The Cure (1)
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, Isaiah 1:16 ESV
Wash yourselves – In the days of Isaiah the prophet, Israel was an idolatrous nation, filled with disobedience and bound for chastisement. YHWH sent a message to His people, warning them that if they did not change, disaster would soon befall them. We might have imagined that the message would be about repenting, turning their hearts back to true worship and seeking God’s favor. We might imagine that the message would instruct His people to ask forgiveness and wait for the movement of the Spirit. But YHWH’s message directs the people toward changes that they must make; changes that can be accomplished by their direct action. The first of these changes is rahatsu (“wash yourselves”). The imperative comes from the verb rahats. It is a verb about ritual cleansing, used many times to describe the washing of parts of an animal sacrificed on the altar. This verb is the basis of the New Testament idea of baptism. When it is used in the prophetic books, it includes the idea of cleansing from sin.
Notice that YHWH directs His people to do this to themselves. He does not tell them to go to the confessional. He does not tell them to start a revival service. He tells them to begin with ritual baptism. They are to make clean on the outside as a symbolic representation of what must be clean on the inside. And they are to do this to themselves.
What we learn from this usage of rahats is that ritual immersion was a well-understood symbol of spiritual regeneration and that it was an expected practice indicating a change of heart. The people of Israel needed to perform this ritual in order to begin the process of reconciliation with YHWH. They were instructed to embrace the greater meaning of the act by presenting an outward sign of inner transformation. The action was simple. Bathe! But the consequences were enormous, for this ritual bath meant they would turn away from their past sins and live according to the word of the Lord. Sometimes the true measure of a simple act of obedience rebuffs casual compliance. Sometimes we are so overwhelmed by the true consequences of a simple act of obedience that we can scarcely perform it. Sometimes just getting on our knees to pray is such a powerful symbol of humiliation and submission that it seems impossible to perform. Sometimes immersing ourselves in water is such a powerful symbol of repentance and redirection that we tremble at the river’s edge. But God will not make you get in the water. He will not force you to your knees. You and I must take that simple, physical step before the floodgates of heaven are opened. We must wash ourselves. We must step into the water and sink beneath its surface, knowing that doing so means acknowledging our transgressions and helplessness. We must put aside all that resistance and go under before the Lord can raise us up. And we must do it now while our self-concern takes charge.
Topical Index: wash, rahats, baptism, ritual, sin, Isaiah 1:16
NOTE: Rosanne’s father died yesterday afternoon. While Today’s Word editions are already posted for a few days, things may have to wait for awhile. Please be patient. Skip
So sorry to hear the sad news about Roseanne’s father. Please accept our sincere condolences.
Dear Dr. Moen,
I’m sorry to hear about the passing of Roseanne’s father. I’ll keep you and she and the family in prayer.
God Bless,
RT
Shalom,
Please accept my prayers for you both as grieve the loss of a parent. Not an easy thing.
May the peace of Y-H dwell in your hearts this day as you remember Job’s words….The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.
Shalom to you all.
My deepest sympathy and condolences, Skip.
John
May the peace that passes understanding embrace you both.
My prayers are with you all and I pray that His comfort is ever present. Thank you for today’s message Skip.
Please give our condolences to Roseanne Skip. We do pray The Lord Himself use this difficult time in your lives to further His Glory. We pray you will know His peace, His shalom in the timing of these things.
From Dave and all who met you at Gathering Stones. It is good that we can share in your grief. Shalom
So sorry to hear about your loss Skip. May God comfort you, Rosanne and family in the coming days.
I join with others in this community to express my condolences to Rosanne for the loss of her father. I pray for the family to experience peace and comfort now, and in the days ahead.
May the GOD of all comfort be her stay in and through this loss that she and her family are experiencing at this time.
Fathers are so special in a daughters life. Her first covering. In that is much security and liberty to grow strong. A place where she learned to love and be a priceless treasure. I feel her. I pray comfort for Roseann. I know you will be there.
Rosanne,
As you grieve the loss of your earthly father, may the holy embrace of your Abba in heaven be your comfort and consolation.
The great shalom of YHWH be with you and your family during this time.
Moen Family:
We are praying for your family during this time. Shalom to you all.
Brett T
Rosanne and Skip,
Please know that my prayers are with you as you work through the grief of Rosanne’s father’s death. It takes time and there is no hurry. I and the rest of us can wait as long as necessary.
So terribly sorry to hear of your loss. Your family is in our prayers during this time of sorrow. 🙁
May YHVH comfort you, Rosanne.
Rosanne, may YHVH comfort you as He is near those who mourn.
Ric and I say AMEN to all the prayers on yours and Rosanne’s behalf. As this solemn time comes to your family, I plead with YHVH to get the attention of all: for those who love Him, that they have a more profound understanding of HOW IN CONTROL THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY IS and how we have no control over anything but our own hearts…. and even that is a 24/7 battle. May they sing praises to HIM for His all-powerful love and MERCY toward us.
For those who don’t know YHVH, I pray that this loss will knock them off of their facade of a foundation and they will CRY OUT TO HIM in repentance and desperate desire to know, serve and obey Him for the rest of their lives here on earth.
Come back when you can, Skip.
I am so sorry Rosanne – I lost my dad last year and still find myself thinking “I need to ask Dad …”. There is a special bond with fathers and daughters. I know that the Lord is covering you with His peace. God bless you.
God bless your family with joy, love and peace beyond all understanding.
Rosanne, Our hearts go out to you upon hearing about the passing of your abba. May you be comforted by your Heavenly Abba and by all those who mourn in Zion. Our prayers are for you and your family in this season of grief bearing. In hope, Michael and Arnella
YHVH bless you and keep you Rosanne, YHVH make His face shine upon and be gracious to you, YHVH lift his countenance upon you and give you shalom.
May you and all of your family know His comforting Presence and consolations during this very special homegoing of Roseanne’s father. ~Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones ~ (Psalm 116.15)
I am sorry to hear of your family’s loss. May you feel the peace and comfort of our Father’s arms as we all lift you up in prayer.
I pray for comfort, strength and for you both to be anointed with the oil of joy during this time of transition..Shalom!
Please extend our sympathies to your lovely Bride.
Skip and Roseanne, I’m sorry to hear about the loss of Roseanne’s father, may your heavenly Father give you comfort and strength today. Blessings to you both!
@ the cure 1
Yesterday while going through a pile of secondhand books someone send me, I stumbled on a 6 page brochure arguing FOR sprinkling/child baptism and against submerging, written by a minister. The non-existence of any Hebrew thought, or what the word baptism would mean to a Jewish audience, just blew me away :
1. The Greek word baptisma/baptismos can also mean washed and then the writer connects Mark 7:4 with Matt 23:25, 26 implying that IF the word washed meant to submerge, then the Pharisees would have been cleaned on the inside also! Quote: “This is an outstanding example that baptima does not mean to submerge” – unbelievable!
2. In Luke 11:37 the word baptizein is also used for cleansing( before the meal). This is, according to the writer, the reason why it ONLY means to WASH/cleanse — not submerge!
3.The Greek word for “submerging”, kataduo, is never used in relation to baptism in the new testament.
4. John baptized “with” water and not “in” water.
5. One cannot be baptized by the Holy Spirit if baptism means to be submerged.
6. It is not the amount of water that counts because it is the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from sin.
Oh Luzzette, What a miracle it is that we have been delivered from such things and Our Father in heaven was given us good instruction and instructors Amen?
Shalom Skip
Our sincere condolences on Roseanne’s fathers passing.You as a family are in our prayers and in our hearts. Nick Carsten and all from Ladybrand!