Introduction
As it is written in the first book of Moses with the headline “B'reschit- In the beginning” I want to speak about the importance of time and how it is possible to redeem the time in accordance to Ephesians 5:15-16.
Ephesians 5:15-16:
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
The Robbery Of Time
As Jesus said about the devil that he is a thief/robber and uses not the door but climbs by some other ways (e.g. through the window) to bring destruction, it is important that we protect all ways of our house/life (see John 10:1.10 i.c.w. 1 Peter 5:8).
John 10:1.10:
1 “Very truly I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. …
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. …”
1 Peter 5:8:
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
If the enemy is not coming through the door, he is coming through other ways like through the window.
The window in this prophetic context represents the view as our understanding about time.
It is important that we protect our divine established understanding about God's time/timing so that we could be lead by the eternal source of light, who is Jesus Christ (see Genesis 1:3 i.c.w. John 1:4-5); The Hebrew word for “light” is "ôr” and it means “bright; to become bright; glow, radiate, light; It symbolizes light, joy, well-being, leading, God's power, glory and grace”.
Genesis 1:3:
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
John 1:4-5:
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome (note: understood) it.
If we allow the enemy to enter into our territory, the result will be that we are not discerning the times rightly because the presence of the devil is darkness and darkness is linked to be unenlightened.
If a believer becomes unenlightened concerning the value of God's time, he is trapped by a wrong understanding of time and not able to move ahead into the promises of God.
This leads to a status of spiritual slumber so that the believer isn't able to enter into the divine appointment with God.
The robbery consists in overpowering the people of God with the things of everyday life so that they do not devote themselves to the true fellowship with the Heavenly Father.
The Begin Of Time
To have a proper understanding of redeeming the time, it is first necessary to know when the temporary time began.
Time began with the existence of heaven and earth.
The first measure/value of time developed when God spoke about the "tôhȗwabôhȗ – waste and empty" by saying that light should exist. This created the first day that brought the separation between light and darkness (see Genesis 1:1-5).
Genesis 1:1-5:
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day.
This light was not the sunlight but the ancient source of light from eternity, because the lights of the temporal time were created by God on the fourth day (see Genesis 1:14-19).
The Mystery Of The Daylight Of God
The eternal light of God is Jesus Christ who reveals the mystery of the “window of the first day” of creation (see John 1:1-5 i.c.w. Revelation 3:14).
John 1:1-5:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome (note: understood) it.
Revelation 3:14:
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
The first day depicts the movement of Jesus in front of his Heavenly Father, who "played" between the Father's sphere and the world, while he was moved to restore the dimension "earth" back to the order predestined by the Father.
I am convinced that as Jesus finished his life in the sphere of the earth at the beginning of creation, he returned to the Father's arms, which would be reflected in the evening and in the morning on the earth.
In order to better understand how Jesus played before God and what he created, lays hidden in the Hebrew word for "light/daylight", which is used in Genesis 1:1-5.
The word used there as it is mentioned before is called "ôr” and means “bright; to become bright; glow, radiate, light; It symbolizes light, joy, well-being, leading, God's power, glory and grace.”
What Jesus was doing was that he has woven the life of God, his glory, his passionate love and his joy into the earth realm into which later Adam and Eve and all generations would enter.
Therefore, as a people of God we may rejoice that we can live in eternity in the perfect presence of His eternal light (see Revelation 21:23)!
Revelation 21:23:
23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
The Value In Time
From this explanation it becomes clear that the value in our temporary time comes only into existence when we speak the word of truth, coupled with love and the revelation of God to men, so that they can recognize their true value of time in order to redeem it.
If we do not recognize any value in time, then there is no reason to redeem the time.
The Fellowship With God, The Father
The reason why God, the Father has put a value in the temporary time is because he longs to have fellowship with us. In order to help us as human beings to recognize the time of fellowship with him, God has woven into the temporary time his appointed times so that we are able to get in appointment with him. And these appointed times are linked to the seventh day which the word of God calls “Sabbath” (see Genesis 2:2-3).
Genesis 2:2-3:
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
The original meaning of the Sabbath is that man can respire before God through this appointed time frame in order to experience the goodness of God.
This is evident from the creation of Adam who was created by God on the sixth day and entered into fellowship with God before he began to fulfill his task in the garden.
This means that God, the Father does not look first to our works but looks to our heart and the relationship that we have with Him.
This expression of love is not a compulsory duty but consists in searching for God to worship him in the Spirit and in truth (see John 4:23-24).
John 4:23-24:
“... 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
The Divine Alignment Of Time
Therefore, it was important for God to set aside a time of orientation for us as human beings, which he connected to the people of Israel in order to give us revelatory knowledge about the appointed times and its values.
God even commanded the time by Moses to align rightly, so that every day, every week, every month, every year moves in the blood of his Son – the Lamb of God until today to help us as redeemed saints to live in the glory (see Exodus 12:1-4, Deuteronomy 16:1, Romans 8:21)!
Exodus 12:1-4:
1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.
3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.
4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.
Deuteronomy 16:1:
1 Observe the month of Aviv and celebrate the Passover of the Lord your God, because in the month of Aviv he brought you out of Egypt by night.
Romans 8:21:
… 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
By this divine arrangement of the months, time was combined into a powerful tool that carries the possibility of salvation and life to this day through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God!
It was the blood of the Lamb, which was slain in the biblical month Aviv/Nissan that was smeared by the people of Israel in Egypt to the two sides and the top of the door frame of their houses (see Exodus 12:5-7).
Exodus 12:5-7:
5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.
6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.
7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the door frames of the houses where they eat the lambs.
The Free Decision In The Temporary Time
God has given the temporary time for us humans so that we can choose freely to enter into an appointment with him, which means a close divine love relationship that is expressed to him in wisdom, thankfulness, praise and worship in Jesus Christ (see Matthew 22:35-40 i.c.w. Ephesians 5:15-20).
Matthew 22:35-40:
35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'
40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Ephesians 5:15-20:
15 Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Understanding Of Jacob To Redeem The Time In A Fresh Way
As an example of redeeming the time, I would like to use the last part of Jacob's life where he laid on the bed shortly before his death.
As Jacob heard that his son Joseph was coming with his two sons (Ephraim and Manasseh), he sat himself up in his bed to bless his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh. This blessing included the lifting/upgrade of his two grandsons into the same position of his two first born sons Ruben and Simeon.
Jacob, so to speak, refreshed the old time (note: his sons) with the new time (note: the sons of Joseph) by reigning from the place of rest (note: sitting up in bed). Jacob has woven into the old time, the grace and favor of God, because Ephraim was blessed before Manasseh by Jacob under the sign of the cross (see Genesis 48:1-2.8.13-14).
Genesis 48:1-2.8.13-14:
1 Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him.
2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed. …
8 When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?” …
13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him.
14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.
This explanation means that God, the Ancient of Days (see Daniel 7:9) always finishes victorious a period of time because he embeds into the new phase of time hope and firm confidence through the work of salvation by his son Jesus Christ on the cross.
This new time is as well connected with his righteousness and judgment about all the evil powers who are mocking or cursing against the knowledge of God (see 1 Kings 2:5-10 i.c.w. Isaiah 1:18-20; Isaiah 26:9).
1 Kings 2:5-10:
5 “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me – what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.
6 Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.
7 “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
8 “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’
9 But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”
10 Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.
Isaiah 1:18-20:
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Isaiah 26:9:
9 My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
