Hebrew Word Study – Follow Completely – Mala’ti – Mem Lamed Aleph Taw Yod
Joshua 14:8: “Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God.”
We all know the story of the twelve spies sent out to scout out the Promised Land. Ten returned with a bad report and a recommendation that they not enter the land due to an overwhelming display of power. Only two spies, Joshua and Caleb said: “God gave us the land, let’s go get it.”
The report of the ten spies made the hearts of the people melt. The word melt is masah which is used in a Hiphal form and literally means to cause to flow down. Some modern translators will insert the word fear in here to indicate that the people were overcome with such fear, that their hearts melted. That is a part of it, but not all of it. Another use of the word masah is melt which is a picture of a candle with a bright flame being fueled by the wax. Once the wax has melted the flame has gone out.
It wasn’t just fear; it was the final melting of the wax that held the flame of their expectations alive. This candle had been melting since the beginning of their journey. The wax of this candle was made of self-sufficiency, pride, and an expectation of comfort and security. Their journey was anything but easy. They faced fear of starvation, thirst, poisonous snakes, invading armies, disease, etc. Sure God delivered them, but they were getting tired of it all. Their wax was melting. Now when they are about to reach their final destination, about to finally get their reward for all their struggles in the wilderness, what do they learn? Sure it is a land of milk and honey, but it is also a land filled with giants.
Would you like Chaim Bentorah as your personal Hebrew teacher?
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“That did it that was it. God, couldn’t you make it easy on this final approach? Haven’t we learned enough, couldn’t we just sit back and slide right into the Promised Land without another struggle?” Charles Dickens wrote in Domby and Son “As the last straw breaks the laden’s camel’s back.” This was taken from an old Arab proverb about how a camel wearing shoes is loaded beyond its capacity to move. It is meant to express that there is a limit to everyone’s endurance, everyone has a breaking point.
This was that point for the nation of Israel. They had reached their breaking point. This final challenge wasn’t much different than previous challenges where they faced certain deaths due to starvation, thirst or even invading armies. They saw water come from a rock and food from heaven and a sea part to deliver them from these armies. So there are giants in the land, big deal, they have been down this road before. The only difference is that now they had a choice to move forward or not. Their candle wax was made of selfish desires and not filled with the desire for God. In the past, they had no other choice but to depend upon God when they needed water, food, or deliverance. Now they had a choice, they could once again face the impossible and trust in God, or they could just throw another piece of straw of comfort, safety, the known versus the unknown on that poor camel’s back. This time the camel was loaded beyond its capacity to move.
Yet, when Joshua relates this story he says: “I wholly followed the Lord my God.” The word follow is not in the Hebrew, all you have is the word mala’ti which literally means to be completely filled. He was saying: “I was completely filled with God.” Unlike the people who let their flame of hope go out, Joshua’s flame only got stronger. His wax was not in the arm of the flesh but in a heart completely filled with God. Such wax will never melt and the flame will only grow. To Joshua, this last test, the final exam was not another obstacle to the Promised Land; it was another opportunity to see the power of God, this time by his own choosing.
I remember working in a mail room where one of my co-workers was really venting after someone left some work that was not his job but had to be done. He angrily declared: “This is not my job, I am going to leave it, and I am not going to cover for someone who is too lazy to do his own job. I am tired of always being the fall guy. etc. etc. etc.” The old-school teacher in me could not resist. I said: “Bill, those guys just gave you a great gift. You keep talking about wanting a promotion, but no one gives you an opportunity to show your stuff. Here is a perfect opportunity landing right in your lap. This is your chance to show yourself better than the others, to show your dedication, to show you are a company man by doing a job that is not in your job description. Rather than be angry with those guys who left this work, I would thank them.” Bill stood there for a moment, scratched his head, and said: “Yeah!” Oddly, Bill’s last name was Straw.
I tell you; in my case, that old camel’s back has had so many last straws thrown on it, its poor old back is so shattered there is no hope of recovery. As I stand there venting against God over yet another major obstacle in life’s journey, perhaps I should consider Joshua’s advice, say a blessing over that poor creature loaded down with all my fears, worry, concerns, failures, pride, self-righteousness, and self-sufficiency and say: “Yeah, I’ve got nothing more to lose. Ok, God, I sure ain’t gonna make it into the Promised Land on the back of this poor creature so point the way to the Promised Land and let you and I go get it without ‘em.”
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Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
Enjoy explanation of the significance of wax, how it keeps the fire of our devotion from going out, again reminds me of the 10 virgins [oil], are you doing this on purpose? LOL or am I going mad Chaim, you said: The only difference is now they had a choice to move forward or not. Their candle wax was made of selfish desires and not filled with the desire for GOD.
“the same Sun that melts the wax, hardens the clay; and the same Gospel which melts some persons to repentance hardens others in their sins” [Spurgeon]
“Externally it did not always appear that GOD was with him, for he did not always seem to be a prosperous man; but when you come to look into the inmost soul of this Servant of GOD, you see his true likeness—he lived in communion with the MOST HIGH, & GOD blessed him.” [Spurgeon]
Was only just going to share this last quote, but read this word study quickly to refresh memory & eye got caught on wax, & eyes were sure it read line about wax protects the fire of devotion for GOD, then Sun melting came to mind—the latter is in reference to Joseph & his imprisonment. A real prisoner of GOD. Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of CHRIST JESUS for the sake of you Gentiles…Chaim are you imprisoned for us? Are you of Jewish origins, or did you pay for a name change, ben & torah is so apt. But if we look at the entire Nation of Israel as a whole, they are suffering for the sake of the Gentiles, since they are most hated for JESUS’ sake.
Once the wax has melted the flame has gone out.
The report of the ten spies made the hearts of the people melt. It wasn’t just fear; it was the final melting of the wax that held the flame of their expectations alive. This candle had been melting since the beginning of their journey. The wax of this candle was made of self-sufficiency, pride, and an expectation of comfort and security.
Was going to ask: If our reaction should be one of fearless assurance GOD will make a move to save us, though it seems HE is dangling us like seemingly unprotected easy prey like the Israelites waiting for the Red Sea to part, or be diligent to pray for our enemies & bless them despite the harm they cause us as Joseph, or sing to GOD like Paul & Silas in jail [Acts 16:16-40]?
You know what’s weird about that account, I read in Isaiah[?] that it seems the song in us is blocked by the grief & GOD will cause it to flow out when HE swoops in to save us? I’m not too certain, I should have pursued it in greater depth the other day. If you know, that would be a great topic to talk about.
Opps, that word in my comment should have been feet and not fleet. So the saying should be ” I complained because I had no shoes until saw a man that had no feet”
Also please forgive me because I said that I don’t complain,but I often do. What I should have said was that I don’t blame God for th
e straws on my poor old camel’s back. I put them there by all the rotten things I’ve done in life!
Thank you for your lessons. They are always good.
I know just how you feel. My poor camel is heavy laden also . I worked up into my seventies in a hospital pharmacy and it was very physical labor. No sitting down on that job. Now due to my physical condition I have a hard time getting around.
I’m now 81years old and when I was a young girl there was a very popular song and the words were “When I’m worried and I can’t sleep; I count my blessings instead of sheep!” So that is what I do.
A favorite saying of my mother’s was”I used complain because I had no shoes until I met a man that had no fleet. She always said this when she saw holes in the bottoms of my shoes and she couldn’t afford new ones for me. My father died when I was a baby leaving her with 6 kids and little money.
I’m not sure if I’ll make into Heaven . I believe that Jesus is my savior and I’ve followed His commandments of feeding the hungry ,clothing the naked and such. I just want to be with Jesus and His Father and the people that loves them.
Thank you agianfor the wonderful understanding and insights. So much is missed not reading in hebrew
Thank you so much for this study. I was overwhelmed with the presence of God as I thought about being filled with Him. I had to pause, pray, worship, and then post to encourage someone else. Thank you the reminder that we can see the power of God in even the most challenging spaces.
Powerful Word! I would like to talk with you Professor Chaim! Is it a possibility? I would like to share Grace with you!
Yes, God has given US the Promised Land. Let’s Go and Get it!
All of God’s Promises are Yes and Amen.
Blessings upon you My Brother.
Another perfectly timed well organized gift for building up/equipping the saints in such times as this. I get to meet with my pastor tomorrow to discuss all that I have shared with you. Pray for success as we are all connected in Jesus name.