Redeemed, Rescued and Restored, a Divine Transformation…
Over and over I’ve been hearing these names repeated back and forth from The Holy Spirit for several days. You probably know the story of the birth of Benjamin the youngest brother but have you considered how it might relate to the rebirth of America one of the world’s youngest nations?
“So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.”
Genesis 35:6-7 NKJV
Jacob soaked in his history with God remembering who God had been to him. Jacob had remained faithful to memorialize and honor his original encounter with God. He revisited the place where the Lord first spoke to him and changed his life forever. This one encounter with God had equipped and strengthened him to walk the path of destiny the Lord had laid before him. Now he was on the other side of that path returning and preparing to enter a new place of destiny.
“Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the terebinth tree. So the name of it was called Allon Bachuth.”
Genesis 35:8 NKJV
The name of the place translates to “the oak of weeping”. The family lost a support system that they had trusted in and relied upon for many years. Such a loss is part of the movement of Heaven because it catalyzes role changes. When a support system of any kind is removed all those involved have to shift and take on new roles. This is happening in the lives of many right now.
Today you are presented with a decision. You can remain in the place of loss mourning what was and the life you knew before or you can turn to God and be among the first to enter the new.
“Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him. And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.””
Genesis 35:9-12 NKJV
Jacob soaked in the presence of God open to who God would be to him in this season. God visited and spoke to him again after this great loss and refreshed him with a promise too vast to fully comprehend. This is one of those promises that surpasses your understanding and is received directly into your spirit. Afterward all you can do is follow God. Can you imagine a brand new nation of people including their language, culture, beliefs and values that didn’t exist before suddenly coming on the scene? His promise to Jacob was: you are just a family now but one day your family will be so large that you will occupy entire territories on the map under your family name. Your family will no longer be a clan or a group but a nationality! Once established they will always be! God is full of big promises like this for His people.
“Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.” And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”
Genesis 35:16-19 NKJV
Rachel called him “Ben-Oni” meaning “son of my sorrow” but Jacob, who had just spent time with God, heard His voice, received His promise and thus been adequately prepared, quickly redeemed the experience by proclaiming him “Benjamin” meaning “son of the right hand”. Benjamin was the youngest brother yet named “son of the right hand”. Jacob served as a prophetic reverser and redeemer. America is young when compared to the other nations of the world. We are currently experiencing an arduous birth process. America is being “born again”. The enemy is trying to cloak this process in desolation in order to create an expectation of loss and suffering. Those of us who, like Jacob, have been spending time soaking in the presence of God will be there to speak divine words of redemption and reversal on the other side of what is to be born.
Benjamin was actually born in the territory that would later be assigned to his tribe.
It is interesting to note that a gate in Jerusalem was named after him “Benjamin Gate” in Jerusalem. A gate is a means of access or entry. Jeremiah passed through this gate to go to his home. He was of the tribe of Benjamin.
Benjamin had been born through great pain but after that was redeemed and divine redemption multiplication was released over his life! Read this excerpt from his story when the brothers traveled to Egypt and were reunited with their brother Joseph.
“Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.”
Genesis 43:34 NKJV
Joseph the older brother gave 5 extra portions of sustenance to Benjamin.
“He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments.”
Genesis 45:22 NKJV
5 extra changes of clothes and multiplied finances were bestowed upon Benjamin.
Resources were multiplied 5 times over Benjamin’s life. The number 5 in scripture represents the goodness, grace and favor of God and also divine transformation. Benjamin’s life began with transformation.
Believe today and fasten your faith in God that America will not be reborn into suffering as Ben-Oni but instead into a divine transformation covered in bounty as Benjamin. Turn your faith now to the Great Redeemer who rescues and restores His beloved.
Daisy Schudmak has served the Lord for over 21 years. She has trained and discipled new believers wanting to take positions of leadership in the church, led small group ministries of 25 or more for 16 years, coordinated many community outreaches including a prayer walks uniting church leaders and city officials, ran a ministry offering prayer and presents to cancer patients in the Baton Rouge area, she is the author of A Woman’s Guide To Living Victoriously, served Aglow International as President of The West Baton Rouge Lighthouse, currently serving in the offices Aglow South/Southeast region and on the prayer team and is the author of blog spot thebanquetcelebration.com. Daisy has served for the past 7 years on the prophetic Intercessory prayer and altar ministry team of Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, MS and has a mantle to encourage and pray for those in leadership.