Isaiah 12:2

Is Jesus in the Old Testament? (1st in a series)

Y'shu-ah, translated "salvation," is Jesus. In this, my first word study, of Y'shu-ah in the Hebrew Scriptures, I want to look at how the word is used. I will start with the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 12, verse 2.

 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."  Isaiah 12:2 RSV

Behold: is a flag word, it alerts us that we are about to get a peek into heaven, with understanding from Elohiym-God's point of view.

El Y'shu-ah the God Salvation. "is my" was added to English. Y'shu-ah is in the first person singular so "my" should be "I" but that does not work in English, "I God -Salvation" Actually the I should be connected to salvation, not God. I do tip my hat to the tough job translators have.

I will trust batach: this is my refuge, not as a fortress, it is more like a safe place to fall, or better, to rest safely. I first came across this word while studying Proverbs 31:11. It is significant that the phrase, "and will not be afraid," is connected to batach. This is the trust that will walk with Jesus, our Y'shu-ah through the "valley of the shadow of death" (Psalm 23), and not be afraid. Does the shadow of death become less frightening because we batach-trust Jesus? Absolutely! It has to do with the focus of the eyes of our heart (Ephesians 1:18). If I am looking at the circumstances, then yes, it is very frightening. What I see in the shadow of death overwhelms me with dread. But if I choose to keep my eyes on my Salvation, my Jesus, then the safety found in his arms, in his yoke, defines my walk through the  valley instead of the circumstances I am walking through.

strength 'oz or 'owz is a fortification. 'Oz is often connected to the word "tower" as in strong tower. We are not strong because we work out or have endurance. We have strength in YHVH our God because we are "in him and he in us" (John 14:20). There is none stronger. In fact, we are reminded that the Spirit within us is strong-'oz but our flesh is weak. This is not something to despise about ourselves, but rather something to accept. (Matthew 26:41 as well as Mark 14:38) Why should you accept your weakness instead of feeling shame because of it? Because, it is probably the reason YHVH-God chose you. (1 Corinthians 1:27). If I am powerful in myself, then what need do I have for the grace of YHVH? (2 Corinthians 12:10).

and my song is speaking of praise. Who do I praise in my life? Who is the hero I sing of if not Y'shu-ah the Messiah? To recognize his strength in the darkness is to praise him. To praise him is to feel his 'oz-strength empowering you (exactly the opposite of a vicious circle!)

he has become -hayah This word does not communicate "become" but "is." In Hebrews 11:6 does a good job explaining hayah ...whoever would draw near to God must believe that he is and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith we believe that Y'shu-ah (Jesus) IS our Salvation, that he is our El-our God of salvation, he is YHVH. Hayah was the word of the week in Lesson 5 of the Valiant Warrior, part of the Proverbs 31 women series for my Junior High girls.

Look up! Look in. The God of heaven, El Y'shu-ah is your strength in the valley of the shadow of death. He sees you, He has conquered your circumstances, He will walk you through them, never leaving you, never forsaking you. He is your strength in your times of weakness, He loves you enough to be the safe place to get real and speak up about (confess) your fear. Run to him beloved! Run into his arms and let Y'shu-ah be your strength!