FEEDING ON WIND OR FEEDING ON THE TRUTH? Hoshěa/Hosea 11:12-12:11

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Shalom all,

Iyoḇ/Job 15:2 “Would a wise man answer with vain knowledge, or fill his belly with the east wind?”

These were some of the words that Eliphaz the Těmanite spoke to Iyoḇ, and this pretty clear rhetorical question highlights for us a vital truth; and that is, that a wise man would certainly not answer with vain knowledge, nor would a wise man fill his belly with the east wind!.

Shelomoh writes the following:

Qoheleth/Ecclesiastes 1:14 “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun. And see, all was futile and feeding on wind.”

What Shelomoh is identifying for us here, is the folly of striving for that which is vain and empty and cannot fill or sustain one’s life!.

The pictures that are given to us, through these two passages that I have quoted from, highlight the clear fact that ‘feeding on wind’ is a fruitless and vain thing, yet so many people are doing this and they continue to be foolish in pursuing an east wind, so to speak.

With that thought in mind, I would like to take a closer look at the words that we find in the book of Hoshěa, regarding Ephrayim, which is metaphorically used as a collective reference of the northern House of Yisra’ěl..

In a message called, ‘FEEDING ON WIND OR FEEDING ON THE TRUTH?’ let us take a closer look at the passage from Hoshěa/Hosea 11:12-12:11 (read).

The reason for me starting this passage at chapter 11:12 is simply because, we take note that, in the Hebrew text, as well as the LXX, chapter 12 begins with this verse. .

In Chapter 11:12 יהוה says that Ephrayim had surrounded Him with lying.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘lying’ comes from the root word כַּחַשׁ kaḥash – Strong’s’ H3585 which is a noun that means, ‘lying, lies, deception, failure’ and comes from the primitive root verb כָּחַשׁ kaḥash – Strong’s H3584 which means, ‘to be untrue, to lie, deny, disown, fail’. .

While יהוה does not say what lies Ephrayim had surrounded Him with, we take note that it is a clear rebuke for not walking in the Truth and we can clearly see that their false ideologies and corrupted worship practices had rendered their ways as lying ways and not of the Truth! .

The image of יהוה being surrounded by lies, is pretty striking and may seem unusual, yet what we can see from this, is that Ephrayim had corrupted its ways by following the ways of the nations that they were supposed to destroy and, in adopting occultic pagan rooted worship practices, they had assimilated this worship, with a vain attempt at identifying themselves with יהוה. .

We know that right from the very first king of the House of Yisra’ěl, which was the wicked king Yaroḇ’am, the House of Yisra’ěl had been led astray with falsehood and corrupted worship practices.

It was Yaroḇ’am that built the 2 golden calves and set one up in Běyth El, which was the southern border of the House of Yisra’ěl, and the other he set up in Dan, the northern border of the House of Yisra’ěl.

He also rejected the Lĕwitical priesthood and set up his own man-made priesthood that would officiate his man-made worship system, with the idea that it would keep his subjects from going to Yerushalayim to worship יהוה.

This setting up of golden images became a huge snare to Yisra’ěl and progressively would have gotten worse and worse, to the point where יהוה divorced the House of Yisra’ěl, after 20 wicked kings that ruled the House of Yisra’ěl! .

This image of surrounding יהוה with lying and deceit may also give reference to various shrines or altars that had been built, in vain, to יהוה and done so with no regard for His Torah and the clear design and function of the Tabernacle.

This image can still be seen today, through a corrupted man-made system of worship, orchestrated and officiated under the banner of Christianity, which has set up various images, be it physical images or simply practices that have caused images of an assumed worship practice to be formed into the hearts of those who are worshipping in vain and not in Spirit and Truth!.

Surrounding Him with ‘lies and deceit’, is the description that is given by יהוה, of a corrupted House that, despite their attempts at worship, had clearly wandered from the Truth and were walking in falsehood!.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘deceit’ comes from the root word מִרְמָה mirmah – Strong’s H4820 which means, ‘deceit, treachery, dishonesty, falsehood’, and is used in Amos 8:5, with reference to those who couldn’t wait for the Sabbath to be over, so that they could trade and falsify their scales by deceit, and this root word מִרְמָה mirmah – Strong’s H4820 is also used in:

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 26:24-26 “He who hates, pretends with his lips, and lays up deceit within him; 25 though he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 Hatred is covered by deceit. His evil is disclosed in the assembly.”

What verse 24, here in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 26, is saying is that the one who hates, gives a vain lip service and his heart is filled with deceit; which is the total opposite as to what should be in the heart! .

There are many who claim to be worshipping Elohim, yet their works show that they are actually denying Him!

Titos/Titus 1:16 “They profess to know Elohim, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unfit for any good work.”.

Many may have a form of reverence yet they deny its power, and Sha’ul warned Timotiyos, to turn away from those who deny the Master, through their fleshly works of lawlessness (that is: works without law/Torah)!

Timotiyos Bět/2 Timothy 3:1-5 “But know this, that in the last days hard times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, thankless, wrong-doers, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, haters of good, 4 betrayers, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Elohim, 5 having a form of reverence but denying its power. And turn away from these!”.

As we consider the words of Sha’ul to Titos that we read at the beginning, in that many profess to know Elohim, yet in their works they deny Him, we are able to understand this clearly, as we take a look at this Hebrew word כַּחַשׁ kaḥash – Strong’s’ H3585 in the ancient pictographic text..

In the ancient pictographic lettering, the Hebrew words כָּחַשׁ kaḥash – Strong’s H3584 which means, ‘lying, lies, deception, failure’ and the primitive root verb כָּחַשׁ kaḥash – Strong’s H3584 which means, ‘to be untrue, to lie, deny, disown, fail’, looks like this:.

Kaph – כָּ:

The ancient form of this letter is – meaning ‘the open palm of a hand’.

The meaning behind this letter is ‘to bend and curve’ from the shape of a palm as well as ‘to tame or subdue’ as one has been bent to another’s will (under their hand), as an open hand symbolises submission. This also can picture for us a palm or palm branch from the curved palm shape. The hand also speaks of one’s work, or under whose hand you submit and obey!

Your works reveal who you serve!

Ḥet – חַ:

The ancient script has this letter as which is a ‘tent wall’, and carries a meaning of ‘SEPARATION’, as a tent wall separates two halves of the tent; or it can also reflect the outside walls that separate the people inside from that which is outside and so can also symbolise protection and security to those inside, while picturing a cutting off of those who are outside. Hence this letter can mean ‘established, secure’ as well as ‘cut off, separated from’.

As a tent wall we are also able to recognise the picture of stones being built up to make a complete wall, having been separated from the world and built up in the master!

This can also render for us a resistance to submission as we take note that many put up walls in defence of their own wicked ways, being offended by the fact that their sin is made known through the mirror of the Word. An offended brother is like a fortified city!.

Shin – שׁ:

This is the letter ‘shin’ and in the ancient script is pictured as, , which is a picture of ‘two front teeth’ and carries the meaning of ‘sharp or press, chew or devour’; which is what the teeth do. This also speaks of the sharpened word that comes forth from the mouth, as the teeth ‘chew’ or ‘meditate’ on the Truth, making what comes forth pure and sharp! It also carries the understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food. .

When we consider the grouping of these letters in the ancient pictographic script that renders the word כָּחַשׁ kaḥash, we are able to see that the meaning is clear:

The open hand represents ones works, the tent wall represents division or to be against, and the teeth represent the Word.

In a nutshell, these three pictures collectively describe the lawless, as it means:

WORKS AGAINST THE WORD!.

I will repeat the verse from Titos, which makes this word very clear for us:

Titos/Titus 1:16 “They profess to know Elohim, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unfit for any good work.”.

Coming back to the rebuke that was given to Ephrayim, we take note that, by their lying, they were working against the Word!

This is exactly what so many people are doing today, as they claim that they do not have to obey or keep the Torah of Elohim and deny the power contained within the Torah and prophets, as their attempted form of reverence, is nothing more than lies and deceit, which continually works against the Word, as they render a vain lip service and falsely use the corrupted catechisms of man-made dogmas and theologies, that attempts to reason away a required submission and obedience to the Torah of Elohim!!!

At this point in history, the House of Yehuḏah was still ‘wandering with Elohim’ and being true to the Set-Apart One.

This reference highlights to us the prophetic promise of the Seed, which is Messiah, the Faithful and True One, who would come forth in the flesh through the line of Yehuḏah and cause a wayward House of Yisra’ĕl to come back and return to יהוה!.

The House of Yehuḏah was by no means innocent of corruption and falsehood, yet the prophetic promise of the Seed of the Promise, would not fail; and it is Messiah, our Kinsman Redeemer, who is the True Set-Apart One that gives us access back into the Covenants of Promise!.

In the opening verse of Chapter 12 (verse 2 in Hebrew and Greek texts) we are given a very clear reason why Ephrayim had surrounded יהוה with lies and deceit!

These words can still be attributed to so many today:

Ephrayim is feeding on wind and pursuing an east wind!

This image of ‘feeding on wind’, is what gripped me this week, once again, and as I meditated on this image, I could not hep but recognise the folly of so many people today!.

The reason for the depravity, the lies and the deceitful ways of Ephrayim, was due to them feeding on that which was futile and worthless and could not sustain or satisfy them!

The idea or image of feeding on falsehood, is one that we see being repeatedly used throughout Scripture, giving us reference to the folly of fools and the depravity of the lawless, despite their claim of knowing Elohim!.

Those who cast aside the need to walk in the Torah, reject the idea of meditating upon the Torah day and night and therefore, reject the proper feeding on the lawful bread of Elohim, which causes their desire to satisfy a hunger within, to be led astray to the feeding on that which is futile and worthless and that which lacks the ability to fill, nourish and satisfy!.

In a clear call to return, being given to Ya’aqoḇ, we see our Master and Elohim giving reference to the futility of corrupted idol worship, and the saddened state that Yisra’ěl was in:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 44:20 “Feeding on ashes, a deceived heart turns him aside, and he does not deliver his being, nor says, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

A deceived heart turns one aside to falsehood and the feeding on ashes!.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘deceived’ comes from the root word הָתַל hathal – Strong’s H2048 which means, ‘to deceive, mock’!

So many today show a clear mockery toward the truth, as their actions, of a taught falsehood, show that they are under the power of a destructive deception, that has twisted and falsified the truth – so much so, that most do not even ask if what they are doing is a lie or not!

The Torah is to be in our heart and in our mouths – to do it:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 30:14 “For the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart – to do it.”

Many people today are rendering a vain lip service, in their falsified confession of faith, while their actions reveal otherwise, as their lack of walking in the Torah reveals that the Torah is not in their mouth, nor in their heart; and if the Torah is not laid up in one’s heart then what is?

The deceit of lawlessness!!! .

The image of ‘feeding on ashes’, highlights for us a feeding on that which is dead and worthless, which is what the lawless are doing!

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 15:14 “The heart of the understanding one seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.”

Understanding comes in the doing of the Word, and the simple reason that you will find wisdom on the lips of one who has understanding, is because they have earnestly sought after the wisdom of Elohim, in order to know how to walk, and live, in complete obedience to His Word.

And when walks in obedience and does not scoff at the Word, then knowledge is easy to him who has understanding.

Many true believers can witness of this fact, as they walk in obedience to the commands of Elohim and see how easily the knowledge comes, as one grows in understanding!

Those who scoff at the Torah and commands, can never grasp the true wisdom of Elohim and find that much of the Word is confusing to them, yet when walking in obedience, the Word becomes much easier to understanding and one’s ability to grow in knowledge comes swiftly!!!.

The wise feed on the Truth while fools feed on folly!.

Many people who claim to be following Elohim, yet neglect to hear, guard and do His commands and scoff at a proper Sabbath keeping, are feeding themselves on the folly of false teachings, that is simply worthless!.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘fool’ is כְּסִיל kesil – Strong’s H3684 which means, ‘fool, stupid fellow, dullard (which is a stupid and unimaginative person)’, and comes from the root verb כָּסַל kasal – Strong’s H3688 which means, ‘to be or become stupid, foolish’. .

So, we can clearly see that while we are able to become ‘wise’, if we pay attention to hear, guard and do the word of Elohim, we also realise that we can quickly become stupid, if we do not listen and obey, and refuse to accept the discipline of the Word.

While the wise increase learning and delight in understanding the Truth, as they meditate on the Torah of Elohim, the fool couldn’t care less about understanding:

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 18:2 “A fool does not delight in understanding, but in uncovering his own heart.”

The Hebrew word for ‘folly’ is the noun אִוֶּלֶת ivveleth – Strong’s H200 which means, ‘folly, foolishness, foolish’, and comes from the adjective אֱוִיל evil – Strong’s H191 which means, ‘fool, foolish’.

The Hebrew root words that are rendered as ‘fool, foolish’, in Mishlĕ/Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Tanak, denotes one who is morally deficient.

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 14:8 “The wisdom of the clever is to understand His way, but the folly of fools is deceit.”

What I have been highlighting, through these various passages, is the clear fact that fools feed on folly and deceit and are not feeding in the Truth!

This is what Ephrayim was being guilty of and therefore, was being very foolish, despite having the wisdom of the Torah readily available for them to feed on!

There are many people today, who are doing the exact same thing, as the access to the Torah is not being withheld, but is rather being rejected by the deceived hearts of the foolish!.

Ephrayim is feeding on wind!

The Hebrew root word that is translated as ‘feeding’ in Hoshěa/Hosea 12:1 is רֹעֶה ro’eh which comes from the root word רָעָה ra’ah – Strong’s H7462 which can carry the meaning of, ‘shepherd’, as well as, ‘to pasture, graze, consume, feed’.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘wind’ is רוּחַ ruaḥ – Strong’s H7307 which means ‘breath, wind or spirit’ and while we also recognise that this word is also used for The Spirit of Elohim, what is being said here, is that Ephrayim was feeding on wind, meaning that they were feeding on nothing! .

There are many pictures we can deduce from this image, especially as we take note of the folly of falsehood, being lived out by the deceived hearts of the lawless!

While Ephrayim was to be feeding on the Truth, they were feeding on emptiness and, by all accounts, this can give reference to the various ‘winds of teaching’, that are causing many immature fools to be tossed about by, as these wicked winds of teaching, that makes prey of the immature, is done by the trickery of men that leads astray!

We are told in:

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 4:11-16 “And He Himself gave some as emissaries, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as shepherds and teachers 12 for the perfecting of the set-apart ones, to the work of service to a building up of the body of the Messiah, 13 until we all come to the unity of the belief and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the completeness of Messiah, 14 so that we should no longer be children, tossed and borne about by every wind of teaching, by the trickery of men, in cleverness, unto the craftiness of leading astray, 15 but, maintaining the truth in love, we grow up in all respects into Him who is the head, Messiah, 16 from whom the entire body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the working by which each part does its share, causes growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

When feeding on wind, one does not get nourished, and as a result, this can cause one to pursue dangerous things, through the deceit and folly of falsehood!

This is what is understood by ‘pursuing an east wind’!.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘east wind’ is קָדִים qaḏiym – Strong’s H6921 and obviously describes the wind that comes from an easterly direction, yet what is understood by this, is the devastating east wind that would come upon the land of Yisra’ĕl, having the description being related to a very hot and scorching wind, that destroys plant and seed, as described in the dream Pharaoh had:

Berěshith/Genesis 41:5-6 “And he slept and dreamed a second time and saw seven heads of grain coming up on one stalk, plump and good, 6 and saw seven lean heads, scorched by the east wind, coming up after them.”.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘pursuing’ comes from the root word רָדַף raḏaph – Strong’s H7291 which means, ‘to pursue, chase, follow closely after, aim to secure, run after, hunt, persecute’ and, in the context of pursuing and running after, we take note that it is after righteousness that we are to be running and not anything else.

If one is truly pursuing something, then the focus of the pursuit is so intense on that which is being pursued that there can be no effort spared for anything else!

Having said that, we take note at the intensity of Ephrayim’s pursuit of dangerous and damaging ways of falsehood!

This root word רָדַף raḏaph – Strong’s H7291 is used in:

Hoshěa/Hosea 6:3 “So let us know, let us pursue to know יהוה. His going forth is as certain as the morning. And He comes to us like the rain, like the latter rain watering the earth.”

This root word רָדַף raḏaph – Strong’s H7291 is translated as ‘follow’, in:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 16:20 “Follow righteousness, righteousness alone, so that you live and inherit the land which יהוה your Elohim is giving you.”.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘righteousness’ is צֶדֶק tseḏeq – Strong’s H6664 which means, ‘righteous, just, righteousness’, which is often written in the feminine form of צְדָקָה tseḏaqah – Strong’s H6666 which means, ‘righteousness, righteous acts, merits, righteous deeds’

The clear definition of righteousness is given to us in:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:25 “And it is righteousness for us when we guard to do all this command before יהוה our Elohim, as He has commanded us.”

Our belief in our Master and Elohim must be seen in our works of righteousness as we guard to do all He has commanded us to!.

To follow righteousness alone is to follow our Master and Elohim, and King of Righteousness, יהושע Messiah.

Mattithyahu/Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they shall be filled.”

We know that the Torah teaches us that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of יהוה.

If one is not pursuing righteousness then they sure are not hungering for it nor feeding upon it, but are feeding on ashes, folly and wind!.

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 30:7-9 “Two matters I have asked of You – deny them not to me before I die: 8 remove falsehood and a lying word far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me my lawful bread; 9 lest I become satisfied and deny You, and say, “Who is יהוה?” And lest I be poor, and steal, and seize the Name of my Elohim”

These 3 verses, are considered by some scholars as ‘the prayer of a reverent man’, and contains a plea to be protected from falsehood, wickedness and the extremes of riches or poverty, as he seeks only that which is required for life and reverence, which is his daily lawful bread, for anything beyond that, comes with the risk of denying יהוה our Elohim!

This prayer asks Elohim for lifetime protection against wandering from His Truth and the earnest desire to be fed by Elohim alone! .

What is worth taking note of, in this short prayer, is that it is well placed within these sayings of Aḡur, as he has clearly presented the Truth that there is only One Creator and Elohim, who does not lie and how His Word gives us all we need to know Him and walk in Him, and then He makes the appeal to not be led astray by anything, but asks that he be refined and tried Word of Elohim.

This prayer also answers for us the question asked in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 30:4, by making the statement of the danger of not being fed and satisfied by the Word of Elohim, which would result in one denying Elohim and then saying, “Who is יהוה?” .

Feed me my lawful bread!

The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘feed me’ is הַטְרִיפֵנִי – hatheriypheniy which comes from the root word טָרַף taraph – Strong’s H2963 and means, ‘to tear, rend, pluck, torn to pieces’, and also carries the meaning of, ‘to provide food’, when written in the ‘hiphil’ verb tense!

Here is a good example in Hebrew of how a root word can be employed in various ways, to have varied meanings and when one is only able to look at root words, without the verbal construct, then a proper understanding can often be lost.

The primary meaning of this root is, ‘to seize a creature with predaciousness, tear the flesh, and consume it’. .

It is also used to illustrate the predatory nature of people who continually conquer and destroy others.

The tribes of Binyamin and Gad are likened to a wolf that tears (Berěshith/Genesis 49:27) and a lion that shall tear off the arm (Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 33:20)

This root word is also used to describe an animal torn by beasts, which is clearly forbidden as being something to be eaten, in the Torah:

Shemoth/Exodus 22:31 “And you are set-apart men to Me, and you do not eat any meat which is torn to pieces in the field, you throw it to the dogs.”

With the hiphil (causative) tense, describing the provision of food, we are able to gain a great understanding through this parabolic prayer, which teaches us that we do not want to eat that which has been torn to pieces in the field, but rather, we desire the proper lawful food of Elohim.

With the Word of Elohim being likened to ‘bread’, in Scripture, as Messiah is the Bread of Life that came down and was the manna in the Wilderness, we are able to understand that any corruption of the Word, can be likened to that which has been torn to pieces in the field, with the field, metaphorically, representing the world!.

So many people are ‘eating away’ at false teachings, that have been torn to pieces, through vain and corrupt traditions and commands of man, and are being taught as teachings, while the Torah of Elohim, which is the lawful bread, is being cast aside!

Many are feeding on falsehood and lawlessness, while they scoff at the daily lawful bread of the Word of Elohim!.

The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘lawful’ comes from the root word חֹק ḥoq – Strong’s H2706 meaning, ‘something prescribed or owed, boundary, allotment, portion, ordinance, statute’, and comes from the primitive root verb חָקַק ḥaqaq – Strong’s H2710 which means, ‘to cut, inscribe, hack, engrave, decree, carve, sceptre, lawgiver’.

The plural of this word, which is translated as ‘laws’, is חֻקִּים ḥuqqiym, and, in essence, we get the clear understanding of the ḥuqqiym as being ‘laws cut in stone’, which means that they are set and fixed!

Tehillim/Psalm 119:16 “I delight myself in Your laws; I do not forget Your word.”

A ḥuqqah is often seen as something that must simply be obeyed, even when the full understanding may not be available; and as we look at what has been labelled as a law that may not be fully understood, we, in fact, come to learn that all is made clear and understandable through the life, death and resurrection of Messiah..

The Hebrew word that is translated here for ‘bread’ is לֶחֶם leḥem – Strong’s H3899 which means ‘bread, meal, provision, food’ and comes from the root word לָחַם laḥam – Strong’s H3898 which means, ‘to fight, do battle, conquer’ and can also carry the meaning, ‘consume, to use as food, eat’. .

Understanding that the word for fighting or war/battle, comes from the same root word from which bread comes from, which, as we know from Scripture, that bread is a symbol or picture of community, then it helps us further understand the fact that when we stand up and fight against ‘self’ and the lusts of the flesh that wage war in our lives; we are in fact feeding the community with growth, as we conquer that which does not belong, in order to enrich the community or body that we are made a part of!.

When we consider that the word for ‘bread’ comes from the root word that means to wage war and fight, we are able to understand the power of the words of our Master when He tells us that He is the Bread, as He is truly declaring that He is the One who has gone before us and fights for us, having defeated death at the grave, in order for us to be raised to new life in Him and be equipped to walk in victory..

In the ancient pictographic script, we see the root word לֶחֶם leḥem – Strong’s H3899 pictured as follows:.

Lamed – לֶ:

The ancient script has this letter as , and is pictured as a ‘shepherd’s staff’, can give the meaning of ‘to or toward’ and can represent that which pushes or pulls a flock in a direction, and can speak of authority or a yoke that is used to lead and guide, as well as the ability to bring back by Authority..

Ḥet – חֶ

The ancient script has this letter as which is a ‘tent wall’, and carries a meaning of ‘separation’, as a tent wall separates two halves of the tent; or it can also reflect the outside walls that separate the people inside from that which is outside and so can also symbolise protection and security to those inside, while picturing a cutting off of those who are outside. Hence this letter can mean ‘established, secure’ as well as ‘cut off, separated from’.

As a tent wall we are also able to recognise the picture of stones being built up to make a complete wall, and represents a ‘boundary’, or better understood as our ‘boundaries’ in recognising the need to walk within the boundaries of the Torah and not step outside of that which has been prescribed for us!..

Mem – ם

We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture..

As we consider these pictographs that render the meaning of bread, provision, we are able to recognise, in terms of our lawful bread, that our Master has given us all we need for life and reverence, and that as we submit under the authority of His Word, being led by our Good Shepherd, we are separated and built up in Him, though the washing of His Word!

His Word is our Food that separates and cleanses us as His Bride!.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD BUILDS US UP

AND CLEANSES

THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD

THAT SEPARATES AND CLEANSES.

When we recognise the value and importance of the daily lawful bread that we are to eat, we see how important it is for us to meditate on His Torah, day and night, so that we can live clean and set-apart lives and be properly armed to fight the Good Fight of the belief!!! .

Neglecting to do so, will cause one to not know who He, The Good Shepherd, is and will leave one unarmed to stand in the day of battle!.

We know that bread, in Scripture, is also used as a picture of a Torah obedient community:

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 10:17 “Because there is one bread, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”

We also take note that Messiah is the Bread of Life, that came down from above, in order to provide for us the needed sustenance for life in Him, and therefore, we must take note of this clear warning against laziness, as we are to make sure that we are firmly established in Him, as we prepare ourselves daily, as a Bride that is making Herself ready, by making sure that we eat of our daily lawful bread!

That is, we must never neglect to read and meditate, daily, on the Torah of Elohim, lest we become lazy and lack the proper wisdom to function as we should, in Him!..

So many people are being fed ‘lawlessness’ and are not being properly nourished in the Truth and will find themselves lacking the proper sustenance to endure in set-apartness, while the righteous echo this prayer every day, by asking Elohim for their lawful bread, which implies a cry for Elohim, the Good Shepherd and Teacher, to feed us His Word, teach us His Truth and lead us in the Way which leads to life, by walking in righteousness, as we guard to do all He commands us to, through His clear Word that has been tried and is forever trustworthy!.

Messiah taught us to pray this way, when He gave us a pattern, and not a recital, of how we ought to pray, when His taught ones asked Him how they should pray:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 6:9-13 “This, then, is the way you should pray: ‘Our Father who is in the heavens, let Your Name be set-apart, 10 let Your reign come, let Your desire be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 ‘Give us today our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into trial, but deliver us from the wicked one – because Yours is the reign and the power and the esteem, forever. Aměn.’”

As we seek to be fed each day by our lawful bread, we must pursue to know יהוה and pursue apartness!

Those who neglect the Word and get slack in guarding to do what our Master commands us to will find themselves being enslaved by injurious lusts that hinder their set-apartness and cause them to stray from the belief, as they begin the pursuit of fleshliness and materialism, believing that they will be satisfied when they get what their being lusts after.

This is when the love for Elohim grows cold and the love for money takes over. .

Sha’ul was warning Timotiyos against this and this is a still a very big warning that we must take heed of today, by making sure that we are fit in the Word and flee all these.

Sha’ul tells this again to Timotiyos, in his second letter to him:

Timotiyos Bět/2 Timothy 2:22 “And flee from the lusts of youth, but pursue righteousness, belief, love, peace with those calling on the Master out of a clean heart.”

To properly flee the lusts of youth and be equipped to pursue righteousness, belief and love for Elohim out of a clean heart, growth must be taking place.

Growth in the Word, is vital and those who are not growing in the Word, remain hindered by youthful lusts and never grow up, so to speak, as they continually find themselves giving in to fleshly battles, while blaming others for their lack of growth!

Too many, who are slack in their discipline of set-apartness, tend to flee from the Truth rather than fleeing from the lusts of the world!.

The Greek word that is translated here as ‘pursue’ is διώκω diōkō – Strong’s G1377 which means, ‘to put to flight, pursue, persecute’, and also carries the meaning, ‘to follow after or to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing’, or, ‘earnestly endeavour to acquire’ and can also mean, ‘to suffer persecution’!

This therefore gives us much insight, in understanding that when we properly pursue what we should, then we may suffer persecution for it.

In other words, pursuing set-apartness will bring on persecution:

Timotiyos Bět /2 Timothy 3:12 “And indeed, all those wishing to live reverently in Messiah יהושע, shall be persecuted.”

This verb for ‘pursue/follow’ is a continuous verb, which teaches us that it is not just simply about what you flee, to avoid, but also what you are pursuing, in an active and positive response to fleeing from the things you should..

Yisra’ěl was not pursuing יהוה, as they were pursuing a very destructive east wind, highlighting for us a pursuit of death rather than life, where the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life were the driving force behind their pursuit, as opposed to having a proper hunger and thirst for righteousness!.

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:14 “Pursue peace with all, and pursue apartness without which no one shall see the Master.”

Only those who pursue apartness, will have their deliverance made complete and see the Master, face to face, and not be destroyed!

The Greek word for set-apartness/apartness is ἁγιασμός hagiasmos – Strong’s G38 which means, ‘consecration, sanctifying, purification’; and we know that this is the desire of Elohim:

Tas’loniqim Aleph/1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 “For this is the desire of Elohim: your set-apartness! – that you should abstain from whoring, 4 that each one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in set-apartness and respect, 5 not in passion of lust, like the gentiles who do not know Elohim, 6 not to overstep and take advantage of his brother in this matter, because the Master is the revenger of all such, as we indeed said to you before and earnestly warned. 7 For Elohim did not call us to uncleanness, but in set-apartness.”

The Hebrew word for ‘set-apart/set-apartness’, as most of you may know, comes from the noun קֹדֶשׁ qoḏesh – Strong’s H6944 – and it means ‘apartness/ consecrated/ dedicated/ that which is dedicated and separated unto יהוה’.

This word is really self-explanatory and carries with it, great weight, in its identification of truly setting something, or someone, apart from another, with a clear distinction of being marked as separate and apart from the rest..

How are you doing in possessing your own vessel, which is your body, in set-apartness?

Have you truly separated yourself from the profane and common things or do you find the lines between the set-apart and profane being blurred by compromise and laziness!

Set-apartness certainly takes work, and when one is idle in duty then laziness leads to compromise and the inability to distinguish the difference between what is set-apart and what is common!.

If you are not pursuing apartness you may be in severe danger of pursuing a destructive east wind as you are feeding on vain winds of corrupted teachings of man, rather than the Word of Truth!

While I was meditating on these words in Hoshěa/Hosea 12, I recognised another valid picture, of what is happening today, as we see many people that are ‘feeding on wind’, thinking that they are being led by the Spirit of Elohim, when they are clearly being led astray by a spirit of falsehood, as their lawless works reveal this!.

Have you heard some say that they are ‘spiritual’ and they let the Spirit of Elohim lead them!

This is not necessarily a wrong thing to say, if it is indeed backed up by works of righteousness!

What I am talking about, is those who claim to be led by the Spirit of Elohim, yet their lawless works show otherwise.

They refuse to submit to walking in obedience to the Torah and claim that it is no longer valid and all that they need is the Spirit to lead and guide them!

These could be classed as people ‘feeding on wind’, or ‘feeding on the spirit’, in a negative way, as they are not feeding on The Spirit of Elohim, which is The Truth, and His Torah is Spiritual and His Word is Truth!.

Yoḥanan/John 4:24 “Elohim is Spirit, and those who worship Him need to worship in spirit and truth.”

Tehillah/Psalm 119:142 “Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and Your Torah is truth.”

Yoḥanan/John 17:17 “Set them apart in Your truth – Your Word is truth.”

Romiyim/Romans 7:14 “For we know that the Torah is Spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin.”.

The reason for me highlighting these verses, is simply to make it very clear, that to worship Elohim correctly must be done in spirit and truth!

Without the Torah and the proper meditation thereof, one cannot truly worship Elohim and will be unable to properly pursue apartness!

Feeding on the spirit without the Torah of Elohim is a feeding on a destructive and vain wind..

The House of Yisra’ěl had surrounded יהוה with lying and deceit and were feeding on wind, pursuing a dangerous path of destruction, which highlights how they increased falsehood and ruin!.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘falsehood’ comes from the root word כָּזָב kazaḇ – Strong’s H3577 which means, ‘a lie, falsehood, deceptive thing, deception’, and comes from the primitive root verb כָּזַב kazaḇ – Strong’s H3576 which means, ‘to lie, be a liar, fail, told lies, deceive, disappoint’...

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘ruin’ is שֹׁד shoḏ – Strong’s H7701 meaning, ‘violence, havoc, ruin, spoil, destruction’ and comes from the root verb שָׁדַד shaḏaḏ – Strong’s H7703 which means, ‘to deal violently with, despoil, devastate, completely destroy’. .

By increasing falsehood and ruin, they were completely destroying their ability of being a trustworthy witness of Elohim and were simply being a false witness that breathes out lies!

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 14:5 “A trustworthy witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.”.

A false witness breathes out lies!

In the Hebrew text this phrase is written as follows:

וְיָפִיחַ כְּזָבִים עֵד שָׁקֶר

veyaphiyḥa k’zaḇiym eḏ shaqer

This could literally be rendered as:

‘a false testimony that is spoken by lying’

or,

‘the breath of lies that witnesses falsely’..

This phrase comes from the following root words:

1) פּוּחַ puaḥ – Strong’s H6315 which means, ‘to breathe, blow, speak, utter, puff, snort’.

This word is used 15 times in the Tanak and primarily the verb means to ‘breath, blow’ in the negatives sense of “to utter” lies or be utterly deceitful.

2) כָּזָב kazaḇ – Strong’s H3577 which means, ‘a lie, falsehood, deceptive thing, deception’, and comes from the primitive root verb כָּזַב kazaḇ – Strong’s H3576 which means, ‘to lie, be a liar, fail, told lies, deceive, disappoint’.

3) עֵד eḏ – Strong’s H5707 meaning, ‘a witness, evidence’ and comes from the root word עוּד uḏ/ooḏ – Strong’s H5749, which means, ‘to return, go about, repeat, do again, encircle, supports’.

4) שֶׁקֶר sheqer – Strong’s H8267 which means, ‘deception, disappointment, falsehood, lies’, and comes from the root verb שָׁקַר shaqar – Strong’s H8266 which means, ‘to do or deal falsely, lie’..

We are to be a good and truthful witness of Messiah, as we speak Truth and walk in the Truth.

Any departure from this clear standard of thinking, walking and speaking truth, will render one as being a false witness that is breathing out lies.

Many want to give testimonies of how Elohim has done great things for them, while the Truth is not in them, as they have disregarded His Torah!

This is a huge warning against the lawless, who assume to bear the witness of Elohim in their lives, and this יהוה hates!

We are to hold fast and possess the witness of יהושע Messiah AND guard the commands of Elohim!

Possessing a witness of Messiah without guarding the commands of Elohim, will render your witness false, for your witness does not breathe out life, but rather lies!

We are to be ambassadors of the coming reign, and in doing so, we are to bear witness of His Truth in our lives!

The question is: Are you a true witness or are you a false one? .

While many may claim to know Elohim and claim to walk in His Torah, their daily lives may often render them being a false witness, as they conform to the world and fall prey to the influence of others, as they simply increase in falsehood and ruin!

Have you found yourself telling others that you are a taught one or follower of Messiah, while you are in fact compromising in your walk – for then you are a false witness breathing out lies – and this is an abomination to יהוה!

We are also to be on guard about bearing false witness against our neighbour!

Do not speak lies about another – do not gossip and slander another – for if you do you are being a false witness that is breathing out lies!.

What happens when falsehood and ruin increase?

A false witness draws further away from the Covenants of promise that they should be walking in and find themselves covenanting with worldly things!.

Ephrayim were rebuked for making a covenant with Ashshur and what we recognise here, is that this rebuke highlights how falsehood and ruin being increased in one’s life will cause one to be joined to false people and things!

By covenanting with Ashshur, they were aligning themselves with the enemy and making themselves a friend of the world, so to speak!

Ya’aqoḇ/James 4:4 “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with Elohim? Whoever therefore intends to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of Elohim.”.

We take note of the following actions of a wicked king of the House of Yisra’ěl, as recorded in:

Melaḵim Bet/2 Kings 15:19-20 “Pul the sovereign of Ashshur came against the land. And Menaḥěm gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, for his hand to be with him to strengthen the reign in his hand. 20 And Menaḥěm exacted the silver of Yisra’ěl, of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty sheqels of silver, to give to the sovereign of Ashshur. And the sovereign of Ashshur turned back, and did not stay there in the land.”

Instead of putting trust in יהוה, this wicked king made an alliance with the enemy, when they were being threatened, as a result of their depravity!

In Hoshěa/Hosea 14:3 we take note of the confession of one who returns to a proper obedient covenant relationship with Elohim, where the acknowledgement of how Ashshur cannot save is fully realised, which can only happen when one comes out of all the falsehood and ruin of lawlessness!.

Ephrayim had sent oil to Mitsrayim, which was also a form of an alliance being made, in order to secure themselves from the threat of destruction, which was a false and wicked thing to do.

Yisra’ěl had compromised their principles and the moral standards of the Torah of Elohim, in order to accommodate relations with foreign powers, showing how they had departed from Elohim and, in a manner of speaking, had befriended the world!

This continues to happen today, as many people will quickly align themselves with worldly ways and compromise set-apartness, when facing trying and threatening circumstances.

Sending oil to Mitsrayim was to give the enemy that which was a precious resource to Yisra’ěl and, metaphorically, this can picture for us the giving away of our gifts and talents to the world, instead of esteeming Elohim with that He has given and apportioned to each of us!.

In Hoshěa/Hosea 12:2 we are told that יהוה has a controversy with Yehuḏah and that He would punish Ya’aqoḇ according to his ways!

Our Master is coming soon and the call to return to obedience has been made loud and clear! .

Those who have ears to hear must grow in set-apartness, while those who shut their ears to the truth will increase in falsehood and ruin and each shall be rewarded for their works!

Ḥazon/Revelation 22:11-12 “He who does wrong, let him do more wrong; he who is filthy, let him be more filthy; he who is righteous, let him be more righteous; he who is set-apart, let him be more set-apart. 12 “And see, I am coming speedily, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according to his work.”

Ḥazon/Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are those doing His commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city.”.

In Hoshěa/Hosea 12:3-6 we see a clear call to a remembrance of covenant and the urgency with which one must get back to clinging to יהוה and forsaking all falsehood and ruin!

Reminding us of the account of Ya’aqoḇ’s journey, from birth to his name being changed, when he wrestled with Elohim, is to remind us of covenant and how we are to cling to the Master and not let loving-commitment and truth be forsaken!.

Return to your Elohim!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘return’ comes from the root word שׁוּב shuḇ – Strong’s H7725 which means, ‘to turn back, return, repent, recover’, meaning to turn away from sin and turn back to Elohim and follow in His ways.

In the ancient pictographic script, the Hebrew word שׁוּב shuḇ – Strong’s H7725 is written as follows:.

Shin – שׁ:

As already discussed, this is the letter ‘shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as, , which is ‘two front teeth’ and carries the meaning of ‘sharp or press, chew or devour’; which is what the teeth do, and also speaks of the sharpened word that comes forth from the mouth as the teeth ‘chew’ or ‘meditate’ on the Truth, making what comes forth pure and sharp! It also carries the understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food..

Waw/Vav – וּ:

This is the Hebrew letter ‘waw’ or ‘vav’ which in the ancient script is pictured as , which is a peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying the tent or other items. The possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’..

Beyt – ב:

The ancient script has this letter as , which pictures a tent floor plan and means, ‘house’ or ‘tent’. It represents family and the importance of those who are inside the tent as opposed to the tent structure itself.

When we understand the combination of these pictures as rendering a returning or recalling to mind, we are able to recognise that the teeth, which speaks of a ‘pressing’, and the picture of the peg that secures, and the house which speaks of dwelling, we are able to understand this representing the following:

THE WORD THAT SECURES THE HOUSE!

When we acknowledge the call to return to the true House of Elohim, we can also then recognise from this pictographic lettering, in terms of this word rendering ‘a return’, the following:

THE SECURE DWELLING PLACE

THAT IS TO BE RETURNED TO

This word, in the ancient form, can also represents for us the following:

RETURNING TO THE SECURE HOUSE WHERE WE ARE FED,

AS WE MEDITATE ON THE WORD OF THE HOUSE

True repentance can only be done when one returns to obeying the Word that secures us as His Set-Apart Dwelling Place.

So many people today, may claim to be a part of the House of Elohim, yet they continue in crookedness and reveal that they are simply being foolish and are building on sand and have not had their feet set upon the solid Rock of Deliverance, for they have not truly returned to Elohim!.

Returning to Elohim involves an acknowledgment that one has been wrong, and this is sadly where so many continue to stumble in crookedness, as they refuse to accept that the falsehood and futility of the traditions, that they have been following, are indeed wrong and need to be repented of!.

This call for Yisra’ěl to return to יהוה, highlights a clear call back to covenant and when understands their true identity in Messiah then a true return to obedience can be lived out in serving and worshipping our Master and Elohim in Spirit and Truth. .

For many today, there is a severe identity crisis as they lack the proper understanding of who the True Yisra’ĕl is.

The Name יִשְׂרָאֵל Yisra’ĕl – Strong’s H3478 which means, ‘he who prevails, overcomes with Ěl’, comes from the two primitive root words:

1) אֵל Ěl – Strong’s H410 which means, ‘Mighty, power, shortened form of Elohim – Mighty One’ and

2) the root word verb שָׂרָה sarah – Strong’s H8280 which means, ‘to persist, exert oneself, persevere, wrestle, contend’, and is spelt the same as the name of Aḇraham’s wife, שָׂרָה ‘Sarah’ – Strong’s H8283 which means ‘princess or noble woman’; which is the feminine of the word שַׂר sar – Strong’s H8269 which means, ‘prince, captain, chieftain, ruler’! .

יִשְׂרָאֵל Yisra’ĕl, as a treasured people and set-apart nation, could then also be understood as those who rule with Ěl, as His princes!

We, who were once far off from the Covenants of promise and have now been brought near by the Blood of Messiah, are a set-apart nation, a chosen people and a royal priesthood.

Therefore, in a manner of speaking, with Aḇraham as our father in the faith, we are also children of Sarah the ‘princess’ and are therefore ‘princes’ in the Kingdom of our King; and we who overcome shall rule with Him! The call given here for Yisra’ěl to return to יהוה, is a call for a royal priesthood to overcome and serve as true ambassadors of the coming reign of our Mighty Elohim and King!.

In a true returning to Elohim and to Covenant, which is made possible by the blood of Messiah, we are to no longer feed on wind and pursue the broad paths that lead to death, but rather, we are to guard loving-commitment and right-ruling as we wait faithfully for our Husband, Redeemer and King to return!

The Hebrew root word that is translated as ‘guard’ comes from the word שָׁמַר shamar – Strong’s H8104 and carries the meaning, ‘keep watch, observe, perform, protect, pay attention’, and the basic idea of the root of this word is ‘to exercise great care over’.

When one is ‘guarding’ something, being ‘awake’ and alert is imperative or else the risk of a theft or loss of possessions are high.

One of the biggest problems we find today, among claiming torah observant followers of Messiah, is their ability to quickly compromise their diligent duty required in guarding the Sabbath, and we must take great care to not be found slipping in the slightest!

When used in combination with other verbs, the meaning is, ‘do carefully or diligently’, i.e. perform carefully by paying strict attention as to what must be done, as it expresses the careful attention to be paid to the obligations of a covenant, to laws, statutes, etc..

What is interesting and worth taking note of, is the frequent use of the word שָׁמַר shamar in the Torah.

It is used 148 times in 139 verses in the Torah – 15 times in 15 verses in Berěshith/Genesis, 25 times in 24 verses in Shemoth/Exodus; 16 times in 16 verses in Wayyiqra/Leviticus; 19 times in 19 verses in Bemiḏbar/Numbers and 73 times in 65 verses in Deḇarim/Deuteronomy!!! .

With Deḇarim being seen as the ‘second reading of the Torah’, as it was the instructions given to the new generation, we can see why the greater emphasis on the use of שָׁמַר shamar to the generation that was about to enter into the Promised Land, highlighting the importance to guard the ways of Elohim!.

As we look at the Hebrew word שָׁמַר shamar – Strong’s H8104 which means, ‘keep, watch, present, attend to, pay close attention, guard’, in the ancient pictographic form, we are able to identify what true guarding entails..

Shin – שָׁ:

This is the letter ‘shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as, , which is ‘two front teeth’ and carries the meaning of ‘sharp or press, chew or devour’; which is what the teeth do, and also speaks of the sharpened word that comes forth from the mouth as the teeth ‘chew’ or ‘meditate’ on the Truth, making what comes forth pure and sharp!

It also carries the understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food..

Mem – מַ:

This also carries for us the picture of washing, as we understand the function of water being that which cleanses us and sustains us, showing us how we are washed and sustained by the Living Waters of the Word! This letter also can represent any liquid, especially blood!.

Resh – ר:

The ancient script has this letter ‘resh’ as – – and is pictured as ‘the head of a man’ and has the meaning of the head of a man as well as chief, top, begging or first. Top, as in the top or head of a body and chief, as is head of a tribe or people as well as the one who rules the people..

Considering these pictographs that render the word that means to guard carefully, we are able to identify how we are to:

MEDITATE ON THE WASHING OF OUR HEAD

In Sha’ul’s letter the believers in Ephesos, he instructed Husbands to love their wives, as Messiah loved us:

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 5:25-28 “Husbands, love your wives, as Messiah also did love the assembly and gave Himself for it, 26 in order to set it apart and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, 27 in order to present it to Himself a splendid assembly, not having spot or wrinkle or any of this sort, but that it might be set-apart and blameless.”.

It is through His Word that He washes us, and therefore, we are able to identify the cleansing that His Blood brought to us, giving us the ability to properly meditate on the cleansing that the Word of our Head brings, by guarding to do all He instructs us to do.

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 7:1 “My son, guard my words, and treasure up my commands with you.”

As we guard His Torah, and exercise great care over our need to walk upright, we will be protected against the delusion of the lawless! .

Why I am highlighting this, is to make it very clear that in order to properly watch, and be on guard against being led astray, we need to be properly guarding the Word of Elohim, by paying attention to it, as we hear, guard and do what the Word commands!

To watch, as we should, we need to know the Word, which takes proper study and daily meditation of the Word and those who are not interested in knowing the Word set themselves up to be an easy target for being led astray by the delusion of the lawless.

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:3 “And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands.”

The Greek word that is translated as ‘guard’ in the above verse is τηρέω tēreō – Strong’s G5083 which means, ‘to attend to carefully, to take care of, to guard, to one in the state in which he is, to observe, to hold fast’, and this is a verb which clearly implies an action that is required rather than a passive nullification of the need to observe.

It comes from the word τηρός tēros which is a ‘guard’, and we know that a guard cannot guard correctly if they are not alert and watchful!

Figuratively, this word τηρέω tēreō – Strong’s G5083 means, ‘obey, fulfil a duty, precept, law or custom, and to perform watchfully’.

To guard the instructions of the One we know implies an active obedience to what we hear Him speak and instruct and be diligent to be watchful over His clear Words!.

Let us see the verse that follows:

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:4-7 “The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of Elohim has been perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked. 7 Beloved, I write no fresh command to you, but an old command which you have had from the beginning. The old command is the Word which you heard from the beginning.”.

Wait of your Elohim continually!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘wait’ comes from the root word קָוָה qavah – Strong’s H6960 which means, ‘to wait for, eagerly wait, expect, hopefully waiting’ and this word carries the intensity of being commanded to look eagerly for the soon return of our Light, Saviour and Refuge in who we continually trust and praise and are taught by; for when we wait on יהוה our strength is renewed – and waiting on יהוה requires our active response to who He is, with great intensity.

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 40:28-31 “Did you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting Elohim, יהוה, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men stumble and fall, 31 but those who wait on יהוה renew their strength, they raise up the wing like eagles, they run and are not weary, they walk and do not faint.”

This passage of Scripture, from Yeshayahu/Isaiah 40, is a powerful Truth that reaffirms why Sha’ul could say that he has strength in all situations, because it is our Master and Elohim and Saviour who empowers and strengthens us.

The One who made all is the One who empowers us!!! This is something that we must never forget.

There will certainly be times when we may feel faint and out of strength. Yet, as we properly wait on יהוה we will have our strength renewed, so that we shall not faint or grow weary but press on and overcome, as we guard to do His Word.

For more on ‘waiting for יהוה’, please see the notes of a message called, ‘WAIT, WAIT FOR YAHWEH!’, which can be found on our site (https://atfotc.com) under the sermons 2018/2019 menu or by clicking on the following link:

https://atfotc.com/wait-wait-for-yahweh-psalm-40/.

A further rebuke is given to Ephrayim, in verse 7-8, as we take note that Ephrayim is being identified as one who has become like the world and, in the process, had becoming lukewarm in their worship!.

In Hoshěa/Hosea 12:7, Ephrayim is identified as being a merchant!

This is a powerful play on words, used to be a wake-up call to a lukewarm nation that were about to be vomited out, of they did not repent!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘merchant’ is כְּנַעַן Kenaʽan – Strong’s H3667.

Kenaʽan was the grandson of Noaḥ and was cursed by Noaḥ, after Noaḥ knew what his grandson had done to him.

Yisra’ěl was commanded to drive of the Kenaʽanites and when they had not done this, they become a snare to them and caused them to become corrupted in their worship!

Ephrayim was now being associated with a corrupt people, who deceive, manipulate and oppress others for self-gain!.

In speaking of the Day of יהוה, we see how there will be no merchants in the House of יהוה!

Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 14:6 “And every pot in Yerushalayim and Yehuḏah shall be set-apart to יהוה of hosts. And all those who slaughter shall come and take them and cook in them. And there shall no longer be a merchant in the House of יהוה of hosts, in that day.”.

The House of Yisra’ěl had become a den of robbers, so to speak, and were falsifying scaled by deceit and oppressing the poor, boasting in their riches, thinking that they were perfect and sinless!

In a clear rebuke of Yisra’ěl, we see that despite them thinking they were ok, they were not:

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 7:11 “Has this house, which is called by My Name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Look, I, even I Myself have seen it,” declares יהוה.”

When our Master came in the flesh, He turned the tables of the money changers and drove them out of the Set-Apart Place!

Marqos/Mark 11:15-17 “And they came to Yerushalayim. יהושע, entering into the Set-apart Place, began to drive out those who bought and sold in the Set-apart Place, and overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those selling doves. 16 And He did not allow anyone to carry a vessel through the Set-apart Place. 17 And He was teaching, saying to them, “Has it not been written, ‘My House shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of robbers.’”

So many people today are corrupting the Word of Elohim, in order to amass wealth and they do so by manipulating people into giving to a lawless and corrupted system of worship!

Kěpha Bět/2 Peter 2:1-3 “But there also came to be false prophets among the people, as also among you there shall be false teachers, who shall secretly bring in destructive heresies, and deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 And many shall follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of, 3 and in greed, with fabricated words, they shall use you for gain. From of old their judgment does not linger, and their destruction does not slumber.”

The wrath of Elohim is coming upon the ‘merchants’, who are making themselves rich, through a promotion of lawlessness and the corruption and twisting of the Word of Elohim!.

Ephrayim proclaims that he is rich and without sin, yet he is not!

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 1:10 “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.”

So many people assume that they are perfect and sinless, while they have no regard for obeying the Torah!

We have all sinned and fallen short of the esteem of Elohim and when we confess our sins, He is trustworthy and righteous to forgive us the sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The problem that was identified with Ephrayim, was their assumed perfection because they looked to the physical and thought that their possessions showed that they were without sin!

Before giving a parable of a rich man who thought he had it all, Messiah said the following:

Luqas/Luke 12:15 “And He said to them, “Mind, and beware of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the excess of his possessions.”

I was once told by a man that I tried to reach with the Truth, that he did not need anything I had to offer, and said, ‘look at my life, I am blessed, why do I need to keep the law?’

This was a man who refused to come out of a Sunday worship system and claimed that he had no need of any change in his worship, as his life portrayed one who was extremely blessed with abundant finances!

Sadly, this is the mind-set of a corrupted Ephrayim, and when we consider these words in Hoshěa/Hosea 12:8 we can be quickly reminded of the words we see being given to the lukewarm assembly in Laodikeia, as recorded in:

Ḥazon/Revelation 3:17 “Because you say, ‘Rich I am, and I am made rich, and need none at all,’ and do not know that you are wretched, and pitiable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”

When people’s eyes are fixed on materialism, they are unable to see clearly and are unaware and blind to their crookedness and sin, thinking that they are blessed and have the wealth to prove it!

Messiah makes it clear to these lukewarm believers that they were focused on the wrong things and were putting their trust in their own riches which can never save!

Sha’ul tells us clearly, in:

Pilipiyim/Philippians 4:19 “And my Elohim shall fill all your need according to His riches in esteem by Messiah יהושע.”

יהושע tells us clearly in Yoḥanan/John 15:5-6 that without Him we are able to do nought, and if anyone does not stay in Him, they are thrown away and are burned!!

The words given here to Laodikeia are no different – if you think you are fine on your own – well then, I have news for you…!!!.

Wretched, pitiable, poor blind and naked!!!

This assembly had become proud and measured things by human standards instead of spiritual values. They may have had beautiful clothes, but יהושע urged them to wear white robes of righteousness, which would cover their spiritual nakedness, in contrast to the famous black wool garments from the region.

He then exhorted them to put salve on their eyes, and this was not the salve common to the city but rather the ‘heavenly eye salve’ – that is the ointment of the spiritual matters that are from above that can only be spiritually discerned..

For more on the message given to this assembly, please see the notes of a message called, ‘HOT OR COLD – NO HALF MEASURES ACCEPTABLE!’ which can be found on our site (https://atfotc.com) under the sermons 2014/2015 menu or by clicking on the following link:

https://atfotc.com/hot-or-cold-no-half-measures-acceptable-revelation-3-14-22/.

There are so many ‘lawless worshippers’ today, who are lukewarm in their assumptions and refuse to hear the call to come out and be separate, which makes it hard for them to pull up their roots in a corrupted man-made system that their lives have been built around!.

In Hoshěa/Hosea 12:9, יהוה reminds us that He is Elohim and has been since the land of Mitsrayim, which is an identifying marker of Him being our Saviour!

With this declaration of Him making us dwell in tents again, we are able to see that He is the One who will cause us to know Him and strip away all false security in worldly goods and ways!.

Ephrayim had put their trust in their wealth and riches and by יהוה making us dwell in tents, would cause us to not trust is self, but completely trust Him for all we need!

The dwelling in tents is a reminder of the Wilderness Journey and how those who did not obey do not enter in to the Promised Land, and so, by these words here, we are able to see the call to properly return to יהוה and put complete trust in Him!

He reminds Ephrayim that He had spoken through the prophets and given many parables!

They had not been listening and now was the time to have ears to hear and respond correctly, by turning away from all falsehood and ruin, lies and deceit and stop feeding on wind, but feed on the Truth!

Our Master came and to the crowds he only spoke in parables, calling many to repentance and those who hear and repent and get grafted back in to the Covenants of Promise, have their eyes opened to the Truth, with the secret of His reign being made clear to those in the House!

Tehillah/psalm 34:3 “Trust in יהוה, and do good; Dwell in the earth, and feed on steadfastness.”

The word that is translated as ‘steadfastness’ comes from the root word אֱמוּנָה emunah – Strong’s H530 which means, ‘firmness, steadfastness, faithfulness, stability, trust, truthful’, which comes from the primitive root verb אָמַן aman – Strong’s H539 which means, ‘confirm, support, be established, be faithful, stand firm, trust, be certain, believe, be trustworthy and loyal, be reliable and dependable, be confident’..

When looking at אֱמוּנָה emunah – Strong’s H530 in the ancient pictographic script we are able to learn the clear characteristic of trustworthiness, as it looks like this:.

Aleph – אֱ:

The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as ‘the head of an ox’, and represents ‘strength’, meaning ‘muscle’ as the ox is the strongest of the livestock animals. This also carries the meaning of ‘yoke’, as an ox is placed in a yoke in order to plough or pull a heavy load in the right direction. This can also picture for us the ‘red heifer’ sacrifice that יהושע Messiah fulfilled!.

Mem – מֶ

The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as ‘water’, and also carries the meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture that which is mighty or massive as well as the unknown. We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture. This also carries for us the picture of washing, as we understand the function of water being that which cleanses us and sustains us, showing us how we are washed and sustained by the Living Waters of the Word!

Waw/Vav – וּ:

The ancient script has this letter pictured as , which is a ‘peg or tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying the tent or other items. The possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’..

Nun – נָ:

The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as , which pictures a ‘sprouting seed’ and gives the idea of continuation or an offspring or an heir, speaking of that which sprouts forth to be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life expectancy..

Hey – ה:

The ancient script has this letter pictured as , which is a ‘man standing with his arms raised out’. This word can mean “behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation”; from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of surrender, as we lift up our hands and submit to יהוה as we lift our hands in praise, declaring His authority under which we humbly submit!.

In the understanding of this word אֱמוּנָה emunah – Strong’s H530 representing for us ‘steadfastness’, we can clearly see from these pictures the following:

The complete and sure strength of our Master, who washes us and secures for us the promise of everlasting life, as we submit to Him and praise Him with our all. .

Our ability and strength to remain trustworthy servants comes as we allow The Word of our Master to wash us and secure us in Him, as we walk in total submission to Him, with hands lifted high in continual praise of our Master and Elohim..

FEEDING ON WIND OR FEEDING ON THE TRUTH?.

The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘truth’ is אֱמֶת emeth – Strong’s H571 which means, ‘truth, firmness, faithfulness’, and this word carries an underlying sense of certainty and dependability – and we know that The Word of יהוה is truth:

Tehillah/Psalm 119:142 “Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and Your Torah is truth.”

Tehillah/Psalm 119:151 “You are near, O יהוה, and all Your commands are truth.”

Tehillah/Psalm 119:160 “The sum of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous right-rulings are forever.”.

Anyone who claims to serve יהוה, without walking in, and giving heed to follow, His Torah, commands and instructions, are not serving in Truth!

And those who claim that the Torah/Law of Elohim has been done away with, are sadly riddled with the leaven of the hypocrisy of man’s theologies and dogmas, that seeks only to serve self rather than the Giver of Life, while vainly claiming the opposite!

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 11:18 tells us that the one sowing righteousness will earn/receive a TRUE reward! Our reward is in the heavens and those who are sowing righteousness will receive their reward from the One who is The TRUTH and whose Word is TRUTH!.

In the ancient pictographic symbols of this word, we are given a greater insight in understanding how יהושע Messiah is THE TRUTH!

This word – אֱמֶת emeth – Strong’s H571, in the ancient pictographic script, look like this:.

Aleph – אֱ

Mem – מֶ

Taw – ת

The ancient script has this letter as which is pictured as two crossed sticks, and can represent for us ‘seal, covenant, mark or sign’; as this once again points to the complete work of Messiah in the renewal of the Covenant in His Blood that brings the two Houses of Yisra’ĕl and Yehuḏah together in Him, as One, for He is not only the ‘aleph’, but is also the ‘taw’ – the beginning and the end of all creation!.

As we consider these letters, in describing Messiah as being the TRUTH, we are able to clearly see that it is by His strength and might that He has passed through the waters, in order to secure for us His Covenants of Promise! Messiah is the Aleph and the Taw – the first and the last, who came from above (passing through the waters of the heavens and the earth) in order to redeem us according to His Word!.

He is the Truth and His Word does not return empty!

His Word is Truth and His Word leads us in His Truth.

His Word lights our WAY and as we walk in Him, by walking in His Word, we are assured that our feet are on His solid path! Our reward is a sure and dependable one – everlasting life!!!.

The Truth has been made known to us and His pleasant Words of Truth, that reveal the knowledge of Elohim, has caused us to know Him and therefore be ready, with His Truth on our lips, in order to be faithful ambassadors who, speak His Truth to others, so that they too can be caused to know Him and trust Him!.

FEEDING ON WIND OR FEEDING ON THE TRUTH?.

As we carefully consider and meditate upon the words in Hoshěa/Hosea, may we do our utmost to be found by our Master as ones who are feeding on the Truth!

When Messiah prayed to the Father, he said the following:

Yoḥanan/John 17:17 “Set them apart in Your truth – Your Word is truth.”

The Greek word that is used here for ‘truth’ is the word ἀλήθεια alētheia – Strong’s G225 which means, ‘truth, truly, according to truth’.

The Master יהושע Messiah tells us clearly in Yoḥanan/John 14:6 that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life – and to walk in the Truth is to walk in Him: in Him in whom there is not spot or blemish or any deceit of falsehood!

To walk in Him, is to walk according to the Truth and in purity of the Truth, as we hear, guard and do His commands, daily feeding on our lawful bread!.

Don not be like Ephrayim who was feeding in wind and chasing an east wind! Feed on the truth pursue set-apartness, being filled with spirit!

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 5:15-21 “See then that you walk exactly, not as unwise, but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are wicked. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the desire of יהוה is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is loose behaviour, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to each other in psalms and songs of praise and spiritual songs, singing and striking the strings in your heart to the Master, 20 giving thanks always for all to Elohim the Father, in the Name of our Master יהושע Messiah, 21 subjecting yourselves to each other in the fear of Elohim”.

FEEDING ON WIND OR FEEDING ON THE TRUTH?.

Let the mirror of the Word show you what you have been feeding on, in order to make sure that you are not found to be feeding on the vanity of a futile and destructive wind, but rather on the truth of Elohim that causes you to be a steadfast and trustworthy witness of His Truth!.

יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you and show favour to you; יהוה lift up His face upon you and give you shalom!.