Whole Life
Commit your way to YHWH, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5 (Hebrew text)
Trust – First I must accept the seal of ownership. God rolls over my path. Now it belongs to Him. Then I must act according to the directions of the new owner. Batach is the verb of confidence. It expresses the feeling of security in someone or something. To trust God is to confidently rely on Him. This, of course, is seen in the actions of the faithful. They do not put their confidence in the house (family), weapons, other men, temples, idols or even themselves. The only exception to this caution is Proverbs 31:11. Husbands are to trust their wives in the same way that they trust God. But most of the occurrences of batach involve the admonition to “Trust in YHWH,” although surprisingly there are very few instances where Scripture indicates someone actually does trust in the Most High. Perhaps that’s why the life of Yeshua is so exceptional.
What does it mean to place my confidence in YHWH? No better example, other than the Messiah, can be found than Abraham. Abraham responds to the call of God without hesitation even though he is not given any destination. He acts on the word of the Lord. He is obedient in spite of the lack of explanation or justification. In fact, the instances in Abraham’s life which reveal him to be a man of faults and failures just like the rest of us are all instances where he doubted the reliability of God’s promise and determined to take action without divine counsel. Nevertheless, Abraham demonstrates a life of confident reliance on God’s promise, even at the point where it appears that the promise will be snatched away from him.
We are all sons and daughters of Abraham, and we will all face the same call to put our confidence in His word in spite of circumstances to the contrary. No man escapes the test of faith passed down to us by our father Abraham. It is embedded in the spiritual DNA.
We are often taught that Yeshua fulfilled His mission knowing full well that God would rescue Him from the grave. But I’m not so sure that we can understand Yeshua’s example of perfect trust if the end is inevitably predetermined. Trust presupposes that there is the possibility of doubt. I do not trust that 4 + 4 = 8. Of that I am absolutely certain. But I do trust that the justice of the Lord will prevail because there exists observable evidence to the contrary. Trust only makes sense where it is possible for me to imagine a lack of confidence. For this reason, trust is a willful decision, an active verb of voluntary submission. Things might be otherwise, and yet I act as if they will not be. When I put my whole life in His hands, I do not erase the possibility of doubt. I simply refuse to accept it as real.
Topical Index: trust, batach, confidence, doubt, Psalm 37:5, Proverbs 31:11
“When I put my whole life in His hands, I do not erase the possibility of doubt. I simply refuse to accept it as real.” A great description of “trust.”
I witnessed the civil war in my country (Liberia) and experienced “trust” in God through Christ Jesus at work. I trusted Him in the midst of bullets, RPG and hand grenades, anti-aircraft guns on civilians [smart militia men], “Stalin organ” on civilians, bombs and etc from all sides. He certainly brought “it” to pass. His grace was sufficient then and is now. I can testify that the righteous is not ever forsaken!
Traumatic, though sobering, reflection for me now but the greatest gratitude to my Creator!
I’ve thought that Yeshua probably didn’t know 100% that it was all going to work out. As a man, there were probably many things He didn’t know when he willingly laid down His “Elness.” He probably had some spiritual amnesia like us. I’m sure the whole betrayal and execution process was horrifying more than we can imagine. I don’t think He was thinking, it will all be okay in a little while.
Robin, I agree with what you wrote!! I was about to post something very similar when I read your post first. It is my understanding that Yeshua spoke many times as the Man He was. In the garden of Gethsemane, when He prayed in such agony of spirit that his sweat was as drops of blood, He was praying as Man, not as God Who indwelt Him. It is such a mystery, but so wonderful to contemplate!
–when He prayed in such agony of spirit that his sweat was as drops of blood, He was praying as Man, not as God Who indwelt Him.–
Skip has reminded us of the Hebrew belief: to pray is to become fully human. There was none who ever lived more -fully human- than Yeshua.
When I was young I knew Jesus was the Son of G-d who died for my sins. Real basic stuff, but that was sufficient for salvation. He died for me. But the Son of G-d was also the Son of man.
(Here we go!..) He was (at the same time..) fully G-d and fully man. Jesus Christ- the G-d/man. Never another like Him- never will be. Totally human- totally Divine. The Logos Incarnate.
What I was to learn- later on in my Aliyah, Yeshua (G-d the Son) lived his entire life on this green planet as a man. He never once “pulled rank!”
Matthew chapter 4 tells of the temptation of (the) Christ by Hasatan. Three times Yeshua told him- “it is written”. -Do not miss this important point: Yeshua defeated Hasatan not as G-d, but “as man!” He “showed us” how to do it. “It is written!” -the sword of the Spirit which is the word of G-d.” We have weapons! “For the weapons of our warfare..” “put on the full armor of G-d”, -“the sword of the LORD and of Gideon.” Remember.. “it is written!”
Teaching, teaching- always teaching.. “Follow me.” Do, as I do. Love, as I love. “The servant is not above his Master.” (Matthew 10.24)
Yeshua (Himself) asked this question: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16.13) But then, a few verses later He tightened up the focus a little bit.. “But who do you say that I am?” (v16).
An excellent question for us all. Right here- right now- “Who is this King of glory?” I hope we can answer as well as Simon Peter did.. Is this our confession also? -Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
This is my confession- He is the Christ, (the Annointed One), the Son of the (now) living G-d, and He is (also the) Christ, the now and ever living Son. Fully human/ fully Divine,- Jesus Christ- the G-d/Man.
Can He be trusted? (Our faith is only as good as the object of our faith.) What, (or Who) am I trusting in? (yes, and why?)
Is it in “gold” that we place our trust? Is it in “government” we trust? Is salvation found within a particular political party? -Or do we trust (batach) in G-d?
He is the true One, He is the just One, He has the words of life. Amen.
“I’m sure the whole betrayal and execution process was horrifying more than we can imagine.”
Hi Robin,
Funny you mention that scene; I woke up this morning thinking about the death of Yeshua.
And when I’m wondering about the man himself, our model, I always turn to Mark or David.
Today I opened my Bible to page 88 of the New Testament and found myself at Mark 33-37.
Where “someone ran and soaked a sponge …. and gave it to him to drink” (not a follower).
It really doesn’t speak very highly of their character does it; his Apostles of little faith.
It has also been suggested that Friday is considered an unlucky day for this reason.
Because, or at least so it seems in Mark, Jesus was crucified on a Friday.
Which brings us back to the sense of completeness, the whole life, “ripeness is all.”
In numerology we have the number 12, which is considered the number of completeness.
– twelve gods of Olympus
– twelve months of the year
– twelve signs of the zodiac
– twelve hours of the clock
– twelve tribes of Israel
– twelve Apostles of Jesus
On the other hand, we have the number 13, which is irregular and transgresses completeness.
Of course yesterday was Friday the 13th.
I had a great day anyway, but I should probably keep my fingers crossed 🙂
“When I put my whole life in His hands, I do not erase the possibility of doubt. I simply refuse to accept it as real.”
I love this statement.
Thanks!
“Trust only makes sense where it is possible for me to imagine a lack of confidence.”
My mind connected this thought from Skip to this scripture from part of Isaiah 30:15: “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust (confidence) is your strength.” Read the entire chapter to know “the rest of the story.”