Daily Tidbit 12/4/11 – Introduction to Shadows of Messiah – Tidbits (Creation)

Tidbit is a tender morsel — a bit pinched from the loaf that tastes of the whole. The Word is bread. These are small portions, that the reader might crave the entire loaf, and see that all of creation was made to point us to our Savior.

The Gospel is the promise to Abraham. He was promised a Seed — Messiah (Gal 3:16-17), the Word (Luk 8:11). Seed as the stars — shadows in the heavens. Seed as the sand — shadows in the earth. Seed to possess the gate of the enemy. All families blessed. All nations blessed. The land — the Kingdom. And at the end of Abraham’s story, a bride for the son — Messiah and His bride.

Christ is all, and in all (Col 3:11). Messiah is the Image of God (Heb 1:3; Col 1:15). His shadow is cast not only through the Bible but through all His handiwork. The Torah is a shadow of good things to come (Heb 10:1). Torah is a finger pointing the way. Creation and Scripture are both His work, pointing to the same Person.

In the beginning the Spirit hovered — רחף rachaph — as a bird overshadowing the nest. Let there be light, and a shadow was cast over the universe. Of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever (Rom 11:36).

The English word tidbit comes from the word ‘tid’ meaning ‘fond, tender’ and ‘bit’ which means a ‘morsel.’ This is a picture of a small morsel of bread that is pinched off which gives a taste of the entire loaf. The Word/Gospel is likened unto bread. It is my hope to share little tidbits of the Word that the Most High has shown me to glorify Him each day (Psalm 96:2; 145:2). Tasty morsels which I hope will be pleasant to the palate of the reader and give a strong craving for the entire loaf. My hope is that these little tidbits will help the reader to see that all of creation was designed to point us to our Savior. From the vastness of the heavens we see above, to the mind boggling intricacies of atoms to the incredible complexity of our bodies, all was designed to lead us to Him.

This first week it will be necessary to start with the basics for those who may not be familiar with the concept of shadow pictures of Messiah. In Shadows of Messiah – Tidbit, I shared that the Gospel is the promise to Abraham.

There are different aspects to the promise to Abraham, all of which can be used to display different aspects of the Gospel and shadow pictures of Messiah.

He was promised a Seed (Genesis 15:4). This Seed is referring to Messiah (Galatians 3:17) and is also described as the Word (Luke 8:11). Shadow pictures of Life

His seed was to be as the stars (Genesis 15:5; 22:17) – Shadow pictures in the skies. (Astronomy)

His seed was to be as the sand/dust (Genesis 13:16; 22:17) – Shadow pictures in the earth (Geology)

His seed was to overcome the gate of their enemies (Genesis 22:17; Matthew 16:18) – Exposing the beast and overcoming it by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11).

All families were to be blessed in him (Genesis 12:3) – Shadow pictures in people (Psychology)

All nations were to be blessed in him (Genesis 17:4-7; 22:18) – Shadow pictures in nations/history

He was promised the promised land (Genesis 13:14-17; 15:18-21; 17:8) – the Kingdom. (Psalm 145:10-13; Acts 28:23; Matthew 4:23, 9:35; 24:14; Mark 1:1, 14-15; 16:15)

The account of Abraham’s life culminates in Genesis 24 where a wife is found for his son Isaac, a picture of Messiah and His bride being joined together at His return.

The promise is the Word (Psalm 105:42) – Biblical studies & Etymology/Language.

My hope is to share each day a portion of the above outline in a easily consumable portion.

Today’s tidbit is going to be the concept of Shadows of Messiah in creation.

The Creator of our Universe made all things to point to Messiah. That same Creator, is the Author of the Holy Scriptures which were written as a shadow that points to Messiah (Hebrews 8:5; 9:24; 10:1; Colossians 2:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:6).

Colossians 3:11 states that Messiah Jesus is all and in all. It is this verse that first pricked my interest in the idea that shadows of Messiah could be in all of creation. As I studied this concept out, tidbit by tidbit an amazing picture was painted of all things being a shadow pointing back to Christ (Hebrews 8:5; 9:24; 10:1; Colossians 2:16-17) who is the Image of God (Hebrews 1:3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15-16).

Messiah is the Image of God (Hebrews 1:3) and His Shadow is cast, not only through His Word, but all throughout His creation. All of His Word is used to reveal the Messiah in types and shadows. So too, all of His creation is used to do the same. Through the Word and the Hebrew language this is seen in more detail.

The Torah is a shadow of Messiah…The Torah = the Entire Bible. The Scriptures define the Prophets as the Torah (1 Corinthians 14:21) & the Psalms as Torah (John 10:34; 12:34; 15:25). The entire Bible is a shadow of the Messiah, who is the reality. The Word made flesh (John 1:1).

Torah comes from the root:

The Torah is the image or ‘outline’ of the Almighty. It is a shadow pointing to the manifestation of that Image, who is Messiah.

Torah also has the concrete meaning of a hand/finger pointing in a certain direction. This is why Torah is equivalent with teaching. It is the picture of a teacher pointing the correct way for a student.

Both His Word and creation are His handiwork, pointing the way to Messiah. Creation (Isaiah 48:13) and His Word (Deuteronomy 33:2) came forth from His Right Hand.

Isa 48:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
Isa 48:13 Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.

Deu 33:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.
Deu 33:3 Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.
Deu 33:4 Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.

His Arm brings salvation

Isa 63:5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.

Psa 44:3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them. Psa 42:5

Isa 52:10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Isa 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Act 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

In our 3 dimensional world we are familiar with 2 dimensional shadows that are cast by 3 dimensional objects. Scripture, and even science speaks of a 4th dimensional spirit realm. A 4th dimensional object will cast a 3 dimensional shadow. The Almighty, who dwells in this 4th dimension casts a 3 dimensional shadow which is seen in all His handiwork of this creation. In the beginning, the Spirit hovered over the waters (Genesis 1:2). The word for hover here (רחף ‘rachaph’) is a picture of a bird overshadowing her nest. The Almighty then said let there be light which cast a shadow over the entire universe. The picture here is alluding to all of His creation is a shadow pointing back to Him.

As one begins to see shadow pictures and parables of Messiah in all of creation, the sense of awe and wonder that one experiences is beyond words.

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches and of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who became His counselor?” Isa. 40:13
Rom 11:35 “Or who first gave to Him, and it will be repaid to him?” Job 41:11

Rom 11:36 Because of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.

Not only is His wisdom and Glory incomprehensible, but His creation reveals His unfathomable love for mankind. To think that everything we experience in life was designed exactly that way so that man might come to a stronger relationship with his Creator is beyond amazing. There are no adjectives to describe His greatness.

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Obedience comes from the Greek word ὑπακοή ‘hupakoe’, which corresponds to the Hebrew word ענוה ‘anavah.’

ענוה ‘anavah’ means to be humble, low, submissive, meek…to bow down before.

Php 2:10 that at the name of Jesus “every knee should bow,” of heavenly ones, and earthly ones, and ones under the earth,
Php 2:11 and “every tongue should confess” that Jesus Christ is “Lord,” to the glory of God the Father.