The Time and Season

It is fitting that I am writing on God being the time and season at this point in this series. We each have times and seasons in our lives. I am in a time of drawing closer to Him by changing the way I study the Word by looking past our western translations of the Bible, and chasing the depths of the original Hebraic. In doing so, my eyes have been opened to more accurate translations, such as Joseph’s coat of many colors. It wasn’t a multi-colored robe or coat as we envision, but a long sleeved robe, showing he was favored by his father. It is in the small details like this, that the word is becoming even more alive and rich. I told my mother it is like going from tasting chicken broth from a box, to enjoying the full body of miso soup. Both are nourishing, but one is more satisfying.

Today, I received my new Bible, The Complete Jewish Study Bible, which is the only English version that is fully Jewish in style and presentation. It presents the Hebraic names of the different books, Ecclesiastes for example is Kohelet (Which means preacher). Names are not as presented as they are in English translations Abraham for example is Avraham and Joseph is Yosef. The books are ordered in Jewish style, not like the English counterparts. I am going into a new season of relearning how to read and study the Word from an entirely different perspective. I am more than excited, I am on fire!

In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, we are shown that God‘s timing in all things is sovereign.

1 For everything, there is a season, a right time for every intention under heaven.

2 A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time discard,

7 a time to tear and a time to see, a time to keep silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

It’s more than just a song by The Byrds, it’s God’s word that He has created times and seasons for all things. From the seasons in our lives to the seasons in nature, all of creation experiences them. I know I am truly in the time and season I am supposed to be, and that God is confirming it. As I have been writing, I have heard or read sermons or writings from various preachers, teachers and rabbis on exactly what I am writing. For instance, Rabbi Jason Sobel does a weekly Torah Portion and the scriptures for this week are from Exodus, but included those that dealt with wisdom, which was the last post I wrote on and I had researched those very scriptures just a few days prior. Our times as seasons are for His purpose, if we will allow it.

Even the natural seasons speak of His greatness and what Jesus did for us. In the summer, we enjoy the fullness of life, we are immersed in the warmth and joy of the season. Fall is thought of for harvest, and I see the harvest of those who came to Yeshua (Jesus) during His ministry on earth. Those he healed and set free, those who knew he was Messiah. In winter, our trees, plants, and flowers go dormant and appear dead. In the winter of His life, Jesus was crucified and laid in the tomb, but as we know, spring comes after the dark and cold of winter and resurrection happens. Just as he rose on the third day, in spring we see life anew all throughout nature.

God knows each and every season we will go through. He knows the date and the time. He will walk through each season with us because He has promised us that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) What is the season of your life right now? If you are going through something hard right now, trust Him to resurrect you out of your winter and into spring. I leave you with a beautiful song by Nicole Nordeman entitled "Every Season". It shows His beauty in all of our seasons. No matter what season you are in, I pray for His blessings to fall upon you and that you live abundantly in Him.