FOUR:
Patterns & Shadows
In the evolution of communication, man first had to work through what he saw and what he knew. With that level attained, he then went on to express the more abstract by way of comparison to the familiar. Matters of a higher order had to be bodied forth using low end language. Spiritual issues were described by words heretofore used for the corporeal. Thus, an example or indication; hint or clue, became ‘patterns’ and ‘shadows’. Shadows came first, I think: it was a part of their reality, like the shadow of a high rock, or a tent: Isaiah 32:2 for example, "as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." Whereas a shadow originally might reference an object able to cast that shadow (as something needful or useful), the language soon associated the shadow with the expectation of it, as in whatever gave relief, refreshing, or revival. Job 7:2 says this, "As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow." Man then was able to use the fact symbolically as an example (pattern) of higher forms of relief, refreshing, and revival - even the saving of one’s life could be used as a pattern for something higher. If a great rock may cast a saving shadow, it is easy to step up to the next level: thus, symbolically, the great rock in a weary land becomes a savior; the shadow becomes a spiritual salvation. A ‘shadow’ now speaks of heavenly things, as says Hebrews 8:5, "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." It is in the same manner that Isaiah 4:6 becomes a reference to our Lord, "And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat."
It is familiar to the well read that spiritual patterns are realized in the corporeal world. The Tabernacle that was carried for so long by the tribes of Israel is a prime example. Exodus 25:40 speaks of this, "And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount." There is a spiritual, or heavenly, alter. God gave a blueprint to Moses in the mount. Joshua 22:28 says, "Behold the pattern of the altar of the Lord." That alter was the mirror image of something that really existed in Heaven; a reflection of a spiritual object that was composed of God particles: a reality. Not only the Tabernacle is a reflection, but all the lesser objects as well. Numbers 8:4 speaks of a candlestick that existed spiritually, "According unto the pattern which the Lord had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick." All the accouterments were included. Exodus 25:9 says, "According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it." As to whether or not the spiritual objects still exist in Heaven while there is no corporeal reflection, I shall not venture to guess.
The word ‘shadow’ came to use as an indication of the unseen ‘ghost’ or ‘spirit’. This may be seen to stem from such application as is found in Job 17:7, "And all my members are as a shadow." Job’s application is of what ‘is not there’, for he had withered away as a corporeal being. While the language still struggled, man was getting ever better at abstract thought. By way of comparative symbolisms, man could point to the spiritual. Man gave words to the invisible, and expanded the scope of his reality.
Symbols such as ‘fire’ and ‘light’ sprang to the lead position, indicating that of the highest order. God is light, and in Him is no darkness; His only begotten son is the light of the world. Words may at any point be symbols. If the Holy Spirit speaks through the written word, then it behooves us to pay closer attention to such words. Is Jesus a spiritual pattern realized in a single man? Matthew 4:16 says this, "And to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." Here, ‘shadow of death’ is used in the same manner as ‘shadow of a great rock’. One initially imagines that a shadow is cast due to a light source from behind it. It could well be that God is the light that causes both shadows, for God claimed that He also creates evil. Else, shadow may here be used simply to identify a ‘region’ without light; could be the world. If a light is sprung up in the world, it must be the light of the world.
To continue in this vein, James 1:17 tells us, "Every good gift and every perfect gift (light) is from above, and cometh down (to the region and shadow of death) from the Father of lights (individuals like Jesus), with whom is no variableness, neither shadow (indication) of turning."
Psalms 91:1 continues, "He that dwelleth in the secret (unseen or spiritual) place of the most High shall abide under the shadow (protection or authority) of the Almighty." I get ‘shadow’ as authority from Judges 9:15 "Then come and put your trust in my shadow." This, of course was the Old Testament parable of the trees seeking a king (albeit, their heads were already in Heaven).
Christ, then, may be seen in pattern. The pattern of His work in our lives may also be seen. To which pattern do I refer? I refer to the corn of wheat that must fall into the ground and die. The pattern is of bearing fruit as shown us in 1 Timothy 1:16, "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." Likewise in Titus 2:7, "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works." This, unlike prior patterns, works in reverse. The former pattern worked from the spiritual to the corporeal, the latter pattern works from the corporeal to the spiritual - as an extension of the former. The whole work, thus being finished, may be called perfect. God looks through the mirror to man and sees Himself; He gives man a gift (the pattern working from spiritual to corporeal). That perfect gift: that light, being planted, bears fruit and is given to God, the pattern now working from corporeal to spiritual. Now, God, His image and glory being man, is magnified. This theme will receive more attention later; suffice it to say, it is one of the truths that the writer of the book of Hebrews saw and wrote of. Hebrews 10:1 explains, "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect."
Shadows may be things that are, or things hoped for. Faith has no color; has no texture. One may not hold the certainty of their faith in the palm of their hand to test its weight. Everything that is exists within God, made of the stuff that God is made of. Within that framework is a river of communication. The head of that river is Christ. Anything that is in us, first passed through the head, by way of communication, to the ocean that is us. We are not separate from the river, for the communication continues in circuit. Everything we are given, we return again, as the pattern of communication turns around upon itself. Colossians 2:16-17 puts it before our eyes, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."
