Restoration or A Pound of Flesh?

 

Restoration or A Pound of Flesh

In the past, when I thought of restoration, I thought of it has God returning something (physical) that I have lost. But God is saying I restore souls (Psalms 23:3 He restores my soul.) as well.

Many people go about with wounds, especially more emotional than physical ones. This is because humans tend to injure other humans emotionally, whether knowingly or unknowingly. In any relationship whether filial, or romantic or even platonic, people injure people emotionally a lot. 

So, when folks like Ladi start writing things like Jesus said you should forgive those that hurt you, they say in their mind, this one doesn’t know anything at all about life. But, this is not true, is it? Every single person has gotten hurt emotionally by the words and actions of others - unless you live alone on the moon. 

Psychologists are right when they say if a person feels hurt emotionally, it is dangerous to bottle it up inside and leave it to fester because the relationship deteriorates, and the injury becomes worse. It’s just like if a person has a physical injury, and doesn’t treat it, it may get worse. 

From my personal experience, God is ready to act as our personal psychologist (or shrink) and listen to us rant about what His creation as done or is doing to us that is hurting. He really listens. It is like reporting a child to the Parents. You make your complaints and go, expecting that the parent will correct the child. You don’t say to the parent, you must give your child corporal punishment for his actions. This is where many get it wrong, after ranting to God, we ask him to judge the person and not the matter and ask for our pound of flesh - we want to see the person that hurt us in the same or more pain than we are in. 

This reminds me of Shakespeare’s Play titled The Merchant of Venice. I asked AI to give a summary of the plot:

The plot revolves around a merchant named Antonio who borrows money from a Jewish moneylender, Shylock, to help his friend Bassanio court Portia, a wealthy heiress. Shylock agrees to lend the money on the condition that if Antonio fails to repay the loan within three months, Shylock will be entitled to a pound of Antonio's flesh.

Antonio's ships, which are his source of wealth, are lost at sea, leaving him unable to repay the loan. Shylock, who harbors resentment toward Antonio due to past mistreatment, insists on claiming his pound of flesh as per their agreement. The case goes to court, where Portia, disguised as a male lawyer, cleverly argues that Shylock is entitled to the flesh but not a single drop of blood, as this was not stipulated in the contract. This legal loophole saves Antonio's life, and Shylock is further punished for his insistence on the harsh terms. The story explores themes of justice, mercy, and prejudice.

Shylock harbored resentment towards Antonio, and when the opportunity came for him to hurt Antonio, he clearly was not thinking straight anymore. He could have asked for Antonio's landed property etc. but all Shylock wanted was to see Antonio in pain. When someone hurts us emotionally, all we want is to see that person in the same amount of pain or worse.

It is okay to rant, but to ask God to hurt or pray for bad for the other person is very evil in God’s books and I will share the spiritual reason why.

Do you know that Satan got cast down from heaven twice? In Genesis, we see him on earth because he rebelled against God and was cast down from heaven to earth.

Isaiah 14:12-15  

     "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!... You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high... I will make myself like the Most High.' But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit."  

     While this passage is often interpreted as referring to the king of Babylon, many also see it as a symbolic description of Satan's pride and fall.

Ezekiel 28:12-17*  

     "You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you... Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground..."  

     This passage, addressed to the king of Tyre, is also seen by many as a metaphorical description of Satan's original fall due to his pride and corruption.

These passages suggest a first fall from a position of honor and closeness to God due to Satan's rebellion.

A fallen Satan is by no means a toothless Satan. On earth He outsmarted Adam (humanity) who had a seat on the table in heaven, and took Adam’s place, not to seek mercy from God, but to show God that His beloved humanity, created in His image and likeness, were also as evil as He (Satan) is. He did so by standing on the right side (man’s position) accusing man to God. See:

Job 1:6-12: "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them... The Lord said to Satan, 'From where have you come?' Satan answered the Lord and said, 'From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it. Jehovah said to Satan, "Have you set your heart upon my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil." Then Satan answered Jehovah, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse you to your face." And Jehovah said to Satan, "Look, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand." So Satan went out from the face of Jehovah.

This passage shows Satan appearing in heaven, accusing Job before God as one of the sons of God. Satan's goal was to prove that even Job was as evil as he was.

Zechariah 3:1: "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him."*  

Here, Satan is again seen in a heavenly court, accusing God’s people. This reinforces the idea that Satan had access to heaven after being cast down, and he used it for accusing the brethren.

Sidebar 1: Accusations that are successfully confirmed leads ‘the devourer’ to the life of the accused. We see this in the life of Job. Once Satan accused Job and unrighteousness was found in him (because Jesus had not yet died), and also once God removed his hedge of protection, the devourer came for Job. We all know the story. I believe that this devourer is what God promised to keep away when we give our tithes (or any other giving to God). 

Sidebar 2: the story of Joshua the priest is even more compelling. Let’s read further:

“Then he showed me the high priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord and the accuser standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to the accuser, “The Lord rebuke you, O accuser! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this man a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was wearing filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And to him he said, “See, I have taken your guilt away from you, and I will clothe you with festal apparel.” And he said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with apparel, and the angel of the Lord was standing by. Then the angel of the Lord warned Joshua, saying “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. Now listen, Joshua, high priest, you and your colleagues who sit before you! For they are an omen of things to come: I am going to bring my servant the Branch.”

‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭3‬:‭1 - 8‬ ‭NRSVUE‬‬

I hope you can see Jesus in this passage. He is the Lord that rebuked the accuser. He is the Lord that demanded a change of clothes for Joshua which represented removal of guilt. He is the Lord that gave Joshua a clean turban, signifying a helmet of salvation. All these were a sign (an omen) of things to come (Salvation as was freely given to Joshua, will be freely given to all) when God brings His servant the Branch - Jesus also (if we imagine God as the trunk, Jesus is the Branch and we are branches on The Branch.) Also notice that Satan was standing on the right hand side, now Jesus is seated at the right-hand side of God. I will share so many verses on this right-hand side position because it must register in our consciousness that when we are praying, we also are standing in that position.

 1. *Mark 16:19*

   "So, then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God."  

  

2. *Acts 2:33-36*

   "Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing... Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."  

 

3. *Romans 8:34*

   "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."  

4. *Ephesians 1:20-23*

   "That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church."  

5. *Colossians 3:1*

   "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God."  

  

6. *Hebrews 1:3*

   "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."  

7. *Hebrews 8:1*

   *"Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven

8. *Hebrews 10:12*

   "But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God."  

 

9. *Hebrews 12:2*

   "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."  

  

10. *1 Peter 3:22*

   "Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him."  

Now see where we are seated - with Jesus on the right hand side of God, where Satan stood to accuse humanity. This is important.

1. *Ephesians 2:4-6*

   "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."  

Let us also note this:

2 Timothy 2:11-12

"The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us.

We deny Jesus when we refuse Him as our Lord and Savior.

Back to regular programming:

So what happened to Satan and how did he leave the position of the right hand that he must have taken from Adam?

- *Revelation 12:7-9*  

     "Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him."  

I was about to type that I will ask God when I get to heaven by his mercy, that why did he send Satan to earth and not someplace else and before I could type it the Holy Spirit reminded me: Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth. Ah! Alas, I see Lord, if he is casted down from the heavens, earth is the only other destination. It is interesting that Jesus said:

“He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. Indeed, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭18‬-‭20

… Rejoice that your names are written in heaven… Rejoice that you are seated at the right hand of the Father with Jesus. This may just be the cure for depression if we can always remember the words and the weight of meaning it carries.

So now that Satan is not at the right hand side anymore, he perpetuates his accusations through the humans that are there. When we walk in unforgiveness, and we report another child of God for their despicable acts towards us that hurt bad, real bad and expect a reciprocity of pain from God on that person, what we have done is literally invite Satan to heaven through us to accuse the brethren… this means both the accuser and the accused are exposed to Satan’s devouring. Remember this:

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

So Satan is the thief. Because he deceived and stole Adam’s place at the right hand of God. Yet, He used that position to steal, kill and destroy (as the devourer). but Jesus is at the right hand that we may have life and have it abundantly. When we come to God in prayer we must choose Jesus’ path, we must only seek abundant life for ourselves and from God from the Father by interceding for others as Jesus is interceding for us.

This is where the concept of Restoration comes in. After complaining to the Father about the child’s behavior, it is okay to ask the Father to restore you of damaged, missing or destroyed property or of wounded emotions. But leave his child out of it, let Him deal with His child as he sees fit. The Yoruba's will say, "Ba mi na omo mi, ko de inu olomo" (Meaning, beat my child for me says a parent, but the parent is not really invested in it) 

In fact, instead ask the Father to forgive his child for embarrassing him (our sins were embarrassing God) to help his child to never kill, steal or destroy anymore. Rather than ask that the Father to satisfy his wrath (your hurt) on the child. 

Our Father in heaven is ready to restore you more than what you lost. He is also ready to heal whatever wounds inflicted on your emotions (soul). But if you want your ‘pound of flesh’ expect that you are as well open to the devourer and the accused might just go free. God has taught me to pray and confess this promise every other day especially to deal with often overlooked emotional hurts:

Jeremiah 30:17

   "For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: 'It is Zion, for whom no one cares!'"  

The question then is which do you want, Restoration from the Father or A Pound of Flesh from the Accused Child?

Someone asks, how can I be protected from the devourer if I have done wrong and someone brings that accusation before God and demands their pound of flesh?

1. Always confess your sins to God, being ready to make amends with His help.

2. Remind yourself also that your righteousness is not of your works but that which is given by Christ Jesus, paid for by the blood of Jesus, the lamb of God.

3. Always forgive from your heart others that trespass against you knowingly or unknowingly.

4. Be a giver, first to your Parents, then to God through your church and the people He asks you to give to. God rebukes the devourer for a giver.

5. To help walk and work righteously, ask God for His Grace and Truth daily as well as for His discipline. Yes, actively seek God’s discipline. Very important. It is not ideal to be the righteous man that sins.

6. Surrender yourself to God’s love through Jesus Christ.

Sidebar 3: When Job forgave his friends from his heart, God restored him double for all his loss. And gave him length of days to enjoy the blessings.

Sidebar 4: Yes, be afraid of doing wrong and being reported to your Father in heaven. If your earthly Father gives a good hiding when you do wrong, imagine the kind of hiding you will get from your heavenly Father 😂

Writing this has been more helpful to me than I can put into words. All I can say is thank you Jesus for the clarifications. I continue to lean on your breast to hear more corrections, discipline and more, I love you son!

May God help us all.

We end with this hymn titled Saviour, like a shepherd lead us written by Dorothy Ann Thrupp, an English hymnist, around 1836.