— The Case of Jacob and Esau’s problems hidden from Isaac

The resentment and animosity between Jacob and Esau was seemingly hidden from Issac. There was much jealousy and favortism brought about by Rebekkah against Esau. Isaac comes off as an old man, devoid of understanding, even within his own family.

Genesis 28:25 says “Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob”.

I think this is truly a case of saying love is blind.

Heb. 12:16 calls Esau a profane person who sold his birthright for a morsel of food. It does not call Esau a fornicator but the idea of selling his birthright to Jacob implies he sold himself to another. This is not a normal sense of the idea of lust but it does highlight the idea that Esau despised his birthright so much he was willing to sell out his own future for some bread and lintel stew. The hebrew text says he felt like he was weary and about ready to die (Gen. 25:30,32). This is extemely sad so lust could easily be a good interpretation.

In Genesis 27 we read about the deception of Jacob to steal Esau’s blessing, Esau being the eldest. Even a cursory reading of the chapter reveals the fact that much of the planning was because of scheming and direction of their mother, Rebekkah. Yet Jacob fully participated and carried out the deception, speaking as Esau and even dressing up like his brother, covering his hands and at his neck with a hairy skin.

The deception here was only against Isaac but without Esau’s consent or knowledge. Rebekkah was in many ways the instigator.

Rebekkah says to her son Jacob ‘obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran. and stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away, until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him (Gen. 27:44-45).

I think it unlikely that Esau completely forgot about the deception of Jacob in stealing his blessing. Chances are he got pre-occupied with other things and forgot about the anger he had against Jacob. All we hear about Esau in the rest of chapter 28 is he realized that Canaanite wives displeased his father so he sought a daughter of the Ishmaelites. In fact Esau had already married Hittite (Canaanite) women to the chagrin of his mother and father (Gen. 26:34-35, Gen. 36:2).

In fact Esau ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept (Gen. 33:4)

In this saga Esau seems more righteous than Jacob. Esau made bad choices about his birthright and had his blessing stolen. He also married Hittite woman which were too close to the Canaanites for his father and mother. It seems other things like family made him appeased and forget about Jacob’s bad behavior. He was also sufficiently blessed (Gen. 27:40, 33:9).

Problems with Jacob were forgiven but probably never completely forgotten. The two brothers never dwelt together nor did much together. Jacob sought forgiveness because he feared Esau but true reconciliation never did occur. The embrace and kissing and weeping lasted but for a moment. Isaac fails to see what is happening in his own family and seemingly trusts Rebekkah implicitly against his own choice for heir. In this I suggest that Issac failed to lead his family in the process of reconciliation.

We can many times be as Jacob and Esau. Someone might forgive and forget to the extent you are never going to seek vengeance. Gifts may also be offered to heal hurts but mistrust can remain so much so it can become a generational mistrust. Do those who could bring about true reconcilation either ignore or miss issues that they should be able to recognize and take charge of resolving?

The case in the USA of the Hatfields and McCoy’s took years to resolve. In the 1882 tensions created a brutal revenge spree which subsided into peace in 10-20 years but it took several more generations to completely resolve the tension. Family and personal relationships suffer when the path to reconciliation gets untrodden. What can we do to speed to process of reconciliation?

— The Case of Judah and Joseph Forgotten and Hidden from Jacob

If you remember the story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 37, Joseph was a talebearer and suggested that all of his brothers will one day bow down to him, even his father and mother. His brothers, who already hated him because of his favor from Israel, really hated him after telling them about his dreams regarding the sheaves and the sun, moon, and stars. When Joseph finds his brothers in Dotham feeding the flock his brothers conspire against him. Some conspired to kill Joseph but Reuben, the oldest son, desired to protect him so as to return Joseph to his father. So they threw him into a pit. While Reuben is gone, however, Judah and the others sold Joseph off to some Ishmaelite traders who carry him off to Egypt. Therein starts the 20+ year ordeal of Josepth until a huge famine comes upon the whole region. Then 10 brothers come to visit Joseph in Egypt:

Gen. 42:20-21:: Joseph, after greeting his brothers, says bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. Then they said to one another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.”

Reuben even lectures his brothers at this point about selling Joseph into slavery. For they did not even heed Reuben’s desire to rescue Joseph from the pit and return his to their father. Because of various sins and lapses of judgment Judah ends up being the leader of his brothers, not Reuben. Judah eventually provides surity for his brother Benjamin so to pledge to his father that he will not lose Benjamin in Egypt (Gen. 43:9) showing his character had grown tremendously from what it was before Joseph went down to Egypt. For no son, including Joseph, ultimately wanted to tell Jacob what had really happened to Joseph. It is this deception which fuels much of the drama.

Let’s pick up the whole saga much later during the famine when the 11 brothers ventured down to Egypt a second time to buy grain.

Gen. 44:14-16:: Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground.
Joseph said to them, “What deed is this you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?”
Then Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found.”

While Joseph speaks harshly to his brothers who come to visit for food a famous Jewish comentator, Rashi, makes note that Judah also speaks harshly to Joseph when his says “do not be impatient” (or “do not be angry”: Gen. 44:18). Judah even hides a veiled threat to kill Joseph and Pharoah. Yet Judah cannot openly threaten Joseph or Egypt. This whole time Joseph is playing with his brothers, trying to figure out what to do.

The guilt of the brothers expressed in Chapter 42 now comes manifest in their blind behavior in Chapter 44. Unresolved guilt can manifest itself in a wish for self-punishment. Outward signs often reflect internal turmoil, even hostility and anger (even if unable to openly express the emotions).

This whole saga plays out as Joseph toying with his brothers to see if they have changed.

Alas, it is Joseph who primarily makes amends for he says “now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life” (Gen 45:5).

Justice is what this needs to happen but not punitive justice, redemptive justice. Remember Joseph has two sons in Egypt: Manasseh and Ephraim. They end up amongst the tribes of Israel. The brothers redeem Joseph as much as Joseph redeems all of Israel. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin ultimately unite during the second temple period showing prior anamosities can heal completely over time and in subsequent generations.

Even the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s in the USA made a symbolic truce starting in 1976 and formalized it in 2003. It took way to long and anamosities persisted for generations.

— Things that get hidden from your eyes

Now as Jesus drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. (Luke 19:41-42)

Jesus speaks about leveling to the ground and stones being thrown down because the Jews did not realize the time of their visitation (vs. 44)

Do we also not realize when God has arrived and is wanting to bless us and give us peace? Some things can get reported to us like when King David heard about the rape of Tamar and Amnon’s behavior and the case of Eli’s sons behaving wickedly. More on restitution of relationships in the next lesson.

If we ignore these reports or fail to take proper action, especially within our own family, it can create a world of chaos for us and those around us. In the case of Jerusalem it resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans and the death of over a million Jews. Apostle Paul says that their minds are blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament (Deut. 29:4; Isaiah 29:10, Rom. 11:25, 2 Cor. 3:14).

There are other bible stories that contain secret hurts and anomosities which show good results for those called to serve.

David hid his plans and even his whereabout from King Saul. He even went over to King Achish a Philistean King. He got protected there from the murderous intention of King Saul who had a lot of animosity and jealousy after they declared Saul has killed his thousands and David his tens of thousands. For the LORD had abandoned Saul and an evil spirit came upon him which cause him much pain and distress especially over David. David refused to harm God’s anointed (or even his family). Eventually Saul falls upon his own sword on Mt. Gilboa after the battle goes badly, his sons die, and he gets wounded by archers: an apparent act of suicide.

This shows us we need to be patient with those who oppose us for their destructing will eventually happen by the own undoing. We just need to take the high road and keep ourselves guiltless when it comes to dealing with our enemies. It is a story with no happy reconciliation with Saul because sometimes those against us are unwilling to repent. Saul seems blind to his problems and takes out his hostilities against David. Yet David ends up providing for Saul’s surviving children, in particular Mephibosheth. We should try to make amends to the extent possible. The bible says ‘if possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Rom. 12:8).

Esther kept her Jewish identity secret from King Xerxes, which ultimately allowed her to expose Haman’s plot and save her people. Haman was very angry at Mordecei for not bowing down in his presence but Haman’s evil plot twisted against him and he ended up on the gallows intended for Mordecai. He had much pride and ends up hating all Jews, including the Queen, because of Mordecai. Esther kept her true identity secret until the pivotal moment when she revealed it at a banquet for the King. The result was salvation for the Jews everywhere within the realm.

This tells us that salvation (deliverance) will occur despite evil intentions of those who desire self-glorification and even deification. We may need to act decisively at the appointed time, just as Esther acted at the time appointed for her to reveal her identity and take a stand. God many times orchastrates events to our favor (remembrance of Mordecai’s protection against an assasination attempt and seeing Haman fall across the queen’s lap). The death on his own gallows shows us that evil people sometimes create their own traps. Evil will not prevail if we follow God’s ways. Relationships get restored in God’s house and even before pagan kings who see our value.

In the creation account the Serpent deceived Eve telling her she would certainly not die if she ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This was a lie and both Eve and Adam end up getting kicked out of Paradise and losing eternal life. It was the Devil or Satan who had much animosity and selfish ambition. For he later said in his heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God (Is. 14:13). We see this further manifested in the conversation he had with the Lord over righteous Job. In Revelations 12 he stands before the woman clothed with the sun and ready to give birth to devour her child (those birthed from above). In the end he shall find his ultimate fate: the lake of fire (Matt. 25:41, Rev. 20:10).

This is a story involving the whole human race. Evil deceives and continues to deceive. We need to hold fast to what is good and truthful. We will ultimately win but this is a generational process that cannot be won quickly and not with carnal means. It is sad that Satan cannot repent! While we should not repair a broken relationship with Satan there is always the need to repair our relationship with our Heavenly Father and his Dear Son. Ultimately He will fall on his own sword and create his own destruction.

Sources:
https://www.umjc.org/commentary/2020/12/22/whose-justice
https://spu.edu/lectio/david-tamar-and-absalom-the-sword-in-davids-house/#:~:text=After%20Tamar%20gets%20raped%2C%20Absalom,%5Bsee%20Author’s%20Note%205%5D.

• Becoming an over-comer (life more abundantly!)

they overcame (the accuser of the brethren) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death (Rev. 12:11)
nikaō (nik-ah’-o) means to overcome, to carry off the victory

Apostle Paul told the Philippeans ‘I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus’ (Phil. 3:14). There is a prize to the victor, one that overcomes.

It is normally assumed that the accuser of the brethren is one who accuses Jewish and Christian believers on earth before God. We can see this in the book of Job. The LORD himself said that Job was blameless and upright.

Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (Job 1:9-11)

We see after a long and arduous tribulation that Job comes out in the end twice as blessed. The expression Job got double for his trouble has become a way to express rewards for suffering. Have you suffered? Have you done without blessings and no fault of your own? We can endure years of doing without having. If we have patience and endurance we can finally reap blessings from the Spirit. This is a common theme for those who live righteously but do not immediately get rewards. Even if not in this lifetime, it will occur in the age to come. Listen to the book of James:

My beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? (James 2:5)

I know this can be of little consolation if you are living in poverty and have little or no hope of getting ahead. Yet this is hope.

In Hebrew the expression “L’Chaim” means to life. It is like cheers in English but so much more. It includes our health, happiness, and good fortune. We might be healthy one season and not the next. We might be cheerful one day and not the next. Happiness can depend upon our current circumstances and change in an instant.

Our word of testimony cannot by itself bring about an overcoming situation but it can help with our attitudes. Having a poverty mindset, for instance, might make one rigid and frozen even when an opportunity of a lifetime is presented before you. Life is a struggle and the strongest survive:

Luke 11:22:: when a stronger person (than the owner of the house) comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

Christ says in John 16:33 to have peace because he has overcome the world. The world brings tribulation (trouble).

1 John 2:14:: I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the wicked one.

poponēros (pon-ay-ros’) normally means the wicked one but can also mean one full of labors, annoyances, or hardships. We need to overcome evil but also what buffets us like annoyances and hardships.

1 John 4:4:: You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

The ‘them’ in verse 4 is speaking about every spirit that does not confess Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (vs. 3). This is the spirit of the Antichrist who is now already in the world. He needs overcoming. It is the internal kingdom of God thru Christ which is the overcomer.

1 John 5:4-5:: For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our[your] faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The world many times judges us. We are condemned as evildoers even when trying to do good. God can also judge us for our evil.

Rom. 3:4:: You may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when You are judged.”[Ps. 51:4]
That You may be found just when You speak, and blameless (made clear/pure/clean) when You judge (Ps. 51:4 Masoritic texts)

The Septuigint clears up who is judging in Psalm 51. It is us who is judged by God. That is what happened to King David. He was judged by God for his wrong doing in the case of Uriah and Bathsheba yet he overcame (did not die). It also clears up the idea of being blameless and says we prevail when being judged. Remember Satan is also called the accuser of the Brethren so make sure you are not hearing lies!

— Overcoming churches: models for us to consider

In Revelation the seven churches were in different cities. They also represent 7 models for us to follow.

The Ephesus church left their first love but they have labor and patience, and cannot bear those who do evil.
Rev. 2:7:: to him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

The Smyrna church has works, tribulation, and poverty. There is no criticism from the Lord.
Rev. 2:11:: He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.

The Pergamos church tolerates the doctrine of Baalam (sacrifice to idols and to commit sexual immorality) and the doctrine of the Nicolation (ecclesiastic pride). Yet they did have works and had at least one martyr.
Rev. 2:17:: To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. I will give him a white stone with only the recipient knowing the name written on it.

The Thiyatira church tolerates the false prophetess Jezebel who seduces those there to commit sexual immorality and eat things offered to idols but they have works, love, service, faith, and patience
Rev. 2:26:: he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nation

The church at Sardis has works but they are not perfect and the church is spiritually dead. Most have defiled garments.
Rev. 3:5:: He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life

The church in Philadelphia gets no criticism. They are to be kept from the tribulation that comes upon the whole world.
Rev. 3:12:: He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God

To the church in Laodicea is criticised for being lukewarm. They are rich and wealthy but really miserable, poor, blind and naked.
Rev. 3:21:: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne

Overall, the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia got no real criticism. But even in the worst churches there are those that are overcomers. Overcomers will eat of the tree of life. That means life more abundantly. Ultimatly eternal life. The second death will not touch those with works, tribulation, and poverty. Hidden manna is reserved for overcomers in a godless society, even a clean stone to start anew. Manna sustains when there is no food, no kind words, no good news available. Christ said ‘my food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to finish his work’ so that is our goal too: good works. We must not give into false prophesies and sexual temptations. Idolotry is worship of fleshly things. We can get defiled garments (our body) and become spiritually dead like the prodigal son. But it we have love unfeigned especially of The Truth then we are an overcomers in the temple of God which is within. But don’t become complacent and lazy. Keep up the Spirit, light the torch and burn brightly.

— The final cosmic battle

Let us allegorize the Book of Revelation for the purpose of being an overcomer so we can see ourselves as needy.

Christ himself::
Rev. 5:5:: Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals

Rev. 6:2:: I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering (overcoming) and to conquer (overcome).

Rev. 17:14:: (The scarlet woman and the beast she sits upon) will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them

The overcoming savior opens the scroll with seven seals indicating the judgements to come. A crown (wreath) was given him and a bow. He was upon a horse so the idea is war, war with the scarlet woman and the beast. He shall overcome our enemies, but the worst can be within: ego, pride, avarice. Much of what is called the trumpet and seal judgments are mankind fighting ourselves.

The beast she sits upon had seven heads and ten horns as does the beast from the sea. The battle outcome here is different than with the saints. The Lamb overcomes whereas the saints are conquored by the beast. Notice here that the Lamb is over the saints and the Scarlet Woman over the Beast. In this cosmic battle the leaders square off (Lamb against the Scarlet Woman). If we ever think we can win against evil on our own strength then we deceive ourselves.

Let’s go back and pick up how this final cosmic battle unfolds. First the beast overcomes the saints but when the Lamb and his redeemed of the 12 tribes gets involved they overcome the beast. There is more detail but I am trying to do an abbreviated version here.

Forces of evil::
Rev. 13:7:: (The beast from the sea) was able to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation

The beast from the sea overcomes the saints for a time and gets all authority over peoples. Remember, no matter how hard you fight if you do not have the Lord on your side, evil prevails. We can lose authority over evil if we focus only on carnal warfare. We do not battle against flesh and blood and we never should forget that.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12)

We can see actual warfare with guns and bullets but it can also represent human nature.

Col. 2:21-23:: Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Did you hear that? When we battle with our own willpower we do not satisfy the flesh. We need supernatural strength.

Overcoming people::
Rev. 15:2:: I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory (overcoming) over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

Rev. 21:7:: He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

The sea of glass mixed with fire represents the waters above the firmament in the heavenlies. The sands of the seashore melt into molten glass as the heat of battle consumes earthly things before the LORD. The fire of God burns up the chaff and the wheat is stored into barns (Matt. 3:12, Luke 3:17) yet the heavens and the earth … are reserved for fire (2 Pet. 3:7). When we are wheat the Lord stores us in barns. It is a saving principle. Being an overcomer means being spared judgement just like the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia. Be the overcomer. Rise above the flesh and find power within.

— Our walls come tumbling down when enemies encircle us

As another example of walls broken down … on the day when Joshua and the children of Israel overtook Jericho the walls had actually collapsed owing to a miracle of God. In the story in Jericho in Joshua chapter 6 we see the children of Israel marching around the city once for 6 days and 7 times on the seventh day. The priests blew the 7 trumpets (rams horns) each day but on the seventh they marched around the city seven times and after blowing the horns the people gave a large shout.

The symbology regarding the fall of Jericho is clear. The horns announce the coming of the LORD and in this case it is a call to battle. Seven is a number of perfection like the seven fold spirit of the LORD.

Spiritually the example of Jericho shows us how to attack a fortified enemy city. First, we listen to what God says. If he says be silent and follow directions we do so. If he says march seven times as much on the seventh day and then give a shout of praise, we do that. The key is listening closely and figuring out what God wants. Things he has to say don’t always make sense in the natural.

God is always known to have lived in the temple before Christ’s resurrection but lives in the human heart post resurrection.

If God seems to pull away from you he is always eager to return after an allotted time. The fact that the Second Temple was finished well before the gates and walls shows us that rebuilding our temple is his first priority. We see in the story of the prodigal son, after the son came to his senses he returned to the father who welcomed him back with open arms. Rebuilding our self-esteem and our character is something God considers important. Some will quote the verse ‘God will never leave you or forsake you’ (Heb. 13:15). This promise was first given in Deut. 31:6. Obviously, it appeared that God abandoned Israel with the Babylonian captivity, but this is not entirely true. Daniel was one that had an extra-ordinary spirit in Bablylon (Dan. 6:3). God lives in his holy men and women despite exile. Spiritual exile is the more potent form of exile.

In the parable of the prodigal son the father says ‘for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found’. Certainly spiritual death and being lost is the implication here. That does not mean that the Father completely forgot about his son and lost all hope of him ever returning. Sometimes we can think that God has forgotten about us when the real culprit here is self. It was the son who ran away and became lost, and lived a riotous life. In terms of Israel, Jerusalem had already pulled away from God in practice well before the Babylonian captivity.

In Romans 8:38-39 Apostle Paul says ‘For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ The key take-away here is created thing. That is all of creation to include angels and demons. But we can still walk away. That is called free choice. Money and fame called away the prodigal son. Be careful it does not woo you away too.

Yet rebuilding the temple did take some time. Likewise rebuilding our spiritual temple once destroyed can take time. This is not that God is slow in his promises but we may have to overcome obstacles. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).

Hebrews speaks about those that have fallen away:
Heb. 6:4-5:: For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

I have personally seen the effects of falling away in regards to those that dabble in new age things and witchcraft and drugs. This stuff defiles the soul and makes your temple uninhabitable by God in the Spirit. Only God can restore a soul that has turned reprobate.

It took Nehemiah took another 70 years to go to Jerusalem after the temple was rebuilt. This delay represents what can happen in our lives when we come back to Christ but are still lacking in certain spiritual disciplines. An unguarded heart leaves you open to further spiritual attack.

Many times emotions cloud our spiritual connection. Emotions can be positive or negative. Works of the flesh are many times emotional: hatred, contentions, jealousies, envy, etc…

— Nehemiah and guarding as we build walls

Zerubbabel led the first wave of Jews returning from captivity in Babylon back to Judah around 527 BC. This was followed maybe 80 years later by Ezra the priest arriving in Jerusalem. The second temple took about 20 years to rebuild and was finished around 517 BC (about 70 years after being destroyed), some sources say it was done in as little as six years. However, Nehemiah does not return to Jerusalem until about 445 BC, over 90 years after the edict from Cyrus the Great allowing for return and 140 years after the temple was destroyed.

As example of walls that are too weak or in a state of disrepair consider the situation in Jerusalem before Nehemiah arrived. Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. (Neh. 4:7). Sanballat was of Samaria and Tobiah of Jordan. Sometimes we see the same thing today with the Palestinians and Arabs. When Israel tries to defend itself with better defenses the armies of their enemies become enraged and try to splinter any alliances made and cause confusion.

Some of the violence on the temple mount in recent years has been confusing, with one report saying almost the opposite of another report. Israeli Jews are many times pitted against Israeli Muslim and Druse in an attempt to divide. The Arabs have their news and Israel their version.

Any time the Lord begins a restoration project to build walls of protection the enemies seeds in confusion and attacks. Many times self is our worst actual enemy. At other times it can be ungodly friendships and relationships which might need breaking (at least temporarily).

Israel has many walls today but walls are many times more than physical. Spiritually and socially we build up many walls of hatred and antagonism and misinformation. Bridge building is a term used to try to bring people together. Dialogue is key to any such effort. The Abraham Accords have done much to bring together countries in the region since it’s inception in August, 2020.

Neh. 1:3-4 And they (men of Judah) said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Broken down walls of protection are a great impediment to protection. There is also the idea of burt up gates. Remember, gates keep things out but also allow in things that need transit. Things like food, water, commercial products, and people often enter and exit thru gates. For us lack of guarding our eyes and ears opens us up to spiritual attack. Similarily people nations need walls and gates to protect us from intrusion and invasion. People might also attack us, like old ungodly relationships and behaviors.

Gates have traditionally been meeting places and provide access through walls. Many times elders and priests would judge at city gates. In Lam 5:14 it says that the elders have left the city gate. Having no gates or keeping them open too much can result in lack of wisdom and counsel. Judgement is left by the wayside.

God needs intercessors that will stand in the gap and declare God’s will upon this Earth. This can and often does include weeping and mourning. Just as Hannah and Hezekiah wept over their situations and the Lord heard them, likewise Nehemiah wept over the condition of Jerusalem – the walls and gates in particular.

Today there are many walls around Jerusalem. I have visited the Walled Off Hotel near Bethlehem, Israel. The hotel is next to a wall with all sorts of graphic depictions, what one might call graphitti. The point is there are many walls in and around Jerusalem these days. Walls tend to keep Palestinians out, in particular those considering harm or terrorism. At the time of Nehemiah walls were necessary to protect the inhabitants from attack by pagan tribes.

Prov. 25:28 says ‘Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls’. If we come to the Lord yet have no spiritual walls we might have major issues like a tempor, certain vices, and lack of restraint.

I know a man whom I shall call Brad. He is brilliant in many ways but is open to almost every sort of doctrine and teaching that exists. He has no walls, no restraint, no control. This can make one unstable and mentally handicapped. When challenged, escalation is the result.

Once walls are built and gates restored the city can be brought back to full vitality.

Prophet Jeremiah said it this way:
Jer. 7:33:: I will cause to cease from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. For the land shall be desolate.

There was also a promise of Jeremiah that these joyous sounds would once again return:

Jer. 33:10:: Thus says the LORD: ‘Again there shall be heard in this place—of which you say, “It is desolate, without man and without beast”—in the cities of Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast..

It took Nehemiah about 52 days to complete the walls but almost 20 years to build the temple due to constant interruptions. Also note that is was probably 60 years before Nehemiah that Ezra the priest arrived to start teaching the people Torah. It is interesting that it took over a generation to teach correct living before walls got rebuilt. The process of getting rid of bad habits and beliefs can take a long time, maybe not even being complete during a generation.

Spiritually this process can take a lifetime. We get saved (temple restored), learn godly living (Torah explained). and get our personal walls rebuilt (Jerusalem walls rebuilt). Some want to say it all happend in an instant. That is often called inherited or imputed righteousness. Progessive sanctification takes place as we learn to live godly. Walls should be built up the whole time we are progressing from new birth to sanctification but for some it might never be learnt. That is why it is so important to pass on godly principles to the next generation. Chances are good if friendships between Jews and Palestinians get built it could take a whole generation.

— Walls of protection or walls of isolation?

As example of walls that are too weak or in a state of disrepair consider the situation in Jerusalem before Nehemiah arrived.

Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. (Neh. 4:7-8).

Sanballat was of Samaria and Tobiah of Jordan. This is almost the same play book today. It is the Arabs of the West Bank, Jordan, and Syria that cause the most problems for the Jews. We call them Palestinians.

When Israel tries to defend herself with better defenses the armies of their enemies become enraged and try to splinter any alliances made and cause confusion. This is one reason the Al Aqsa flood began October 7th, 2023. The Abraham Accords got put on pause up until today. It is an old tactic of enemies and of Satan too. Some of the violence on the temple mount in recent years has been confusing, with one report saying almost the opposite of another report. Israeli Jews are many times pitted against Israeli Muslim and Druse in an attempt to divide. Israel has many walls today but walls are many times more than physical.

Spiritually and socially we build up many walls of hatred and antagonism and misinformation. Bridge building is a term used to try to bring people together. Dialogue is key to any such effort. The Abraham Accords have done much to bring together countries in the region since it’s inception in August, 2020.

So what do walls and gates represent for the Christian? In one’s own spiritual life we have walls that protect us against evil and gates where evil can penetrate. When our walls are broken down evil penetrates. The whole idea of safeguarding our city against evil is akin to not allowing Satan to come in and attack.

Many times it takes teamwork or the help of a friend to rebuild our walls just like in Nehemiah one built, one stood at guard. We must always be on guard against the wiles of evil forces. Ephesians chapter 6 encourages us to put on the whole armor of God. Spiritual armor around our bodies is akin to the walls around a city. Both protect against attack.

Neh. 4:17:: Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.

Did you not know that building a wall requires teamwork? The last part of that word is WORK. Yes, it requires expenditure of time and energy to build up walls. Satan attacks wherever and whenever he sees a vulnerability. So the job of those who build, those who carry burdens, and those that guard all work together. We must work at repairing the breach and what has fallen down. This fall can affect our reputation, our livelihood, and our spirit. The bible says pride comes before a fall (Prov. 16:18). Some things should be lost but many things are beneficial and needed. We must bear each other’s burdens and pray often (Gal. 6:2). We must stay vigilant to keep each other protected because Satan prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he might devour (1 Pet. 5:8).

There is also an opposite affect when we have walls built around us that keeps us from being helped. This is when someone tries to help us and all we can do is keep ourselves isolated and not let anybody or anything in. This can be due to past hurts and current fears. Sometimes it is easier to keep our walls up than take a chance of being hurt again.

There are also gates around the city that need rebuilding. The gates are what lets good things in but can also be an access way for evil, especially when we are not on guard. There is a childrens song that has two verses that go like this:

1 Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see,
Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see.
There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love,
Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see.
2 Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear,
Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear.
There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love,
Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear.

So eyes and ears are two gateways whereby evil can defile our consciousness. Ephesians 1:18 speaks about the eyes of our heart or eyes of understanding. Go back and read what he says about his power and explosive strength toward us who understand the deeper things of God.

Christ said he is the gate of the sheep fold. He said all them that came before are theives and robbers but the sheep did not hear them (John 10:7-8).

We can ask this simple quesiton then. Why did the sheep not hear them before? Is it because they are deaf? No. They were not listening because they were not interested. Reading on in John, Christ says…

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:9-10).

The door Christ is speaking about is the door to your heart. It is the same as a gate to the city which controls access to the many. If Christ is in your heart then your will and emotions will be in proper alignment to allow his thoughts, his ways, into your heart. Thieves can likewise get into your heart and steal your money, kill your dreams, and destroy what good you are building in your own kingdom. The bottom line is if you let in the wrong person or the wrong ideology you can get greatly harmed. Much of this harm is then within, not from without.

Can you think of any other gates? What about ungody relationships? I have sometimes heard this called ungodly soul ties. Whether this relationship is plutonic or sexual, the company you keep affects you. Apostle Paul said bad company corrupts good character (1 Cor. 15:33). 1 Cor. chapter 6 talks about one having sex with a prostitute. They become one flesh during this union. The problem here is the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. So in essence you are letting a prostitue or a very ungodly person into your temple. This leads to defilement not only in body but in your spirit. Many prostitutes have ungodly belief systems. Have you not heard the phrase ‘pussy whipped’? Prophets Ezekial and Jeremiah had visions of much lewdness and idolotry in the temple. Ezekial sees the spirit of the Lord leaving the temple (Ez. 10-12). So be careful, God can only stand so much uncleanliness in his temple before he leaves. This is called a reprobate heart and described at the end of the first chapter of Romans.

Obviously there are many things I can say about covenant. In the bible there are seven main covenants: Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Palestinian, Mosaic, Davidic, and New. Sometimes the Palestinian Covenant is not listed and the New Covenant and an Everlasting Covenant added. This teaching is not specifically on covenants but relationship so I won’t go into details and differences between teachings. What I will do here is delve into the concept of covenants and what are our commitments and that of God’s in our relationship with God.

— What is covenant?

At the basis of this word is agreement, promise, even a commitment. It should be formal, like in writing, stipulating the terms and conditions of this agreement. The covenant is binding so long as each party fulfills their commitments. In normal civil law there are penalties imposed for breaking this covenant. For instance, if you sign a lease with a landlord there are certain stipulations imposed upon both the tenant and landlord. Penalties imposed for breaking commitments can be both financial and legal. When covenants are not in writing people used to swear to fulfill their parts of the agreement. Problems arise, however, when one remembers things differently or forgets or ignores part of the covenant. In Genesis 16 we see God himself swearing to uphold his end of the Abrahamic covenant. Interpretation of covenants, however, can vary greatly. For instance did the promise to Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sands of the seashore only include the Jews or others as well?

— What our our responsibilities to uphold a covenant?

The marriage covenant is another type of covenant. It exemplifies a commitment between a man and a woman. Traditionally the vows include something like ‘to love, honor, and cherish a partner for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part’. Many have departed from this commitment over the centuries. The idea of adding ‘so help me God’ or similar such phrases invokes the idea of a spiritual commitment before God. A binding agent in any covenant could be swearing to an oath, shedding of blood, or a symbolic even such as sharing a meal. Many times (written) covenants get sealed or perhaps even ‘sealed with a kiss’ although that is less common. For a kiss can also be a mark of betrayal like what Judas did to Christ.

— What God has bound himself to in covenant?

Listen to these words spoken by the Angel of the LORD:
Gen. 22:15-16:: the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son

In Hebrews we read ‘God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself’ (Heb. 6:13). Normally men swear by the greater which is the case of God there is none.

Heb 6:17-18:: God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie

Immutable means unchangeable. The two things here are the promise confirmed by an oath. The promise is to bless 1) bless Abraham, 2) make his descendant numerous, 3) make his descendents possess the gates of the city, and 4) bless the whole world through his seed (offspring). The oath is God swearing by himself.

So if the two unchangeable things are the promise and the oath what does that say about lying?

We also read
God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do? Has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Num. 23:19)

This verse leaves open the idea of the Son of Man having to repent. Repent at it’s core is not necessarily lying. It could be changing one’s mind or changing one’s course.

We read in the gospel of Luke ‘it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem’ (Luke 9:51). So where was he heading before heading toward Jerusalem?

Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people (Matt. 9:35)

He went around all of Israel before setting his face toward Jerusalem. So by the broadest sent he changed his course when the time for him to be delivered up drew near.

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matt. 10:5-6).

Yet time changes things. Christ himself met the woman at the well in Samaria. Paul was sent specifically to the Gentiles. Even under the old covenant foreigners like Jethro, Rehab and Ruth were instrumental in Israel’s history.
To Ananias in Damascus the holy vision spoke to him ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel’ (Acts 9:15). In Antioch Paul spoke to the gentiles quoting Isaiah: I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”[Is. 49:6].

But never remember, the overall context of Isaiah 49 is to bring Jacob back unto himself. Isaiah 49:8 says ‘I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages’

So even the preservation of Israel over the centuries, despite the many pogroms and the hollocaust was to show his covenant to all peoples. It is a witness to God’s unfailing commitment to all of the sons of Jacob. It may have always been God’s design to bring in the Gentiles yet it came to fruition under the ministry of Apostle Paul, comissioned on the road to Damascus.

— Covenant makers: God unto Abraham

When it comes to covenant the first person we usually think of is Abraham. In Genesis 15 Abraham brought out five animals and cut in two the heifer, a goat, and a ram. The animals were three years old signifying a triune god and three days in the grave. After the sun went down a smoking oven and a burning torch passed between these piece. God there made a covenant with Abraham. To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates. It was unconditional. Abram had already passed the test by leaving the land of his father. Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran (Acts 7:2). The ceremony in Genesis 15 happened after Abram left Mesopotamia and after he left Haran when his father died there. There was yet a still big test Abram was to undergo yet the LORD God had already promised Abram his inheritance. Yet Abram was obedient in his life. I suggest to you that even the birth of Ishmael to Hagar was in obedience to Abram’s descendants inheriting the whole land between the rivers. So while God made an unconditional promise to Abramham there was a sign of circumcision given unto him:

This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you (Gen. 17:10-11). God further explains his covenant would only follow Isaac even though Ishmael and his descendants also followed the practice of circumcision. God can further refine and specify covenant, especially when we do not fully grasp his plans.

When we get to chapter 22 of Genesis the question I have is this. What would have happened if Abraham was unwilling to sacrifice his son? The word says in Genesis 22:2 that Isaac was his only son. The word hebrew word here is ‘ben’ and not ‘yeled’. For yeled also means son but that is from the root word yalad which means to beget, to bear forth. Hagar begat (yalad) Ishmael. Sarah was Abraham’s wife. Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children (yalad).

For Abraham and Sarah were of one flesh and only they could beget a son. We can have many sons and daughters but when one begets it is through our wife, not a concubine. It was God’s plan ‘C’ for Eliezar was to to be Abraham’s heir and Ishmael was place ‘B’ concocted by Abram and Sarai. Ishmael was from Abram’s body but Sarah did not beget him so it was his son (bēn) but thine only (yāḥîḏ) was Isaac. Ishmael was not a yeled unto Abraham and Sarah.

I suggest to you that passing the test of sacrificing Isaac on Mount Mariah was not a condition of the covenant of God with Abraham. If anything, it was circumcision that was the requirement for Abraham and his descendants. For this was a sign of the covenant.

Gen. 21:12-13:: in Isaac your seed (zera) shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed (zera) We read in Genesis 22:18 ‘in your seed (zera) all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice. This blessing is for all of Abraham’s descendants, even the ones birthed through Ishmael, for he was also from Abraham’s seed, it was just not the seed that was called to carry on the covenant (Isaac).

Would the blessing given to all of Abraham’s seed (including Ishmael) have been lost in this test upon Mount Moriah? Up until then Abraham had obeyed the voice of the LORD but this was the ultimate test to bless all of Abraham’s seed.

Does obedience flow to the next generation to maintain covenant? Circumcision was the sign of the covenant. Obedience is what sealed it for his descendants.

Abraham’s descendants would have the inheritance so what happens if his descendants break the covenant of circumcision. Is this a covenant for both descendants of Isaac and Ishmael?

— Covenant breakers: Between Abraham and Abimelech’s descendants

Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant (Gen. 21:27). We find another Abimelech in Genesis 26, possibly a son who also lived in Gerar. Sources I have seen suggest 75 years between the two Abimelech’s. Actually abi means father and melech king so together Abimelech means my father is king: it is a title more than a name. What is also interesting is that Philcol was commander of Abimelech’s army in both accounts so the two incidents could easly be confused or at the very least related.

Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to (the first) Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant (Gen. 21:27). Then seven ewe lambs were sent to Abimelech as a witness that I have dug this well (Gen. 21:30). The place was then called Beershiva which means Well of the Oath or Well of the Seven.

What is interesting is that Abraham lied about his wife Sarah being his sister. Isaac does the same thing, he lies to the king of Gerar about Rebekkah being his sister for she was beautiful as was Sarah. Deja vu? Sounds like a generational lie to me.

In Genesis 26:3-4 there is a re-iteration of the covenant God made with Abraham, this time to Isaac. Isaac’s servants also quibble over water rights. Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them. (Gen. 26:18). There were three wells which Isaac’s servants dug called Esek, Sitnah, and Rehoboth. The fourth well dug was called Shebah and it was in Beershiva.

I suggest to you some, if not all, of the wells Isaac’s servants dug were what Abraham originally dug and were stopped up by the Philisteans. The witness of the seven ewe lambs had been forgotten. The new generation ignored what was honored during their parent’s lifetime. Covenant broken in the subsequent generation. If you remember what happened to the children of Israel in Egypt. The new Pharoh remembered none of the promises of his father for the good done unto Joseph and his family. Likewise, many arab peoples forget the covenant given to Abraham and their part, along with Israel, to this covenant.

So in this day of broken covenent never forget God’s commitment to the Jewish people. They are also a light to the nations just as circumcision was a sign of covenant to the descendants of Abraham.

Sources:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-covenants.html
https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/48774/what-are-the-two-unchangeable-things-referred-to-in-hebrews-618
https://bam.sites.uiowa.edu/RTL/yalad

Have you ever been in a rut where things are constantly going wrong and it seems like the whole world is against you. Maybe it is your relationships that is to blame.

• Discovering relationship killers

— We can loose connection with God through sin

The Glory departs from the temple:
Ez. 10:4:: the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and paused over the threshold of the temple; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory.

Ez. 10:18:: the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.

Ez. 11:23:: the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain, which is on the east side of the city.

The idea here is the charriot of God contains his throne above the charriot and is driven by cherubim and the wheels within a wheel. The glory here departs from the temple yet pauses over the threshold for a time before departing from the threshold. One might assume the glory being over the cherubim as that it went to the throne of God. But why did the glory of God depart the temple?

In chapter 11 we are told Ezekiel gains vision of 25 men by the door of the east gate.

Ez. 11:2:: Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel in this city

Ezekiel saw idolatry, sexual immorality, and social injustices like oppressing the poor and mistreating widows and orphans. He also witnessed the worship of foreign gods, women weeping for the god Tammuz, men worshiping the sun, and the construction of altars to false deities within the temple

— Divorce is not final but it is often violent

God gave Israel a bill of divorcement:
I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also (Jeremiah 3:18)

Yet in verse 12 God says ‘Return backsliding Israel’ and again in verse 18:
“Return, O backsliding children,” says the LORD; “for I am married to you (Jeremiah 3:14)

Judah is called treacherous in verses 8 & 10. She is compared to Israel and deemed worse because she only returned to the LORD in pretense. Religion can create as false sense of relationship. We pretend to be faithful thru ceremonies and false proclomations. It it the heart of man that the LORD seeks.

All God asks is that you admit your iniquity, your pagan worship of strangers by presentation of charms under every green tree (vs. 13). The hebrew does not really say charm but rather favors. This could include many things including sexual intercourse. The bible many times equates spiritual harlotry to pagan practices.

If Israel was to return to Jehovah then God was willing to take them back. Likewise, when we return to the Lord he wants to take us back. This is so simple, yet profound.

the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence (Mal. 2:16)

The book of Malachi was probably written during the Persian empire, after Israel was taken to Babylon, after Zerubbabel returned with a group and also Ezra a much smaller group and about the time Nehemiah returned to rebuild the walls. History suggests this as about the time of the third wave of deportees returning after Zerubbabel around 538 BC and Ezra in 458 BC. The third wave shows God’s divorcement was not final but was to be reconciled after many years of seperation.

For Judah has profaned the LORD’s holy institution which He loves: he has married the daughter of a foreign god (Mal. 2:11b)

It is spiritual adultery the Lord speaks about mainly in Jeremiah and Malachi. For the LORD is your husband, even the husband of your youth. Yet when your allegience goes to another it is considered spiritual harlotry, even adultery, by the LORD.

Violence comes about as a result of divorce. When the children of Israel and Judah were send away to foreign lands there was forced displacement. Many were hurt or even killed during this exodus. In America you might remember what is called the Trail of Tears that the Cherokee Indians experienced in relocation from the Appalacian Mountains to what is Oklahoma today. Many died during the forced displacement of sickness, disease, and fatigue. In more recent years forced displacement have been violent like the Jews from Gaza in 2005-2006 and Palestinians within Gaza during the last few years. Even in a civil divorce today many times children get displaced and violence erupts when a family is broken apart. Violence can result in trauma, especially with young children.

With the LORD however, divorce is not the end. He is the God of reconciliation.

God has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-19).

So whatever you have done, whether actual pagan worship with idols and trees or worshipped the world and all that is within it, you can come back to God for he is ready to receive you back. Divorce is not final with God but other things can hurt or destroy short of cutting off all communication.

— Things that hamper or impede relationship

When it comes to the LORD then He is a jealous God. He wants us to have no idols in our lives that hinder pure devotion and relationshp with him. But there are many things that can halt progressing further in a relationship and even strain the relationshp to the breaking point. Remember, if Israel could receive a divorce then we are no different.

I like the NLT here because it says ‘can anything’:
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (Rom. 8:35 NLT)

Why is that important? The ‘who can seperate us’ translation obviously has one major flaw! Relationship is two-way. If we seperated ourselves from Christ’s love then the relationshp is only one direction. A list a few verses later might include the who which is to include angels and principalities and powers:

I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:38-39).

What we have to conquor is the flesh. That is self. Even angels cannot seperate us from his love, and that includes the Devil! I still maintain that one I can seperate myself from God’s love in Christ our Messiah. Yet let’s look at the end of Eli’s tenure as high priest. It says in…

1 Sam. 3:1:: the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.

If we go back to the 2nd chapter we can see a clue why there was no great revelation. Eli’s sons were wicked and the Lord had already seen a replacement for Eli’s line through young Samuel.

In this case the love of God today Eli’s family was cut off. Another was to take his place. Just as Judas betrayed Yeshua, so will another take his place. So we can end God’s love for our family just as Eli honored his sons more that the LORD (1 Sam. 2:29). This seems counter-intuitive to the Christian message: God’s love never ceases. How about some old testament verses relating to this idea:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;his mercies never come to an end (Lam. 3:22)

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed (Isaiah 54:10)

Consider this idea. Did God ever cease loving Yeshua? If not then why did he have to die a cruel death on the cross? Then could not our death, even the death of our plans and dreams be a part of his greater plan? There have been an estimated 70 million martyrs in the Christian faith. Hopni and Phineas, Eli’s sons were cut off but God had another plan. God can cut off your children too. Hopefully not your biological or adopted children, but children you have had in you planning and dreams.

So in a nutshell, continued sin in the area of your children (plans) might come about if you permit sin to reign in your family (career/lifestyle). The sons of Eli would do three detestible things at Shiloh:

1 – They lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
2 – They would put a fork into a still boiling sacrifice to take whatever they wanted.
3 – They would take meat for roasting before burning off the fat

Having sexual relations with woman who came to offer sacrifice is unlawful. This is like a priest or preacher asking someone’s wife or a virgin member for sex to offer up religious ceremonies. We should only be having sex with the wife of our youth (Prov. 5:18), that way our love life will be blessed. One man, one woman (1 Tim. 3:2 and Titus 1:6). Woman who come to the temple, or for that matter who attend church, are not open game for the leaders of the facility. This can lead to all sorts of problems, not to mention sexually transmitted diseases.

The idea of thrusting your fork into a boiling pot of meat (for like a peace offering or a tresspass and sin offering: Ez. 46:20) circumventes the proper order of which priests eat the sacrifice. Going first as youth is somewhat like what was happening in Corinth with some not waiting for all to gather and then to consume the Lord’s supper. It says in 1 Cor. 11:30 that because of this ‘some are weak and sick among you, and many sleep (die)’. This is also a very selfish act, putting our needs ahead of our seniors and those who have oversight over our development. The priests family did get to enjoy the meal together at a communal meal. Perhaps Eli had completely abandoned patriarchial duties as high priest by this point in time.

It might be a stretch, but there is a Gemara about a prophet called Zechariah who lived at the time of the destruction of the first temple. In this story the prophet’s blood was found boiling. Could it also be possible that Eli’s sons never drained the blood before boiling? There is no inkling of this in the story but they are called Sons of Beliel. Pagans did at times drink blood.

Fat was to be burned off before the offering not consumed (also the blood drained per Deut 12 & Lev. 17). Eli’s children consumed fat. I understand that is often the tastiest’ part of a steak/stew. But it was against God’s divine order. Ok, I’m not trying to say eating a steak with some fat on it is an abomination in God’s sight. But it was a divine ordinance at the time of Eli to not do that. It was a very selfish act and improper. We can get God’s divine order through his teachings, both those of the Old Covenent and that as explained by Christ himself. Fat itself can represent abundance and plenty but also excess and indulgence. There is a fine line between having an abundance from the Lord and having an abundance apart from the Lord. You have probably heard the expression ‘keeping up with the Jones’. This can lead to coveting and indulgence. For such were the sons of Eli.

The bible is also clear about unrighteous behavior and works of the flesh keeping us from seeing the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9 & Gal. 5:19-21). I won’t go to the idea that these things will keep you from heaven, which is possible. What I will say here is that the kingdom of heaven is here, it is within you (Luke 17:21). When you continually violate God’s laws and his ways there are repercussions. Our relationship with the Divine is cut off. It may not even be a willful thing. It might even be from ignorance.

So eating the flesh and drink the blood of Christ was unlawful for any person to do; blood was to be drained off first and only priests at the properly prepared meat. No wonder many abandoned Christ after he spoke figuratively about doing this very thing (John 6:53). His blood has life for life is in the blood. His flesh is the divine sacrifice: properly prepared and eaten in a communal setting.

What form of worship do you give to pagan dieties unknowlingly. Do you worship money, fame, power, or some form of pagan entity? Return to God and he will take you back, oh forsaken spouse. Don’t leave it to your posterity to be reconciled.

Let me leave you on a high point: The believers triumphed over Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony (Rev. 12:11). Let us speak life (l’chaim) and l’chaim more abundantly.

Sources:
https://www.thetorah.com/article/ezekiels-vision-of-god-and-the-chariot
https://steinsaltz.org/daf/sanhedrin96/
https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/SacrificeandtheOldTestament#section3.1