September 14 - Pomegranates

Numbers 20:2-12  There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled themselves against Moses and Aaron. The people thus contended with Moses and spoke, saying, "If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD!”Why then have you brought the LORD'S assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here? "Why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us in to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink." Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them; and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink." So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as He had commanded him; and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, "Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?" Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." - NASB

The Israelites had been through the desert from Egypt to the Promised Land, but they were afraid of the giants in the land and didn’t trust God to help them. Now they wanted water, grain, figs and pomegranates…but there was only their rebellious spirit to feed their hunger. God tells Moses to “speak” to the rock to get water, but Moses strikes it instead. They get water…but because of Moses anger and the rebellious spirit of the people, except for Calab and Joshua, no one ever get to go into the Promised Land. That should makes us want to stop and look at our own spirit. Are we treating God as holy?  Are we being rebellious or defiant towards God? That kept all those Israelites out of their Promised Land. Does my defiance keep me from having a good relationship with God or with others? Does your attitude towards God create a barrier between you and Him…or between you and others?

The pomegranate is used as a decorative ornament in many places in the Bible, and still in Israel today. For examples see Exodus 28:33, 1 Kings 7:18, 2 Kings 25:17. The pomegranate is said to have 613 seeds, the same number as the commands or promises of God in Torah. In Christian art the pomegranate fruit, broken or bursting open, is a symbol of the fullness of Jesus' suffering and resurrection.

As a powerful anti-oxidant pomegranate juice was tested and has become a useful product for treating coronary disease. Additionally, since pomegranate seed oil was found to cause breast cancer cells to self-destruct it has been studied for prevention and treatment of breast cancer. That is an amazing study. See more on pomegranates at http://www.greenearthgrocer.com/common/news/store_news.asp?task=store_news&sid_store_news=20&storeID=5P9LR2WTRES92J2200AKHMCCQA2L5D23

When you cut into a pomegranate, cut off the top and bottom ends, then lightly score the skin or rind in several sections. Put the fruit in a bowl of cold water for several minutes, then holding it under the water, break the sections apart. The seeds will sink while the membranes and rind will float. Discard the membranes and rind, then pour the seeds out into a colander, rinse, drain and dry. The seeds are great in spinach or green leaf lettuce salads. Top with some roasted pecans, blue cheese or goat cheese, and bottled raspberry vinaigrette dressing. Tasty!

Are we merely decorative as the pomegranate, or are we filled with God’s promises? Check out your own life. Do you know that the Feast of Trumpets is coming soon? This is the next feast that is prophetically to be fulfilled. The Passover was fulfilled when Jesus died for our sins at just the exact time as the Passover lamb was sacrificed in the Temple. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was fulfilled at Jesus burial. The First Fruits was fulfilled at Jesus resurrection. Pentecost was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit was given to Jesus’ followers. The next feast in the Jewish year is Rosh Hashanah, the New Year or Feast of Trumpets celebrating God as King, possibly the birthday of the world, intertwined with beginning a time of repentance as God is in the process of judging all things. So to all of you—I wish you a Happy New Year—a good year. May you be inscribed for a good year in the Book of Life.

Our friend, Mark, who has leukemia, is going to begin undergoing radiation treatments this weekend. His father has asked that we pray that the rapture will happen right at the time or just after his son’s treatment—what a witness to those in the hospital. “Where has Mark gone?” He’s been raptured! Only our Heavenly Father knows the hour or the day—Jesus tells us that in Matthew 24:36, But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. NASB. Jesus also tells us to “be ready”, so whether it is this year or ten years from now…we need to be prepared. Tell others about Jesus’ sacrifice for them and give an account for the hope that you have. Are you ready? Is your name in the Book of Life?

Heavenly Father—we wait with hopeful anticipation for the day that You send Jesus to rapture His church. When that time comes Lord we want to be ready, and to be doing your will and your work.   

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.