Friday, May 23, 2008

THE FOURTH, FIFTH AND SIXTH DAYS

When Elohim created the firmament on the second day, as we saw in the previous chapter, it was not declared good. However, the sun, moon and stars placed within the firmament on the fourth day, were declared good. YHVH was using the greater light to rule the natural day, and the lesser light, with all the stars for ruling the natural night. These He created in order to illustrate a divine order and to reveal hidden spiritual realities, as well as for signs and seasons.

Let us take, for example the promise to the forefathers that their seed, "Israel", would be like the stars of heaven. Could this be more than a mere reference to numbers, being an indication that they were also to become a light and governing influence in this spiritual realm of darkness? And what's more, that they, like the stars, would be used for signs and for seasons in YHVH's Redemption timetable. Another illustration is seen in the life of one Israelite – Joseph – in whose dreams his family appeared as the sun, moon and stars. Yeshua was also referred to as the "Bright and Morning Star" (ref. 2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 22:16), revealing the fact that He holds a very specific position amongst the "stars of Israel" (also Numbers 24:17).

The spiritual demonstration of YHVH’s reality occurs daily. During the day we cannot see the stars or the moon, for their light is absorbed in the brightness of the presence of the greater light, just as it is in the life of the redeemed: "…Your life is hidden in Messiah in Elohim” (Colossians 3:3). This sets an example for what will take place at the end of the night order, when the Father’s day of redemption will dawn fully through His Son: " The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but YHVH Elohim will be to you an everlasting light, and your Elohim your glory. Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for YHVH Elohim will be your everlasting light” (Isaiah 60:19-20; refer also to Revelation 21:23).

In the course of the creation process, the Creator brought forth by His Word, a progression of life forms. Though the creative Word emanated out of the Realm of Light, it materialized in life forms that originated either from the waters/seas or from the dry ground/earth both of which were immersed in Spiritual Darkness. Like the plants, so now the reptiles and the birds, each carried the uniqueness of its particular species or kind, bearing witness to some aspect of the Creator’s Life and Nature that had been embedded within them. Elohim’s intent was that each kind would multiply and fill the earth. The environment was perfect for this growing process, but every species was in need of YHVH's ongoing rule, management and administration. So Elohim ended the Fifth Day with another evening and another morning, pronouncing it “good”.

On the Sixth Day YHVH's Word created still higher forms of nephesh chaya (a living soul). These types were permeated with instincts and learning capabilities that would respond to discipline, or training, by yet another species - Man – who was the last on the list of creation. Unlike those who reproduce by oviposition (egg-depositing), these Sixth Day creatures, having to carry for a term their young in their own bodies, would be reproducing in smaller numbers. They would also depend for their survival upon a more sophisticated eco-system.

The ground work had now been laid by Elohim for the crown of His creation, the one genus that would become the expression and heart of His own nature, and would be given the responsibility to name, manage, rule and serve the rest of the living creatures that had been brought forth previously.

“And Elohim said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth’” (Genesis 1:26)… “And YHVH Elohim formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7).

As we see from the above quote, YHVH Elohim created Man from the dust of the earth. The earth and its dust were brought forth from a realm of spiritual waters that was faced or governed by the spirit world of Darkness. Natural Man was going to be YHVH Elohim’s expression, or conduit, to subdue, rule over and put into order this realm of potential chaos, disorder and rebellion. In other words, Man would have the delegated authority to establish YHVH’s Kingdom here on earth, as it exists in heaven. But because Man was created from this very earthy and natural substance, he had an inherent weakness which would ultimately show up and express itself. Yet YHVH planted within natural Man a mystery. A closer look at the words He pronounced, when He created man, will allow us to get a glimpse of this mystery: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. How is it that Man (both male and female), could look like Elohim and yet be earthy? How can something created from a substance of Darkness be an expression of the Light? This will be discussed in the following chapter.

Just as we have seen in the preceding Days of Creation, Elohim was watching over His Word to do, accomplish, perform, fulfill and bring to completion whatever He had designated for it to do. What He spoke came to pass, and even now, in our generation, this should be our reality. His word is an anointing (a moving and determining force) in and upon the life of our forefathers throughout all their progeny, even to the present and beyond, until all that has been spoken and promised is fulfilled. The Word of Elohim, Yeshua the Messiah, is the same yesterday, today and forever (ref. Hebrews 13:8)!

“Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides” (Psalm 119:90).

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