The Bloods of Your Brother
And YHWH Elohim formed Man out of dry, loose earth dirt, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living person. Genesis 2:7 (my translation)
Breath – Once we realize that this word, hayim is plural, we are forced to ask why, especially since the preceding word, nishmat, is singular. It’s like saying “he breathe” rather than “he breathes.” But it’s no mistake. We suggested that there must be a connection between the unity of God, manifest in His animating power, and the diversity of His creation in all the forms that His outpouring word takes. But maybe there is something else here, something unique to the dry, dust earth-to-heaven bridge God forms called nephesh haya.
Heschel puts his finger on this nuance. “There can be no nature without spirit, no world without Torah, no brotherhood without a father, no humanity without attachment to God.”[1] When God tells Israel that they are His witnesses, He is not talking about their superior theological understanding. He is talking about their legacy. Just as God decries the spilling of the bloods of Havel (Genesis 4:10 – the word is plural), so we see that we are never individuals standing apart from humanity. “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are not principles to be comprehended but lives to be continued. The life of him who joins the covenant of Abraham continues the life of Abraham. For the present is not apart from the past. ‘Abraham is still standing before God’ (Genesis 18:22). Abraham endures forever. We are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.”[2]
When YHWH Elohim breathed hayim (lives) into the ha-adam, He brought about the existence of a legacy; a legacy that stretches forward to each and every one who is in covenant with YHWH, who is coming to nishmat haya – a legacy that stretches back to the first ha-adam, the one who began the red blood transformation covenant with El Shaddai. To be human is to be connected to this transforming becoming. In once sense, no one of us will be truly human until we all reach the end of the process. And that end has been revealed to us in Yeshua HaMashiach, the one who is fully human, fully nephesh haya because He is the completed nishmat hayim. Perhaps Paul had something far more profound in mind when he spoke about the Body.
Now the question: Who is your blood legacy? Who has been your covenant connection? Who carries your nephesh haya back to the ha-adam and who are you equipping to carry it on after you? Succession planning is a big deal in the corporate world, but it is insignificant when compared to God’s succession plan. You are human insofar as you take the nishmat hayim and pass it to the next one becoming a person. Will you rob God by ignoring the plural hayim? Will you steal from those who are waiting for your gift?
Today’s Word: hayim, life, Genesis 2:7, Heschel, legacy
[1] Abraham Heschel, I Asked For Wonder, p. 128.
[2] Ibid., p. 136.
Very interesting, very deep and very true!
We who are the followers of the Way, Yeshua HaMashiach, and have received from Him the gift of salvation, or deliverance from the penalty (death) and power (dominion) of sin, are each (and all) connected not only to Adam, but to every saint (regenerated sinner) since!
He (Elohim) has made of one blood all nations of the earth. “and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,” (Acts 17.26). What do Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, Paul and Mary (sorry..) have in common? They are all human! and of “one blood.” (yes, we’re going somewhere with this..)
“This is the New Covenant in my blood” -“for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26.28)
“Covenanting in blood” The blood covenant. There is no greater bond than the blood covenant. Oh please- understand, study and know “the blood covenant.” When I raise my hand to say hello, and you behold my open palm- look to see the raised scar upon my wrist and wonder- “who is he in covenant with? Friends- (a covenant word, btw..)- We (you and I) are in blood-covenant relationship with the living G-d. I can’t say it any plainer, simpler, or more profoundly. This is true and this is truth. Amein. It is so. – Mind boggling? Yes, – it is.
“Without the shedding of blood is no remission of sin.” “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9.22)
This is “the scarlet thread” of Rahab that runs the length of our Bible, from the Alpha to the Omega, from the beginning to the end, -Christ died for our sins.
You should be aware that the ransom paid to free you from the worthless way of life which your fathers passed on to you did not consist of anything perishable like silver or gold; on the contrary, it was the costly bloody sacrificial death of the Messiah, as of a Lamb without defect or spot. G-d knew Him before the founding of the universe, but revealed Him in the acharit-hayamim for your sakes. Through Him you trust in G-d, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory; so that your trust and hope are in G-d. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth, so that you have a sincere love for your brothers, love each other deeply, with all your heart. You have been born again not from some seed that will decay, but from one that cannot decay, through the living Word of G-d that lasts forever. For all humanity is like grass, all its glory is like a wildflower the grass withers, and the flower falls off; but the Word of ADONAI lasts forever. Moreover, this Word is the Good News which has been proclaimed to you. (Amein.)
When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. Where the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small. Love so amazing, so Divine- demands my life -my soul -my all.
Today’s Word reveals once again how profound and deep the Hebrew language can , for built within its linguistics is the concept of how humanity was designed for eternity. If I’m not incorrect, there is no Hebrew word for “history,” as we know it, only “generations.” The Hebrew word used is “toledoth.” Therefore, in God’s eyes, history is written and defined with respect to those whom He has created in His image and not in terms of places, events and things.
Interestingly, I discovered that another Hebrew word for “generation,” “dor,” implies “circle” or “continuity.” Therefore, as King David knew, God’s nature and way of life is to be passed on perpetually, from generation to generation (Dor le ‘Dor) – “Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will give you thanks forever; we will show forth and publish Your praise from generation to generation” (Psalm 79:13, Amplified). Evil, however, can also be passed on from generation to generation and that spirit seems to be alive and well today (Exodus 17:16) – “…the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Therefore, the Lord’s admonition for us in Matthew 28:19-20 (Amplified) to “make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you…and lo, I am with you all the days (perpetually…on every occasion)…” takes on far greater meaning.
HaShem continues to breathe into us and into all those whom He is calling, His love, divine intellect, truths etc. so that we will passionately and resolutely pass them from generation to generation.
“Therefore, as King David knew, God’s nature and way of life is to be passed on perpetually, from generation to generation (Dor le ‘Dor)”
“Evil, however, can also be passed on from generation to generation and that spirit seems to be alive and well today (Exodus 17:16)”
Hi Christina,
Two very interesting points, Christina; they make me think of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s symbolism in The House of Seven Gables.
“The house also symbolizes the history of the of Pyncheon family dating back to the original Colonel Pyncheon who had been cursed by Matthew Maule for the evil way in which the Colonel obtained the land for the house.”
Christina, I am fairly new here, but as I was reading some past HWS I read your comment about Dor le ‘Dor and was wondering if you are familiar with the song L’Dor Vador? It has become one of my favorite songs. I know when we would sing it in the Messianic synagog I attended it would bring tears to my eyes every time we sang it, especially when they would bring all the teens, young children and babies up on the stage. Just to see them and hear them sing this song reminded me of our obligation to them to be faithful to YHWH so they would have an opportunity to walk in faithfulllnes to YHWH and His Torah all the days of their lives. Very powerful reminder of the Continuity you spoke about in your post. You can hear it sung by a young man named Josh Nelson on You-Tube if you search for the song title L’Dor Vador. Be prepared to cry tears of thanksgiving and love to YHWH for giving us a legacy we can pass on ” from generation to generation”!
MICHAEL, HERE IS THE LINK FOR THE SONG YOU MENTIONED ABOVE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzV0Y4MkIBQ
Josh Nelson | L’Dor Vador