christian warrior: Reasons for the Seasons 4

“What does all that Old Testament stuff have to do with Salvation”?

Well here we are again looking into the question posed by a gentleman who was up to no good. Even so he received his answer in the simple word everything. As stated in the last section of the study this “gentleman” for lack of a better word had a problem with the Hebrew people. Hopefully a problem he has overcome in the years between our encounter. To put things mildly the testaments both old and new are married to one another with 1 major purpose. This purpose being to reveal God to us in the form of Jesus. The Bible offers many other purposes such as revealing things about mankind both in a worldly and individual level. As we have stated before our reflections of Israel in the OT reveal the rights and wrongs for the rest of the world up to and beyond right now. However we have plenty of evidence that although we live in a NT world we still have much to learn and gain from studying the OT as well.

Mat 5:16-19 KJV

(16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

(17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

(18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

(19) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

In our last look into reasons for the seasons we discovered how the throne room in heaven will much resemble a courtroom atmosphere. We mentioned how the oath of truth is administered by raising the right hand. It may seem hard to believe but this act represents possibly the largest amount of connections to be made to our salvation.

Mat 26:62-64 KJV

(62) And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

(63) But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

(64) Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Luk 22:69 KJV

(69) Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

In the OT the phrase right hand is found in 124 verses of scripture.

The phrase right arm is found in 7 verses which all seem to connect to salvation.

In the biblical Hebrew there is a word that specifically designates the right hand. As usual we will take a look at it.

Exo 15:6-12 KJV

(6) Thy right hand(H3225), O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

(7) 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.

(8) And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

(9) The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

(10) Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

(11) Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

(12) Thou stretchedst out thy right hand(H3225), the earth swallowed them.

H3225

ימין yâmı̂yn

yaw-meen'

From H3231; the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south: - + left-handed, right (hand, side), south.

H3231

ימן yâman

yaw-man'

A primitive root; to be (physically) right (that is, firm); but used only as denominative from H3225 and transitively, to be right handed or take the right hand side: - go (turn) to (on, use) the right hand.

In Exodus 15 we get a picture of God's right hand saving His chosen people in a song that was sung by Moses and the rest of the Hebrew people.

Exo 15:1-12 KJV

(1) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

(4) Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.

(5) The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.

(6) Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

(7) 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.

(8) And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

(9) The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

(10) Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

(11) Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

(12) Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.

The following things can be said about what the joyous singing was all about. The Hebrew people had spent approximately 430 years in captivity. This was a prophecy which of course came true. A prophecy which was given as part of a promise to Abraham.

Exo 12:40-42 KJV

(40) Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

(41) And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

(42) It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.

Gen 15:13-14 KJV

(13) And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

(14) And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

Now to settle something about the math we witnessed above. Many skeptics and atheists like to use these passages to say that the Bible contradicts itself. When in actuality if we look carefully at the history of Abraham's descendants we can squeeze out the details which support the 430 year period. If you are familiar with the story of Joseph the 11^th son of Jacob or Israel you know that he was eventually taken to Egypt. In case as a reader you are not familiar with the story we will cover the main points of interest.

Gen 37:1-11 KJV

(1) And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

(2) These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

(3) Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

(4) And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

(5) And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

(6) And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

(7) For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

(8) And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

(9) And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

(10) And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

(11) And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

The brothers of Joseph were well aware that Israel favored him over themselves. When Joseph receives the dream his brothers' anger takes them to the point of violence toward him. Please take notice in verse 2 that Joseph is 17 years of age.

Gen 37:19-34 KJV

(19) And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

(20) Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

(21) And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

(22) And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

(23) And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;

(24) And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

(25) And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

(26) And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

(27) Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

(28) Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

(29) And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

(30) And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?

(31) And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;

(32) And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.

(33) And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

(34) And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

Gen 39:1-14 KJV

(1) And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

(2) And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

(3) And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

(4) And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

(5) And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

(6) And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

(7) And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

(8) But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

(9) There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

(10) And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

(11) And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

(12) And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

(13) And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

(14) That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:

Gen 39:20-23 KJV

(20) And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

(21) But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

(22) And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

(23) The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

If you have been reading the studies on the book of Daniel you know that Daniel was blessed by God with the ability to interpret dreams and visions. The same thing takes place with Joseph.

Gen 41:1-8 KJV

(1) And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

(2) And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.

(3) And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.

(4) And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.

(5) And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.

(6) And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.

(7) And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.

(8) And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

Joseph's abilities enable him to gain great favor with Pharaoh just as Daniel did in the Babylonian kingdom.

Gen 41:41-46 KJV

(41) And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

(42) And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

(43) And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

(44) And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

(45) And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

(46) And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

Now please take note of Joseph's age being 30.

Gen 37:2 KJV

The point trying to be made here is in the fact that Joseph had been in Egypt 13 years until he received his authority from Pharaoh. The next period of time we will cover is the time frame that Jacob or Israel spends in the land of Egypt moving there at the request of Joseph. This was in order to bring the Hebrews out of the land which was undergoing the terrible famine.

Gen 45:17-24 KJV

(17) And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;

(18) And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.

(19) Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

(20) Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.

(21) And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.

(22) To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.

(23) And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.

(24) So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.

Gen 47:7-11 KJV

(7) And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

(8) And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?

(9) And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

(10) And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.

(11) And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

Please note the age of Jacob in verse 9 being 130 years.

Gen 47:27-28 KJV

(27) And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.

(28) And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.

The Bible tells us Jacob lived in Egypt 17 years and when we combine this with the 13 years of Joseph in the land of Egypt we reach 30 years. However please take note that although Jacob was not treated badly or enslaved the entire house of Israel was dwelling in the land of Egypt for these 30 years. The promise God gave to Abraham specifically stated that the Hebrew people would be treated as aliens in a strange land for 400 years. So now altogether the house of Israel would spend 430 years in the land of Egypt.

Exo 1:8-14 KJV

(8) Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

(9) And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:

(10) Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

(11) Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

(12) But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

(13) And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:

(14) And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

As we started out part 4 we looked at the song the Hebrew people were singing after destroying the army of Pharaoh.

Exo 15:6 KJV

(6) Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

Exo 15:12-13 KJV

(12) Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.

(13) Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

Mar 16:15-20 KJV

(15) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

(16) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

(17) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

(18) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

(19) So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

(20) And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

What we have been looking at in this section of study are symbolic associations involving the right hand of God as deliverer. In this particular study we discovered the actual amount of time the Hebrew people spent in Egyptian captivity and cleared up any so called contradictions involved. In doing so we also discovered a song of deliverance involving the power of God and how His right hand brought about the defeat of the enemy when all looked hopeless.

What we looked at in the NT involves Jesus and His place with the Father. He explains how He will be sitting at the right hand of God. This is also a picture of how God and the Father are one. The power of the right hand that delivered the Hebrew people from Pharaoh is the same power that will deliver us all from the coming tribulation.

Mat 26:64 KJV

(64) Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Mat 25:32-34 KJV

(32) And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

(33) And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

(34) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: