1.13.25 ~ Have A Coke And A Smile
Good morning!
I’m gonna take two days to look at a couple of very important verses in Genesis 49, from last week's Torah portion, Vayechi/and he lived.
“His eyes are red from wine, and his teeth are white from milk“ (Gen. 49:12)
What’s interesting is the Hebrew word phrase from milk/m'kawlav can also mean more than milk/m'kawlav. Therefore, just as we saw some symbolism in yesterday's study with the sword and bow, prayer and supplication, we can read the verse as follows.
Judah's eyes are dull from wine and his teeth are white more than milk.
Huh? Why would this verse emphasize this quality from Judah (Rom. 2:29)? Actually, and memorably, it's a major teaching point that I experienced by many of the Iglesia Mana Del Cielo congregation...teeth being white more than milk is a Hebrew idiom for greeting one another with a smile. When it comes down to the essence of life, this may sound strange, but, smiling at another individual is more important than even feeding him or giving him milk to drink.
While I was doing a Q&A with the college students and young adults in Florida, I asked them how could the water flow out of the garden of Eden to water the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:10)? The answer is, there are two gardens of Eden; one above in the heavenly realm and one on the earth (Isa. 14:12-21; Eze. 28:11-19). If you want a VIP pass into the garden of Eden...if you want to go in the front door and not the back door...then make other people happy with your genuine smile. Show them the whiteness of your teeth! If you want to be a 'Torah Giant' let the joy of your heart show in your smile (Deut. 28:47; 12:7-12; 16:11; 1 Tim. 6:17-19; Isa. 28:9; Ex. 3:9), that is a VIP living for the Kingdom; not misusing milk ( Ex. 23:19; 34:26; Num. 16:13; Deut. 14:21; Rom. 12:2); Even the world system knows this very well...do you remember: "have a coke and a smile..."
Job said, "It's been a rough day, but I'll put off my sad face and put on a smile" (Job 9:27).
A smile doesn't take away the pain, but it does make the pain easier to bear! It doesn't take away the suffering, but it does fill the situation with hope. A smile says, 'I care.' It says, I'm glad to see you and you make my day a whole lot better. It's how my eyes light up when I see someone I couldn't wait to see...it's how God's eyes light up when our eyes meet with His gaze...yep, it's a giddy moment (Num. 6:25)!
In my personal life and in Pirkei Avot, the ethical teachings of the Fathers, there are at least 3 non-negotiables:
Daily study of Scripture and prayer
Speak little, do much (2 ears, 1 mouth, use in proportion)
Receive all men with a pleasant expression (aka smile!)
Why would Israel, aka Jacob, give a comparison of white teeth and milk? Why not white like snow or white like fine twined linen or white as wool or white as a puffy cloud or white as a Crayola Crayon?
When Scripture refers to milk, it makes us think of the most basic form of human nutrition for the first 3 years of our lives (Gen. 21:8; Lev. 19:23-25; Heb. 5:12-14; 1 Pet. 2:2; Song 4:11). A baby drinks from its mother to develop good healthy bones, strong muscles and a sensitive nervous system. Though the TV commercial says 'got milk'...with the only one really benefiting is the Dairy Association :-)...God says, for best spiritual development we need milk and that's where I'm taking you; the Land of milk and honey (Ex. 3:8, 17; 13:15; Num. 14:8; Jer. 33:22).
The Torah, the 1st five books of the Bible, are what nurture our healthy development with the milk of the word (1 Pet. 2:2). It's as essential to the human condition as making the people in your life know they are 'knee-ded' (inside joke :-). Every person needs to feel needed, appreciated, accepted and loved...the basic 'milk' products of life. Everybody needs to feel that, somehow, they’re accepted. Somehow they’re approved. And the easiest way you show approval is with the most basic form of life...greet people with a friendly smile and they'll know you're connected to Judah (Rom. 2:29).
When I think about you, I can't help but smile! You just have that effect on me (Num. 6:25).
If your smile is filled with the love of God, you'll make the whole world smile with you; without the catabolic effects of a coke :-)
Shalom!
Commercial: One week from now I'll fly to Honduras for 10 days. Prayer appreciated!
“His eyes are red from wine, and his teeth are white from milk“ (Gen. 49:12)
What’s interesting is the Hebrew word phrase from milk/m'kawlav can also mean more than milk/m'kawlav. Therefore, just as we saw some symbolism in yesterday's study with the sword and bow, prayer and supplication, we can read the verse as follows.
Judah's eyes are dull from wine and his teeth are white more than milk.
Huh? Why would this verse emphasize this quality from Judah (Rom. 2:29)? Actually, and memorably, it's a major teaching point that I experienced by many of the Iglesia Mana Del Cielo congregation...teeth being white more than milk is a Hebrew idiom for greeting one another with a smile. When it comes down to the essence of life, this may sound strange, but, smiling at another individual is more important than even feeding him or giving him milk to drink.
While I was doing a Q&A with the college students and young adults in Florida, I asked them how could the water flow out of the garden of Eden to water the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:10)? The answer is, there are two gardens of Eden; one above in the heavenly realm and one on the earth (Isa. 14:12-21; Eze. 28:11-19). If you want a VIP pass into the garden of Eden...if you want to go in the front door and not the back door...then make other people happy with your genuine smile. Show them the whiteness of your teeth! If you want to be a 'Torah Giant' let the joy of your heart show in your smile (Deut. 28:47; 12:7-12; 16:11; 1 Tim. 6:17-19; Isa. 28:9; Ex. 3:9), that is a VIP living for the Kingdom; not misusing milk ( Ex. 23:19; 34:26; Num. 16:13; Deut. 14:21; Rom. 12:2); Even the world system knows this very well...do you remember: "have a coke and a smile..."
Job said, "It's been a rough day, but I'll put off my sad face and put on a smile" (Job 9:27).
A smile doesn't take away the pain, but it does make the pain easier to bear! It doesn't take away the suffering, but it does fill the situation with hope. A smile says, 'I care.' It says, I'm glad to see you and you make my day a whole lot better. It's how my eyes light up when I see someone I couldn't wait to see...it's how God's eyes light up when our eyes meet with His gaze...yep, it's a giddy moment (Num. 6:25)!
In my personal life and in Pirkei Avot, the ethical teachings of the Fathers, there are at least 3 non-negotiables:
Daily study of Scripture and prayer
Speak little, do much (2 ears, 1 mouth, use in proportion)
Receive all men with a pleasant expression (aka smile!)
Why would Israel, aka Jacob, give a comparison of white teeth and milk? Why not white like snow or white like fine twined linen or white as wool or white as a puffy cloud or white as a Crayola Crayon?
When Scripture refers to milk, it makes us think of the most basic form of human nutrition for the first 3 years of our lives (Gen. 21:8; Lev. 19:23-25; Heb. 5:12-14; 1 Pet. 2:2; Song 4:11). A baby drinks from its mother to develop good healthy bones, strong muscles and a sensitive nervous system. Though the TV commercial says 'got milk'...with the only one really benefiting is the Dairy Association :-)...God says, for best spiritual development we need milk and that's where I'm taking you; the Land of milk and honey (Ex. 3:8, 17; 13:15; Num. 14:8; Jer. 33:22).
The Torah, the 1st five books of the Bible, are what nurture our healthy development with the milk of the word (1 Pet. 2:2). It's as essential to the human condition as making the people in your life know they are 'knee-ded' (inside joke :-). Every person needs to feel needed, appreciated, accepted and loved...the basic 'milk' products of life. Everybody needs to feel that, somehow, they’re accepted. Somehow they’re approved. And the easiest way you show approval is with the most basic form of life...greet people with a friendly smile and they'll know you're connected to Judah (Rom. 2:29).
When I think about you, I can't help but smile! You just have that effect on me (Num. 6:25).
If your smile is filled with the love of God, you'll make the whole world smile with you; without the catabolic effects of a coke :-)
Shalom!
Commercial: One week from now I'll fly to Honduras for 10 days. Prayer appreciated!
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