Musings

Masters

Posted on December 15, 2013 by K. Gallagher

   

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 “No gods, no masters.” ― Margaret Sanger

In my last post, A Parable, we investigated the Hebrew word mashal found in Genesis 3:16 and 4:7 translated as rule and master. We discovered that mashal is also the Hebrew word for a parable or proverb and how maxims actually do have dominion and power for those that have ears to hear. In today’s post, I hope to take us a little deeper into this correlation.

In Chavah’s encounter with the serpent, she found the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil to be three things:

  1. Good for food.
  2. A delight to her eyes.
  3. Desirable to make one wise.

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. (Gen. 3:6)

Why did Chavah consider something that Adonai said not to eat, “good for food?” Does she believe He  is withholding something from her? Apparently, Adonai isn’t completely trustworthy in the eyes of Eve after her encounter with the serpent.

So, why did Chavah trust a walking[1], talking snake? Isn’t a serpent a created beast? As a beast, the serpent knows only what an animal is created to do. His dialogue with Chavah reveals the spirit of a beast, not a man. Anything an animal desires to do is a God given instinct. By pursuing these urges, the beast is actually being obedient to the Creator.

What are these desires? Beasts are “ruled” by the impulse to eat, sleep, procreate, and expand their territory.[2] These inborn urges drive the soul of an animal. If they see something they “desire,” they are never in disobedience by working to fulfill this want. These appetites ensure that these creatures are fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. Therefore, an animal’s teshukah[3] (desire) is its master by the design of the Creator.

Humans and animals both have a nephesh, or a soul. Therefore, we also have appetites corresponding to an animal or beast. This part of our human nature is not evil in and of itself. The Creator made mankind this way and called it very good! Without these appetites and passions, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish our primary mandate as humans: to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth.

However, unlike the beasts, we are NOT to allow ourselves to be ruled by these appetites and desires. Instead, with Adonai’s help, we are meant to master them. A human created in the image of Elohim masters his flesh or nephesh. This can only be accomplished by living by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of Elohim (God).[4] Why? Because without the Word, we are ruled by the appetites of our nephesh and are no different than a beast of the field.

If our nephesh controls our actions, are we not our own masters? Isn’t that the real temptation the serpent presents to Chavah (Eve)? By allowing the nephesh to rule, one becomes like Elohim knowing good and evil and doing what is right in their own eyes. This is pure idolatry; with self being the idol.

This is the precise problem with the second and third observations Eve had of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.(Gen. 3:6 KJV)

The Hebrew word for pleasant is ta’avah; it means to long for, desire, lust, or delight. Its root word, avah, is defined as to wish for, desire, and covet. This is the same word used in the second set of the Ten Commandments for “You shall not covet…”[5] This is not surprising; since, it is usually one’s eyes that first longs for (covets) something that isn’t his to have. This is the purpose of Adonai commanding one to wear visual reminders of His commandments.[6] One cannot trust their eyes to remain faithful.

Not by coincidence, the Hebrew word for “desired” above is chamad. While it does mean delight, desirable, and even beloved; it also means to covet. It is the Hebrew word used in the first set of the Ten Commandments where it says, “You shall not covet…”[7] What exactly was it that Chavah coveted?

“For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen. 3:5)

Chavah could be her own master. She would decide what was good and evil in her own eyes and, in effect, be a better ezer kenegdo to Adam. Margaret Sanger[8] captured this human dilemma in parabolic form with her infamous words, “No gods, no masters.” She was certain that the only “master” of a woman’s body was the woman herself. In other words, Margaret’s desire was to do what seemed right in her own eyes. She was her own master or god knowing good and evil. Sadly, this is the battle of all men and women. Who shall rule us?

By listening to the walking, talking serpent or nephesh, Chavah began to have more trust not necessarily in the serpent, but in herself. This is the ultimate deception of the serpent. He is a beast perfectly designed to be ruled by instinct or nephesh. Chavah is meant to be ruled by the Word of God. So, what happened with Adam in this story?

Unlike Chavah, Adam was NOT deceived.

…and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. (Gen. 3:16b)

The Hebrew word for with is eem. It can mean with, by, or beside. The Hebrew allows one interpretation: Adam watched this whole debacle unfold and never protested the obvious (to him) deception of his wife. Why was Adam silent? Did he trust his ezer kenegdo to a fault? Or did he realize, as Dr. Moen suggests,[9] that he had an impossible choice to make:

  1. Eve, the only perfect one; made just for me. Bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh.
  2. Elohim. LORD. Creator of Heaven and Earth.

Regardless of why Adam remained silent, his sin was exactly the same as Chavah’s. He chose his own desires and passions instead of Adonai. In other words, Adam was mastered by his nephesh just as Eve was. The difference, I believe, is that Chavah didn’t realize (at first) what was happening, but Adam did. He was not deceived. He chose Chavah, the very delight to his eyes.

Essentially, both Chavah and Adam became their own masters. Their sin was idolatry. I don’t think we realize that this is what we are doing when choose to do what we want to do or not do. We usurp the highest authority in the Universe when we decide what is good and evil. Only YHWH has the right and authority to make these distinctions. We don’t have to understand his sovereign commandments. We simply are to obey them.

The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!” (Gen. 3:4)

When we become our own god, we bring curses and death upon ourselves. Sure, the consequence may not be immediate. Adam and Chavah didn’t die… right away. This delay can only be the mercy and grace of YHWH. Sadly, when we are disobedient and nothing “bad” seems to happen, we believe the lie of the serpent and smugly think to ourselves that our DESIRE doesn’t lead to death or destruction either.

Ironically, the very thing a person ruled by their nephesh desires, to be their own master, is the very thing that enslaves them to sin and death. Meditate on that for a while…

So, what’s the parable or moral found in this story? How does this connect the two accounts in Genesis 3:16 and 4:7? What is the Creator teaching with the teshukah and mashal in Chavah and Cain’s predicaments? I hope to answer that in my next post, Slaves.

[1] I’m assuming he could walk since his curse after deceiving Chavah (Eve) would be that he would have to crawl on the ground from that point forward. Naturally, the inference is that before this encounter, he did not crawl on his belly.

[2] Dr. Hollisa Alewine, in her workbook The Scarlet Harlot, speaks to this dichotomy between the nephesh and the man made in the image of Adonai.

[3] Please see a more in-depth treatment of the Hebrew word teshukah in my series on the Biblical Role of Women.

[4] Dt. 8:3

[5] Dt. 5:21

[6] And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. (Num. 15:39-40)

[7] “You shall not covet (chamad) your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Ex. 20:17) 

[8] Margaret Sanger is the “mother” of Planned Parenthood. I believe she is a prime example of a woman ruled by her nephesh rather than by the Spirit of YHWH.

[9] Audio file: The Scriptural Role of the ‘Ezer by Dr. Skip Moen. You can purchase it here: http://skipmoen.com/products/ezer/

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A Parable

Posted on December 12, 2013 by K. Gallagher

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Proverbs 1:1-7  The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;  (2)  To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;  (3)  To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;  (4)  To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.  (5)  A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:  (6)  To understand a proverb (mashal), and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.  (7)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (NASB)

Back to the Beginning

In The Biblical Role of Women posts, we explored and compared Bereshit (Genesis) 3:16 and 4:7. These two verses are about Chavah’s (Eve’s) curse after the serpent deceived her and YHWH’s remarks to Cain before he killed Abel. If you will recall, YHWH’s statements in these verses contain some striking similarities, especially in Hebrew.

To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you.” (Gen. 3:16 NASB)

“If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Gen. 4:7 NASB)

In this post, instead looking at the word for desire, teshukah, as we did in the Biblical Role of Women, I want to explore the Hebrew word translated as rule and master. In each of the verses above, the same Hebrew word is used: moshal (משׁל). This is the verb form of the word mashal, which means proverb or parable. This Hebrew word is very interesting.

Strong’s defines the verb moshal as to rule: (have, make to have) dominion, governor, and reign. And defines the noun mashal as a sense of superiority in mental action; properly a pithy maxim, usually of a metaphorical nature; hence a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse): – byword, like, parable, proverb.

The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible defines both words together since they are cognates. Rule, dominion: The dominion one rules over. Also the comparison of things as a rule of measurement. Compare: To compare one thing to another in the sense of a rule of measurement, often a proverb or parable.

Thus, the Hebrew word for rule and dominion is also the word for a proverb or parable. Think about that for moment. How are these words related in the Hebraic mindset? Rabbi David Fohrman, in his book The Beast that Crouches at the Door,[1] suggests that the reason people tell parables is to interpret reality. In our day-to-day experiences of life, things can happen that are hard to make sense of or understand. We need something to “compare it to.” This is how a story, parable, or proverb “rules” over our experience. They point out what is important in our circumstance so that we can understand and grow. Is this not what a (good) ruler does for us? He sorts out our circumstances and directs our paths.

Proverbs 1:1-7 is quoted at the beginning of this post. Look at the words that Solomon used to describe the function of a proverb or parable (mashal) in these verses: to know, to understand, to perceive, to receive, to attain, and to increase in knowledge, wisdom, understanding, judgment, and equity. A parable opens the door for us to perceive or understand something that to us, is hidden. By relating a message in story form, the moral or lesson is left up to the hearer to discern or interpret. Is this not why Yeshua concludes many parables[2] with: “He that has ears to hear, let him hear?”

Whether a particular connection or comparison is understood also depends on what or who controls the heart of a person. At least, this is the conclusion of King Solomon in verse 7. What Solomon points out is that a person that fears Adonai can “hear” what the proverb or parable is teaching. Conversely, those without YHWH as their Master and Elohim (God), have no real wisdom or knowledge. A life devoid of the governing Word of the Creator is nothing more than the unbridled desire, passion, and appetites of a fool. In other words, what rules or controls the person is their own nephesh or soul. Are you starting to see the pattern of mashal’s integrated uses of to rule and a parable?

Solomon wants to teach his children with the authority of a proverb. This is the purpose of a parable. They contain the power (rule; dominion) to change a person’s perception of life, circumstances, and even their worldview. That’s pretty powerful! They are the lighthouses that reveal the shoreline on a dark and foggy night. Do you ever find that your “vision” is blurred by your situation? Have you ever felt that you are at a crossroads? I know I have on numerous occasions. We all need a mashal that will shift our lenses so that Adonai’s purpose and will come into our focus.

If we listen (shema) carefully, Adonai gives these mashalim (proverbs/parables) to us all the time. They definitely are found in Scripture, but they also occur in our day-to-day lives. For example, the other day I was correcting my son for the umpteenth time for something we’ve covered again and again. I was frustrated by his lack of compliance and apathetic attitude. I vocalized my disappointment by saying that all he had to do was simply obey what I said. “Why can’t you do that?” I asked.

Immediately, I felt the LORD say to me, “That’s how I feel. You do the same thing to me all the time. Why can’t you also simply obey me?” Wow, talk about feeling like a hypocrite! My loving Father used my son as a living parable to teach or direct my focus to a problem I couldn’t “hear” without this powerful comparison. If I change my actions because of this mashal, then I have increased or attained wisdom as the verses quoted above in Proverbs attest.

In the account with Eve and Cain, is there more to the proverbial story than we’ve previously conceived? Isn’t there always? We find the exact same Hebrew structure in Genesis 3:16 and 4:7. Teshukah and Mashal. Passion, desire, and appetites compared with dominion, rule, and mastering. Is YHWH highlighting something for us here in the beginning? Is there a parable that will direct us further? I hope to explore this in my next post called Masters.

[1] I have a digital version, so page numbers do not correlate properly. You can find his musings of moshal/mashal in chapter 12. The hard copy can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/The-Beast-That-Crouches-Door/dp/0983269041/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386891475&sr=8-1&keywords=the+beast+that+crouches+at+the+door

[2] Mt. 11:15, 13:9, 13:43; Mk. 4:9; Lk. 8:8; 14:35, and other places phrased slightly different.

Categories: Musings, Women | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Bohemian Rhapsody Meets Oz, the Great and Powerful

Posted on October 12, 2013 by K. Gallagher

My Recent Church Experience

A few months ago, I visited a local Christian church. It wasn’t a regular service time. I was there not for the purpose of worship or teaching, but to meet with a local charity planning committee. The church had agreed to allow us to use their facility as they are also partners in this particular humanitarian effort.

As it so happened, the worship team was in the sanctuary practicing for their Sunday worship service. We were meeting in the rather large atrium where small tables were assembled for pre-service coffee and fellowship. During our meeting, we could clearly hear the gifted voices and talented musicians caringly bellow out tunes of worship. It was as if our efforts were being joined together with a singing choir as we beseeched the King on how we could care for those in need. But then, the whole spirit changed. Literally.

Before I tell you what happened next, I must first give you a description of my surroundings. You see, it’s been a while since I’ve walked through the doors of a Catholic or Protestant church. For many years now, my family has attended home fellowships and Messianic synagogues/fellowships. Some of these have been more Hebraic or Jewish and others have been more Christian. So, perhaps I’ve been a little sheltered from the current mainstream church.

When I arrived at this particular church, the front doors welcomed me with what looked like carnival or circus carriages that housed wild animals. These were obviously props, but it was strange to say the least. When I pushed the doors open, I was astonished to find myself standing right in a very well done stage set for the Wizard of Oz! Under my feet lay the “yellow brick road”. Beside me was a giant tornado made from plastic drop cloths painted gray, black, and white that extended from the floor to the ceiling. (And the ceiling in the large atrium extended up at least 3 stories!)

My jaw must have dropped open because a young man approached me and began to explain my surroundings. I whirled around stunned by the grandeur of the display. A huge and carefully painted “Emerald City” lay before me where the meek little tables and chairs that we would soon fill were arranged. To my right was a magnificently colored hot air balloon and next to that was a giant green throne high and lifted up, obviously for Oz, the great and powerful.

I didn’t know whether to run, laugh, or cry. I reminded myself why I was there and politely took a seat at one of the tables. There, I had a view of everything that was behind me: life size black cut-outs of witches and brooms. I’m thinking, “THIS IS A CHURCH?!”

But then other volunteers began to arrive, so I settled on the task at hand. The worship team began their practice and we started the meeting. But then, what already seemed “bad” in my mind, got much much worse. The worship team stopped and then began again. But this time, they used their gifts and talents to belt out Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody!

Don’t get me wrong, I like a lot of secular music outside the setting of worshipping God. And, I admittedly have in the past sung along to the Bohemian Rhapsody. However, even in my ignorance, I could never imagine singing this song unto the LORD. (Yikes!)

My first thought was that they must be doing a parody of the song by changing the lyrics to glorify God. Boy was I wrong. Every word was annunciated with crisp clarity. Even this part:

Oh mama mia, Mama mia, Mama mia, Let me go!
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me! – For me! – For me!

REALLY? They’re really going to sing this verse glorifying Satan (Beelzebub; A.K.A. Lord of the flies) in a worship service that is meant to glorify YHWH?

My bewilderment must have been written all over my face. One of the volunteers turned to me and explained that she attends this church. Then she PROUDLY declared that they begin every service with a secular song. The week prior they had all sang a Lynyrd Skynyrd song. My expression must not have improved because she went on to explain how cool and awesome this was for new comers and truth seekers.

I began to scream… on the inside.

“Where am I?” I wondered. I drive by this normal looking protestant church nearly every day. I looked around the table. I seemed to be the only person there that was not only uncomfortable but grieved at the obvious pollution of truth. Instead of honoring YHWH the Most High and Awesome God, I found myself sitting feet away from the fictitious green throne of Oz, the great and powerful. Echoing in my ears was odes to Beelzebub. Yet, each “well meaning” Christian surrounding me was proud of this type of “outreach”.

What provoked me to write this article was a conversation in my ladies bible study this week. One of my dear friends (who had been told of my experience after it first transpired) told me that she heard that another church in our small town was also singing secular music during church services. But this case, as it turns out, is even worse. Their entire so called “worship” service is secular now. Those that want to hear real worship music can stay after service and the worship team will play for them. WHAT?!!! Play for them? Aren’t we supposed to be playing for YHWH in the first place?

So, I decided to vent today; sorry dear reader. One thing I did was look up the lyrics to the Bohemian Rhapsody. And this verse stood out as well.

Easy come easy go; will you let me go?
Bismillah! No we will not let you go! Let him go!

I discovered that bismillah means “In the name of Allah”. Wow, Queen really covered all the evil bases with this number. How many unwitting listeners (me included) have sang this song openly glorifying in one stanza Satan and Allah? I mean, is their worship team really this naïve? They had to READ the lyrics to sing the song. Even if they didn’t recognize bismillah or Beelzebub, they should have certainly known what a “devil” is, right?

So, I know you’re wondering if I called them out.
No. And here’s why. I fervently began to silently pray to the King of Kings on what He would have me do or say. What kept coming to my mind was this mantra, “I am a light, not a judge. I am a light! Not a judge!” After I left, I wondered why YHWH didn’t release me to speak my peace.

But as I meditated on the lunacy of the whole “show”, I realized that they would have never “heard” anything I had to say. Sure I could’ve propped myself up on a real high soapbox and declared my disdain and backed my proclamation with verse after verse of scripture that would prove YHWH agreed with me. But that sort of self-righteous attitude would have only proved their point. At least in their minds. Sometimes you just don’t cast your pearls before the swine. And NO, those precious souls aren’t swine. However, their actions are exactly that: mud wallowing! Very simply, they are not in place to hear — not yet.

I began a Google search on this phenomenon of secular music instead of worship music in the modern church. Apparently, it is all the rage. Opinions run high on both sides of the issue. On the one hand, people are convinced that they must bend over backwards to make those in the “world” feel right at home when they enter the church doors. If this means a little rock or pop, so be it. On the other hand, you have others that feel that this type of compromise can do more damage than good.

I must agree to the latter view. I honestly can’t believe that anyone who knows the Word and/or church history could ever condone such behavior — not in worship. That may sound harsh, and retractors are quick to bark that we are limiting God by denying this practice. Really? The Creator of heaven and earth is limited by us? I don’t think so, not even a little.

I suppose the real issue IS the heart as the retractors also claim. All that matters is the intent of our heart, right? Has anyone considered God’s heart? Do you really think He doesn’t care if you belt out tunes to satan or allah or sex or debauchery when you come to offer Him a sacrifice of praise? Somebody missed their reading of the Torah and the Prophets. YHWH does not change! He abhors mixtures, mingling of truth with lies, and unjust scales and measures. Even something He commands can become a stench in His nostrils if we do so with impure intents. Remember the serpent on the pole? What once healed the people later became an idol. And yes, it all started with good intentions.

Just because you slap the LORD (YHWH’s)/Yeshua’s name on something doesn’t make it good, right, or holy. Go and ask the Israelites about the golden calf! In their day and age, golden calves were all the rage. Everyone had seen one; perhaps they had even seen miracles take place near one. Go back and reread this account in Exodus. The Children of Israel didn’t declare the calf by another god’s name; they called it YHWH (the LORD)! Are golden calves alive and well in the church today? We are only fooling ourselves if we deny this fact.

What about Elijah? Wicked Jezebel MIXED the true worship of YHWH with the worship of Baal. So what did Elijah tell the people to do?

 Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word. (1Kings 18:21)

It’s not about what you and I like or even want. It’s about what YHWH desires. We don’t come before the King of the Universe and demand that we shall worship Him like the world or heathen nations. (Please read ALL of 2Kings 17) This behavior is the same thing as serving idols and baal. It doesn’t matter that you proclaim the LORD’s name while you do it; it is still an abomination whether you realize it or not. We don’t get to pick how we will worship God. He is the One who tells us how we are to worship Him. Doing what feels right or good to us … doesn’t mean God accepts it.

There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Pr. 14:12)

The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps. A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless. (Pr. 14:15-16)

Many people tend to forget that there are plenty of lying spirits that can make us feel good about ourselves or our practices. They can even perform miracles. The reason people are deceived is because they do not know the truth (the Word) well enough to discern error when they see it. So, because something makes them feel good, they believe it is from God or okay with Him. They forget that the real King of heaven and earth hates compromise.

Thus says the LORD, “Do not learn the way of the nations, And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens Although the nations are terrified by them; (Jer. 10:2)

Do we really think that we have to become just like the world in order to reach the lost? We might be in the world, but we are not “of” it. This church that I went to really believes that they must be like the world in order to gain the lost. They use secular music and movies as an outreach. As I sat there thinking about the vast expense and time that had been spent on the elaborate “Oz” set, all I could imagine is the impact they could have if their efforts had been centered on a biblical story. Why not use the Word to glorify God?

Now don’t get me wrong, YHWH can reach people in amazing ways and I know He does so through secular means all the time. But once we come to a so called “House of God” that is supposed to be “not of the world”, shouldn’t we expect to see a difference? Isn’t that what being holy or set apart is all about? In the verse below, Jesus (Yeshua) says the world loves their own. If the world loves us, what does that say about us?

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. (John 15:19)

But after all of this writing, I now think that this problem is really just a symptom of the disease. We have turned away from the unadulterated truth and have become a business instead of a body. It’s a numbers and profits business, not a set apart body following the Master of the Universe at all costs. What I witnessed was pure and simply harlotry. (A body that sells itself for gain)

We must pray for the masses that are falling hook, line, and sinker for a counterfeit gospel that has its cup mixed full of abominations. After all, that’s what the enemy does. He mixes truth with lies or we would never believe it. His tactics are subtle. Evil rarely appears as obvious evil. Does it really matter? In the end, are we all going to join Queen in saying:

“Nothing really matters to me. Any way the wind blows.”

  I hope not.

Categories: Musings | Tags: , , | 5 Comments

Overcome by a Rainbow

Posted on August 8, 2013 by K. Gallagher

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I can’t help myself. I have to explore the glorious rainbow a little further. I stumbled across a video on YouTube that left me speechless. The man’s reaction in the video is… contagious. His unbridled emotions upon seeing, or better yet, EXPERIENCING a double rainbow moved me so deeply that I have to extend this topic. PLEASE take the time to watch this 3 minute video and ask yourself if you’ve ever been so completely overwhelmed by God’s creation. I think the only time I’ve ever came this close was with the birth of a child.

Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI

Did you notice his question? While overcome with the majesty of God’s bow, he kept repeating, “What does it mean?” This man realizes that the rainbow was placed in the heavens just for him. He is humbled and awed to TEARS. The wonderment he experiences overcomes him completely.

While I couldn’t see this double bow in all its vividness and glory due to the camera’s limitations, this man’s response was so passionate, so worshipful, that tears poured down my face as well. While my research has deeply affected my thoughts on rainbows, this man’s response will forever be etched into my soul.

We know what the rainbow “means.” It is the sign of Adonai’s covenant with us. It is a picture of God’s glory, His majesty, His essence. But perhaps even more striking is that it is the closest thing on earth to standing in His presence at His throne!

What will our response be when we stand in His presence? I think it will be similar to this man’s reaction to the rainbow, with one exception. Our response will be far more exuberant… wow. Even those that never knew the King of Glory in this life will buckle to the ground in awe and adoration. And they will be pierced through with what it all “means” and will also be screaming, “OH MY GOD!”

Categories: Biblical Symbols, Musings | Tags: , , | 6 Comments

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