From The Archives

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Life In The Row Boat October 25, 2012 by eaglerj
Is it possible that the Tree of Life in Genesis actually represents the following?


Matthew 4: 4 But he answered and said , It is written , Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.


I am indebted to Skip Moen who points out the uniqueness of the angels who were assigned to guard the way to “the Tree of Life”. These particular angels are the same ones that were featured on the top of the Ark of the Covenant which contained the tablets on which were written the words that had proceeded from the mouth of God!!!


Another interesting verse that can be attached to this thought is:
John 1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made . 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.


Another thought triggered by Skip Moen’s teaching lies in his explanation of the following verse:
Proverbs 29: 18 Where there is no vision, the people perish : but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.


Skip describes the Hebrew view of the word “vision” as being like someone sitting in a rowing boat. When you are in a rowing boat you cannot see where you are going, you must focus on where you have been. For the Hebrew mind this specifically means focussing on where I have been with God in the immediate and the distant past.


I got to thinking what would the “oars” in this boat be? I believe the oars are “trust” and “obey”.
Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.


In the row boat if you try and turn to see where you are going you will lift one of your oars out of the water; that is you will either cease engaging your “trust” in God or you will cease to engage your “obedience” in response to what God has said.


I was sharing this picture with some friends one day and it struck me that if I am focussed on God in my immediate and distant past I am actually focusing on the future because Jesus said:
 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is , and which was , and which is to come , the Almighty. (Revelation 1:8)


This unlocks why the words remember, memorial, and testimony feature continuously throughout scripture. They are reminding us that we live in the row boat of life not in the speedboat!!!
Exodus 25: 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.


What does prayer look like in the row boat? Skip Moen puts it like this “Lord change my heart so that I accept your sovereign will”


2 Corinthians 3: 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The word "changed" above is from the Greek word that we take our word metamorphosis. In the row boat we are metamorphised as we focus on He who never changes.


Malachi 3: 6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed .