Note:
The following message is the first part of a teaching that consists of two parts and we recommend to read the message chronologically.
The following message is the first part of a teaching that consists of two parts and we recommend to read the message chronologically.
In Genesis chapter 1:20-23 we can read about the creation of the aquatic animals and the flying creation on the fifth day, which carries an important revelatory spiritual principle of God in it.
Genesis 1:20-23:
20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.”
21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.”
23 And there was evening, and there was morning – the fifth day.
20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.”
21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.”
23 And there was evening, and there was morning – the fifth day.
Both kinds of creation are connected with a certain form of the hand of God, which is accompanied by His grace (Note: fifth day). These both are the hollow hand and the spanned hand of God (cf. Isaiah 40:12).
Isaiah 40:12:
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?
The Number ‘5 ‘, the Hand of God and the Creation of the Fifth Day
=> The number ‘5’ is an effective number. It counts to the effect of grace, manifested and worked as the hand of God in a life or ministry. This is because everything the LORD does is freely provided and cannot be purchased by earthly currency. It is a gift of grace. This number is mainly like the hand symbolism and represents the performance of a vow to the LORD. It applies in part to sacrificial or devotional service.
In addition, the number ‘5’ indicates a pledge of devotion expressed through the power in someone else’s hands (Note: hand pressing) to accomplish something. Hand symbolism primarily characterizes the Tenakh and has been brought into the New Testament by the Apostle Paul in his presentation of the offices of the five-fold ministry to the New Testament church.
In the Tenakh, the tabernacle and temple already point to the hand fulfillment of the New Testament church. The tabernacle had five pillars to support the structure, and the temple had a pentagon in the entrance area (cf. Exodus 26:37; 1 Kings 6:31).
Thus, ministries of ministers, elders, and leaders are implied there (cf. Ephesians 4:11 i.c.w. Galatians 2:9; Revelation 3:12).<= (The text placed in ‘=>’ is based on an explanation from the ‘Prophet’s Dictionary’ by Paula A. Price, Ph. D.; pp. 221; 222).
The measure of the sea as well as the heavens are, according to the biblical passage from Isaiah 40:12, the only realms associated with the hand of God and thus with His supernatural being, which is spirit (cf. John 4:24a).
John 4:24a:
24a God is spirit, …
24a God is spirit, …
On the basis of this truth, we can see that we are dealing with two spiritual realms that encompass in themselves the sustaining and protecting or covering power of God.
Considering the hollow hand below and the extended hand of the LORD above, we can see in it the dimension of a fish, which also resembles the symbol of the ‘ichthỵs – fish’ (note: <>< symbol of the ichthỵs – fish), where the lower level is joined to the upper level in revealing the structure of a fish.
Since the fish and the birds were created before man, a spiritual principle is revealed in this. This involves the element of water and air, which point to the power of the truth of God’s Word and the principle of the Spirit in the form of faith (cf. Ephesians 5:26b i.c.w. Isaiah 40:31; Hebrews 11:1).
Ephesians 5:26b:
… 26b by the washing with water through the word, …
… 26b by the washing with water through the word, …
Isaiah 40:31:
… 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
… 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Hebrews 11:1:
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Moreover, God’s hollow hand and outstretched hand indicate the depths and heights of His love (Note: Greek agąpē), which authorizes us to go forward in His fullness (cf. Ephesians 3:17-19).
Ephesians 3:17-19:
… 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
… 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
It is essential for us to understand that we apply the power of our testimony from the past in our present in the center of the truth of the Word of God. Only in this are we enabled as triumphant overcomers to ‘swim’ with confidence in His glory into our good future (cf. Ezekiel 47:5 i.c.w. Revelation 12:11).
Ezekiel 47:5:
5 He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in – a river that no one could cross.
5 He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in – a river that no one could cross.
Revelation 12:11:
11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Moreover, we should be encouraged to go forward in the dynamic of His voice, which is like the sound of many waters and is accompanied, among other things, by the movement of the wings of the cherubim (cf. Revelation 1:15b i.c.w. Ezekiel 1:24a).
Revelation 1:15b:
…, 15b and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
…, 15b and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
Ezekiel 1:24a:
24a When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, …
24a When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, …
We know it is the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy, from which it is evident that it is a sounding of many waters (cf. Revelation 19:10e i.c.w. Jeremiah 10:13a).
Revelation 19:10e:
“… 10e For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”
“… 10e For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”
Jeremiah 10:13a:
13a When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; …
13a When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; …
It was the creation of the ‘fish’ that did not need to fear God’s righteous judgment in Noah’s time, but rather triumphed in the midst of God’s judgment in the element of the upper and lower waters (cf. Genesis 7:11-12).
Genesis 7:11-12:
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month – on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.
12 And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month – on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.
12 And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.
These two waters can be seen as indicative of revelatory truth in the supernatural and natural realms. The presence of God-released revelatory truth causes the heavens and the earth to be shaken so that transformation occurs and that which is already established, which is according to His righteous standard remains (cf. Hebrews 12:26-27).
Hebrews 12:26-27:
26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” (cf. Haggai 2:6)
27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” (cf. Haggai 2:6)
27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
The area of the fish and the birds should serve as an encouragement for us to go forward in faith in the power of our testimony, but also in the lightness of God including walking in the Spirit (cf. John 6:63 i.c.w. 2 Corinthians 3:6)
John 6:63:
63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life.
63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life.
2 Corinthians 3:6:
6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The Depths and Heights in Christ Jesus and the ‘Fish World’
This connection between the so-called depths in the form of the fish and heights in the form of the birds in Christ Jesus is equal to the temporary implantation of Jonah (Note: means ‘dove’) in the belly of the fish. Through this, the power of prophecy in the form of God’s instruction could be secured for the future in order to give divine direction to the people (cf. Jonah 2:1.10; Jonah 3:1-2).
Jonah 2:1.10:
1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. …
10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. …
10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
Jonah 3:1-2:
1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
In Hebrew, the word ‘dāḡ’ is used for the creature ‘fish’, though another Hebrew word associated with the fish is also used. This is the word ‘nûn’, which is used for a lineage and generation in the Word of God and also means ‘fish, flourishing, sprouting’ or ‘reproduce’ (cf. Joshua 1:1). Thus, it is clear that the word ‘dāḡ’ is used for the fish world and the word ‘nûn’ is linked to the identity of humans.
Accordingly, it is no coincidence that Joshua, the son of ‘Nun’, understood very well how to act on behalf of the LORD on to the waters of the Jordan so that the people of Israel could enter the Promised Land with dry feet (cf. Joshua 3:14-17).
Joshua 3:14-17:
14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.
15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.
15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
In the two Hebrew words used for ‘fish’ is the call of God to enter the kingdom of God in true humility and servant hood according to Matthew 19:24, as well as to go forward in the life of the Spirit. In this, it is inevitable that we go forward in victory over our carnal nature by our decision to live in the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:16-18).
Matthew 19:24:
“… 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Note: ‘dāḡ’ – dimension => letters ‘Daleth-Gimel’).
“… 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Note: ‘dāḡ’ – dimension => letters ‘Daleth-Gimel’).
Galatians 5:16-18:
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Note: ‘nûn’ – dimension => letters ‘Nun-Waw-Nun’).
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Note: ‘nûn’ – dimension => letters ‘Nun-Waw-Nun’).
When we, as sons of ‘Nun’ on earth, move forward in faith in these mentioned dimensions in Christ Jesus, we are on a different spiritual level than the people who are on earth and have to learn righteousness through the released judgments of God (cf. Isaiah 26:9b).
Isaiah 26:9b:
… 9b When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.
… 9b When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.
For it is for us as saints in Christ to seek the higher things, where Christ Jesus is, seated at the right hand of God (cf. Colossians 3:1-3 i.c.w. Ephesians 2:4-6).
Colossians 3:1-3:
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Ephesians 2:4-6:
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, …
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, …
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
For part II of the message please click here.
