Last week I spoke of greater Israel, the promises made to Abraham, and a narrow definition of Israel. This week I would like to further embellish the topic with a promise of future Israel of a more broad definition.

— The Hashemite kingdom of Jordan

We have already looked into the southern and northern boundaries of Israel. The western boundary is pretty much the Meditteranean sea. But what about the eastern boundary?

There is a statement in Genesis that is usually interpreted as the four generations lasting 430 years:
Gen. 15:16:: But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.

Counting of the generations is not so important to me here as the idea that the iniquity of the Amorites increased while Israel was in Egypt. Early in history people lived longer. The Amorites mainly lived to the east of the Jordan River. After the exodus Israel ends up destroying the Amorites.

Jos. 24:8:: I brought you into the land of the Amorites, who dwelt on the other side of the Jordan, and they fought with you. But I gave them into your hand, that you might possess their land, and I destroyed them from before you

Ex. 23:31:: I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the sea, Philistia, and from the desert to the River. For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.

The sea, Philistia is the Mediterranean. The River is the Euphrates.

Deut. 1:7:: Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrate

The land of the Amorites went from the River Arnon north to Mount Hermon.

Deut. 3:8:: at that time we took the land from the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were on this side of the Jordan, from the River Arnon to Mount Hermon

This river was originally the southern border of the land of the Amorites and the northern end of Moab. So this includes in our modern maps northern Jordan and some of Syria.

The Transjordan territory of the Amorites was given to the tribes of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh. We end up hearing that the Amorites ended up moving south of the River Arnon, dispossing the Moabites and Edomites.

The idea of where Kadesh Barnea and the Ascent of Akribbim is questioned by some authers. So boundaries are uncertain and also somewhat fluid over time. Another point is the idea that if boundaries of Israel are dependant on when and where the Amorites dwelt we might have an issue in that the boundaries of God’s land should not be dependant upon where the enemies of Israel once lived or moved to.

I say all of this to suggest that even the narrow definition of Israel some of the modern state of Jordan should be included, much less this wider view which goes all of the way to the Euphrates River.

This kind of leaves King Abdullah II and his land of Trans-Jordan squarely in the cross hairs of historic Iraeli land, either in the narrow or wider view. The Arnon River, also known as Wadi Mujib in Arabic lies about 56 miles south of Amman, Jordan. It empties into the Dead Sea from the eastern side.

Jordan continues to share relative peace with the modern state of Israel. One would not like to see Jordan pulled into a middle east war with Israel.

On the way to the Dead Sea one might notice empty barracks once occupied by jordanean troops. In fact today the waqf troops still control acces and even enforce dress codes on the temple mount. It was during the six day war of 1967 that the Jews got control of Jerusalem and also the West Bank.

I only point out all of this to say that what can happen if zionism tries to push Israeli boundaries to what is historically claimed.

So far I read nothing about zionist ambitions to capture part or all of Jordan for Israeli occupation or annexation.

— The Quibla Dilemma and Islam’s Origins

Much of this section comes directly from information garnished from CIRA International. Dr. Jay Smith and Al Fadi are really the experts here. Dan Gibson has also done extensive research into directions of the quibla’s of early mosques. A quibla is the structure in every mosque which is in the direction of prayer toward mecca.

The Abassid’s destroyed almost 98% of what was originally Islam, according to Dr. Jay. You can listen to this video for more information ‘Petra is the Original Mecca – Mecca – In Search of a Place – Episode 13’. Website: http://www.cirainternational.com

Muhammad himself was a member of the house of Hāshim (Hashem), a subdivision of the Quraysh tribe. This is very interesting since the Jews many times refer to the almighty by the name ‘Hashem’. The origins of Islam are very interesting. I read that Arabic was an offshoot of Aramaic. There is also recent research into the original location of Mecca. In fact Dan Gibson and Al Fadi regularly discuss this on the CIRA international channel. Many early quibla’s faced the direction of Petra, not modern Mecca. We know that it was the Nabateans who were early traders and who lived in this area.

The Ummayadi caliphate was defeated by the Abassid caliphate by around 750 AD. The Umadyadi capital was Damascus, Syria, the Abassid’s capital was Baghdad. This is all interesting history and I certainly don’t claim to be an expert here. My main ‘concern’ here is that Mecca, Saudi Arabia was never the home of Mohammed.

What the rulers of the Arab world know vs. what they openly admit are two different things. After all, the integrity of Islam is at stake if they get the early history, also known as the Standard Islamic Narrative wrong.

Dan Gibson theorizes that during the second Islamic Civil War (683 AD) that the holy city of Islam was moved. Umayyads were Sunni’s ruling from Damascus when qibla’s faced Petra. The Hypothesis is that Ibn Zubayr moved the kabba during war with al-Hajjaj. Abassad’s ruled from Kufa Iraq and now new qibla’s faced Mecca instead after a period of uncertain or inbetween direction.

Let me further suggest that despite relative peace between Israel and Jordan today there are still tensions. I read online that some in Jordan fear the Palestinians living there causing trouble. In early March of this year Jordan with help of the United States air dropped supplies to the beleagured people of Gaza. The air drop resulted in much chaos with some of the supplies landing in the Meditteranean.

— The Rock Principle

Matt. 16:13-18::
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. “And I also say to you that you are Peter (petros), and on this rock (petra) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

(Schmidt, Syn., chapter 51, §§ 4-6) difference between petra (f) (πέτρα), the massive living rock, and petros (m) (πέτρος), a detached but large fragment,

Based upon this definition Yeshua then told Simon Bar-Jonah you are now named petros, a detached large fragment and upon this petra, the massive living rock I will build my church.

Living rock is sometimes interpreted as rock-cut architecture. There is such architecture at Petra and also other places. The reference to Yeshua is that Peter will be like a cut out rock on the hillside. We have a very good picture of living rock at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota where four U.S. Presidents are carved into a mountain. Stone tends to last a long time, depending upon which stone is hewn. If you want something that is going to last for millenia then carve it in stone.

Sometimes Petra is also identified as an eastern Kadesh (Barnea). As in many archeological sites, there are disputes as to the actual location. I am bringing this up to explain that the historical boundaries of ancient Israel are not 100% certain. Sometimes we need a rock of revelation to properly understand God’s promises and boundaries for which we claim things.

Even with something like Islam there are uncertainties of where things began. I believe that most mosques contained living rock, that is rock carved into different geometrical shapes. Even the sacred stone in Mecca is a rock. But we must never worship a rock or image whether carved out of stone or fallen from the heavens. Any prophet, including that claimed of Mohammed needs a solid foundation so that what is carved out of stone makes sense and can be properly interpreted and extended to already existing revelation which is solid. Mohammed might very well started out with a firm foundation, having been exposed to Christianity from Kadisha’s family where there were Christians. Somewhere either he or his legacy got corrupted by false doctrine so as to no longer be on solid rock.

When we claim this or that, if we are wrong or missing the mark, so to speak, we can create confusion, animosity, and even conflict. That is what we see these days in many places in the world. False claims and hopes not built on a firm foundation, even the rock of our salvation. Apostle Peter stated it this way:

1 Pet. 2:7-8::
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,[fn]

“The stone (lithos) which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”[Ps. 118:22]

and

“A stone (lithos) of stumbling
And a rock (petra) of offense.”[Is. 8:14]
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

Much of Israel is rock and Jordan has many rocks and cliffs as well. If what our CIRA researchers say is true there was revelation afforded to the east of Israel. The whole idea of east toward the Euphrates includes the lands of Jordan even to the land of modern day Iraq.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Israel
https://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-exodus-amorites.htm
https://bibleatlas.org/arnon.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadi_Mujib
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordanian_campaign_(1967)
https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/48639/is-the-four-hundred-years-the-equivalent-of-the-four-generations-in-the-gen
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hashimite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQeK_sb8Ozs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabataeans
https://www.history.com/news/sunni-shia-divide-islam-muslim
https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Arabia-31558/The-Umayyad-and-Abbasid-periods
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0wzFgGAnKs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CavacGECZ0
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/01/1235277071/gaza-jordan-airdrop-aid

There were promises made to Abraham regarding inheritance of the land to his descendants:

Gen. 15:18:: In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, to your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Some will say here that this promise is to Abram and by extension all of his descendants include Ishmael’s descendants and by extension some of the Arabs who live in this area today. This might be true but I would point out that Isaac is the child of promise, not Ishmael.

Gen. 17:19:: God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.

Gen. 17:20:: as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.

In verse 23 Abraham takes all the male children, including Ishmael his son, and circumcises them.

I have heard several people say that the modern people group known as Palestinians are not even native to this region. Many Palestinians are ethnically of the peoples from Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. Others are from groups of people in other middle eastern countries. I recently attended a peace movement conference where the speakers mentioned that both Jews and Palestinians have claim to the same land known as Israel or Palestine. A wider definition includes much of Trans-Jordan. These claims create tension if neither group wants to abandon nationalistic ideals. I will look at the land from a biblical perspective, not ignoring current social and cultural aspirations.

— The narrow definition

Further promises were given hundreds of years later to Moses and the children of Israel:

Num. 34:2-12:: Command the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance—the land of Canaan to its boundaries.

‘Your southern border shall be from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom; then your southern border shall extend eastward to the end of the Salt Sea;

The Wilderness of Zin is part what today is called the Negev Desert. Modern Israel stretches south of this east-west line of the Dead Sea and Wilderness of Zin all the way down to Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba. Part of what is defined as the Wilderness of Zin could be included in what is called the Sinai today. Part of the Negev includes the Arabah. In the highlands of Israel there are many refuges for birds near the modern kibbutz town called Sede Boker (herding field).

3:‘your border shall turn from the southern side of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and be on the south of Kadesh Barnea; then it shall go on to Hazar Addar, and continue to Azmon;

Ascent of Akrabbim is a general name given to the ridge containing the pass between the south of the Dead Sea and Wilderness of Zin. It is a steep climb from the Dead Sea. The name Akrabbim means scorpion for there was at one time many scorpions in this area. Joshua 14:7 says I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land so this promised area includes where the spies were sent out to survey the promised land. Hazar Addar’s location is a bit uncertain but most likely a location 60-70 miles SW of the Dead Sea. Addar mean glorious. Azmon is a location on the south western border of this promised land.

‘the border shall turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, and it shall end at the Sea

The Brook of Egypt is not the Nile River. It is a dried up wadi in the Sinai Pennisula that empties into the Mediterranean Sea.

‘As for the western border, you shall have the Great Sea for a border; this shall be your western border.

‘And this shall be your northern border: From the Great Sea you shall mark out your border line to Mount Hor;

There are at least two locations mentions for Mount Hor. One is in the southern area and another on the northern area of Isreal. Even Mount Hermon has been mentioned as the mountain on the northern side.

Hor means mountain so the name is ambiguous but Aaron is said to have been buried there (Numbers 33:38). I think Aaron was buried at the southern location, the northern one probably being a mountain in eastern Lebanon. In the south there is a mountain near to Petra, Jordan called in Arabic Jabal Hārūn (Aaron’s Mountain),

‘from Mount Hor you shall mark out your border to the entrance of Hamath; then the direction of the border shall be toward Zedad;

Hamath is probably a city in west-central Syria. The Wycliff Bible Encyclopedia places Zedad at 65 miles northeast of Damascus as the most likely location of that city so you could envision Damascus, Syria as part of this land and owned by Israel up to but not including Zedad.

When we look at the geography of Lebanon, the mountains of Lebanon and the anti-Lebanon Mountains lie from side to side. Between these two mountains lies a relatively spacious plain, spread north and south. This is the Becca Plain, the Becca Valley, which the Lebanese call Sahel Bekaa. In the Bible, there is a place called ‘Hammath Entrance’, which is located in the Bekaa Valley. In the 10th century BC, during the reign of King David and King Solomon, they were able to occupy territory to the entrance of Hamath (1 Chr 13:5, 1 Kings 8:65, 2 Chr 7:8).

‘the border shall proceed to Ziphron, and it shall end at Hazar Enan. This shall be your northern border.

Both Ziphron and Hazar Enan are northeast of Damascus.

‘You shall mark out your eastern border from Hazar Enan to Shepham;

Hazar Enan means village of springs and is likely near the foot of Mount Hermon, but remember Mount Hermon is really a cluster of mountain ranges near to the Syria/Lebanon border which is 100 km (62 mi) long and 30 km (19 mi) wide.

‘the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain; the border shall go down and reach to the eastern side of the Sea of Chinnereth;

Shepham means fence keeper and is a border between two unequal realms. I have to wonder if Hazar Enan and Riblah were unequal realms.

Riblah is where King Zedekiah was taken and there his eyes were put out and sons killed before transporting him to Babylon. Chinnereth is an old name depicting the Sea of Galilee.

Ain means eye or spring of water. Between the meaning of Hazar Enan and Ain I have to wonder if much of this has to do with the headwaters of the Jordan River (probably not since headwaters at south end of Hermon mountains). Remember this river starts before the Sea of Galilee within the Mount Hermon range. It’s headwaters are the Dan, Banias, Iyon, and Hasbani springs.

Dan is a tribe missing from the list of tribes to inherit the promised land in Revelation 7. There are various reasons given in one of the sources I reference below. Also, the Danites did not like their original location near the coastal city of Joppa and so relocated much of their populance to the land of Laish or Leshem (Joshua 19:47). Tel Dan is now a nature preseve in the upper Galilee.

These regions are hitting the news these days. Israel has recently bombed Iranian convoys near the historical pagan city known as Baalbek, meaning spring of Baal. This city in at the Lebanon/Syria border in the Beqaa Valley. Joel Rosenburg wrote his bestseller Damascus Countdown in 2013, a chilling novel about the destruction of Damascus. Even in the somewhat parallel text of Ezekial 47 it is said that Joseph shall have two portions, indicating even by then the tribe of Dan has been excluded.

You might be interested in the fact that Hezbollah controlls territory in both Lebanon and Syria. Maps I have seen suggest much of the land between the Golan and Damascus is controlled by Hezbollah. Back in 1982 there was a major escalation in this area as Israel fought against Syria and the PLO, and before Hezbollah was started. In 2006 there was also a 34 day conflict in this area against Hezbollah. I do not know to what extent current fighting will escalate. South of Lebanon and Syria is the state of Jordan.

‘the border shall go down along the Jordan, and it shall end at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land with its surrounding boundaries.’ ”

The Jordan River continues past the Galilee Sea and down into the Dead Sea. It is here where many, including John the Baptist baptised people. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and (eastern) Manasseh east of the Jordan river are still in the list in Revelation. These tribes are basically the modern state of Jordan but are not within greater Israel, in the narrow definition.

I need to mention before closing to re-interate even in the narrow definition of Greater Israel that Palestinian lands such as Gaza and the West Bank are included in that defitions. Lukud founder Menachem Begin did not annex Gaza and the West Bank since it would turn Israel into a bi-national state. Many of the Jews do not want a bi-national state but a Jewish state. I think there is inertia on both sides: most Palestinians do not want to be part of Israel, even if granted full citizenship with voting rights. The Settler Program in the West Bank seems to pull in land from Judea and Samaria without granting any Palestinians citizenship. We normally hear about rejection of a Palestinian State and never much mentioned about Palestinian citizenship of a greater Israel.

Next week I will talk, God willing, about the wider definition of greater Israel and the ramifications it holds for securing (or ending) Middle East peace.

---

Ezekiel 47:13-20:: Thus says the Lord GOD: “These are the borders by which you shall divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions.

“You shall inherit it equally with one another; for I raised My hand in an oath to give it to your fathers, and this land shall fall to you as your inheritance.

“This shall be the border of the land on the north: from the Great Sea, by the road to Hethlon, as one goes to Zedad,

“Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim (which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), to Hazar Hatticon (which is on the border of Hauran).

Sibraim is a few miles NW of Damascus
Berothah is probably a few miles south of Baalbek
Hauran is a region of southern syria/northern Jordan

“Thus the boundary shall be from the Sea to Hazar Enan, the border of Damascus; and as for the north, northward, it is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.

“On the east side you shall mark out the border from between Hauran and Damascus, and between Gilead and the land of Israel, along the Jordan, and along the eastern side of the sea. This is the east side.

“The south side, toward the South, shall be from Tamar to the waters of Meribah by Kadesh, along the brook to the Great Sea. This is the south side, toward the South.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Israel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_the_Palestinians
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zin_Desert
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/biblical-archaeology-places/wilderness-wanderings-where-is-kadesh/
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Mount-Hor
https://www.openbible.info/geo/modern/m951680/sadad
https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Shepham.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/tribe-Dan-missing-144000.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FM4UBp8hS4
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2016-12-04/ty-article-magazine/tribe-of-dan-sons-of-israel-or-of-greek-mercenaries-hired-by-egypt/0000017f-f2fa-d497-a1ff-f2fac60a0000

Monty Python did a satire called ‘Meaning of Life’ in 1983 which explores several scenes from life and includes death. It explores why we are here and what we do during life. We have looked recentlty at topics of defining what is and is not true success, meaning without purpose and purpose without meaning, and exposing godly vs. ungodly purposes and agendas. So while on the topic of finding godly purpose and meaning in life I will tackle the big quesiton everyone wants to know: why am I here?

The reasons for this can be many and varied. In the end we are here to honor and serve God. This is a general statement but the implications and specifics of that question require us to understand not only purpose but our identity in Christ as well.

— Our Identities in Christ

We need to fully submit and remove all works of the flesh in ourselves, yet lift up the life of Christ within, our identities in Christ. This has several ramifications as to our personal lives vs. our ministry focus. It also has a lot to do with our calling and purpose in life.

Our personal lives would include things like our families, our bank accounts, our health, and our personal identity and reputation. Our identity in Christ includes things like our moral character as reflected in holiness, our doctrines, our spiritual works, and the general ministry or oversight the Lord has given each one of us.

You have heard the oft repeated ‘don’t touch God’s anointed and do my prophets no harm’ statement (Psalm 105:15, 1 Chronicles 16:22) or maybe you have possibly heard of the Moses complex where a senior paster is considered to be the sole intermediary between God and the Congregation. The focus of God’s anointed in the Psalm and 1 Chronicales passages were the patriarchs so let’s focus on leadership here. In particular let’s look further at these ideas and one situation where God sided with Moses against those who came against him.

We read in Num. 12:1:: Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

Now when the Lord was riled against Mirian and Aaron, it was only Miriam who came down with leprosy. Why was Aaron spared? Perhaps only because he represented the priests, not for his own sake. Both prophets and priests were anointed in those days.

The bible says that the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth. Moses ends up praying for Miriam to be healed after Aaron appeals unto him. Moses was an intercessor for all the people.

Does this sound like a man threatening the people saying ‘don’t touch God’s anointed’? I’m not saying there was not hell to pay for grumbling and complaining against Moses and the LORD. What I am saying is that God stood behind and supported what Moses was doing to fulfill the LORD’s wishes and the destiny for Israel.

Did Yeshua even consider threatening anyone with the words “don’t touch God’s anointed’? I am just saying, lets not even go there!

As leaders in the christian community and for that matters leaders in the whole world we need to take our positions seriously but also humbly. It is an honor to serve but that is not by compulsion or force. For a godly leader does not rule by threat and intimidation. He/she rules by example and by deed and action. The injuction of James found in verse 2:17 ‘faith without works is dead’. The author here uses the example of Abraham offering up Isaac his son upon the altar and showing how faith is complemented by our works.

I started watching Monty Python’s movie ‘The Holy Grail’ the other day. In this parady King Arther got comissioned by God to find the Holy Grail. He had his work to do. We all have a work or works to do in our lives. The faith journey means we take this journey not by sight of what is but by sight of what is not yet.

— Purpose and Meaninging Go Hand-to-Hand

Two weeks back I covered the idea of purpose without meaning and meaning without purpose dilemma. In the parady by Monty Python King Arthur had a purpose (to find the holy grail). But what was the meaning behind all of this effort? To find a holy relic might be something of intrinsic value or something of scientific interest and maybe an item to be venerated. We have such an article today called the Shroud of Turin. Assuming this is real we then have a relic of some meaning. It points to the fact of Christ’s resurrection and signifies a supernatural event not easy to mimic even by today’s scientific community. If the Holy Grail were to be identified it would merely be an object signifying the cup used during the last supper, not much else.

Likewise we should have personal meaning behind what we endeavour to do. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. It says in 1 Cor. 3:14-15:: if anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. For there is no other sure foundation to build upon other than that of Christ (Yeshua the Messiah). All other things will either get burnt up or melt with fervent heat.

We had a certain mission in Kenya a few years ago. It lasted for about three years. In the end almost all was lost. It was originally built as a ministry to help young unmarried expectant mothers find shelter and a place of restoration and recovery for them and their babies. Things did not work out and the purpose of the venture morphed into other unrealized ventures. You see both meaning and purpose need to have clear objectives (and also funding and proper management) which I think faltered at some point in time.

So you need to keep a proper perspective of meaning and purpose. There is nothing wrong with either changing but it has to be done with proper counsel and support. Ultimately God needs to be the one changing it and refining it for the good.

— Godly Counsel

There is a proverb in the book of Proverbs:
Where there is no counsel, the people fall but in the multitude of counselors there is safety (Prov. 11:14).

I maintain this verse is actually talking about godly counselors not like the owner and shipmaster of the ill-fated journey of Paul from Fair Havens to Phoenix Crete. Let’s look deeper into the goodly characteristics of that depicted in Proverbs 11.

vs. 2: with the humble, there is wisdom: we already spoke about Moses’ humbility, even being an interceeder for those opposing him
vs. 3: the integrity of the upright will guide them: having integrity means doing what you say and meaning what you say
vs. 4: righteousness delivers from death: we often hear about the imputed or inherited righteousness of Christ which saves

We are told,however in Heb. 12:13-14 to ‘make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord’. King David prayed in Psalm 51 ‘let not your Holy Spirit be taken from me’. He did not take grace for granted, nor should we.

vs. 5 : the righteousness of the blameless will direct[make smooth or straight] his way aright: this is further confirmation of making our ways ‘good’ so that the lame might be healed

Do you want God to guide your steps? Do you want to be used of God for mighty works? Then make your walk straight and keep on the way of holiness.

vs. 6: the righteousness of the upright will deliver them: in our righteous steps we can ge spared the trap of the fowler (Ps. 91:3,Prov. 6:5). Satan prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Just as Daniel was spared in the lion’s den so shall we be saved if our walk likes up with his teachings. vs. 8 says the righteous is delivered from trouble.

vs. 9: thru knowledge the righteous will be delivered: knowleged includes perception,skill, discernment, and wisdom. The bible says in 2 Cor. 2:11: that Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his evil purposes

vs. 10: when it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices: when godly living brings success a whole city can rejoice and be blessed
vs. 11: by the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: continuation of shared blessing with a whole city

vs. 12: a man of understanding holds his peace: the word here for peace is not shallom, it is ḥāraš (khaw-rash) what has a double meaning: 1) to cut in, plough, engrave, devise 2) to be silent, be dumb, be speechless, be deaf. The normal interpretation is the second one meaning to be silent or speechless. I think the first meaning could also be appropriate but in the negative. We do not cut into in plough our neighbor, or devise mischeaf against him. It says in the first part of vs. 11 a person devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor. We need to allow the Lord to take vengeance (Deut. 32:35, Rom. 12:19). We need to learn to live peacefully with all men (if it be at all possible).

vs. 13: he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter; this is refering to one who does not spread rumors and lies about other people but serves as a faithful friend

So when we get to verse 14 do you still think the counselors who give words of safety could possibly be ones prideful, having no integrity, being unrighteous, guilty, not being upright, unknowledgeable, of no understanding, and who shares secrets is a good counselor?

I went though almost half of this Proverb to show what kind of counsel we need to seek.

— Meaning of Life is always contextual

Life has little meaning without involving others. The whole of human existence is not done in isolation. Even if stranded on a desert island if you ever get rescued you have a story to tell to others. Even archeologist dig up meaning and purpose in ancient dig sites.

What about Christ? If he died on the cross and nobody ever saw it or heard about it would that have any lasting effect?

Likewise, the meaning to your life depends greatly on the people and things in your sphere of influence. Seldom is there just one thing, one quest. The search for the Holy Grail takes different shape and form for each one of us.

Our job, together, is to figure out what this quest looks like for each one of you. There is an absolute truth. This is what Pontius Pilot wanted to know of Yeshua before his execution.

Pilot asked Yeshua if he is a king. Yeshua said to Pilot “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” Pilot never waits for an explanation. He seems satisfied that Yeshua said my kingdom is not of this world for it is was my servants would fight. It seems the Roman governor was more interested in insurrection than a debate on stoic or jewish ideas concerning truth. Yet we should want to know truth, especially that of Yeshua.

Perhaps the answer to Pilot’s question ‘what is truth’ is something each one of us needs to find in our own lives. Whatever Yeshua might have said to Pilot might not be exactly what he has to say to each one of us. I leave you with a couple closing thoughts . One is ‘he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God’ (John 3:19). It is likely that Pilot did not want to know much about the truth because his deeds were evil. There is also the verse ‘you can know the truth and it shall make you free (John 8:32). Free from the effects of sin and free to follow God. Within this truth you will experience the meaning of life. I would sum it up as this: to serve God with all of your heart, mind, and will.

Purpose and agenda start in our thought life. God has to be our foundation to establish a good purpose and agenda or these plans can become defiled, unclean. If we consume (take into our minds) things unhealthy and unwholesome we get defiled within. Only by entering into his rest do we truly reach the promised land. We wander around in the deserts of our lives seeking rest and nourishment. Even if we enter into the promised land tolerating those who teach evil, such as sexual immorality, will result in sickness and even death This death can be physical or even the death of our plans and purpose. Godly plans are not upheld by an ungodly lifestyle.

— King David hated the wicked and wanted to see them destroyed but we must first deal properly with self

Psalm 139:23, Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Heart and mind are intertwined in Jewish thought. We all should know that the heart is the seat of emotions. The idea thast the LORD tries our hearts means he examines it like that of a gold inspector. He has to test that our hearts are genuine. If we have any impure thoughts they will be found and rooted out. In all of this our disquieting thoughts are laid bare before him. Even ungodly agendas are uncovered despite our best of intentions. Sometimes even we ourselves are unaware of hidden modivations, impure motivations, and devils lurking in the depths of our souls. This is one way is the purpose of deliverance. That is the exorcism of thpse hidden motivations.

Once we have properly dealt with the log or beam in our own eyes can we properly see to help remove the speck in the eyes of others (Matt. 7:3-5). This eye is perception. Once we remove the blinders in our eyes then we can help others more sufficiently. This is what was lacking in King David’s life when he was considering all of the evil he saw around him. It was also what was removed from Saul’s life so he could become that great Apostle that God destined him to be.

— We always think we have godly purpose in our own hearts but only true if the LORD establishes it

Proverbs 16:2-4:: The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits. Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established.

The preperations of the heart is what we feel is the right things to do. The word however is that of God. He gives the final say. It is his tongue that speaks truth. Our hearts can be deceiptful. Prophet Jeremiah said there is no cure to a sick heart (Jer. 17:9). We cannot fully understand it’s thoughts and intentions. The prophets further states:

I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings. (Jer. 17:10)

Our ways are always pure in our own vision accord to the proverb. Yet there is a weighing done from the LORD. It says he weights the spirits. The word is tāḵan (taw-kan’) which is the hebrew word meaning to weigh something

I suggest to you this is related to the words written on the wall during the last day of King Beltzhazzar:
MENE,MENE, TEKEL,UPHARSIN

This is the interpretation of each word.
MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it;
TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting;
PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”

When he weighs our spirits it is like a balance. Unfortunately we, just as Belzhazzar think our spirits are pure and our motivations correct. We do not want our kingdoms yanked away from us in one day. We need to commit our works unto the LORD. It is then and only then our thoughts will be established. We can now see clearly how to rule. The thoughts of the mind are thus linked to how the heart feels. If the heart is found lacking and evil then the mind cannot think correct thoughts. It really starts as a heart issue.

— What comes in and goes out of a man’s heart truly defiles, not what goes into the stomach and is elimated out the rear

The Parisees were speaking about eating bread with unwashed (defiled) hands. Yeshua then starts talking about laying aside commandments like honoring your father and mother to move into ceremonial cleansing of pitchers and cups. He then segways into the idea that food goes into to the stomach and is then eliminated so that is not what is truely important (unclean food that gets eliminated). He was more concerned about what comes out of the heart that defiles.

Mark 7:20-23:: For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.

The idea of the foods we eat or even how we eat food is really talking about what comes into our hearts. This is not food in the earthly sense but what feeds our souls and the results it brings into our thought life.

Yeshua said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work (John 4:34).

So the spiritual food we are to consume should likewise be seeking to do God’s will. It is also to finish the tasks he has assigned unto us. He could assign us a task to build a church or start a school or just be a friend to one in need. So Christ’s idea of spiritual food is not like what we consider food. It was lake when the disciples returned from Sychar seeing him talk to a woman at the well. They were probably hungry so they figured Yeshua was likewise hungry.

So accoring to Christ, eating spiritual food with unclean hands is not doing God’s will and what he has assigned unto us. This puts a different slant on what is considered unclean food. Being lazy or indifferent. Not using the gifts and talents he has entrusted unto us to do specific tasks. That is what makes us unclean.

— Let us enter into God’s rest for God sees this as entering into the promised land

This whole chapter is about entering into God’s rest. It does not mention the sabbath, per se. But what it does spell out is that God rested on the seventh day.

Hebrews 4:12, describe God’s word as being able to “discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart”

It is on shabbat we enter into God’s rest. It is not so much a day as an opportunity to enter into rest. If our day to rest is occupied with early pursuits and business then how can we be entering into rest. The writer of Hebrews spoke of the beginning as that of God himself entering into rest on the seventh day. I am not pursuing this to challenge sabbath keeping but that is the context of Hebrews chapter 4.

if Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day (Heb. 4:8)

My bible notes say that the actual greek name used here is iēsous which is Jesus or Yeshua in Hebrew. Yeshua means Jehovah is salvation. I think the confusion of which name to use here is because of the idea of salvation. Joshua brought the children of Israel into the promised land. Joshua 21:44 says “the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers” but if you look at the Septuigint the word here for Lord is kurios which many times is interpreted as Jesus in the new testament.

So from a Torah perspective neither Joshua, Jesus, or Yeshua are the correct translation expressed in Hebrews 4:8. If Joshua wrote the book with his name attached of course he would say the LORD gave them rest which can be translated as Jehovah Saves (Yeshua). It is a small point but just want to show that we don’t claim the bible is perfectly preserved, just God breathed.

Mark 2:27-28 Yeshua said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath

So what is the connection of the sabbath of rest to the idea of discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart?

Here is my view on the subject which I think is confirmed by the Holy Spirit. What is our intent in honoring God with a day of rest? Are we entering into the Lord’s day of rest? I won’t even get into the Saturday vs. Sunday debate. We just need to honor God and enter into his rest. This is confirmed at the end of Romans:

Romans 14:5-6:: One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.

The sabbath or shabbat was made for man according the Yeshua. Consider it a gift: a day of rest and reflection. Like following God’s ways, it is to honor him because his teachings really are a gift. This is our purpose and our agenda is to honor God.

— We are not saved to commit sin but to do good works

Even when we find ourselves entering into the promised land and all seems peaceful and business is booming we have to be on guard against evil entering into our hearts. We might want to think we can relax, build a bigger nest egg, or just do as we please. Yes, we can enter rest, but no, we cannot permit sin to enter in just as Cain was spoken to in Genesis 4:7. Sin was waiting at the doorway to his heart giving rise to an evil thought. We are told in Ephesians:

Eph. 5:10-13:: have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

To the church in Thyratira there was condemnation because the prophetess named Jezebel taught and seduced the God’s servants there to commit sexual immorality.

Rev. 2:23:: “I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

He shall rule them with a rod of iron. They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ (Rev. 2:27, Ps. 2:9)

This is a rather severe rule. Sin has it’s consequences. Many think of hell or a lake of fire but there are consequences in this life as well. We can have sickness, tribulation, or even death. So we need to stay on the ‘straight and narrow’ path to see life, that is wholeness and prosperity.

I leave with you the adjunct to Ephesian 2:8-9 which is primarily about being saved by grace: we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Eph 2:10)

• Meaning without purpose and purpose without meaning dilemma

The “meaning without purpose dilemma” refers to the modern struggle to find a sense of meaning in a universe that may not have an inherent purpose, often leading to feelings of aimlessness or existential dread. This dilemma arises because many people desire a sense of purpose, but existentialist philosophy (that of our existence), for example, suggests humans are born without a pre-ordained purpose, forcing individuals to create their own meaning through their actions and choices. It’s a conflict between the human need for a guiding narrative and the lack of an objective, external one.
Source: https://www.google.com/search:: meaning without purpose dilemma

This is a mouthful. If the universe has no inherent purpose we are just here by chance. Life is meaningless. Existentialist philosophy either denies the existence of God or he has no impact on human need. People then create meaning in their own lives in the abscence of an external meaning (i.e., God’s will). It is a sad place to be.

Here is my journaling on the subject:
Purpose is the reason why I am doing something (a declarative statement of intention). I might purpose to get out of bed today, study for 30 minutes, read a book or article for an hour, take breaks inbetween and finish all of my to-do’s by the end of the day. Purpose is why are you doing all of this? What is your end goal or goals in mind by doing this and also doing this consistently?

Meaning gives sustenance to purpose. Like the meaning to life which we shall explore in two more sessions. Meaning gives us direction. Without a good or adequate meaning our purposes can be ill-aimed or even wrongly defined. Meaning gives us context to any purpose or purposes. It is like reading before or after in the context for a declarative statement (of purpose).

So you need to go both directions and even bi-directional. If you have purpose that will come from meaning and context. If you have meaning that has to have a purpose of intention. Neither is inseperable.

— Some biblical examples that might help

First let’s look at Jeremiah to understand purpose of something that seems meaningless.

Jer. 29:11:: I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land

In Jeremiah 32 the prophet was instructed to purchase a piece of land from the son of his uncle. If Israel was soon going into captivity there was no purpose in purchasing land. All would be lost. Jeremiah might not yet have had the big picture but trusted his God in faith. This likewise should be our position when we don’t fully comprehend purpose for our lives.

God said in Jer. 32:15 that houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land. The purchase of the land had a purpose. It was to secure land rights for the future. God gave the prophet some context. It also had a spiritual purpose. God has thoughts toward us of peace and a future and a hope. God has already said “behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah” (Jer. 30:3). There was a purpose in buying the land. It was a faith action which also signifies trust in the Divine. We need to take concrete steps of faith to acknowledge God’s plans for our lives.

Let us look at Ecclesiastes for some additional wisdom. The preacher here may not have understand purpose or even destiny for it says:
Ecc. 1:2-3:: Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?

Everything we gain from toil has to acquire meaning. Without purpose why would we even start anything? Our purpose could be to build a business or a ministry. Vanity here is really the hebrew word meaning breadth or even mist. It has no substance and may easily come and go. Such a concept that all is vanity does not speak to me of faith.

Yeshua said, “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit (John 3:8).

The rûaḥ means wind or breadth but often refers to the Spirit of God. It is a feminine noun yet the helper or paracletis of the new testament is masculine. Noun gender does not sound real important but perhaps a change in the new covenent implies intentionality. The Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of Christ which is the transliteration of what is called Messiah.

The preacher in Ecclesiastes says ‘the wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns’ (Ecc. 1:6).

Even the proverb “what comes around, goes around” means that the consequences of one’s actions will eventually return to them. Wind going in a circle means no directionality and speaks nothing of consequences for bad behavior.

From Ecclesiastes all we know is the wind blows to the south and also travels north. It cirles and moves around. Eventually it returns to the place it started. Where is meaning in all of that?

The birthing of the Spirit is not as predictable. We do not know the course or circuit of the Spirit. In other words he has not a predicable, defined course. The Spirit has a wish even a will and intent. We may not be able to predict or track his path like a meterologist does with weather maps. Yet the Spirit basically tracks his own course. This is intentionality, a purpose for existing (to convict the world of sin, righteous, and judgement in John 16:8). He guides us into all truth (John 16:13), and glorifies Christ (John 16:14).

Self-indulgence, living wisely, and all toil are all seen as vanity in chapters 2, 3, and 4 of Ecclesiastes. Even success is considered vanity.

I observed that most people are motivated to success or achievement because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind (Ecc. 4:4).

It is not until we get to chapter 7 does the preacher start extolling the value of gaining wisdom. Wisdom can be associated with the female personality of the Holy Spirit. It is really a nurturing trait.

So no matter how much you achieve or how successful you become there is an emptyness in all this toil. So we strive to do something important (our purpose) but there is no meaning to any of this. Chasing the wind means you can never catch what you want to achieve. I do not see any of this rhetoric as containing faith.

For instance we might purpose to build a business or create a ministry that has great plans and goals. According to Solomon this is meaningless. As you can see, Solomon has a rather bleak and empty view of works. Nothing means anything in the end. Even faith by our works is meaningless because it will all burn up in the end. Is that the totality of what the bible says about our works? Does emptiness result after all of our hard work and toil? No, according to Apostle Paul.

— A sure foundation

Foundations are important. From there you can start building something. If life is to have any meaning and is not all vanity we have to start with something meaningful.

1 Cor. 3:11-15:: For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Fire, when it has done it’s purpose results in smoke. It is just as the wind. It blows away and disperses. So is the same for any toil or work we endeavor to do if it does not last. A failed business or one that goes bankrupt or a ministry that disappears is of no lasting value according to the Apostle. But I would add that even in failure we can learn important lessons. This view is not the same view as the teacher in Ecclesiastes which says all is meaningless.

Some things endure the fires of life. Gold, silver, and precious stones might melt or get scortched. 1 Peter. 1:7 says the testing of our faith is more important than gold, though it be tried in the fire. Faith can last for all of eternity. It is not physical, it is spiritual.

Wood, hay, and straw get consumed and only result in smoke and ash. We need to seek to build with something lasting. Something that will endure. Things that are temporal, in general, do not last.

In this epistle Paul has given us a foundation, a starting point. This is Jesus Christ. We need to know that Jesus was not his name in the original hebrew. It was Yeshua which means God saves. This name is found in the Psalms, in Isaiah and several other books of the Old Testament.

Psalm 51:12 includes the phrase, “restore to me the joy of your salvation (Yeshua)”. King David knew of God’s saving grace yet it was fleeting at the time. Maybe even a breadth or wind.

Yehoshua (even Joshua) is an earlier form of the name. Joshua brought the children of Israel into the promised land. Likewise Yeshua leads us into God’s saving grace. He was the Messiah, meaning anointed one. This is a title.

To the Ephesians Apostle Paul wrote ‘by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast’ (Eph. 2:8-9). I am writing this not just to speak of the gospel story but to speak to the issue at hand: vanity of purpose and the meaningless of toil (and really everything).

If we have a good foundation and build on it with something that endures then we obtain a reward.

In Matthew 7:24 Yeshua says ‘whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock’. He is the bedrock, even our petra. Petra is city in Jordan that is know for it’s beautiful architecture and is a UNESCO world heritage site. It remains unto this day. It could one day be destroyed, I merely use this as a symbol of what persists.

Yeshua spoke to Peter this way: you are Peter (petros), and on this rock (petra) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18). Don’t think of fire and brimstone when Yeshua compares Hades to My church. Hades here is the idea of the underworld, the land of the dead. This dispells the idea there is nothingness after death. The church shall prevail.

Peter’s confession in Matthew 16 shows that he realized Yeshua was the Christ (Messiah), the son of the living God. Yeshua’s question however was “who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”. This is a very profound question. The Son of Man is depicted in Daniel chapter 7 and where it speak of an eternal kingdom.

to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed (Dan. 7:14)

This is the bedrock which cannot be destroyed. We merely much build on this with things that can endure.

So leave it up to God to give your life a meaning and a purpose. Our’s is many times a life of discovery, trial and error. It is ok to ‘miss the mark’ sometimes but ultimately we need to get on the right track and ensure Christ is our bedrock, our purpose for being and at the meaning to our lives.

–

• Defining true success (not what the world thinks it is)

— Worldly view of success

The world defines success in two primary ways: one is the traditional, external definition focused on wealth, fame, high-profile careers, and social status, while the other is an increasingly popular, internal definition that prioritizes personal happiness, strong relationships, meaningful work, and personal growth
Source: https://www.google.com/search:: what does the world define success as

What is wrong with either view?

External success prioritizes things that have little to do with our being. Some of this is included in the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel popular in recent decades.

Internal success does prioritize internal feelings and happiness but is that all there is to true success?

Does internal success bring about temporary or eternal success? What will history show of your ‘success’?

As Americans we remember George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. They were highly successful in their lives and long remembered.

Let’s look at some very successful characters in the bible: Abraham and King David. In the end, their legacy outlives about 99% of the people we know about in history.

The LORD had said to Abram in Genesis 12:1-2:
Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, go to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.

Abram left Hanan where he had followed his father Terah from Mesopotamia and settled in the land of Canaaan. His name means exalted father, even while remaining childless. Due to a severe famine Abram eventually leaves Canaan and travels to Egypt.

We read that when Abram returned from Egypt he was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold (Gen. 13:2).

Abram, who eventually gets renamed Abraham means father many nations. Why was he successful? He fathered many nations through Isaac and Ishmael. He has a name highly revered by literally billions of people today. He also carries with him for all eternity a name that blesses all of mankind. He is also the father of faith because he believed in the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). This is true success.

Then there is King David. We are told in 1 Sam. 18:12 that Jesse had eight sons of which David was the youngest. In 1 Chronicles 2 the text only lists 7 sons. Conjecture is that one son might have died. Do you know that eight is the day of new beginnings? One we know had to die so we would arrive at this eight day, the day of resurrection. Circumcision is prescribed by the law on the 8th day, as well as a purification offerings after birth. Even the Feast of Tabernacles extends to an eight day for a solomn assembly.

It certainly was a day of new beginnings for Israel as David replaced the disobedient and disloyal Saul as King. Incidently, David always honored Saul and even his whole household even after being rejected by God. But the biggest thing David is know for is uniting the monarchy and his prodegy resulting in the birth of Messiah Yeshua.

The thing about success is that it is measured by our lasting success and not our failures (like the aftermath of killing Uriah the Hittite). Thomas Edison is not remembered by his 1000 failures. Edison himself said he found 1,000 ways that wouldn’t work, or that the invention was a process with 1,000 steps. So the pathway to success can be a set of events that lead up to success. Darkness is replaced by light.

But even David’s monarch only lasted a few hundred years. His legacy, however, lives on through Messiah Yeshua and faith in his name. Yeshua means ‘God saves’ and is spoken throughout the world today even in synagogues. Christ is not even a name, it is a title like Mechilzedek which means King of Righteousness or Abraham as father of many nations. Sometimes titles and names get interchanged. A person becomes a title and a title a person. So we get the nomenclature Jesus Christ for the idea that Yehovah (Yahwey) saves through Messiah. When we say the name the concept gets declared.

— God’s view of success

— Proper use of our talents and gifts (stewardship)

Back in August 2025 I did a couple teachings on stewardship. Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:17 ‘if I preach the gospel willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship’.

It is interesting here that his reward was not money, riches, or fame. His reward was that he could preach the gospel free of charge. His ministry got funded by God. Specifically others contributed. I am not saying gold coins cannot be found in fish but that is the exception. Stewards are over the affairs of others. They may reap the benefits of their labor and enjoy perks of presiding over a ministry or even a business.

In business the CEO could be the owner but many times is not. The CEO (along with the board) directs the affairs of the business and makes most of the important decisions. Rarely would the owner step in an go against the board (unless it had major, major problems). I find it quite interesting that when Paul sailed out of Fair Havens in Create it was both the owner of the ship and the captain who advised sailing for Italy. Paul advised against it since it was after Yom Kippur and the weather then was getting adverse. In this case both owner and CEO of the ship made a very bad decision. Destruction came because they did not listen to godly counsel.

The bible is clear about what type of work will be rewarded. That which survives.
each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Cor. 3:13-15)

God promised way back in Genesis to never destroy the world again by flood or water. Your world, however, could be lost due to ungodly council. Fire itself will eventually reveal what work you have developed. Salvation came to every soul on Paul’s ship bound to Italy. The cargo, however was totally lost. Our works can get drowned in a sea of debt or lost in the sea of humanity as competition and competing forces sink our ‘ship’.

Paul makes mention earlier in 1 Corinthians 9 that he had the right to receive material gain from preaching the gospel but chose there to not obtain material gain. This can many times be necessary to start up an endeavour. In the business world it is called start-up capital. In a ministry it is often called outreach or evangelism. My point is not that ministry or business is free. My point is where does the financing come from? Does it come from the people or business being developed or from elsewhere? I hope you can conclude elsewhere.

When Paul met with James, Peter, and John he stated ‘they desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do’ (Gal. 2:10). Feeding the poor and evangelism are often seen as synonomous activities. There were cases when Paul took from certain churches to help for the needs of others (2 Cor. 8-9). Such was the case from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia to help the poor in Judea.

I know from missions work in Africa that money does not grow on trees. Someone somewhere has to provide funds to buy food, medicine, and even start-up capital for business.

— Stewardship vs. Ownership

Can we merge here the idea of stewardship and ownership?

In the case of Paul sailing from Fair Havens to Rome I already pointed out the fallacy that wisdom is always found in multiple counselors for both owner and captain made a bad decision. The Proverb says without counsel plans fail, but in the multitude of counselers they are established (Prov. 15:22, HNV).

First I would like to say that an owner and captain are only two people. Paul, being the third, and wise man he was advised against this course of action. I would think Solomon had in mind here wise and godly counselors. Most likely the owner of the ship was motivated by profit or greed. The captain was loyal but not wise. He probably knew the waters that time of year were treacherous. The centurion was persuaded by the two men and the majority (vs. 12) advised to try to sail to Phoenix for the winter. It was a mere 12 mile sail along the southern coast of Crete. I am reminded here of the theme song for Gilligan’s Island … a three hour tour. For sure it would be safe to sail along the southern coast with a southerly breeze! A violent northeasterly wind drove them far from the shoreline.

I believe the lesson here is it is not always possible to merge stewardship and ownership if the motivations are amiss. The reasoning here sounded reasonable. Phoenix was a safe port to winter at. Sometimes a third or even fourth voice should be heeded when making plans. Those that seem to be in charge are not always the wisest.

Going back to 1 Corinthians 9 we see that Paul made a great defense for those living by the gospel to be supported by the gospel. He also said it was not his intention to do that. Do we sometimes eat our own seed? In other words, investment trumps personal needs. Sacrifice comes to mind. Sacrifice for a business or sacrifice for a ministry. This can be the same thing. Christ sacrificed his own life for both you and me.

— Developing character, spiritual growth and service toward others

Sacrifice can often be part of personal development. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edisson and many others made great sacrifices to get to where they left a lasting legacy. All three believed in God and quoted biblical concepts at certain points in their lives. In the end personal development is a reward in itself. We learn from mistakes as well as successes. From failure what not to do again, from success to try to replicate.

Spiritual growth is closely aligned with character development. We can do both simultaneously. I believe one main difference is that spiritual growth places a premium on bible knowledge and application. Personal development can be done as godly principles are applied but also ungodly principles. What if we understand how to make a wonderful sounding sales pitch? We ‘paint the picure of Paris’ so it sounds lovely and wonderful. The only problem is we may have inadvertendly deceived or misapplied the steps with ungodly methods.

You have heard the expression ‘the devil is in the detail’. When it comes to godly development that is so true. The first deception in the bible is Satan telling Eve, “You will not certainly die,” and instead promised that her eyes would be opened and she would be like God knowing good from evil. The lie was accompanied by a temptation. For who would not want to be like God? This must be spiritual development! The actual truth is she traded knowledge of good and evil for being cast out of the garden and lose eternal life, both her and her husband.

Service toward others means we keep our faith alive. James said ‘faith by itself without works is dead’ (James 2:14). by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast (Eph. 2:8-9). Faith and works appear to be opposites. A simple reading of verse 10 clears this up: we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. So walk in good works. Serve God and also your fellow human beings.

What does it mean to define true success? We shall learn together. There is both external and internal measures of success. External is obvious as we see as the world sees it: control, wealth, popularity, social status, etc… Internal success can bring feelings of personal satisfaction and accomplishment. The quesiton I pose to you is this. Does internal success bring about temporary or eternal success? What will history show of your ‘success’?

Join me in coming weeks as we upack ideas about success.