Revelation 1:8 – JESUS said, “I AM the Aleph and the Tav, the beginning and the end.”

The Great I AM reminds us that HE is the Author and Finisher of our stories, from beginning to end. The significance of the Aleph (the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet) goes beyond being the first letter. It is the symbol of strength. It represents the Father, the One Who set all of creation in motion. When we choose to prioritize HIM in our lives, we gain the confident standing as HIS children – we know for certain how our “end” will work out – we are blessed with HIS Joy and HIS Peace.

There are 22 letters in the Hebrew Aleph-bet (alphabet). Choosing to place Aleph (#1) as top priority in our lives is paramount in the story of our lives. Aleph (our LORD) comes first before we group the rest of the letters (which can represent our routines, our agendas, our plans, and other priorities) in threes. We will represent each Hebrew letter with a number like so:

1

2 – 3 – 4

5 – 6 – 7

8 – 9 – 10

11 – 12 – 13

14 – 15 – 16

17 – 18 – 19

20 – 21 – 22

(We are choosing groups of threes in part because of our LORD Who is the Blessed Trinity – recognizing that we are created in HIS image – three in one – spirit, soul, and body – but also because the picture that emerges from this grouping is astounding!)

After we set Aleph as first in our lives, the rest of our plans, our stories, our agendas, our routines, and our opinions line up neatly and completely. The end letter fits perfectly into the whole pattern – which means the end of our days is included in the package of Life – complete with peace and satisfaction. The proof that this is how HE intended us to live our lives becomes clear when we add up each group of three.

2 + 3 + 4 = 9 … 5 + 6 + 7 = 18 (1+8) = 9 … 8 + 9 + 10 = 27 (2+7) = 9 … 11 + 12 + 13 = 36 (3+6) = 9 … … …

The number 9 is the number of Truth. And every time you add up your triplet groups in the way shown above, you will end up with the number 9 – – IF you put Aleph (GOD) first!! JESUS tells us in John 14:6 “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life – no one comes to the Father except through Me.” When we choose to put GOD first, we are living JESUS’ Way and JESUS’ Truth and JESUS’ Life, guaranteeing us more peace, joy, hope, and grace in this life, as well as a place with HIM in heaven at the end of our days here on earth.

Another way to live life (the way many in this world and even in our churches choose) is to just group the first letter in with all your own plans – not setting the first letter apart in its own head spot, but instead just including it with the other letters (which we continue to represent in numbers) – like this:

1 – 2 – 3

4 – 5 – 6

7 – 8 – 9

10 – 11 – 12

13 – 14 – 15

16 – 17 – 18

19 – 20 – 21

22

In this pattern, Aleph is not prioritized and set apart but just grouped in with the rest of life. HE is present in name only, and not as LORD. This way of living leaves the 22nd letter, the last letter (the Tav), dangling out on its own at the end of the pattern. The Tav represents the end of life, and when you live your own way, without giving GOD priority, the end of your life is left hanging in suspense. We live without confidence about our end.

Now try adding the groups of three numbers like we did previously.

1 + 2 + 3 = 6 … 4 + 5 + 6 = 15 (1+5) = 6 … 7 + 8 + 9 = 24 (2+4) = 6 … 10 + 11 + 12 = 33 (3+3) = 6 … … …

Each of the groups add up to the number 6. The number six is the number of man. Revelation tells us that the number of the beast is 666. When we do not prioritize attention to our LORD, the beast gets more attention. This beast (human thinking and prioritizing) does not bring us Truth or Life, Peace or Joy …. Only living JESUS’ Way does that! Living the way of the beast sets us up for uncertainty, anxiety, fear, and judgment.

Seek to truly live the way JESUS taught us – to only do what the Father reveals. John 3:17 – “For GOD did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

This is the perfect season to meditate on the truth and beauty of living JESUS’ Way: Psalm 139:5 TPT says, “You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness You follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past.”

JESUS is the Aleph and the Tav – the First and the Last. So choose to place HIM first in all you do. HE goes before you to prepare the Way, and in kindness HE follows behind you to redeem your past!