The ἐκκλησία/ekklēsia, meaning “out called assembly,” often translated as “church,” was nothing new in the Ancient Greek world when the Apostolic Scriptures were written. They were a regular part of life in cities, towns, and villages.

The ἐκκλησία/ekklēsia, out called ones, were brought together by someone calling out, like a town crier. He would summon together those hearing, to himself. The ἐκκλησία/ekklēsia were those surrounding him.

In this assemblage all manner of public business was attended to. It was not at all an unusual sight.

Numerous times the apostles remind us that we have graciously been called to Messiah, as Paul writes, “among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ (Ro. 1:6; cf. II Thess. 2:13-14; II Tim. 1:9; I Pet. 1:15; 2:9; 3:9; 5:10).

Messiah called those whom the Father had given to Him out of this world (Jn. 17:6). The calling, and assembling, the ἐκκλησία/ekklēsia, was not accidental or of human achievement. It is the result of the sovereign, and gracious call of the Father.

Yet, unlike the Ancient Greek ἐκκλησία/ekklēsia, out called assembly, who departed in much the same way that they arrived, those called out to Messiah, surrounding Him, are conformed to Him, sent out with His message, and encouraged:

“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (Matt. 16:15-17).

With all that we face today, we must remember that we have been called to He who overcame this world, and in that calling, we will not be overcome, as the gates of hell will not prevail (Ro. 8:28-29), even when we face apparent setbacks.

Be well. Shalom.

I love the sunshine; probably most of us do. I also like the occasional cloudy, rainy day. But the morning sunshine breaking through the window, welcoming me to the day, is a special beauty in life.

Noah faced a season of rain, and in Genesis 7:1, the Lord says to Noah:

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה לְנֹחַ, בֹּא-אַתָּה וְכָל-בֵּיתְךָ אֶל-הַתֵּבָה

“And the Lord said to Noah, “you and all your house, come into the Ark.’”

Having built it exactly as directed, he is called to enter: “Noah, leave nothing of yourself outside, but come in.” It was as if the Lord was calling Noah to Himself, inside the Ark, to where He was; and He did.

In Genesis 6:16, the Lord commands Noah to make a צֹהַר/tzohar, a window or light opening, to allow light, air, and life in the Ark.

The Ark was a living space; a living space needs windows: an opening allowing natural light in for the health and well-being of those inside.

The Ark would not be dank, dark, and dreary; it would have light for those safely inside. There would be light for those called into the Ark.

As Yeshua/Jesus is contending with some Judean leaders in John 5, He says:

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. And yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life” (Jn. 5:39-40).

The Judean leaders searched the Scriptures looking for life, looking for the key to open the door to eternal life in the Word. As Yeshua points out, they failed to see the Word before them, who opens and closes the way in; as He is the door, the way, the truth and the life (Jn. 14:6; cf. Gen. 7:14). They did not allow for the window in the Ark to light the inner space of the Word.

The Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Hasidic movement of Judaism, noted regarding the word תֵּבָה/tevah, Ark, that not only does it mean ark or box, but in rabbinic Hebrew it means word, as in the Word of God.

The Baal Shem explained that the Lord, in Genesis 7:1, was calling Noah to enter the Word, to be fully immersed in it, leave nothing of himself outside of it, but remember to make space for the sunshine; allow the light and life in, otherwise he would remain in darkness.

We learn from the Apostolic Scriptures that Yeshua is the Word made flesh (Jn. 1:14); in whom we are delivered; in whom is the light and the life; and into whom we enter by faith (Jn. 1:4-5).

To enter Him we leave nothing of ourselves outside; giving ourselves completely to Him, the life we have searched for, shines before us. He opens our minds to understanding the written Word that point us to Him as the living Word, by shining His light through the window of the Ark, the Word (Lk. 24:27; cf. Ro. 10:4).

Be well. Shalom.

In Numbers 15:37-41, the children of Israel are commanded to affix צִיצִית/tzitzit/fringes to the corners of their garments. The fringes were a remembrance of the Lord’s commandments, a warning not to go after that which is alluring to the heart and the eyes, a covenant identity marker, but also threads to reach out and draw in.

Fruit hanging on a tree is both part of the tree and separated from it. Fruit originates with the tree, and is nourished by it, but it reach out from the branch. The Hebrew word צִיצִית/tzitzit/fringes originates from a root meaning blossom. The fringes, therefore, are potential fruit coming forth when acted upon in faith. The fringes then, hanging from the garment, blur the line of distinction between the garment they are affixed to, and the world beyond it.

The fringes both remind, identify, and draw in.

In the Gospels we find those with all manner of affliction reaching out to touch the “hem of His garment,” meaning the צִיצִית/tzitzit/fringes, affixed to the corners of Yeshua’s clothing, to be healed (Matt. 9:20; Mk. 6:56). They reached out to His faithfulness, and the promise that the “servant of righteousness will arise with healing in His wings” (Mal. 4:2), “wings” being the same word as “corners” in Hebrew.

The fringes reminded and drew in, not that Yeshua/Jesus needing reminding, but those seeing Him were reminded that the same God who commanded the fringes was faithful to fulfill His word. Yet, they also drew people in, as they noticed the fringes hanging affixed, yet apart from the garment into the space around them. In that space between they were drawn in, and as Yeshua said:

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jn. 6:44).

How did the Father draw those, His covenant children, to Yeshua? The blossoms bearing His fruit of righteousness that changed those who looked up to, and reached for the garment of Yeshua.

Here, the strings attached were not for our detriment, as is the usual case in our world; rather, they were the promises of grace to those called before they knew their need. Reach out, taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8).

Be well. Shalom.