May 13, 2022
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
The Hebrew language is very rich. There is depth and dimension regarding the meaning of words that is difficult to convey when expressing an idea in another language such as English. The Hebrew word oth is used frequently in the Scriptures. It can refer to an object, an occurrence, or an event through which a person is to recognize, learn, remember, or perceive the credibility of something.* In the case of the relationship between God and man, an oth conveys knowledge and is also a validation, or concrete evidence, of the truth and reliability of God, His character, statements, and promises. The three most common English translations of oth are “sign,” “seal.” and “mark”. Someone who comes to trust Him implicitly will perceive the reality of His unrivaled power and supreme authority. Such a one accepts His instructions and promises, leading him into a life of obedience. This is at the very heart of faith!
The Lord’s tender compassion toward His wayward sheep is evident from the start. He has taken innumerable measures to encourage faith and faithfulness in us through the revelation of His faithfulness toward us. How quick He was to clothe the nakedness of Adam and Eve while imparting to them the knowledge of the Savior to come! He spoke a tender word of warning to Cain (Genesis 4:7), who did not receive it but instead went on to murder his little brother. The subsequent conversation between God and Cain was initiated, not by an accusation from God, but by a question intended to make him ponder his actions: Where is Abel your brother? The conversation ended with Cain expressing concern only for himself. Yet, God “stamped” their parting with mercy to extend his opportunity for repentance: And the LORD set a mark (oth) on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. (v.15b) We are not told what this mark is, but it’s function was to protect Cain from the wrath of man. It warned other people against killing him. Thus, we see that a sign, or mark, can provide a way to readily identify those whose lives are protected by God.
As a sign (oth) of faith in God, the children of Israel were instructed to place the blood of the Passover lamb on the lintel and doorposts of their homes. Their willingness to put their faith into action protected the firstborn from the destroyer (Exodus 12:13). God’s children had unfortunately been taught by the Egyptians to carve their name into the lintel or doorpost as a way of identifying themselves to the “gods” who were worshiped by the Egyptians. In helping to free them from the worship of false gods, God had them cover up their names with the blood of the Passover lamb, symbolizing a change of allegiance to the true God of Heaven.
In the last days, God is providing generous opportunity to people everywhere to honor the oth He gave as a reminder of His identity as Creator and Redeemer. Like Pharaoh, who did not allow the Israelites to rest on the Sabbath day, our modern world is set up to coerce people to work on the Sabbath. This is a direct result of the intention of the beast to change times and law (see Daniel 7:25)
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14 (see also Exodus 20:8-11, Ezekiel 20:12
*Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament (1974 edition)