Verbal Confirmation
“And now I have told you before it occurs that when it shall occur, you may believe.” John 14:29
Told – Adjust the audio. Pay close attention to what is said. It doesn’t matter how things appear. What matters is who said what is heard. In this case, Yeshua offers verbal confirmation of an as-yet unobservable fact. Are we to wait and see or are we to respond to the words that are spoken in spite of the lack of visual evidence? It all depends on the messenger, doesn’t it? While we may be justified in delaying response if the messenger is potentially untrustworthy, we have no justification whatsoever when the messenger is God. What He says will happen most assuredly will happen. It doesn’t matter if we can’t see it now or if we can’t see how it can ever happen. Our ability to see the truth is irrelevant. The only thing that is relevant is the source of the message.
The Greek verb here is ereo – to declare, to say, to promise. This is not the usual verb for saying something. This is official declaration with guarantee. This is God’s word. What matters here is the shift from visual to audio. The Greek in us would naturally demand evidence – evidence in observable form. “Show me some sign. Give me some tangible evidence.” As Greek-based thinkers, we are apt to demand the kind of proof that we expect in court. We want God to respond, “Here is exhibit A.” But Hebrew thought is different. Hebrew thought is based on testimony. What matters is what is said and who said it. This is so important that even in capital crimes the essential evidence is testimony by more than one witness. It’s easy to see the difference (did you notice the Greek use of “see”?) if we reflect on the whole approach of Scripture. Scripture is built on the idea of the spoken word. God’s creative force comes from what is spoken. His intervention in the world comes from what is spoken. He is the God who speaks. In fact, no man can ever see God, but every man is expected to hear Him. Now you will have a greater appreciation for the Scripture’s attention to the tongue, to covenant promises and to the sin of lying.
In our Greek culture the very fact that we read a printed text diminishes the essential connection to the spoken word of testimony. Print coverts audio to visual. This technology altered our world forever. Now, instead of listening to God speak, we see what the prophets wrote (or at least what some scribe wrote about what the prophets said). It is noteworthy that Yeshua never wrote anything for his disciples. His interaction with them relied entirely on the dynamic relationships of speech. The subtle change in perspective that occurs when we move from speech to print is hardly recognized, but it moves the very foundations of the earth.
Today when we read (see) the Scriptures, perhaps it would help if we spoke the words out loud. Perhaps we could recapture just a tiny bit of the Hebrew basis of God’s interactions with men if we began to listen with our eyes. What do you think? There’s a reason why most Jewish prayers are spoken, even when no one else is listening.
Topical Index: told, said, spoken, written, ereo, John 14:29
Do You Remember Melanie – our sister who moved to Spokane? She posted something about her progress. I stuck me that we could all learn from her humility, willingness and gratitude. I highly recommend you catch up with her. You can read it here. Just scroll to the last entry.
Faith is our response to what G-d says. As we know (according to scripture), faith comes by hearing (for we walk by faith (not – a big fat “not” BTW) sight. Faith sometimes contradicts or opposes sight. Our senses say something contrary to what G-d says or has said.
Your right Skip- it all boils down to “who” we’re gonna believe. G-d says this, but our own “discernment” says that.
It comes down to a decision, doesn’t it. “Who” am I gonna believe? The “situation” looks like this, but the word of the LORD says something “contrary” to the crisis. Do you not hear the Ruach Hakodesh say- “Whose word will you believe?”
I am only one man, but I have been “owned and operated” by YHWH for about 45 years. I gave the entirety of my being to Him when I was ten years old. But I was never “discipled.” I was never taught the ways of Him who is the Way. Wandering like a sheep in the desert for many years. Yet G-d was merciful to me. I am living proof he takes excellent care of fools and children.
To make a long story even longer, I started to “notice” things. Over a long period of time, (and exposure to His word) I noticed this- He never lies. He always speaks the truth. G-d cannot lie. If you’re looking for something G-d cannot do; “this” is it! G-d cannot lie. He is holy.
We, (you and I), can totally depend upon what He has said. For what He has said He will do- He will do. “It is written” and “it came to pass” are synonymous. “Faith” is just believing: “what G-d says- He will do”
The problem is not with “the Speaker” It is G-d who speaks. He doesn’t have a problem. The problem is on the hearing end of things. Listen to the Savior as He speaks through His word.. “If any man have ears to hear”. Well.. I eminently qualify for the first half of this, for I am “a man” or any man. One among many. “Any man”. Maybe I’ll join the sanitation workers strike in Memphis and get me a t-shirt: “I am a man.” LOL!- I’m a man and I got the t-shirt to prove it!- lol!
Well, we know this.. we are supposed to walk “by faith” and.. (in contradistinction), -“not by sight.” How do we “know” this?.. -“It is written!” – (Got your ears on?) -“For we walk by faith, not by sight:” (2 Corinthians 5.7)
And faith (once again) is our response to the everlasting words of Adonai. G-d has spoken.- “It is written!” “Shema, O Israel!! (shema is our response!) Listen and obey!
Get it? Got it?- Good! (tob) Today- I will welcome His word. I will do Torah and then I will understand it.
Skip, a great comment, that connects with yesterday’s “seeing” and hits a raw nerve. We have a lot of sympathy for Eve. On the one hand, God had spoken. The tempter offered a competing claim. Apparently Eve discounted the source of the claims, determined seeing is believing, and conducted her own experiment to “see” if what she as “told” was true. At least we know the origin of Greek thinking and the essence of sin: the desire to “see” before we believe, and determine for ourselves what is true or false, right or wrong (Gen. 3:5).
We also “see” Ian, “Mr. Twister” at his finest here. After all, all he did was to introduce a little doubt into the previously “undisturbed” mix. He just ever so slightly and subtly altered G-d’s words from “G-d hath said” to “hath G-d said?” Oh?- did G=d really say that? Surely not.. Even if He did, I’m sure He didn’t mean it.. Why would He be so harsh, so cruel, so restrictive? Doesn’t He want y’all to have any fun in life? Why He’s just a cosmic killjoy..
Slanderer. Accuser. Twister. Liar. – Did I just say that? Yes, I did. These are my words and this is who HaSatan is. Any questions? He cannot speak without lying, just as G-d cannot speak without truth pouring forth from His mouth.
For several years now, I’ve been listening to Max McClean’s audio of the Bible. I find hearing far more penetrating and I get it at a totally different and deeper level. Often, I will hear something that I’ve never noticed before. Mr. McClean is a gifted orator and Shakespearean actor. I really like to lie down, close my eyes and listen for hours. It is a transporting experience that I recommend! You will be amazed by what you will hear. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Rom 10:17
“if we began to listen with our eyes”
Hi Skip,
After listening to Balak (Num. 22:2 – 25:9 and Micah 5:6 – 6:8) on Antoinette’s Parsha Talk last night, I went back and reread the passages in my Bible.
When I read with my eyes, I can actually hear the text more clearly than I can when I listen with my ears.
I also listened to the mp3 Parshah teaching by Rabbi Bob Gorelik and would recommend it to everyone in the community.
One of the key lessons in the Parshah teaching is that we often have perceptions of God’s word that are not based on what the text actually says.
And that our perceptions are not true unless they can be validated in the text.
Another lesson can be derived from the behavior of Balaam.
Balaam listens well to God’s word and speaks the truth of God’s word, but Balaam acts badly, so it is all for nothing.
Rabbi Bob Gorelik says that Balaam is the model of a person who speaks well for monetary gain.
Finally, although I cannot do justice to his interpretation, Rabbi Bob Gorelik speaks of the two messiahs.
The messiah ben Joseph who suffers to redeem Israel, and the Messiah ben David who will reign in glory.
I’ve never really heard the “two messiahs” explained before, so it was very interesting to me.
Shalom,
In our Greek culture the very fact that we read a printed text diminishes the essential connection to the spoken word of testimony. Print coverts audio to visual. This technology altered our world forever. Now, instead of listening to God speak, we see what the prophets wrote (or at least what some scribe wrote about what the prophets said).
Let us not forget that it was The Lord Who on multiple occasions ordered” “write this in a book” … and yes (as is the case with all of Torah – Genesis to Revelations) it is designed to be publicly read/preached/testified too … and I do look forward to the gathering of the faithful to hear The Word! I also thoroughly enjoy speaking Amidah prayers … so let’s just be clear that I essentially agree with Skip!
I would concur to a certain extent that a significant problem we have is that “people read The Word and do not hear The Word”! But I would also just as easily argue that people often “hear The Word” but do not sh’ma … or listen/comprehend.
Clearly the heart of the matter still boils down to “Spiritual enablement” to understand and interact/converse with The Word. And the heart of the matter is what Moshe declared as the circumcised heart!
Personally I agree that conversing is well supported by temporal and sensual stimulation … yet at the same time I would have to declare that the Spiritual connection and Spiritual communication we experience with The LORD is paramount to understanding. Often times the Spirit (at least for me) is less temporal (sensual … either auditory or visual) and simply “is” for lack of a better explanation. (HE IS … go figure!)
Ultimately however the hearing that needs to be achieved is the hearing that comes from the indescribable whisper or passing through of Ruach HaKodesh; without this sensitivity one simply sees with blind eyes or hears with deaf ears.
Sadly we have a big mess … the blind are leading the blind and the deaf are leading the deaf. I personally believe it has less to do with the auditory and or visual modes of interacting with The Word and more to do with a stiff neck and presumptive complacent attitude regarding the Glory of Yeshua.
I would never suggest that seeing (reading) is not essential. How else are we going to “see” the Hebrew architecture, the homophones, etc. The rabbis believe that every LETTER is inspired, so writing and reading are crucial. My point is the the Greek-based epistemological foundation is sight, not hearing. That introduces fundamental changes in the way we understand the truth. We look for external evidence – things we can see – in order to confirm our beliefs. We shift our view of the world toward “observation” – detached from reality by the filter of the mind. But this is not Hebraic. Rethinking the process is audio requires a move away from this basis for knowing. “Hear, O Israel” is the foundation of Hebrew knowing. I must trust the word I hear.
Skip … Skip … Skip
I know what you were suggesting and I absolutely agree!
I was only trying to point out that the paradigm shift in and of itself does not guarantee the proper outcome … just look at all the wonderful Jewish scholars that just can’t get the truth, power and glory of Mashiach Yeshua … despite having the right Hebraic framework.
We are in agreement … if my perspective does not begin with The WORD then I am in trouble. It must start with faith as opposed to a rationale deduction that observation proves the theory of The Word. (Not Greek by any means)
If my perspective discounts the oral tradition … handed down through discipleship and community … generation to generation (ledor vedor) … and I can’t verify the lifestyle in actions and deeds of the one who passed on the tradition to me … what could I be left with?
Probably I would be left with The Word sitting on a desk as another domain specific reference work/writing. We are left arguing the integrity of texts and translations! We are left with personal introspection and emotion being the primary driver behind personal understanding and beliefs.
No brother Skip … we are on the same page. The power of the spoken WORD … coming from an obedient and Spirit filled source … teaching me how to interpret the external evidence … is quite frankly invaluable.
I suppose this is why proper understanding of Torah, Community, Israel and The Kingdom remains relevant. Else we are left with a useless paradigm … we would be left with a reality that simply can not be conveyed to others because the observable evidence to support The Wonders of The LORD from a Greek perspective do not exist.
As it was revealed … darkness can not comprehend the light!
As a suggestion it would be a good idea to review the past works that Skip has done on discipleship … they weave in quite nicely with “hearing The Word”!
Great message!
I’ve been reading Skip’s devotional for quite a while now. I can truly say I am blessed with his wisdom and I praise God for availability of these devotionals. I plan to share selected devotionals to fellow pastors who are in my list of on-line friends.
I am so glad these have been helpful, but please, rather than continue to forward them, make a personal appeal for your friends to actually JOIN the community.