exact same Hebrew word. That Hebrew word is kevowd
(dwk). Why wouldn’t
both words be translated as either glory, or honour? Why did they translate kevowd as “glory” when it comes to Elohim, and
that same word as “honour” when it comes to kings? Scripturally, the word is
generally translated as “glory.”
Secondly, the words “a thing,” and “a matter” are
translated from the exact same Hebrew word. That word is davar (rbd). The proper translation of davar would be “WORD!”
Therefore, it should have been presented as: “It is the
glory of Elohim to conceal (His)
word: but the glory of kings is to search out (His)
word.”
While it is indeed profitable to read the Scriptures
through and through simply for their face value, still there are certain things
concealed therein in mysteries and parables that one must search into in order
to gain a more clear understanding. These matters must be, need to be searched
out and discovered. This will reveal an even greater and far more glorious
understanding of Yahweh. Yahweh has concealed them, but we must search them out.
Another way to search the Scriptures is to take a
concordance or topical Bible and compare what is said concerning any given
subject, word, phrase, etc. for example, if someone wants to know how important
the observance of the Sabbath is, then all one has to do is take a concordance
and look up the word “Sabbath” and research every place that those subjects
are mentioned. Such a study can surely be eye opening.
But another “vital key” is mentioned by the Apostle
Paul, “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which
is in him? Even so the things of Yahweh knoweth no man, but the Spirit of
Yahweh. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which
is of Yahweh; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of
Yahweh,” 1 Cor. 2:11-12.
We must realize that we cannot even begin to understand
the hidden things of Yahweh, the things that He has hidden in His word “before
the world” with only the spirit of man. Paul also writes, “But the natural
man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of Yahweh: for they are foolishness
unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned,” 1 Cor. 2:14. To understand the deep,
hidden things, we must have received the Spirit of Yahweh! How are we going to
do that?
The Apostle Peter gives the key in Acts 2:38-39, “Repent
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahshua the Messiah for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the
promise is unto you, and to your children. And to all that are afar off, even as
many as Yahweh our Elohim shall call.” This name of Yahshua is the only name
given under heaven whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Once we receive the Holy Spirit, we are ready to begin to
study into the Scriptures in order to learn of the parables and mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven for Paul writes, “Now we have received, not the spirit of
the world, but the spirit which is of Yahweh; that we might know the things that
are freely given to us of Yahweh,” 1 Cor. 2:12.
BECOMING A KINGDOM NOBLE
Now we are ready for some other “keys” to
understanding Scripture. One of the most important things is that we should
study the Scriptures daily. Paul and Silas had embarked on a missionary journey.
They came to the city of Thessalonica, entered the Synagogue teaching and
reasoning out of the Scriptures on the Sabbath day (Acts 17:1-3). There were
many who believed even among the Greeks, but there were other Jewish leaders who
did not (v. 4). The unbelievers started some problems which caused Paul and
Silas to leave in haste coming to the city of Berea (vv. 5-10).
When Paul and Silas brought the good news to the Bereans,
an interesting statement is made, “These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of
them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a
few,” Acts 17:11-12.
Remember the book of Proverbs 25:2 encouraging us that
“kings search out the matter (the word)?” The matters to search out are the
things that Yahweh has “hidden or concealed” in His inspired word. We are to
“Study to shew thyself approved unto Yahweh, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,” 2 Tim. 2:15. This is the way to
become a true noble, a true king, able to rule in Yahweh’s kingdom.
Paul also writes, “Which things also we speak (the
mysteries), not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy
Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual,” 1 Cor. 2:13.
This brings us to another major “key” if we are to
understand the secrets, the mysteries, the parables of Scripture. This “key”
is found in Yahshua for He said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think
ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not
come to me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from men. But I know
you, that ye have not the love of Yahweh in you. I am come in my Father's name,
and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will
receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not
the honour that cometh from Yahweh only? Do not think that I will accuse you to
the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For
had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye
believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” Jn. 5:39-47.
The Scriptures are written about Yahshua the Messiah! We
should search the Scriptures daily to see how they testify or witness of Him. He
told His disciples after His resurrection, “These are the words which I spake
unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which
were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms,
concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand
the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved the
Messiah to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance
and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things,” Lk. 24:44-48.
Again, He was questioned and gave an answer, “When they
therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Master, wilt thou at
this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, ‘It is
not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his
own power. But ye shall receive power, after
that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me
both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost
part of the earth’,” Acts 1:6-8.
Therefore, we must search the Scriptures daily, rightly
dividing the word of truth, being led by the Holy Spirit of Yahweh, comparing
spiritual things with spiritual in order to come to understand how they witness
or testify of Yahshua.
There may be many other “keys”, but the final
“key” that I will touch on here is PRAYER. Don’t forget to go before the
Father in, by, and through Yahshua the Messiah requesting that He will open your
mind to the wondrous things in His word.
THE GIVING OF THE MANNA
The manna was one of the most awesome miracles revealed to
Israel and to the world, yet few of us take the time to look into this marvelous
substance that sustained the children of Israel for forty years. We read, “And
they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of
Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after
their departing out of the land of Egypt. And the whole
congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the
wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to Elohim we had
died by the hand of Yahweh in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots,
and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this
wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger,” Ex. 16:1-3.
Israel had left Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first
month (Num. 33:3), so we could make a calendar that would trace back to the very
day of the week that the Passover and Unleavened Bread took place. Please see
the accompanying calendar. It may surprise some that the 14th of Abib in Egypt took place on the 4th day of the week (called by the pagan name
Wednesday in this day and age), which is the exact same condition that took
place when Yahshua was sacrificed as our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7. (Order our
booklet entitled “The Three Days and Three
Nights.”)
The Chumash, a Rabbinic
commentary, has this to say about this event, “When the entire assembly
arrived at the wilderness of Sin, the people felt threatened by hunger. They
protested vehemently, going so far as to say that they had been better off in
Egypt than now. The spectacle is disquieting but not surprising, for hunger and
the fear that one will not be able to provide for one’s children can drive
people to deeds that they would never think themselves capable under normal
circumstance.” (p. 383)
They continue, “It was not until the fifteenth of Iyar,
a month after the Exodus, that the nation complained about the lack of food.
Until then they subsisted on the leftover of the dough and matzah they had taken
out of Egypt (Rashi).
That the leftovers of relatively small amounts of food were enough to satisfy a
large population for a month would have been impossible without Divine
intervention. This is one of the many hidden miracles that the Torah does not
recount, but that it alludes to here by mentioning the date. It is not necessary
to spell out every miracle, because [Hebrews] know that even ‘nature’ is
nothing more than a miracle to which we are accustomed because it happens
regularly (Rambam).” (Ibid)
Life is a miracle! Our own bodies are the most fantastic
miracles! We have trillions of cells in our bodies…trillions!…and each
cell…EACH CELL!…is far more intricate and complicated than the largest city
that man has ever built! A blade of grass, a leaf on a tree, everything about
the earth is the most fantastic of miracles! The whole creation was created by
the most marvelous intellect, and power! But we are born in this world and take
these most wondrous of miracles, life, our bodies, our food, our environment,
the creation FOR GRANTED! We should be fearing, worshipping, honoring, obeying,
and trusting our most wondrous Elohim for all that we see, all that we
experience, but sadly, few of us ever give it a thought. We go about this world,
taking things for granted, and never giving a thought as to where we came from,
how we got here, why are we here, how awesomely wondrous all things work
together! Because of this dreadful neglect, we bring ourselves, our loved ones,
others, and even this world to a sad state of affairs which will require the
direct intervention of our wondrous Creator Yahweh to straighten things out
again!
“Then said Yahweh unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread
from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every
day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no,” Ex.
16:4.
What did He say? Didn’t He say that He was going to rain
bread from heaven? Wouldn’t this give us the idea that the bread originated in
heaven and then descended to the earth as does the rain? Isn’t that what
Yahshua said He did!? “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that
meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto
you: for him hath Yahweh the Father sealed.’ Then said they unto him, ‘What
shall we do, that we might work the works of Elohim?’ Yahshua answered and
said unto them, ‘This is the work of Elohim, that ye believe on him whom he
hath sent.’ They said therefore unto him, ‘What sign shewest thou then, that
we may see, and believe thee? What dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in
the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from
heaven to eat.’ Then Yahshua said unto them, ‘Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father
giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the
bread of Elohim is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life
unto the world.’ Then said they unto him, Master, evermore give us this bread.
And Yahshua said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall
never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto
you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came
down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him
that sent me’,” Jn. 6:27-38. He further witnessed, “….Ye are from
beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world,” Jn.
8:23.
John the Baptist declared, “He that cometh from above is
above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he
that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he
testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony,” Jn. 3:31-32. Remember what we
covered in the above presentation concerning parables? There is the spirit of
man that can’t even begin to receive the things of the Holy Spirit, therefore,
those who speak of heavenly things do so comparing spiritual things with
spiritual.
They were to gather a “certain rate” every day. The
Hebrew word for “rate” is devar
(rb;D.) which also means “word” and is translated as such in places like
Gen. 15:1, Psa. 33:4, etc. Shouldn’t we be studying Yahweh’s word for a
certain period of time each day? After all, His WORD is the reason why we are
all here, “By the word of Yahweh were
the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth,” Psa.
33:6. “In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with Yahweh,
and the Word was Yahweh. The same was in the beginning
with Yahweh. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made
that was made…He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the
world knew him not…And the Word
was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of
the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth,” Jn. 1:1-3, 10, 14.
Furthermore, we and the creation are presently being upheld by the power of this
same word, “Yahweh, who
at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the
prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath
appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the
brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by
himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high,”
Heb. 1:1-3.
The manna was given in order to “prove them” whether
they would walk in Yahweh’s Torah or not. Yahshua said that the Torah was
written by Moses who was, in reality, writing about Him, “Search
the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from
men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of Yahweh in you. I am come in my
Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him
ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and
seek not the honour that cometh from Yahweh only? Do not think that I will
accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye
trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed
me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how
shall ye believe my words?” Jn. 5:39-47.
Here is the problem; many people are embracing the Torah,
many are following the practice of Orthodox Judaism by reading their weekly
Torah portions. This would be wonderful if they were reading these portions in
order to see how Moses wrote of Yahshua, but they are not doing so, therefore,
their actions are just as vain as the actions of those in Yahshua’s day,
specifically the Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests, and Scribes. The Torah and the
manna were given to prove whether they/we would follow Yahweh’s words or not,
whether we would follow Yahshua, THE TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN, or not! Judaism
refuses to acknowledge Him, Christianity has been deceived to follow another
messiah, and Islam also follows another prophet rather than Yahshua, the true
Prophet.
AND THEY SHALL KNOW
Moses and Aaron told the people, “At even, then ye shall
know that Yahweh hath brought you out from the land of Egypt,” Ex. 16:6. This
statement, or similar statements have been made throughout the Scriptures. The
problem is that because of the hardness of people’s hearts, which leads to
doubt, and disbelief, Yahweh allows impossible conditions to come upon His
people so that He will be able to reveal His power, honor, and glory.
Even though Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob suffered trials and
troubles, we can certainly see that Yahweh greatly blessed them in their lives.
Joseph was another matter. He was despised and hated by his own brethren, sold
into slavery, and then banished to prison, yet Yahweh was with him and greatly
blessed him. At the right time, Yahweh delivered him, raising him up from
ignominy to the honor of being second in the kingdom of Egypt. He was utilized
not only to save the Egyptians, but the family of Israel from the dirge of
famine.
But then a Pharaoh was raised who knew not Joseph. He and
his cohorts utilized subtlety to bring them into cruel bondage, slavery. Yet,
Yahweh declared, “And Yahweh said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning,
and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith Yahweh Elohim of the
Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. For I will at this time send
all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is
none like me in all the earth. For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may
smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the
earth. And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to
shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth,” Ex. 9:13-16.
He hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that conditions would be
even more difficult for Israel. He delivered them through the plagues that came
upon Egypt. But before they could reach the safety of the wilderness, Yahweh
hardened Pharaoh’s heart yet again, to pursue after Israel. He caught up with
them when they came to the sea. Israel was once again trapped. They had an
impassible sea before them, and impassible mountains on each side, with Pharaoh
and his army at their rear. When all hope was gone, He made a way through the
sea delivering Israel while destroying Pharaoh and his army in the process.
He brought them to Marah where the waters were bitter, but
a tree made the waters sweet and able to drink. Now, He has brought them into a
wilderness where there is no food available, and Israel is very hungry, so they
complained that they were taken out of Egypt because it would have been better
for them to at least sit by the flesh pots and have food, than to suffer hunger,
famine, and a slow death from such.
Now Yahweh is going to provide for them in a
most wondrous way so that they will know for sure that He is the One Who
delivered them from Egypt, and is quite capable of providing for them, even when
they can’t provide for themselves.
….To Be Continued….
JH
The “mem” is the thirteenth (13th) letter
of the Hebrew alphabet. It looks like this m/m/m in the Pictorial, Paleo, and Modern Hebrew respectively.
It also has a final form in Modern Hebrew that looks like this ~. This form
always appears at the end of a word. As all Hebrew letters, there are so many
important functions and meanings for this letter. In Modern Hebrew, the mem is
said to have an “open form” (m), and “closed form” (M). There are special meanings that apply here.
By Jerry Healan
Thirteen is an interesting number by itself. It can be the number of
rebellion, (Gen. 14:4), but also of unity (one = echad/dha
= 1 + 8 + 4 = 13) and the feminine form of love (ahavah/ebea
= 1 + 5 + 2 + 5 = 13). Genesis 14:4 speaks of rebellion in the thirteenth year.
Think about the thirteen colonies that rebelled
against the king of England then uniting into one
nation.
But the “mem” (Heb. = Mm)
is equivalent to the number forty. This is significant because the “mem” is also a picture of water, which in the
first instance, represents chaos. It rained
(water) upon the earth for forty days and forty (the number for water)
nights bringing the flood waters of chaos (Gen. 7:12), destroying the original
Adamite world because of their rebellion and chaos.
This chaos and destruction was brought about because of the serpent’s lie
concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 3:1-7).
Moses was in the mount for forty days and nights receiving the tables of
commandments, also called the tables of the covenant (Ex. 24:18; 31:18).
Commandments, laws are given for the purpose of bringing about order, peace,
stability. Paul admits that the law is spiritual (Ro. 7:14, first part).
Yahshua revealed that water is also a type of the spirit, “In the last
day, that great day of the feast, Yahshua stood and cried, saying, If any man
thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the
scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers
of living water. (But this spake
he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should
receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Yahshua was not yet
glorified.),” Jn. 7:37-39.
But during the time Moses was in the mount, the children of Israel fell away
to idolatry, which is nothing more than vanity, lies, chaos, confusion,
destruction, etc.
Then the twelve men were sent to spy out the land of Canaan (Num. 13). They
searched the land for forty days and forty nights. Ten of them brought back such
an evil report that the children of Israel sought to set up leaders to take them
back to Egypt. Only Yahshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Yephunneh encouraged the
people to enter and take the land. The people wept all night and Yahweh
determined to cause the people to wander in the wilderness for forty years, a
year for a day that the party had spied out the land until all of the
unbelieving generation from twenty years old and upward, had perished. Only
Yahshua and Caleb entered into the land of that generation (Num. 14:26-38).
Thus Yahweh, in the book of Genesis, utilized forty days and nights of rain
to destroy the pre-flood generation, bringing forth a new generation and a new
world. In the Numbers account, He utilizes forty years to allow the older
rebellious, unbelieving generation to die out and to bring a new generation into
the land of Canaan, the land of PROMISE! Did you know that the Hebrew word for
“promise” is the same word for “WORD?” It is the Hebrew word “dabar” (rBd). This means that we must
“trust” in Yahweh’s “word” if we are to enter into His “promise!”
Now, looking at the modern day version of the mem (Mm), we have the open mem, and the closed mem. There is a special meaning here that needs
to be addressed.
Michael Monk says, “The open m points to the obvious,
openly revealed glory of [Elohim’s] actions. Figuratively, m
points upward to indicate Elohim’s sovereignty over us, while expressing
through its otherwise bent posture our humble recognition of His Mercy, as if to
say, in the words of King David: For all is from You and from Your hand it is
given (1 Chron. 29:14)….The closed (final) M
alludes to that part of the Celestial rule which is concealed from man…” (The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet,
p. 143.)
L. Grant Luton writes, “Because of the tiny opening which appears at the
bottom of the normal form (m), it is said to be
‘open.’ The final form (M) however, is said to be ‘closed.’ These open and
closed forms are described in Jewish lore as representing both the open teachings and the hidden wisdom of the Torah. It is typical of [Elohim’s]
ways to hide certain things from one’s understanding until the proper time.
The Bible is replete with examples of [Elohim] revealing His hidden wisdom.
Let’s consider some examples.
Daniel had a great appreciation for [Elohim’s] ability to reveal hidden
truth—especially since it saved his life and that of his friends on at least
one occasion. Daniel proclaimed, ‘He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows
what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.’
Yahshua quoted Psalms when He said, ‘I will open my mouth in parables, I
will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.’ Paul often referred
to the fact that [Elohim] had chosen him to reveal secrets that had been hidden
from the beginning of time, “...we speak of Yahweh’s secret wisdom, a wisdom
that has been hidden and that Yahweh destined for our glory before time began.
None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not
have crucified the Sovereign of glory,” 1 Cor. 2:7-8.
Note what Paul said concerning how things would have turned out had the
rulers of his day understood this hidden wisdom. Paul’s letter to the Ephsians
gives us a glimpse as to why [Elohim] chose to hide His plan and thus allow the
Messiah to be crucified, ‘Although I am less than the least of all [Elohim’s]
people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable
riches of Messiah, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this
mystery [i.e. secret], which for ages past was kept hidden in [Elohim], Who
created all things,’ Eph. 3:8-9.
What is this mystery?
‘….the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but
is now disclosed to the saints.
To them [Elohim] has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches
of this mystery, which is Messiah in you, the hope of glory,’ Col. 1:26-27.
The secret is the life-saving message of the evangel that is now being
preached to the entire world. The present evangel of [Yahweh’s] grace is so
very gracious that it is difficult to comprehend; but, as with the wine at Cana,
Yahweh has saved the best for last. The good news that the Word of [Yahweh]
proclaims to Jews and Gentiles alike goes far beyond what could ever have been
imagined before Paul’s day.
Though this subject is worthy of a book of its own—and several fine books
have written on this topic—my purpose here is to emphasize that [Yahweh] can,
and does, hide things from us so that they may be revealed to us at a later
time, or that we may experience the joy that comes only from searching His Word
and digging out for ourselves. This is the meaning of a closed mem (M). (In His Own Words, pp. 136-137)
Yes! And it is so easy to hide Yahweh’s things from mankind as Paul
reveals! As we have learned about the mem
(Mm),
because water is a type of the spirit. The open mem
(m)
can typify that which is revealed to man by and through the spirit of man, while
the closed mem
(M)
can typify the Spirit of Yahweh which is closed or hidden as Paul writes, “But
as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into
the heart of man, the things which Yahweh hath prepared for them that love him.
But Yahweh hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth
all things, yea, the deep things of Yahweh. For what man knoweth the things of a
man, save the spirit of man which is in him?
even so the things of Yahweh knoweth no man, but the
Spirit of Yahweh. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of
Yahweh; that we might know the things that are freely given to
us of Yahweh. Which things also we speak, not in the
words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth;
comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of Yahweh:
for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned,” 1 Cor. 2:9-14.
You and I are naturally born with the spirit, the breath of man, of Adam,
but we must be called and chosen of Yahweh and given His Spirit, His breath, if
we are to understand His things.
The mem,
representing water, has naturally been understood to typify chaos just as the
waters revealed at the beginning in Genesis 1, and the waters of the flood of
Noah, or any great rain, and flood that follows. But Yahshua revealed that water
also typified the Holy Spirit, so the spirit
of man is chaos, but the Spirit
of Yahweh is love, unity, peace, faith, “I say then, Walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the
one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be
led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft,
hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell
you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of Elohim. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such
there is no law. And they that are the Messiah’s have
crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts,” Gal. 5:16-24.
WISDOM
“The mem (Mm),
the letter of ‘water’ (Mim), symbolizes the fountain of
the Divine Wisdom of Torah...In particular, we are taught that there are
thirteen channels of flow from the superconscious source to the beginning of
consciousness. These channels correspond to the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy
revealed to Moses at Sinai, as well as to the thirteen principles of Torah
exegesis, the (super-rational ‘logic’ of Torah.
Both dha ’one,’ and ebea ’love,’ equal thirteen,
the secret of the letter mem.
The ‘closed’ final mem
(M),
the source of the fountain of wisdom connected and included within its
subterranean, superconscious source, corresponds to the secret of dea,
‘one.’ The ’open’ mem
(m),
from which emerges the point (yud/i)
of conscious insight, is the first manifestation of love (i.e., will to cling to
another) in the soul. The connection between the two fountains of the mem, the
‘closed’ fountain and the ‘open’ fountain, is by the power of the
Thirteen Divine Attributes of Mercy. This is the secret of [Elohim’s]
Essential Name, efei—the
‘Name of Mercy.’ The Name efei
equals 26 = 2 x 13, the union of dea (’one’) and ebea
(’love’), the power to draw into consciousness the wisdom of Torah.” (The Alef-Beit by Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh,
p. 194).
Robert M. Haralick writes, “The shape of the letter m
can be seen as a f (wau/vav)
on the left married to a k
(kaf) on the right. The f
is leaning over to the right, the head of the f
touching the k on its upper leftmost point. And on the bottom, the f
leaves a tiny opening between its base and the base of the k.
The numerical sum of a f and a k
is 26, the same as the Tetragrammaton e-f-e-i. This tells us that the
manifestation of the transcendent e-f-e-i
in physical existence is through the m, which is the middle letter
of the Hebrew alphabet. m is therefore the balancing
point of all manifestation.” (The Inner Meaning of
the Hebrew Letters, p. 201)
With the mem being the middle letter of
the Hebrew alphabet as suggested here, we can take the first letter, which is
the aleph (a), the middle letter, which is the mem (m),
and the last letter which is the tau (t) and put them together into
a most important Hebrew word tma (emet) “TRUTH!” This
means that the “heart” of truth is the mem,
water, the wisdom of not only the Torah, but the ruach ha-kodesh (Holy Spirit)
of Yahweh.
The Spirit of Elohim brooded upon the waters (Mim/mayim) of the earth bringing forth, by the
power of the Word of Yahweh the light (first day), the atmosphere (second day),
the earth (third day), the sun, moon, and stars (fourth day), the creatures of
the sea, and air (fifth day), and finally the land animals, and man (sixth day).
Finally, the Wisdom of Yahweh, the Truth of Yahweh brought forth rest (seventh
day)! While the first six days were the physical creation, the seventh was for
spiritual purposes.
Look at the Hebrew word for water! The initial (i) of the name Yahweh/efei is in the midst of the waters! The yod (i)
is the picture of a hand. “Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I
am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand
also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my
right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they
stand up together,” Isa. 48:12-13.
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,
and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than
the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more
precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be
compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand
riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are
peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every
one that retaineth her. Yahweh by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding
hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and
the clouds drop down the dew,” Prov. 3:13-20.
Paul declares that Yahshua is the “wisdom” of Yahweh, “But we preach
the Messiah crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, the Messiah
the power of Yahweh, and the wisdom of Yahweh,”
1 Cor. 1:23-24.
Yahshua is revealed to be the “right hand of Yahweh” (Psa. 110:1; Mt.
22:44; Mk. 12:36; Lk. 20:42; Acts 2:25, 34; Heb. 1:13). He is the one Who spoke
everything into existence (Jn. 1:1-14; Psa. 33:6).
The Hebrew word for “wisdom” is chokmah (emkh).
The chet (h)
represents the number eight, which is the number of new beginnings, the kaf (k) is the picture of an open
hand, the mem (m)
is the picture of water, and the hei
(e)
has to do with revelation. This is the way the word looks in Pictorial Hebrew emkh. In this instance we can get
the idea of the “new beginning (h)
by the hand (k)
of the spirit (m)
is revealed (e).
This all comes about in, by, from, and
through Yahshua the Messiah! We become a new creature, creation in Him! (2 Cor.
5:17; Gal. 6:15)
EGYPT
The Hebrew word for Egypt is Mitsraim (Mirym).
Noticing that the word begins with the open mem
m
and ends with the closed mem
M,
we can understand that at the beginning the land of Egypt was open to the
Hebrews, but in the end it closed them up into extreme bondage.
Yahweh called a man named Moses (esm). There is great
significance to this name.
As a prefix, the mem
m
can mean from, out of, away from, apart from, part of, since, after, or because
of. Moses/Mosheh is defined as; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #H4872).
The shin (s)
is a picture of teeth with which we eat, consume, destroy. The hei (e) has to do with revelation.
Thus, Moses would mean m
from, s destruction, e revealed. Moses/Mosheh was
drawn from the waters of mankind (the Hebrew male babies) appointed to
destruction. This is a marvelous type, because in the beginning, the earth was
waste and empty, that is, in a state of destruction, chaos, and confusion, but
on the third day, Elohim brought forth the earth out of the waters of
destruction.
Moses was brought forth from the waters of destruction to deliver Yahweh’s
people from slavery to the Egyptians. Slavery is a type of destruction because
there is no liberty, no freedom. The Hebrews were under the destroying hand of a
cruel taskmaster. Moses/Mosheh was drawn from the waters of destruction to
eventually be utilized by Yahweh to deliver the children of Israel, and also a
great company of non-Hebrews as well.
Because of Adam’s sin, we all are under the hand of the harsh taskmaster
Satan the devil who is most happy to bring about pain, suffering, chaos,
destruction, and death, even to those who faithfully serve and worship him.
Furthermore, Solomon, king of Israel, turned his heart away from Yahweh
which divided the kingdom after his death and eventually brought both the
northern kingdom of Israel, and the southern kingdom of Judah to ruin and
destruction.
This opened the door for the ultimate deliverer to come, at Yahweh’s
appointed time at the end of about four thousand (4,000) years. He was the
anointed one, the Messiah/Mashiach (hism). Looking at this word
pictorially, we have the mem
= from, shin = destroy/destruction, yod = hand, chet
= fence, ladder, number of new beginnings. The Messiah delivers us from
destruction by the hand of Yahweh to bring forth a new creation.
Interestingly, the mem
(m)
= 40. Do you remember the dalet
(d),
which equals 4, which is also the picture of a DOOR? The mem, being 40, is ten times the number four, so
the dalet and the mem are related. The dalet is a door, and the mem is the spirit of the door multiplied,
empowering us to see much more clearly the true door, which is Yahshua the
Messiah.
Furthermore, the name of the mem (Mm)
would yield m = 40 + M = 40 = 80. Since eight is
the number of new beginnings, then ten times eight would be new beginning
multiplied!
Look at it again! Yahshua came at the end of 4,000 years. 4,000 is 4 x 1,000
(103),
or 40 x 100 (102),
or 8 x 500 (5 x 102).
Four is 1 x 4. These numbers all have meaning in the Hebrew alphabet. The aleph (a) is one, the dalet (d) is four, the chet (h) is 8, the hei (e)
is 5, the yod (i)
is 10, the mem (m) is 40.
At the end of 4,000 years, the hand (i) [= 10] of Yahweh, Who is
also the aleph (a)
[= 1] came, to become the door (d) [= 4] of grace (e)
[5] by pouring out the spirit (m) [=40], to bring about a new
(h) [= 8] creature, creation!
Yahshua proclaimed, “I am the door of the sheep,” Jn. 10:7. He is the
anointed one, the Messiah who delivers us from death, from destruction, “I am
he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and
have the keys of hell and of death,” Rev. 1:18. We are called to a new and
living way, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by
the blood of Yahshua, By a new and living way,
which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
And having an high priest over the house of Elohim; Let us draw near with a true
heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience, and our bodies washed with pure
water,” Heb. 10:19-22.
John wrote, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven
and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw
the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from Elohim out of heaven, prepared as
a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,
Behold, the tabernacle of Elohim is with men, and he will dwell with them, and
they shall be his people, and Yahweh himself shall be with them, and be their
Elohim. And Yahweh shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be
no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said,
Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are
true and faithful,” Rev. 21:1-5.
Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh writes, “In the time of the coming of Mashiach, when ‘the earth will be filled with
the knowledge of [Elohim] as the waters cover the sea,’ even the closed final mem will become revealed….The power of the
final mem, when fully revealed by Mashiach, will infinitely increase his reign and
the peace on earth ensuing therefrom. The waters of Mashiach, ‘waters that have no end,’ are
waters of teshuvah, as our Sages interpret the
conclusion of the second verse of the Torah: ‘...and the Spirit of [Elohim]
was hovering over the waters.’ ‘The spirit of [Elohim],’ the soul of the Mashiach, hovers over (i.e., is dependent upon)
the infinite waters of teshuvah.”
(The Alef-Beit, p. 198).
The waters of teshuvah
simply means, the waters (spirit) of salvation!
Isaiah declares, “For I will pour water
upon him that is thirsty, and floods
upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit
upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: And they shall spring up as
among the grass, as willows by the water courses,” Isa. 44:3-4.
Again, he writes, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy
mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as the waters
cover the sea,” Isa. 11:9.
The lesson of the mem
is so awesome! There is so much more, but will have to be saved for a later
date!
JH
 |
A member of a certain church, who previously
had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the
pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening.
The pastor found the man at home alone,
sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the
man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited.
The pastor made himself comfortable but said
nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the
burning logs.
After some minutes, the pastor took the fire
tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of
the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host
watched all this in quiet fascination.
As the one lone ember's flame diminished,
there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and
"dead as a doornail."
Not a word had been spoken since the initial
greeting.
Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he
picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire.
Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning
coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, his
host said, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery
sermon. I shall be back in church next Sabbath"
Scripture reference
Proverbs
26:20 (Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out... [first part])
Hebrew
10:25 (Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some
is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.)