Then Came the Morning to the Life of Job

This is an interesting and to us a controversy story about a just and blameless man under a test proposed by Satan to God. He was from the land of Uz. He possessed a host of sheep, camels, oxen, donkeys and a very great body of servants (Job 1).  He feared God and shunned evil. He was a wealthy man, but not one prideful and selfish. His life was always a light to his world. God took notice of it and said to Satan: “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and abstains from and shuns all evil; and still he holds fast his integrity although you moved Me against him to destroy him without cause” (Job 2: 3). At Satan’s request, God allowed him to touch Job with the death of his family, destruction of his proprieties and disease on his entire body. As a matter of fact, he was disfigured beyond imagination. To that his friends lifted up their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and they cast dust over their heads toward the heavens (Job 2). Job used a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself, and he sat down among the ashes. His ordeal continued for a long time. His wife suggested him to renounce God and die. In time, his friends from pity to the pointing of the finger, blamed him for his situation.

The time of his illness became a debate time among Job and his friends. He defended himself by saying, “Surely, I wish to speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue and reason my case with God” (Job 13:3); “though He will slay me, yet will I wait for and trust Him”. (Job 13:15). “Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and He who vouches for me is on high” (Job 16:19); “Oh, that there were one who might plead for a man with God and that he might maintain his right with Him as a son of man pleads with or for his neighbor” (Job 16:21); “I was living at ease, but [Satan] crushed me and broke me apart; yes,  he seized me by the neck and dashed me in pieces; then he set me up for his target; his arrows whiz around me. He slashes open my vitals and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground; he stabs me making breach after breach and attacking again and again; he runs at me like a giant and irresistible warrior; I have sewed sackcloth over my skin and have defiled my horn in the dust” (Job 16:12-15).

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The Glory of the Gospel in YAHSHUA’S Face Overwhelmed the Glory of the Law in Moses’ Face

(Exodus34:28-33; II Corinthians 3:10-18)

“Shekinah Glory is a visible manifestation of God on earth, whose presence is portrayed through a natural occurrence.  The word shekinah is a Hebrew name meaning “dwelling” or “one who dwells”.  Shekinah Glory means “He caused to dwell,” referring to the divine presence of God.  It is the majestic presence or manifestation of God in which He descends to dwell among men.  Whenever the invisible God becomes visible, and whenever the omnipresence of God is localized, this is the Shekinah Glory.”

Ref:  Christianity.com, What is the meaning of shekinah glory Biblestudytools.com, The abiding presence of God.

When our Lord and Savior came to earth as a baby, a bright star shone in that dark night announcing His birth. That was a very special star. The Magi of those days well understood the meaning of that star and took years traveling to meet the King that star was pointing to. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, (the shepherds) and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them and they were terribly frightened; but the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord! (Luke 2:11). The Shekinah Glory of the Gospel is YAHSHUA incarnated, bringing forgiveness to all who will receive Him as Lord and Savior- as the Son of God. John testified about Him and cried out, This was He of Whom I said He Who comes after me has priority over me, for He was before me. For out of His fullness, we have all received one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift, for while the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through YAHSHUA Messiah. (John 1:15-17).

When God came to mount Sinai, in His holiness, He came to establish the law with all its demands and consequences to covenant with Israel. The Bible says, Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, for the Lord Descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like that of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. (Exodus 19). God showed Israel His holiness, as never they had seen before. He said to Moses, Write these words, for after the purpose and character of these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel; Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he ate no bread and drank no water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.  When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tables of the testimony in his hand, he did not know that the skin of his face shone and sent forth beams by reasons of his speaking with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone and they feared to come near him…Afterword, all Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all the Lord had said to him in Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. The Israelites saw the face of Moses, how the skin of it shone; and Moses put the veil on his face again until he went in to speak with God (Exodus34).

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America, in the Hands of a Righteous God

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually, and the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved at heart; so the Lord said I will destroy, blot out, and wipe away mankind, whom I have created from the face of the ground- not only man, [but] the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air- for it grieves Me and makes me regretful  that I have made them (Genesis 6). However, Noah was found righteous before the Lord; he and his family were saved from the flood which destroyed the entire earth. Many years of Noah’s warning the people of the coming judgment from the Lord, didn’t turn their hearts to God. Consequently, God destroyed everything, man, vegetation, and animals through a great flood. He preserved the animals, which came to Noah on the last days before the flood came. After Noah and his family, together with the animals entered the ark, the rain started to fall; people assembled together to plead with Noah to open the ark; Noah then answered them with a loud voice, saying, “Have you not all rebelled against the Lord, and said that he does not exist? Therefore, the Lord brought upon you this evil, to destroy and cut you off from the face of the earth” (Jasher 6:18-19).

The Bible says that the Lord is longsuffering and compassionate. Amazingly so! Reason why the world has not been destroyed. Time and time again, God sends prophets, preachers, and messengers to warn of coming judgments, so men will repent and be saved from the destruction. He spared Nineveh, an Assyrian wicked city at the last moment, in which more than 120,000 persons did not know their right hand from their left, and also many cattle (Jonah 4:11). God was concerned even for His creation as in the animals, not accountable for sin. Sodom and Gomorrah and other cities became exceedingly wicked before the Lord.  They provoked Him through their abominations; their wickedness was great before the Lord. The time came when the Lord rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heavens. He overthrew, destroyed and ended those cities, and all the valley and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But God saved Lot and his family by removing them from the path of the city’s destruction.

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There Is a Refuge in Praise and Worship

The word refuge, among many other definitions, has a spiritual meaning in which we submerge in faith seeking God In our troubled days. It is also a physical place where we can hide from enemies in times of wars, coming our way. Psalm 46:1-3 says, God is our refuge and strength, a very present and well proved help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, through the earth should change and though the mountain be shaken into the midst of the seas, though its waters roar and foam, through the mountains tremble at its swelling and tumult. God, as our refuge, is impenetrable. Nothing is stronger and greater than He is. A lighthouse from a distance assures us of a refuge, well built, with a light that illuminates the areas of danger. As a matter of fact, YAHSHUA is our lighthouse. Praise and worship were the way that God instructed the Israelites to fight their battle against three countries, as in the Moabites, the Ammonites, and with them the Meunites while Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. Battling fear and uncertainty, he determined to seek God by proclaiming a fast in Judah. He prayed, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In Your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand You. Did not You, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before You people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend?” (II Chron. 20:1-7).

As the nation of Judah sought the Lord for deliverance, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel and he said, “Hearken, all Judah, you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat. The Lord says this to you: Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down to them, Behold, they will come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the ravine before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You shall not need to fight this battle; take you positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord, [Who is] with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Fear not nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you…” After consulting with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise Him in their holy garments as they went out before the army, saying, GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD; HIS MERCY AND LOVING-KINDNESS ENDURE FOREVER. As soon as they started singing, the Lord set ambushments against the men of Amon, Moab and Mount Seir (II Chro. 20:1-22). As King David, so Jehoshaphat, followed His steps and found refuge in the presence of the Lord; praise and worship offered to the Lord saved them from a multitude of enemies, who had come to destroy them. “God inhabits the praise of His saints.” In no way will He forsake them in their destresses as they seed Him with worship and adoration. The army of the Lord is powerful when God goes before them. The weapons of praise and worship to Him will take over the enemy, be it anything that disturbs our peace and health.

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The Past Remembered Through Twelve Stones

When Israel left Egypt under the leadership of Moses and his brother, Aaron, they were a multitude of people of which God created a nation for Himself. The first challenge they faced was the Red Sea in front of them, the Egyptian’s army behind and mountain. They all constituted challenges of great proportion, impeding the journey planed by God. Moses, however calmed them saying, “Fear Not; stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest”. (Exodus 14:13-14).  All through their journey to the Promised Land, Israel experienced the supernatural, for God’s plan was going to be completed amidst all their troubles. From the parting of the Red Sea for them to go through on dry land, to water provided through the rocks to satisfy their thirsty, to food falling from heaven, called mana; for forty years their clothes and shoes did not wear out; they experienced the presence of God on Mount Sinai, when He Himself came down and touched the mountain, to covenant with them, leaving the mountain wrapped in smoke; Israel heard His audible voice and feared Him greatly (Exo. 19). Those were forty years God used to make a nation out of them, a nation like no other nation, whose God was their King.

Psalm 78 gives a report of Israel’s journey through the desert, God’s provision and their rebellion against Him. Psalm 107, the psalmist calls to attention the need for us to give thanks to the Lord, as He reminds Israel of God’s goodness in all Israel’s pilgrimage through the desert to the Promised Land. Verse 20 we read, “He sends forth His word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction; OH, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men” (20-21). At the end of his life, Moses predicted Israel’s faithlessness. He said, “For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days because you will do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands (Idolatry)” (Deut. 31:29). Israel provoked Moses at the water of Meribah and quarreled with the Lord. Moses struck the rock twice instead of one time he was commanded to do. For that, he was not allowed to lead the people into the promised Land. (Deut. 20:10-13; 3:23-28).

Twelve stones of remembrance served as a testimony “that the hand of the Lord is mighty and that you may reverence and fear the Lord your God forever.” (Josh. 4:21b). Stones are silent witnesses of the present and the past. Israel’s pilgrimage left enough behind to be remembered. These stones would remind them of all the Lord had done for the nation for their children to know. They had arrived at the end of the road that would take them to the place promised many years ago. Their lives will now change; for they arrived home. Now they were given land to own and establish their lives with their families. A nation now they were considered. With these twelve stones reminding them, for sure that they would not forget their God. These stones remained pointing to them all the blessings of the past. However, they followed after other gods, as Moses prophesized. They were without excuses to forget forty years of experiencing miracles after miracles, and supernatural miracles.

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I, the Lord, Have Spoken

The emphasis in this phrase, “I. the Lord, have spoken” is strong enough for us to consider the veracity of the Bible. In the beginning of all things, while creating the world, It was His spoken word that brought existence to what He commanded be created. And so, it was that the world was created in six days and on the seventh, He rested. He was pleased with all that He had created. He had only to speak and the power of His words brought life and form in everything that He created. At the command of the Lord’s voice all subjected to Him. There was sun light to govern the day and moon to govern the night; Man was created in God’s image; and a beautiful garden was provided for him to live in and tend to. “When the Lord speaks the word that He will speak and the word that He shall speak shall be performed; it shall be no more delayed or prolonged, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and will perform it, says the Lord God.” The spoken word of God is powerful to perform that which He sends it for. Isaiah 55:10-11 says, “For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens and return not  there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me  void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it”. The Bible says, “He Who promised is reliable and faithful to His word” (Heb. 10:23b). The Lord spoke to Jeremiah and said, “I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it” (Jer. 1:12b). That confirms that the written word of God is alive and powerful to perform His purposes and fulfills His promises.

The voice of the Lord thunders in power and might; it causes the ocean to rise in judgment. When He came down to Mount Sinai it was wrapped in smoke, for the Lord descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like that of a furnace and the whole mountain quaked greatly; as the trumpet blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with a voice (Exodus 19:18-19). Then He spoke to the people of Israel in covenant with the nation, by giving them the ten commandments. They were all afraid when they perceived the thunderings and the lightenings, and the noise of the trumpet and the smoking mountain, and as [they] looked they trembled with fear and fell back and stood afar off (Exodus 20:18). Thunderings, lightenings, trumpet sounding, all represented the voice of the Lord in His  holiness and power.  Nor men, neither animals could stand at the foot of the mountain to face the physical presence of God, because of what nature became after sin entered the world. Sin, without a doubt, changed man and nature, causing them to be afraid of God and be separated from Him.  “Hear, oh, hear the roar of His voice and the sound of rumbling that goes out of His mouth! After it His voice roars; He thunders with the voice of His majesty, and He restrains not when His voice is heard. God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend” (Job 37:2-5). The letter to the Hebrews gives us a warning concerning our lack of zeal for the word of God: It says, “Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest, that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience, for the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life and spirit, and of joints and marrow, exposing and sifting and analyzing  and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart, and not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked and defenseless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:12-13).

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The Valley of the Shadow of Death

What does the Valley of the shadow and death mean to us? Surely that it does not sound inviting in its adjectives of the shadow of death. We find this term in Psalm 23:4: “Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” These are words of trust and confidence in the shepherd. Although, the Hebrew word for “shadow of death” means darkness, the root word for both shadow and death is the same. YAHSHUA, as our Shepherd, knows the way out of a valley, as well as the dangers of it. He stands tall to protect His own from the danger found in the valley of the shadow of death.

A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains, which will typically contain a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams over a very long period. Some valleys are formed through erosion by glacial ice. These glaciers may remain present in valleys in high mountains or polar areas shield. (Wikipedia)

Valleys display beautiful surroundings in spite of its dangers. The valleys we go through are difficult and challenging, for they are the valleys of life. It is the place where we feel alone in our trials; as YAHSHUA experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane. Not one of the disciples would pray with Him.  He promised that He will be with us always to the end of time. The Bible says that He fills the entire world. There is no place where He is not. “Where could I go from Your Spirit? Or where could I flee from Your presence? If I ascend up into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol behold, You are there; if I take the wings of the morning or dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall You hand lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me” (Ps. 139:7-10). And, “Am I a God at hand, says the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? Says the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? Says the Lord?” (Jer. 23:23-24). While we walk the valley of suffering, even though overwhelmed by the feeling of loneliness and depression, it is good to draw near to the Lord. Sometimes, it seems He is far away and is not hearing our voice; and that’s when doubts take our mind; we suffer anguish and torment of the soul.

The Psalmist Asaph once said, “Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? Have His mercy and loving-kindness ceased forever? Have His promises ended for all time? Has God abandoned or forgotten His graciousness? Has He in anger shut up His compassion?” (Ps. 77:7-9). YAHSHUA, in the valley of abandonment from His Father cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1). Alone in the valley of suffering, separated from His heavenly Father for the first time, YAHSHUA carried the sins of the world, which darkened the way to the Father. That was the valley of death of hell. God’s presence will never be there. But YAHSHUA had to go through to pull us out of it, in order to rescue us from the power of eternal death and Satan.  Every time, we go through the valley of suffering, let’s remember that we are not alone. We may feel that way, which is normal for humans to feel in the presence of hopeless situations, since we are flesh and demand to see things that we can touch. However, faith mingled with hope opens our spiritual eyes and there in the midst of sufferings, we feel peace. It is the peace that comes from the presence of the Lord standing there with us.

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Rejoice in Hope; Be Patient in Suffering; Be in Constant Prayer

(Romans 12)

In the days of the early church, Christians suffered tremendous persecution. They worshipped God in caverns, and lived there, too. Their lives were always in danger of death. Those were the days when confusion of beliefs penetrated the churches, as we see today in the Catholic Churches. Constantine is partly responsible for that, when he made Christianity legal, interacting his pagan practices into the Christianity faith. Seemly, people followed the idea, leaving the Christian faith tainted with paganism to this day. When Paul wrote this, he had much to say concerning persecution and suffering for the faith, for he himself was one of those who suffered severe persecutions. A very difficult thing to do in suffering, is to be patient. I know that Paul took suffering well so that he could write what he wrote to the Romans. However, suffering due to persecution for the sake of the Gospel, it should be an honor to all Christians, as we see in Stephen’s death. The Bible says that while they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, Lord YAHSHUA, receive and accept and welcome my spirit. And falling on his knees, he cried out loudly, Lord, fix not this sin upon them! (one of them was Paul). And when he had said this, he fell sleep (in death). (Acts 7:59-60).  Paul said, Rejoice in hope. Hope that things will get better; rejoice in the hope that God will deliver us by answering our prayers, or rejoice in the outcome of our faith – eternal life with YAHSHUA.  Peter said, For one is regarded favorably if, as in the sight of God, he endures the pain of unjust sufferings What kind of glory [is there] if, when you do wrong and are punished for it, you take it patiently? But if you be patiently with suffering when you do right and that is undeserved, it is acceptable and pleasing to God. For even to this were you called. For Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His footsteps; He was guilty of no sin, neither was deceit ever found on His lips. When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] When He was abused and suffered, He made no threats; but He trusted to Him (God) Who judges fairly (I Peter w:19-23).

YAHSHUA said, Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me; (John 14:1a); In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but of good cheer! For I have overcome the world. (John 16:33b). The secret of being patient in suffering in found in faith and hope – hope in the written promises of God.  Patient is a word that many of us have not grasped its true meaning. To be patient, is to be mistreated without retaliating, or complaining; it is waiting for God to show up and take vengeance on our enemies. The word patient means to bear or endure pain, trouble without complaining, losing self-control, refusing to be angry (Webster dictionary).  The Patriarch Job in his sufferings, often showed to trust God. We do not know how long was his ordeal, but we understand that was long and terrible. In spite of been counselled to “curse God and die,” he took a stand of faith and rebuked his wife for suggesting that, saying, You speak as one of the impious and foolish women would speak. What? Shall we accept good at the hand of God and shall we not accept also misfortune and what is of a bad nature? In [spite of] all this, Job did not sin with his lips (Job 2:9-10). That speaks to me of “patient in suffering.” Job was not suffering for any evil doing of his own. God put him to the test to show Satan how righteous he was. I do not know if he ever understood that, or even knew it, but patient in his suffering, he overcame and was blessed more that the first time. Suffering for the sake of our Lord and Savior, must be an honor. Although, very painful and difficult to keep the faith, our hope in Him will cause joy to flow, considering the outcome of our suffering for YAHSHUA will be heaven. As Paul said, I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in un and for us and conferred on us! (Rom. 8:18). Paul, a faithful minister of YAHSHUA suffered much persecution for the love and hope and faith in God. He was amazing in his stability of faith, and died as a martyr for the cause of the Gospel of YAHSHUA Messiah. In the letter to the Romans, he wrote:  For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Messiah, or it is God’s power working unto salvation to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Rom. 1:16).

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There Walked the Man Who Had Been Dead All Wrapped Up in Burial Cloths

This is a beautiful event in the life of Lazarus, but not only in his, but also, in the lives of all Christians, because it is prophetic in its meaning. It gives us the picture of the hope we have in our Lord and Savior, YAHSHUA Messiah, for it speaks of the Blessed Hope- “the glorious appearing of YAHSHUA Messiah, our great God and Savior, Who gave Himself on our behalf, that He might redeem us from al iniquity and purify for Himself a people eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds” (Titus 2:13).  When YAHSHUA called Lazarus out of the grave, He was giving a future picture of the time when He will call His saints out of this world through a “cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God.” (I Thess. 4:16). YAHSHUA had to call the dead by name, otherwise, through the resurrection power expressed in YAHSHUA’S command, many would have risen with Lazarus.  That coming glorious day was pictured then in the resurrection of Lazarus. “Your dead shall live [O Lord]; the bodies of our dead shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For Your dew [O Lord] is a dew of [sparkling] light; and the earth shall cast forth the dead [to life again; for on the land of the shades of the dead, You will let Your dew fall]” (Isaiah 26:19). Our names will be called on that day, when the trumpet of God will sound its blast.

It had been four days since Lazarus had died and buried. Martha, without hesitation, at the command to take away the stone that close the entrance of the cave where Lazarus was buried, exclaimed, “But Lord, by this time he throws off an offensive odor, for he has been dead four days!”  YAHSHUA then said to her, “Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe on Me, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:39-40). YAHSHUA’S affirmation and question move our hearts today to ponder on the meaning of His words. Believe in God is a verb that causes Him to reward us with a life of peace and in the future, eternal salvation. Believe is imbedded in faith and hope that moves mountains in our daily living; is the word that opens our eyes to see the glory of God been manifested while here on earth. Moses pleaded with God, “Show me your glory.” God’s action toward his request was, “I will make all My goodness pass before you…” (Exodus 33:18-19a). The glory of God is His goodness; Every day His glory is manifested to us in many ways we do not recognize. That day for Martha and those present who did not believe in YAHSHUA’S resurrection power, saw the glory of God shone through Him. The glory of God broke open Lazarus’ tomb and brought him out of the dead into the living. Every eye present saw it and marveled at His power, but still remained incredulous, with blindness that kept them in darkness. God’s goodness shone clearly also in YAHSHUA’S prayer before He brought Lazarus forth from the dead. He prayed to His Father, saying, “Yes, I know you always hear and listen to Me, but I have said this on account of and or the benefit of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You did send Me. When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out! And out walked the man who had been dead, his hands and feet wrapped in burial cloths, and with a napkin bound around his face. YAHSHUA said to them, Free him of the burial wrapping and let him go” (John 11:42-44). This is a beautiful picture of when we will be undressed of our mortal body to the immortal one. Paul said, “For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable, and this mortal [part of us] must put on immortality; and when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then shall be fulfilled the Scripture that says, Death is swallowed up in and unto victory; O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (I Cor. 15:53-55).

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It Was at the Cross Where Judgment and Mercy Met

In the Garden of Eden, the first judgment was pronounced to our parents for their disobedience to God. Sin, spreading to Adam’s and Eve’s children, their first son committed the sin of disobedience, as in his offering of fruits and vegetables to the Lord, instead of offering Him a lamb, as was commanded. And as a result, he committed murder by killing his brother. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.” Life is in the blood. The lamb was pointing to the Son of God, Who was to come in the far future as the Lamb of God to be sacrificed to redeem the world with His blood. There is life only in the blood. And the blood of YAHSHUA never dies, never lost its power to save and give life to all who seek Him. Cain misrepresented God’s future plan; he in his pride, offered of what he represented, not what God commanded him. It is when one tries to be saved through his own effort, disregarding the Word of God. The Bible says that we are saved by grace; it is not based on our work, it is a gift from God, and this gift was His Son, Who sacrificed His life, so we can live eternally with Him.  God pronounced judgment to Cain and for the rest of his life he was a wonderer. (Gen. 4:11-12). God said to Cain, and now you are cursed by reason of the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength; you shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth. A wonderer, Cain became separated from the rest of his world as a result of his disobedience and homicide.

Throughout the Old Testament, we read about God’s judgments on His people because of their practices of infidelity against God’s covenant “You shall have no other gods besides Me.” The Lord God takes very seriously the sin of infidelity. In Ezekiel 14:13-14,20 it reads: Son of man, when a land sins against Me by committing a trespassing and I stretch out my hand against it and break its staff of bread and send famine upon it and cut off from it man and beast, even if these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they would save but their own lives by their righteousness, says the Lord God… Though Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, as I live says the Lord, they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would but deliver their own lives by their righteousness. To transgress is to act contrary to God’s law. It is infidelity to the covenant God made with them, through the law, which requires both parties for its validity.

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