Right away, I know the title of my note here will spark controversy. Many will read it, and assume I am an advocate of polygamy. That is not what this article is about. However, I may touch on it, so I can reveal my heart on that topic, as well as the one I am writing about here.

Recently I read an article based on the premise of Isaiah chapter four verse one. Isa 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. The writer interpreted this verse as saying that Yeshua was this man spoken of, and that the seven women where seven false churches. Now I am not writing this to condemn him for his writing. His thought process was a very correct one. The only problem is that the conclusion concerning this verse is inaccurate.

Now, you may ask “why I would waste time on a passage that almost seems insignificant in the scope of prophecy”? And, if you look at the scripture in the realm of prophecy, you would be correct in that assumption. However, this verse, and really this whole chapter ( when looking at the prophetic implications) is what one might refer to as a “complementary passage,” meaning- that it is more times than not used to complement another prophecy passage.

The phrase “in that day” gives the reader the clue, that this will happen at some point in the future, therefore, placing it in the prophetic. Prophetic meaning- yet to be accomplished. However, “in that day” also says something else. In what day? Where can we find in what day or, what this day will look like when we can expect to see this accomplished?

The answer is in the previous chapters of Isaiah. Basically, it will be when we see our people ashamed to be called by the names of our ancestors, namely, the twelve tribes of Israel. It will be when we see the land not able to sustain itself ; when we see our women adorned with all sorts of costly array; when we see our men die in war. When all these things happen, THEN there will not be enough men of Israel to cover all the women of the land. It is in that statement where the heart of the lesson being taught in this very prophetic passage lies.

That is why I say the writer of the article is not totally incorrect in his thought process because this passage is about covering. But, if we just look past what is being said here we miss a very important lesson about covering. A lesson that our ancestors understood clearly, but in the modern age, has lost its appeal. This is due to the illusion that has been created by the women’s liberation movement.

I know right away some women that read this will think “oh, another one of these guys that wants to oppress women and control them”. I ask you to just keep reading because nothing could be further from the truth. If you and the man you are married too, or the man that you one day hope to be married to, truly understands covering, you will truly both be free.

So lets take a look at that scripture again. Isa 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Seven women shall take hold of one man. If we look at this statement in the context of what was stated in the previous chapters, then this statement is a matter of fact and not to be spiritualized away. There literally will be seven women taking hold of one man and asking to be called by his name. That statement “to be called by his name” implies to be brought into covenant with him in the bonds of marriage. To no longer be under their Fathers’ covering and being called by the mans’ name. This can be for a number of reasons but again, if we look at the previous chapters, we are given a clue as to why this might be.

So let’s take a look at a few of the possible reasons that a women could not just remain in her Fathers house and under his covering. In the light of chapter 3 these reasons may be because her Father denies his covering or shirks his responsibility. He no longer wants to be the leader of his family or his household for the shame that has come upon them as a family or a people. The second reason could be, that Yah has destroyed all the men of war or the Father is dead. Any one of these reasons or any reason that you thought of while reading the previous chapters could apply, it really doesn’t matter.

The point is that some sort of judgment has come upon the men of Yah that for what ever reason, there are so few men that are still abiding under the covering of Yah that seven women are drawn to him to be their covering. They are in such need of a covering that they are willing to make their own living. They only want the man to be their covering so they to do not remain a reproach to Abba Yah.

Now, I know you are saying “well neither this scripture nor the previous chapter mentioned covering”. But isn’t that exactly what it is talking about? When ever we the Men of Yah step out from under his covering, we receive judgment. Also when we are judged, those that are under our covering receive judgment as well. Since I am making the statement about covering, I think it best that we read some scripture that deals with covering. This way we can clarify in our own minds exactly what covering is or is not.

The fist scripture that comes to the minds of most Messianic believers comes from the writings of Saul. 1Co 11:1-3 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Now you need to understand what Saul is saying in this scripture. The word followers while correct is not completely accurate is should say “imitators”, or mimickers of him as he is a mimicker of Yeshua the messiah. And the word ordinances should be translated as the civil and religious law of Israel more accurately referred to the Torah. So I will rewrite that portion so we can have an accurate view of this passage before we continue.

I’m telling you that you should mimic my actions because I am a mimicker of Yeshua the Messiah. I want to commend you that you have remembered me in all the things I taught you and that you are keeping the Torah as I instructed you to do. But I want you to know that you should not look to me but to the Messiah because the head of every man is Yeshua the Messiah and the head of every women is the man; and that the head of Yeshua is YHVH.

Now the following verses go on to talk about covering or uncovering the head during prayer but it has both a physical and a spiritual meaning. And since I am not writing about head coverings here, but spiritual coverings, we will focus on that for now. Yeshua is the covering of every man so it is a shame for him to pray concealing who he is praying to Yeshua. Hence the verse that says it is a shame for a man to pray with his head covered because Yeshua is his head. The scripture goes on to say that it is a shame for a woman to pray without her head covered. Meaning that she can not be rebellious and not be submitted to her covering which is her father or her husband.

This speaks directly to the verse that started this article that there would be seven women that would say to one man that they would take care of themselves financially if the man would only give them his name, meaning- become their covering. When a women really starts to understand Torah she starts to understand that the order the Father has established has a purpose and without it, it is impossible for them to fulfill the Torah.

This principal is taught throughout the Torah. A daughter or a wife can make a vow, but the father or the husband who ever their head may be can disallow their vow in the day they hear it, and it is just as if they had never made a vow. Although our society teaches us that men and women are the same, the scriptures teach us something very different.

We as men are commanded to love our wives as Yeshua loved the assembly. We need to really understand what that means. He accepted us as his bride and became our covering because we agreed to not walk after our rebellious flesh any longer, but to walk after his commands. He paid the price for that with HIS shed blood.

I said before that I would not want to be a woman that had to fallow or submit to a man who will make mistakes. There is another side to that coin though concerning covering. If a woman is truly submitted to her husband it is not her that will be judged but the husband that she was submitted to. The only thing she will be judged for is when she steps outside that covering. So in this light I would love to be a woman so if I wasn’t getting it right it would be my husbands fault. You don’t have that luxury as a man because Yeshua is never wrong. Sorry that is not the correct term. We as men are commanded to study to show ourselves approved unto YHVH workmen that need not to be ashamed but one who rightly divides the word of truth.

If a man is doing as he is commanded then he will not lead his family in error for very long. As soon as his error is made known to him he will explain it to his family and correct it. Yeshua has already reveled his truth to us it is now up to us to learn his ways. The same is true for our wives. We can not expect them to be or do things that we have not instructed them to do.

It is time that men start being men again but be gentle in taking back the leadership of your family and don’t try to make it happen over night. You did not come to this understanding in a day and do not expect them to ether. If you will lead your wife into submission in love she will want to stay there. You are the leader and yes men you have to lead your wife into submission. Explain to her that you want your family to be blessed and those blessing can not come if you do not take your rightful place as the head, and she does not take her place as a submitted life. But men do not expect her to do what you are unwilling to do. You must first be submitted to Yeshua.

I wrote about five more pages to this but my lap top came unplugged and I lost it, so I will take that as the father saying this is all I need to say at this time. And will try to write a summery to what it is exactly that I’m trying to say. if you have questions or comments please do not hesitate to send them to me I assure you I read every e-mail and message that is sent to me even if does take me a little time to do so.

So in summation, the passage that provoked this article is declaring that at some point, and I think we are seeing the beginnings of that now, We will see women that are looking for a man that is a spiritual leader. This man will be exemplifying a man that loves and walks in the Torah. What he can give them or provide for them as far as material things will not matter. What he looks like will be the least of their worries. They will only want to be submitted to a man that is submitted to the messiah so they to can fulfill the whole of the law as well.

Now one final not concerning polygamy, I am not an advocate of polygamy it was not the fathers plan. But because of the hardness of mans hearts he allowed it. We find that in the torah he established rules to govern it. So we can not stand in condemnation of those that might choose that path. I know some will disagree on both sides of this but that is how I see it in the torah.

I do have one more thing to say on the subject though. Most of us that will be reading this live in America and our law does not provide for one to have multiple wives. Scripture is very clear that as much as it is possible that we live peaceably among all men. And that when we are in captivity which we are be obedient to the laws of that land as long as they do not violate Torah. since the torah does not command that we take multiple wives in my mind we would be in violation to do so. however that is my opinion with my understanding of scripture and I do not want to condemn anyone that see’s this in a diferant light as I am not your master, you have the same master I do and you will answer to him if you are wrong not to me.

Shalom and I hope this helps you to at least begin to understand biblical covering. And why seven women would be happy to have one husband.

James Gillispie

Rt. 3 box 1512

Stilwell Ok 74960