Sunday, May 10, 2020

Netzach of Hod - Enduring Humility

Several years ago I was out of town as a volunteer for a weekend event. I really didn't know anyone before I arrived. I make friends easily so I wasn't concerned. The biggest hurdle for me was that the event was not religious and I knew nothing about the backgrounds of the people by which I was surrounded.

Netzach of Hod or Enduring Humility is all about keeping it going even when you don't think you can or even when the temptation to do otherwise is overwhelming.  That weekend was a test for me.  There was no spiritual influence around me that I could discern.  It wasn't a bad situation, in fact it was a wonderful experience involving music.

I was in the midst of people with many different backgrounds and beliefs. There were plenty of people I connected with, but I had no idea if there was a spiritual connection.  I knew that I must rely on my Master for instructions and that is not always easy when you are exhausted and hungry, (I have food allegies so trying to get enough to eat when away from home is sometimes difficult.)

Enduring humility is deciding to listen to the master and follow His leading for the long haul.  No matter what the circumstances, it is of the utmost importance that you get plenty of rest and eat regularly.  You also MUST take time to read His Word daily and communicate with Him daily.  If not, you run the risk of separation from Him.

Is He worth the extra effort?  Is your life worth the extra effort?  Only you can make that decision.

Shalom!

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Malchut of Netzach, Mature Endurance

Malchut of Netzach is the culmination of our entire week of the Counting of the Omer of Netzach.  Malchut is all about reaching the maturity level of endurance.  As I run this race of endurance, how am I perceived?  Am I a whiner who constantly complains about every little ache and pain and obstacle that arises?  Am I attracting attention to myself as I show off the things I accomplish along the way?  Or, do I bring glory and honor to the one who has called, equipped and given me all the strength to accomplish every inch of the marathon?

When I approach the finish line of this race of endurance, I want to hear the words,

"You have done well, good and faithful servant.........Enter your master's joy!"  Matthew 25:21

We begin a new week tomorrow, the week of Hod - Humility.  Are you ready?  Shalom!~~~~~~

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Yesod of Netzach, Committed Endurance

Yesod of Netzach is being committed to the thing you are enduring about to the point of no return.  You will let nothing deter you from carrying out your task.

Do you remember the verse about "resisted to the point of the shedding of blood"?  That is commitment!   How committed are you to the person or thing you are enduring for?  I haven't really touched on our endurance possibly being for a person, (and I'm not necessarily talking about looking for a mate, single ladies out there!).  Are you enduring over someone who is lost?  Are you enduring to the point of even giving up your own life over someone who the rest of society has given up on?  Perhaps you should go back and read my post on "Broken Mirrors" from December 8, 2012.

 Shalom!~~~~~~

Monday, May 4, 2020

Hod of Netzach, Strength to Endure

Hod of Netzach is realizing the strength to endure comes not from within you, but from HASHEM. It is only from Him that you have the strength and ability to endure to the end and reap the reward of endurance.  This does not mean you are weak, but rather that you have an infinite source of power which goes beyond anything YOU can possibly achieve on your own.  In essence, it makes you undefeatable!  Remember that we are told in His Word:

"Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with His mighty strength!  Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary.  For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.  So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing.  Therefore, stand!"    Ephesians 6:10-14

Shalom!~~~~~~

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Getting Re-aligned

   
     On Saturday I shared the thoughts I had while praying about the current pandemic. I talked about the verses in 2 Chronicles 7 where G-d answers Solomon's prayer about the Temple. Those verses tell us that G-d says whenever something horrific happens to our world it is up to His children, those called by His name, to humble themselves, pray, seek His face, AND turn from their wicked ways. Not just one of those things, but ALL of them, in order for Him to forgive us and heal our land.

     Today Jews around the world will celebrate Passover, beginning at sunset, and the countdown will begin to Pentecost. Those 50 days, referred to as the counting of the omer, are a time for introspection, a once a year in-depth look at oneself and make corrections or adjustments as needed. At least once per year we need to line ourselves up with the measuring stick, Jesus, and see how out of line we have become.

     In Amos 7:8 G-d says He is about to drop a plumb line in the midst of His people Israel. For those who do not know, a plumb line is a string or rope connected to a heavy weight. It is used by builders to ensure their walls are straight. If a wall isn't perfectly straight, the entire building will be off. The sages say G-d meant there would be strict judgement coming on His people.

     One of the things about learning the Hebraic teachings during the 1st century, is finding that the Rabbis of the day taught about fractals. A fractal, in simple terms, is a repeated, complex pattern. Perhaps you have seen a small picture that looks like the larger version of itself. Think of a picture of what appears to be an entire stalk of broccoli, but upon closer examination it is only one little branch of a stalk. If you are still unsure, please look up the definition and images.

     Prophecies are fractals that are actually fulfilled over and over as time goes on, but with each fulfillment they become clearer and clearer. We have actually been taught that concept in church. In Christian circles one example is what is referred to as a "type of Christ." For example Abraham, Moses, David all exude a vague "Christ type" persona, a messiah for their generations. With each fulfillment the picture becomes clearer and clearer until Jesus appears on the scene.

     Every year we should take the image of a fractal and look at ourselves in-depth to ensure the image we portray is becoming more and more clearly Christ-like. This is never an easy process, but we should want to become more like Christ and it will likely take a while to get all of the "Egypt" out of us.

     Before we begin that process I will need to explain the model that is used to work through those days of introspection. If you do this in the coming days and then repeat the process at this same time every year for the rest of your life you will begin to see yourself come into line with the true plumb line, Jesus. Just like a fractal your alignment will become clearer and clearer each year.

     That model is called The Tree of Life. Most of you have heard that term. It is mentioned in the 2nd chapter of Genesis. It is also mentioned in Revelation 22. I have always thought it was an actual tree, but is it? In Hebraic circles the term Tree of Life refers to the attributes of G-d. There are 10 attributes listed (for beginners).

     It is a theoretical view of G-d from behind. I have a diagram on this website that can help you understand better. Those attributes are:

1. Keter - crown (top of head)
2. Chochma - wisdom (right ear)
3. Binah - understanding (left ear)
4. Chesed - loving kindness, grace (right hand)
5. Gevorah - strictness, judgement (left hand
6. Tiferet - harmony, compassion (heart or kidneys)
7. Netzach - endurance (right leg)
8. Hod - humility (left leg)
9. Yesod - foundation, bonding (reproductive)
10. Malchut - kingdom, sovereignty, leadership (feet)

     For the counting of the omer only the last 7 are used. There are 7 weeks of 7 days.

Week 1 - chesed
Week 2 - Gevorah
Week 3 - Tiferet
Week 4 - Netzach
Week 5 - Hod
Week 6 - Yesod
Week 7 - Malchut

     Working through the days each attribute is cross referenced with itself and the other 6. I know this isn't the easiest to understand. It is really something you have to work through to know what I am talking about. I will walk you through every day of the omer beginning on Thursday evening. We take one day at a time. As you work through the 49 days in 2020, then again in 2021, 2022 etc., you will see the fractal of your relationship with G-d become clearer and clearer.

     For now get ready for Passover by reading the story in Exodus 6 - 12. Yes it is lengthy, but look for little gems you may have never noticed before. This year is probably the only year that Gentiles can truly appreciate and relate to the original Passover. In Exodus we see that the Israelites were quarantined in their homes away from other families, because a plague of death was about to move through their midst. As you sit in your home under the safer at home initiative to keep the Covid-19 virus from spreading, think deeply about the implications of the Passover story.

     Until tomorrow evening, Shalom!
   

Saturday, April 4, 2020

A Pandemic

     The entire world right now is in the midst of one of the greatest crises of my lifetime, Covid 19.  We have seen smaller versions in the last 40 years, but nothing of this magnitude since 1918. Knowing that my husband, my brother, my sister-in-law, and I are at a greater risk due to age and health conditions, we are staying healthy at home. I worry a little about our children and grandchildren at this time. I try not to, but this virus really is no respecter of persons, race, religion, or gender. It is not quite as hard on the younger people and children which is a great relief, but none of us truly knows what underlying conditions we have.

     Several days ago I was a nervous wreck knowing that I could not protect my family. I spent some time on my knees crying out to G-d for them. During this prayer time the thought came to me about it being almost Passover and Easter. Today is the 4th of April, 2020 and Passover begins 4 days from today at sundown. I was recalling in my memories about the original Passover and the meaning. The Israelite people had been enslaved by the Egyptians.

     The slavery of that day was quite different from the slavery of the United States history. It was more of an indentured servant type of slavery. If they wanted to eat and live, they worked for the Egyptians. As time went on the Israelite people grew to an astounding number and the Egyptians did more and more to keep them suppressed.

     When the burden became too great they cried out for someone to rescue them. That is when G-d called Moses. He came to rescue them from their plight. But G-d didn't have Moses ride in on a white horse with an army to overthrow the Egyptians, He took His good sweet time. In fact, life for the Israelites would get much worse before their rescue.

     Moses and his brother Aaron first went before the Israelites to let them know that G-d had not forgotten them and had heard their pleas. Next Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. All they asked for was that he allow the Israelites to go into the wilderness for three days to celebrate G-d. Pharaoh's response was not welcoming. As a result Pharaoh ordered the taskmasters to make the work life more difficult for them. If you have ever worked in a factory that runs production you may be able to understand this better. They were not given the raw materials (straw) they would need, they were required to find those raw materials on their own, make them into the building materials (bricks), and still maintain the same level of production as before. When they were unable to meet their quota, the foremen of the Children of Israel were beaten.

     Some rescue right? They wanted to be released and free, not burdened more and treated worse. The foremen appeal to Pharaoh, but he is relentless. As they leave Pharaoh they happen to meet Moses and Aaron on the way and said to them, "May the Lord look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us." Exodus 5:21 NIV

     Moses then turns to G-d and says, "Oh Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and You have not rescued Your people at all." Exodus 5:22-23 NIV

   Now G-d reveals His plan. Beginning in Exodus 6:1 G-d says, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: because of My mighty hand he will let them go; because of My mighty hand he will drive them out of his country." NIV 

    G-d is about to show who He really is. After these things Pharaoh will not only let them go, but he will drive them from the land. It wasn't merely an okay you can go, but more like get out of my sight and never come back!

     The commentary on this passage can be summed up like this, an event of epic proportions was about to occur. Though Pharaoh appeared to be invincible, he would soon crumble. Though the Israelites felt they were doomed, they would soon live to see one of the biggest redemption plans in history. A redemption that generations would celebrate forever more.

     What followed that day was, according to the ancient Hebrew sages, six months of miracles. Miracles that we see today as astounding, but at the time must have been some of the most frightening days ever in the lives of G-d's people. They were given a promise that G-d would; 1. bring them out, 2. free them, 3. redeem them, and 4. take them as His people. Exodus 6:6-7a. These four statements, also known as the four I wills, are reflected in the four cups that one drinks at the Passover meal. (There is a hint in the Gospels regarding these at the last supper.)

     The plagues can be broken down into groups of three and a final redeeming plague. The first three represent G-d proving His existence as I AM. The second three represent G-d's providential hand over earthly affairs and shows that He cares about material matters. The next three are to prove that He is unmatched by any power and lastly the final plague was to break Pharaoh down.

      The time from Moses appearing to Pharaoh until the exodus was also a time for the Israelites to work through the letting go process. They had to learn to remove Egypt from their lives. In our lives it is a way for us to work through the process of getting the Egypt out of us. Regardless of how horrible a life situation may be for any of us, sometimes the unknown is more frightening. Egypt was a hard life, but they had houses, animals, and plenty of food. How would they survive? Where would they find food? What lay just past that border?

     I started this post about the Covid 19 pandemic currently running amok on the earth. As of today there have been 1,140,327 confirmed cases, 60,887 deaths, and 233,930 total recovered worldwide. In the USA there are 278,568 confirmed cases, 7,163 deaths, and 9,920 total recovered. These numbers are staggering and climb dramatically every day. We aren't sure when it will end and at what cost to life, mental health, and the economy.

     I get it. We are all nervous and some are down right terrified. As I stated at the beginning I was praying about it and remembered the Passover and Easter. Both of those events were two of the greatest events ever, but also two of the most frightening ever at the time. As I sat pondering these things I wondered if these two events and the virus did not happen by coincidence. I truly believe G-d orchestrates things to bring us back to Him.

     We are at a crossroad. What part of Egypt have we allowed to come into our life? Have we strayed from His ways so far that He needed to get our attention? Another verse ties in so well with this situation. 2 Chronicles 7:11-16  "When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, the LORD appeared to him at night and said: 'I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people, if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will always be there.'" NIV

     Passover is a time for complete reliance and faith in G-d that He is who He says He is and that He will keep His word. This time of pandemic on our world is a time for complete reliance and faith in G-d that He is who He says He is and that He will keep His word. The first three plagues fell on the Egyptians and the Israelites. It did not differentiate, but the next six were different. Those fell only on the Egyptians until the 10th and final plague.

     The 10th plague required something from the Israelites in order to not have the plague befall them.  They were told to go to the Egyptians and ask for gold and silver vessels. They were also given explicit instructions to protect themselves and their family from the last and final plague. It must be followed exactly. On the tenth of the month they were to take for their household an unblemished male yearling lamb or goat. For four days they were to watch this animal to ensure it was spotless and on that fourth day every single Israelite family was to slaughter that animal in the afternoon. They were then to take some of it's blood and place it on the doorposts and the lintel of the house where they will be eating the animal. They were to roast it over the fire with a bread made without yeast and bitter herbs. They were also to eat it in haste fully clothed and with shoes on their feet and a staff in their hand. In other words they were to eat it as if they were going to have to leave in a hurry.

     The blood on the lintel and doorposts was extremely significant. When G-d came through the land, He would pass over any house with the blood. If the blood was not there He would take the life of every first born in the house.

     I want to fast forward to December of 2019 when we saw the beginnings of a plague come on this earth. As Americans we sort of sat back with a slight tinge of arrogance thinking it couldn't happen here, but it did. It is now almost out of control. We have neither a vaccine nor a cure. Some have no symptoms at all while others lose their life.

    What I do know is that for the most part the entire world has shut down. It is frightening. The stock market is dropping, sports stadiums are turning into field hospitals, places are on lock down, refrigerated trucks are being brought in to places like New York, NY to be used as a morgue, and we still have no cure. We sit in our houses and wait. We have learned words and phrases we never wanted to learn; Covid 19, flattening the curve, social distancing, PPE, N95, and healthy at home. We hear about a new case in our county and wonder when it will stop on our doorstep.

     As I prayed that night the thought hit me to pray for the blood to be upon the doorposts and lintel, not only on my house, but on the house of every family member. I don't believe in incantations or magic potions, but I do believe in G-d's word. It is His guide book to life for us. I also don't think we can just magically pray for the blood to be upon the doorposts and lintels and that makes it all okay. There was a long process for the Israelites to get to that first Passover. It was a time of reflection and waiting. A time to get the Egypt out of them.

     Right now we are being instructed to stay home and only leave to get essential supplies. I see so many people who are bored out of their minds. What if we took this time to work through getting the Egypt out of us by following 2 Chronicles 7? Would G-d then hear from heaven, forgive our sin and heal our land?

     G-d has given almost all of us time right now. Time to study, to reflect, and to change. What gods have we let take over our life? What has crept in between us and G-d that should be purged?  I urge you to spend the next four days working through these things and then on April 8th at sundown, ask G-d to place the blood of Christ on the lintel and doorposts of your home.

     On the 9th we will begin to look at the next step in this process, a truly life changing way to minimize our personal life and get back to a deep, meaningful relationship with the Creator.