Thou
art our everlasting God
Jehovah,
our King,
Who
has loved us and chosen us as Thine own;
Keep
us as the apple of Thine eye,
Hide
us under the shadow of Thy wings
That
we might never stray
And
cause Thee sorrow;
And
help us wait for Thee
In
the dawning of tomorrow.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
I love
symbolism in the Old Testament. Reading about the ritualistic administration of
the priesthood in the wilderness of the Israelites’ journey toward the promised
land convinces me how essential that was to keep them focused on the God who
led them because every minute detail was highly symbolic of Him. Consider just
a few such symbols:
-
EPHOD: sacred garment akin to an apron that was worn
by the high priest had gold settings on each shoulder where onyx stones
engraved with the names of 12 tribes of Israel were placed. These stones fastened
the ephod on the priest’s shoulders symbolizing that he as a representative of
the Lord, carried Israel on his shoulders (see Exodus 28:12);
-
THE BREASTPLATE: made of fabric and attached to the
ephod with golden chains and fasteners, it served as a pocket in which were
placed precious stones inscribed with the names of each of the tribes of
Israel. “Thus, the high priest bore ‘the names of the children of Israel in the
breastplate of judgment upon his heart….for a memorial before the Lord
continually’ (ibid v 29).
-
THE GOLDEN DIADEM AND THE MITRE: The mitre (or hat)
was made of fine linen and each priest wore one. The high priest wore a golden
band on the front of his mitre on the forehead. Engraved on the band were the
words “Holiness to the Lord” (ibid v 36-38)
-
THE ALTAR OF INCENSE: “Hot coals were placed on the
altar and each morning and evening the high priest would burn incense. This
ritual seems to signify that one can approach the presence of God only through
prayer, for scriptures elsewhere indicate that incense is a symbol of prayer”
(see Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4; Psalm 141:2; The Old Testament Student Manual Book
1 p 153)
We also
have a place designated which symbolically points to the foundation of our
salvation. It also reminds us that holiness belongs to the Lord and that He
leads us to OUR promised land. The more we can enter its doors the more
symbolism of the power of His salvation will become imbedded in our minds and
hearts.
Consider
this privilege that the rest of the world has no access to. Our temples are
beacons of hope, knowledge and endowment of His grace for His spiritually
begotten children, the ‘apple of His eye’ (Deut 32:9,10), the rubies in His
diadem (Exodus 28:17-21; Malachi 3:17; D&C 60:4; 101:3)….His people Israel.
How great our
God of Israel
Who carries us
on His shoulders
And in His
godly heart;
We are the
rubies in His diadem
We are Israel,
children of light.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Art: Holy One of Israel by LDS Art)
It is estimated by historians that the total number of the children of Israel who left Egypt would have been close to 2 million. That number would have increased over the 40 years of journeying. Just imagine people’s struggle with this ongoing travel and its associated frustrations, fears and doubts for 40 years. It’s like a camping trip from hell!
Imagine setting up tents and then tearing them down to continue from one point of distance to another and doing that for 40 years. Now imagine running out of food and water along the way and having to fight off the people who saw you as a threat to their land.
We who live in an age of sophisticated transportation could never relate to reaching any destination on foot. Jehovah instructed Moses the congregation should march in groups of 4, with each group consisting of 3 tribes, on the west, south, east and north surrounding the tabernacle with Levites who were consecrated to the service of caring for the tabernacle and priesthood ordinances within, to be in the middle.
The places of honour, at the head and immediately following the tabernacle and the Levites were held by Judah and Ephraim (Numbers 2). These were the choice tribes who presided over the two kingdoms in the promised land. Judah, because Christ was to come from that line and Ephraim, because He is God’s firstborn:”…for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn” (Jeremiah 31:9).
It was an eleven-day journey from Mt Sinai to the promised land but because of their rebellions that journey became 40 years of wandering (Clarke, “Bible Commentary” 1:737). Years ago when I was studying this, I came to the conclusion that the children of Israel were very spiritually immature. Their constant complaining and murmurings seemed like unnecessary faith defeating melt downs. Now that I have lived a life-time experiencing hardship, I have compassion for what they went through. I who abhor camping would not have lasted two days in such a situation.
Imagine being in charge of this whole operation. No wonder Moses exclaimed: I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me!” (Numbers 11:14). But Moses did bear it because the God of Israel sent him Jethro, his father-in-law who taught him about delegation (Exodus 18:13-27). And that was not the only help He gave.
Jehovah also travelled with His chosen people (Numbers 9;21-23; 10:34; Psalm 78:14); sustained them with provisions; preserved their health and even the clothes upon their backs (Deuteronomy 8:4). He was there throughout the whole difficult experience refining them to become after 430 years in slavery, ‘a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people’ who could ‘show forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light’ (1 Peter 2:9)
This life is like a wilderness through
which we must pass to get home. I have often asked myself why it has to be this
hard. The answer is the same for us as it was for the children of Israel: “…and
ye shall know that I am the Lord your God” (Exodus 16:12)
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Artist Unknown)
Then sang
Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake saying, I
will sing unto the Lord; for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his
rider hath he thrown into the sea.
The Lord is
my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will
prepare him an habitation: my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
The Lord is
a man of war: the Lord is his name.
Pharaoh’s
chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are
drowned in the Red Sea.
Thy right
hand, O Lord is become glorious in power, thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed
in pieces the enemy.
And in the
greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against
thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
Who is like
unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness,
fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Thou
stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
Thou in thy
mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them
in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
The Lord
shall reign for ever and ever.
-
Exodus 15:1-18
“Regardless
of where the Ten Tribes are, it will require a miracle to bring them forth. It
will be of greater magnitude than the dividing of the Red Sea in the days of
Israel’s Exodus. Mountains, ice and a continent of water will stand between the
Ten Tribes and the land of Zion when they first appear, but they will ‘smite
the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence’ (D&C 133:26). As
they come to the great body of water, dry land will be cast up in the midst of
it so that a mighty highway will spread before them (ibid v 27; Isaiah 11:16).”
(Cleaon Skousen, “Prophecy and Modern Times” p 56)
And the
boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence.
And there
shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of
the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim.
And they
shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy.
(D&C 133:31-33
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Artist Unknown)
When Moses
was issued his calling as the deliverer of Israel his feeling of inadequacy
reared its head. This was no calling to serve on the Bishopric or to be an
Elders Quorum President. This calling was beyond huge. Some historians have
estimated that the population of the Hebrews in Egypt could have numbered in
the excess of 2 million people. Moses tried three times to convince God that calling
him to do it was not a good idea.
When an
Egyptian prince Moses had “few equals as a general of the armies” (Josephus, “The
Complete Works of Josephus”, p 119). Since that time he had been a Hebrew slave
and a shepherd of Midian for 40 years. Somehow one can understand his reply to
God: “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth
the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). This was the first
attempt.
Jehovah assured
Moses that He will be with him and then proceeded to prove it. He foretold the
success of this task and that because of it Moses would serve Him on Mt Sinai after the
exodus; he told him how to convince the Hebrews that He, Jehovah, indeed sent
him by revealing His name; that Pharaoh will not let the people go and that He
will smite Egypt with His wonders and that when they finally leave, they will
take the spoils of Egypt with them (Exodus 3:11-22)
Then came
the second attempt. All of the Saviour’s foreknowledge still was not enough for
Moses and he tried to ‘assure’ God that Egyptians will not believe him that God
sent him (Exodus 4:1). Next came the visual proofs as the way of evidence: the
leprous hand, the rod that turns into a snake and the water of the river that
turns into blood (vs 2-9)
Finally the
third…..”I am not eloquent but am slow of speech” (4:10). Whether Moses had
lost confidence in himself over the years or not, the fact remained that he was
once “an extremely well-educated prince and a mighty warrior in the cause of
the Egyptians (Josephus, “Antiquities” book 2, 9:7, 10:1-2). Stephen affirmed
that Moses was ‘learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in
words and in deeds (Acts 7:22).
The Lord
assured Moses again that He will be with him and with ‘his mouth and will teach
him what he should say’ but even this was not good enough and Moses asked for a
spokesman and angered the Lord who relented and gave him Aaron as his spokesman
(Exodus 4:10-14). Looking for help in ‘arm of the flesh’ was not a good idea, it was a gross offence.
This is the
reality of the matter. Jehovah didn’t try to build-up Moses by recounting all
his successes. He didn’t pamper to his inadequacies with sympathy and pity. He
got angry….and He got angry not because Moses didn’t believe in himself but
because he didn’t believe in HIM!
I think He
was so astounded by Moses’ lack of faith that he chided him with the reminder
of who He was: “Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or
the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the Lord?” (v 11). I hope Moses was
shaking in his boots by then.
Another
reality…..the Saviour doesn’t really need any of us. He can do His own work and
accomplish things through His mighty miracles and the power of His priesthood…..but
where would that leave us mere mortals? Dumb, blind, and inexperienced…..
We are in
training here and as Joseph said, “on the pathway to eternal fame, and immortal
glory”….and there is only one person who can help us rise to such a lofty
ideal. He can make of us what we came here to become…..we should never forget
that. In other words, ‘I know you cannot do this on your own but with me you
can do anything!’
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Art: The Rock of Our Salvation by Jay Bryant Ward)
When Moses was 40 years
old he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and he left the Egyptian
court. He joined his people Israel preferring God to the riches of Egypt and
believing God would by his hand deliver his people but they ‘understood not’ (Hebrews
11:24-27; Acts 7:25).
In short, Moses went from
the privilege of his Egyptian upbringing to slavery, to being a shepherd in the
land of Midian where he married and received the priesthood from Jethro, his
father-in-law (D&C 84:6). After another forty years of pastoral life, Moses
finally had confirmation that he would lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He was
by then 80 years old.
When God spoke to Moses on
Mt Sinai out of the burning bush, He identified himself as “the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” and commanded him to deliver the
children of Israel out of the Egyptian bondage (Exodus 3:6-10).
But Moses was not content
to go to Israel telling them ‘the God of your fathers sent me’ so he asked God
to identify himself by His name which he would take to the Israelites (v 13).
God answered: “I am that I Am. Tell them I AM sent me” (v 14).
I AM is the name that
identifies Jehovah. It is the equivalent of “Yahveh” or “Jahveh” now rendered
“Jehovah” and signifies “The Self-existent One”, “The Eternal”, “The First and
the Last”. So sacred was the name regarded by the Jews that their
traditionalism forbade the utterance of it. (see James Talmage, “Jesus the
Christ”, p 412)
Hence the Lord was not
saying “I AM THAT I AM” but rather, “I am ‘that’ I AM”. I am Jehovah.
During His earthly
ministry, the Saviour identified himself as seven main I AM’s as contained in
the Gospel of John:
-
I am the bread of life (6:31,51)
-
I am the light of the world (8:12)
-
I am the door of the sheep (10:7,9)
-
I am the good shepherd (10:11,14)
-
I am the resurrection and life (11:25)
-
I am the way, the truth and the life
(14:6)
-
I am the true vine (15:1,5)
As I look at these seven
proclamations I could summarise them in this one scripture: “I am come that
they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John
10:10).
As we approach this Easter
season and yet again acknowledge the Saviour’s Atonement, may we reflect on who
He really is and more importantly, who He is to each of us individually. We
should know that.
My
favourite name for the Saviour is “The Great I Am” (D&C 39:1) and surely He
is. There is no greater. Hallowed be His name…..forever and ever.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Art by Chris Brazelton)
“According
to John Taylor, the Melchizedek Priesthood conferred upon Abraham “would be the
means of introducing him into the presence of God” and “some of the greatest
and most sublime truths that ever were made known to man……
“Since John
Taylor’s day, a number of ancient sources have emerged that describe in
striking detail an occasion when Abraham was indeed introduced into the
presence of God in heaven, who taught him and showed him his posterity as they
would exist through the ages.” (E. Douglas Clark, “The Blessings of Abraham” 143)
This
ascension to God’s throne is not recorded in Genesis and Abraham does not
mention it in his book in the Pearl of Great Price, but I have often wondered
if this was the occasion when he was shown the stars of heaven and the
pre-mortal life of man he speaks of therein.
The account
of this ascension is amazing and too long to expound here but this is the
tenderness of Christ I gleaned from the account of this event in Abraham’s life:
“Rising from his throne, the Lord “revealed Himself to Abraham, and took him in
His bosom” and “kissed him on his head, and He called him, Abraham my beloved”!
(Sefer Yetzira 6:7 in Kaplan; see also Ginzberg, “Legends of the Jews”, 5:210
n.13)
“Jewish
tradition insists that Abraham was the epitome of the love of God, and that
Abraham summoned mankind to believe in God out of his own great love for Him”
and served Him out of love by showing loving-kindness” (hesed) to
mankind and thus ‘doing the same work as God – a pattern that would be followed
by Joseph Smith, who “because of his love for his fellowmen, never missed an
opportunity to preach the gospel” (Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Example of Joseph
Smith” in “The Prophet and His Work”, 92) – (E. Douglas Clark, “The Blessings
of Abraham”, 100)
“The divine
attribute of love “was incarnate in Abraham. Not by control or compulsion would
Abraham change the world or win the hearts of mankind, but rather by the
principles of righteousness and love upon which the rights of the priesthood
are always based (see D&C 121:41-42)”
(ibid, p 101)
This love,
this “hesed”, is what made Abraham the greatest patriarch of all time. It is
because of this love that he was chosen to bless the nations of the earth
through his posterity.
The Hebrew word
“hesed” is difficult to render in English. It is usually translated as
‘steadfast love’. It is a covenant word that refers to the faithfulness or
loyal love that binds two people together in covenant.
This love
is motivated by an inner loyalty which arises out of the relationship itself
and not by legal obligation. Such covenant love has the quality of constancy,
firmness and steadfastness. It is a love you have for another that you would
never break because of deep loyalty you feel towards them.
This is the
love that Abraham had for Jehovah and Jehovah in turn had for him. I am rather
certain that this love began when Abraham stood in the midst of the noble and
great ones and was chosen before he was born, when ‘the morning stars sang together and all the
sons of God shouted for joy’ (Job 38:7).
This
is when the covenant of ‘hesed’ was born for all of us. We covenanted to come
to earth, to be proven, to be used as instruments of God to spread the truth
and the love of God to all mankind. This is ‘hesed’, the eternal and undying
love of God who had covenanted with us that we will have eternal life.
How
can I contain You
In
the chambers of my overflowing heart?
Your
greatness, Your mercy, Your love,
Are
far too vast.
All
that I am, I give to you:
My
heart, my soul, my all,
I
lay at your feet forever more.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Art: Eternal Love for You by B. Laura Wilson)
I
was amazed to read of the state of the world that the Saviour was born into. It
had never occurred to me that He was born into such intense spiritual darkness
that enveloped this earth. Upon reflection, it seems fitting that it was so for
Him to acclaim and reveal His ability to disperse the powers of sin and death through
His godly light.
Another
aspect of His birth that I never considered before is how the omnipotent wisdom
of God had organised and orchestrated everything to perfection in readiness for
His Son’s birth, leaving nothing to chance. Such a crucially important event
could not be a failure in any way because the hosts of heaven depended on it.
All
that was connected with the Saviour’s birth and life and ministry and
resurrection and ascension to eternal glory must have conformed to what the
prophets have foreseen, foreknown and foretold for four thousand years prior.
From the spiritual preparations, to temporal circumstances to the ‘Jewish
culture at its low ebb, and the Jewish religion but a space away from the gates
of hell’ to the Roman yoke that would take Christ to the hill of Calvary. (see
Bruce R. McConkie, “The Mortal Messiah Book 1, p 284-5).
It
has occurred to me that the Saviour’s Second Coming with be perfectly
orchestrated too. For it to be a successful triumphant return there had to be a
liberation of the American continent and establishment of religious freedom,
the restoration of His Church, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the
building of temples, the gathering of Israel and strengthening of Zion. All
this was also foretold by the prophets of old and must not be left unfulfilled.
I
hear friends in the Church expressing hope that the Saviour would come tomorrow
because the world is so wicked but there is still so much that needs to be
fulfilled, namely the three major prophecies: the return of the Lost Tribes,
the building of the New Jerusalem and the building of the Jewish temple in
Israel.
Yes
the world is wicked and Satan reigns supreme but this time the King of Glory
must come to an established Kingdom with priesthood power at its helm and
saints ready to receive Him, and when He comes, Satan will be bound and the
saints will come to New Jerusalem singing songs of everlasting joy (D&C
45:66-71). All this must be in readiness but most of all we must be ready for
Christ cannot come if there is no kingdom and we ARE the kingdom.
The
God of Glory will reveal His light upon the earth once more and there will be
no need for the sun and the moon to give light to God’s covenant people for He
will be an everlasting light (Isaiah 60:19-22; D&C 133:57-58; “Journal of
Discourses” 14:355-56).
Thou
art our everlasting God
Jehovah,
our King,
Hide
us under the shadow of Thy wings
That
we might never stray
And
cause Thee sorrow;
And
help us wait for Thee
In
the dawning of tomorrow.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Art: Light Divine by Greg Collins)
The third needful step in preparation for the Second Coming according to Doctrine and Covenants 133:4 is for the House of Israel to be gathered. Two things are accomplished by this endeavour:
“Firstly, those who have thus chosen Christ as their Shepherd, those who have taken upon themselves his name in the waters of baptism; those who are seeking to enjoy his Spirit here and now and to be inheritors of eternal life hereafter – such people need to be gathered together to strengthen each other and to help one another perfect their lives.
“Secondly, those who are seeking the highest rewards in eternity need to be where they can receive the blessings of the house of the Lord, both for themselves and for their ancestors in Israel who died without a knowledge of the gospel, but who would have received it with all their heart had opportunity afforded.”
- - Bruce R. McConkie, “Come: Let Israel Build Zion”, Ensign May 1977, p 117
No concept of the Gospel ignites my heart more than the House of Israel as the chosen people of God who has favoured Israel above all the nations of the world, the great Jehovah who has proclaimed: "I am a father to Israel and Ephraim is my firstborn" (Jeremiah 31:9).
The proclamations of Saviour’s love for Israel are prolific in the scriptures. Perhaps the greatest of them is this: “O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine….I have loved thee… Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east and gather thee from the west…..I will say to the north, give up; and to the south, keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth….” (Isaiah 43:1-6)
Numerous scriptures refer to Israel as Jehovah’s jewels (Exodus 28:17-21; Malachi 3:17; D&C 60:4; 101:3) and ‘the apple of His eye’ (Deut 32:9,10; Zechariah 2:8). These are incredibly intimate and loving expressions.
It is simply not enough to
physically be of the House of Israel. One must be so spiritually to be the
'apple of His eye'. Love is a two-way street. He loves us because we are the
believing, the repentant, the obedient. And if not, then we should be.
We have accepted the Holy One of
Israel to be our God. We are gathering from among all nations to be one people and
one day we will kneel together at His feet and acknowledge Him as the God of
miracles who has preserved us, loved us and brought us home to the kingdom of
our God.
Thy
love for Thy people is beyond compare,
Thy
mercy affixed forever more.
Thy
power delivers us and
Thy
loving kindness gathers us;
We
are restored by Thy merciful might,
We
are Israel, children of light.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Art: Love Everlasting by Youngsung Kim)
This painting brought tears to my eyes when I
saw it. The Saviour’s apparent power in it is breathtaking. The scene depicts
the parting of the Red Sea with Moses on one side and the Saviour on the other.
It is titled “I was there” by Danny Hahlbohm.
Besides the Saviour’s power, I see something
else in this picture. I see the strength of will of a God who will move heaven
and earth for His covenant people Israel. This is a God who has throughout
history led them in mercy through the valley of shadow of death and has
preserved them to be a favoured people.
Who are these favoured people? They are the
Twelve Tribes of Israel, their posterity, and the adopted believing Gentiles
who have accepted Christ through baptism. They are God’s people, a ‘peculiar
people’ (Exodus 19:5), meaning ‘valued treasure’, ‘made or selected by God’.
(Russell M. Nelson, “Children of the Covenant”, Ensign May 1995, 34)
And this is why they are peculiar: “…….the house of Israel is composed of spirits
from pre-existence who there developed a talent for spirituality, and who are
therefore entitled to the blessings of heaven in this life on a preferential
basis” (McConkie, “Mortal Messiah 3, p 11).”
Not only are these people favoured but they are
also important. The House of Israel is the guardian of the Abrahamic covenant. This
is the covenant between Jehovah and Abraham through which the House of Israel
carries its priesthood blessings to the inhabitants of the world. This is the
covenant that the Saviour has foresworn He will never, ever break or forget. It
will stand forever (Deuternonomy 4:31; Leviticus 26:44,46; Isaiah 49:15,16; 2
Kings 13:23).
And this is the power of commitment and this is
the strength of His love for His chosen people:
·
Thou
art my chosen servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified (Isaiah 49:3;
Abraham 2:11)
·
I
will write my law into your hearts and I will be your God and you shall be my
people and your sins I will remember no more (Hebrews 8:10, 12)
·
I
will take you to me for a people and I will be to you a God (Exodus 6:7;
Jeremiah 10:4)
·
I
have redeemed thee, thou art mine, I will be with thee, I am the holy one of
Israel, I will sacrifice others for thee (Isaiah 43:1-7)
·
Thou
art the everlasting bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7-8;
21:2,9)
·
I
have chosen thee to be a special people unto me, above all people that are upon
the face of the earth (Deuteronomy 7:6)
·
O
Israel thou art ‘the apple of His eye’: Deuteronomy 32:9,10; Zechariah 2:8;
Psalm 17:8
In today’s day of ‘inclusion’, it would appear
unthinkable that God would love and consider His children on preferential
basis. However, because of their righteousness, collectively and not
individually, and as descendants of righteous Abraham, The House of Israel was ‘chosen’
to be favoured of God. After all, He attests to the fact that there has to be a
reward for being good: “….he that is righteous is favored of God” (1 Nephi
17:35).
Thy love for Thy people is beyond
compare,
Thy mercy affixed forever more.
Thy power delivers us and
Thy loving kindness gathers us;
We are restored by Thy merciful might,
We are Israel, children of light.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Art: I Was There by Danny Hahlbohm)
There is
a woman spoken of in the Old Testament that is not highly considered or
regarded. Her name is Hagar and her life story rends my heart. The
Genesis account of the Old Testament simply states that she was Egyptian and
that she was Sarah's maid but one other source gives more insight into her
life. It claims that Hagar was one of the daughters of Pharaoh and that
she was given to Sarah when she and Abraham left Egypt to continue their
journey to Canaan (Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, 1:223). Considering the
riches that Pharaoh showered Abraham and Sarah with as they left Egypt (Genesis
12:16), this claim seems very plausible. In this context, Hagar's life of
hardship begins at this point in history.
Under
Sarah's tutelage, Hagar grew into spiritual maturity as she forsook the
religious idols of her home and came to know the God of Israel. Imagine,
however, a young girl of royal birth, sent away from her home to be the
property of total strangers, therefore a slave. But there was more. According
to Bible scholars and modern-day revelation (D&C 132:34), it was the law
for a woman who could not provide children for her husband after ten years of
marriage, to give him another wife to ensure continuation of his family line.
Sarah decided that Abraham's next wife would be Hagar. I doubt if Hagar had
much choice in the matter, being in the situation she was in. I imagine Hagar
was fairly young since she fell pregnant straight away, whereas Abraham was 86
years old (Genesis 16:16).
The Old
Testament records that Hagar became insolent towards Sarah once she knew she
was pregnant (Genesis 16:4). Inexcusable I know, but maybe for once she felt
she was worth something more than being a maid. She was now a wife of a rich
man and she was going to be a mother, but....she was only a second wife with no
rights and her child would by law belong to Sarah. She was a concubine. Imagine
being of such lowly station for one of royal birth. When she couldn't
take Sarah's correction of her behaviour, Hagar fled in search of freedom. How
hurt and misunderstood she must have felt….
Sarah was
the wife of the covenant and honoured by God for her righteousness but Jehovah
is a protector of women and He knew Hagar and her life. When the angel of the
Lord found her in the wilderness he told her, "the Lord hath heard thy
affliction" (Genesis 16:11); that she will not be overlooked by Him and
that her posterity will not be able to be numbered for multitude (Genesis
16:10). In other words, "I will make it up to you Hagar for the life you
are required to live". Hagar was astonished and in response called the
Lord, "Thou God seest me" (v 13). What an incredible difference that
must have made to one woman who felt insignificant and 'unseen'. God who sees
all, had regard for her and held her in the palm of His hand. This must have
been what made her return to Sarah bearable.
What a
triangle of trial this situation was for Sarah, Hagar and Abraham. We all know
how things turned out for Sarah and Abraham but we don't know anything about
Hagar's life once she parted company with Abraham. Did she spend the rest of
her days alone and husbandless? One thing I do believe: Hagar was a good woman.
Various ancient sources claim that Abraham provided well for Ishmael and his
mother when it was time for them to leave and that he stayed in close contact
with them, visiting Ishmael often. Ishmael and Isaac also remained close as
Genesis records they buried their father together (Genesis 25:9). This is how I
know Hagar was a good woman. There was no hatred or animosity between Ishmael
and Isaac. The credit for that must go not only to Sarah but also to Hagar who
didn't teach her son to hate even though he was not the heir.
When
Abraham was ninety-nine years old and Ishmael thirteen, the Lord appeared to
Abraham and told him Sarah will bear him a son of the covenant. Abraham's first
thought was of his love for Ishmael. He fell on his face and asked the Lord to
consider him to be the heir (Genesis 17:18). The Lord denied the request but
replied, "I have heard thee" (v20). Once again, "I see you....I
see the difficulties you have to live with....I will make it up to you".
He said He would give Ishmael twelve sons and he would be part of the promise
of endless posterity that He had made to Abraham (v 20).
Even though we are many, we are individual entities to the Saviour. He is an ‘individual God’. The God of heaven sees all. He sees all our difficulties, He understands all our feelings, He feels all our heartaches. And He makes up for those things we suffer and endure. He lightens the burdens of those who seek Him and would have Him be their God. May you, who are in the waiting room waiting for relief of your burdens, receive an increase of faith in the God of Abraham.....the God who fulfils His promises through grace and mercy, now and forever.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Art: LDS ART - WOMEN OF FAITH, Artist Unknown)
I recently watched a British Jewish woman explain to a
show host the history of Israel and her Jewish heritage. The show host was of
the opinion that the state of Israel was given to the Jews in 1948 to make up
for the Holocaust. She explained that this was not so, that the Jews existed as
a nation and possessed the land of Israel long before the time of Christ and
that they lost that land due to various ruling powers that took them over and
took it away from them. The only thing she omitted to explain is why in
actuality the land was lost. We never learn….
Had the southern kingdom of Israel taken serious
notice of the northern kingdom’s demise and captivity by the Assyrians in 724
B.C., they would never have been ousted and scattered from their homeland. Had
the kingdom of Judah not abandoned the worship of Jehovah and turned to
idolatry, the golden age of King David would have been preserved and they would
never have lost the promised land. They would not now need Armageddon, which
will come, to be converted to Christ who will come to save them, the Messiah
they long ago awaited and 2,000 years ago rejected (Ezekiel 38, Zechariah 14,
Revelation 16, Isaiah 34). What a heart
wrenching history for a favoured and chosen people of God.
I rejoice in my place in modern day Israel. I rejoice
in my rich heritage grounded in the tribe of Ephraim, the son of the righteous
Joseph, the heir of the Abrahamic covenant of exaltation. I rejoice in my
knowledge of the Messiah. I rejoice that I was sent to this earth in this day
and age when the knowledge of Him is flooding the earth. I am grateful that the
believing blood of Israel courses through my veins. This blood I consider my
greatest blessing because it was atoned for by the King of Glory and redeemed
on the cross of Calvary. I look forward to the day when we, the covenant
people, will gather from all the nations of the earth and come to Zion singing
songs of everlasting joy (D&C 45:71).
Let us never forget who we worship and follow, so that
we will not be removed from our place, and let us do all we do in His name ‘giving
thanks to God the Father by Him’, our God, our Saviour, our King……..(Colossians
3:17).
We,
Israel, Thy chosen seed
Bow
before Thee on bended knee.
Strengthen
us in the hour of our need
That
we might never stray again
And
cause Thee sorrow;
And
help us wait for Thee
In
the dawning of tomorrow.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Art by Midjourney and Greg Rutkowski)
I am overcome this morning. Every time I study the Old Testament and revisit the magnitude of Israel’s exodus from Egypt I am overwhelmed with the power of our God. I cannot imagine the magnitude of this momentous undertaking. The census in the book of Numbers puts the number of men over 20 who were capable of engaging in war at 653,050 (Numbers 1:46). When adding women and children, it is estimated by historians that the total number of Israel’s congregation would have been close to 2 million. That number would have increased over the 40 years of journeying. Imagine this magnitude of people marching and camping for 40 years. Now imagine being in charge of the whole operation…… No wonder Moses exclaimed: I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me!” (Numbers 11:14). But Moses did bear it because of one reason only…..because of the God of Israel….who travelled with His chosen people and went before them in a cloud by day (Numbers 10:34; Psalm 78:14) and bade them rest by night (Numbers 9:21-23).
I cannot adequately express in words what splendour the march of Israel conjured in my mind as I read how this was accomplished. The Saviour instructed Moses the congregation should march in groups of 4, with each group consisting of 3 tribes, on the west, south, east and north surrounding the tabernacle with Levites who were consecrated to the service of caring for the tabernacle and priesthood ordinances within, to be in the middle. The places of honour, at the head and immediately following the tabernacle and the Levites were held by Judah and Ephraim (Numbers 2). I imagine Judah because Christ was to come from that line and Ephraim because He is God’s firstborn:”…for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn” (Jeremiah 31:9) and because the 10 tribes will be crowned with glory at Ephraims’ hands (D&C 133:32). Those of you who are of this tribe should weep at such a statement. If you are, you are my people. It seriously sears my heart every time I read this.
My only hope is that I was allowed to view the solemnity of Israel’s historic journey in my pre-existent state. Why does this touch my heart so? Because the deliverance of our people Israel shows me the Saviour’s power of deliverance of my soul. My heart is filled with gratitude this day for the God that I worship. There is no feat He cannot accomplish, there is no power He does not have, there is no sin He cannot forgive, there is nothing He cannot accomplish with me. I want to sing the song of redeeming love and shout from the rooftops: glory be His forever and ever!!!!
Thou art our everlasting God,
Jehovah, our King,
Who has loved us and chosen us as Thine own.
We bow before Thee and bend the knee,
In solemnity, we offer our hearts to Thee.
Keep us as the apple of Thine eye,
Hide us under the shadow of Thy wings
That we might never stray again
And cause Thee sorrow;
And help us wait for Thee
In the dawning of tomorrow.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Art: Second Coming by Jon McNaughton)
