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Footnotes:
1Ephesians 2:6
2B’reisheet 1:26
3Romans 5:14-15, &
1 Cor. 15:22-28
4Matthew 15:24
5Colossians 2:13-15
6Revelation 21:7 |
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Each of us suffer from it in some way or another. Many are paralyzed by it, while others tolerate it and go on with life. Speakers deal with it on a regular basis and are taught that it will cause a fight or flight syndrome. It is a motivational tool used by many to provoke the masses into action; and, it is the a leading cause for millions’ adverse behavior toward others, particularly, actions and even breakdowns emotionally, mentally and physically. The it that we are referring to is fear.
Fear has so much power over us, mainly because we give fear that power. HaSatan/the devil uses the spirit of fear in our lives to take advantage of us at any given opportunity we allow him. Our enemy uses the fear of not having enough or the fear of getting hurt. He plants thoughts within our minds of being lonely or being overwhelmed; the adversary plants seeds of perversion and disobedience seducing us away from the reverential fear of YHVH.
Let us break this down a bit. We as free-will moral agents make choices throughout our lives. Selecting the fear of man is one of the largest obstacles that is placed in our lives which keeps us away from the love of YHVH. Torah speaks about Ya’akov leaving the land of his father, Isaac to go back to the land of his mother’s in Haran. This is due to several things, but one main reason to leave so quickly was the apprehension of Esau. Esau had sold his birthright and then Ya’akov rightfully takes the blessing of that birthright for himself. Obviously, Esau is incensed and consoles himself with thoughts of revenge, retaliation and murder. Whether or not Ya’akov left home only once or came back and left again, we do know that he took with him that dread of being sought out and punished for his actions.
From Esau’s point-of-view, Ya’akov took advantage of him and deprived him of his birthright. Esau believed that he had a right to take revenge and get what was rightfully his back from Ya’akov. Once convinced in his own mind that he was right and the victim of the situation, he would be sure to seek his revenge.
Often, bullies start out by a false impression through gossip or hearsay about them; or the offense of an unintended wrong. Yet there are many cases where someone has intentionally tried to hurt someone, either physically or emotionally, which provokes rage and retaliation. The case is very similar of people who are looking for ways to cheat and scheme for their personal gain and advancement. When caught in the act or denied the pleasure of being deceitful or getting their own way, the person become emblazed in anger with self righteous behavior. That anger develops into a consolation of seeking revenge on the originator so that the hurting will be eased and the anger soothed by satisfaction knowing that the offender is now in pain.
Esau was greatly hurt by his own actions and by the supplanting of Ya’akov. However, Ya’akov was entitled to take Esau’s place, as Esau sold his birthright to Ya’akov for stew. His appetite for earthly satisfaction robbed himself of the position of power in the next generation. He would not have the right to represent the entire family, he would not have the right to obtain the firstborn’s inheritance and he would not have the right to receive the priestly blessing of being the first born son. Yet, in Esau’s mind, he did not associate that bowl of red stew for all of these cessations. He still felt entitled to all the blessings and possessions belonging to the first born.
Subsequently, while Ya’akov may have taken deceitful action against Isaac and Esau, he was walking in obedience to his mother. Rivkah is the one that instigated the whole thing by telling Ya’akov to take this action to acquire the firstborn’s blessing. Ya’akov was also being governed by the Ruach haKodesh as the chosen righteous seed and as a successor to Issac. In contrast, the dread of his brother takes any of the joy that could be had in the moment of blessing and turns it into a fear that would endure Ya’akov for twenty years.
Esau could have conspired quietly, and consoled himself within his heart. It could have been a secret that someday, he would avenge his pain and even kill Ya’akov. But that is not the case. Either Esau confides in Rivkah or he is ranting to others in the household so that his plans are laid bare. This, again, is YHVH’s plan for his chastisement to prepare the preservation for Ya’akov. It is a trepidation that overtakes him to leave his home in search for safety and his eventual marriage(s). This fear is what YHVH brought about that Esau intended for evil but it was worked for Ya’akov’s good. The fear of Esau is partly responsible for the entire twelve sons of Israel and the meeting of YHVH in Bethel and at Peniel, as well as the meeting of the angels at Mahanaim. This fear has turned Ya’akov back to YHVH to return home and face Esau, but only with YHVH’s protection. Ya’akov knows that he cannot face down this fear and prevail over his brother without help from on high.
When Ya’akov sends all of his possessions over the Jabbock and waits throughout the night, he is interceding for intervention. That is exactly what he receives by wrestling with the “man”. Not only does he wrestle the man, but he prevails as to receive another blessing and a name change. Ya’akov learns a valuable secret in his walk with YHVH, not to let go. No matter what the odds are, not matter how much it hurts, he was not going to let go of the man that had so much power in his life.
This is what bolsters his faith to meet Esau. It has taken twenty years of coming to grips with his destiny in YHVH ensuing the humility and servitude that transforms Ya’akov into Israel. Now he is ready to meet his avenging brother, face to face. However, it is not the meeting he had dreaded, but a reunion of a family member coming back. A wiser Ya’akov that would not be taken advantage of, but rather would be the leader in what would take place by not going to Seir, and not being deceitful about why he would take his own time to do what he pleased. The bully was disarmed and the umbrage no longer had power in the lives of Ya’akov or Esau.
Likewise, haSatan is greatly offended by us who have been redeemed by Messiah, the first of born of YHVH. He resents our entitlement to take his place in heavenly places in the throne room of Adonai.1 Ezekiel 28 describes the adversary as the cherub who covers, then goes further to describe the ways in which the adversary fell from his heavenly position. Adam is to pick up the mantel of covering YHVH with his praises and worship. Along comes the serpent to deceive man into walking in disobedience. The offense is not something that man has done to haSatan, it is the punishment that YHVH has served to him that makes haSatan so angry and vengeful. In his vengeance, he is consumed with jealousy of all the lavish attention that YHVH was giving to His creation, man. That jealousy is propagated upon to both corrupt man and make him loathsome in the eyes of Elohim, and to gain back recognition for his beauty and his significance regained in the eyes of the Master of all. Man fell prey to the enemy’s bullying tactics and has been struggling his way back into paradise ever since. The last thing that haSatan wants us to be are overcomers of him and the things influenced by him in this world. Overcoming would mean that we are still the rightful heirs to the promise of eternal life with YHVH by way of Yeshua.
Like our adversary, our flesh suffers great loss when suppressed by YHVH’s Ruach which will reach past that which is earthly so that we can be conformed more into the likeness of our Creator.2 The flesh has been corrupted by the fall of Adam and Eve and we are subject to the earth and the corruptness and curses of the earth due to our sin nature. As we press in to the spiritual awakening granted by YHVH by His grace showing us what is pleasing to Him, our flesh retaliates with all the lusts and passions for what it is losing. We sacrifce our time to be with Him in prayer and worship, our flesh screams for sleep or television or sports or anything to get us out of the presence of Yah. Our money is given as offerings and sacrifices as tithes to be obedient and to accomplish the Creator’s will through us. Yet our flesh screams all the louder wanting the newest electronic toys, cars or any diversion to make us feel happier. At times, our spiritual demeanor falls prey to the darker sides of humanity by abandoning that which truly gives us sustenance and life. Yeshua is the Word and Spirit in the flesh. Our flesh retaliates with manifestations of sickness or depression, with guilt or lust. Each and every temptation is able to be overcome by He who lives in us.
Yeshua represents the second Adam and the rightful heirship of the firstborn blessing and birthright as revealed to us in Ya’akov.3 Yeshua, by living a blameless life on earth, has shown us the way unto the Father, through Him. Moreover, He gives us the same inheritance that He has in the Father, eternal life. Yeshua duly took up the mantel of suffering for us, He entered into a ministry of “search, rescue and servitude” for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.4 Multitudes have wandered away from their identity as Israel/Ya’akov to join themselves to the other nations. But, through the restoration of the true and whole house of Israel, the other nations are now perceiving a great light and hope for their salvation into eternity. What was meant for the destruction of all man by the temptation in the garden, has turned into the plan of redemption from a malicious bully and his schemes.
This bully has no place or power in our lives. He has been rendered helpless at the execution stake where our Savior triumphed over all that is of this world.5 He is left holding only the false illusions he has been permitted to keep as security blankets until his final demise is fulfilled. We must continue to overcome all of his devises, for they are all false hopes to lure us away from our only Security, our Messiah.
Our Messiah has longed to gather us from the north, south, east and west into His arms and under His wings. He longs to show us His power over the bullies that intimidate us and to extricate them from our lives. He longs to fulfill the covenant with Abraham to his seed in this present generation to be rejoined to a promised land that is our possession forever. Yeshua has overcome the spirit of Esau, a marionette of haSatan, and all of the darkness of this world so that we would be called children of Light. Remember “He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his YHVH and he will be My son.”6 |
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