Showing posts with label Aaron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aaron. Show all posts

Friday, June 19, 2015

"It Brought Forth a Blossom" ✡ Shabbat Shalom from Beautiful Israel

The staff of Aaron of the house of Levi had blossomed; it brought forth a blossom, sprouted a bud and almonds ripened.

NUMBERS (17:23)
 

וְהִנֵּה פָּרַח מַטֵּה אַהֲרֹן לְבֵית לֵוִי וַיֹּצֵא פֶרַח וַיָּצֵץ צִיץ וַיִּגְמֹל שְׁקֵדִים

בְּמִדְבַּר יז:כג
v'-hi-nay pa-rakh ma-tay a-ha-ron l'-bayt lay-vee va-yo-tzay pe-rakh va-ya-tzaytz tzeetz va-yi-g'-mol sh'-kay-deem

Shabbat Inspiration

This week's Torah portion (Numbers 16-18) discusses the rebellion by Korach against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Upon careful analysis, a remarkable pattern emerges, one with a powerful lesson for those who still try to rebel against God’s will, especially when it comes to denying the Jewish people’s right to the Land. Sign this vital petition showing you stand with Israel.
 

How to Con America and Get a Nuclear Bomb

How did Iran manage to dupe America to be set firmly on the road to nuclear weapons? Iran cleverly dodged inspections, increased its centrifuges and continued to enrich uranium. No deal is better than a bad deal.

Israeli Students Denied Tour of Louvre

In the latest incident of suspected French anti-Semitism, Israeli students set to visit Paris this summer were denied reservations for guided tours at two French sites.
 

Honor Diaries DVD: Culture is No Excuse for Abuse

"Honor Diaries" features nine courageous Arab women who engage in a dialogue about gender inequality.  More than a movie, Honor Diaries is a movement meant to inspire viewers to learn more about issues facing women in Muslim societies, and to act for change.

Today's Israel Photo

Almond tree blossoms by Ilan Rosen. They are the first trees to blossom throughout Israel, and the pink and white flowers give way to almonds in just a few months. Almond trees have grown in Israel since Biblical times and were amongst the gifts sent by Jacob to Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 43:11).
 

Thank You

Today's Scenes and Inspiration is sponsored by Linda Riddle from Williamsburg, Virginia. Toda Raba!
 

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Saturday, April 19, 2014

The "Other" Passover Commemoration -- The Samaritans Still Sacrifice the Pascal Lamb (Updated from two years ago)

Israel's History - a Picture a Day (Beta)


Posted: 18 Apr 2014
Samaritan high priest Yitzhak ben Amram
ben Shalma ben Tabia (circa 1900). View
other pictures of priests here and here
The Samaritan population in the Land of Israel numbered more than a million people 1,500 years ago, according to some estimates.  This ancient people lived in northern Israel and claimed to have been descendants of those tribes of Israel which were not sent out into the Babylonian exile.  One line of Samaritans traces their lineage back to Aaron the priest, and they consider their "holy mountain" to be Mt. Gerizim outside of Nablus (Shechem) -- not Jerusalem.  

Samaritan family (1899)






The Samaritans worship the God of Abraham, revere a scroll comparable to the five books of Moses, and maintain Passover customs, including the sacrifice of the Pascal Lamb. 


Samaritan synagogue in Shechem
(1899). Also view here

Jews ceased the Passover sacrifice with the destruction of the second Temple.


Already in Talmudic days, Jewish authorities rejected the Samaritans' claims to be part of the Jewish people. The Cutim, according to rabbinic authorities, arrived in the Land of Israel around 720 BCE with the Assyrians from Cuth, believed to be located in today's Iraq.

Over the millennia, the Samaritans almost disappeared.  Persecuted, massacred and forcibly converted by Byzantine Christians and by Islamic authorities, the Samaritans' community today numbers fewer than 1,000 who are located on Mount Gerizim near Nablus (Shechem) and in Holon, Israel.


Baking matza on Mt. Gerizim (circa 1900)

 This year, the Samaritans celebrated their Passover on Sunday, April, 13, 2014.


Preparing a lamb (1900)


































The photographers of the American Colony photographed dozens of pictures of the Samaritans' sacrificial service.  Their photos, and other early photographers can be found in the Library of Congress online archives.


"The prepared carcasses
ready for the oven" (1900)


Praying on Mt. Gerizim (1900)


















According to Samaritan officials, the community totals 751 persons.  Here is the breakdown with the first figure showing the number near Nablus (Shechem) and the second number showing the number living in Holon.

On January 1, 2012, the Community numbered 751 persons [353 in Kiryat Luza-Mount Gerizim, Samaria; 398 primarily in Holon in the State of Israel: 396 males [190:206] and 355 females [170: 185].  These included 350 married persons [158:192], 215 unmarried males [104:111], 153 unmarried females [70:83];  7 widowed men [4:3]; 23 widowed women [15:8]; 2 Divorced Men [0:2]; 1 Divorced Woman [0:1].

 
 Color photographs of a recent Passover sacrifice on Mt. Gerizim can be viewed here.

Monday, January 27, 2014

God is Releasing New Levels of Anointing For 2014 - Robin McMillan (The Elijah List)



Robin McMillan:
God is Releasing New Levels 
of Anointing For 2014
(The Elijah List)

A Dream of Joseph's Coat

In a recent dream I found myself in an expensive clothing store filled with the most marvelous garments – rack after rack of amazing colorful coats filled the fine establishment. I thought, "Who wouldn't want one of these fine garments?"

As I gazed over the racks of coats, one in particular caught my attention. I carefully pulled it from the racks and tried it on. The coat had a 'Carolina' sky blue front, a colorful wide striped back with a delicate expensive amber colored leather collar. 

I looked at myself in a full-length mirror admiring the fit. It had unusual ¾ length sleeves and was made to fit as a waist length jacket. It fit perfectly. It was as if it were tailor made for me.

I stepped outside to see how it looked in natural light. I was delighted with such a colorful and fine fitting coat. I turned to go back into the store to pay for it, only to discover that the store was nowhere to be found. It had disappeared – but the coat remained. I could not pay for it.

Interpretation

God is ready to clothe many with a 'tailor made' new anointing in 2014 typified by the coat of many colors that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 

This new anointing will release a new level of prophetic revelation represented by the heavenly sky blue color that covered the front of the garment.

In the dream I could not pay for the coat. It had already been paid for. We could never pay enough to obtain something that only God can provide. It is not something we can earn. 

It must be given and we must deeply appreciate that truth to wear it and use it with humility and wisdom.

The fact that the back was striped speaks of a new level of healing anointing.  

Isaiah 53:5 records: "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."

The expensive leather collar speaks of how everything of value must be paid for with shed blood just as the Lord shed the blood of animals to cover Adam and Eve with leather garments after their fall. Collars can speak of identity. This collar was amber speaking of the color of the glory of God. This coat will be attended by the glory of God.

We find other significance of this anointing from the life of Joseph and his colorful garment:

"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors." Genesis 37:3

ElijahList Prophetic Resources

Bible scholars have differing understandings of this coat's appearance. Aryeh Kaplan in the Living Torah explains it this way: "It was a royal garment. The word passim can be translated as colorful, embroidered, striped, or with pictures. 

It can also denote a long garment, coming down to the palms of the hands and the feet. Hence, it may be translated as a 'full sleeved robe', 'a coat of many colors', 'a coat reaching to his feet', 'an ornamented tunic', 'a silk robe', or 'a fine woolen cloak'."

The coat represents the favor Joseph had from his father and spoke of the primary leadership of his family he would one day obtain. His coat was one of great promise, giftedness and authority.

Ministry Gifts and Anointing

The coat was a gift. We could never pay for something so precious. But as many of us have discovered, some gifts become very expensive. This next new anointing will be that way too.

In Joseph's case the coat focused Joseph's brothers' jealousy and hatred. We will discover that this new coat may generate just such responses from those who don't understand why God anoints those He does. Ultimately his brothers stripped Joseph of his coat, sold him into slavery, dipped the coat in blood, and lied to their father about him having been killed by wild animals.

It was necessary for Joseph to lose the outward sign of the anointing and be severely tested in order to function at the highest level the robe initially promised. The jealousy and hatred of his brothers were part of the price Joseph paid to live out the gift he was given. The garment being soaked in blood reveals that every anointing must be sanctified for it to be ultimately successful.

When Moses anointed Aaron and his sons for service he stripped them, washed them, clothed them, then anointed them. Afterward he sanctified them with blood: "Also he took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron's right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. Then he brought Aaron's sons. And Moses put some of the blood on the tips of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet" (Leviticus 8:23-24).

How many men and women have been destroyed because they did not submit to the entire process meant to insure the success of the ministry gifts and anointing God gave them? Many. We must be men and women who have submitted to the processes of the Lord if we are to "wear" his anointing successfully. We must never submit to jealousy and selfish ambition if we are to function effectively. 

Such selfish ambition releases much evil: "But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there." James 3:14-16

God is releasing new levels of anointing, colorful mantles He freely gives, but with each one comes a price. 

Joseph graduated from God's school of the anointing and ruled in Egypt with dignity, mercy, and kindness. His understanding of the redemptive ways of God and his lack of self-centeredness enabled him to revive his father's household and preserve the lineage of the Messiah. 

That is the purpose of the anointing. It is not primarily to make your ministry a success, although it can.

Joseph used his anointing to empower and enrich many who had lost their inheritances. It is to restore households, free prisoners, reclaim legacies, and declare the glory of God through the lives of redeemed people.

"That we might be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified." Isaiah 61:3

Prepare your hearts. A new precious and dangerous anointing is being released even now. Use yours with wisdom, humility, and dignity.

Robin McMillan
Senior Pastor, Queen City Church

Robin McMillan is the Senior Pastor of Queen City Church in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, planted on Father's Day of 2010. He previously served MorningStar Fellowship Church as director of the Fellowship of Ministries and Fellowship of Churches for three years, then as Senior Pastor of the Fort Mill, South Carolina, congregation for more than a decade.

He believes our nation is on the verge of the next great spiritual awakening. His passion is to awaken the Church to the power of the Spirit and enable Believers to discover how they can access the realm of the Heavens, enjoy the presence and power of God, and be empowered to live a supernatural life. 

Outpourings of the Holy Spirit, outbreaks of joy, and demonstrations of power and healing often accompany his ministry. Many are being impacted by Robin's unique preaching style and prophetic gifts. He is the author of Mystic MooseTales: Redefining Wildlife, a supernatural allegory written to inspire love for Jesus and the supernatural God of the Bible. He and his wife Donna have been married 35 years and have four children and four grandchildren.