Day 26: Building Up Our Endurance

BLESSING FOR COUNTING THE OMER:

Baruch ata Adonai, ELOHEYNU melech ha-olam, asher kiddeshanu bidvarecha

v’tzi-va-noo al sifeerat ha-omer.

Blessed are you, O Adonai our GOD, King of the universe Who has sanctified us by your Word and commanded us concerning the Counting of the Omer.

Today is twenty-six days, which is three weeks and five days of the Omer.

‘The kohen gadol stood up, and said to Yeshua, “Have You no answer?  What’s this they’re testifying against You?”  But Yeshua kept silent.  The kohen gadol said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living G-d, tell us if You are Mashiach Ben-Elohim!”  “As you have said,” replied Yeshua.  “Besides that, I tell you, soon after you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”  Matthew 26:62-64

Following the nighttime arrest of Yeshua in the Garden of Gethsemane, these scriptures describe an integral part of his illegal trial, the questioning at the hands of the Sanhedrin (Jewish Court) and High Priest, Caiaphas.  ‘But Yeshua kept silent’ – this was an incredibly humble response, enduring with quiet calm. Yeshua’s silence fulfilled Isaiah’s prophetic description of the suffering servant: 

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter.” (Isaiah 53:7) 

‘As you have said’ was neither a boastful nor an arrogant declaration, but rather an acknowledgment of the truth.  “But I do not seek My own glory…” John 8:50

‘So Yeshua said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know who I am.  I do nothing by Myself, but speak just what the Father has taught Me.”  John 8:28

Today is the 26^th day of the Omer when we consider the attribute combination:  Hod of Netzach (Humility within Endurance/Victory).  The B’rit Chadashah provides many interconnected examples of Yeshua’s perfect humility with endurance (Phil 2:6-11), the very spirit of His entire life – perfectly obedient and dependent on His Father’s will, directing all power and glory to Him rather than seeking his own honor.  Yeshua demonstrated the ultimate and sincere servant’s heart with matchless love and compassion for others.  All that He faced and endured – severe trials, false accusations and slander, extraordinary suffering and abuse, taking on the sin of this world, even to death on a stake – accomplished complete Victory in His Resurrection!  He became the Atonement for our sins through the shedding of His blood, breaking the chains of our enslavement to the darkness of this world, providing the Way for Salvation as we return to The Father in complete submission and obedience.  It is the way back to fullness of Life! 

‘Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life!  No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

During this 4^th week, we continue to refine our character qualities, mindfully meditating on each day's divine attributes for our growth, drawing that much closer in our walk with HaShem.  We have ascended over halfway on our path up to Mt Sinai, continuing to transition from enslavement to freedom. It is like we are on a steep hike, time to catch our breath, hydrate, take in the beauty of our surroundings, and rejoice in our progress!  Just when we feel the exhaustion and heaviness of our pack, maybe it’s time to turn back?  We must say ‘Never!’ and remember Yeshua completely fulfilled His mission and purpose in the First Coming of the Mashiach for all mankind! 

Continuing our climb, one upward step at a time, we realize ‘this life is not our own’ (Jer 10:23), ‘we can do nothing in our own strength’ (Phil 4:13), and gaining endurance takes time.  As we allow HaShem to walk with us, sustaining us in His strength with lovingkindness, he reveals the depths of our hearts. We turn to Him in complete repentance, no longer living our own way but desiring to hear and obey, and do what pleases Him.  This completely transforms our pathway, and our whole being is renewed in love for our Creator and for others!  We notice our breathing is calmer, our pack lighter, our steps more level, our surroundings brilliant and more alive…living now with ‘peace that surpasses all understanding’! ‘And the shalom of G-d, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua.’  Phil 4:7

Yeshua is our perfect example of knowing what pleases The Father.  As we continue to ascend in preparation for receiving The Torah with Victory in Freedom, may we emulate and shine the light of Yeshua more each day, growing in love and obedience to our Father HaShem, with humbled hearts, enduring to the end, always choosing Life!

‘For G-d, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of G-d in the face of Messiah.’  2 Cor 4:6