The Nursing Baby Is Our Teacher.mp3

The Nursing Baby Is Our Teacher Genesis 15:6 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition 6 And he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God). The Hebrew word for "believe" here is "aman". This amazing beautiful Hebrew word cannot be fully conveyed in the English translation. It's linguistical origins are in the picture of a baby nursing at it's mother's breast. The nursing baby is our teacher of what it means to believe on The LORD. The baby is totally dependent on the mother and trusts in the mother without hesitation or doubt. The baby is fed and satisfied by the milk provided by the mother. This word "aman" shows the foundational relationship of complete reliance, provision and love. The provision of GOD is given in love just as the mother feeds the child sustenance and nourishment in an act of love directly from within herself. This is the picture of "aman". This is the trust Abram/Abraham put in GOD. Just 2 chapters later in Genesis 17:1 GOD reveals Himself to Abram/Abraham as "GOD Almighty" which in Hebrew is El Shaddai meaning "The Many Breasted One" The word "shad" in Hebrew is "breast"revealing Himself as The One with a limitless capacity to provide, nourish and bless in love, The One Who sustains His own like a nursing mother sustains her baby. The Name El Shaddai appears several times in both the books of Genesis and Job. Eg In Genesis 25:11 GOD reveals Himself to Jacob as El Shaddai. Sometimes this Hebrew word "aman" is translated in English as "faithful". Eg Proverbs 27:6 : “Faithful are the wounds of a friend" The word "wounds" is "pase" which is the same word used for a eunuch. A eunuch is one who voluntarily goes under the knife in castration to show his faithfulness and undivided loyalty to his master. They were often employed in royal courts and were high ranking officials and elite body guards, rated for their loyalty. The Hebrew word rendered as "friend" is the word Hebrew word "ahav" which means "love" with deep reliability and commitment. This verse could therefore be read as" the loving one who allows himself/herself to be injured on behalf of the one they care about. That is surely true friendship. A parent would voluntarily take on the sickness of their child if it would cure her child’s illness. In battle, soldiers have voluntarily laid down their lives for the sake of their friends, their family, or loved ones. The LORD Jesus came to earth to be wounded and to die for us. He did this voluntarily for our sake. I think this verse in Proverbs 27:6 is revealing something to us about the death of Messiah on the cross where He proved the "aman", the faithfulness and eternal provision of His love. In John 15:13 He said John 15:13 " Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." This amazing Hebrew word "aman" is also often translated as, "faithful" Eg Deuteronomy 7:9" Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;" Indeed the word" Amen" comes from the word "aman". It comes from the same Hebrew root and signies an affirmation of GOD's faithfulness, trustworthiness and nurturing provision, steadfastness, a bounding loving provision for us. Now next time you read Genesis 15:6 see the picture of the nursing baby at it's mother's breast and then connect that verse with Genesis 17:1 where GOD reveals Himself as, El Shaddai, the Many Breasted One, The All Sufficient And Satisfying One, The Abundant Supplier And Provider in love. How profoundly and astoundingly beautiful is our GOD in His love for each one of us... Selah Shalom shalom