Water of His WORD BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING ---Roly Buys--- 1
Amanda Buys Spiritual Covering This is a product of Kanaan Ministries, a non-profit ministry under the covering of: Roly, Amanda s husband for more than thirty-five years. Pastor Edward and Dalene Gibbens Vanderbijlpark South Africa There is no copyright on this material. However, no part may be reproduced and/or presented for personal gain. All rights to this material are reserved to further the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ ONLY. For further information or to place an order, please contact us at: P.O. Box 15253 27 John Vorster Avenue Panorama Plattekloof Ext. 1 7506 Panorama 7500 Cape Town Cape Town South Africa South Africa Tel: +27 (0) 21 930 7577 Fax: 086 681 9458 E-mail: kanaan@iafrica.com Website: www.kanaanministries.org Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM Kanaan International Website Website: www.eu.kanaanministries.org 2
כי תשא Parashah Ki Tisa Week 21 GOD SAYS WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO This week s portion comes from Exodus 30:11-34:35; 1 Kings 18:1-39 and Luke 1:14-20; 1 Corinthians 10: 2-3:1-18 SUMMARY This portion covers the Commandments of exactly how to make the anointing oil and incense for the Tabernacle, the indirect census of all of the males over 20 years old by the act of making a contribution of half a shekel, the event known as the Sin of the golden calf, the appointment of two men who have been selected to make the items for the Tabernacle and two stories that define the Tablets of Stone on which the WORDS of the Covenant are written. Finally, we are introduced to the concept that intimacy with GOD (YHVH) will radiate from your face as Moses demonstrates when he returns from the mountain after the second period of 40 days. I have identified three themes for discussion this week: A) WE ARE TO TAKE THE BEST SPICES From the top of Mount Sinai where GOD s (YHVH) Voice thundered out the Ten Commandments, to the place where the Tabernacle is standing seems a relatively short distance. One critical Commandment stands out though before GOD (YHVH) will come and dwell amongst us, and before we can hear the still small Voice of direction, we need to obtain the spices and oil. We need to mix these in a pre-determined / special recipe, that will produce the acceptable fragrance and anointing oil that will be used to sanctify physical utensils. 3
Exodus 30:22-38 ADONAI said to Moshe, Take the best spices 500 shekels of myrrh [12 pounds], half this amount (250 shekels) of aromatic cinnamon [6 pounds], 250 shekels of aromatic cane, 500 shekels of cassia (use the sanctuary standard), and one gallon of olive oil and make them into a holy anointing oil; blend it and perfume it as would an expert perfumemaker; it will be a holy anointing oil. Use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark for the testimony, the table and all its utensils, the menorah and all its utensils, the incense altar, the altar for burnt offerings and all its utensils, and the basin with its base. You are to consecrate them they will be especially holy, and whatever touches them will be holy. Then you are to anoint Aharon and his sons you are to consecrate them to serve Me in the office of cohen. Tell the people of Isra el, This is to be a holy anointing oil for Me through all your generations. It is not to be used for anointing a person s body; and you are not to make any like it, with the same composition of ingredients it is holy, and you are to treat it as holy. Whoever makes any like it or uses it on any unauthorized person is to be cut off from his people. ADONAI said to Moshe, Take aromatic plant substances balsam resin, sweet onycha root and bitter galbanum gum these spices along with frankincense, all in equal quantities; and make incense, blended and perfumed as would an expert perfume-maker, salted, pure and holy. You are to grind up some of it very finely and put it in front of the testimony in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you; you are to regard it as especially holy. You are not to make for your own use any incense like it, with the same composition of ingredients you are to treat it as holy, for ADONAI. Whoever makes up any like it to use as perfume is to be cut off from his people. The Israelites are in the wilderness, so what would you think? Where are we going to get hold of these things? We can t find them here? So what now? The spices, we will discover, come from far-away places such as the tip of Africa, India and so on. Finding the Spices We should ask how are they going to find these products? History will tell us that a nomadic tribe called the Nabataeans 1 will travel from these far places, across the seas, through the desert to deliver the items. These traders will form a network of small forts where they can sleep over, feed the camels and get water. We learn that these traders had an extraordinary ability to find, conserve, and store water. One such place on this route, Mamshit can be visited today. Its part of the network of nature conservation areas that you can visit in Israel. If you are ever in Israel on a holiday or a pilgrimage, then you should seriously consider going down into the Negev desert, the area that was famous for the Spice route. While driving around this area, you will be reminded of these desert nomads and their journey when you see the man-made object / statue with strings of camels as they travel across the desert skyline. This steel camel train looks incredibly real and you may actually think 1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/nabataean_kingdom 4
you are back in time. Studying this camel train makes you wonder about these animals that plod along at 3 miles per hour covering 25 miles a day while carrying 500 pounds of spices and realise that they reflect a question that every believer must answer namely, have we counted the cost of following Y shua? In our case, He says the burden will be light, even in times of tribulations. The ancient city building / walls are still standing the market place where all of the deals took place, is still visible. The cistern still cries out for water. In fact, the original spice trial is well documented, and jeep tours into the crater will soon reveal wells / springs and remains of the old forts. The question one needs to ask is this: If the spices are so critical to the functioning of the Tabernacle, why did the Israelites, and more specifically the Levites, leave this task to the traders? Consider this without the spices and the oil, the Tabernacle would cease to function. We are told that the physical Tabernacle is an exact replica of the Heavenly (spiritual) one - (Third Heaven). If we need the spices and the oils, and the fragrances in the wilderness Tabernacle, then we will need these same items in some transformed format for the Heavenly Tabernacle. One way to make this connection is to look at the instruction that defines how we will use the anointing oil. The Bible says its NOT to be used as an oil on the physical body. But the oil is used on the utensils that are put into the Tabernacle. Since we (OUR SPIRIT MAN), is a replica of the Tabernacle, and since we are supposed to reflect these utensils in our daily walk, it stands to reason that our spirit man should be regularly bathed in the oil / spices / incense that is derived from spiritual fruit. In the following example, I take three of these spices and show what their spiritual equivalent could possibly be Looking at these spices will give us some indication of the attributes that you and I need to develop in order to serve in the Heavenly Tabernacle. 5
(1) Myrrh SPIRITUAL Meanings: Flowing / running / liberty / release Myrrh is associated with another Hebrew word derowr which adds as clarification the following thoughts: A free abundant flow spontaneously Liberty / years of liberation Gyration, birds wheeling in flight It gets used as a servant oil that enhances other fragrances to make them last longer. It is also used as a substance that acts as a pain reliever. Myrrh is a fragrance that covers the pain and suffering of others when the world is unjust and hurtful. People who have been wounded and have not found healing, will often carry on as if nothing has happened. And when you see something painful happen in someones life, you can easily see this as a repeating pattern and fall into bitterness. Myrrh covers that pain. Our acts of love, kindness / forgiveness are elements that cover the pain spiritually All acts of mercy and compassion, as well as good deeds like those of the good Samaritan, would reflect the spiritual Myrrh. While we look at this story as defining who our neighbour should be, we should not lose sight of the very important work of covering the pain / wounds before he is taken to the inn. You would do well to re-read this story from time to time. Myrrh is also used to embalm things; ask GOD (YHVH) to embalm all the old things that feed the ego / old man. (2) Frankincense SPIRITUAL Meanings: Brilliance of the colour white / a drop in the form of a pearl. The product has a brilliant colour of WHITE and is gathered in drops that forms the shape of a pearl. In order that we can bring an offer that is so pure that we can stand in His presence, we have to allow GOD s (YHVH) Fire to burn away all that is impure. The tree from which these drops are harvested is cut / wounded. In the same way we may experience some hard knocks on our journey through life. Our forefathers carried on walking through the wilderness. We too, must take these tribulations and turn them into moments of sacrifice and a very special incense offering. 6
These sacrifices will become pearls and you will soon realise that the purity of walking in obedience to GOD (YHVH) is a very precious pearl indeed. It represents the fragrance of an offer of obedience, of purity and holiness. It represents the attribute of worship in Spirit and Truth. **NUGGET!** If we can transform the physical spices into spiritual incense, then we will smell and taste as if we were in the Garden of Eden. (3) Cinnamon The plant that we get cinnamon from grows about 10 meters high and is covered in clusters of white / yellow flowers. It's the BARK of the tree that we use. When we take the bark, it naturally forms into a roll of cinnamon. When this bark is melted down it becomes extremely hot. If you and I are anointed with this spice, we become a healing balm that flows down onto others, we in fact become rolled up into works of obedience. What happens when we are using this spice? We wash the smell of the world and the old man / ego away at the same time it will set us apart from all others and give us the courage to be different. B) WORSHIP IN THE OPPOSITE SPIRIT TO THAT DISPLAYED AT THE GOLDEN CALF The people who were slaves had been freed in a day. However, what we will learn over the next few weeks, is that it s only their physical bodies that had been liberated. Critically, their minds / soul and spirit still had to be renewed by the process of walking in obedience to GOD (YHVH) until they are Holy and Clean (sanctified). Moses has told them that he will be up the mountain with GOD (YHVH). They know where he is, but that it takes a while for him to return. Is this not one of the main problems with mankind? We want things to be done now!!! We cannot wait what s so wrong with waiting? We have no patience to wait until the right time or season. We are immature act like children who want instant gratification. Instant coffee, instant food, instant results We have lost the understanding of the season of planting, growing, ripening, harvesting, contentment. We insist: It must be now!!! 7
Exodus 32:8-9 So quickly they have turned aside from the way I ordered them to follow! They have cast a metal statue of a calf, worshipped it, sacrificed to it and said, Isra el! Here is your god, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!. ADONAI continued speaking to Moshe: I have been watching these people; and you can see how stiffnecked they are. It appears that man has a need to see / touch material things to be in touch with the physical. GOD (YHVH), on the other hand, is to be found in the intangible. You see, we have to believe in faith. We have to walk in the exact same way that Abraham did without knowing where we will end up, but steadfastly believing that while we walk in His ways, He will lead us. When we doubt GOD s (YHVH) Presence, we want to create something tangible. In their case, they made a calf of gold. What are you making that is tangible but not really something that reflects GOD s (YHVH) Glory? Physical things can easily become idols my sport, work, house, farm, and so forth. Physical things almost always take away my ability / desire to believe in that which is unseen. What form do the idols take in your life today? Unfortunately life is not that simple. Today we have belief systems alternate religions, where there is not a physical idol as such, in the concept. We may find that some physical objects (for example saints and a Christmas tree) that are used in this religion, whatever the value system itself of that religion, becomes an idol of the mind. Man has the ability to take a little piece of truth, mix it with much deception, put a framework of religious traditions around it, and sell it well. Let us try to analyse the causes of the spiritual failure that led to the Golden Calf 1. They lacked faith GOD (YHVH) has delivered them from a life of slavery. Whilst Pharaoh and his people suffer tremendously, the Israelites are able to watch what is happening and to enjoy absolute peace. They see miracle after miracle occurring before their eyes as Pharaoh is challenged and ultimately defeated. They are taken through the Red Sea, and watch while Pharaoh s army, that pursued them, perishes. They are provided with food and water by the Hand of GOD (YHVH), and see the wonder of the Covenant at Mount Sinai. Yet after only a few days on their own, while they are still being fed and cared for, they think to make an idol / god. After all of the miracles, they still want a god that they can see and feel. 8
Exodus 32:1 When the people saw that Moshe was taking a long time to come down from the mountain, they gathered around Aharon and said to him, Get busy; and make us gods to go ahead of us; because this Moshe, the man that brought us up from the land of Egypt we don t know what has become of him. 2. They love the sinful aspects of this world. We have seen how quickly they can cry out in thirst, or ask for food. We have seen how they turn away and ask Moses to represent them, too scared to believe that they are set apart. Surely the intellectuals under their group would have asked, how is it that all of the other nations tremble at the thought of what God could do to them, so why do we not believe? And now we see that it does not take long for them to have a worldly feast, to get the band playing. Exodus 32:6 Early the next morning they got up and offered burnt offerings and presented peace offerings. Afterwards, the people sat down to eat and drink; then they got up to indulge in revelry. In this verse, we find the word to play used. The Hebrew word is Strong s 6711 and means: To play To sport / make sport of / to toy with To jest, especially with women. What seems to be said, indirectly, is that the dancing was of an erotic / pagan cult nature. And then they put on the dancing shoes. But there is something different here. This does not seem to be the ordinary dancing. Exodus 32:19-20 But the moment Moshe got near the camp, when he saw the calf and the dancing, his own anger blazed up. He threw down the tablets he had been holding and shattered them at the base of the mountain. Seizing the calf they had made, he melted it in the fire and ground it to powder, which he scattered on the water. Then he made the people of Isra el drink it. The Hebrew word used here is Strong s 4246 and means: A round / circular dance. However, further on in verse 25, Moses uses a particular word to describe these dance actions. He says they are loose / unrestrained 9
The Hebrew word here is Strong s 6544 and contains the meanings: To loosen To let go unbridled To show a lack of restraint To make naked 3. They place their trust in man We are all given the right to exercise our freedom of choice. Obviously we can make mistakes, and will have to carry the consequences. However, we have also been blessed with gifts and talents and an ability to learn. We can learn from others. We can discern in our own heart that which is good and that which is evil. We can open our hearts and ears to the Holy Spirit and with a little common sense will be able to make wise decisions. Democracy, the combined opinion of many, does NOT make the consequential decisions either right or morally good. More often than not, the masses will be driven by emotions and not by reason. Exodus 32:1[a] When the people saw that Moshe was taking a long time to come down from the mountain, they gathered around Aharon and said to him, Get busy; and make us gods to go ahead of us. 4. They fail to take responsibility for their actions It seems that man struggles to accept accountability for the actions that they make. More so it seems when the decisions are made as a group. In this case Aaron takes part, yet raises the most surprising of excuses Exodus 32:22-24 Aharon replied, My lord shouldn t be so angry. You know what these people are like, that they are determined to do evil. So they said to me, Make us gods to go ahead of us; because this Moshe, the man that brought us up from the land of Egypt we don t know what has become of him. I answered them, Anyone with gold, strip it off! So they gave it to me. I threw it in the fire, and out came this calf! In order to function as a priest in the Order of Melchizedek, we will HAVE to walk in the complete opposite spirit: Build your faith Walk in obedience. Cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit Be accountable for your decisions. You may ask: is it possible? 10
Well, Paul tells us when he quotes from this incident, that we will not be tempted past that which we are able. If you allow the Holy Spirit into your life, if you walk prayerfully at all times, if you seek the counsel of Godly elders, you will be walking inside of the boundary stones of the Covenant. 1 Corinthians 10:6-7 Now these things took place as prefigurative historical events, warning us not to set our hearts on evil things as they did. Don t be idolaters, as some of them were as the Tanakh puts it, The people sat down to eat and drink, then got up to indulge in revelry. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you beyond what people normally experience, and God can be trusted not to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. On the contrary, along with the temptation He will also provide the way out, so that you will be able to endure. YOU ARE ABLE!! It s your choice destroy the golden calf!!! Do not sacrifice the Glory of the Tabernacle experience with / for the image of an ox!! Psalm 106:19-21 In Horev they fashioned a calf, they worshipped a cast metal image. Thus they exchanged their Glory for the image of an ox that eats grass! They forgot God, who had saved them, who had done great things in Egypt. C) WISE LEADERS LISTEN TO THE SMALL STILL VOICE OF GOD Moses and Elijah have much in common: Both men have prophetic ministries that impact on the children of Israel. Both men are critical of the people, using harsh words of judgment. Both men part the waters of a sea / river. Both men are challenged in their leadership by Korah and Jezebel. Both men will cry out to GOD (YHVH) for deliverance from Pharaoh and from the priest of Baal. Both men are also brought to a mountain. In the case of Moses it was so that he could understand that he could not enter the Land. In the case of Elijah it was to hear that he must learn to listen. 1 Kings 19:11-12 He said, Go outside, and stand on the mountain before ADONAI ; and right then and there, ADONAI went past. A mighty blast of wind tore the mountains apart and broke the rocks in pieces before ADONAI, but ADONAI was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake, but ADONAI was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, fire broke out; but ADONAI was not in the fire. And after the fire came a quiet, subdued voice. 11
D) JUDAH AND DAN ONE of the most interesting facts set out in this portion, is the choice of the two men that would be responsible for the making of utensils and building the Tabernacle. What is really strange, are the choices of the men one from Judah and the other from Dan. Nothing happens by chance. The choices must be prophetic and in a sense reflects the order of the rides in motion. You will recall that Judah went first and Dan brought up the rear. Both tribes have an anointing for warfare, brotherly love and caring. Both tribes would be the first to defend the weak and the old. Questions: Is there a prophetic message for us in these choices? Are we encouraged to be diligent in watching and guarding others Are there some who are called to look after other Living Stones members of the Tabernacle simply because GOD (YHVH) has placed that calling on them? Is there a prophetic message for us in the unique craftsmanship that these men exhibit? Are we encouraged to be exceedingly diligent in the quality and excellence of the WORD that we preach and teach? We are to be masters of design in all manner of gold, silver and bronze. Exodus 31:3 I have singled out B tzal el the son of Uri the son of Hur, of the tribe of Y hudah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God with wisdom, understanding and knowledge. It seems to me that GOD (YHVH) would install certain qualities / talents that have the ability to turn ordinary things into works of gold and so forth. Those things that we produce must reflect the Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge of GOD s (YHVH) Character in every possible manner. We cannot be busy with inspirational talks, with soft gentle stories for babies we must produce a product / teaching / talk that is layered with GOLD. E) LEADERSHIP IS DOING WHATEVER GOD (YHVH) ASKS OF YOU We often look at these Commandments and see them as a list of things to do and that s why so many people call these Commandments laws. Our attitude towards our Heavenly Father will determine the way we look and see these obligations a Godly leader knows that obligations are only on one side of a coin; on the other side we will find the fruits of our heartfelt service i.e. the blessings. It seems strange how many people follow after and expect the blessings of GOD (YHVH), but have no commitment to the responsibility that goes with that Shalom. 12
Moses becomes the example for us to emulate. MOSES shows us a 3-stage relationship with GOD (YHVH). 1. It starts with a willingness to seek after GOD (YHVH), the turning aside at the burning bush to look at the Spirit of GOD (YHVH), and it all starts with Moses REFUSING to be a part of the world system. He tells Pharaoh and company he refuses to be called the son of the daughter of Pharaoh. It is important that we reject the world system AND accept GOD s (YHVH) system we need both. Hebrews 11:24 By trusting, Moshe, after he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh s daughter. There is something haunting about this photo. Moses removes shoes to declare that he is standing on Holy ground. The Nazi s made the Jews take off their shoes before they were forced into the river to drown in Budapest during World War II. It may well be that you and I will have to make sacrifices for our faith in GOD (YHVH); rest assured, He will know your NAME. We call this the act where GOD (YHVH) knows your NAME. Exodus 33:17 ADONAI said to Moshe, I will also do what you have asked Me to do, because you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name. 2. It continues with the willingness to stand in the gap for the people; these people had grumbled and made the golden calf. Moses has been given the get out of prison card, yet he stops and refuses to go unless GOD (YHVH) would reconsider and find favour on them. Hebrews 11:25 He chose being mistreated along with GOD s (YHVH) people rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin. We call this the action where GOD s (YHVH) FAVOURS you. Exodus 34:8-9 At once Moshe bowed his head to the ground, prostrated himself and said, If I have now found favor in Your view, Adonai, then please let Adonai go with us, even though they are a stiffnecked people; and pardon our offenses and our sin; and take us as Your possession. 13
Exodus 34:10 11 He said, Here, I am making a covenant; in front of all your people I will do wonders such as have not been created anywhere on earth or in any nation. All the people around you will see the work of ADONAI. What I am going to do through you will be awesome! Observe what I am ordering you to do today. 3. It culminates with the willingness to carry on walking and teaching God s Will for the next 40 years. Before he starts off on this journey, he will have to carve the Commandments into another set of stone tablets. He will walk with these people through thick and thin, and serve them to the very end we need to endure to persevere to carry on!! We need to be able to discern that which looks good (like the golden calf), but which in fact belongs fully to the world system. Hebrews 11:26-27 He had come to regard abuse suffered on behalf of the Messiah as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he kept his eyes fixed on the reward. By trusting, he left Egypt, not fearing the king s anger; he persevered as one who sees the unseen. We call this the lifestyle that earns the title of God s FRIEND HAFTORAH The Haftorah portion covers the events that are described as the destruction of the gods of Baal at Mount Carmel. At that time, the children of Israel had once again turned away from GOD (YHVH) and had begun to worship foreign idols not really much different from the time when they turned to worship the golden calf. The portion records the words that we need to repeat daily. GOD (YHVH), HE IS GOD. What really stands out in this portion, is the danger of compromise. Compromise, is a frame of mind that seeks to stand with one foot in both camps. Its almost as if we want to hedge our bets if GOD (YHVH) does not come through, then I will be all right with the pagan gods 1 KINGS 18.21 Eliyahu stepped forward before all the people and said, How long are you going to jump back and forth between two positions? If ADONAI is GOD (YHVH), follow Him; but if it s Ba al, follow him! The people answered him not a word. 14
For that reason, we should make sure that we know what our benchmark is BEFORE we face temptation, so that we do not have to consider all of the options. One of the places where this is most relevant is in the area of leadership in the Body of Messiah: (i) there are those who preach a message, (ii) then live another lifestyle (iii) there are those who preach a MEMBER FRIENDLY message (seeker friendly) instead of the Word in Truth and Spirit. The act of idolatry is something that is vile before GOD (YHVH), but no action such as this occurs without the thought process of a double-minded man. Psalm 119:113 (Samekh) I hate double-minded people, but I love Your Torah. James 1:8 Because he is double-minded, unstable in all his ways. James 4:8 Come close to GOD (YHVH), and He will come close to you. Clean your hands, sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded people! A FINAL THOUGHT Great men will do what GOD (YHVH) tells them to do, and will also NOT do what GOD (YHVH) instructs them not to do. Great men will be prepared to engrave GOD s (YHVH) Commandments onto the TABLETS OF THEIR HEARTS. Great men will listen to the Small Still Voice of GOD (YHVH) and proclaim this prophetic WORD: Malachi 3:24 Look, I will send to you Eliyahu the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible Day of ADONAI. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers; otherwise I will come and strike the land with complete destruction. 15
Priestly Blessing Y varekh kha YHVH v yishmerekha. May YHVH bless you and keep you. Ya er YHVH panav eleikha vichunekka. May YHVH make His Face shine on you and show you His favour. Yissa YHVH panav eleikha v yasem l kha shalom. May YHVH lift up His Face toward you and give you peace. In this way they are to put My Name on the people of Israel, so that I will bless them. Numbers 6:24-27 Shalom!! 16