Footsteps of Messiah
The Good Beast
In last week's newsletter, we examined the Four Craftsmen: Elijah, King Messiah, Malchitzedek, and the Anointed One [Mashiach] of War.” 2§29 These four craftsmen from Zechariah 1:18-21 will rebuild Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem. There was some disagreement among scholars as to the identity of the four craftsmen, and we looked at different ideas. The disagreement over the Four Craftsmen might be because at least three could be aspects of the same person. Consider this from Revelation:
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.” (Re 19:11)
This would merge the aspects of Malchi-tzedek (king of righteousness), Mashiach (judge), and the Mashiach of War. Zechariah goes on to prophesy of how this rebuilding will occur:
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Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” And behold, the angel who had been speaking with me was going out, and another angel was going out to meet him. And he said to him, “Run, speak to that young man there, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited as open country because of the multitude of people and cattle within it. But I,’ declares the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire to her on all sides, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” “You there! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “because I have spread you out like the four winds of the heavens,” declares the LORD. “You, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.” (Zec 2:1-7)
Jewish tradition says that Messiah is "concealed in the North." Apparently, the implication is that those scattered among the daughter of Babylon in the four winds have an affiliation with the North and Messiah. When the tribes return, it will be to take their places in Jerusalem according to the ancient plan prophesied by the Israelite encampments around the Tent of Meeting in the wilderness by their divisions.
The description of the “invitation-only” Jerusalem matches the Jewish sages view of the Clouds of Glory and the fiery pillar that protected the four directions of the Israelite encampments in the wilderness.
The serpent tried to swallow Israel when she left Egypt, but instead, Pharaoh's army was swallowed at the Sea of Reeds and went down to the Abyss. This was foreshadowed when Moses' serpent-rod devoured the magicians'. Israel continued into the wilderness to be tested before she entered the Land of Promise.
Rabbi Yoḥanan says: If you saw a generation whose wisdom and Torah study is steadily diminishing, await the coming of the Messiah, as it is stated: “And the afflicted people You will redeem” (II Samuel 22:28). Rabbi Yoḥanan says: If you saw a generation whose troubles inundate it like a river, await the coming of the Messiah, as it is stated: “When distress will come like a river that the breath of the Lord drives” (Isaiah 59:19). And juxtaposed to it is the verse: “And a redeemer will come to Zion” (Isaiah 59:19). [Sanhedrin 98a]
Once Israel had received the Torah at Sinai, the serpent pursued Torah study to destroy it, even to the wilderness, for the wilderness was where the tribes learned to encamp in those four divisions that corresponded to the angels of the four winds. They were to be partners with the Divine in order to harmonize the contrary nature of those four winds that produce turbulence in the earth.
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And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent. And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. (Re 12:13-17)
The serpent still does not give up on stamping out Torah study! Israel found out that when they rebelled, the serpents bit them. Lack of Torah study attracts serpents; Torah study and obedience is repellent. In fact, it becomes armor for the offensive against the serpent. The sages view “My dove in the cleft of the Rock” from Song of Songs 2:14 as Israel:
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“Toward Me, they are as innocent as a dove, but toward the idolatrous nations of the world seeking to undermine their devotion to Me, they are as clever as serpents.” (2§30)
In the wilderness, the serpents attacked rebellious Israel. A redeemed and sanctified Israel will instead attack the serpent, a prophecy of the division of Dan camped in the North, the “hiding place” of Messiah.
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2:14 “My dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding place of the mountain pathway. Let me see how you look, let me hear your voice; for your voice is pleasant, and you look delightful.”
The strength of beasts is to withstand the attempts of idolators to turn Israel from the path of the commandments. They must be wise as a serpent and have the “beast” ferocity and tenacity without BEING the beast. According to the sages, Genesis 3:1 is prophecy that Israel will be able to give wise and sometimes stinging answers to the words of idolators, even kings. They will be wiser than the serpent and beasts of the field. This is one explanation of the “sweet voice” of the dove. 2§30
As an example, they cite Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego’s response to King Nebuchadnezzar when they were commanded to bow to the golden image of the beast. Even though they had Babylonian names,
- “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego responded and said to the king, ‘Nebuchadnezzar, we are not worried...Behold, our God Whom we worship is able to save us; He will rescue from the fiery, burning furnace and from your hand.’” (Da 3:16-17)
The sages ask, “If he is called the king, then why is he called Nebuchadnezzar, and if he is called Nebuchadnezzar, then why is he called the king? In effect, they were saying, ‘If it is with regard to taxes, head-taxes, and produce-taxes, then you are king over us, and we acknowledge your authority.’ Thus it is written to the king Nebuchadnezzar.” 2§30
BUT...
When the king demands that a Hebrew bow to an idol [commit spiritual immorality], then he is just “Nebuchadnezzar.” A man with a name like anyone else, not “King Nebuchadnezzar.” In such a case, the man is to be regarded as no more than a raging dog’s bark:
Nebuchadnezzar [Nevu-kad-netzar] נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּר
“he barked’ – navach
“a bloated jug” – kad
“like a shrieking tzartzarah bird/cricket” - natzar
This is the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove, who seeks salvation only from her Creator. It knows how to answer with a clever turn of phrase and act [or not] without violating the express commandments of Elohim. They are smart like a serpent, yet for the cause of obedience, not rebellion. In the matter of the meat and wine, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego negotiated, offering an alternative rather than simply rebelling.
There is a time to recognize and obey earthly authority, and a time to reject and disobey it:
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“I counsel you: Obey the king’s command and alongside the matter of an oath of God.” (Ec 8:2)
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“That is, you should obey the king’s command as long as it does not conflict with the Torah that you have sworn to God to uphold.” 2§30
Now, full context from NASB:
Who is like the wise person and who knows the meaning of a matter? A person’s wisdom illuminates his face and makes his stern face brighten up. I say, “Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God. Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.” Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, “What are you doing?” One who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure. (Ec 8:1-5)
In other words, a believer is not to build a reputation as a rebel or trouble-maker for just any cause. Our examples from Babylon were men of good reputation, known as problem-solvers instead of rebels. They sought the good of Babylon when its laws did not contradict Divine laws. This is what made their testimony at their refusal to bow to the image of the golden beast all the more powerful!
These Hebrew doves were born to proclaim a testimony before the King of Babylon and all the nobles and governors of the age. If they had a reputation as rebels already, the king likely would not have even offered a do-over. Instead, the Hebrews realize that this is what they were born to do: refuse to bow to the king's image at a moment in history when they would have the ears of the entire kingdom! No one listens to a person who is constantly yelling and refusing, but when otherwise dependable, loyal, and helpful people refuse, seeds of change are planted even if, as the Hebrews said, EVEN IF they die in the furnace.
This example is the basis for the model Yeshua cites, to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. Wise toward serpent idolators, harmless to their Creator. Obedient to laws of the king, yet disobedient when a law transgresses the laws of the King of Kings. This creates the most powerful testimony:
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“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves. But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
- But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking in you.
- Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. (Mt 10:16-23)
It sounds as though these serpent-dove testimonies are still happening in the world, for Yeshua has not yet returned. Yeshua is the Living Word. To testify to him is to testify to the Father and all truth. As Jeremiah wrote to the Jews in exile in Babylon, obey the laws of the land so that your life can prosper and continue as a long-lived testimony. When you arrive at that moment in your life for which you were born, when you must say, "My Father is able to save me, but if he doesn't, I still will not disobey Him in this matter," then you have understood the voice of the dove in the cranny of the Rock Yeshua.
Eventually, you may encounter a law in direct conflict with the Word. If you have been as “harmless as a dove” to this point, pursuing peace, then your testimony before kings, religious leaders, civil leaders, and all other persons of authority will be even more powerful. You have not built a reputation as a rebel, defying all authority, but as one who recognizes the authority of the levels of government in his life.
As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were given a second chance, you will receive favor because of your good reputation. Your refusal will be a most powerful testimony. Only in regard to a choice between the king and the King of Kings will you rebel like a perceptive serpent. Your final words will be a prayer of salvation to the only One Who can save.
- Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people. Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. (1 Pe 2:13-17)
This is foundational to understanding the "beast" prophecies of the Tribes of Israel. "Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, 'Assemble yourselves, so that I may tell you what will happen to you in the days to come.'” (Ge 49:1)
- “Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion, who dares to stir him up?”
- “Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds.”
- “Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned viper in the path, that bites the horse’s heels, so that its rider falls backward.
“Indeed, all the twelve tribes are compared to fierce beasts. To the idolatrous nations of the world, they are like fierce beasts.” (2§30)
- “Naphtali is a doe let loose; he utters beautiful words.”
- “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, and in the evening, he divides the spoils.”
- “Joseph has the majesty of a young bull; he has the horns of a wild ox. He will gore distant nations, driving them to the ends of the earth. This is my blessing for the multitudes of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh.” (Dt 33:17)
Whether we speak the beautiful Words of the Torah like Naphtali to idolators or rise up like a lion or wolf, as Yeshua said, don't worry about what you will say before kings and authorities. The Ruach HaKodesh will put the words in your mouth at that time. Don't be offended, but understand that your Covenant testimony of spiritual circumcision is humbling the idolatrous nations no matter what happens to your mortal body, for yours will be resurrected immortal, while the idolators' will not. Your "Moses serpent" of the Torah will devour their word sorcery.
“The Midrash elaborates with regard to Israel’s dual nature: It is because the idolatrous nations of the world wage war with Israel, saying, ‘What gain do you seek from keeping the Sabbath and from observing circumcision?’ And therefore, the Holy One, blessed is He, strengthens Israel, and they become fierce as beasts before the idolatrous nations in order to humble them before the Holy One, blessed is He, and before the people of Israel.” (2§30)
- Of Gad he said, “Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad; he lies down as a lion, and tears the arm, also the crown of the head. (Dt 33:20)
- Of Dan he said, “Dan is a lion’s cub; he leaps out from Bashan.” (Dt 33:22)
“God grants them the strength of beasts to be able to resist the attempts of the idolators to sway them from the paths of the Torah and the commandments.”
This is apparently connected to Israel’s covenant vow:
“Everything that HASHEM has spoken,
we will do and we will listen to.” (2§30)
Don't be afraid of your moment. The Ruach is preparing you to rule and reign with Messiah at one of the twelve gates of Jerusalem. He is building you for that very moment so that your testimony will resound through eternity. Your eternity in Jerusalem is protected with a wall of fire, so when the time comes, roar, howl, hiss, and leap high over those mountains. Idolators are just barking and screeching. You're not one of them. Until your moment, measure out your words and deeds wisely.
We do plan to live stream more Footsteps on YouTube on Shabbat at 4:00 pm Eastern.
SHABBAT SHALOM!
