Word - Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Healing in His Wings

March 16, 2023 by Ellen 4 Comments

Dust hung in the air as He walked with purposeful strides, talit flapping like eagles wings.

She saw Him coming. She had spent everything on doctors and medical care. Still, there was no healing for her body. She was condemned as unclean. No one wanted to be near her. Everyone was fearful they might accidentally touch her. This was no way to live, was it? But what more could she do? She was out of money. She had nothing. But she had heard about Him (Mark 5:27).

And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Luke 8:43-44 NASB

Why, oh why did she reach for the hem, or fringe of His cloak? If she wanted Jesus’ divine healing, why didn’t she touch His hand, His arm or even His foot?

Could it have been shame? Jewish law declared her ceremonially unclean due to her bleeding issue (Leviticus 15:25-27). She wasn’t permitted to enter the temple for Jewish religious ceremonies. Anything or anyone she touched became unclean, including Jesus. Oh, how she must have wanted to hide somewhere, anywhere, instead of grasping for hope from His hem.

It was certainly desperation. After twelve years of suffering, and spending all her money, she longed for a miracle. Jesus was her only hope. She knew things about Him that gave her hope. What was it that she knew?

By diving into scripture, and studying the original language, we see that the woman didn’t simply touch Jesus’ hem. She touched the braids or tassels attached to His garment, His talit, or prayer shawl.

The word fringe in the original Greek is kraspedon, meaning border or fringe.^⁠1 The Old Testament equivalent of this word is kanap^⁠2 , meaning the hem, edge or wing.

The fringe or tassels of the shawl were constant reminders to walk according to God’s laws and His Word.

“Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.” Numbers 15:38 NASB

“You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of your garment with which you cover yourself.” Deuteronomy 22:12 NASB

The tallit was also associated with a person’s authority. Thus, the woman knew that Jesus walked according to God’s laws, and He was a man of authority. She had heard of Him and how He healed those who simply touched His clothes^⁠3.

Perhaps she also knew God’s Word and what it said about a coming Messiah.

“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings;” Malachi 4:2 NASB

Many commentators believe that the Sun of Righteousness refers to Christ. But the most amazing part of Malachi 4:2 is the word “wings.” The original Hebrew word is kanap, the same word that means “fringe” in Luke 8:44. The woman very likely knew there was healing in His “wings” or the fringe of His garment. And so she stretched her arms in faith and reached for the small bit of fabric. When she did, she touched Jesus, and He healed her.

It’s beautiful how the Old Testament and New Testament intersect, complementing each other and telling a beautiful story of healing and redemption. The Old Testament speaks to a Messiah coming to save His people. The New Testament introduces us to this Savior. When we dig into scripture, we see many connections – all pointing to Jesus.

God’s word is timeless and will always be relevant in our lives. Because haven’t we all walked in this woman’s shoes? Desperate, destitute and desiring healing? We need a healing, hope filled touch from Jesus. We come to the end of ourselves and do the only thing we know will help. In faith, we grab the hem of His garment and cling to Jesus and His Word.

¹2899. κράσπεδον kraspĕdŏn, kras´-ped-on; of uncert. der.; a margin, i.e. (spec.) a fringe or tassel:—border, hem.

James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 43.

2 3671 kânâph, kaw-nawf´; from 3670; an edge or extremity; spec. (of a bird or army) a wing

James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 55.

³and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 14:36.

Shoots of Hope Sprouting from Ashes

December 8, 2022 by Ellen 4 Comments

The sugarcane fields are bare and burnt. Excess cane leaves, consumed by the fire that clears the chaff and waste, are a heap of ashes. Rows and rows of blackened, fallen stalks scream “No hope! No hope!” They burned, consumed by flames, with no expectation of life or usefulness again. The harvest is over.

Ah, but in a day or two, tiny shoots of green are sprouting up, ready to grow sweet cane for next season’s harvest.

How can that be? Only ashes remained of the cane. But deep in the ground, below the top soil, a root ball survived. The roots are still alive and growing, watered by the condensation from the heat above. A remnant of the former grand stalks of cane, and from that root, new cane sprouts, bringing hope of an abundant harvest.

The Jewish people seemed to be in a hopeless situation. God had promised that the throne of David would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13, 16). Unfortunately, the kings from the line of David turned from God, and God’s people followed them. Their kingdoms fell, their families fell apart, they are taken into exile. The family tree burned to a nub of charred ash.

From exile, they came back home to rebuild their country and their temple. In time, they came under the rule of the Romans. But who remained in the Davidic line to be their king? The Israelites were expecting a military or political savior to deliver them from Roman rule and oppression. Who would this man be? Who would save them?

“Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.” Isaiah 11:1 CSB

Who could have imagined that a shoot would grow, green and tall to deliver the Jewish people? Who knew that the Savior would be a child? Who knew this child would be the root promised years ago.

God knew. He had promised, and His promises always prevail. God promised a root would grow. A branch would bear fruit. The people had hope. A remnant left, a shoot sprouting up from the stump of a life that seems as if it has gone up in flames.

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Luke 1:31-33 NASB

Hope was born in a manger those many years ago. A green shoot of life rising from the ashes. Jesus is His name. Emmanuel, God with us.

Have your Christmas dreams have gone up in smoke, due to circumstances beyond your control? When the marriage fractures or you lose your job, things seem hopeless. When loved ones die, when lives are destroyed by fires of affliction, things seem hopeless. But remember: underneath the burning fields, the roots of your life are watered. Soon a small green shoot will appear.

Hope.

Jesus.

There is always hope, when Jesus is your Savior.

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Revelation 22:16 NASB

When you look back at the fires you’ve walked through, seeing only smoke and ashes, remember to search for that tiny stump that refuses to die. The root of Jesse – hope and salvation of the world. The sprout of hope that is Jesus, the bright morning star of a new day dawning. A spot of green in all the black and brown rubble.

Hope.

Jesus.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan’s tyranny;

From depths of hell Thy people save, and give them victory o’er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Until next time,