|
| |
1189 Baal Zephon and the 1189-Chapter Bible
The 1189th word of the Old Testament Hebrew dictionary
is the Name Baal-Typhon -- Lord of winter. Ramifications for the purpose
of the 1189-chapter Bible.
The other day I sent you a commentary
on the "center of the Bible" being Psalms 118, which is half way
through the 1189-chapter Bible. In my commentary, I looked up words 1187-1189
in the New Testament lexicon.
Last night, as I was pondering on the Old Testament word 1189, Baal-Typhon
(lord of winter), I wondered what verse(s) of scripture might use that word.
The first reference given is Exodus 14:2,9. In verse two the Lord tells Moses
to speak to the children of Israel and tell them to camp "over against
Baal-Zephon . . . by the sea." In verse 9, the Egyptians are pursuing the
children of Israel, and overtake them "encamped by the sea . . . by Baal-Zephon."
Gesenius gives the following commentary regarding this
word: "The name suits very well the site of this city in the uncultivated
places between the Nile and the Red Sea, which were regarded as the abode of
Typhon or the evil demon of the Egyptians." Coincidentally, this Egyptian
word has a meaning of destruction and coldness that actually fits the Japanese
word Typhoon -- their version of a hurricane or tornado.
In other words, Baal-Zephon symbolized that darkest of moment when all seemed
lost and destruction seems assured in attempting to follow the Lord (at least
so it seemed to the children of Israel). It became to them a "stone of
stumbling and rock of offense" (compare Psalm 118, center
of the 1189-chapter Bible.) What happened next, of course, is that Moses
stretched forth his rod and the sea was parted.
How many times do we grumble in our hearts that trying following the Lord only
seems to bring difficulty into our life; and that living the life of the world
seems so much more easy? How many times do we view the scriptures as a burden
-- symbolized here in the etymology of OT Hebrew word 1189 as the lord demon
of the cold darkness of winter?
Of course the reply is that the opposite is true; that God will come to our
aid in our darkest hour and bring miraculous deliverance, when there seemed no
way out otherwise. He will not only lead us through the Red Sea, but will do
so on dry ground; and that which sought our destruction will be permanently
removed. Is this not the glorious message of the scriptures? Is this not what
grace is all about? Is that not the essence of what Jesus Christ, the Son of
God came to accomplish and enable in our lives?
1189 Baal-Typhon.
It reminds me of David
Skousen's comment this morning in which he recited to us that the word
"zion" actually means "dry desert," and it is the process
of seeing the desert blossom miraculously that entails the essence of Zion.
Think of what a god-forsaken place the land of Israel is. Of itself it is no
garden of Eden. But it is the process of miraculously making it so that makes
it the promised land.
David also made the same point regarding the word "Saint." He said,
"A saint is one who is marked for purification, i.e., the fires of hell
(furnace of affliction, the hot desert, or purgatory). So persecution is
merely the way God allows positive and negative forces to grate against each
other," by which perfection (fullness) is achieved.
Sincerely,
Sterling D. Allan
www.greaterthings.com
by
Sterling D. Allan; Manti, Utah; April 25, 2001
Bibliography
 | H.W.F. Gesenius;
Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon of the Old Testament; Baker Books,
Grand Rapids, MI 49516; 1979. ISBN: 0-8010-3736-0 (softcover) Purchase
from Amazon.com |
Page created on April 25, 2001
Last updated on February 28, 2002
|
LinkExchange
contents not necessarily endorsed by Greater Things |
|
| |
|
