Vacation (with a little Hebrew thrown in!)

Been meaning to post here for a while . . . but have been busy getting ready for vacation! Leaving in the morning - I can't wait! I need the break. Still have a few more things to finish up, though.

One thing that has intrigued me of late, that y'all can think about while I'm gone. We were going through Genesis 18 in Sunday morning Bible Class, and after Sarah laughs at the news of her having a child, verse 14 has the Lord's response: "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" And then there's a little, tiny footnote - easy to miss - which says that the word "hard" may also be "wonderful." That's quite a difference! One of my eagle-eyed members caught it, and asked: Well, which is it?

Turns out that the word in Hebrew there can be translated either way, but it seems that "wonderful" may indeed be the primary meaning. My member then pointed out the Messianic promise in Isaiah 9, where the child to be born will be called Wonderful . . . hmmm . . . same word. Then, in the Treasury reading for today, from Judge 13, it came up again! After the angel of the Lord tells Samson parents that they are going to have a child, he says (v. 18): "Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?" Same Hebrew root. Hmmm. When I get back from vacation, I think I would like to do some digging into this . . .

So, let me go finish things up. See you in a couple of weeks!

Playing With Words

The Hebrew language is great for playing with words. I remember Dr. Wenthe at the Seminary marveling at some wonderful Hebrew words and phrases in the classes I was privileged to have with him.

Well, we found a good one yesterday in our Psalms Bible Study. We began studying Psalm 37, which begins:

"Fret not yourself because of evildoers;

be not envious of wrongdoers!

For they will soon fade like the grass

and wither like the green herb."

The Hebrew word play is in verse two, with the verbs for fade and wither: in Hebrew they are yimmalu and yibbolu. So, I told the class, whenever you find yourself fretting or getting angry at someone or something, just tell yourself: yimmalu and yibbolu! It will not only bring a smile to your face to say such silly words (and so diffuse your worry and anger), it will also remind you of the rest of the psalm - that the Lord is caring for you, He is faithful, He does not forsake His children, and that the things of this world are passing - but the Word of the Lord and His steadfast love endure forever.

Gotta love Hebrew! :-)

Update: I am pleased to say that I have broken new ground by posting these transliterated Hebrew words. If you do a Google search on them, my post is the only hit that comes up!