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Most of us have read the prayer in which Jabez prayed “enlarge the boundaries of my dwelling.” What is missing a lot of times is an understanding of what was meant and “whose” duty it was to set the tent stake borders or boundaries, (Isaiah 54:2). Let’s start by looking into what the context of the time period was. In the nomadic period when the children of Abraham wandered the wilderness they dwelled in. The Tabernacle of HaShem was a special tent made for the Dwelling place of G-d. Each tent was to be representative of the Temple, in each the father was the priest. In the Renewed Covenant we see Yeshua teaching us when we enter our “Prayer Closet,” he was referring to the “Prayer Tent” or what is commonly called a Talit. Peter blessed a “Prayer Cloth” or possibly a Talit and blessed it releasing healing in the person who received it. Paul who was a traditionally trained rabbi made prayer “Tents” for a living. One of my favorite biblical feasts is the “Feast of Tabernacles” (Leviticus 23), it an entire week dedicated to remembering the time in the wilderness and staying in “Booths” or “Tents.”

Meditating on this subject HaShem put this phrase in my heart, “safe within my tents.” The L-rd desires to make us safe in the secret shelter of His tent He will hid me in the time of great trouble, (Psalms 27:5). Our homes must reflect that, a safe dwelling place in a harsh wilderness. We must desire to set boundaries so our families can say they feel “safe in our tents.” Many wives and children desire to feel secure. We must seek to set safe boundaries and lead as a g-dly priest who leaves Patriarchal legacies.

The role of the father has been lost in modern society; there are too many fatherless homes, too many independent women. Even married men defer to their wives for decisions and spiritual leadership, as many more women attend Church than men. The art and lifestyle of becoming a patriarch and priest has been lost. We must take back our strength by becoming the priests and patriarch’s of our homes.

In the Writings we find G-d “searched for a man” because He sought someone who could be an “intercessor” one who “stands in the gap” but He “found none” (Ezekiel 22 :30). Intercession is a priest’s duty, in general anyone can intercede. Intercession, standing in the gap is the duty of a priest, to bridge the gap between men and G-d, to make reconciliation. A mans’ duty is to pray and be a spiritual priest and having a daily time and place for prayer and worship is vital. Even generational iniquities are transmitted through the mans’ seed (Duet 28). We must man up and take responsibility for the right and wrong we lead our families into.

One of the lost arts of biblical priesthood is setting the Shabbat table (or Sabbath meal). One thing we have sought to restore in our home is a day of Rest and the Shabbat blessing. This is the original form of what’s commonly called Communion. Basically its “communion” plus, where you light the Shabbat candles, bless and drink the wine (or grape juice), break Challah bread, speak blessings over spouse and children, attend Congregation and enjoy the rest G-d made for us. I read some marriage material from Gary Smalley, founder of the Smalley Relationship Center, in which he stated that they had a family day every Tuesday in which they had a family devotional time. As a family you should decide when and how you want to have family time that’s spiritual and restful. As gentiles we are not required to follow the ancient traditions and we’re forbidden from judging in regards to festival or celebration. The word says to set one day out of seven, as a day of rest, it’s the intent of the heart, not the day that matters.

Another important duty is to set the L-rds Table and remember the L-rds Supper. This is different than Shabbat (communion), this is the annual remembrance of Yeshua’s death as our Passover lamb. Whether you remember this as a traditional Christian Passover meal or having a family meal on Resurrection Sunday this is important to collectively remember that it is Yeshua’s blood that has caused us to Passover from death to life. The word declares there is life in the blood. We must set a holy table to declare G-ds goodness and love in our family’s lives. In Revelation we see the Saint overcome through the Blood of the Lamb, their testimony and the confession of their mouths.

Another vital ingredient to a vibrant home is setting boundaries. They keep people safe inside. If they go outside the tent boundaries they are no longer safe. Its like G-ds Words, we are safe if we abide in them. His words an umbrella protecting us from Satan’s acid rain (reign). As a priest our duty is to show the G-d we represent and set G-dly boundaries to protect and bless our families. The words we speak and blessings we speak have spiritual power. Kids test boundaries but really want them and need them. Children who have fathers who set boundaries and love them are less likely to commit crime, and more likely to get a full education. Setting boundaries and blessing your family as a father is a powerful thing we must grasp.

We must create a place of refuge, during those “trying times.” We’ve started trying to create a “place of refuge” during “her lunar cycle,” you know the thing that comes around every 28 days. In the biblical times a woman was considered unclean and had to spend seven days in a city of refuge until the priest declared her clean. During this time the wife wasn’t available to do dishes, laundry or cook; the family had to pick up the slack. We can’t exactly send our wives away for a week. However, for the most part we can relieve them of their duties and take up the slack. Give them room to get their nails done, hair done up, go hang with her friends and relax. This is something we have started trying. Personally, I’ve found that Chamomile Raspberry tea is a blessing. Chamomile is very relaxing, and Raspberry deals with the “issues.”

The art of becoming a patriarch and priest seems to be a lost heritage that society needs us men to man up and find again. Our families need the healing and blessing G-d has ordained us to bring, if we don’t no one can take our place, as a husband to one wife and father to our own children. This is a duty no one else can do; we have to own our responsibility as family patriarch. Live a legacy, and leave an impact.

Sincerely,
Jeramiah Giehl
para-DOX paraBLES

http://paradoxparables.wordpress.com

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