Undoubtedly the most often noted point in all of these writings is that Yahweh's ways are repeated over and over - "That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun." Thus, because of this repetition of Yahweh, we know that what we just learned about Yahshua providing corporately the "death" of mercy that must precede the "death" of law (realizing that neither of which are of course actually alleviated), this same pattern must apply to personal relationships as well.

In the example of Micah, I pointed out that because of his attitude and his obedience, the Joab element "died" in many of my actions toward him. This thus brings up a very important question. If Joab "died" in our relationship, from the pattern of the ways of Yahweh, there must of necessity have been a David to have died first. Since the law died, insomuch that I am not having to "kill" Micah's wrong deeds, then somewhere mercy first had to have died. Where did this take place?

Once again Micah and I talked about this obvious question, and once again Yahweh gave us insight. In a relationship between a father and his child, when the father is not having to implement the Joab element (it has "died"), then the death that has taken place first had to take place in the child. The death of "mercy" in the child must first take place before the death of "law" can take place in the father. The son or daughter must first die to their own ill-applied or misplaced mercy (wanting deliverance from their father's requirements) in order for the father to die to his Joab requirements. As we see here with David and Joab, David must always die first. As long as David reigns, Joab must be ever present to correct his errors. Until the David dies in the child, the Joab must continue to be the "too difficult" element in their life. Thus the answer for any son or daughter who has a father who is "too difficult" for them is quite clear - if they want the Joab to die in their father, then they must die first and cease performing those actions that dictate that Joab.

In Micah's life, his heart has been turned toward me, and to my joy and freedom, Joab is pretty much dead in me toward him. But in my relationship with both Rebekah and Christi, they "kick against the goads," even as Yahshua declared to Saul. Let us quote that entire statement, as it directly applies to what we are saying here. Yahshua spoke from heaven to Saul as he traveled on the road to Damascus (which prophetically speaks of religious hierarchy, an origin of evil) - "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads." This is exactly what children who are rebelling against their parents do. They persecute their parents and put them in great pain and sorrow; but if a father will be a father, a Yahweh Father, a Joab, then the child will also find the goad always there.

When Yahshua spoke this to Saul, He spoke in a voice from heaven, and a bright shinning light like the sun illumined him. I pray that this writing will be a voice from heaven, a bright shining light like the sun, that illumines both children and parents to what is taking place in their lives in these matters. I pray that this writing will be a voice from heaven, a bright shining light like the sun, that will illumine the eyes of my own daughters and all of those who are misleading them in their darkness and causing pain and grief to their father. But until that repentance comes, I will of necessity continue to be a Joab, a Yahweh Father, and I will continue to goad, if I must. I am a father.

Every parent should have the resolve to do what is right and not faint in doing that which is necessary, by not letting the Yahweh Father work in their relations with their children "die" until the child "dies." Saul "died" on the road to Damascus, the place of religious authority. He ceased his plans and his ways that were contrary to the authority that was goading him. Even so my Rebekah has traveled on that road, listening to false teachings and even seeking to put to death those truths regarding the Remnant and the command to honor her father and her mother. Equally, Rebekah's and even Christi's sole answer is to "die" to their own self wills, to die to the cry for mercy, even as my son Micah had to do, and still has to do.

Psalm 94:12 says - "Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Yahweh, and teach out of Your Law; that You may grant him relief from the days of adversity." The answer to our children is not to remove the chastening, the law; the answer is for them to "die" to themselves and by doing so to find relief from the days of their adversity and rebellion.

Romans 7 tells the same story. Verse one begins with the statement that "the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives," and we read further in this account that the solution to the problem with the law is not that the law die, but that we die! We take up our cross and as with Yahshua we die to self, not doing our own will. This is that which a child must do when they enter into conflict with their parent, even when religious leaders urge them otherwise. The parent is in authority, even when they are wrong (as with Ish-bosheth and Abner), and the child is called to obey "in all things," even as it is written. In doing this, the child thus identifies with Yahshua and dies to their own will - "Father, not My will, but Yours be done." By truly dying, they then cause the Joab requirement on the part of their parents to "die," liberating both parent and child and granting relief from the days of adversity. If we anticipate that we will enjoy the relief we all so desperately need from the adversity we experience in the flesh by entering into immortal bodies, let us first experience that relief in our relationships between children and parents. If children will not die to themselves, then why should they experience the death of the David that separates them from this earthly flesh and brings us into immortality? We reap what we sow. As we sow in natural relationships, we will reap in heavenly relationships.

This matter of our identification with Yahshua in His death, even to His own will (evidenced in Gethsemane), is so VERY important. If Yahshua's identification with us provided the power to deliver us from sin, how much more does our identification with Him in His death to self - "Father, not my will, but Yours be done" - provide us the power of release from sin? And what more personal an opportunity do children have to live out this example than when they do likewise and can say with Yahshua to their earthly father - "Father, not my will, but yours be done." First the natural and then the spiritual is the principle of life. We reap what we sow; and when we sow obedience, even as Yahshua sowed obedience, then we reap the rewards and benefits Yahshua reaped - resurrection!

Both highly significant and remarkably telling, the cross was immediately preceded by Yahshua's cry three times - "Father, not My will, but Yours be done." Let it be understood that the clear evidence and message we see here in the cross is death to one's own will, one's own desires, one's own reactions, one's own reasonings, one's own actions, and embracing His.

And furthermore, it must be pointed out here that not all sorrow is the death spoken of here. My daughters have gone through sorrow and disappointments, and it has actually been some of those times that they cite in order to justify themselves (the David mercy factor that must die). These are also some of the things that my merciful wife points out about them. "Merciful Mavis" is not a name given to her without cause. But the death we speak of here is that which leads to repentance. Paul equally said regarding his own Joab works in the Corinthian church - "I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were sorrowful to the point of repentance" (2 Corinthians 7:8-10). Not all sorrow can be confused with death that leads to repentance.

Finally, even as Rebekah and Christi hold the key to me not being a Joab to them, equally we hold the key to how Yahweh deals with us. We reap what we sow, the most foundational and relevant principle of all the ways of Yahweh; and if we sow ourselves in death, identifying with Yahshua, no longer doing our own wills, then we reap death to the law. This is a true and effectual principle for all men.