2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
In yesterday’s message, I alluded to the “Rock” with a capital “R” when citing excerpts from EX 17: 8-16, the story of the war between the Israelites and the Amalekites. Many Christian theologians join me in recognizing this frequent use of the word, “rock,” in the OT as incidents of the presence of Jesus Christ. Naturally, traditional Jews would dispute this, but I believe that is because the veil has not yet been lifted from their eyes that keeps them from knowing the true identity of the Messiah. That veil will be in place only until all the Gentiles who will answer God’s call to faith have done so [RO 11: 25]. We have considerable Scriptural support for the notion that certain people in the OT are archetypes (types or figures of) Jesus Christ in addition to what I believe is Christ’s actual appearance in the OT. 1 COR 15: 45, “For the Scripture [GN 2: 7] says, ‘The first man, Adam, was created a living being;’ but the last Adam [Christ] is the life-giving Spirit.” This is wholly in keeping with the concept of the Trinity-one God in three persons. So, Dear Ones, it is not a lot of mumbo-jumbo for us to see both the actual presence of Jesus Christ in the OT and a number of people in the OT who are archetypes of Christ. This is true even through the story of His incarnation does not appear until the book of Matthew at the beginning of the NT.
Our Jehovah Nissi, the “Lord Who is my Banner,” lifts high His ensign (flag) for us to see as we fight in the battles of spiritual warfare with which we are faced. Jehovah Nissi reminds us that He is there to guide, encourage, and equip us to go to victory as long as we will keep our eyes focused on Him. Let’s look at citations that support this concept. I have often related the story of God commanding Moses to construct a standard with a bronze snake on it. Moses is to hold this high so it could easily be seen by the people. NU 21: 8, “Then the Lord told Moses to make a metal snake and put it on a pole, so that anyone who was bitten [by poisonous snakes the Lord had sent in response to the grumbling and complaining that had been going on] could look at it an be healed.” Of course, God is Jehovah Rapha here, but He is also Jehovah Nissi. The point behind all of this is for the people and us to realize that we need to keep seeking God out when we are in trouble and learn to trust and obey Him. He is there for us. The question that we must each ask in our own lives is: Do we realize that and act on it? This important story is referred to by John in the NT too. JN 3: 14-15, “As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” How very appropriate that this comment should follow the story of the respected Pharisee, Nicodemus, who served on the Sanhedrin (Jewish court and council of religious leadership), coming under cover of darkness to Christ’s roof! That is the meeting where Christ teaches this man what it means to be born again in the Spirit [JN 3: 3-13].
Does the mental picture of a bronze snake lifted high for the people to see and be healed, that same standard that symbolizes the medical profession (called the “caduceus”), fascinate us when we see it as the foreshadowing of Christ’s death on the cross? When Christ gave His life on the cross and His blood was spilled for us, the pathway to healing, reconciliation with God, and our salvation was made open. Wow! That blows me away! Christ on the cross is Jehovah Nissi at work!
One more story convinces me that God has been trying since mankind’s earliest history to get the message across of our need to look to Him. God in all His three persons has been right with us all along. The people wandering in the desert were thirsty and had been bitterly complaining about it when they reached Massah and Meribah [Hebrew words meaning “testing” and “complaining”]. EX 17: 5-6, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Take some of the leaders of Israel with you, and go on ahead of the people. Take along the stick with which you struck the Nile. I will stand before you on a rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.’ Moses did so in the presence of the leaders of Israel.” Striking the rock can be compared with the death of Jesus Christ; the Rock is smitten for us! While the Israelites had cool, refreshing water to drink, JN 7: 37-39a makes it clear what we can have for coming to Christ. “On the last and most important day of the festival Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice, ‘Whoever is thirsty should come to Me and drink. As the Scriptures [EZK 47:1 & ZECH 14: 8] say, ‘Whoever believes in Me, streams of life-giving water will pour out from his heart. Jesus said this about the Spirit, which those who believed in Him were going to receive.” 1 COR 10: 4 clarifies the significance of the water from the rock that the Jews drank. “[They] drank from the spiritual Rock that went with them; and that Rock was Christ Himself.”
PRAYER: O Lord, You lift high Your banner for us in so many ways. You have patiently done this from the very beginning of our history. Our lives have gone on with You present at every turn. You have shown Yourself to us in all of Your three personalities and in every context imaginable. Repeatedly, You have delivered Your loving, compassionate, wise, and consistent message to us. Sometimes with was through Your prophets, sometimes through NT writers, sometimes through Your word, and sometimes directly to us in prayer. I do not know why it has taken us so long to learn. I only know that we must! Today, we approach You in humility to dedicate ourselves to recognizing how blessed we are by Your sovereignty over our lives and our crucial need to turn to You for the guidance, encouragement, correction, healing, and other needs that we have. Christ on the cross suffering the consequences of all mankind’s sins is Your Banner held high, for us to see and be healed. He is the Banner that allows us to be victorious in the spiritual warfare we must fight. It is from Him that we can obtain life-giving water that will flow from our hearts. He is our Rock and our Refuge from the evil around us. Our adoration, worship, loyalty, glory, honor, praise, and thanks are offered to You without condition, for they are what You deserve. In Christ’s name, amen.
Tomorrow, we will look at citations that allow us to see how truth and the Spirit are manifestations of Jehovah Nissi. Our Lord loves each of us enough to be our Banner. His love includes extraordinary patience and compassion, compassion enough to sacrifice His only begotten Son on the cross, so that we might know salvation. How inadequate my words are to describe this love! I never get tired of thinking about it and recognizing it as a Banner before us to help keep our eyes focused on Him, even when times are difficult for us. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn