Chasing Vultures 16/07/2010

"So He [YHVH] said to him [Abram], 'Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.' Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other… And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away" (Genesis 15:9-11 emphasis added).

While reading the above verses from Genesis this week, a parallel from our own lives had occurred to me. In Romans chapter 12 it says that we too are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to our Elohim (v. 1). And as I was thinking of the fact that (literal) sacrifices require a knife or sword, to cut through bones, another scripture came to mind.

"For the word of Elohim is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:12-13 emphases added), just like the animals that Abram divided in half, whose every part was laid open before YHVH.

However, these sacrifices can also catch the attention of 'other entities. In our case the vultures may be equated to the wicked one's messengers (ref. Matthew 13:4, 19). Have you ever noticed that on days that you really want to offer yourself up to YHVH and you use the knife/sword of the Word, suddenly some of your daily experiences produce an unusual quantity of thoughts and emotions of pride, self-righteousness, bitterness, strife, contention, self-pity, impatience etc.? The power of sin bombards you with the lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh. The temperature of temptation rises to uncomfortable heights.

Cooking in your own sweat you now find yourself complaining that YHVH hasn't shown up to take what you wanted to offer Him. And so you spend your day fighting off these "scavengers," like your father Abraham. However, finally the sun goes down and in your exhaustion you fall into a deep sleep - resting at last. Perhaps it is then that YHVH comes to you and says "well done good and faithful servant, I accept your sacrifice."

When you awake at dawn there seems to be a new sense of life and peace, and you are ready to offer the morning sacrifice of praise.
"I praise You, YHVH - Elohey Yeshua’tee (God of my Salvation),
I praise You, Elohi (my God), in Your sanctuary; I Praise You in Your mighty firmament! I praise You, Boreh Olam (Creator of the Universe), for Your mighty acts; I praise You, El Shaddai (God Almighty), according to Your excellent greatness!" (from Psalm 150)