L’Ahnnanim (Into the Clouds) Words and music by Will Spires © 2015 Bmidbar Ministries
Opened my eyes up to the gray of the skies,
With a faith that digs deeper
past the clouds to sunshine
I got strength of purpose and I set my resolve,
Cause fair weather faith won’t
stand through the storm
No—! Ay—yay-ay—yeah! (twice)
Bridge #1
Open my eyes Love, Open my eyes Love
Up to Your Way!
Chazak, Patach, and walk in Navat,
In this beau-ti-ful day You’ve made!
Open my eyes Love, Open my eyes Love,
Up to Your Way!
Burning lights from above touch my heart’s horizon makes me lift my eyes to You today!
Chorus
Chazak! Chazak! V’nitchazek! Be Strong! Be Strong! And be strengthened!
Take hold of your courage, and still your racin’ heart,
Cause God is with you where you stand!
Bridge #2 (From Shemot: Exodus 3:11)
Who am I that I should go, by the Burnin’ Bush that laid him low,
I wonder then did Moshe know, the road that lead him here?
Cause, who are we that we should go? By the Lamp of the LORD has told us so?
No need to wonder, we can know that He has lead us here
We are His The Etz Chaim, The Truth, The Way, The Life (Repeat line twice)
Bridge #1
Open my eyes Love, Open my eyes Love up to Your Way!
Chazak, Patach, and walk in Navat, in this beau-ti-ful day You’ve made!
Open my eyes Love, Open my eyes Love, up to Your Way!
Burning lights from above touch my heart’s horizon makes me lift my eyes to You today!
Chorus (sung twice/ End of 2nd Chorus repeat last line twice)
The Backstory
These last two weeks I had been meditating upon this most recent song Abba gave. The chorus, rich in its history, resonating in the hearts of millions of Jews and Messianics I really felt it stood all on its own, that it would remain dominant on the hearts and lips of worshipers. But I wanted to convey some of the gravitas of this message to areas I thought might not be as memorable. I chose L’Ahnnanim, which from the Hebrew translates as Into the Clouds because it reorients you to where you are in your life, which is most often under that figurative blanket of cloudy sky.
Sukkahs on the Mountain
We love our mountain-top experiences. We experience the bliss of intimacy with YHVH in such a powerful display of emotion. I consider the event when Yeshua took Kefa and Yochanan on top of the mountain and Elijah and Moshe appeared and Yeshua transformed into His shining radiant glory. Kefa suggested they make sukkas for Yeshua, Moshe and Elijah and stay up there on the mountain (Matthew 17:1-8). It also reminds me of the line in this song where I sing "Burning lights from above touch my heart's horizon, makes me lift my eyes to you today." That line captures the essence of those very intimate and powerful moments found in a beautiful sunset or sunsrise. How many times have we been driving down some old country road (I live on one) and looking out the window you see yourself racing with the sun? Or perhaps you're cresting a hill and just as you come up to the stop sign just on the other side is this old rough-cut cedar post split-rail fence, framing the most stunning yet serene sunset you've ever seen, overflowing with hues of golden and red, lavender threads and billowy yellow castle walls. God does that, a lot. Our Heavenly Father uses the canvas of His sky to grab at our heart and stirs it within us to create an unspeakable desire for Him and His Kingdom to be manifest in our lives.
Yet this life more frequently teaches us that we cannot stay there. Our joy, our value, our victory, our being fully engaged in life doesn’t occur when we stand on the top of the mountain and the clear alpine air rushes over our face; it’s in the stormy dark, where our tears mingle with the chill of the winter rain, where you can taste the grit and the mud between your teeth; it’s in the valley of Shechem (decision) where we must choose to literally and spiritually push ourselves up again. That is where God is.
Gray Window Frames
This particular morning after I made a hot pot of coffee and sat down to check email I received a brief, but great word study from Hebrew word teacher Chaim Ben Torah. I was immediately drawn to the connection between this morning's study and my song. But the back-story to all of this precedes this email so bear would you bear with me as we reflect back in time end of 2014? We've got to go back if we want to understand the end (funny how God does that in His Word and in our lives). So it happens that the manufacturing plant I work at (I have a day job) observes and shuts down on Christmas Eve and doesn’t open its doors again until January 5th. So every year, regardless, for two weeks the factory shuts down and all the employees are sent home. So I choose to make the most of the downtime and enjoy my family and friends by making the rounds. To my chagrin however I discovered that every single day the weather was simply awful. I flinch a little when I say that because Abba makes each day special. We read in His word that “This is the day that The LORD has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalms 118:24). Every day is a blessing (even the bad ones) and if the weather doesn’t line up with how we think it should, we still need to push through and recognize it as an opportunity; an opportunity to experience His presence in very intimate and powerful ways.
I awoke to Winter's cold chill from under these withered and scraggly branches outside my window, that jutted into that dismal pallor of a lackluster sky. I gathered my heart and my thoughts, attempting to maintain a mental gratitude list and to focus on the larger lesson Abba was teaching me, although I didn’t grasp it all at that time—and do any of us really? We’re all in the process of learning all the time, it’s really all about whether we’re listening or not to what YHVH is teaching us. The sun still rose though behind those stagnant clouds so I knew the sunshine was up there, somewhere. At night I checked the forecast hoping for a break, that these clouds might break, revealing HaShem's starry host. Again nothing, and as the days wore on I began to feel the weight of this colossus of affecting despair.
It so happened that while the inclement weather overshadowed the holiday we (those of us who read the yearly cycle of Torah) were completing the book of Beresheit/Genesis. All this time I had felt such a kinship with Jacob, having read of his life experiences, travels, and wrestlings. I really wanted to stay—because God allowed us to see so much of his life; the good the bad, the mistakes, the learning, the redemption and transformation into this person God had designed him to become; And having read through the Torah for a few years now I knew what was to come, and yet we cannot stay—can we? Just like coming down the mountain of transfiguration we will never forget, but we must carry on and take their stories of inspiration with us. So with the hope and anticipation of all we’ve been through and learned and witnessed we say Chazak! Chazak! V’nitchazek! Or Be Strong! Be Strong! And be Strengthened!
Open My Eyes O Yah'
And so a new day begins, we go forward, optimistically, and we open our eyes to this blossoming brand new day and—it does not shine? Much like the lethargic cloudy cold front that blankets our “windows” of opportunity and mocks at our insecurities attempting to snuff the flame of joy burning in our heart which is a less than ideal happily ever after beginning. So what is a soul to do? Allow me to direct your attention back to the first group of verses of our song;
“Opened my eyes to the gray of the skies,
With the faith that digs deeper past the clouds to sunshine
Got strength of purpose and I set my resolve,
Cause fair weather faith won’t stand through the storm”
The opening line of this song is a reference to the days I awoke to the clouds outside my window. Standing there in the kitchen, coffee pot percolating, I peered over the sink at austere Crepe Myrtles and Redbud branches in the front yard. Observing through the window this verse resonated within me, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalms 119:18). I wanted those clouds to break so badly, to see the sun, and to feel its warmth upon my face again.
All this time I had been wanting the clouds to break apart, to witness those cosmic lights shining down, but this morning as I pondered upon the word study I suddenly received such a revelation—sometimes, the answer is not on the other side of the clouds so much as what’s inside of them. If I may, please read this brief excerpt from today’s word study:
“The word “cloud” in Hebrew is ’anan which means simply cloud. However, this word is also the root word for diviner or miracle worker. The word is spelled Ayin Nun Nun and the use of these letters is very interesting, because it means spiritual insight through faith. However, the double Nun would suggest that this spiritual insight is through faith and faith alone. Spiritual insight does not come through man’s teaching, although it helps, it does not come through study, but God can use that. Ultimately, however, our spiritual insight comes from faith. Without faith, no amount of teaching or study will bring you spiritual insight. When Moses entered the cloud or the ‘anan he entered into deep spiritual understanding. The people of Israel did not want to enter the cloud, they were afraid. They were afraid to enter into this deep understanding of God. It is interesting that the word for knowing in Hebrew is yada which is an intimate knowing. Our understanding of God comes not through the teachings of man or our personal study, again God can use this, but ultimately our understanding of God comes from our intimacy with Him.”
Isn’t that beautiful? All that time I sat frustrated for the sun to come out so that I could experience what I thought would be an answer to prayer, but God was telling me “My answer is in the cloud!” Which hearkened me back to Exodus 20:21 which reads, “So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.” This was the experience I needed at the very moment I needed it. In the moment of my frustration YHVH spoke shalom to my heart through the rich meaning of the cloud and it taught me that what sometimes appears as a block to our spiritual fulfillment is the very thing God is using to bring it to pass in our lives! What a sense of renewal! Suddenly the day burst forth with new life! New understanding! New hope and joy!
Fixing My Faith
I go on to declare that “I Got strength of purpose and I set my resolve.” If we look at the word Chazak, translated to “be strong” by taking a closer look we discover some fresh meaning. This too came by way of the same author Chaim Ben Torah as I will share an excerpt from his book Hebrew Word Study A Hebrew Teacher Explores the Heart of God. In the chapter titled Day 7 Good Courage: Keep the faith, we see this word Chazak which is customarily spoken at the close of each book of Torah. This word is found also in the book of Joshua chapter 1 verse 9 which reads “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.” In Chaim’s book we read, “The word strong is chazak which is in a simple Qal imperative form and means strength of purpose or resolve. It is being steadfast. In other words, God is not commanding Joshua to gather strength, but to remain firm in the strength or faith that he already has and has been shown in the past. In other words, the same faith that you so easily declare when you were on the mountain top is now the same faith you must retain when you go through the valley.” Immediately the imagery came to mind of an old leaky weather-beaten sailing scow pummeled by the churning waters of the Galilee. The crew overwhelmed by the waves are suddenly filled with awe as our Messiah Yeshua approaches like an apparition out walking upon the water. I think if even for a fleeting moment, Kefa—Peter experienced that surge of renewed strength of purpose and resolve when Yeshua called him to step out onto the water. I reflect for a moment back upon the psalmist’s verse who wrote “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise” (Psalms 57:7). Do you think Peter’s eyes, heart and mind were fixed on Yeshua when he took those first steps of faith out of the boat?
He walked on water, not because of anything he thought was of himself, rather it was because he completely trusted in Yeshua! The word fixed in this psalm is the Hebrew word kun. Spelled with a Kaf, a Vav and a Nun, the two letter root word Kaf Nun (pronounced koon) means the opening of the seed. When the seed opens it goes down into the soil and establishes a strong foundation of roots, out from which can sprout a stalk. The stalk grows up, the branches grow out springing forth fruit and life is multiplied. To be fixed as it is used here means to have a firm foundation. Our faith is fixed in the seed, the seed is YHVH’s Word. Yeshua is The Living Word; what we witness in this phenomenal occurrence with Peter and Yeshua is in that moment, mortal man does the miraculous. Not to credit man by any means, it was all Yeshua. Messiah said “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father” (Yochanan 14:12). By faithfully trusting in God incarnate, Peter obediently stepped out of the boat and into the tumult, out of the observable safety of the fishing boat and into the midst of the chaos, and walked with His Master… fair weather faith won’t stand through the storm, but fully trusting in Yeshua always will.
“Open my eyes Love, Open my eyes Love unto Your Way. Chazak, Patach, and walk in Navat in the beautiful day you’ve made.” These words poured into my mind immediately after I wrote the beginning set of verses. To continue building upon the opening line “Open my eyes to the gray of the skies” the concept of being open echoed in my spirit. At the time of writing this I turned 42 years old this week. I have been alive at the time of writing this now for 15, 343 days. That means I’ve woken up over 15, 343 times. Sometimes I’ve woken up feeling refreshed, while other times I awoke less so. But what we cannot fail to recognize is that every morning we rise we are under the blessing and in the presence of almighty merciful YHVH. It’s a new opportunity to experience life as Yeshua told us “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full” (Yochanan 10:10). And it means that YHVH has blessed us to experience fellowship with Him and the joy that comes from being loved and filled with His presence!
To be given life and a new day truly is Love. God is Love (1 John 4:16) and is the giver of all good gifts (James 1:17), and when I think of waking to the new day in His presence it reminds me of a husband who wakes before his wife and stares at her lovingly, protectively, tracing the shape of her face. It makes me think of a mother who watches her son or her daughter as they sleep to check on them in the middle of the night, making sure they are safe, comfortable and sleeping soundly. We're asking God (Love) to open our eyes (insight) to His way.
Strengthened, Open, and Expectant
We find three Hebrew words that follow up with the next line. They are Chazak, Patach, and Navat. Chazak as we’ve already discussed means to be strong. Patach, spelled with a Peh, a Tav and a Chet meaning an open doorway or entryway. The psalmist says in chapter 51 verse 15 “O’ Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise.” Just as we are to glorify YHVH with our words, when we awaken we should glorify Him with thanksgiving and praise! Psalm 119:18 says “Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.” The word used here for the word behold in Hebrew is Navat and it means to look with expectation or anticipation. Think upon a time, perhaps when you were a child at an event where you knew you were going to receive presents. Reconnect with that feeling of excitement, of anticipation and discovery. That is the kind of expectation King David was alluding to. To continue in that vein, he asked to behold Wonderful things out of Yah’s Torah. But all of creation is held together by His Word (Reference Colossians 1:15-17) “The heavens declare the glory of YHVH; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalms 19:1). Everyday we should be in awe of the wonders around us. If we are asking The Father and looking with expectancy He will reveal Himself to us through them! This is the day that YHVH has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! His glory is all around us, even in the clouds.
We need to ask Abba, "teach me to enter this day in the strength You’ve given me through Your Word." Open my eyes with spiritual insight to the things You’ve prepared for me to see; and teach me how to walk it out today with that sense of expectation, in anticipation of the wonderful things You’ve set before me to experience with You today.
A Surprise Beginning Born from the End
The bridge in this song is literally a bridge. Recall, at the beginning of this study I mentioned we were concluding with the book of Genesis/Bereisheet. One of the main focal points was to appreciate the depth and meaning of the customary saying spoken as a body at the end of each book “Chazak! Chazak! V’nitchazek!” or “Be strong! Be strong! And be strengthened!” But just as we lamented parting from our sojourn and our travels with Jacob and Joseph and all his brothers, we could not stay. Reluctantly the story is moving on. And suddenly we are thrust several hundred years ahead in time like razor-finned arrow out of the golden hued sunset and into Shemot/Exodus. Now a new pharaoh has risen to power. Jacob, Joseph and his eleven brothers are a memory. Several generations since Joseph have passed. The Israelites have flourished but are no longer the honored guests of Goshen they once were. They have been conscripted into mandatory slave labor! And the pharaoh has decreed that every male Israelite newborn is to be cast into the Nile River! This is your winter rain. This is your mud and grit in your teeth, the sores on your feet and that somber stagnant gray cloud that lingers overhead day after day. This should have been a holiday. This should have been a time of celebration. By executive order the president has decreed that you open the door to your house allow Egyptian ‘midwives’ inside the sanctity of your home and allow them to take rip your baby boy from your arms moments after the umbilical is cut and to toss them into a watery grave.
All is lost, the sun has refused to shine. But it's here we begin a new story. It contains the golden thread of redemption as it did with Avraham, and his son, and his son, and his son; an Israelite baby boy is carefully drawn from the water, Moshe’. Raised an Egyptian in the shadow of pharaoh the stage is set. The years pass. When he turns 40 though, Moshe’ is awakened to the plight of his Israelite brothers. Taking matters into his own hands he quickly dispatches an Egyptian taskmaster who he witnesses harshly beating an Israelite slave. The next day he discovers his Israelite brothers don’t see him as the redeemer he is. Word spreads, now Moshe’s on the run. Decades pass. Selah.
Oh Yes You Are...
We arrive in Exodus chapter three. Resigned to a life of sheepherding Moshe is on the outer banks of Midian, in the desert, living the life of a nomad, scratching out an existence tending to the sheep. One day, probably a routine day, one without anticipation and expectation, Moshe’ guides the herd around the ridge path as he did every day. But today he’s in for a surprise. Around the bend is a tree. He never really noticed it before because it was non-descript and never caught his eye. But today he rounds the corner and there this tree has caught something indeed. Beyond catching fire, it is become a roaring, infernal blaze. Flames and spark, smoke and radiating heat radiating steal his breath and pummel Moshe back on his heels! Attempting to regain balance shielding his face with a hand he is thrust back yet again but this time by the deep reverberating sound originating from the flames. Moshe’! Moshe’! The voice commands from out of the fire. Here I am Moshe’ says in astonishment. Remove your sandals! You are standing on Holy ground!
Bowed low, Moshe listens as YHVH reveals His identity and purpose of this visitation. Moshe’ is overcome in awestruck reverence. He’s in the presence of YHHV Elohim, and is not consumed, much like the fiery tree. Yah commissions Moshe’ to be his man; to be that one who will deliver Israel out of Egypt and to directly deal with pharaoh. We can only speculate the range of emotions and thoughts that blitzed his already bewildered mind. Me? Why me? I won’t be accepted. I am too old. I am slow of speech! I tried this before and it didn't work. And on the list goes. Here Moshe’ is in the presence of the Almighty Creator of the Universe deliberating why God’s plan isn’t possible. We do that. Selah.
Who am I that I should go, by the Burnin’ Bush that laid him low,
I wonder then did Moshe know, the road that lead him here?
Cause, who are we that we should go? By the Lamp of the LORD has told us so?
No need to wonder, we can know He has lead us here
We are His The Etz Chaim, The Truth, The Way, The Life
There in the breathtaking thrill and shock of this fiery tree that wasn’t consumed, and hearing the voice of GOD reverberate from its flames, after being chosen and commanded to go Moshe considers this could be a mistake made on God's part. Really? A God who makes mistakes isnt' God. But I wonder at what point Moshe’ put it together that all of these seemingly fragmented parts of his life had all been ordained? Ordained to lead up to that pivotal meeting between him and YHVH. Can you see that serendipitous sunset on the desert’s horizon? Can you picture the silhouetted herd of sheep and their tall figure shadowed with staff in hand? As the last tinge of twilight begins to fade during the walk back home, suddenly the pieces fit--faith cements each puzzle piece together in the form a picture--then the moment clicks. Was that a hint of a gasp? A private smile resulting from this humbling yet beautiful realization? A It was all part of YHVH’s plan.
We too are ordained to have these kind of moments. All too often though we feel pressed to sabotage them with our finite minds and our ugly predisposition to doubt. We do, just like the argumentative Moshe'. We doubt God when we think our lives should be better. We doubt Him when we think we’re not the right one for the job, and we frequently put up roadblocks but YHVH continues taking us around the mountain; around until we are willing to see that burning bush around the same old bend; because we know. We know that He’s put His Spirit in us. Proverbs 20:27 “The spirit of man is the lamp of The LORD, searching all the innermost parts of his being.” You’ve been called. You’ve been created for His glory. You’ve been awakened to be filled with Him and with His wonder, and to go and to do His will. He sent His Son Yeshua to pay our sin debt on a cross, to restore us to right relationship with Him. The tree of life, The Living Torah, the Etz Chaim. He gives us the truth and He is the way and He gives us life that we may live it to the full. But we must listen, and ask Him to open our eyes, our heart, and our mind so that we can experience the fullness of each day as He awakens us, to see Him in every cloud.
"Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you; O Israel, if you would listen to Me! "Let there be no strange god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god. "I, the Lord, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:8-10)
Opened my eyes up to the gray of the skies,
With a faith that digs deeper
past the clouds to sunshine
I got strength of purpose and I set my resolve,
Cause fair weather faith won’t
stand through the storm
No—! Ay—yay-ay—yeah! (twice)
Bridge #1
Open my eyes Love, Open my eyes Love
Up to Your Way!
Chazak, Patach, and walk in Navat,
In this beau-ti-ful day You’ve made!
Open my eyes Love, Open my eyes Love,
Up to Your Way!
Burning lights from above touch my heart’s horizon makes me lift my eyes to You today!
Chorus
Chazak! Chazak! V’nitchazek! Be Strong! Be Strong! And be strengthened!
Take hold of your courage, and still your racin’ heart,
Cause God is with you where you stand!
Bridge #2 (From Shemot: Exodus 3:11)
Who am I that I should go, by the Burnin’ Bush that laid him low,
I wonder then did Moshe know, the road that lead him here?
Cause, who are we that we should go? By the Lamp of the LORD has told us so?
No need to wonder, we can know that He has lead us here
We are His The Etz Chaim, The Truth, The Way, The Life (Repeat line twice)
Bridge #1
Open my eyes Love, Open my eyes Love up to Your Way!
Chazak, Patach, and walk in Navat, in this beau-ti-ful day You’ve made!
Open my eyes Love, Open my eyes Love, up to Your Way!
Burning lights from above touch my heart’s horizon makes me lift my eyes to You today!
Chorus (sung twice/ End of 2nd Chorus repeat last line twice)
The Backstory
These last two weeks I had been meditating upon this most recent song Abba gave. The chorus, rich in its history, resonating in the hearts of millions of Jews and Messianics I really felt it stood all on its own, that it would remain dominant on the hearts and lips of worshipers. But I wanted to convey some of the gravitas of this message to areas I thought might not be as memorable. I chose L’Ahnnanim, which from the Hebrew translates as Into the Clouds because it reorients you to where you are in your life, which is most often under that figurative blanket of cloudy sky.
Sukkahs on the Mountain
We love our mountain-top experiences. We experience the bliss of intimacy with YHVH in such a powerful display of emotion. I consider the event when Yeshua took Kefa and Yochanan on top of the mountain and Elijah and Moshe appeared and Yeshua transformed into His shining radiant glory. Kefa suggested they make sukkas for Yeshua, Moshe and Elijah and stay up there on the mountain (Matthew 17:1-8). It also reminds me of the line in this song where I sing "Burning lights from above touch my heart's horizon, makes me lift my eyes to you today." That line captures the essence of those very intimate and powerful moments found in a beautiful sunset or sunsrise. How many times have we been driving down some old country road (I live on one) and looking out the window you see yourself racing with the sun? Or perhaps you're cresting a hill and just as you come up to the stop sign just on the other side is this old rough-cut cedar post split-rail fence, framing the most stunning yet serene sunset you've ever seen, overflowing with hues of golden and red, lavender threads and billowy yellow castle walls. God does that, a lot. Our Heavenly Father uses the canvas of His sky to grab at our heart and stirs it within us to create an unspeakable desire for Him and His Kingdom to be manifest in our lives.
Yet this life more frequently teaches us that we cannot stay there. Our joy, our value, our victory, our being fully engaged in life doesn’t occur when we stand on the top of the mountain and the clear alpine air rushes over our face; it’s in the stormy dark, where our tears mingle with the chill of the winter rain, where you can taste the grit and the mud between your teeth; it’s in the valley of Shechem (decision) where we must choose to literally and spiritually push ourselves up again. That is where God is.
Gray Window Frames
This particular morning after I made a hot pot of coffee and sat down to check email I received a brief, but great word study from Hebrew word teacher Chaim Ben Torah. I was immediately drawn to the connection between this morning's study and my song. But the back-story to all of this precedes this email so bear would you bear with me as we reflect back in time end of 2014? We've got to go back if we want to understand the end (funny how God does that in His Word and in our lives). So it happens that the manufacturing plant I work at (I have a day job) observes and shuts down on Christmas Eve and doesn’t open its doors again until January 5th. So every year, regardless, for two weeks the factory shuts down and all the employees are sent home. So I choose to make the most of the downtime and enjoy my family and friends by making the rounds. To my chagrin however I discovered that every single day the weather was simply awful. I flinch a little when I say that because Abba makes each day special. We read in His word that “This is the day that The LORD has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalms 118:24). Every day is a blessing (even the bad ones) and if the weather doesn’t line up with how we think it should, we still need to push through and recognize it as an opportunity; an opportunity to experience His presence in very intimate and powerful ways.
I awoke to Winter's cold chill from under these withered and scraggly branches outside my window, that jutted into that dismal pallor of a lackluster sky. I gathered my heart and my thoughts, attempting to maintain a mental gratitude list and to focus on the larger lesson Abba was teaching me, although I didn’t grasp it all at that time—and do any of us really? We’re all in the process of learning all the time, it’s really all about whether we’re listening or not to what YHVH is teaching us. The sun still rose though behind those stagnant clouds so I knew the sunshine was up there, somewhere. At night I checked the forecast hoping for a break, that these clouds might break, revealing HaShem's starry host. Again nothing, and as the days wore on I began to feel the weight of this colossus of affecting despair.
It so happened that while the inclement weather overshadowed the holiday we (those of us who read the yearly cycle of Torah) were completing the book of Beresheit/Genesis. All this time I had felt such a kinship with Jacob, having read of his life experiences, travels, and wrestlings. I really wanted to stay—because God allowed us to see so much of his life; the good the bad, the mistakes, the learning, the redemption and transformation into this person God had designed him to become; And having read through the Torah for a few years now I knew what was to come, and yet we cannot stay—can we? Just like coming down the mountain of transfiguration we will never forget, but we must carry on and take their stories of inspiration with us. So with the hope and anticipation of all we’ve been through and learned and witnessed we say Chazak! Chazak! V’nitchazek! Or Be Strong! Be Strong! And be Strengthened!
Open My Eyes O Yah'
And so a new day begins, we go forward, optimistically, and we open our eyes to this blossoming brand new day and—it does not shine? Much like the lethargic cloudy cold front that blankets our “windows” of opportunity and mocks at our insecurities attempting to snuff the flame of joy burning in our heart which is a less than ideal happily ever after beginning. So what is a soul to do? Allow me to direct your attention back to the first group of verses of our song;
“Opened my eyes to the gray of the skies,
With the faith that digs deeper past the clouds to sunshine
Got strength of purpose and I set my resolve,
Cause fair weather faith won’t stand through the storm”
The opening line of this song is a reference to the days I awoke to the clouds outside my window. Standing there in the kitchen, coffee pot percolating, I peered over the sink at austere Crepe Myrtles and Redbud branches in the front yard. Observing through the window this verse resonated within me, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalms 119:18). I wanted those clouds to break so badly, to see the sun, and to feel its warmth upon my face again.
All this time I had been wanting the clouds to break apart, to witness those cosmic lights shining down, but this morning as I pondered upon the word study I suddenly received such a revelation—sometimes, the answer is not on the other side of the clouds so much as what’s inside of them. If I may, please read this brief excerpt from today’s word study:
“The word “cloud” in Hebrew is ’anan which means simply cloud. However, this word is also the root word for diviner or miracle worker. The word is spelled Ayin Nun Nun and the use of these letters is very interesting, because it means spiritual insight through faith. However, the double Nun would suggest that this spiritual insight is through faith and faith alone. Spiritual insight does not come through man’s teaching, although it helps, it does not come through study, but God can use that. Ultimately, however, our spiritual insight comes from faith. Without faith, no amount of teaching or study will bring you spiritual insight. When Moses entered the cloud or the ‘anan he entered into deep spiritual understanding. The people of Israel did not want to enter the cloud, they were afraid. They were afraid to enter into this deep understanding of God. It is interesting that the word for knowing in Hebrew is yada which is an intimate knowing. Our understanding of God comes not through the teachings of man or our personal study, again God can use this, but ultimately our understanding of God comes from our intimacy with Him.”
Isn’t that beautiful? All that time I sat frustrated for the sun to come out so that I could experience what I thought would be an answer to prayer, but God was telling me “My answer is in the cloud!” Which hearkened me back to Exodus 20:21 which reads, “So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.” This was the experience I needed at the very moment I needed it. In the moment of my frustration YHVH spoke shalom to my heart through the rich meaning of the cloud and it taught me that what sometimes appears as a block to our spiritual fulfillment is the very thing God is using to bring it to pass in our lives! What a sense of renewal! Suddenly the day burst forth with new life! New understanding! New hope and joy!
Fixing My Faith
I go on to declare that “I Got strength of purpose and I set my resolve.” If we look at the word Chazak, translated to “be strong” by taking a closer look we discover some fresh meaning. This too came by way of the same author Chaim Ben Torah as I will share an excerpt from his book Hebrew Word Study A Hebrew Teacher Explores the Heart of God. In the chapter titled Day 7 Good Courage: Keep the faith, we see this word Chazak which is customarily spoken at the close of each book of Torah. This word is found also in the book of Joshua chapter 1 verse 9 which reads “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.” In Chaim’s book we read, “The word strong is chazak which is in a simple Qal imperative form and means strength of purpose or resolve. It is being steadfast. In other words, God is not commanding Joshua to gather strength, but to remain firm in the strength or faith that he already has and has been shown in the past. In other words, the same faith that you so easily declare when you were on the mountain top is now the same faith you must retain when you go through the valley.” Immediately the imagery came to mind of an old leaky weather-beaten sailing scow pummeled by the churning waters of the Galilee. The crew overwhelmed by the waves are suddenly filled with awe as our Messiah Yeshua approaches like an apparition out walking upon the water. I think if even for a fleeting moment, Kefa—Peter experienced that surge of renewed strength of purpose and resolve when Yeshua called him to step out onto the water. I reflect for a moment back upon the psalmist’s verse who wrote “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise” (Psalms 57:7). Do you think Peter’s eyes, heart and mind were fixed on Yeshua when he took those first steps of faith out of the boat?
He walked on water, not because of anything he thought was of himself, rather it was because he completely trusted in Yeshua! The word fixed in this psalm is the Hebrew word kun. Spelled with a Kaf, a Vav and a Nun, the two letter root word Kaf Nun (pronounced koon) means the opening of the seed. When the seed opens it goes down into the soil and establishes a strong foundation of roots, out from which can sprout a stalk. The stalk grows up, the branches grow out springing forth fruit and life is multiplied. To be fixed as it is used here means to have a firm foundation. Our faith is fixed in the seed, the seed is YHVH’s Word. Yeshua is The Living Word; what we witness in this phenomenal occurrence with Peter and Yeshua is in that moment, mortal man does the miraculous. Not to credit man by any means, it was all Yeshua. Messiah said “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father” (Yochanan 14:12). By faithfully trusting in God incarnate, Peter obediently stepped out of the boat and into the tumult, out of the observable safety of the fishing boat and into the midst of the chaos, and walked with His Master… fair weather faith won’t stand through the storm, but fully trusting in Yeshua always will.
“Open my eyes Love, Open my eyes Love unto Your Way. Chazak, Patach, and walk in Navat in the beautiful day you’ve made.” These words poured into my mind immediately after I wrote the beginning set of verses. To continue building upon the opening line “Open my eyes to the gray of the skies” the concept of being open echoed in my spirit. At the time of writing this I turned 42 years old this week. I have been alive at the time of writing this now for 15, 343 days. That means I’ve woken up over 15, 343 times. Sometimes I’ve woken up feeling refreshed, while other times I awoke less so. But what we cannot fail to recognize is that every morning we rise we are under the blessing and in the presence of almighty merciful YHVH. It’s a new opportunity to experience life as Yeshua told us “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full” (Yochanan 10:10). And it means that YHVH has blessed us to experience fellowship with Him and the joy that comes from being loved and filled with His presence!
To be given life and a new day truly is Love. God is Love (1 John 4:16) and is the giver of all good gifts (James 1:17), and when I think of waking to the new day in His presence it reminds me of a husband who wakes before his wife and stares at her lovingly, protectively, tracing the shape of her face. It makes me think of a mother who watches her son or her daughter as they sleep to check on them in the middle of the night, making sure they are safe, comfortable and sleeping soundly. We're asking God (Love) to open our eyes (insight) to His way.
Strengthened, Open, and Expectant
We find three Hebrew words that follow up with the next line. They are Chazak, Patach, and Navat. Chazak as we’ve already discussed means to be strong. Patach, spelled with a Peh, a Tav and a Chet meaning an open doorway or entryway. The psalmist says in chapter 51 verse 15 “O’ Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise.” Just as we are to glorify YHVH with our words, when we awaken we should glorify Him with thanksgiving and praise! Psalm 119:18 says “Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.” The word used here for the word behold in Hebrew is Navat and it means to look with expectation or anticipation. Think upon a time, perhaps when you were a child at an event where you knew you were going to receive presents. Reconnect with that feeling of excitement, of anticipation and discovery. That is the kind of expectation King David was alluding to. To continue in that vein, he asked to behold Wonderful things out of Yah’s Torah. But all of creation is held together by His Word (Reference Colossians 1:15-17) “The heavens declare the glory of YHVH; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalms 19:1). Everyday we should be in awe of the wonders around us. If we are asking The Father and looking with expectancy He will reveal Himself to us through them! This is the day that YHVH has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! His glory is all around us, even in the clouds.
We need to ask Abba, "teach me to enter this day in the strength You’ve given me through Your Word." Open my eyes with spiritual insight to the things You’ve prepared for me to see; and teach me how to walk it out today with that sense of expectation, in anticipation of the wonderful things You’ve set before me to experience with You today.
A Surprise Beginning Born from the End
The bridge in this song is literally a bridge. Recall, at the beginning of this study I mentioned we were concluding with the book of Genesis/Bereisheet. One of the main focal points was to appreciate the depth and meaning of the customary saying spoken as a body at the end of each book “Chazak! Chazak! V’nitchazek!” or “Be strong! Be strong! And be strengthened!” But just as we lamented parting from our sojourn and our travels with Jacob and Joseph and all his brothers, we could not stay. Reluctantly the story is moving on. And suddenly we are thrust several hundred years ahead in time like razor-finned arrow out of the golden hued sunset and into Shemot/Exodus. Now a new pharaoh has risen to power. Jacob, Joseph and his eleven brothers are a memory. Several generations since Joseph have passed. The Israelites have flourished but are no longer the honored guests of Goshen they once were. They have been conscripted into mandatory slave labor! And the pharaoh has decreed that every male Israelite newborn is to be cast into the Nile River! This is your winter rain. This is your mud and grit in your teeth, the sores on your feet and that somber stagnant gray cloud that lingers overhead day after day. This should have been a holiday. This should have been a time of celebration. By executive order the president has decreed that you open the door to your house allow Egyptian ‘midwives’ inside the sanctity of your home and allow them to take rip your baby boy from your arms moments after the umbilical is cut and to toss them into a watery grave.
All is lost, the sun has refused to shine. But it's here we begin a new story. It contains the golden thread of redemption as it did with Avraham, and his son, and his son, and his son; an Israelite baby boy is carefully drawn from the water, Moshe’. Raised an Egyptian in the shadow of pharaoh the stage is set. The years pass. When he turns 40 though, Moshe’ is awakened to the plight of his Israelite brothers. Taking matters into his own hands he quickly dispatches an Egyptian taskmaster who he witnesses harshly beating an Israelite slave. The next day he discovers his Israelite brothers don’t see him as the redeemer he is. Word spreads, now Moshe’s on the run. Decades pass. Selah.
Oh Yes You Are...
We arrive in Exodus chapter three. Resigned to a life of sheepherding Moshe is on the outer banks of Midian, in the desert, living the life of a nomad, scratching out an existence tending to the sheep. One day, probably a routine day, one without anticipation and expectation, Moshe’ guides the herd around the ridge path as he did every day. But today he’s in for a surprise. Around the bend is a tree. He never really noticed it before because it was non-descript and never caught his eye. But today he rounds the corner and there this tree has caught something indeed. Beyond catching fire, it is become a roaring, infernal blaze. Flames and spark, smoke and radiating heat radiating steal his breath and pummel Moshe back on his heels! Attempting to regain balance shielding his face with a hand he is thrust back yet again but this time by the deep reverberating sound originating from the flames. Moshe’! Moshe’! The voice commands from out of the fire. Here I am Moshe’ says in astonishment. Remove your sandals! You are standing on Holy ground!
Bowed low, Moshe listens as YHVH reveals His identity and purpose of this visitation. Moshe’ is overcome in awestruck reverence. He’s in the presence of YHHV Elohim, and is not consumed, much like the fiery tree. Yah commissions Moshe’ to be his man; to be that one who will deliver Israel out of Egypt and to directly deal with pharaoh. We can only speculate the range of emotions and thoughts that blitzed his already bewildered mind. Me? Why me? I won’t be accepted. I am too old. I am slow of speech! I tried this before and it didn't work. And on the list goes. Here Moshe’ is in the presence of the Almighty Creator of the Universe deliberating why God’s plan isn’t possible. We do that. Selah.
Who am I that I should go, by the Burnin’ Bush that laid him low,
I wonder then did Moshe know, the road that lead him here?
Cause, who are we that we should go? By the Lamp of the LORD has told us so?
No need to wonder, we can know He has lead us here
We are His The Etz Chaim, The Truth, The Way, The Life
There in the breathtaking thrill and shock of this fiery tree that wasn’t consumed, and hearing the voice of GOD reverberate from its flames, after being chosen and commanded to go Moshe considers this could be a mistake made on God's part. Really? A God who makes mistakes isnt' God. But I wonder at what point Moshe’ put it together that all of these seemingly fragmented parts of his life had all been ordained? Ordained to lead up to that pivotal meeting between him and YHVH. Can you see that serendipitous sunset on the desert’s horizon? Can you picture the silhouetted herd of sheep and their tall figure shadowed with staff in hand? As the last tinge of twilight begins to fade during the walk back home, suddenly the pieces fit--faith cements each puzzle piece together in the form a picture--then the moment clicks. Was that a hint of a gasp? A private smile resulting from this humbling yet beautiful realization? A It was all part of YHVH’s plan.
We too are ordained to have these kind of moments. All too often though we feel pressed to sabotage them with our finite minds and our ugly predisposition to doubt. We do, just like the argumentative Moshe'. We doubt God when we think our lives should be better. We doubt Him when we think we’re not the right one for the job, and we frequently put up roadblocks but YHVH continues taking us around the mountain; around until we are willing to see that burning bush around the same old bend; because we know. We know that He’s put His Spirit in us. Proverbs 20:27 “The spirit of man is the lamp of The LORD, searching all the innermost parts of his being.” You’ve been called. You’ve been created for His glory. You’ve been awakened to be filled with Him and with His wonder, and to go and to do His will. He sent His Son Yeshua to pay our sin debt on a cross, to restore us to right relationship with Him. The tree of life, The Living Torah, the Etz Chaim. He gives us the truth and He is the way and He gives us life that we may live it to the full. But we must listen, and ask Him to open our eyes, our heart, and our mind so that we can experience the fullness of each day as He awakens us, to see Him in every cloud.
"Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you; O Israel, if you would listen to Me! "Let there be no strange god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god. "I, the Lord, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:8-10)
