WAITING IS HARD - God often keeps us waiting. Face to face with threatening foes, in the midst of alarms, encircled by perils, beneath the impending rock. May we not go? Is it not time to strike our tents? Have we not suffered to the point of utter collapse? May we not exchange the glare and heat for green pastures and still waters? There is no answer. The cloud tarries, and we must remain, though sure of manna, rock-water, shelter, and defense. God never keeps us at post without assuring us of His presence, and sending us daily supplies. An hour of waiting! Yet there seems such need To reach that spot sublime! I long to reach them--but I long far more To trust HIS time! - "When the cloud tarried . . . then the children of Israel . . . journeyed not" - This was the supreme test of obedience. It was comparatively easy to strike tents, when the fleecy folds of the cloud were slowly gathering from off the Tabernacle, and it floated majestically before the host. Change is always delightful; and there was excitement and interest in the route, the scenery, and the locality of the next halting-place. But, ah, the tarrying. Then, however uninviting and sultry the location, however trying to flesh and blood, however irksome to the impatient disposition, however perilously exposed to danger -- there was no option but to remain encamped. The Psalmist says, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."

............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Waiting Is Hard

.

God often keeps us waiting. Face to face with threatening foes, in the midst of alarms, encircled by perils, beneath the impending rock. May we not go? Is it not time to strike our tents? Have we not suffered to the point of utter collapse? 

.

May we not exchange the glare and heat for green pastures and still waters? There is no answer. The cloud tarries, and we must remain, though sure of manna, rock-water, shelter, and defense. God never keeps us at post without assuring us of His presence, and sending us daily supplies. 

Streams in the Desert

 

 

"When the cloud tarried . . . then the children of Israel . . . journeyed not" - (Numbers 9:19).

This was the supreme test of obedience.

It was comparatively easy to strike tents, when the fleecy folds of the cloud were slowly gathering from off the Tabernacle, and it floated majestically before the host.

Change is always delightful; and there was excitement and interest in the route, the scenery, and the locality of the next halting-place.

But, ah, the tarrying.

Then, however uninviting and sultry the location, however trying to flesh and blood, however irksome to the impatient disposition, however perilously exposed to danger -- there was no option but to remain encamped.

The Psalmist says, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."

And what He did for the Old Testament saints He will do for believers throughout all ages.

Still God often keeps us waiting.

Face to face with threatening foes, in the midst of alarms, encircled by perils, beneath the impending rock.

May we not go?

Is it not time to strike our tents?

Have we not suffered to the point of utter collapse?

May we not exchange the glare and heat for green pastures and still waters?

There is no answer.

The cloud tarries, and we must remain, though sure of manna, rock-water, shelter, and defense.

God never keeps us at post without assuring us of His presence, and sending us daily supplies.

Wait, young man, do not be in a hurry to make a change!

Minister, remain at your post! Until the cloud clearly moves, you must tarry.

Wait, then, thy Lord's good pleasure! He will be in plenty of time! -- Daily Devotional Commentary

An hour of waiting! Yet there seems such need To reach that spot sublime! I long to reach them--but I long far more To trust HIS time!

"Sit still, my daughter" -- Yet the heathen die, They perish while I stay! I long to reach them--but I long far more To trust HIS way!

'Tis good to get, 'Tis good indeed to give! Yet is it better still -- O'er breadth, thro' length, down length, up height, To trust HIS will! -- F. M. N.

Everyone goes through difficult seasons, tough losses, and moments that feel unbearable. In today's world, people thirst more than ever for reassurance and guidance. Streams in the Desert provides a river of wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration to weary travelers.

https://www.backtothebible.org/post/waiting-is-hard

BIBLICAL TYPOLOGY - Typology is just a fancy way of saying symbols, foreshadowing, or you guessed it, types of an object that represents something else. In the Jewish sacrificial system, they sacrificed a lamb at Passover. This was a type. In the New Testament, Jesus becomes the ultimate Passover lamb sacrifice. You may have heard of Christ described as the second or last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45) or the Holy Spirit indwelling in our hearts as a kind of Tabernacle (Hebrews 9:8-9). In other words, any time you’ve run into symbols twice in the Bible, you may have encountered something known as typology. We often talk about how the Bible is one overarching narrative, and like excellent literature, it foreshadows things to come, via types. Often, we’ll see a vaguer picture in the Old Testament and its fulfillment in the New Testament. For instance, in the Jewish sacrificial system, they sacrificed a lamb at Passover. This was a type. In the New Testament, Jesus becomes the ultimate Passover lamb sacrifice. Symbols have always existed in the Bible since the Old Testament. Symbols and types would’ve been well-known by Jews during the time of Jesus and beyond. We can find some types in the Old Testament that represented something fulfilled in the New Testament. A type must be explicitly mentioned in the New Testament. It’s slightly different from an illustration.

.............................................................................................................................................

Biblical Typology

What Is Biblical Typology?

Typology is just a fancy way of saying symbols, foreshadowing, or you guessed it, types of an object that represents something else. In the Jewish sacrificial system, they sacrificed a lamb at Passover. This was a type - in the New Testament, Jesus becomes the ultimate Passover lamb sacrifice

Hope Bolinger

Contributing Writer

 

You may have heard of Christ described as the second or last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45) or the Holy Spirit indwelling in our hearts as a kind of Tabernacle (Hebrews 9:8-9).

In other words, any time you’ve run into symbols twice in the Bible, you may have encountered something known as typology.

Typology is just a fancy way of saying symbols, foreshadowing, or you guessed it, types of an object that represents something else.

We often talk about how the Bible is one overarching narrative, and like excellent literature, it foreshadows things to come, via types.

Often, we’ll see a vaguer picture in the Old Testament and its fulfillment in the New Testament.

For instance, in the Jewish sacrificial system, they sacrificed a lamb at Passover. This was a type.

In the New Testament, Jesus becomes the ultimate Passover lamb sacrifice.

What is the history of biblical typology?

What are some more examples of biblical typology?

What are the dangers of getting too invested in typology? And why should this matter to us?

We’ll dive into these questions and more.

What Is the History of Biblical Typology?

Of course, symbols have always existed in the Bible since the Old Testament, but what we’re asking is when did the perspectives regarding typology and its influence on the Bible come to be?

It appears, as linked in the article above, that these viewpoints and the study of typology emerged sometimes in the 17^th century.

We do have to keep in mind there are a number of schools of typology that formed in the 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th centuries, respectively.

Nevertheless, we do have to keep in mind that although the study of typology may not have emerged in the academic sense, that those, especially in the New Testament, in Judeo culture would’ve placed a heavy emphasis on symbols (see the book of Hebrews for numerous examples).

Symbols and types would’ve been well-known by Jews during the time of Jesus and beyond.

What Are Some Examples of Biblical Types?

Apart from the examples listed above, we can find some types in the Old Testament that represented something fulfilled in the New Testament.

As mentioned in the article above, a type must be explicitly mentioned in the New Testament.

It’s slightly different from an illustration.

We may be able to draw parallels between the lives of Jesus and the lives of Old Testament heroes such as Joseph or Daniel, but the New Testament never directly links the two.

It should come as no surprise that most of the “types” we find are related to Jesus.

For a listing of types (and something known as an antitype) check out this resource here.

What Are the Dangers of Typology?

As is the case with most schools of Christian thought or study, believers can fall into dangerous extremes. Typology is no different.

One such danger includes getting obsessed with types and believing that everything in the New Testament is some sort of type for something vaguely mentioned in the Old Testament.

We run the risk of interpreting Scriptures the wrong way or uncovering something that isn’t there in the first place and missing the point of the passage.

Nevertheless, used wisely and with discernment, like any other methodology of Christian study and academia, typology can help us to see the bigger picture of the biblical narrative via the linking of the Old and New Testament via types.

Why Does This Matter?

Why should we care about typology?

First, this issue matters, because we need to understand that extremes do exist in any form of Christian study.

We need to be wary of eisegesis (reading our own biases into the text or wanting the text to say something that it doesn’t). 

Second, we can see God’s plan unfold through symbols. He doesn’t let anything go to waste.

What may have seemed like an odd sacrificial system gets fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ.

Even figures like Melchizedek and Adam have lives that are mirrored (or anti-mirrored) through Jesus.

Finally, this shows that God is in control.

If he fulfills his plan through even the smallest of details and has his fingerprints over the symbols throughout the Bible, we know that he will do what he says he will do and that he will take care of us.

 

Hope Bolinger is a literary agent at C.Y.L.E. and a graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program. More than 600 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest to Keys for Kids. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. Her column "Hope's Hacks," tips and tricks to avoid writer's block, reaches 6,000+ readers weekly and is featured monthly on Cyle Young's blog. Her modern-day Daniel, Blaze, (Illuminate YA) Den (releasing July 2020), Dear Hero (releasing September 2020), and Dear Henchman (releasing 2021)  Find out more about her at her website.

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-is-biblical-typology.html?utm_source=Jeeng

MYSTERIES OF THE MENORAH - The menorah was not simply a lampstand; it was a symbol of the Torah and its light. The menorah, as a representation of the Torah, is appropriately fashioned after a tree – a tree of life.

.

The Mysteries of the Menorah

.

 “Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other.” Exodus 25:31–32

The Torah portion for this week is Terumah, which means “contributions,” from Exodus 25:1–27:19, and the Haftorah is from 1 Kings 5:26–6:13.

In this week’s Torah reading, we learn about the details concerning the construction of the Tabernacle and the vessels it contained.

While it might be easy to gloss over these sections, thinking they are meaningless and irrelevant today as there is no Tabernacle or Holy Temple, each detail and each instruction contains deep symbolism and wisdom for us all.

The mysteries of the Tabernacle are deep and the secrets that they hold for us are enlightening.

The Jewish sages teach that Moses struggled greatly with the construction of the Temple’s menorah. God taught him the meaning of the menorah, but the hard part was giving the ideas a physical form.

The menorah wasn’t simply a lampstand; it was a symbol of the Torah and its light.

Let’s take a look at the physical description of the menorah. It had a central trunk and six branches on either side. It had flowers, buds, and blossoms. The menorah, quite obviously, resembled a tree.

We read in Proverbs 3:18 about the Torah that “She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.” The menorah, as a representation of the Torah, is appropriately fashioned after a tree – a tree of life.

Here are but a few lessons that we can learn from the menorah and the secrets that it holds.

Firstly, the menorah, like a tree, represents growth. Studying the Torah is all about growth. It’s about starting our lives on one level and finishing on another. If we are not growing, we are not living. Life is about change — and hopefully for the better.

Secondly, the menorah contains symbols referring to different seasons. There are flowers, but there are also buds and blossoms. Just as a tree goes through changes and seasons, so do our lives. There are times that are full of flowers and times that things are just starting to bud. There are times that our branches seem bare and times that we are in full bloom. The trick is to appreciate the season that we are in and come closer to God in all seasons.

Finally, the menorah has a firm base with arms stretching upward. The flame on top of every branch reaches heavenward. Likewise, a tree is deeply rooted in the earth, yet its branches stretch up to the heavens. We, too, need to live our lives firmly planted on earth, and yet at all times, we must strive upward, toward God.

This week, let’s take the light and the lessons of the menorah into our lives. Let us continually work for growth, change, and closeness to God by holding firm to His Word, the tree of life and source of all blessings.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Founder and President

Devotional@HolyLandMoments.org

http://www.holylandmoments.ca/devotionals/the-mysteries-of-the-menorah

You might also like:

Tabernacles: An Introduction 

The Myth of the High Priest’s Rope

http://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2018/05/rope-around-waist-or-ankle-of-high.html

.

Sometimes a Rooster is Not a Rooster

Priestly Blessing Takes Place on Temple Mount, Under Muslims’ Watchful Eyes