December 5, 2023

Why did the Apostle Paul say the “natural” was first… after that, the “spiritual?” Paul was speaking about the natural man, by being born again, becoming a spiritual man… and that, by this corrupt fleshly body [in death], having [while living] been buried with Christ in baptism, and obtaining the new birth in Christ, that the [resurrected] incorruptible spiritual man would inherit the kingdom of God… 1 Corinthians chapter 15 provides great detail about this.

I think it is notable that Yahweh saw our need to understand the “natural” and “spiritual” realms that we live in and how we must get our Biblical footing established so we can walk “in the spirit,” although we now live in the flesh. For example, this past week’s Torah Portion was taken from Genesis 32:3 through Genesis 36:43. One of the great “natural” vs “spiritual” lessons is recorded when Jacob wrestled with the Angel [some say Yeshua] and he received a “new name.” The Angel said he would no longer be called Jacob, but Israel… Such as Yahweh told Abram he would no longer called Abram, but Abraham. This is detailed in gen chpt 17. Just one more thing, concerning names, back in Abraham and Jacob’s time, names had serious implications as to what one’s duty should be and what one’s destiny should include.

I think it is important that we recognize that when Jacob wrestled with the Angel [God], that it was when he was faced with a potential life threatening ordeal the following day… the “face off” with his estranged brother Esau… short version, Esau had threatened to kill Jacob some twenty years earlier over his birthright and blessing. So, it would seem that during this great emotional struggle within Jacob, it was then that God visited him, and his struggle with God left him with a “limp,” from the touch of God that changed the way he would “naturally” walk thereafter [“the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him] gen 32:25. I think you could conclude from the scripture narrative that it changed Jacob spiritually too. By the way, my Bible footnote says when Jacob was renamed Israel, it was to mean he was now a prince of God, and “as a prince hast thou power with God and men, and has prevailed.” gen 32:28. This is a powerful message concerning names that Yahweh sets upon a person.

Now with the above lesson from the Torah, how does it relate to us? I think it means that we need to realize that in our natural walk, we are not yet a “prince that has power with God and men.” Why? Just like Jacob, until his struggle with Yahweh was finished, he was yet just a man. Some of us struggle with Yahweh from time to time in skirmishes that we really don’t get serious with; namely, because it has not changed us [not Yahweh’s fault]… and how we walk. The lesson tells us Jacob would not let the “Angel” go unless he blessed him. Mind you, this was even after the “disjointed” thigh issue… and the blessing was given… a new name and a new standing with God and men. Now, Jacob was a new creation, and Yahweh reaffirmed His Abrahamic covenant with him. Gen 35:9-12

The name Israel, would be the name [nation of people] from which all nations of the earth would be blessed, at least that was what Yahweh planned for it to be. In the final analysis, it will be so... Because from Israel, came Yeshua, and He is the vine and we are the branches from which “spiritual” descendants are defined… such as, grafted on new believers [whosoever will], who wrestle and win with Yahweh’s gracious provision for us to become “princes, who have favor with God and men.” We become citizens in the Commonwealth of Israel.

Being grafted on “citizens of the Commonwealth of Israel,” does not mean we replace the natural seed of Jacob’s family… we are, as Paul teaches, joint heirs as he told the Galatians:

“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” gal 3:29 nkjv

It is remarkable that Yahweh’s provision for our “new walk” cost Him everything [Yeshua], and costs us nothing because it is the “gift of God,”…

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” rom 6:23 nkjv

BUT, will we be sincere and see the spiritual goal, so vividly defined in Jacob’s experience in this Torah lesson… while in our natural bodies… AND, will we be as the seed that must be cast in to the ground and die before new life can rise up? While in our natural body, we must acknowledge our sin and know and confess that only Yeshua can forgive our sins and redeem us from eternal death. It is a NOW spiritual decision, made in our natural person, putting our old fleshly desires to death as we walk in faith being born again in Christ, that changes the way we walk thereafter.

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” 1 cor 15:42-45 nkjv

Shalom, John