january 02 bible reading

Today’s Old Testament chronological reading is in Genesis 3 and 4.

The Psalms/ Proverbs reading is in Psalm 2.

The New Testament reading is in Matthew 2.

The Hebrew roots.

The woman saw that the fruit of the tree of life was desirable to make one wise: Strong’s H2530 חמד chamad.

Her desire shall be to her husband: Strong’s H8669 תשוקה teshukah.

And he shall rule over her: Strong’s H4910 משל mashal.

On Ruling.

Sin and the flesh desire to rule.

When Eve took the fruit from the tree of life, she saw that it was desirable, and she desired it. The serpent prodded her to awake the desire of the flesh in her. YHVH appointed for Eve her husband to henceforth rule over, or overrule, the desires of her flesh. When Adam did not overrule the voice of his wife, when she contradicted the voice of YHVH, and instead also submitted to the desires of the flesh, he was exiled from life in the Garden, to work a cursed ground.

The flesh likewise ruled Cain when he deemed it too much trouble to bring the firstfruits of the ground to YHVH, and only brought the fruit of the ground. YHVH reinforced for Cain that he must master of the desires of the flesh (sin). When Cain did not overrule the anger which threatened him, but instead submitted to it by killing his brother, he was exiled from his family, and cursed to no longer work the ground.

When kings of the earth rule by the desires of the flesh, they rage against YHVH and against His King, who is Messiah (the Anointed), His Son Yeshua (Psa 2).

A perfect illustrative example of kings ruling by the flesh, raging against YHVH and His Anointed from history, is the response of King Herod to the birth of His Anointed.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.” Mat 2:16-18