Within this study we will see the circumstances surrounding Jacob and his meeting again with his older twin brother, Esau, whom he not seen since he stole his blessing from their father. The Lord had commanded Jacob to return to the land of his family which, to his credit, he did. Out of fear of what Esau might do to him and his family, he would be forced to wrestle with God and deal with his continued practice of scheming and manipulating others to make things happen his way rather than God’s.
His past had to be dealt with first before coming before Esau, his elder brother. We too, at the end of this age, will also be required to cross over at a certain place like “the ford of the Jabbok” (Genesis 32:22), which means “pouring forth, emptying,” as Jacob did. The purpose of the Holy Spirit appears to be for us to be emptied of self, so as to become the pure and spotless bride made ready for the King. In the love and mercy of God, we are being confronted by Him, as Jacob was, with our continued ungodly practices before being presented before our “elder brother,” Jesus Christ, as those with whom He is well pleased.
On his way back to his homeland, Jacob has an encounter with the angels of God. He then declared, “This is God’s camp.” (Genesis 32:1-2) So he named the place Mahanaim which means “two camps,” or “two companies.” As we’ll see, Song of Solomon 6:13 interprets the same Hebrew name as “the dance of two camps.” I’ll get into what I see through all of this, and its application for today.
Genesis 32:24-32 – This passage describes what happened before Jacob (i.e. Israel) and the Lord before his meeting with his older brother, Esau, that he had not seen since he stole his blessing from their father. I see in this a picture of what will occur before the Israel of God (i.e. Jews and Gentiles in Christ; Galatians 6:16) enters into the presence of our older brother, Jesus Christ. See the note below for a greater explanation of what I’m seeing.
24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak [original language was “the breaking of the day”; 2 words in Hebrew, “breaking/break” – “to go up, to ascend, to climb, to be taken up or away, to be exalted, to be led up”; and “day” – “dawn”].
25 When the man saw that he could not overpower [3201- “to prevail, to overcome, to endure, to have power, can, to be able”] him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. [It was through this confrontation that Jacob changed from being a “heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter) to a “God-catcher.”]
26 Then the man said, "Let me go [7971- “to send, stretch forth, get rid of, to let loose”], for it is daybreak [same as above]." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
27 The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob [3290- “heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter)”]," he answered.
28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel [3478- “God prevails”, “one who struggles with God”], because you have struggled [8280- “to contend with, to have power, to persist, to prevail, to persevere”] with God and with men and have overcome [3201]."
29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel [6439- “the face of God”, “facing God”], saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. [I break down this verse in the insight below.]
32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon.
NIV
In this passage, Jacob is about to see his older twin brother, Esau, for the first time since he deceived his father into giving him the blessing of the firstborn (Genesis 27:1-29). His name means “heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter).” A supplanter is “a person or thing that takes the place of someone or something else, typically on purpose, and often through force, scheming, or strategy.” Jacob’s consistent pattern of deception can be seen throughout his life, until the Lord confronts him through this meeting with his brother. His “heel-catching” began at the twin brother’s birth;
“When the time came for her [Rebekah] to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.
(Genesis 25:24-26/NIV)
After finding out that Jacob had stolen his blessing from his father, Esau was planning to kill him. At the urging of his mother, he then went to where his relative, Laban, lived, to find a bride from there. It was here that he met and fell in love with Rachel. After serving his future father-in-law for seven years for her hand in marriage, Laban deceived him and gave him Leah, his other daughter. Strangely enough, Jacob then said to him, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn't I? Why have you deceived me?” (Genesis 29:25) So now the deceiver reaps what he had sown and wonders why!
Later, after hearing the word of the Lord to return to the land of his father and relatives, Jacob asked Laban to let him go with his wives, their children, and with some of the flock of sheep and goats. He agreed that he would only take the spotted and speckled goats, and the black lambs that he had manipulated to give birth in his favor (Genesis 30:25-43).
When the Lord told him that it was time for him to return to the land of his birth, Jacob gathered all that was now his, en masse, and left. Genesis 31:20 says, “And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing.”
After finding out what had happened, Laban went after Jacob. After he caught up with him, Laban said to Jacob;
“‘What have you done? You've deceived me, and you've carried off my daughters like captives in war. Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn't you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of tambourines and harps? You didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters good-by. You have done a foolish thing. I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’”
(Genesis 31:26-29/NIV)
Deceiving others and being deceived were a constant issue in Jacob’s life, but the Lord was about to deal with this stronghold through a meeting with his brother that he hadn’t seen in years.
The Dance Of Two Camps
Because he feared for his life before meeting Esau, Jacob divided his family into two camps and sent them ahead to hopefully soften Esau’s heart before him. It’s interesting that at the beginning of this chapter, as Jacob was on his way to meet his brother, the angels of God met him at a place he named Mahanaim (makh-an-ah'-yim) which means “two camps,” or “two companies.” The Bible says that when Jacob saw the angels he said, “This is God’s camp [“camp, an encampment, host, a company, an army camp”].” (Genesis 32:2)
Mahanaim is mentioned in a few verses in the Old Testament, but it is Song of Solomon 6:13 that I find interesting. It says;
“Come back, come back, O Shulammite; Come back, come back, that we may gaze at you! Why should you gaze at the Shulammite, as at the dance of the two companies [or “camps”]?”
(NASU)
“The dance of the two companies,” or “two camps” in other versions is the same Hebrew for Mahanaim. Both passages have to do with returning; Jacob to the place of his birth, and the Shulammite bride to those who desire her presence.
I found the following article, over some others, to be very insightful in regards to the Shulammite bride’s dance. It’s entitled “The Dance Of Two Camps” by Cathy Hargett.
“I want to share from the Song of Songs, Chapter 6:13 - Chapter 7 and in particular this verse:
‘Come back, come back, O Shulammite; come back, come back, that we may gaze on you! Why would you gaze on the Shulammite as on the dance of Mahanaim?’
What is the dance of Mahanaim? - Mahanaim actually means ‘two camps’ and sometimes ‘two armies’ - the meaning I want to express is that these two camps are heaven and earth and this dance of the Shulammite represents the one who is the beloved wife of the Lamb.
She dances a dance that those around her find totally compelling - they implore her not to go away because they want to have more time to see exactly what this dance is all about - they say ‘come back, come back, that we may gaze on you!’
The question is why do they want to gaze on her - it's because they see that she operates in two realms - the realm of heaven and the realm on earth. The dance she dances is the dance with the King of all Kings. He is teaching her perfect timing with His Spirit, perfect cadence [see more on this below], in step with Him, going where He goes, doing what He does.
She has learned a dance that allows a divine and intimate worship and a divine warfare - a combination of the purest passion of love and the purest passion of righteous warfare.
The sincere daughters of Jerusalem are looking at her as on the dance of Mahanaim because they realize there is a profound relationship between two dimensions - heaven and earth - they see that the Shulammite walks in this revelation because of her relationship with the Lover (Yeshua).
Because of her relationship with Him, she is engaged in a warfare that requires participation between human and divine. She has released herself fully to dance/to war as His ambassador on earth, but she is empowered with the war strategy of heaven.
It is her dance with Jesus that they see - she is His partner. She dances with Him as rescued humanity destined to be transformed from one ‘camp’ (earth) to another ‘camp’ (eternity).
Meanwhile, she has learned the dance of both camps - of two camps - like a "translator" - she brings heaven to earth as she dances. It is a warfare because the natural realm is against the realm of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-17; Romans 8:1-17).
In the same way that Yeshua demonstrated how to walk out a perfect life of humanity/divinity, she is dancing the dance of Mahanaim as she learns how to become like Him.
She is dancing a dance that is both human and heavenly - the two camps - heaven and earth joined together. Those watching know that she has entered into a sphere that is not of this world, that she is engaged with both heaven and earth. She is proficient to dance the dance of two different armies (Eph. 1:9-10; 2:6-10)
Oh, Lord, teach us to dance with you the dance of Mahanaim so that we may teach others to dance with you, too!”
Walking In The Spirit; A Dance Of Two
I believe the following statement in the article above is the “perfect” description of what it means to “walk in the Spirit”;
“The dance she dances is the dance with the King of all Kings. He is teaching her perfect timing with His Spirit, perfect cadence, in step with Him, going where He goes, doing what He does…”
For a dance of two people to be well done, both partners have to be moving together, in step with one another. But only one can be in the lead, while the other partner must trust them and follow closely. Spiritually speaking, Christ is the leader and we are to follow Him. The problem occurs when we choose not to be His followers and do our own thing, our way, in our timing. It always results in our being “out of sync” with His will.
The bride is called to follow the lead of the Husbandman, who is Christ. It doesn’t work when the woman (i.e. a Christian) is fighting the One who is called to lead. They must be moving in harmony with one another in order for there to be peace and order. It’s a captivating dance in God’s eyes when this occurs.
The Merriam-Webster definition for “cadence” helps us to understand what it means to be moving “in step” with the Lord;
1. a: the beat, time, or measure of rhythmical motion or activity
b: a rhythmic sequence or flow of sounds in language
c: a regular and repeated pattern of activity
2. a: a falling inflection of the voice
b: a concluding and usually falling strain
specifically: a musical chord sequence moving to a harmonic close or point of rest and giving the sense of harmonic completion [see the Bible study Harmony In The Body Of Christ]
3. the modulated and rhythmic recurrence of a sound especially in nature
Cadence in the Military – Cadence can refer to any rhythmic sequence of words or sound, but in military contexts, the word has a particular meaning, referring to the rhythmic chants sung by soldiers in marching formation. These chants can often help keep marchers in line with the rhythm of the march.”
[See My Dream Of Finishing The Race in which I saw Christians standing side by side, in multiple lines, preparing to cross the finish line in a race.]
It is this “perfect cadence,” led by the Holy Spirit, that keeps his Christian soldiers marching in-line with Him, doing His will in perfect, rhythmic unison. I couldn’t help but think of what is known as “line-dancing” when I wrote this;
“Line dancing is a dance where a group of people perform a series of steps in unison while standing in lines or rows.”
“A dance in which the dancers stand in ranks while performing a particular set of steps in unison.”
“In unison” is the key phrase in these definitions. It is this unison that is often lacking today within the body of Christ, revealing that we are not walking in Divine cadence with Him or we would be in cadence with one another.
To be “in line with” is an idiom that means “in conformity or agreement.” For Christians to walk together in the desired unison, or perfect cadence with the Lord we must be walking in the Spirit who will lead with His cadence for us to keep in-step with Him. This all takes our willing submission, though, to His lead. Otherwise, we fight against Him and His will which is the spirit of anti-christ (i.e. anti meaning against, or opposing Christ).
When my children were younger, they would stand on my feet as I held their hands and walked around the house. We would move smoothly ahead as long as we were in step with one another. The difficulty in walking would occur when we each walked with a different gait. If their steps caused them to stumble off of my feet, they would be restrained from falling because of our holding on to each other. If either one let go, they would fall down. The spiritual application is obvious.
In his letter to the church in Galatia, Paul said;
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”
(Galatians 5:16-17/NASU)
To walk by the Spirit is to be led by the Spirit. Opposition to His will is what will cause many Christians to fall away in these last moments of this age, right before Christ’ return for His willing Bride and her attendants.
David wrote of the Lord and His actions toward His faithful servants who stumble;
“If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”
(Psalm 37:23-24/NIV)
It is the unfaithful/unbelieving servants of His that will be numbered among those who fall way with an apostate heart at the end of this age. He alone knows the hearts of His children.
When my wife had her stroke and nearly passed away, the Lord spoke to me on two different occasions, one before and one afterwards, saying, “I’ll be with you every step of the way.” As I look to Him for wisdom and guidance, acknowledging my need and desire for His direction in my life, He has been faithful to His word throughout my walk with Him. By the way, to walk with Him is to walk in Him. (I share our story of my wife's stroke and what the Lord revealed to us through it in regards to His bride in my book The Resurrected Bride which can be read for free at https://www.network153.com/biblestudies.)
Partner Dancing With The Lord
I believe the following insights into partner dancing are true in the spiritual realm as well;
“Partner dance has a way of creating a bond between two people that goes beyond just physical movements. A strong relationship rooted in partner dance can lead to many benefits [see Psalm 103:1-5 for the Lord’s “benefit” package], such as improved communication and trust. When two individuals are dancing together, they must be aware of each other’s movements, anticipate each other’s next steps, and work together to create a seamless performance. This level of awareness and cooperation translates well to other aspects of a relationship, leading to stronger communication and a deeper level of trust.”
In the verses immediately preceding S.O.S. 6:13, the Bridegroom shares his pleasure with the bride, with whom He has developed a strong relationship with a “deeper level of trust”;
“There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and maidens without number; but my dove, my perfect one, is unique: she is her mother's only daughter; she is the pure child of the one who bore her. The maidens saw her and called her blessed, the queens and the concubines also, and they praised her, saying, ‘Who is this that grows like the dawn, as beautiful as the full moon, as pure as the sun, as awesome as an army with banners?’”
(S.O.S. 6:8-10/NASU)
The public admiration for the Bride by the Bridegroom reveals to all that He is “well pleased” with her. And so it is in the Kingdom of God. Due to the Bridegroom’s witness of His pleasure for her, and the accompanying witness before others of His glory on her, others within the kingdom also admire her, desiring to be in her presence. As the Bride in the kingdom, she has been granted greater authority than others. She will not wield her authority like a club, but will use it wisely in the name of her King and for His glory during her reign with Him in the age to come.
(Just a side note, I added this next thought later in regards to the dance of two camps. As an example of two different camps struggling together in the Bible, I thought about Israel in earlier, biblical times. After the death of King Solomon, the nation was divided with the Kingdom of Israel in the north and the Kingdom of Judah in the south. Instead of moving together as one, in unison, their dance was a struggle until the day they were dispersed by their enemies. As I write this, America is in the same divided situation.)
The Inner Struggle
While in Rebekah’s womb, Jacob and Esau were already struggling together. She said to the Lord;
“‘Why is this happening to me?’ So she went to inquire of the Lord. The Lord said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.’”
(Genesis 25:22-23/NIV)
Their struggle is a picture of the constant struggle between the two camps that lie within the body of Christ. They both had the same father and mother, and yet one would rebel against what had been his from the beginning (i.e. the right of the firstborn), and the other would then walk in deception to gain what had already been decided by God as being his to claim. In the end, the difference would be that, even though Jacob had a major issue with manipulation and control, he would move as God commanded him to, and eventually, through confrontation, would repent.
The following insights are from the article “Esau’s Negative Example” (https://learn.ligonier.org/devotionals/esaus-negative-example);
“Hebrews 12:16–17 lifts up Esau as a prime illustration of the kind of person who fails to obtain the grace of God (see v. 15). [I would actually change the word “obtain” to “retain.” Christ is the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:29). Esau, being born within the same family as Jacob, had the right as a picture of Christians who have also been given “the right to become the children of God” (John 1:11-13), to share in Christ’ salvation as the Firstborn Son within the eternal inheritance in God’s family, but did not take it seriously. Down the road, Esau forfeited his right in order to fulfill a fleshly craving. This is the stern warning by the writer of Hebrews for Christians today (Hebrews 12:14-17) that the so-called “once saved always saved” adherents cannot accept. For more on this, see the Bible studies Making Light Of God’s Salvation, and Freedom In Christ.] First, the author defines Esau as “sexually immoral” and “unholy.” This definition of Esau’s character comes from texts such as Genesis 26:34–35. There we read that Esau intermarried with the pagan Canaanites, violating the divine marital norms for the patriarchs. It is also worth noting that later Jewish tradition came to view Esau as grossly immoral; many Jewish writings from about the same time as the book of Hebrews testify to Esau’s ungodliness. In any case, God’s Word regards sexual sins as particularly heinous, and persistent engagement in sexual sin evidences a heart that is hardened against the Lord (Lev. 18; Rom. 1:26–27). Of course, the Lord will forgive all those who truly repent of sexual sin (1 John 1:8–9), but we dare not trifle with it. Sexual immorality has caused many professing believers to fall away from the Christian faith over the centuries.
The author of Hebrews also reminds us that Esau sold his birthright and irrevocably lost the patriarchal blessing given to Abraham (Heb. 12:17). He is referencing the well-known stories from Genesis 25:29–34 and 27:1–45. We should not think here that Esau’s forgiveness and restoration to blessing were an absolute impossibility. Instead, Esau’s actions show that he did not understand the gravity of his actions and thus never came to true repentance. He gave away God’s sacred promise to Abraham’s descendants for only a bowl of stew. As John Owen writes, “Esau gave little thought that when he sold his inheritance he had completely forfeited God’s eternal blessing.” Moreover, he was sorry that he lost privilege, not that he lost the God who gave that privilege. If he truly loved and wanted the Lord, he would have been content with God’s choice of Jacob over him and would not have sought to kill his brother (27:38, 41).”
Esau represents those in the body of Christ who rebel against their Heavenly Father, treating their firstborn right in Him with careless neglect, fearlessly intermingling with fleshly cravings with no fear of repercussions for their actions. Not believing it will affect their eternal inheritance (i.e. salvation), they are rejected from their place of sonship in Christ. Remember, As Esau tragically discovered, God has a limit we dare not toy with;
“See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.”
(Hebrews 12:16-17/NIV)
May the inspired word of God inspire us to continue walking in belief (i.e. faithfulness), after turning to Christ (Hebrews 10:26-31), in a manner worthy of our calling so as not to fall away in unbelief (i.e. unfaithfulness), and be destroyed. This is why the writer of Hebrews reinforces the necessity of perseverance in a Christian’s walk, not fighting against the ministry of the Holy Spirit in their lives;
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised [not before]. For in just a very little while, ‘He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.’ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.’”
(Hebrews 10:36-39/NIV)
The encouragement is not that because “we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed,” that we will automatically enter into the Promised Land, but that, as the children of Israel learned (Hebrews 3-4), we should, as Jesus taught, continue our journey in Him by faith so as to “stand firm until the end and be saved” (Matthew 10:22, 24:13; Hebrews 3:6, 14, 6:11; Revelation 2:26). Otherwise, you would have to throw out all that the book of Hebrews is warning us of before this passage, which the “in no matter what” doctrines teach. To treat with insulting neglect the blood of Christ that allowed us to enter into covenant with Him is to become an Edomite in heart (i.e. descendants of Esau) that will be cast out of God’s kingdom.
Jacob's (i.e. Israel's) Emptying
In Genesis 32:22-23, right before the original passage above, I believe we are given a clue of what is about to occur within Jacob’s heart right before he reunites with his older brother, Esau, that he hadn’t seen since he stole his blessing. It’s also a picture, in type, of what is occurring this very moment within the hearts of those numbered among the Israel of God made up of both Jew and Gentile followers (Galatians 6:16);
“That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons [the 12th, Benjamin (“son of the right hand”), was yet to be born] and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.”
(NIV)
The Hebrew for Jabbok (yab-boke') is defined as “pouring forth, emptying.” Jacob’s inner issue that had affected his entire past was about to be confronted in order for it to be emptied from his heart so as to have the favor of God when he met his brother face to face.
That night, while all alone, he wrestled with God, not letting him go until he received His blessing. Interestingly, he had received his earthly father’s blessing through deception, but he was about to discover that only through his surrender, fully trusting God, could he receive his Heavenly Father’s blessing.
In order to bring Jacob into submission to His will, the Lord caused a physical pain in his body while they struggled together. Remember, Jacob also struggled with his twin brother while in the womb (Genesis 25:22). It was through this confrontation between himself and God that would cause Jacob to be transformed from a “heel-catcher,” named for when he grabbed Esau’s heel at birth (i.e. supplanter), into a “God-catcher” that would not let go until He blessed him. In the final breaking of his fleshly stronghold, Jacob would be made ready to cross over and meet his elder brother.
Remember that earlier Jacob had deceived his father into giving him his brother’s blessing. It would be through a Divine encounter that the emptying of himself, of his continued practice of controlling and manipulating, would finally cause Jacob to realize that he needed to fully look to, and trust in the Lord to bring about His will, His way. The love of God cornered him into dealing with his inner issue of trusting in the strength of his flesh to bring about God’s promises rather than the Holy Spirit. As he would soon learn experientially, it is only in our being emptied that we are able to be filled with God, and safely cross over into His presence. Jesus is our example.
In his letter to the Christians in Philippi, Paul spoke of the attitude of Christ that they, and we, should have toward one another. He said;
“Do nothing from selfishness [2052- “self-seeking, factious, rivalry”] or empty conceit [2754- “empty glorying, empty pride”], but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form [3444- “shape; fig. nature; the external appearance”] of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped [see Genesis 3:5], but emptied [2758- “to make empty; to make void (i.e. deprive of force, render vain, useless, of no effect”] Himself, taking the form [3444] of a bond-servant [1401- “a slave, a servant, one who gives himself up wholly to another’s will”], and being made in the likeness of men.”
(Philippians 2:3-7/NASU)
Jesus, while being fully God, laid aside this Divine “form,” willfully choosing instead to take the lowly “form” of, not just man, but a bond-servant. The following article titled “What is a bondservant?” helps us to understand, biblically speaking, what this means;
“In some Bibles the word bondservant is the translation of the Greek word doulos, which means “one who is subservient to, and entirely at the disposal of, his master; a slave.” Other translations use the word slave or servant.
In Roman times, the term bondservant or slave could refer to someone who voluntarily served others. But it usually referred to one who was held in a permanent position of servitude. Under Roman law, a bondservant was considered the owner’s personal property. Slaves essentially had no rights and could even be killed with impunity by their owners.
The Hebrew word for “bondservant,” ‘ebed, had a similar connotation. However, the Mosaic Law allowed an indentured servant to become a bondservant voluntarily: “If the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life” (Exodus 21:5-6)…”
By not regarding “equality with God a thing to be grasped,” thereby emptying Himself of all selfishness and empty conceit as an example for us to follow as the bondservant of God, becoming obedient even to the point of death on a cross, Jesus was “highly exalted” by the Father who bestowed on Him the “name above all names” (Philippians 2:9-11). In order for us to be exalted with Him, this is the way for us to follow.
Satan, on the other hand, offers a different theology that, when accepted as truth, causes us to fall away from God, as what occurred at the beginning of mankind in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis, chapter three, he deceived Eve by appealing to her flesh, saying that it was possible to be like God, to attain “equality with God” (Genesis 3:1-7).
While describing the second coming of the Lord and our gathering together to Him, Paul speaks of this self-exalting attitude that will permeate the hearts of God’s people at that time in his second letter to the church in Thessalonica;
“Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs [like Esau’s] and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:1-4/NIV)
The “man of lawlessness” is not just the antichrist as the devil wants us to believe, but more significantly the Christian who, like Esau, after receiving Christ and His right of the firstborn among many brethren, thereby being given His “right to become children of God,” rebel against His lordship over them (John 1:11-13) and “find no place for repentance” even if sought with tears (Hebrews 12:17).
God In The Form Of A Man
It’s interesting to note that Genesis 32:24 says Jacob wrestled with “a man” until daybreak. Hosea 12:3-4 says;
“In the womb he grasped his brother's heel; as a man he struggled with God. He struggled with the angel and overcame [3201- “to prevail, to have power, to be able”] him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there.”
In his struggle with God, we are told that Jacob “wept and begged for his favor.” This is a major difference between the two brothers. The writer of Hebrews tells us God’s response to Esau when he wept and sought God for His favor;
“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.”
(Hebrews 12:15-17/NIV)
This is a New Testament warning to Christians that we dare not miss. Some will because of the deception in their minds regarding the truth about salvation. Esau sold his birthright concerning the inheritance that was his as the firstborn son. By taking it lightly, he would lose it with no chance to regain it. We too can lose our right to the inheritance in Christ through open rebellion without repentance. May the fear of the Lord keep us from the disaster of Esau.
The difference that I see between the two is that when Jacob was asked to do something by God, he did it, moving in the right direction. The problem, though, was that he had to learn to wait upon the Lord to bring His promises into being rather than himself through control and manipulation. He leaned the right way, but had to learn to fully submit to the right way. Esau, on the other hand, would not do what God said in open rebellion against His will. It would cost him dearly.
After their wrestling match, Jacob named the place Peniel (i.e. “the face of God”), saying, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” (Genesis 32:30) The following insight regarding Jacob’s encounter with God is from the article “What Does Israel Mean? Exploring This Important Biblical Name”;
“So just to clarify- Jacob wrestled God but in the form of a man… yet, like an angel, brought a message from God to change Jacob’s name and character. This man/God sounds familiar…
Secondly, we aren’t sure what exactly happened. The word used for “wrestled” is a bit of a mystery verb in biblical Hebrew. It only appears twice in the Bible, in verse 24 and 25. The root is connected to dust particles, which could mean rolling in the dust.
But when Hosea says Jacob wrestled an angel, he uses a different Hebrew word. In this case, it’s a word that means “to prevail” or “have power as a prince”.
So, one could say, Genesis 32:24-25 says, this Man/God came to Jacob to “get dirty”, roll around the dust with him. Then, He gives him a new name and character, as one of prevailing power and influence with God.
Do the actions of this Man/God sound familiar?”
The answer would obviously be, “Yes, His name is Jesus.”
Gethsemane; The Oil Press Of God
Matthew 26:36-46 – See the note below.
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane [1068- “oil press”], and said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed.
38 Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here [3306- “to remain, abide, to stay, to continue to be present”] and keep watch [1127- “to watch, to keep awake, spiritual alertness”] with Me."
39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."
40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you men could not keep watch [1127] with Me for one hour?
41 "Keep watching [1127] and praying that you may not enter into temptation [3986- “a putting to proof, attempt, trial, proving”]; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done."
43 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed [3860- “to give into the hands (of another), to give over into (one’s) power or use”] into the hands of sinners.
46 "Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays [3860] Me is at hand!"
NASU
The Garden of Gethsemane was the last place Jesus would spend time with some of His disciples before being arrested, and then crucified. Though the exact location is unknown, it’s generally accepted that it was a garden across the Kidron Valley on the western slope of the Mount of Olives, paralleling the eastern part of Jerusalem (see the Bible study Back To Jerusalem for more on the great significance of this location in regards to the return of Christ). Because of the meaning of its name in Hebrew (“oil press”), it’s very likely that the garden was a grove of olive trees in which was located an oil press.
Knowing that great suffering lie just ahead for Him, the Bible says that while Jesus was praying, “His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44) He even cried out to the Father, asking Him, “if possible, let this cup pass from Me.” It wasn’t possible though. He would have to suffer terribly, and then die, paying the price for our sin so that we could be forgiven and live eternally. There was no other way. His pure sacrifice would be the only one accepted by the Father on our behalf.
Eventually, after much wrestling with the Father in fervent, agonizing prayer, Jesus would come to “the point of death,” a death within to His will where He would declare, “yet not as I will, but as You will.” It was because of this humble submission to the will of the Father that all authority was given to Him in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). Paul spoke of this in his letter to the Christians in Philippi;
“Being found in appearance as a man, He [Jesus] humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
(Philippians 2:8-11/NASU)
As I said, Gethsemane means “oil press.” In Jesus’ time, olives were pressed to extract the oil. Without this pressure, the oil could not be gained. Spiritually speaking, this is exactly how we as Christ’ followers gain the oil necessary to keep our lamps lit, thereby allowing us to see the “Way” we should go in order to be allowed entrance into the quickly approaching wedding feast of the Lamb (Matthew 25:1-13).
The purchase Jesus spoke of in His parable of the ten virgins is one that can only be made through the exchanged life; ours for His. As Simon the sorcerer discovered, though, you cannot purchase this oil with money (Acts 8:9-24). Through the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-14), the way is revealed for us to receive the power of the Holy Spirit.
Right after He was baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, was led around in the wilderness for forty days, “being tempted [3985- “to test, to try, to prove”] by the devil.” As pictured in type by the children of Israel after they were set free from the bondage of Egypt, the wilderness is the proving ground of God where He tests His followers. Its purpose is to remove all dependence on the flesh, and to build total trust in what the Lord can and will provide for us. It is this heart transforming process that prepares us to receive the that which the Father promised.
Afterwards, when the devil had finished every temptation, and lost, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.” (Luke 4:14) The Greek interpreted as “power” is dunamis (doo'-nam-is) which means, “strength, ability, power, force (especially miraculous power).” It was this same dunamis that Jesus commanded His disciples to wait for in Jerusalem in order to be His witnesses (Luke 24:49). I believe that it is only after we have been tested and proven that we will come out in the power of the Holy Spirit. Like Jesus, it’s only when we have been emptied of our fleshly passions and desires that we can be filled with the power of the Spirit.
As we look back throughout the history of Christianity, it seems that only a few have ever fully experienced what is available to us. It’s my belief, as well as personal experience, that the reason for this is that the devil offers a counterfeit experience so that God’s people never receive the true baptism of the Spirit which is a heavenly force he has no answer for. His is a baptism without fire (see Matthew 3:11), without suffering that the flesh naturally gravitates toward. He offers a “Pentecost experience” without the suffering of Calvary (see the Bible study The Word Of The Cross).
In the instructions for the holy anointing oil, the Lord said to Moses that it was not to be poured on man’s flesh (Exodus 30:32). This is a picture, in type, of the requirements of God for His anointing oil of the Holy Spirit. It will not be poured out on those who are clothed in their flesh, rather than the Spirit. We must first have our fleshly nature cleansed by the Spirit so as to be made ready for His empowering, anointing oil to be poured out on us.
The Lord then said; “Whoever shall mix any like it or whoever puts any of it on a layman [2114- “strange another, a stranger, a foreigner, a prostitute or harlot”] shall be cut off from his people.” (Exodus 30:33) They were not to put it on just anyone, by any manner, but according to God’s order so as not to be removed from God’s people (see the Bible study Cut Off for more insights from the New Testament on the possibility of Christians being cut off from God today).
Watching And Praying To Not Enter Into Temptation
Like Jesus, every Christian must pass through the Garden of Gethsemane, the “oil press” of God, before gaining the oil of the Holy Spirit that is required to enter into the wedding feast of the Lamb and take possession of the promised resurrection life. It’s in this wilderness-like place of Divinely orchestrated pressure on our souls, as we wrestle with God, that we can overcome the sentence of death within us by learning to not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the “dead to self” (2 Corinthians 1:10). It is here, in a place of vigilant watchfulness, with the help of the Holy Spirit, that we learn to overcome during our time of testing and proving (i.e. temptation) in order to be set free from the bondage of our sinful nature (Matthew 26:41).
As we saw, oil can only be brought forth from olives through pressure. Jesus’ victory over physical death came first through His agonizing death to His own will (Matthew 26:42). His willingness to submit to the Father’s will was the key to His receiving the Father’s authority. It’s our route as well.
This is the place to obtain the oil necessary to keep our lamps burning. The foolish virgins were unwilling to come here, subduing the sinful nature, bringing it into submission to the will of the Lord. The Bible says that the Lord gives the Holy Spirit (i.e. the “oil”) to those who obey (Acts 5:32).
Temptation; The Testing Of Our Faith
James 1:2-4 – See the note below.
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials [3986- def. in Matthew 26:41 above],
3 knowing that the testing [1383- “trustworthiness, a testing, a proof, genuineness”] of your faith produces endurance [5281- “steadfastness, constancy, endurance; a patient, steadfast waiting for”].
4 And let endurance [5281] have its perfect [5046- “complete, perfect, brought to its end, finished”] result, so that you may be perfect [5046] and complete [3648- “complete in every part; i.e. perfectly sound (in body); entire, whole (1 Thessalonians 5:23)”], lacking [3007- “to leave, to be left behind, to fail or be absent”] in nothing.
NASU
In this passage, James encourages us by letting us know why we “encounter various trials.” The testing of our faith is to produce endurance in us. Like a runner, without it we will not have the spiritual stamina to persevere under trial (see James 1:12 right below), thereby finishing the race and receiving the prize of salvation (i.e. bringing our faith to “completion” per James 2:18-26), the “crown of life” (see Revelation 2:10). This is the “perfect result” that occurs when we say as Christ, “yet not as I will, but as You will.” Pentecost was the result of those who, by faith in what Jesus commanded them to do, steadfastly waited in the upper room for His word to happen (Luke 24:49). By our acting in faith to what we have heard the Lord say to us, we will become “perfectly sound (in body),” “lacking nothing” with no one left behind.
James 1:12-16 – See the note below.
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres [5278- “to stay under, remain, to bear patiently, endure”] under trial [3986- def. in Matthew 26:41 above]; for once he has been approved [1384- “accepted, proved, tried, pleasing”], he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted [3985- “to try, make trial of, test”], "I am being tempted [3985] by God"; for God cannot be tempted [551- “untempted, untried, not liable to temptation to sin”] by evil, and He Himself does not tempt [3985] anyone.
14 But each one is tempted [3985] when he is carried away [1828- “to draw away, to lure forth”] and enticed [1185- “to lure or catch by a bait to deceive”] by his own lust.
15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished [658- “to bring to an end, accomplish, brought to completion”], it brings forth [616- “gives birth to”] death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
NASU
Temptation is the testing of our faith. Once we have been “approved” by the Lord per our response in our trial/temptation, we will receive “the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James makes it clear that God doesn’t tempt us, but allows the enemy to tempt us in order to prove our hearts, revealing to all, including us, whether it be weak or strong.
For conception to occur there must take place a union between two. In this case it is our joining together or partaking of that which we lust after. Once conceived, sin comes forth causing a death-like experience to take place. When a Christian is drawn away by their lust and hits the bait pile so to speak, death is always the result. There is no life in sin. It eventually leads to a spiritual death; separation from Christ.
This is why a Christian who does not repent from sin, will end up like those Jesus rebuked in the church in Sardis who had a reputation that they were alive, but, He said, were dead (Revelation 3:1-6). He warned them to wake up because their works had not been completed in His sight (see my book Works And Salvation). If they did not repent, He would erase their name from the book of life.
1 Peter 1:6-9 – (See Proverbs 27:21.) See the note below.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed [3076- “to make sorrowful, to cause grief”] by various trials [3986- def. in Matthew 26:41 above],
7 so that the proof [1383- “trustworthiness, a testing, a proof, genuineness”] of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested [ by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
NASU
Peter says that we are “distressed by various trials” when it’s “necessary.” Our reaction to the trial/temptation proves the genuineness of our faith, whether it is strong or weak. He says that when we stand firm in the Lord in our “fiery trials” (see the passage below in Peter’s exhortation), it is “more precious than gold” to Him (see 2 Thessalonians 1:3-5). Our incentive to stand firm, by faith, through our temptations and trials is that we will obtain as the outcome of our faith, “the salvation of our souls.”
1 Peter 4:12-13 – See the note below.
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal [4451- “ignition, a burning, a refining; calamities or trials that test character”] among you, which comes upon you for your testing [3986- def. in Matthew 26:41 above], as though some strange thing were happening to you;
13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
NASU
Peter tells us that “fiery trials,” or “trials by fire” are a regular part of the Christian’s refining process (i.e. sanctification; see Malachi 3:1-4 which refers to the Lord’s refining fire used to purify His people before He appears for judgment). The Holy Spirit is encouraging us, informing us why they happen in our lives. He says that we are to “keep on rejoicing” while experiencing “the sufferings of Christ.” That is a difficult thing when you are in the middle of them. I need the Holy Spirit to help me remember why.
Hebrews 3:5-12 – See the note below.
5 Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later;
6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house whose house we are, if we hold fast [2722- “to retain, detain, keep secure, to possess”] our confidence [3954- “freedom in speaking, free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage”] and the boast of our hope firm [2722] until the end. [Jesus taught this very thing in Matthew 10:22, and 24:13.]
7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you hear His voice,
8 Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked [3894- “irritation, provocation”] Me, as in the day of trial [3986] in the wilderness,
9 Where your fathers tried [3985] Me by testing [1381- “an examination, testing”] Me, and saw My works for forty years.
10 "Therefore I was angry with this generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; and they did not know My ways';
11 As I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'"
12 Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving [570- “unfaithful, faithlessness”] heart, in falling away [868- “to remove, desert”] from the living God. [The great apostasy Paul referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2 that would occur right before the return of Christ.]
NASB
The children of Israel were in the wilderness for forty years. Jesus was forty days in the wilderness. The children of Israel rebelled against the Lord and died in the wilderness. Jesus held fast to the Father, obeying Him while resisting the temptations of the devil, resulting in the life of God being poured out within Him. Because of this, His life is given to us when we repent and obey God, as He did. He came forth in the power of the Holy Spirit by holding fast to the Father (Luke 4:14). So will we. Jesus showed us the way in which we should go to be able to enter into eternal life. Otherwise, as the writer of Hebrews warned us, we will end up as the children of Israel who rebelled against the Lordship of God along the way, and were not allowed to enter into His rest. The “if” in verse 6 means it is a conditional promise.
To “know” God’s ways is to join yourself together with them by doing them. In that close, intimate relationship, they give birth to His life. To not know His ways is to not practice them. It is this heart of rebellion that the writer of Hebrews warns Christians to not partake of lest we be denied entrance into the eternal rest in Christ. It is what he refers to as an “evil, unbelieving heart.” Unbelief, after turning to the Lord, is the unfaithful, faithless heart of the apostate, harlot church.
1 Corinthians 10:11-14 – See the note below.
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall [4098- “to fall, to fall down, used of descent from higher place to a lower”].
13 No temptation [3986] has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted [3985] beyond what you are able, but with the temptation [3986] will provide the way of escape [1545- “a way out, an escape”] also, so that you will be able to endure it.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
NASU
In this passage, Paul is warning us as Christians (see verses 1-10) to not rebel against the Lord’s leading as the children of Israel did during their journey to the Promised Land. As he said, they were written for our instruction, “so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.” (v.6) It would cost all but Joshua and Caleb their physical life, and their eternal life, picture in type by the Promised Land that they never entered. In our time of temptation (i.e. testing), God has promised to provide a way of escape for us, “so that you will be able to endure it.” Thank-you Lord! (See the Bible study The Escaped Remnant.)
The Final Infilling Of Empty Vessels
John 2:1-11 – See the note below.
1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; [see the Bible study The Third Day]
2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."
4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come."
5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification [see Hebrews 1:3], containing twenty or thirty gallons each.
7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." So they filled them up to the brim [the “fullness” in Romans 11:25].
8 And He said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it to him.
9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom,
10 and said to him, "Every man serves the good [2570] wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now."
11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
NASU
NT:2570 kalos (kal-os')
(Strong’s exhaustive Concordance)
of uncertain affinity; properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished from NT:18, which is properly intrinsic):
KJV - better, fair, good (-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
beautiful
a. beautiful to look at, shapely, magnificent (Luke 21:5)
b. good, excellent in its nature and characteristics, and therefore well adapted to its ends: joined to the names of material objects, universally (1 Timothy 4:4)
c. beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence, praiseworthy; morally good, noble (Heb. 5:14)
d. honorable, conferring honor: marturia (1 Timothy 3:7)
e. affecting the mind agreeably, comforting and confirming (Hebrews 6:5)
Jesus first public miracle was at a wedding. The symbolism within this event is critical to understand. This is a picture of what is about to occur in our day, at the end of this age. Six is the number for man. It was the day in which we were created (Genesis 1:24-31). The six stone, empty waterpots used for the Jewish custom of purification represent those who will be emptied of self. Through their obedience to the final call to prepare themselves by faith, they’ll be made ready (i.e. purified) through the inner cleansing process of sanctification as vessels of honor for the Spirit to be poured into. Their inner wineskin will be made ready, and able, to contain the good/best/new wine of the Spirit at the end of this age. They will then pour out of themselves the “best wine saved for last” into those who answer the final call to repent and come to the wedding feast of the Lord. This is called “the fullness” by Paul in Romans 11:25. It’s our completion in Christ. A picture of our being gathered together in this appointed time is found below in 2 Kings 4:1-7. Without our being emptied, we cannot be filled.
2 Kings 4:1-7 – See the note below.
1 Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves."
2 Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil."
3 Then he said, "Go, borrow [7592- “to ask, to enquire, to seek, to borrow”] vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few.
4 "And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside [5265] what is full [4392- “full, fullness, what fills, fully”]."
5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured.
6 When the vessels were full [4390- “to fill, fulfill, overflow, ordain, endow”], she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not one vessel more." And the oil stopped.
7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest."
NASU
OT:5265 naca` (naw-sah')
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
a primitive root; properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on a journey:
KJV - cause to blow, bring, get, (make to) go (away, forth, forward, onward, out), (take) journey, march, remove, set aside (forward), still, be on his (go their) way.
(Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
to pull out, to pull up, to set out, to journey, to remove, to set forward, to depart
a) (Qal)
1) to pull out, to pull up
2) to set out, to depart
3) to journey, to march
4) to set forth (used of wind)
b) (Niphal) to be pulled up, to be removed, to be plucked up
c) (Hiphil)
1) to cause to set out, to lead out, to cause to spring up
2) to remove, to quarry
Within this story of Elisha and a widow is another picture, from the Old Testament, of those who will partake of the fullness of Christ, and those who will not. As pictured in John 2 above, the oil of the Holy Spirit will only be poured into emptied-of-self vessels of honor. Paul spoke of these vessels in his second letter to Timothy;
“Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
(2 Timothy 2:20-22/NASU)
The widow that cried out to Elisha was in a state of hopelessness, with no apparent way of escape, until the prophet of God showed up and her dire situation would quickly change. She was told by Elisha to seek out vessels that could be poured into. This reminds me of a parable Jesus told His disciples in Luke 14:16-24 of “a man” who was preparing a great banquet (“wedding feast” in Matthew 22:1-14). “…and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ But they all alike began to make excuses.” First of all, we need to notice what time it was when the servant was sent out to those who had been invited (see Matthew 22:3), that is, the “called” ones. It was “at the dinner hour” when the “sent one” (i.e. apostle) went out letting them know that the “appointed time” of the Master had come.
The dinner hour was near the end of the day. The Greek for “hour” is defined as “a certain, definite time or season.” It is my firm conviction that this time has come. We are in the final moment of this age when Christ is sending out His trusted servants, letting His people know that the time for the wedding feast is here. Everything has been made ready for them to come, but like those in the parable, those who have already received the Master’s invitation (i.e. “received Christ”) are now making excuses why they cannot, or should I say, do not want to come.
After summoning the “called ones,” and then hearing their response, the servant returned to his Master. Jesus then says;
“And the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner [or, I believe, “shall partake of the final infilling of the full-fillment of the final feast”].’”
(Luke 14:21-24/NASU)
The definition of the Greek word for “compel” is, “to necessitate, compel, drive to, constrain, whether by force, threats, etc., or by persuasion, entreaties, etc., or by other means (2 Cor. 12:11).” In a legal sense, it means, “to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure and especially by authority or law.” The reason for saying all this is that if we believe we are in the “dinner hour” of this age, then we shouldn’t be surprised by the lackadaisical response within much of the church to come to the Lord’s feast. We are being told that if they refuse to come, then it’s time to go to the highways and byways, compelling others to come and fill the house of the Lord. We are to go looking for the “vessels at large” who can be filled with the Spirit and be “set aside” (i.e. sanctified) for the Master’s use.
Once in the place of the Lord’s choosing for His feast, the doors will be shut and the final infilling of the Holy Spirit will take place through the outpouring of the “filled to the brim” vessels of honor pictured in John 2 above. For their open rebellion against their Master (i.e. the spirit of anti-Christ), the Christian’s who fell away from devotion to Christ in the great apostasy will be bound hand and foot and cast into the outer darkness where there will weeping and gnashing of teeth (see the Bible study Outer Darkness).
Regarding a sign to observe that it’s the time of the end, John wrote this;
“Dear children, this is the last hour [same word used for the dinner hour]; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
(1 John 2:15/NIV)
The spirit of antichrist has permeated the church in America. Many Christians fight against (i.e. anti) the will of the Lord in their lives, revealing themselves as a god seated on the throne of their heart (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4). Having begun the race in Christ, they have now dethroned Jesus as Lord within them and will therefore, if unrepentant, be cut off from Him (see the Bible studies Cut Off, and The Spirit Of Antichrist).
Song of Solomon 6:8-10 – See the note below.
8 "There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and maidens [5959- “virgins”] without number;
9 But my dove, my perfect [8552- “to be complete, finished, perfect”] one [259- “one, united”], is unique: She is her mother's only daughter [259]; She is the pure [1249- “pure, clean, sincere, empty”] child of the one who bore her. The maidens [5959- “virgins”] saw her and called her blessed, the queens and the concubines also, and they praised her, saying,
10 'Who is this that grows like the dawn, as beautiful as the full moon, as pure [1249] as the sun, as awesome [366- “terrible, dreadful, awe-inspiring”] as an army with banners?'
NASU
These are the descriptive words of the “Beloved” (i.e. the Lord) toward His Bride in the church. She is declared by Him to be the perfect, united, completed “one” in Him that is pure in heart, empty of selfish motives and desires (see the section One Select Rib in the Bible study Eve; The Life Giving Bride). Like Queen Esther, she’s the Queen above all queens that will be exalted above all others. As with Peter, James and John, she is the inner circle of the inner circle. (Add Psalm 24…)
The writer of Psalm 45 celebrates the marriage of the King. It’s a type revealed for us of the “one” exalted above the others; Christ first, and then His Queen and her virgin attendants. She is the “perfect one” who is the “pure [i.e. “clean, sincere, empty”] child of the One who bore her.” Verses 13-15 say of her;
“The King's daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is interwoven with gold. She will be led to the King in embroidered work; The virgins, her companions [7464- “a female companion, companion, an attendant”] who follow her [310- “behind, after (wards)”], will be brought to You. They will be led forth with gladness and rejoicing [NIV- “led in with joy and gladness”]; they will enter into the King's palace.”
(NASU)
She is the “one” who has, above the others, gained a greater degree of glory (1 Corinthians 15:41). The other virgins, her companions/attendants will also be brought to the Lord. They will be led forth, into the presence of the Lord’s dwelling place with great joy and rejoicing.
It’s interesting that she is said to grow like the dawn, as beautiful as the full moon, and as pure as the sun. It was at the dawning of a new day when Jacob’s struggle with God ended. Genesis 32:31 says that the sun rose upon him, just as he crossed over Penuel. Between the two passages, I see the Son of God rising upon His servants that have wrestled with their past, and overcome. They will be “as beautiful as the full moon (i.e. they have entered into the “fullness” of God), “as pure as the sun” (i.e. empty vessels of honor filled with His glory), and “as awesome as an army with banners” (i.e. the army of God whose banner over them is the love of God, filled with His authoritative power).
The following note of Psalm 45:9 is taken from the section The Right Hand/Side Queen in the Bible study Eve; The Life Giving Bride;
This Psalm is a wedding song, describing the location and covering of the queen, the bride of the king. It is a picture of the Bride of Christ. The right hand represents the authority of God that she will reign with in the coming age known as the millennium, the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth. The “gold from Ophir” which was known for its purity represents the glory of God that she, “the pure child of the One who bore her” has received.
As I mentioned earlier, through Solomon she is declared by God as “my dove, my perfect [8535- “complete, perfect, sound, wholesome”] one [259- “one; properly, united”], is unique “: She is her mother's only [259] daughter; She is the pure [1249- “pure, clean, sincere, empty”] child of the one who bore her.” (Song of Solomon 6:9/NASU) The faithful servants of God will be the perfected “one(s)” of the Lord (i.e. joined together as one in true unity of the Holy Spirit) that He has given birth to (i.e. those who have been “born again”; see James 1:18). She is the “blameless” one among God’s children with whom He is well pleased (Genesis 6:9; see the Bible studies Noah; A Sign Of The End and Well Pleased).
Because they have loved righteousness and hated wickedness, the Lord has anointed them with the oil of joy that He received from the Father, above others in the body (Psalm 45:7, Jude 24). They have kept themselves pure in eager anticipation of their Lord’s appearing (1 John 3:2-3), and are therefore dressed in readiness (Luke 12:35).
Notice that the queen stands at the King’s “right hand.” This is the place Christ is now seated at near the Father. Within Scripture, the right hand represents the power and authority of God (Matthew 22:44, 26:64, 28:18). The Hebrew for this phrase can also mean “right side” which caused me to think of the “place” God removed Eve from. She is a picture of the fashioned Bride of Christ, the faithful bride of her Husband that has been granted His ruling authority, and is seated next to Him.
To Walk With God Is To Walk With A Different Gait
After his encounter with God, and himself, Jacob walked with a limp. His literal gait had changed. The word “gait” refers to the pattern or style of movement involved in walking. This is a picture of the spiritual walk with Christ among all His people who wrestle with man and with God and overcome. They too will walk with a noticeable change in their spiritual walks. Their “walking pattern” with Christ will be of a different nature led by the Spirit rather than their flesh.
What I see in this is that at the appointed time of our ascension at the end of this age, there will be a wrestling among the children of God right before the dawning of a new day in Christ. It will be a Divinely orchestrated, confrontational time when we must deal with certain issues from our past that have never been fully dealt with, so as to be made ready to enter into the presence of our “older brother,” Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:11, Romans 8:29, Mark 3:34) with clean garments. If we do not deal with these issues per the confrontational guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will not be able to cross over into His presence, and live (Hosea 6:1-3).
In Luke we read of a time when someone asked Jesus;
“‘Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?’ And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”
(Luke 13:23-24/NASU)
The Greek for “strive” is agoonizomai (ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee). It’s defined as “to enter a contest, to contend with adversaries, to fight; to endeavor with strenuous zeal, strife, to obtain something.” Jesus made it clear that the “few” (Matthew 7:13-14) who will be able to enter into His salvation will be those who, like Jacob, “wrestle with God and with man and overcome.” Their fleshly natures will be brought into submission to the will of God, under His lordship over them. Through the struggle with the adversary within and without, learning to submit and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, the gate of heaven will be opened wide for them (2 Peter 1:10-11).
A Mystery Revealed
There is something else hidden within Genesis 32:24-32 that we need to see. It’s revealed within verse 31 which says, “The sun rose above him as he passed [“passed/crossed over”] Peniel…” In order to see more clearly what I believe the Holy Spirit is revealing, I need to show what some of the original Hebrew words mean.
The first is that the rising of the sun above, or upon Jacob needs to simply be seen as the rising of The Son of God upon those who will become the Israel of God made up of both Jew and Gentile who have wrestled with God and overcome (Galatians 6:16). The glory of God will rise upon His humbled servants who, with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, have dealt with their past and have been made ready to cross over and enter into the joy of their Master.
Some versions of the Bible interpret “rose above him” as “rose upon him,” per the Hebrew definitions. The Hebrew interpreted in English as “rose” is defined as, “to rise, to come forth/out, to break out, to arise, to rise up, to shine, to appear.” Like Jacob, the Son, Jesus Christ, will, after a struggle, rise upon those who overcome at the end of this age. They will then joyfully cross over into the Promised Land of their spiritual inheritance in Jesus Christ, the older brother. Isaiah prophesied of this rising among God’s people, saying;
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn [other versions say, “of your rising”].”
(Isaiah 60:1-3/NIV)
Next, the Hebrew definition for “passed” is, “to cross over, to pass through, to advance, to vanish, to emigrate.” There will be no “illegal aliens” in the kingdom of God. Continued lawlessness without repentance is a sure way to be disqualified from entering in (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). As what occurred with Jacob, we are all being confronted at this time by the love of God, so as to make us ready to stand before Him. As Jesus revealed through the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, it is only through adherence to the will of the Lord that we will be allowed to enter into the joy of our Master.
The last word is Peniel which means, “face of God,” or “facing God.” There is a definite, eternal difference between facing toward God, and facing away from God. This is revealed, in type, through Caleb, the son of Jephunneh (yef-oon-neh').
At the dawning of a new day, the sun (i.e. the Son in type) rose upon Jacob just as he crossed over Peniel which means “the face of God.” Like, Jacob and Caleb, the two faithful servants of God, Caleb being the son of Jephunneh which means “he will be prepared; he will be facing,” the overcoming sons and daughters of God who have remained faithful, facing Him rather then turning away/forsaking Him with an apostate heart in the great falling away of the last days, right before His coming again (2 Thess. 2:1-4), will be among those who will receive the blessing of the Lord, a new name, not be hurt by the second death (Rev. 2:11), granted authority to rule over the nations (Rev. 2:26-27), and clothed in white garments, not having their name erased from the book of life (Rev. 3:5). (See the Bible studies The Sons Of Jephunneh, and The Overcoming 41st Regiment Of The Lord.)
I wrote the following insight in my Bible study The Sons Of Jephunneh;
Caleb’s name means “a dog, faithful, loyal.” He represents all those who are the faithful and loyal servants of God. Like “man’s best friend,” they are the Lord’s best friend. He was the son of Jephunneh (yef-oon-neh') whose name means “he will be prepared, he will be facing.” This is another characteristic of the Caleb spirit among the faithful of the Lord. They will be the prepared ones who remain facing God with undistracted devotion (1 Cor. 7:35). They will not turn away from Him with insulting neglect and unfaithfulness [as the pressure builds at the end of this age], thereby breaking covenant with Him.
They are the faithful servants of the Lord who will remain alive in the final judgment on earth. Like the spies who gave a bad report of that which God said was theirs for the taking (see the Bible study Good Report Bad Report), not trusting Him to fulfill what He said, many will die in the wilderness on the way, falling short of the finish line. They will never take possession of that which they had been given the Divine right through Christ to possess (see the Bible study and article Freedom In Christ). As with the children of Israel, they will find that, without obedience, the promise alone isn’t enough for entering in. Without our “working together with Him” (2 Cor. 6:1) [in perfect cadence] we receive His grace in vain, which means “to believe without reason or effect,” and perish along with all the other unbelievers (Luke 12:46).
Genesis 35:9-15 – See the note below.
9 After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him.
10 God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel [3478- “he will rule as God”; “God prevails”]." So he named him Israel.
11 And God said to him, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body.
12 The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you." [Within this declaration of God is Israel’s right to the land.]
13 Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him.
14 Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.
15 Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel [1008- “house of God”].
NIV
God appears to Jacob a second time to bless him (i.e. a second witness). This time, though, He gave him a new name; Israel which means “he will rule as God,” or “God prevails.” From the internet; “The Hebrew word ‘Israel’ has multiple meanings, including ‘one who wrestles or struggles with God,’ ‘one who strives or prevails with God,’ and ‘Prince of God.’ The name comes from the Bible, where God changed the name of Jacob, Abraham's grandson, to Israel after Jacob wrestled with God. The name is a combination of the Hebrew words for ‘wrestle’ and ‘God.’ The name Israel conveys the idea of wrestling, clinging to God, and overcoming. It also indicates that Israel is to be understood as Jacob's covenant name.” It is through the struggle that the covenant in Him is established.
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