Are you seeking YHVH’s hand or his face?

Psalm 106:15, Leanness in their soul. What is leanness of soul and how does it affect the hopes, desires and happiness in our physical life was well as our and spiritual walk? This is what we will discuss in this brief essay.

Merely seeking and fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and pride of life doesn’t fill the spiritual void or deficit (or “the God hole”) that exists in every person’s life. Only satisfying the soulish desires of one’s mind, will and emotions leaves one spiritually high and dry with their God-tanks running on empty. This was the case with the children of Israel, who selfishly and narcissistically only sought the hand of Elohim with a what’s-in-it-for me-attitude rather than seeking the face of Elohim, that is, his heart, character and ways (Ps 103:7). 

Those who want a relationship with Elohim leading to eternal life must lay down the driving and relentless desires of the soul and seek him through one’s personal spirit and his Word or truth, which is Yeshua (John 4:23–24). This is because the carnal man (i.e. those who seek Elohim through their mind, will and emotions or soul) cannot understand the things of the Spirit of Elohim, for they are not carnally discerned, but are perceived through the spirit (not the soul) of man, which is the only way one can connect to the Spirit of Elohim (2 Cor 2:6–16); therefore, they remain unfulfilled, since they are taking the wrong path that doesn’t lead to Elohim. This is illustrated by the fact that the older generation of Israelites had to die in the wilderness and were forbidden from entering the Promised Land. This teaches us that the old man with its carnal passions and approach to Elohim must die and cannot enter into a spiritual relationship with Elohim which is his rest or eternal life.

This verse also says that Elohim gave the Israelites their request by sending them leanness or thinness of soul. That is to say that the Israelites resisted seeking the face of Elohim; they merely wanted his hand or what was it in for them, even though Elohim gave them every opportunity to trust in him and to be part of his spiritual river of life and to experience the blessings thereof leading to the Promised Land. Because they refused to seek his face, he sent them leanness of soul as a disciplinary judgment against them to show them that this was NOT the way to experience ultimate fulfillment in life. If they would learn this, perhaps the emptiness they were experiencing would cause them to try to reach Elohim the right way—through seeking his ways or his face and heart.

Moreover, when we seek the face or ways Elohim through our spirit man, he will automatically satisfy the soul (the mind, will and emotions) of a person. Another way to say this, Yeshua’s words, is “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt 6:33).