Acts 22
We are walking in today: Covered In the Dust of Rabbi Yeshua!!! The Principle of the Protégé, part 9
Witness
wait, tarry throughout the Bible: H6960 qavah spelled qof, vav, hey --to wait or look eagerly for, to lie in wait for, to wait for, linger for, tarry
Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Torah: Genesis 49:18
Prophets: Isaiah 8:17, 26:8, 33:2, 40:31, 49:23, 51:5, 59:9, 60:9; Jeremiah 14:22; Hosea 12:6
Writings: Job 6:19, 30:26; Psalms 25:3, 25:5, 27:14, 37:9, 39:7, 40:1, 52:9, 69:6, 119:95, 130:5; Proverbs 20:22; Lamentations 3:25
Micah 5:7 Then the remnant of Jacob Shall be in the midst of many peoples, Like dew from the Lord, Like showers on the grass, That tarry for no man Nor wait for the sons of men.
Acts 22:3
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city and trained at the feet of Gamli’el in every detail of the Torah of our forefathers. I was a zealot for God, as all of you are today
*When God develops the protégés character, He’s never in a hurry. *
The lesson of patience is a very precious character trait to learn. As one of the fruits of the Ruach HaKodesh it is a gift from above. As a part of the image and likeness that we followers of The Most High grow into. Some just have it off the back as a part of their Super Human make up, but as a protégé we learn that patience is developed through trials and error and the end results always out weighs the journey. We learn to trust in the plans of the Most High, who promises a favorable end as a result of us trusting in Him and not the circumstances we go through. That every trail we go through is a process to promotion. That the Most High allows these things to happen to us as a means for us to grow out of our own comfortability.
Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, self-control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things.
Proverbs 3:5-6 5 Trust in Adonai with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him; then he will level your paths.
Here are some of the examples of Torah characters that practiced patience they knew all to well. The Most High is never in a hurry to promote. Some of them took years to obtain their promotion through hard and harsh conditions. But the end, resulted in their good and they were blessed with more than anything they lost.
Principles from the Promotion of Joseph:
1. Joseph expected promotion because he dreamed of promotion at an early age (Genesis 37:5-6, 9 “And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed.”)
2. Joseph learned that people who aspire to promotion will have to tolerate cynics and jealousy. (Genesis 37:8-9)
3. Joseph did not allow the pain of the past to hinder his promotion. (Genesis 41:51-52
4. Joseph learned that you can be promoted and life a life of prosperity in the same place you are persecuted. (Genesis 45:11)
5. Joseph used his promotion and prosperity to be a blessing to others. (Genesis 45:11, 47:12)
6. Joseph knew that promotion comes from the accumulation of knowledge and the application of wisdom. (Genesis 41:39
7. Joseph served and honored those in authority over him. (Genesis 39:3-4, 21-21)
8. Joseph believed that the injustices of men were past of God’s Master Plan and that he would always come on top. (Genesis 45:5-7)
9. Joseph was not timid to use and promote his God-given gift. (Genesis 40:14-15)
10. Joseph knew that immorality would sabotage promotion. (Genesis 39:8-9)
11. Joseph showed great respect to his parents – knowing that promotion is the reward of honoring your parents.
12. Joseph practiced servant hood his entire life. (Genesis 39:4, 40:4)
13. Joseph knew that promotion comes to those who plan ahead. (Genesis 41:5-6)
14. Joseph never blamed others for negative circumstances in his life. (Genesis 40:14-15)
My Favorite
Principles from the Promotion of Daniel:
1. Daniel knew that promotion comes to protégés who are disciplined, and have made up their minds for success.
Daniel 1:8, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
2. Daniel knew that promotion comes to protégés who do what mediocre aren’t willing to do so that they can have what other mediocre people don’t have. (Daniel 1:11-16)
3. Daniel experienced promotion because he was not intimidated by his enemies. (Daniel 6:4-10)
4. Daniel knew that promotion comes through prayer. (Daniel6:10)
5. Daniel lived a life of promotion because he was a man of excellence – he always did his very best. (Daniel 6:1-3)
6. Daniel knew that promotion comes when the right people work together. (Daniel 2:49)
7. Daniel surrounded himself with high quality people. (Daniel 1:17-20)
8. Daniel knew the power of fasting. (Daniel 9:3, 10:2-3)
9. Daniel did not bow the knee to people in an attempt to get promoted but he let God be His judge. (Daniel 4:23-27)
10. Daniel knew that promotion comes to the humble. (Daniel 2:30)
Principle from Promotion of Esther:
1. Esther did not allow loss and grief to hinder her promotion. (Esther 2:7-10)
2. Esther valued the council of her mentor. (Esther 2:10)
3. Esther was teachable, correctable, and willing to adapt to a higher level of excellence and expectation. (Esther 2:8-9, 15-18)
4. Esther knew that if she desired to be promoted, she had to make herself desirable for the position of promotion. (Esther 2:12)
5. Esther was willing to invest the time necessary to improve herself. (Esther 2:8-15)
6. Esther valued connection with a higher authority. (Esther 4:11, 15, 5:1-2)
7. Esther knew that proper protocol leads to promotion. (Esther 5:1-2)
8. Esther engaged in a cause more important than her survival. (Esther 8:4-6)
9. Esther knew that there were some things worth the risk of rejection. (Esther 7:1-4, 8:3-6)
10. Esther was patient and knew that importance of timing. (Esther 5:1-8, 7:1-10)
Principles from the Promotion of Ruth:
1. Ruth refused to establish her life upon negativity and grief. Ruth 1:16-17, “And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”
2. Ruth did not allow her mentor’s lack of charisma and intrigue to stop her following her mentor. (1:10-13)
3. Ruth refused to leave her mentor – even when it seemed her mentor had nothing to give her. (1:14)
4. Ruth did not allow the decisions of another to persuade her to leave her mentor. (1:15)
5. Ruth was willing to pay a great price of sacrifice to stay with her mentor. (1:16-17)
6. Ruth was willing to go where she had never been to create something she had never had. (1:16-19)
7. Ruth followed her mentor. (1:16-17)
8. Ruth submitted herself to the authority of her mentor and discovered the power of asking approval. (1:2)
9. Ruth learned that faithfulness to your mentor will connect you with someone who can bless you. (2:3)
11. Ruth discovered that productive men are responsive to productive women. (2:15-16)
12. Ruth gained a reputation for serving and caring for her mentor. (2:11)
13. Ruth learned that there is always someone observing you who is capable of greatly blessing you. (2:5-6)
13. Ruth took a part of her blessing and shared it with her mentor. (2:16-18)
14. Ruth was transparent and open about her needs. (2:7,10)
15. Ruth lived a life of thankfulness and gratitude. (2:10-13)
16. Ruth discovered that God can get anyone to you – no matter where you are. (2:3)
17. Ruth followed the recommended protocol of her mentor. (3:1-3)
18. Ruth was aggressive and obedient in listening to her mentor. (3:5)
19. Ruth was willing to make any changes necessary to adapt to her new season in life. (3:1-3)
20. Ruth respected the mentorship of an older and more experienced woman. (3:3-5)
21. Ruth discovered that promotion can cause you to forget the pain of the past. (4:11-12)
22. Ruth took care of her mother-in-law, her mentor, better than seven sons. (4:15)
The Principle of Posture
One’s posture is said to be a key indication of proper upbringing. Good health and confidence. But what of the main scripture. Paul’s statement says that He sat at the foot of his Rabbi's feet. I just picture Paul latterly growing up from a child into a man sitting in front of a Rabbi learning...but it is a little deeper than that. What does it mean to be brought up “at the feet” of someone? The Hebrew and those in the East were very familiar with this description. To sit at someone’s feet spoke of the mentoring relationship between a rabbi and his disciple. Hebrews were very familiar with this concept. “An apprentice gains firsthand knowledge by watching how an expert works. So too with wisdom. Don’t read about it in a book; find yourself an expert.” One should establish a relationship with a Rabbi and one should acquire a friend. No matter how learned or how great or how mature, an individual can never live a productive life on owns own. A person needs these two relationships with others to function in a healthy fashion.” When a Hebrew comes into a relationship with a Rabbi, they immediately posture themselves correctly. The disciple will immediately subordinate himself and accept the Rabbi as his superior and nullify his position before his. The posture of a protégé will determine the success or failure of the relationship. If the protégé refuses to posture himself in a position of humility and subordination, the relationship will quickly become unfruitful. A popular saying among Hebrews shows the correct posture of a protégé in relation to his mentor: “Let your house be a meeting place for the rabbis, and cover yourself in the dust of their feet, and drink in their words thirstily.”
Rabbis would sit on low pillows while teaching. The disciples would sit on mats or on the ground. This description of being covered in the dust of their feet has two meanings:
1) The practice of the protégé sitting on the floor was a way of showing honor and preference to the rabbi. Although it was only a small elevation, the protégé postured himself in a position to learn and receive.
2) The description of being covered in the dust of the feet of the Rabbi speaks of the protege following so closely behind the Rabbi that he becomes covered with the dust swirling up from his teacher’s sandals. This is a beautiful posture of pursuit and aggressive following.
Ezekiel 20:1 (KJV) And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the Lord, and sat before me.
Zechariah 3:8 (KJV) Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee:
So as we see being covered in the dust of our mentors that follow after the examples Yeshiah showed us--is meant for us to prosper but first we have to submit to the process humbling ourselves to be lifted up and not the other way around. In due time the reward or promotion will be obtained, all in The Most Highs perfected timing.
Selah Shema let us pause and consider this teaching of the dust of the rabbi!
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