Shalom Partner and Friend of Israel,

First we ask ourselves what is blood? It is the red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of humans and other vertebrate animals, carrying oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body. The Bible does say for the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11); for it is the life of all flesh (Leviticus 17:14); …for the blood is the life (Deuteronomy 12:23). Here we understand that the blood represents the life. Although blood represents life it should be noted that the Bible also references the "breath" (oxygen) as being necessary for life; Psalm 104:29, 30 "You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the earth." In addition to "oxygen" to sustain life, we must also recognize the need for "water and food" nourishment as essential for the maintaining of physical life and so blood is not the sole element of physical life.

How Adam got his name… The word "adam" is connected with the two other Hebrew words "dam" meaning "blood" and "adamah" meaning "earth/ground." These words show us that the basic meaning of Adam was associated with both "blood" and "ground." Because, of the reddish colour of soil this Hebrew word is derived out of the Hebrew parent root dam meaning blood. Another word derived from this root is adom meaning "red" and is also another name for Esau, the brother of Jacob (Genesis 25:30). Another related word is adam meaning "man," from the blood that runs through his veins but also because adam, the first man, was taken from the adamah and his dam (blood) will return to the adamah (earth/ground). Among all the trees in the Garden of Eden, God identified two special trees: of life and of the knowledge of good and evil; "And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil," Genesis 2:9. God allowed Adam to eat from all the trees except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning him that death would result (Genesis 2:16-17). So, after being tempted by the serpent, Eve ate from "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" and Adam did the same …"then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And, they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths," Genesis 3:6-7. Here we see that Adam and Eve disobeyed God and that they felt their nakedness after eating from "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil!" In part to become "wise" and they now possessed the knowledge of "good and evil" like God does …as well as knowledge of their nakedness. The Hebrew idiom meaning; "knowing, understanding or discerning "good and evil" means it is something God and probably the angels possess. "Then the LORD God said; "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil," Genesis 3:22. We can read this same reference in 2 Samuel 14:17; "And your servant thought, ‘The word of my lord the king will set me at rest,’ for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. The Lord your God be with you!"

Did the skins that God made Adam and Eve’s clothes from in Genesis 3:21 come from animals or did God just create some new skins? Although the text says nothing about a sacrifice, many believe that a sacrifice is implied. After the first sin was committed, it is believed that God wanted to show Adam and Eve that sin has consequences …and so He slew an animal in front of them, and made clothes for them from the hide of the dead animal. This passage contains some hope for Adam, Eve, and humanity. God's curses for their sin were severe and painful to hear. In the Hebrew Eve’s name itself also gives us hope and means "Chavah/Havah" :  chavah - "to breathe, and chayah - to live, or to give life. So, the traditional meaning of Eve is - "living" …and points to the future generations to come. And, this verse reveals that God will still provide, starting with clothing for Adam and Eve. Their hastily constructed fig leaves would not be adequate to continue to cover their nakedness. In clothing them, God demonstrates that it is right for them to be clothed! In order to make this clothing of skin, though, an animal had to die. This is thought to be the first recorded physical death in Scripture, even of an animal.

No death is explicitly recorded until after human sin. God Himself is the one who takes the animal's life to provide warmth and covering for the humans. Later in Genesis, God will require the sacrifice of animals to provide a blood covering for human sin. Some have even speculated that the animal was a lamb, thereby presenting a prophetical picture of Yeshua (Jesus) - the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 5:6; 13:8). Furthermore, some have argued that in this death of the animal, God was teaching Adam and Eve the principle of substitutionary atonement. He had told Adam that if they ate of the fruit they would surely die, and so after they ate of the fruit, God should have killed them …but instead He killed an animal in their place. Eventually, our Lord Himself would bleed and die to provide a final covering for the sins of all who would trust in Him for Salvation.

Look at Genesis 4:10 where God speaks of Abel’s blood crying from the ground. Did the Spirit of God hear the spirit of Abel crying in the agony of death through his blood? It would seem so! Look back to Genesis 2 as it provides further details of Adam and concludes with the creation of his "helper" – later named Eve. Then in Genesis 3 we see God deals entirely with their disobedience and punishment. God had first cursed the serpent who had permitted his body to be used by Satan (Genesis 3:14-15). God then imposed pain and sorrow upon the woman – Eve, in childbirth for her part, in obedience to the first commandment; "to be fruitful and multiply," Genesis 1:28; 3:16). Finally, God did NOT curse Adam but instead "cursed the ground for your sake" Genesis 3:17-19. Why did He do this…? The curse on the man covers two areas: the ground is cursed; and physical death is mandated. Just as the curse on the woman also affects the man, so the curse on the man affects the woman. The curse on the ground meant that man would have “to toil” to bring forth the crops to survive. The second part of the curse as it applies to the man is the affirmation of physical death. But, as believers in Yeshua (Jesus) even death has its side of blessing …It forces us to come to terms with God and Eternity. Very few of us would do that if we didn’t recognize our mortality. Death shouts at us that we desperately need to be right with our Saviour.

In Genesis 6-8, we have Noah building the Ark as commanded by God that he does so and to reserve his family and animals - for the flood that was to come as God saw the wickedness of man. Here are many parallels between what happened in Creation Week and in the Flood of Noah’s time: (1) God created Earth initially covered in water (Genesis 1:2) and in the Flood, waters once again covered the earth, but this time in judgment (Genesis 7: 19). (2) At creation, God gathered the waters together in one place and made the land to appear (Genesis 1:9) and after the Flood, the waters receded off the earth and dry land appeared again (Genesis 8:3, 14). This illustrates a common Biblical principle …a judgment is a reversal of creation. So the Flood reverses the events of Genesis 1 where land and sea were separated. And, we see in Jeremiah 4:23 …a judgment so severe that it’s like reversing the creation back to the unformed and unfilled state of Genesis 1:2.

What about Curse and blessing? Adam’s sin caused the earth to be corrupted in Genesis 3:17 and the ground would grow weeds and getting enough food would be a struggle. The world is cursed with universal destruction in the Flood ….but God then says that He will NEVER again curse the world with such a flood (Genesis 8:21). Sin so thoroughly taints mankind’s nature that if God were to judge all sin, judgment would be ongoing and relentless. So these promises of God are abounding in His grace over abounding sin. When the Flood recedes, there is a new world and a new humanity …and with the new start, God gave instructions to Noah that parallel those given to Adam.

God told both Adam (Genesis 1:28) and Noah (Genesis 9:1, 7) “to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” God gave both Adam (Genesis 1:28) and Noah (Genesis 9:22) rule over the creatures of the earth. No fear had existed in the original world – the Garden of Eden but now Noah lived in a different new world because sin had entered. God had given Adam (Genesis 1:14) a world created with light in the expanse of the heavens to separate day and night and a sign for seasons …and to and Noah (Genesis 8:22) a promise that while the earth remains there will always be seasons, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night. At creation, God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:27) and after the Flood (Genesis 9:22), God prohibited murder. Why? Because, man was created in His image! Today we have abortions in the name of Planned Parenthood, Family Planning and abortion is murder! With the loss of respect for and knowledge of God’s Word the Bible even in the once-Christian Western World; there is a parallel loss of respect for human life created in the image of our Creator, God!

God covers Adam and Eve in clothes made from animal skins …but after the Flood, saved by God’s preserving grace, Noah sacrificed animals on an altar to God, acknowledging his dependence on God for his salvation. Genesis 8:21 speaks of “the pleasing aroma,” and foreshadows the sacrifice of Yeshua (Jesus) for the sins of mankind in the New Testament …“a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God,” Ephesians 5:2.

In Genesis 9:4, where God first approved eating meat, but the only restriction on the meat that God allowed Noah and his descendants to eat was that they were not to eat the blood …because the life is in the blood. This prohibition might also remind them that the killing of animals for food was not a part of God’s original ‘very good’ creation. In Genesis 9:6 He first instituted capital punishment saying; “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed.” This was later summarized as “a life for a life.” The shedding of innocent blood is the remedy for sin… First, came the temporary remedy, an innocent animal, and then the permanent one when the Lord’s own blood was shed. Once again we see a life for a life, so it appears God equates blood with life. The blood represents life, and so sacred is life before God …that the blood of animals was used in all offerings for sin as man’s substitute “atonement” under the Mosaic Old Testament law.

But, the “power of the blood” lies above everything else in the fact that it is offered to God on the altar for redemption. When we think of blood as shed, we think of death; death follows, when the blood or the soul is poured out. Death makes us think of sin, for death is the punishment of sin. God gave Israel the blood on the altar, as the atonement or covering for sin; that means the sins of the transgressor were laid on the victim, and its death was reckoned as the death or punishment for the sins laid upon it. The blood was thus the life given up to death for the satisfaction of the law of God, and in obedience to His command. Sin was so entirely covered and atoned for, it was no longer reckoned as that of the transgressor. He was forgiven. But all these sacrifices and offerings were only types, and shadows, till the Lord Jesus came. His blood was the reality to which these types pointed. His blood was in itself of infinite value, because it carried His soul or life. But, the atoning virtue of His blood was infinite also, because of the manner in which it was shed. In holy obedience to the Father’s will He subjected Himself to the penalty of the broken law, by pouring out His soul unto death. By that death, not only was the penalty borne, but the law was satisfied, and the Father glorified. His blood atoned for sin, and thus made it powerless. It has a marvellous power for removing sin, and opening heaven for the sinner; whom it cleanses, and sanctifies, and makes meet for heaven. It is because of the Wonderful Person whose blood was shed; and because of the wonderful way in which it was shed, fulfilling the law of God, while satisfying its just demands, that the blood of Jesus has such wonderful power. It is the blood of Atonement, and hence has such efficacy to redeem; accomplishing everything for, and in, the sinner, that is necessary to salvation. Therefore, only as “atonement” is linked with death and the “shedding of blood,” - the covering of human sin. The sacredness of the blood of Yeshua (Jesus) is full of spiritual meaning for believers. In addition to justification and forgiveness through the blood of Christ (Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7), as believers we gain access to God in faith (Hebrews 10:22), experience victory over evil (Revelation 12:11), and obtain eternal glory (Revelation 7:19).

Wherein does the “power of the blood” lie? Or, what is it that gives to the blood of Yeshua (Jesus) such power? How is it that in the blood, alone, there is power possessed by nothing else? The answer to this question is found in Leviticus 23:11; “The life of the flesh is in the blood” and “I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul.” It is because the soul, or life, is in the blood …and that the blood is offered to God on the altar, that it has in it redemptive power. The soul or life is in the blood; therefore the value of the blood corresponds to the value of the life that is in it. The life of a sheep, or goat, is of less value than the life of an ox, and so the blood of a sheep or a goat in an offering, is of less value than the blood of an ox (Leviticus 4: 24, 27). The life of man is more valuable than that of many sheep or oxen. And, now who can tell the value or the power of the blood of Jesus? In that blood, dwells the soul of the holy Son of God. The eternal life of the Godhead was carried in that blood (Acts 20 28). The power of that blood in its diverse effects is nothing less than the eternal power of God Himself. What a glorious thought for everyone who desires to experience the full “power of the blood!”

When we see something of the wonders that power has accomplished, we shall be encouraged to believe that it can do the same for us. Our best plan is to note how the Scriptures glory in the great things which have taken place through the power of the blood of Yeshua (Jesus). “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” – Hebrews 13:20-21.

It was through the virtue of the blood, that God raised up Yeshua (Jesus) from the dead. God’s almighty power was not exerted to raise Yeshua from the dead, apart from the blood. He came to earth as surety, and bearer, of the sin of mankind. It was through the shedding of His blood alone that He had the right, as man, to rise again, and to obtain eternal life through resurrection. His blood had satisfied the law and righteousness of God. By so doing He had overcome the power of sin, and brought it to naught. So, also, death was defeated, as its sting, sin, had been removed, and the devil also was defeated, who had the power of death, having now lost all right over Him and us. His blood had destroyed the power of death, the devil and hell – the “blood of Yeshua (Jesus) has opened the grave and so he who truly believes that, perceives the close connection which exists between the blood and the almighty power of God. It is only through the blood that God exerts His almightiness in dealing with sinful men. Where the blood is - there the resurrection power of God gives entrance into eternal life. The blood has made a complete end of all the power of death, and hell - its effects surpass all human thought.

What about the cup of the Communion table? The Blood of our Saviour is also a reminder… Another word for "fellowship" is "communion." One way we recognize that the blood provided for fellowship with God is through the taking of Communion. Yeshua (Jesus) said, "Do this in remembrance of me," 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. That’s why Communion is much deeper and is a recognition of (and fellowship with) what God did for us through the blood of Christ. We are a friends of God (John 15:15). Yeshua said; "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission (forgiveness) of sins," Matthew 26:28. Throughout the Centuries, undoubtedly many have partaken of the "Communion" elements without real understanding what the bread and the cup really representing.

Let’s look again at what a number of things about our Lord Yeshua (Jesus) blood represents:

(1) His blood is necessary for reconciliation with God (Ephesians. 2:13). The Scriptures teach us that our Lord’s blood is literally there to re-establish (reconcile) our relationship with God.

(2) His compensates for ALL the wrong a person has ever done (Ephesians 1:7). The cross seemed like a tragedy – but in the end it resulted in the ultimate good for ALL for the forgiveness of sins. Redemption carries the idea of "buying back" humanity, as well as deliverance from enslavement to sin. This buying back could not be accomplished with money or any other physical thing because the price was higher than anything on earth could buy. Blood was the only price, as is understood in the breaking of any blood Covenant.

(3) His blood keeps a person free from sin (1 John 1:7). Few things in life are as troubling as the constant reminder and condemnation resulting from sin.

(4) His blood is for "Sanctification" (Hebrews. 13:12) - means "to be set apart," and the application of Jesus’ blood sets a person apart as God’s very own.

(5) Yeshua (Jesus) reminds us all today of the power of His shed blood. His blood puts a line of protection around us. His blood line surrounds us and guards us and "speaks" a better word than any other words. His blood provides for bold access into God’s presence (Hebrews 10:19). Blaise Pascal, (French mathematician, physicist/ philosopher) spoke of a "God-shaped vacuum" in every human being that ONLY God Himself can fill.

(6) His blood brings justification to the guilty (Romans 3:24). One of the common tactics of the enemy of man’s soul involves accusation. Satan is the accuser of God’s people (Revelation 12:10). The Bible teaches us that there is forgiveness through Yeshua’ (Jesus) blood and gives us the ability to resist the enemy’s accusations. Once sin is dealt with through Christ, in a very real sense, it is as if it never happened. It is gone forever, never to be acknowledged again.

(7) His blood takes care of a defiled conscience (Hebrews 9:14). We are already justified by the blood of our Lord and Saviour (Acts 13:38-39).

(8) And, His blood brings peace to troubled hearts. At Yeshua (Jesus) birth, the heavenly host promised peace to men. In one way or another, everyone is looking for peace. The Scriptures declare that genuine and lasting peace is only available through His blood: "Having made peace through the blood of His cross," Colossians 1:20.

(9) According to Isaiah 53:4-5, Yeshua (Jesus) sacrifice on the Cross covered every area of man’s existence. He bore spiritual torment for our sins, mental distress for our worry, care, sorrow and fear …as well as physical pain for our sickness and disease. The stripes He bore and the blood He shed were for our healing and by His stripes we were healed!

(10) There is protection in the "precious blood" of our Saviour… "When I see the blood, I will pass over you." – Exodus 12:13. In Exodus, after nine devastating plagues, Pharaoh still refused to let God’s people go. So, God sent a final plague - one of judgment to "smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt" (Exodus 12:12). Satan knew the children of Israel had broken covenant with God and were also due judgment. God could protect them, BUT, "not without blood." They had a Covenant relationship with God through Abraham …and so, God instructed them to take the "blood of a lamb" and paint it on their doorposts. The Israelites did, and the angel of death passed them by. Was it really the "blood of a lamb" that stopped them from being killed? No! It was the "blood of the Lamb" - Yeshua (Jesus) who was slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). The "blood of the Lamb" is inexhaustible and never-ending. It is an unlimited supply! When we apply the "blood of Christ" to the doorposts of our lives in faith …we access the power to defeat every part of the "curse" that tries to take residence. When we speak the Name of Jesus in the face of sickness, disease or danger, the blood of the Lamb is behind it, and we are protected! This is by no means the entire list, but we hope you would agree with us that it is magnificent enough to keep in mind how precious our Lord’s blood is! 

How does this “Power of the Blood” WORK for us? And, in what conditions, under what circumstances, can that power secure, unhindered, in us, the mighty results it is intended to produce: The answer is, that just as it is everywhere in the kingdom of God – It is through FAITH! Scripture connects the blood most closely with the Spirit. It is only where the Spirit works that the power of the blood will be manifested. As we inquire from the Word, in faith, what the blood has accomplished, it must be a settled matter with us, that the blood can manifest its full power also in us. No sense of unworthiness, or of ignorance, or of helplessness must cause us to doubt. The blood works in the surrendered soul with a ceaseless power of life. We must surrender ourselves to God the Holy Spirit and fix the eyes of our hearts on Christ’s blood and by opening our whole inner being to its power. The blood, on which the Throne of Grace in heaven is founded, can make our hearts “the temple and throne of God” …and as we shelter under the ever-continuing sprinkling of the blood. May the Lamb of God Himself make the blood a blessing to our families as we “plead His blood” over our loved ones, homes and everything He has blessed us with. By doing so we will surely experience that there is nothing to compare with the wonder-working power of the blood of Yeshua (Jesus).

We most sincerely believe that God WILL bless you for your faithfulness and love for His land and His chosen people. God’s Word is true! He IS watching to see how the nations are treating His people. God will have mercy on Israel through Gentile believers acting as mediators towards them. This is one of the most amazing revelations ever given to the church – an opportunity to do something that carries the highest priority in the heart of God. Yet, sadly, so few have seen the potential and the rewards of serving God in this manner - as agents of mercy to Israel and the Jewish people! Israel was and still is despised today and a despised nation continually turning away from God but nothing ever altered the purpose of God for that nation. The despised element is always a noticeable element in the purpose of God. When the Saviour of the world came, He came of that despised nation; like Israel… He Himself was “despised and rejected by men,” …and there is that despised element; “…things that are despised God has chosen,” 1 Corinthians 1:28. Now, more than at any time is the time to support Israel and the Jewish people - the Lord’s Brethren! We are witnessing the nations and people turning their backs on Israel. Thank you once again for your prayers and generous support!

We hope that you enjoy and become more informed by our work. We serve an awesome God and we are humbled by this opportunity to bring you this information. With Shalom to you and your family always,

Alf & Julie Saunders

01^st June, 2018

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