Sunday, September 28, 2014

The Messianic Consciousness in Jewish Prophecy (LXXVI) Isaiah

Thus said the Lord: 'Where is this, the bill of your mother's divorce, whom I sent away? Or to which of My creditors have I sold you? Lo, for your iniquities ye have been sold, and for your transgressions has your mother been sent away.” (Isaiah 50:1)

This verse speaks of our bond and relationship with God, and is also a mirror for us to realize the depth of our exile in the darkness of ego's fantasies and illusions. God reminds us again -- this time with a very loving metaphor -- that our estrangement comes from us, not Him.

We are solely responsible for the choices we make and their outcome. He doesn't send us to live in material fantasies and illusions (“our creditors” He calls His own). We have sold ourselves to our own iniquities, sending our consciousness (“our mother”) away from Love's ways and attributes as the material manifestation of God's Love.

Wherefore have I come, and there is no one? I called, and there is none answering. Has My hand been at all short of redemption? And is there not in me power to deliver? Lo, by My rebuke I dry up a sea, I make rivers a wilderness, their fish stink for there is no water, and die of thirst. (50:2)

The Creator reveals His Final Redemption, and there is no one answering. He makes us reflect on this, even questioning if His Redemption is not already quite enough, or that His power to deliver may not be evident. Hence He recalls His total control over all there is.

I clothe the heavens with blackness, and sackcloth I make their covering. The Lord God has given to me the tongue of taught ones, to know to aid the weary by a word. He wakes morning by morning, He wakes for me an ear to hear as taught ones.(50:3-4)

God continues revealing the transformation that awaits the material world and human consciousness, in particular our higher awareness (the heavens) of His Presence. The Prophet doesn't want to leave God's questions unanswered by no one, and he reaffirms his willingness to be the deliverer of God's messages to us in regards to the Final Redemption, as stated at the beginning of Isaiah's book (6:8-9).

The Lord God opened for me the ear, and I rebelled not, backward I moved not. My back I have given to those smiting, and my cheeks to those plucking out, My face I hid not from shame and spitting.(50:5-6)

We must find Isaiah's awareness in ourselves, and what the Prophet represents in our consciousness. Let's understand it as the relentless compelling desire to be attached to the Creator, to which there is no shame, humiliation or suffering capable to break our bond with Him.

And the Lord God gives help to me, therefore I have not been ashamed. Therefore I have set my face as a flint, and I know that I am not ashamed. Near is He who is justifying me, who does contend with me? We stand together, who is my opponent? Let him come nigh unto me.(50:7-8)

The Prophet makes us reflect on the meanings of shame, opposite to living in the awareness that God's Love is our Essence and true identity, for His Love supports, helps and nurtures every aspect and dimension of life. We are in shame living in ego's fantasies and illusions, along with their negative traits and trends, in contrast to living in Love's ways and attributes. The latter fill us and lead us to live the goodness of God's attributes that He wants us to emulate. This goodness makes us as humble as flint stones, for humbleness is the absence of shame or reproach.

While we live in God's ways, He justifies our discernment, thoughts, feelings, emotions, speech and actions. Hence nothing can't be justify except for Love. As long as we are aware of God's Presence in our lives, nothing can be against. In this awareness we can confront and eliminate any negative trait or tendency that may threaten our Essence and true identity, with which we are permanently connected to God.

Lo, the Lord God gives help to me, who is he that declares me wicked? Lo, all of them as a garment wear out, a moth does eat them.(50:9)

As we realize that Love as the material manifestation of God's Love is our intention, motivation and cause for all expressions of life, there is no evil in any form that could come into us and contaminate our consciousness. All kinds of evil turn into a past memory as a worn out garment eaten by moths.

Who is among you, fearing the Lord, hearkening to the voice of His servant, that has walked in dark places, and there is no brightness for him? Let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and lean upon his God.(50:10)

The Prophet invites us to hear the messages God has given to him, particular those of us who have been walking in the darkness or ego's fantasies and illusions. Isaiah asks us to believe that the Light we need to free our consciousness is our returning to God's ways and attributes, to which we must lean on.

Lo, all ye kindling a fire, girding on sparks, walk ye in the light of your fire. And in the sparks ye have caused to burn, from My hand has this been to you, in grief ye lie down!(50:11)

God calls again our attention regarding the fires we create in all levels of consciousness. We get burned by our negative traits and trends, and He reminds us that we are solely responsible for our choices and actions, which bring us down to grief. This ultimately will bounce back to our consciousness forcing us to look for the redeeming Light of the goodness in Love's ways and attributes we are destined to be, have and manifest.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

The Messianic Consciousness in Jewish Prophecy (LXXV) Isaiah

The children of your bereavement shall yet say in your ears: 'The place is too strait for me, give place to me that I may dwell'. And you have said in your heart: 'Who has begotten for me these'? And I bereaved and gloomy, a captive and turned aside, and these who has nourished? Behold, I, I was left by myself, these where are they'?” (49:20-21)

The expressions of our negative traits, as the children of our bereavement, will not relent in their predicament, claiming for more in order to expand their control of our life. Our obsessions, attachments and addictions to ego's fantasies and illusions will not easily leave our consciousness. We must confront their cause and effect. These are the negative traits represented by the nations that oppress the children of Israel.

Thus said the Lord God: 'Behold, I lift up My hand unto nations, and unto peoples I raise up My ensign, and they have brought your sons in the bosom, and your daughters on the shoulder are carried.” (49:22)

God reaffirms His Final Redemption as the result of the transforming process mentioned before. God's "hand" and "ensign" are the principles and guidelines that vindicate and recognize the goodness of Love's ways and attributes, represented by the children of Israel. These transformed traits in consciousness that God will imprint on the nations will serve the purpose of His plan for the Messianic Era. This will be carried out by the children of Israel with the assistance of the new identity of the nations. These will deliver and carry on their shoulders the gathered children of Israel.

'And kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their princesses your nursing mothers. Face to the earth they bow down to you, and the dust of your feet they lick up. And you have known that I am God, that those expecting Me are not ashamed'.” (49:23)

Positive traits and trends will serve the greater purpose of the even greater goodness God wants to reveal in the material world through the children of Israel. This was originally commanded in the Torah when God chose Israel as His partner in His Creation. Israel's separation from their mission, and their oppression under the nations delayed God's plan. This delay is clearly part of the plan, for Israel and the nations must learn first the consequences of living in the negative aspects of consciousness before entering the Final Redemption.

This must be desired and yearned for as the true time and space we are destined to live in the material world. We wait for God's revelation the final days of our exile in the darkness of ego's fantasies and illusions, as He also waits for us to learn the lessons from our negative choices. Once we are ready to abandon our wicked ways, we must persevere while we wait for His Final Redemption.

Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of the victorious delivered? But thus says the Lord: 'Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; and I contend with him that contends with you, and I will save your children.” (49:24-25)

God asks us if the oppressing ways mightier than us can let us go free. Are we strong enough to challenge our own negative traits and trends, along with addictions, attachments, habits and obsessions, frustrations, depressions, anger, arrogance, et al? We may not be, but God indeed is. God's Love created us, and is also our life, our freedom and our Redemption.

And I feed them that oppress you with their own flesh. And they shall be drunk with their own blood, as with sweet wine. And all flesh shall know that I the Lord am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” (49:26)

We have mentioned that evil destroys itself, for its nature is to destroy. In this sense we understand God's words regarding the oppressors eating their flesh, and getting intoxicated with their blood. King David warned also about this: “Evil shall kill the wicked, and they that hate the righteous are condemned.” (Psalms 34:22).

The Creator knows how to deal with His Creation, and He teaches us that the source of destruction is destruction itself. Thus we assimilate that goodness is the source of goodness, for goodness is the purpose of goodness. We already know that God is the Source of all goodness, as it is also written: “Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His loving kindness is eternal.” (136:1). In this understanding we realize that He is God, our Savior and our Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

The Messianic Consciousness in Jewish Prophecy (LXXIV) Isaiah

Behold, these shall come from far; and, lo, these [others] from the north and from the west, and these [others] from the land of Sinim [from the east].” (Isaiah 49:12)

God summons the children of Israel from all the places and corners of the earth. He decreed that all, even those assimilated among the nations, are destined to return to their inherited land. Being far away from the Creator does not refer to a geographical distance. In time those who listen to His call for our Final Redemption will return. God's call is not meant to be answered by all, for He gave us free will to either reject or embrace our Jewish identity.

We have mentioned the oral tradition (midrash) regarding the Exodus from Egypt, and the return of the Jews exiled in Babylon. In the case of Egypt we learned that only 20% chose to follow Moses, and in the case of Babylon even a much lesser amount chose to return to the land of Israel. Historically, a few of the children of Israel have remained faithful to the Covenant with God. The same is expected to happen for the Final Redemption. Although God has decreed that He will gather us from all corners of the earth, this calling is for those who choose to return.

Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth, and break forth into singing, O mountains. For the Lord has comforted His people, and has compassion upon His afflicted.” (49:13)

Those of us who hear God's calling must rejoice and sing in happiness with all our levels of consciousness. These are our higher awareness (heavens) of God, and our lower sensual nature (earth), as well as our faith, beliefs, values and principles (mountains). As all of these hear the calling, we also feel and live our imminent Redemption when we realize that God's loving kindness and compassion are our complete freedom. Thus we understand that God's ways and attributes are also the traits and trends we must enthrone in all levels of consciousness in order to end the affliction under the predicament of ego's fantasies and illusions.

But Zion said: 'The Lord has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me'.” (49:14)

Those who don't choose back to God's calling rather blame Him for their separation from Him. They purposely ignore that the return to His decreed Redemption is entirely up to us. We have said that Zion, Jerusalem and the Temple represent the highest awareness of our permanent connection with God. When this awareness is lost, it blames God as the culprit of our estrangement from Him. Indeed it is never lost, for it is permanent, but in our exile in ego's fantasies and illusions we believe and feel that God abandoned us.

Does a woman forget her suckling, the loved one -- the son of her womb? Yea, these forget. But I, I don't forget you. Behold, on the palms of the hands I have graven you, your walls are before Me continually.” (49:15-16)

God reiterates His Covenant with Israel, and His Love for His children. He calls us as our Father who reminds us that, in spite of our separation and oblivion of Him, He does not forget us. He keeps us not only in His thoughts but also in His Love, for He loves us. Our names are graven in His hands, and the strength (our walls) of our bond with Him is always standing.

Hastened have those building you, those destroying you and laying you waste go out from you.” (49:17)

Our oppression under the negative traits and trends of consciousness, triggered by ego's fantasies and illusions, becomes our desperation that makes us live in haste. God reminds us that these are the destroyers which turn us into waste. Hence He will remove them from our consciousness.

Lift up your eyes round about, and see: all of them have been gathered, they come to you. As I live, says the Lord, you shall surely clothe you with them all as an ornament, and gird yourself with them, like a bride.” (49:18)

The Prophet again remarks that God will transform the negative traits and trends into positive qualities that will occupy every aspect and dimension of life. These will be the ornament and beauty that will manifest in our discernment, thoughts, values, principles, emotions, feelings, passions and instincts, as well as in what we have, say and do. These will be the splendor we see in the bride that is ready to marry her master.

Because your wastes and your desolate places, and the land of your ruins, surely now are straitened because of inhabitants, and far off have been those consuming you.” (49:19)

Our former negative and destructive traits will become as empty places that also will be too narrow for the expansion of the new consciousness that awaits us. Every negative trend that swallowed up the goodness of our Essence and true identity will be removed.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

The Messianic Consciousness in Jewish Prophecy (LXXIII) Isaiah

"Listen, O isles, unto me, and hearken ye peoples from afar: the Lord has called me from the womb, from the bowels of my mother has He made mention of my name." (Isaiah 49:1)

Israel affirms his identity before the nations of the Earth, by quoting God's words through the Prophet. These words allegorically emphasize Israel's status given by the Creator in the Torah, referred to as His chosen people for the plan He has in the material world.

"And He has made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand has He hidden me; and He has made me a polished shaft, in His quiver has He concealed me. And He said unto me: 'You are My servant, Israel, in whom I shall be glorified'." (49:2-3)

Part of the Jewish identity is to articulate clearly God's messages for humankind, like a "sharp sword". This allegory also means that God's ways and attributes don't cohabit with anything different or opposite to them. God's truth is like a cutting edge that separates goodness from evil, Light from darkness, righteousness from wickedness, positive from negative. Israel's identity is also a Commandment from God to glorify Him by making goodness prevail in the world. Yet we rather live in the servitude of ego's fantasies and illusions than in our Essence and true identity.

"But I said: 'I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothingness and vanity. Yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God'." (49:4)

We indeed work in vain for the futility of ego's fantasies and illusions, until we finally realize that the truth is with God, and it is also our own reward. Goodness is the reward for goodness, for it is its own cause and effect.

"And now says the Lord that formed me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, and that Israel be gathered unto Him. For I am honorable in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has been my strength." (49:5)

God reaffirms Israel's identity and destiny, which is up to us to realize and manifest. The Prophet tells us that at the end of times all Israel will return to our Essence and true identity, for God sees the goodness with which He created us and that is also our strength to be it and manifest it in all aspects and dimensions of consciousness.

"Yea, He says: 'It is too light a thing that you shall be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the offspring of Israel. I will also give you for a Light of the nations, that My redemption be unto the end of the earth'." (49:6)

Goodness is indeed the Light God wants us to be for the nations. As we have mentioned often, the nations represent the negative traits and trends in consciousness that are destined to be transformed into positive ways and means. The allegories in this verse refer to the children of Israel as the positive creative potentials in human consciousness (the Tribes) and their outcome (the offspring). Thus we understand this outcome as the Redemption promised by the Creator, regarding the final purpose of goodness in the material world.

"Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel his Holy One, to him who is despised of men, to him who is abhorred of nations, to a servant of rulers: kings shall see and arise, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves. Because of the Lord that is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you." (49:7)

This verse encompasses the culmination of God's plan for the Messianic Era. The positive traits and trends in consciousness, which have been despised by their opposite nature (the nations), will rule over all levels of consciousness. Therefore the kings and princes as ego's drives for desires, fantasies and illusions that "rule" over us (and make us their servants) will be transformed into servants of Love's ways and attributes. These encompass the Essence and identity of the people of Israel as the chosen ones to prevail for the final stage of God's plan known as the Messianic Era.

"Thus says the Lord: In an acceptable time have I answered you, and in a day of redemption have I helped you. And I will preserve you, and give you for a Covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages." (49:8)

God again tells us that His Final Redemption is imminent, and that it will last forever as part of our Covenant with Him. Thus we will be able to elevate our consciousness and all dimensions of life (the land), and possess the creative potentials that we desolated for thousands of years.

"Saying to the prisoners: 'Go forth'; to them that are in darkness: 'Show your selves'. They shall feed in the paths, and in all high hills shall be their pasture. They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor sun smite them. For He that has compassion on them will lead them, even by the springs of water will He guide them." (49:9-10)

Our positive creative potentials held prisoners by ego's fantasies and illusions shall go forth out of their darkness. They shall be nurture by the goodness of God's ways and attributes as the paths and high hills. These are the ways of the highest levels of consciousness that are permanently connected to God. He is the Redeemer and guide that protects us from the heat and oppression of materialistic fantasies and illusions. God's Love gives us the waters of the Torah that sustain us in the paths He wants us to walk.

"And I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways shall be raised on high." (49:11)

From the Book's Foreword

Let's reexamine our ancestral memory, intellect, feelings, emotions and passions. Let's wake them up to our true Essence. Let us engage in the delightful awareness of Love as the Essence of G-d. The way this book is written is to reaffirm and reiterate its purpose, so it presents its message and content in a recurrent way. This is exactly its purpose, to restate the same Truth originally proclaimed by our Holy Scriptures, Prophets and Sages. Our purpose is to firmly enthrone G-d's Love in all dimensions of our consciousness, and by doing it we will fulfill His Promise that He may dwell with us on Earth forever. Let's discover together the hidden message of our ancient Scriptures and Sages. In that journey, let's realize Love as our Divine Essence, what we call in this book the revealed Light of Redemption in the Messianic era.