Good Morning.
And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lamp stand out of one side, and three branches of the lamp stand out of the other side. Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower—and so for the six branches that come out of the lamp stand (Exodus 25:32-33)
The Hebrew word translated as “branches” is קנים kanim, coming from a root that denotes a “shoot, or branch” growing out of the main tree. As we know, it is the branches of a plant that produce the fruit of that tree through the production of blooms. On the menorah the “almond blossom” cups were on each the six branches that extended from the main lamp stand –the one in the midst. So in a sense, the menorah is likened to a tree of sorts — in this case, a tree that speaks of light and life.
Once again, we should acknowledge that everything God instructed Moses to do in relation to the Sanctuary was a pattern of something greater than the Sanctuary itself. In this case, the menorah hints at the principle Yeshua shared with His disciples: ““I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Even though He used the symbolism of a vine, the principle is the same — we are the branches and we get our life force from Him. Consequently, we are supposed to produce fruit — lots of it.
Not only fruit but light — that is our commission in this world. Empowered by His Spirit and His Word, we are to extend out from Him (without separating from Him) and produce light and life. Interestingly, in Hebrew the root word that describes a shoot that extends from the main branch of a tree is שלך shalach — literally, something that is “sent out.” From that root comes the term shalachim or “sent ones” which is translated in the New Testament as “apostles.” In other words, because the Word (seed) is in us (the branches), the power to produce fruit is there. In order to fulfill the purpose, we are “sent out” as shoots from a branch that we might produce that fruit. And so this is why Messiah said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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