Thursday 26 February 2015

The Aleph Tav and Grace

Charitoō

I'm sure you are aware of the mystery of the Aleph Tav.

Reading the e-sword blue letter Bible (downloadable here for free), you should notice a prominent peculiarity that occurs at times in the Hebrew text - something that occurs in the Hebrew texts only and which can not, sensibly, be translated into another language.

What is this?

And, what is the significance!

Let's just remind each other that:
  • Nothing in the Bible is there just for the sake of being there. 
  • The Bible reveals God's Word. 
  • God's Word IS Jesus! 
  • All of the Bible is about Jesus. 
  • And all of Jesus is about you. His love-letter, love declaration, to you.
So, what is this mystery?

The very first verse in the Bible in the Hebrew is compiled of seven Hebrew words. Interestingly, the number seven also points to perfection and completeness - God's number. However, only six are translated. Let's look at this perfect sentence:

Gen 1:1:  
In the beginningH7225 GodH430 createdH1254 (H853) the heavenH8064 and (H853) the earth.H776
Let's analyse:
  1. רֵאשִׁית (rê'shı̂yth - In the beginning)
  2. אֱלֹהִי ('ĕlôhı̂ym - God)
  3. בָּרָא (bârâ' - created)
  4. אֵת  (Hebrew word not translated) (H853)
  5. שָׁמֶה (shâmayim - the heavens)
  6. אֵת  (Hebrew word wrongly translated as "and") (H853)
  7. אֶרֶץ ('erets - the earth)
Five of these Hebrew words can be translated into other languages to make sense and to be understandable to the reader. Omitting the center word (אֵת), the sentence is translated into the KJV English to read: 
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth
So, what is the word אֵת not translated?
... or rather, Who is אֵת?

There can be only One. Jesus!

Jesus says He is the Alpha and the Omega (Greek Rev 1:8 & 1:11 & 22:13), the Beginning and the End. Just as the first letter in the Greek alphabet is the alpha and the last the omega, the first letter in the Hebrew alephbeth is the Aleph or א and the last is the tav or ת.

The אֵת occurs in numerous strategic places in the old testament and always points to Yah'shua, Jesus Christ.

So, where do we find the first mention of Jesus in the Bible? In Genesis 1 verse one, perfectly aligned to John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

With this bit of background, why don't we scroll down further into history to witness God's great mercy and Grace as spoken by Himself?

In Exodus 32 Moses, upon him and Joshua descending mount Sinai having received the law, hears the festivities of the nation of Israel worshiping the golden calf they had just made for themselves. Realizing that they had contravened the first commandment against God even before he, Moses had presented it to them, he instructs the Levites to slaughter their brothers, contravening yet another of the commandments as 3000 Israelites fell on that very same day.

The worst thing about the golden calf is that God's people once again exercised their choice not to go into relationship with Him. 

However, Moses offers to make atonement for them with God. He pleads with God to forgive their sins and not to leave them. God agrees with Moses, but promises that He would visit the sins of those who sinned in the day. What day?

My friend, there was a day and a Person appointed. It is referred to as the awesome and terrible day of the Lord. That day happened when our Messiah was nailed to the cross and where a final victory was achieved over sin and death!

But even here in Exodus 32 God does not even want us to guess! He tells us in no uncertain terms in the very last verse:

Exo 32:35:  And the LORDH3068 plaguedH5062 (H853) the people,H5971 becauseH5921 H834 they madeH6213 (H853) the calf,H5695 whichH834 AaronH175 made.H6213 

Let's read the verse by virtue of our position in Christ, knowing that we are positioned this side of the cross and taking into account the revelation of the אֵת Himself:

It says: "And YHVH plagued [smite, struck, inflicted] the people ...

How?

The very next word (not translated) says how and Who:

(H853) אֵת

He smote Jesus for the people!

The next word, because, is better translated "Who"

... upon Who they made (H853) אֵת [Jesus] the calf [the only true Offer - pictograph: see lifted up Shepherd]

When put together: "And God smote the people in Jesus upon Who they made the offer, the Light-bringer provided"
.
Oh, glory to God! Even back then God promised that He would be made sin for us so that we may become the righteousness of God - a God, a good Shepherd of mercy and grace, ... patient and full of goodness and truth!

HalleluYAH!

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