Month: May 2021

Moldy Bread, Tepid Water

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn InspirationLeave a comment

We are disciplined by the Father because He loves us (Heb. 12:6). No one, that I know of, enjoyed or enjoys parental correction. Yet, we know that the correction, in the wisdom of hindsight, is for our good.

There have been many, many times over the years that I’ve gone to sulk in the inner chambers of my heart when things were not going as hoped, expected, or even fairly, whatever that means. I’d take my Bible and search for a promissory verse to point to, and say, “This is what You promised, not this out there.” Hey, at least I’m honest.

At some point, body and soul got tired of adversity, tired of affliction, and I wondered if I was even walking in the way of the Lord. Hey, yes, transparent.

Then words of a verse began to come to mind, bits and pieces; but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Slowly I put it together, to the best of my recollection. Then opening the Word, I found it, and read it.

“And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (Isa. 30:20-21).

Ouch, “the Lord gives.”

What is it that He gives? לֶחֶם צָר/lechem tzar/ bread of adversity, or, the bread of the narrowing way. And, וּמַיִם לָחַץ/u’mayim lakhats, and the water of affliction/pressure.

“The Lord gives.” These three words changed my mind. The trial was the bread/food of narrowing, along the narrow way. While the water, the pressure that narrows.

When we come to faithful terms with that realization, our teachers will not be hidden from us, as we will see how the Lord is using circumstance to change us, and draw us, again, to Himself.

Rather than the voice of the enemy saying, “You are not favored by God,” the voice of the ministering angels say, “No, this is the way through the valley, keep walking.” Right. Left. He will work it all together for our good, because He loves us, and has called us; and He is conforming us to the image of Yeshua/Jesus (Ro. 8:28-29).

The bread of adversity does not taste good; and the waters of affliction do not satisfy. Yet, they are given by the Lord, and are therefore good, in order to lead us deeper into Himself, out of reliance upon the world, to a position of faithing where the impossible happens (Matt. 19:26).

At His feet, the bread is the hidden manna given by Yeshua (Rev. 2:17), and the water, well, that flows from beneath His throne (Rev. 22:1). Amen.

Meditation:

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matt. 7:13-14).

Be well. Shalom.

The Horse Whisperer

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn Inspiration1 Comment

Many years ago I read a book about horse trainer Monty Roberts, The Man Who Listens to Horses. Working with animals at the time, his approach fascinated me.

Often a very stressful endeavor for both horse and human, Roberts “listened” to horses by observing their body language, applying natural, and postural communicative pressure; in effect, speaking their herd language, and quickly accomplishing what often took many hours and days: introducing bridal, saddle, and rider to a horse.

Humility.

In Numbers 12:3, in this week’s Torah reading, the Lord testifies regarding Moses, when accused by Miriam and Aaron:

Numbers 12:3:

וְהָאִ֥ישׁ מֹשֶׁ֖ה ענו מְאֹ֑ד מִכֹּל֙ הָֽאָדָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה

“And the man Moses was very humble, above all men that are on the face of the earth.”

Translated “humble,” עָנָו/anav, in this context, means to “bow down,” not in a sense of forced submission or subjection, but the bringing of will and strength into alignment with the greater will, that of the Shepherd.

If we were to apply our ideas of humility to Moses, we may wonder what the Lord is seeing that we are not?

Moses was a man of great strength, and mental acuity. He led Israel. He instructed Israel. He rebuked Israel. Yet, all his faculties, in their fullness and without diminishment, were strengths under control by the will of the Lord; and in that way Moses served Israel.

Going Deeper.

In Matthew 5:5, Messiah Yeshua/Jesus taught:

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5; cf. Prov. 37:11).

The Greek translated above as “meek,” πραΰς/praus, can be rendered as either humble or meek, which for many suggests a weakened, gentle or timid disposition. The text, however, may be taking us in a different direction.

The root of πραΰς/praus, means strength under control. In Ancient Greek literature it first appears in a book about taming horses, specifically for war. The horse, full of vigor and power, was taught to be meek, receptive to direction, and obedient to that direction; a taming and refining of its wild disposition.

Meekness is not necessarily to be gentle or reserved in temperament; rather, it is the harnessing of strength, in every respect, in a controlled manner in alignment with the will of God, preparing one to be used by Him.

To be meek, or humble in the manner described above is to recognize limitations, authority, the value of others, and tending to the prudent and necessary, albeit uncomfortable action.

It takes strength to be a humble servant, as paradoxical as that may seem; strength, not arrogance or self-assertiveness.

Taught in meekness by the working of the Holy Spirit, Messiah says the meek will have a portion in the earth, which is to say that they are sharing in the original purpose of man – tending the Father’s creation, now in faithfulness (Gen. 2:15).

Meekness is not weakness, as they say; it is strength controlled under the direction of the Father’s will, as He speaks to us, and draws us, from our uncontrollable wildness, to Himself, then prepared and sent out to a wild world.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily (with the vigor of life) as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:23-24).

Be well. Shalom.