Study #1: LAMED

The 12th letter of the Hebrew Alef-Bet: LAMED

LAMED is the tallest letter and is seen as a symbol of God’s authority that joins heaven to earth like a lightning.

It is depicted pictorially as a SHEPHERD STAFF OF AUTHORITY ( Psalm 23:4 ). Some visualise it as a mere walking stick. But it actually is a symbol of the authority of a leader like a Shepherd King.

A good example is the ROD OF AARON. In Numbers 17:8-9 , the authority of Aaron was disputed but God vindicated him by allowing his rod ( the dried wooden staff of an almond tree) to bud, blossom and fruit and to be miraculously revived with resurrection life.

NUMBERS 17:8-9

“Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds. 9 Then Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord to all the children of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod.

What spiritual lesson do we glean from this Biblical incident?

When we accepted Christ, we were invested with God’s authority as “budding” believers. But some failed to come under submission to His authority. They failed to bear fruit as it were. For true authority only comes to those who are fully yielded to Him – to serve Him and not be self-serving.

Heavenly Father, the first lesson of LAMED is for us to submit to Your rod of authority. Only then will we be authorised to be the true disciples of Christ.