9.25.24 ~ Separated: A Sign to the Nations

 Good morning!

Commercial: Last night's zoom call: The bridal garments: the 24 ornaments so we don't appear naked in His presence pt. 1

Prior to the standing/netzavim angelic visitation Abraham received a covenant when the lamp/lapid passed/avar between the pieces (Gen. 15:17).

Just as the lamp passed between the pieces, the Israelites are told they are standing/netzavim in order to pass/avar and set into place/natzav the Covenant. It's an active process of putting oneself into that position. Literally, you're standing with intent; standing for something so you don't fall for everything. When one takes a stand under the Tree of Life and leans on the Tree of Life, then he or she begins to avar/cross over to the Garden.  It's as if Abraham was living with one foot in his world and one foot in the garden (Josh 5:15). Hence, he was called the first Hebrew/ivri (Gen. 14:13; Jn. 8:39).

Based on Abraham's life we can see that being a Hebrew/ivri, one who crossed over is an active life of faith where one leans on God's Word, the Tree of Life. At his call to circumcision, Abraham was told: "I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless. I will make/natan My covenant between Me and you..." (Gen 17:1-2)

God wanted Abraham to leave his past behind, trying to fulfill the covenant in the power of his flesh (Gen. 16), so that God could actively make/natan His covenant with him (Gen. 17:1,2; 1:14-19). Circumcision is more than a cutting of the foreskin. It's a call to a mature lifestyle of leaning on the Tree of life for guidance (Prov. 3:5,6). And by imitating the wisdom that comes from the Tree of life, while imitating Yeshua, we faulty human beings can be "made to stand" (Rom. 14:4). We can lean upon the Word for support.  We can serve others as we grow in perfection/maturity (1 Jn. 2:3-6).

Which leads us to a 'Sherlock Holmes' question: Why are the stars connected to Abraham (Gen. 1:14-19; 15:5; 22:17)?

Just as Moses assures the Israelites in Netzavim that the Covenant is being established with those standing there and even those who were NOT standing there, which includes us (Deut. 29:14,15), the stars established the covenant of Abraham's children even before they were born (Gen. 15:5)! Glory to the One Who declares the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:10).

Have you ever asked yourself the question, 'why did I desire the truths established in Torah? Shabbat? The Moedim? All the commandments that teach me how to love God and man? Could it be that you were a wandering star that was called back to stand in your orbit and walk around the tree (Gen. 1:14; Isa. 42:6,7)?

Just as the day and night, light and darkness were separated, God has separated you to be a sign to the nations where you can walk between the realms of heaven and earth. The stars aren't here for mere zodiac signs, they are here to be a sign/oth pointing to the appointed times/moed of God's prophetic plans. They were placed with intention long ago to be witnesses to the Covenant, just as God's people were placed with intention long ago to be witnesses to the Covenant.

After his self circumcision, Abraham was waiting for the opportunity to show hospitality (Gen. 18). What is the root of hospitality? It's seeing past the fallen condition of those who journey past us, while seeing the potential of that person longing for a ray of light in the darkness.

In spite of the natural pain of placing ourselves in the Covenant, we lift our eyes to see that it is the opportunity for life and goodness that the Father has intentionally stood before us.  Sooner or later, someone will stand at our door so that we may minister to him.  Don't let him...or Him...pass us by today (John 8:39).

Happy 4th day of the week!

Shalom

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