Genesis, Message 25: The dream of Bethel

Crystallization-Study of Genesis, Message 25:

"The dream of Bethel"

 

God had a purpose for Jacob, which was for him to be the seed or the heir. Jacob also had a purpose for his own life, which was to be number one. It was not wrong to have his own purpose. But it was not pleasing to God that he used his own natural ability and his own clever scheme to accomplish his own purpose (Genesis 27). As a result, Jacob had to escape from his brother, leave his family, and became a lonesome wanderer.

  

Christ is the pillow Stone and pillar Stone for God's house.

¹⁰ Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran.
¹¹ So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. (Genesis 28:10-11 NKJV)

Here in Genesis 28, Jacob could not use his natural ability anymore. He used to live in a warm family and be much loved by his parents. The soft comfortable pillow on which he used to put his head was no more. He was a lonely man and a hopeless wanderer. When he felt tired and sleepy, instead of putting his head on a soft comfortable man-made pillow, he had to use the God-made stone pillow, upon which he could rest. And this very stone in fact represents Christ. 

This is a common experience that most, if not all, believers can testify, is it not? Many times under God's sovereign arrangement, they are allowed by God to experience hopelessness, restlessness, tiredness and loneliness. They cannot trust in their own natural ability any more. And in those very moments they turn to the Lord for help, put their trust in Him, and find true rest upon the stone Pillow, Jesus Christ. Praise The Lord that we as a believer can always find rest in Him. 

¹⁸ Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it.
¹⁹ And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. (Genesis 28:18-19 NKJV)

If we follow the story, we would see that the stone pillow under Jacob's head was progressively becoming stone pillar for God's house (the meaning of "Bethel").

This implies that Christ is not only our Pillow. He is also the Pillar for God's house. The Centre of this story is that God was looking for a house. And he eventually built up the Church, having Christ as the foundation stone upon which the Church is built (Matthew 16:18), the cornerstone that joins us together (Ephesians 2:19-22) and the top stone that finishes God's building process (Zechariah 4:7).

The stone signifies not only Christ, but also all transformed believers. Man is made of clay. Just as no one would build a proper house out of clay, God would not use man as clay to build His house either. For using us, He first needs to transform us into a precious stone, as he did for Peter when He called him.

And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone). (John 1:42 NKJV)

We therefore would be a stone pillow that other people can come and find rest, and also a stone pillar, being built up together with Christ and other saints to become God's house. Ultimately, this house shall become a city, the New Jerusalem, in which God and man live together happily ever after, as clearly described in the book of Revelation. 

Christ is the Ladder joining us to God and God to us.

Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. (Genesis 28:22 NKJV)

In that night, God appeared to Jacob in a dream, revealing His wonderful plan for mankind. That night was the first time in Jacob's life that he had experienced God.

Like Jacob, many of us may have had the same experience of loneliness and hopelessness. God might allow that to happen because we too much relied upon our own natural ability, which hindered us from allowing God's purpose to be fulfilled in our life. Not until our natural ability was put to an end could we dream God's dream.

In Jacob's dream, the ladder did not come down from the heaven. It was there already, but he only had not seen it until his closed eyes were opened. And interestingly, the angels did not descend first, and then ascend.

⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote --- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
⁴⁶ And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"
⁴⁸ Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
⁴⁹ Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
⁵⁰ Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these."
⁵¹ And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." (John 1:45-51 NKJV)

A few thousand years later, Nathanael was under a fig tree when Philip came to invite him to come to Jesus. Even though Nathanael was a bit sceptical, he followed Philip anyway. And when he met Jesus, he must be very shocked. Jesus knew him very well even though they had not met before. And Jesus knew not only where he was before he came, but also who he was and what he was reading.

According to the teaching of Jewish religious teachers or Rabbis, the best place in the world to meditate and study the Scriptures is under a fig tree. Nathanael was probably a seeking one, meditating and reading the Scriptures there.

It was very likely that he was reading Genesis 28. This can be deduced from Jesus's saying that Nathanael was "an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" (John 1:47) And we all know that before being transformed, Jacob, from whom the nation of Israel originated, was the one full of deceit. That is a big contrast, is that not? If it was true, Jesus probably knew that Nathaneal could never understand when he read about Jacob's dream at Bethel. He therefore showed him one of the greatest revelation in the bible concerning Himself. Jacob's dream at Bethel was not just a fancy dream. It was about the Ladder. And the Ladder could refer to nothing else but Christ Himself as the Son of Man who brought the heaven (God) to earth (man) and joined earth (man) to the heaven (God).

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6 NKJV)

The dream of Jacob at Bethel was therefore one of the most obvious prophecy regarding Christ. Its significance was confirmed by clear explanation of Jesus in John 1:51.

Christ is here already among us, but we cannot see Him until our closed eyes are opened. And the ascending and descending of the angel represent our experience when we first met Christ. We were brought to the heaven and the heaven was brought to us as soon as we received Him to our life. God and us became one through the work of Christ on the cross. It is likely that the angels then brought the good news to the heaven when one received Christ as their Saviour, and also recruited more angels to the earth to advance God's work on earth.

It is also noteworthy that Jesus revealed Himself as the Son of man here. It is perhaps His most favourite title that He used in His 3-year ministry on earth. He humbly identified Himself as a man, and also confirmed that He was the promised Messiah (Daniel 7:13). He used this title at least 80 times in the Gospels.

John 1:1, Jesus is revealed as God. He is 100% God. His divinity is for imparting His divine life to us.

But here at the end of the same chapter, He is revealed as the Son of Man. He is also 100% man. And His humanity is for God's building.

Praise the Lord that we have the Son of God who became our life and the Son of Man for the building up of God's house.

 

Thirayost Nimmanon (Tony)

 

Further reading

• The Holy Word for Morning Revival: Crystallization-Study of Genesis, week 25.
• Life study of Genesis, messages 68, 69 and 72.
• Life study of John, message 4.
• http://jaymack.net/genesis-commentary/Hd-The-Promise-Confirmed-to-Jacob-at-Bethel.asp

Genesis, Message 24: A Practical Living in Oneness with the Lord and a Type of Christ Marrying the Church

Crystallization-Study of Genesis, Message 24:

"A Practical Living in Oneness with the Lord and a Type of Christ Marrying the Church"

Genesis chapter 24 contains a lovely story about Abraham's plan to find a wife for his son Isaac. Abraham was old already at that time. The promise regarding the land had already been fulfilled. But what about the seed? Yes, he had Isaac as the promised seed. However, to accomplish God's eternal purpose, seed needed to multiply to fill the land, so that both the seed and the land could become God's expression and representation on earth. And Abraham believe in God who told him that in Isaac his seed should come.

But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called." (Genesis 21:12 NKJV)

Therefore this marriage is not only for Abraham's or Isaac's own satisfaction. It is for the fulfilment of God's eternal purpose. That is why Moses dedicated this long chapter to the story of bride quest for Isaac.

We can learn many lessons from this lovely story. Many people apply the story for teaching about how to choose a right one to marry. Since I have no experience of marriage myself, I think I am not qualified to share in this aspect. However, there are much more lessons to learn from this story. I am really thankful to Watchman Nee and Witness Lee for their wonderful ministry that has clearly explained God's revelations in the bible, including this one, in an extra-ordinary way.

I would like to share with you 2 main points. Firstly, I would like to share about the characteristics of Abraham and his servant in the story that are worth learning form. Then I would briefly link the story in typology to the work of the Spirit on bringing us, the Bride, to Christ. 

Lessons from Abraham and his servant

Abraham

Abraham knew God so well that he was called "a friend of God" (James 2:23) . He had been dealt with by God, and his life had been gradually changed after each dealing. Now his relationship with God was so intimate. He had always walked before the LORD (Genesis 24:40) and had greatly been blessed by Him that His servant could testify to Laban (Genesis 24:35). He simply walked in oneness with God.

In the story, we did not see how Abraham got the idea of finding a girl for his son. Abraham's oneness with God made him know God's will very well that he could do things in accordance with God's will without being told by Him. This is the life of the one who was always in God's presence, walking before the LORD all the time. He therefore knew the desire of God's heart, thought in the same way God did, and took action accordingly for the fulfilment of god's purpose. He realised it was through Isaac's marriage that God's purpose would be fulfilled. A great nation would come from this seed. And most importantly, the real Seed, Jesus Christ, through whom all the peoples would be blessed, was being born in his line. 

Would you like to always live according to His perfect will so that His eternal purpose could be accomplished in us and through us? Then always walk before the LORD and live in oneness with Him all the day long. And like Abraham, you will know the desire of God's heart and every decision you make will agree with God's will.

Abraham's servant

Abraham trusted in God when he sent his servant to find a girl for Isaac. And like the master, his servant also trusted in God that He would guide him to meet the right girl for Isaac. 

The servant must have learned a lot through Abraham life. He went to the land looking for God's leading in the circumstances. And God expressed His sovereignty in the circumstances. He simply obeyed the master and trusted in God that his mission would be accomplished.

Like the servant, we should also have such a simple life. We should be faithful in what God has commanded us to do, seek guidance from Him through simple prayer, and trust that He will help us accomplish the tasks.  

Marriage of Isaac as a type of the union of Christ and the Church

There are 4 main characters in the story. In typology:

• Abraham represents the Father.
• Isaac represents the Son or the Bridegroom.
• The servant represents the Spirit.
• Rebekah represents the Church or the Bride.

The story clearly portrays the work of the Spirit, represented by the servant, on seeking the Bride for Christ.
In Genesis 24, Abraham commissioned the servant to find a girl for his son Isaac from his own race or family. He therefore went to reach and contact Rebekah. When he met her, he revealed and brought the son's riches (the gifts) to the bride-to-be (v. 22), which were for her own beautification without causing her to be occupied with. Furthermore, he gave testimony and convinced her to marry Isaac (vv. 54-58). Eventually, he brought her to Isaac (vv. 61-67). Additionally, they met each other in the evening time (v. 63) and the meeting resulted in Isaac's great comfort after his mother died (v. 67).

In parallel, God commissioned the Spirit to find the elects (who have become Christ's own race since Christ became human at His incarnation) for His Son. The Spirit therefore came to reach us and open our heart to the Gospel. He then guided us into all truth, glorified the Son and declared all the riches in Christ to us (John 16:13-15). All the riches that He brought to us were for the beautification of the Bride, but not for her to be occupied with. Eventually, we will be brought to the marriage of the Lamb as His Bride (Revelation 19:6-9). Additionally, we will meet Christ at the end of this age (represented by the evening time), and the meeting will be Christ's great comfort and satisfaction.

Lord, thank you very much for the work of the Spirit who brought us to the Son. May You keep us in Your way, and make us ready for the coming of the Groom, so that He and we, as His Bride will greatly rejoice together.

⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
⁸ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
⁹ receiving the end of your faith --- the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:6-9 NKJV)

Thirayost Nimmanon (Tony)

Further reading

• The Holy Word for Morning Revival: Crystallization-Study of Genesis, week 24.
• Witness Lee: Life-Study of Genesis, messages 60 and 61.

The Vision of Consecration

The word "consecration" is a biblical term, which, according to Easton's Bible Dictionary, means the devoting or setting apart of anything to the worship or service of God. In the Old Testament, God's people were to devote or consecrate something to the Lord as a part of worship, such as their fields, cattle, first-born son and first-born beast. And in the New Testament, we all are required to consecrate our whole life to the Lord, as one of my favourite passages in the Bible says:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1 NKJV)

When talking about consecration, I would think of this verse first. But surprisingly, the message this week is mainly based on some passages in the book of Leviticus. And Romans 12:1 has become much clearer to me in the light of God's revelation in that book regarding the offerings, particularly the burnt offering.

Revelation of Christ as the tabernacle and the offerings revealed in Exodus and Leviticus.

The book of Exodus ended with God's revelation concerning the tabernacle, which was God's dwelling place among His people in the wilderness. However, the tabernacle in the Old Testament was just a shadow pointing to its Reality, Jesus Christ, who brought God to man at His incarnation.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 NKJV)

It is noteworthy that the word "dwelt" can be more literally and accurately translated as "tabernacled." Therefore John 1:14 definitely proclaims that the Word who became flesh was the living reality of God's presence on earth among us.

After the book of Exodus, Moses further wrote about another important revelation of God in Leviticus. It was about the offerings. Like the tabernacle, all the offerings were in fact just a shadow pointing to their Reality, Jesus Christ, who became our ultimate Offering, bringing man to God. This was perfectly accomplished at His crucifixion and resurrection.

8 Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law),
9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second.
10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:8-10 NKJV)

 

Christ as our burnt Offering.

There are 5 major types of offerings in Leviticus, all of which are representing Christ in different aspects.

• Burnt offering - Christ for God's satisfaction.
• Meal offering - Christ for the satisfaction of God's people.
• Peace offering - Christ as the peace between God and God's people.
• Sin offering - Christ for the sins of God's people.
• Trespass offering - Christ for the sin of God's people.

Now I am going to focus only on the burnt offering, which is detailed in Leviticus chapter 1, and also in Leviticus 6:8-13

The main purpose of burnt offering is not mainly for redemption of man from sin, but for God's satisfaction. The animal that is offered needs to be male without blemish (v. 3), and will be completely burnt into ashes by the priest. It will become "a sweet aroma to the LORD" (v. 9). This signifies that God is satisfied only when one is perfect and absolute for the Lord.

Definitely, only Christ was perfect and was absolute for the Father. He gave up His life and obediently offered Himself as the ultimate burnt offering for God's satisfaction.

We as burnt offering

Now let's come back to Romans 12:1.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1 NKJV)

This is what Paul exhorts us to do. We are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God. As a burnt offering, an aspect of sacrifice, we are also to become absolute for the Lord for His satisfaction. But how could we do that? We have no strength even to offer our life to God, have we? What should our reaction be?

I would like to apply what Ron Kangas shared in a fellowship when he came to visit the church in Cardiff to this. He was talking about the commandment of Jesus that we "shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48 NKJV), which also seems to be impossible for us. Brother Ron suggested that we should follow these 3 simple steps.

Firstly, we should say "Amen" to what God has commanded us to do or to be. We know that all of God's Word is for our good.

Secondly, we should accept and confess that we cannot do it. We cannot be perfect. We cannot be absolutely for the Lord. We are weak.

Finally, we should trust that Christ in us can do it. He perfectly did it. And now the same Christ is in us. Like the Levitical priests in the Old Testament, we must lay our hands on Him, thereby being identified and united with Him through prayer.

However, another question that may challenge us is that, are we willing to present ourselves a living sacrifice to the Lord?
The world says that if we want to be happy, we need to seek self-glory and prosperity. Could that really us true happiness? By no means.
If we want to experience true joy, we must do something different from what the world says. We must be willing to be identified with Christ. We must be burnt even into ashes. Only when we have been burnt into ashes can we experience true joy and can God transform us to precious materials - gold, silver and precious stones, which will eventually become the New Jerusalem.

Lord, help me that I, as a living sacrifice, will clearly see this vision and willingly offer myself to be continually burnt into ashes, producing aroma for Your satisfaction. May You gradually transform me by renewing of my mind, that I may prove what Your good and acceptable and perfect will is. And by gladly accepting and following Your will, may You ultimately transform me into precious materials for the building up of the Body and the New Jerusalem.

Thirayost Nimmanon (Tony)

 

 Reference

• The Holy Word for Morning Revival: The Heavenly Vision, week 6.
• Witness Lee: Life-Study of Leviticus, messages 2, 3 and 23.