Daily Thoughts from Deuteronomy 34:9: Spirit of Wisdom (Ruach Chak’mah)

38 Spirit of Wisdom (Ruach Chak’mah)

Y’hoshua the son of Nun was full of the Spirit of wisdom, for Moshe had laid his hands on him, and the people of Isra’el heeded him and did what Yahweh had ordered Moshe.

(D’varim 34:9)

It was tiring even to sit up.  He began to worry about how he would even walk out of this place when the fast was completed.  Would anyone come to help him?  Would John think to come visit and help him get back?  That must all be left to his Father who called him to this journey.

It did not surprise him, meanwhile, that satan was sitting some yards away, watching him like some vulture waiting for its dinner to die, counting the hours until its prey expired.  He squatted in the sun, seemingly unaffected by heat or damage to his skin.  Nothing seemed to have an effect on him.  Yeshua had to tell himself that this was not a real body but only a vehicle for satan to make an appearance in and, if possible, move his victim to despair.

He had become too used to the satan’s appearance, however, to despair over it.  He seemed more a nuisance than a threat.  But maybe that was part of his strategy to make you let your guard down.  Just as he had torn that small animal asunder with his teeth, so he would be glad to do to Yeshua if he got the chance.  “He will bruise your heel,” he thought.

He suddenly noticed a pain in his back.  He could not see but he could feel some sores developing along his spine.  Perhaps laying down so much was the problem, or that he had so much less flesh on his bones now to cushion against the bone and hard floor.  Any movement made him wince in pain.  Add one more discomfort to this already miserable experience.

He picked up the scroll, his friend in this people-less place, and read only one verse about Yeshua, son of Nun, and the transfer of leadership to him from Moshe.  Moshe had done the proper thing of laying his hands on Yeshua’s head to signify that Moshe’s authority was now Yeshua’s.  And when he had done so the Spirit of Yahweh came upon Yeshua and gave him wisdom for leadership.  The Spirit also moved in the hearts of the people and they obeyed Yeshua and Yahweh as they had done with Moshe.

John had laid hands on him at his baptism to confer Yahweh’s authority on him, and the Father had spoken out of heaven about him and the Spirit had come upon him, just as with Yeshua, son of Nun.  He was now anointed with leadership wisdom and the Spirit would also open the hearts of those He chose so that they would heed his preaching and teaching about the kingdom.

In some ways he was also succeeding Moshe even as his name’s sake had done.  He was following in the footsteps of Moshe to lead the people to God’s promised land, the kingdom.  Oh that he would obey Yahweh where Moshe had not, being careful to do all the Father commanded.  And oh that the Spirit of God would fill him with wisdom and power to do God’s will.

He was so tired.