Daily Bible Reading - July 8, 2017

Today's Reading:

Mark 14:32-72

1 Kings 9

Hosea 11:1-11

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Thoughts and Commentary on Today's Reading  

In Hosea 11:1, we find that Yahweh calls His people out of Egypt:

"When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called My son out of Egypt."

Since the passage refers to God's people as "Israel", it is easy to miss the current meaning of this verse, thinking only of its literal application long ago. Yes, Yahweh literally called the Children of Israel out of physical Egypt. He led His people through the Wilderness, all the way to Canaan.

We may see ourselves as insignificant spectators, merely observing Yah's power. But, there are no “wall-flowers” in this conflict. We are all being called into Yahweh’s Army! Trusting in Him, what we will become is beyond all imagination! We will fight the battle, in His Power–but make no mistake–if you are among the saved, you will be in the thick of the conflict!

As my mother and I share in our series of Called to Canaan books, the process of calling Israel out of Egypt is one which applies both to the journey of ancient Israel, from Egypt to Canaan, and to the spiritual journey of the End-time children of God. This connection between literal Israel and the final saints was first explained by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:1-12.

1 Corinthians 10:1-12 "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples (examples): and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."

When he wrote 1 Corinthians 10:1-12, Paul was not writing to Jews. He was writing to a mixed multitude in Corinth, composed of both Jews and Gentiles who had accepted Yahshua as the Messiah. And this God’s Standard Operating Procedure, for Moses also led a mixed multitude to become the congregation of Israel. 

In spiritual parallel, Egypt symbolizes this world with its lusts and ungodliness. Canaan symbolizes the ultimate Promised Land. And the journey is the process of taking us our of slavery to sin (bondage in Egypt) to Eternity with God.

Numbers chapter thirty-three provides the listing of Israel’s forty-two campsites, faithfully recorded by Moses. As 1 Corinthians 10:11 explains, the camp experiences in this list are the tests which the people of God will face in the End of the World.

Everything about this Wilderness Journey, even the numbers, holds great significance. The Bible record that there were 42 camp locations in the Wilderness is not just an interesting historical fact, rather it is a message bearing deep spiritual Truths:

·   As we have already stated, from Egypt to Canaan, a total of 42 campsites, with their related lessons and tests, are listed by Moses (in Numbers 33).

·  Yahweh’s sealing Name, translated into the KJV Bible as “I AM THAT I AM,” is 42 letters long in Hebrew:

אב”ג ית”ץ קר”ע שט”ן נג”ד יכ”ש בט”ר צת”ג חק”ב טנ”ע יג”ל פז”ק שק”ו צי”ת

·  Forty-two is also the number indicating the duration of the final Antichrist’s reign. Signifying the extreme testing God’s people will face in their confrontation with the Antichrist. (Revelation 11:2; 13:5). 

·   Forty-two is made up of 6x7. Six is the number signifying man’s failure and weakness. Seven is the number of Yah’s perfection and strength. Thus 42 reveals the keys to Sanctification and Victorious Christian living.

·  Two bears came out of the woods and slew forty-two young men, who were showing disrespect to Yah and His servant Elisha (2 Kings 2:24). Thus we see a connection between the number 42 and Divine Judgment.

·   The phrase 'little children' appears forty-two times in the Old Testament, connecting the message of 42 with the process of becoming sons of the living God.

·   Minus the 6 cities of refuge, the tribe of Levi was given 42 cities as part of their inheritance in the land of milk and honey. (Numbers 6 – 7) This  reveals a connection between the faithful priesthood and their Heavenly Inheritance.

·   Matthew records 42 patriarchs in the genealogy of Yahshua, connecting 42 with the Everlasting Covenant. 

·   “The  Life” as referred to in John 14:6, occurs 42 times in Scripture, the first being the record of the angel guarding the way to the Tree of Life. This reveals that 42 signifies everlasting Life, and the steps one takes to regain it.

·   Showing the Covenant, there are 42 lines in each column of Torah text.

·   Being the very heart of the Torah and the root system of all Truth, it is significant that the Torah text known as the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-6) is 42 words in Hebrew.

·   Psalms 100, a praise to the Creator God’s most exalted Name, contains 42 words.

·   Deepening the connection to the Sealing Message of 42, one must note that there are 42 days between the last day of Unleavened Bread (the time of getting sin out of the life) and Pentecost (the infilling of the Holy Spirit, or the Latter Rain, and the final Sealing).

·   The deceiver tries to mimic the significant things of Yahweh, for we see that Balaam offered 42 sacrifices trying to curse Israel (Numbers 23:1, 14, 29). However, it is notable that Israel could not be cursed by the 42 – signifying God’s eternal of blessing and Covenant.

·   Forty two is connected with Light, specifically being the Light of the World. We see this in that it is the sum of the Menorah parts (knobs, flowers, and branches) Exodus 25:31-40.

The number forty-two and its significance in the life of Israel, the Messiah, and our personal lives being groomed for Eternity, all come together in the final drama.

The early camp lessons deal with belief, loyalty, submission and a life-style of faith in the Covenant relationship you have entered with Yah. Firmly establishing the prior foundation matures the believers, preparing them to recognize and combat the all-out spiritual warfare battles of the final camp tests. 

This is the period of the “roaring lion seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). For this, we need to prepare and be suited up for battle in the Armor of God. Preparation is vital, for you won't be watching from the grandstand!

You are the "son", also known as Israel (the spiritual seed of Abraham), who is called out of Egypt.  To you are the promises made! How goes your journey? Have you come out of Egypt? Praise God if you have! But we can't stop at just getting out of Egypt. The next step then is to get Egypt out of us! Shalom!