Tribe of the Month

Levi is the Tribe Associated with Mozanaim (the Scales)

My featured star-family for the month of February is Mozanaim (the Scales), which is Star-family #2 of the 12 primary constellations and their decans. As I mentioned in my January 11, 2019 blog, "What is the Significance of the 12 Primary Constellations?", each of the 12 primary constellations is associated with one of the 12 tribes of Israel.

The tribe which is associated with the constellation Mozanaim (now called Libra) is Levi. 

We will deepen our understanding of the Heavenly Message in this star-family by looking at the prophecies of Levi, given in the Scripture by both Jacob and Moses.

When Jacob was near the end of his life, he called his sons before him and spoke a prophetic word over them, which is found in Genesis chapter 49. His death-bed prophecies for his sons were not just prophetic words to the 12 tribes while his twelve sons were still alive, the prophecies were to have an ultimate fulfillment in the Last Days. We know this, because Jacob said so himself, in verse 1 of that chapter:

Genesis 49:1  "And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the Last Days."

So, as we find a message for our personal sanctification and spiritual growth in the 12 star-families of the Mazzaroth, that message is deepened by echoing it with the tribal prophecies of Jacob, which are meant for Israel in the Last Days- Scripturally called the "Seed of Abraham" (for Abraham begat Isaac and Isaac begat Jacob and Jacob begat 12 sons who formed the 12 tribes of Israel). 

In Jacob's prophecy from Genesis 49, his prophetic word for Levi was joined with his Simeon prophecy. It is found in Genesis 49:5-7:

Genesis 49:5-7  "Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." 

To understand this prophecy, let's begin by looking at the meaning of Levi's name. "Levi" means "attached, united, joined", as we find in Strong's Concordance # H3878. When Leah gave birth to Levi, she proclaimed a prophetic utterance over him, although this was probably not her intent. It's found in Genesis 29:34. Seeing she had given birth to a son, she proclaimed that her husband would now be "joined" to her (in heart). This was why she called the child "Levi" (joined).

This was indeed a prophecy. For the saved people of Yahweh are to be "joined" to their spiritual Heavenly Bridegroom. And through the Redemptive Work of Christ, portrayed in the scales of Levi's constellation, the people of God are "united" and "joined" with Him for their Salvation.

Hebrews 2:9-11  "But we see Yahshua, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one (joined, through His Sacrifice) for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren." 

Now, let's look at Jacob's prophecy of Levi from Genesis 49. We read it above, but this time, I will add in the meanings of the key words which are found in the Strong's Concordance. These meanings are in parenthesis in the following verse:

Genesis 49:5-7  "Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments (weapons) of cruelty (violence, damage, injustice) are in their habitations (sword). O my soul (my thinking, my desires), come not thou into their secret (intimate company of persons); unto their assembly (company), mine honour (to make weighty, or important, to give glory to), be not thou united (joined with them): for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will (own pleasure) they digged down (hamstrung, removed, exterminated) a wall (the protection that goes about something or someone) Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide (separate) them in Jacob, and scatter (disperse) them in Israel." 

The immediate backstory of this prophecy was the Genesis 34 account of Dinah and the prince of the Hivites, named Shechem. Dinah was the lovely sister of Levi and Simeon. Prince  Shechem noticed her, wanted her, and ultimately committed fornication with her. Some say that he raped her. But I am not sure this fits the Bible account, for Genesis 34:3 says that "he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel". Additionally, Genesis 34:19 says the young man was "honorable", albeit worldly, having had an extra-marital affair with the girl. But this description does not sound like a rape scenario.

After the incident and at the young prince's insistence, the prince's father, king Hamor came to Jacob to ask for Dinah's hand in marriage to his son prince Shechem. Jacob's answer to this request is not given because the brothers got involved. 

Levi and Simeon were angry when they learned that their sister was defiled and no longer a virgin. In Bible times, a man - and not the woman - was held responsible for a woman's purity. They deceitfully promised to allow the marriage under one condition - all Hivite men would need to be circumcised, after which time, intermarriage between Jacob's children and the Hivites (which included Shechem) would be acceptable to them. 

All the men of the Hivites, who lived in the city of king Hamor, agreed and were circumcised - from the palace to the peasants' hovel. Simeon and Levi waited two days after the men were circumcised. And on the third day, when the men were too sore to put up much of a fight. Simeon and Levi attacked the city and killed them all - including king Hamor and prince Shechem. Additionally, they took the women and children and all the spoils of the city.

Genesis 34:30 tells us that Jacob was not happy with his sons and their anger. Jacob said that their actions against the Hivites had made his name to "stink" in the land. 

This sad story of a wanton sister and angry, vengeful brothers is the backstory behind Jacob's death-bed prophecy over both Simeon and Levi. But Jacob's prophecy wasn't only meant for the brothers, while they lived. As he stated at the beginning, his prophetic words were meant most especially for God's people in the "Last Days" (Genesis 49:1). In other words, it is us that Jacob was warning to not admire anger, nor be joined with Simeon and Levi in wrath.

Learning to conquer anger is a vital part of living a truly changed life by the grace of God. Christians are told in the Scriptures to put away all anger. 

Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice."

What does this have to do with the message of the scales constellation? The message of Mozanaim is one of warning. We are weighed in the balances of Judgment. We are wanting. But in Messiah's Atoning Sacrifice, there is Salvation. But, as the Psalmist stated plainly, we are not saved in our sins, but from them. We cannot continue to be rage-filled and wrathful and expect to inherit the Earth.

Psalm 37:8-9  "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon Yahweh, they shall inherit the earth."

Ungodly anger is centered around self and is characterized by a loss of self-control. Righteous indignation is in defense of the things of Yahweh, characterized by Spirit-control and vindication of holiness. 

Sometimes Christians justify their own anger by pointing out that Yahshua demonstrated righteous indignation, yet never did He sin. Yahshua never ceased to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, even when He cleansed the Temple and drove out the money-changers (John 2:13-17). His attitudes and actions never ceased to exhibit the Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

Even during righteous indignation, the Holy Spirit’s rule in the heart continues. How often can we truly say that the Holy Spirit was in full control of our hearts during our last angry episode? Clearly, most of us have never experience true "righteous indignation"!

But there is good news for the spiritual tribe of Levi. Yes, Levi had an anger problem. But it must have been conquered. For Levi is listed among the final 12 tribes of Israel, found in Revelation 7:4-7 and Moses also spoke an End-time prophecy over the tribe of Levi. Like two bookends, the prophecies of Jacob and Moses complete the Heavenly message to this tribe.

After having stood faithful to Yahweh, standing alone while all the other tribes worshiped the golden calf, Levi was chosen for the priesthood. Here is Moses' prophetic message to the tribe of Levi:

Deuteronomy 33:8-11  "And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy One, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah; 

Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed Thy Word, and kept Thy Covenant. They shall teach Jacob Thy judgments, and Israel Thy Law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar. Bless, Yahweh, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again." 

Thus, in Levi we see the Divine calling to be saved from our fleshly passions and self-serving ways. We are all called to serve Yahweh as His submitted priests - faithful. When the final testimony of Levi, can be pronounced over us, we fully accepted the Saviour's Purchase Price, and have found true and lasting Redemption from our sins.

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