Hold on to Yeshua—He Will Guide and Protect You Through the Wilderness of Life

Steps In a Redeemed Believer’s Walk

In this study, we will examine the spiritual stages of growth and development that a redeemed believer goes through while crossing the wilderness of life en route to our spiritual promised land—the kingdom of Elohim. We will see how the Torah (YHVH’s instructions in righteousness) plays a pivotal role in the believer’s life that keeps us on the straight and narrow path, and that will eventually bring us safely to our spiritual destination, which is YHVH’s kingdom of heaven. In view will be the oft-quoted verse from Proverbs 29:18 which says, “Where there is no vision [or prophetic revelation], the people perish [i.e. cast off restraint, become lawless, unloosened, and unbridled], but he that keeps [or hedges about, guards, protects] the Torah, happy is he.” Many Bible students are familiar with the first part of this verse, but not its second part, where we see that Torah plays a vital role in guiding us to our spiritual or prophetic and eternal destiny. 

From the beginning to the end of the Bible, Elohim is directing his people into the path of Torah righteousness, and he is continually exposing us to the greater message of the everlasting gospel message (Rev 14:6), which involves salvation through faith in the shed blood of the Lamb of Elohim at the cross. 

What’s more, Yeshua, the Living Torah-Word of YHVH incarnate (or in flesh form, John 1:1–4, 14), was the one who, as the arm of YHVH (Isa 53:1), delivered the Israelites from Egypt. He was also the one who, as the Angel (or Messenger) of YHVH, led the ancient Israelites in the pillar of fire, who spoke to them from Mount Sinai and gave them his Torah-instructions. Yeshua also was the rock that gave them water, and was the bread of life to them. Yeshua himself (as well as the apostolic writers) tells us that he was the “God” of the Old Testament, who was with the Israelites throughout their tenure in the wilderness (John 8:58 cp Exod 3:14; John 6:32–58; Acts 7:35–39; 1 Cor 10:4). The point is this: Yeshua is still leading his saints as he was then. He is the one who revealed his Torah-law to them then, and his standards of righteousness have not changed from then until now, for he is the same yesterday, today and forever and he does not change (Heb 13:8; Mal 3:6)! What does this mean for you and me today? Don’t stop reading unless knowing the truth of the Word of Elohim scares and intimidates you, and unless you love spiritual darkness more than light. In what follows, we will let the Word of Elohim speak to us, even if it is different than what you have learned in your man-made church systems.

As you read this study, note how little-by-little, like a parent training his child, Elohim was training his people to walk in his Torah commandments, all the while revealing to them the truth of the redemptive work of Yeshua. Please note that obedience to the Torah and belief in Yeshua go hand-in-hand. The two are completely compatible and indivisible. One cannot believe in, love, and even know Yeshua without obeying his commands (John 14:15, 21; 1 John 2:3–6). Belief in Yeshua and walking in his waysYeshua are two sides of the same coin.

 Interestingly, this message of the gospel (that is, walking in YHVH’s Torah-law, the Written Word of Elohim, and having faith in Yeshua, the Living Torah-Word of Elohim) has never changed. How do we know this? The last book of the Bible which predicts conditions on earth just prior to Yeshua’s second coming identifies the end time saints of Elohim as keeping his Torah-commandments as well as embracing the testimony, faith or gospel of Yeshua (Rev 12:17; 14:12 cp. 22:14). These are the words of Elohim, and not men’s words or traditions!

One’s Pre-Redemption (pre-Salvation) State

We will now identify the steps or stages of spiritual growth and development through which YHVH leads his people as they trek through the bleak wilderness of this physical life en route to glories of immortal life in the promised inheritance of Elohim’s eternal kingdom. Keeping this prophetic vision in view will insure that one does not perish in this life before reaching the end goal. Remember,

Where there is no prophetic revelation [or vision], the people cast off restraint [or perish]; but happy is he who keeps the Torah-law. (Prov 29:18)

1— Slavery to Sin: Israel, while in Egypt, was in bondage, slavery or servitude to the world, flesh and the devil. The Hebrew word Egypt, Mitzraim, is related to matzowr meaning “something hemming in, distress, besieged, bulwark and defense.” Matzowr is from the Hebrew word tzur meaningto cramp, confine, beset, besiege, bind up, enclose and lay siege.”Do these words not describe the state of one’s pre-redemption state or one’s spiritual enslavement to the world, the flesh and the devil before being saved? As a slave to sin and living under the penalty of death and burdened with guilt and shame, how does this make one feel? If Mitzraim doesn’t express one’s spiritual condition, then what does?

2— Despair: While enslaved in Egypt, the Israelites cried out to YHVH in anguish from under the burden of their bondage. YHVH heard their cries and stretched out his strong arm and delivered them with a mighty hand. Their world shook and literally fell apart as he dislodged them from those things that confined them as helpless and enslaved captives in their place of distress, confinement and besiegement. The Egyptian world around them was judged, and Israel experienced some of these judgments, as well, (to arouse their attention, to shake them out of their sinful comfort zones and to awaken them to look heavenward), although YHVH graciously spared them from the most severe judgments that would have otherwise destroyed them. Before you were saved, did YHVH have to do something similar in your life to dislodge you from your enslavement to a life of sin and idolatry, and to awaken you to your spiritual state? Does he not still have to do this from time to time in our spiritual walk to move us to a higher level of spiritual maturity, so that we become more like him and become a more qualified and efficacious worker in his kingdom? Even at this moment, YHVH is urging his people, the saints, to come to a higher level in their spiritual walk by exiting the confused mixture of good and evil that exists in the spiritual Babylon of the world’s religious systems and churches (Rev 18:4).

Redemption

3— Redemption or Salvation: YHVH saved the Israelites unconditionally. They did nothing to deserve redemption other than having the faith to sacrifice a lamb and place its blood on their doors to save them from the death angel (which is symbolic of death penalty that is upon each human for their sin of breaking Elohim’s laws according to Ezek 18:4; Rom 6:23; 1 John 3:4). This is what the biblical holiday of Passover represents and why we celebrate it each year as Yeshua and his apostles did. This teaches us that salvation is simply a matter of believing in Yeshua the Messiah, the Lamb of YHVH as we in faith appropriate his shed blood to the spiritual house of our lives. It is his blood that paid the penalty price for our sins (Matt 5:19; Eph 2:8–9 and Eph 1:7; 1 Pet 1:2, 19; Heb 10:19–22; 12:24; 1 John 1:7; Rev 1:5).

Sanctification and Journey to the Promised Land

4— Sanctification or Set Apartness: Eventually, YHVH separated the Israelites from the plagues he was bringing upon the Egyptians, and then he physically brought them out of Egypt. This is the pattern of what YHVH does for us spiritually. At the point of one’s redemption or salvation from one’s past life of sin and the death penalty of it, one often has to leave sinful lifestyles and relationships, sometimes even family, friends, or jobs and maybe even physical locations. One has to make an exodus from the ties of the past that are binding one in spiritual slavery. Did this happen to you? Is YHVH still trying to dislodge you from some hindrances, entanglements and idols that remain from your past life of sin in your spiritual Egypt? Often this is an on-going process that takes time—maybe even a lifetime. YHVH is patient and longsuffering with us, but eventually we have to leave the world behind and choose to serve and obey him completely and without reservation

5— Putting Sin Out of One’s Life: YHVH then commanded the Israelites to put leaven (a spiritual symbol for sin) out of their dwelling places for seven days before celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread (or Chag HaMatzot). Likewise, when we leave our own spiritual Egypt behind, we must put the sin out of our lives (or our spiritual houses). We cannot live a redeemed life and expect to hang on to the very sins that kept us enslaved to the world, the flesh and the devil and remain in rebellion against the righteous ways of a Elohim. Paul instructed the New Testament saints to celebrate Passover and the Feast of Unleavened bread each year in remembrance of these spiritual steps in a believer’s life (1 Cor 5:7–8).

6— The Spiritual Warfare Phase: Egypt, Pharaoh and the world system endeavored to draw the Israelites back in to its tentacled grip either through tempting sinful allurement or by coercive force. When Israel refused to return to enslavement in Egypt, Pharaoh and is armies attacked the Israelites. After Pharaoh’s defeat, the Israelites were again attacked by the Amalakites. Yeshua discusses the struggles that a new believer faces against the world, the flesh and the devil in his Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:18–23). How many new believers have you seen fall away spiritually shortly after taking their first few steps of faith? Perhaps it almost happened to you, or did happen. This is an extremely vulnerable time for the baby believer and the enemies of YHVH know this and will try to capitalize on it.

7— Death to the Old Man and Resurrection to New Life in Torah and Yeshua: The Israelites then crossed (or were immersed in) the Red Sea. In 1 Corinthians 10:2, Paul states that the Israelites were baptized unto Moses in the Red Sea. This was a prophetic picture of the new believer in Yeshua being baptized or immersed for the remission of sins. This is one of the first acts of obedience a new believer is required to do upon receiving salvation (Acts 2:37–38; Rom 6:3–6).

8— Our First Love or “Spiritual Honeymoon”: When the Israelites made their safely to the other side of the Red Sea and their enemies lay dead and defeated at the bottom of the sea, it was a time of great rejoicing and triumph. Joy and love for YHVH burst forth from the Israelites as Miriam led the women in a song of victory (Exod 15:19–21). It was at this point that Israel was truly free from Egypt resulting in this great outburst of joy. Israel reveled in the “first love” of its relationship with YHVH. What was it like when you were first saved? Was the Yeshua the Messiah the love of your life? Never lose your first love for Yeshua. Along the way, many saints do, and this is not pleasing to YHVH (Rev 2:4).

9— The Walk of Righteousness: The Israelites were now out of Egypt, but this was not the end; it was only the beginning of their spiritual journey toward the Promised Land. YHVH now needed to instruct Israel on what to do next. This happened on the biblical feast of Shavuot or Pentecost at the foot of Mount Sinai. It was time for Israel to receive her marching orders on how to go forward or to walk spiritually. This is why YHVH gave Israel his instructions in righteousness (i.e. the Torah) at the beginning of their trek through the wilderness, which is a prophetic symbol of our physical life journey. YHVH gave the Israelites his ten commandments in Exodus 20 along with many other instructions, which teach us how to love Elohim and one’s neighbor. YHVH had redeemed Israel through the blood of the lamb, set them free and delivered them from their enemies, and now he was instruction them how they were to go forward in their walk of righteousness. 

Back of male hiker standing with hands on hips while viewing landscape beneath brilliant sunset in Tulum, Mexico

10— Overcoming and Perseverance: The journey through the wilderness had just begun for the Israelites. They now had to live their lives as freemen to serve, love and obey YHVH Elohim. Israel had to learn to walk by faith trusting in YHVH to lead them forward and to provide for all of their needs. On this journey, they had to learn to keep looking forward toward the goal of the Promised Land, not looking backward toward Egypt. They had to learn to trust Elohim who would help them to overcome doubt, unbelief and fear including the struggles for food and water and battle all her enemies. The redeemed believer faces the same daily challenges and struggles as did the Israelites. Like them, we to must keep our eyes on the goal, which is eternal life in the kingdom of Elohim. This is the prophetic vision that must remain in our hearts and minds at all times, and YHVH’s Written Torah as well as Yeshua, the Living Torah-Word of Elohim, will be the light, map and compass to guide us to our ultimate eternal spiritual home. This is the prophetic vision that the faithful believer must keep in his or her mind, so that they will not perish along the way as Proverbs 29:18 instructs us:

Where there is no prophetic revelation, the people cast off restraint [or perish]; but happy is he who keeps the Torah-law. (Prov 29:18)

YHVH Instills the Concept of Torah Into the Day-To-Day Lives of the Israelites

Please consider the bolded phrases below to see how they relate to the Torah-law (the Hebrew word found throughout Scripture that means “YHVH’s instructions, teachings, or precepts in righteousness”), and look up the scriptures that follow to see how this relates to you and your spiritual walk. In this brief study, we will see how YHVH was using various experiences in the Israelites’ lives to instill obedience to his Torah-law as a way of blessing and life for them, and how his Torah-Word would guide them safely to the Promised Land. We will now see how these lessons apply to us as we move forward in our spiritual walk to our promised spiritual inheritance.

Exodus 13:21, “And YHVH went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.” How does this apply to us? (Read Ps 119:105.)

Exodus 14:20, “And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.” (Study 1 Cor 1:18; 2:14; Matt 10:16–25 to see how YHVH’s spiritual light guides and protects the righteous and, at the same time, is darkness or foolishness to the wicked.)

Exodus 15:25–26, “And he cried unto YHVH; and YHVH showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, and said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of YHVH thy Elohim, and will do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians, for I am YHVH that heals you.” Here we see that diligent obedience to YHVH and his Torah brings life and health.

Exodus 15:27, “And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the waters.” Water in Scripture represents the Torah-Word of Elohim (Deut 32:2; Eph 5:26). This oasis in the wilderness symbolically and prophetically represented many things.Twelve wells represents 12 leaders (i.e. tribes, apostles) to proclaim the good news message of salvation and to teach YHVH’s Torah to show people how to walk in righteousness after being redeemed from enslavement to sin. The 70 palms represent the elders that ruled Israel (later called the Sanhedrin), who made rulings on Torah (see Exod 18:20–26; Deut 17:8–13). Yeshua appointed 12 disciples (later, apostles) and then 70 more disciples whose mission it was “to wash” (Eph 5:26) Israel with the message of the gospel and give refreshment to those who were hot and weary spiritually (Luke 10:1, 17).

Exodus 16:4, “Then said YHVH unto Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my Torah-law, or not.’” In Scripture, bread from heaven often symbolizes the Word of Elohim and points to Yeshua the Word of Elohim made flesh and the spiritual bread of life. When we feed on the spiritual bread from heaven, we will be spiritually nourished and energized (see John 1:1–2, 14; 6:25–58). 

Exodus 16:23, “And he said unto them, This is that which YHVH has said, ‘Tomorrow is the rest of the set-apart Sabbath unto YHVH. Bake that which you will bake today, and boil that you will boil; and that which remains over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.’ And Moses said, ‘Eat that today; for today is a Sabbath unto YHVH. Today you shall not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none.’” The seventh-day Sabbath or in Hebrew, the Shabbat, was pivotally foundational in the life of YHVH’s people. It was a major spiritual stepping stone or portal into a deeper walk with Elohim. The Shabbat was literally the covenantal sign between YHVH and his people that distinguished them from the heathen nations around them. It was a set-apart or holy time of fellowship, communion and spiritual instruction, and part of the societal glue that held the people of Elohim together and kept them on the straight and narrow path of holiness.

Exodus 16:28–30, “And YHVH said unto Moses, ‘How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that YHVH has given you the Sabbath, therefore he gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.’ So the people rested on the seventh day.” Again, we see the central role the Sabbath played in the life of Elohim’s people.

Exodus 17:6, “Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.” Who and what is that rock? It all points to the Torah-Word of Elohim, both the Written Torah and Yeshua, the Living Torah. (See Isa 8:14; Matt 7:24–27; 1 Cor 10:4.)

Exodus 17:12, “But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” What does the stone represent? (See Deut 32:15; Pss 62:2; 95:1.)

Additional Torah Nuggets

Satan Attacks New Believers

Exodus 14:2–3, “‘Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against [or before, ArtScroll Chumash] Baalzephon: before it shall you encamp by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, “They are entangled in the land, the wilderness has shut them in.” And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them, and I will be honored upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host that the Egyptians may know that I am YHVH.’ And they did so.” The ArtScroll Chumash says that after wandering in the desert for three days, the Israelites began to retrace their steps and fell to worshiping Baal Zephon (i.e. Baal of the winter or cold; Zephon is from the Hebrew word tzaphon meaning “hidden, north, gloomy, or unknown”), and they gave in to fear and lost resolve to move forward. From this lesson, we learn that Satan (the adversary) capitalized on the Israelites’ weakness, namely, their fear (faithlessness), indecision, and confusion (they lost their direction as they took their eyes off of YHVH and his Torah-Word). Because of this loss of faith and state of confusion, Satan sent Pharaoh to destroy them in their time of weakness. YHVH permitted this to occur as an enticement to Pharaoh to attack a seemingly weakened Israel, so that YHVH might glorify his name before by destroying Israel’s enemies. What can we learn from this, and how does this apply to our own struggles with doubt, unbelief and faithlessness in our spiritual walk?

New Believers Are Vulnerable

Exodus 14:8 says “…and the children of Israel went out with an high hand [or boldness].” Israel exited Egypt triumphantly. The Jewish sages teach that the expression “an high hand” means that they went out proudly lifting high the banners of their respective tribes. Scripture tells us that pride goes before a fall (Prov 16:18), and who thinks that he stands, take heed lest he fall (1 Cor 10:12). Similarly, new believers can be lifted up in pride due to their new station in life, yet fall victim to the enemy’s attacks as Yeshua discusses in his Parable of the Sower, where the one “that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and anon with joy receives it, yet has he is not root in himself, but endures for a while, for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended” (Matt 13:3–9, 18–23). As a young tree that is still tender and not deeply is easily toppled by wind or broken by ice, so are little ones in Yeshu vulnerable to spiritual attack. Be on guard and do not be lifted up in pride.

The Bitter Waters and the Tree of Life

Exodus 15:25–26 says, “And he cried unto YHVH; and YHVH showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them and said, ‘If you will diligently hearken to the voice of YHVH your Elohim, and will do that which is right in his sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians, for I am YHVH who heals you.’” The tree that Moses cast into the bitter waters symbolizes thetree of life, or the Torah-Word of Elohim. The Jewish sages teach us that wisdom is synonymous with the Torah of YHVH and is a metaphor for wisdom in Proverbs 3:13–18. Similarly, Yeshua is the Torah-Word made flesh (John 1:1–2, 14). Moreover, the tree that Moses cast into the bitter waters prophetically pointed to the cross on which Yeshua was crucified whereby the bitter waters of sin and death were turned into waters of healing and life for the faith-filled believer. Additionally, water in Scripture symbolizesthe word of Elohimthat washes, refreshes, cleans, purifies and nourishes helping the tree to produce much fruit (Deut 32:2; Eph 5:26; Ps 1:3). Marah, the place of bitter waters, was one of the ten instances where YHVH tested Israel to see if they would trust him and obey him by following his Torah-instructions. As we go through our life in the wilderness of this world, often we find ourselves in bitter circumstances where we must make the choice either to give to faithless discouragement or to trust in YHVH to meet our needs despite a bleak outlook.

YHVH Continues to Test the Israelites

YHVH first tested the Israelites in the area of drink (water), and now he tests them in the area of bread (or food; Exod 16:1–36). YHVH tested Israel to see if the need for human sustenance would stand in the way of their faithful obedience to his promise to care for them if they would obey him. Would they lose faith when faced with a little hunger and thirst? Similarly, is our faith and obedience to YHVH’s Word only a fair-weather faith and obedience, or will it endure the storms of life? YHVH will test us to see what the true metal of our heart and character is. Paul speaks of this struggle between the flesh man and the spirit man that all believers must face (Rom 7:14–25). Yeshua taught that the spirit of man is willing to obey YHVH, but that the flesh is weak and does not want to obey (Matt 26:41). When one comes to Yeshua, one must crucify the ungodly passions of the flesh and allow the Spirit of life in Yeshua to dominate (Rom 6:3–6; 8:1–2; 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 2:20).

Bread From Heaven and the Sabbath

Exodus 16:4 speaks of “bread from heaven” raining down upon the Israelites. Through the manna, YHVH was teaching man not to confuse the work week or the profane (or secular) with the Sabbath or set-apart (holy or kadosh) times of YHVH. He gave man six days to pursue the acquisition of physical bread and one day (the Sabbath) for man to seek the spiritual bread (study of YHVH’s Word and service to him). By limiting manna to a one day supply (Exod 16:4–21), YHVH was teaching Israel that he was the Provider at all times, and that they would need to trust him one day at a time. With the double portion of manna on Friday, he was showing them that observance of the Shabbat would never be an impediment to one’s livelihood. 

Moreover, YHVH provided vast quantities of manna, but he expected them to go out and to gather it. Though blessings from heaven may rain down upon us, we must exercise volition and expend the effort to go out and procure those blessings. To receive the blessings of YHVH requires effort on our part. These are the rewards for obedience to his Torah-Word. This is the “faith without works is dead” concept that the James teaches about (Jas 2:14–26). 

Working out our salvation (Phil 2:12) requires fruits of righteousness or works (Gal 5:16–26; Rev 19:7–8; Mat 5:20). On a daily basis, we have to study YHVH’s Word and communicate with him through prayer in order to have a vital, life-giving, power-packed, relationship with our Heavenly Father. Yeshua commands his followers not only to believe him, but to continue to ask, seek and to knock, and to hear and to do his commandments (John 14:15, 21). Yeshua will reward men according to their works (Matt 5:19; 25:14–30). He rewards obedience along with profitability and action, not slothfulness and inactivity.

Water From the Rock

Exodus 17:6–7, “Behold, I will stand before you there upon the rock in Horeb; and you shall smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted YHVH, saying, ‘Is YHVH among us, or not?’” In Numbers 20:24, we read, “Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.” The Hebrew words Masah means “temptation, ” Meribah means “strife,” and Horeb means “desert” (another name for Sinai). Again we see a spiritual picture of YHVH’s people being washed by the water of the Word of Elohim. Ephesians 5:25–27 says, “… Messiah also loved the assembly [of believers] and gave himself for it that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word that he might present it to himself a glorious assembly not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be set apart and without blemish.” We must continually immerse ourselves in and drink that water if we are to survive the scorching heat of the desert wilderness of this physical life.

Battle With Amalek (Satan)

Exodus 17:11–12 says, “And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” What we learn from this wilderness experience is that as long as Israel looked heavenward, they were successful in defeating their enemies. 

Similarly, as long as our arms are lifted heavenward in praise, surrender, dependence upon our Heavenly Father (like a small child with outstretched arms reaching toward his parents in need of something) we can experience divine protection and victory in our time of need as well. 

Additionally, Moses’ tired arms resting on a stones is a symbolic picture of the wise man building his house on the Rock of Torah or Yeshua, the Living Torah, who is the Rock of our salvation or redemption (Deut 32:15; 2 Sam 22:3, 47; Pss 18:2, 46; 62:2, 6, 7; 89:26; 95:1; Isa 17:10; Matt 7:24–27). 

The meaning of the name Amalek is a curious one. It is a play on several Hebrew words of similar spelling and pronunciation. In the Tanakh (or Old Testament), there are many word–plays that express deeper or hidden spiritual meanings or concepts that are unearthed only as one digs into the Hebrew. In this case, let’s look at some homonym-type words (i.e. words that are pronounced the same, but which are spelled differently). For example, Amalek is spelled קלמע. This is pronounced almost identically to the word phrase “I am king” spelled קלמא. Melek is the generic Hebrew word for king. The pagan deity Moloch derives from this word. Another Hebrew word of similar spelling and pronunciation is malak meaning “messenger, ambassador or angel”and in numerous instances in the Torah refers to the Word of YHVH, which later was revealed in the Person of Yeshua the Messiah. It is spelled ךאלמ. Now let’s put all these concepts together. Amalek as a type of the devil, the adversary of the people of YHVH, stood in their way to prevent them from entering into the Promised Land. How does Satan fulfill this role today? Simply this. He is the god of this world, who comes as an angel of light and adversary or the saints to hinder, to kill or devour like a hungry lion, to steal and destroy that which is good. 

Now consider this: How did Moses, who is a prophetic antetype of Messiah Yeshua, defeat the Amalekites? When his arms were tired he rested or supported them on rocks. Moses’ arms were spread out and upraised not unlike a man on a cross. Now let’s make the spiritual connection. What did Yeshua do on the cross to Satan? He defeated him. (Read and believe Gen 3:15; Col 2:15; Rom 8:31 cp. 37; 16:20 [bruise means “crush”]; Luke 9:1; 10:19; 1 John 4:4; Jas 4:7.) 

What can we learn from Israel’s encounter with Amalek? This story teaches us that when we surrender to Yeshua the Messiah and trust in him, we can be victorious over our enemies even as he was over Satan at the cross. Please embrace this fact, and with this truth planted deeply in your heart and mind. Now go forward onward and upward as you boldly and kick the devil in the posterior for the glory and expansion of YHVH’s eternal kingdom. Advance as a victorious overcomer through Yeshua the Messiah never looking backwards, but always forward toward your spiritual inheritance in the Promised Land of the kingdom of Elohim’s dear Son, King Yeshua (Col 1:13)!

 

4 thoughts on “Hold on to Yeshua—He Will Guide and Protect You Through the Wilderness of Life

  1. Wow! This is great Natan, thanks! And yes we don’t want denominations but promotions. I have learned, among other things, that the Pillar of Fire actually melted the sand and rocks on the beach where the Israelites encamped before passing thru the sea (which I just realized, fire then water, now water-later the fire) There’s a video of this online. Also, I learned that the Hebrew word for “balance” has the same root as the word for “ear” – now w/o YHVH there is imbalance-“let he who has an ear to hear, hear!” Words have roots-Messiah-the Branch, the Vine, the Word! Hallelu-YAH!

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