"4 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, LET US FEAR lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For WE WHO HAVE BELIEVED DO ENTER THAT REST, as He has said:
“So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’”
although THE WORKS WERE FINISHED FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD."
Everywhere else in the Bible our The Holy Spirit is telling us to "Fear not," or he says "Don't be afraid." This is the only verse that tells us to be afraid of something.
Our Father's greatest gift to us who are His children is that of REST. He is continually telling us to "LABOR TO ENTER THE REST," which is kind of an oxymoron. He is concerned that we "FEAR NOT" and be in complete Shalom. In fact, that's the only thing we need to fear: That we are not resting enough. Why?
Because our physical bodies will thank us the more we rest in Him. We'll be able to live a long, healthy life so we can spread to gospel to many, many more people!
But God isn't content to just tell us these truths, He draws us beautiful pictures! Hebrew reads from right to left and is a form of picture writing, like Chinese. Each letter has a number, a color and has a corresponding musical note associated with it. There are 22 letters in all.
With all that in mind, what does the word, "REST [רפה]" mean to God?
THINK/MEDITATE ON JESUS, SPEAK OF HIS GRACE ANS IT CAUSES YOU TO REST.
Relaxing is necessary to stay well. Stress is a killer. That is why God is constantly trying to get us to relax, and His favorite admonition is to "FEAR NOT." But we humans often find it difficult to let go and relax, hence the verse that says "LABOR" to enter His REST." We find resting to be very hard work.
In Hebrew, whenever you add the letter "Mem [מ]" in front of a verb, it becomes a noun. So let's add the letter, "mem" onto the beginning of the word. "Rapha-heal" becomes Marpé: healing [מרפא]. In modern Hebrew it is the word for "medicine."
[מ,ם] Mem is a picture of water flowing, symbolic of spirits in general. Most often it typifies the Holy Spirit. This is determined by context. Mem appears like this, "[ת]" at the beginning or anywhere in the middle of words in Hebrew but looks like this at the end of words: [ם]. This is called "final mem," because it is only used at the end of a word, though it is still the same letter and still means the same thing.
The word pictures for "Marpé" tell us that "when the Holy Spirit is helping us to think or meditate on and speak of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross we will experience "HEALING!" By His stripes, we truly are physically HEALED!
Bottom line...............
If you want to avoid the need for healing in the first place: "raphah-relax."
That's why, according to God, Rest Brings Healing!
But God isn't content to just tell us these truths, He draws us beautiful pictures! Hebrew reads from right to left and is a form of picture writing, like Chinese. Each letter has a number, a color and has a corresponding musical note associated with it. There are 22 letters in all.
You might be intetested to know that David's harp had 22 strings. He could literally "play" the music of the psalms on it! Isn't that cool?
These are the Hebrew words for heal and relax:
[רפא]. Rapha-heal
[רפה] Raphah-relax
These are the Hebrew words for heal and relax:
[רפא]. Rapha-heal
[רפה] Raphah-relax
Notice they have two of the same letters but end in a different one.
[ר]. Resh-this letter is a picture of the "head," like the one on top of your shoulders. It can also have a positional meaning, as in Rosh Hashana-New Year- "head" of the year." Thinking and meditating takes place here.....we hope!
[פ]. Pei is a picture of the mouth: You speak with your mouth.
[א]. Aleph" is a picture of "ox". The ox is a sacrificial animal. It can also mean head, as in leader and refers to Jesus sacrifice.
The word pictures tell a story and give us a glimpse of things from God's perspective that you would never find in ANY definition. "Heal," to God means:
[ר]. Resh-this letter is a picture of the "head," like the one on top of your shoulders. It can also have a positional meaning, as in Rosh Hashana-New Year- "head" of the year." Thinking and meditating takes place here.....we hope!
[פ]. Pei is a picture of the mouth: You speak with your mouth.
[א]. Aleph" is a picture of "ox". The ox is a sacrificial animal. It can also mean head, as in leader and refers to Jesus sacrifice.
The word pictures tell a story and give us a glimpse of things from God's perspective that you would never find in ANY definition. "Heal," to God means:
"Think/meditate on and speak of Jesus' sacrifice. That is how you "heal."
Raphah--rest--is the root word for Rapha--heal. Speaks volumes, doesn't it? Raphah has this letter, hei [ה], at the end, which is the far left, instead of this letter: aleph [א]
"Hei" is a picture of an open window. And what does God say in Malachi 3 about open windows? It is from the windows of heaven that He pours out blessings--Grace--on us! "Hei" means "Grace."
"Hei" is a picture of an open window. And what does God say in Malachi 3 about open windows? It is from the windows of heaven that He pours out blessings--Grace--on us! "Hei" means "Grace."
It is the 5th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, that's why "FIVE" is the number of Grace. This letter is pronounced like a prolonged breath out. Just doing that makes you relax!
With all that in mind, what does the word, "REST [רפה]" mean to God?
THINK/MEDITATE ON JESUS, SPEAK OF HIS GRACE ANS IT CAUSES YOU TO REST.
Relaxing is necessary to stay well. Stress is a killer. That is why God is constantly trying to get us to relax, and His favorite admonition is to "FEAR NOT." But we humans often find it difficult to let go and relax, hence the verse that says "LABOR" to enter His REST." We find resting to be very hard work.
In Hebrew, whenever you add the letter "Mem [מ]" in front of a verb, it becomes a noun. So let's add the letter, "mem" onto the beginning of the word. "Rapha-heal" becomes Marpé: healing [מרפא]. In modern Hebrew it is the word for "medicine."
[מ,ם] Mem is a picture of water flowing, symbolic of spirits in general. Most often it typifies the Holy Spirit. This is determined by context. Mem appears like this, "[ת]" at the beginning or anywhere in the middle of words in Hebrew but looks like this at the end of words: [ם]. This is called "final mem," because it is only used at the end of a word, though it is still the same letter and still means the same thing.
The word pictures for "Marpé" tell us that "when the Holy Spirit is helping us to think or meditate on and speak of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross we will experience "HEALING!" By His stripes, we truly are physically HEALED!
Bottom line...............
If you want to avoid the need for healing in the first place: "raphah-relax."
That's why, according to God, Rest Brings Healing!
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