Crying Out To Yahuah

Moses' ambassadors in Numbers 20 sought a favor of Edom's King: permission to travel on his land. Though their destination was beyond the King's territory, he rejected them. (Numbers 20:20-21) And he said, "You shall not go through!" And Edom came out against him with much people and with a strong hand. Thus, Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; wherefore Israel turned away from him."

Did you notice that Moses' request alludes to Edom's brotherly relationship to Israel (both nations descended from the twins, Jacob and Esau). He also referred to the history of Israel's suffering for many years in Egypt until YAHUAH heard their cries and destined them on a journey to settle in a land that wasn't inhabited by Edomites: (Exodus 3:7-8) YAHUAH said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows. I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites."

This Edomite king gave no humanitarian relief to Israel. In fact, he turned on them even after being warned their cries could bring help from YAHUAH. He knew this bit of history: (Deuteronomy 26:5-8) "A Syrian ready to perish [was] my father. He went down into Egypt, sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty and populous. The Egyptians evil treated us, afflicted us and laid upon us hard bondage. When we cried unto YAHUAH Elohim of our fathers, YAHUAH heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, our labour and our oppression. YAHUAH brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, with great terribleness, with signs and with wonders."

In this article, Bet Yeshurun Asembly (BYA) will examine the type of cry that YAHUAH heard and moved Him to respond mightlily. Webster's Dictionary defines "crying" as a noun or verb that means "to wail, shriek, to make a loud vocal sound or utterance; call out, implore, plead, beg or show a great need for help; to sob with shed tears; clamor of the people, public outcry." In other words, crying is audible and visible. It can take the form of a frightened child's subdued, broken sounds, or appear as an adult's grief with mournful, convulsive sobs and shedding tears. The kind of cry YAHUAH heard from His children is like the piercing, irritating sound a wailing baby makes to get a mother's or dad's attention, and response.

Strong's Concordance says the Hebrew verb "tsa'aq" (H6817) means "a piercing cry, to shriek, cry out aloud." Found 55 times in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), it often describes a public outcry or protest: (Exodus 5:6-9) Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, "You shall no more give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And the tally of the bricks, which they made before, you shall lay upon them. You shall not diminish [ought] thereof. For, they are idle. Thus, they tsa'aq saying, 'Let us go [and] sacrifice to our Elohim.' Let there be more work laid upon the men that they may labor therein; and let them not regard vain words."

A Hebrew noun, "tsa'aqah" (H6818), appears 21 times and means "crying out especially for aid." (Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon) (Exodus 3:9) "Now therefore, behold, the tsa'aqah of the children of Israel is come unto me and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them."

In the Apostolic Scriptures (New Testament), "krazo" (G2896) appears 59 times as a Greek verb that means "to cry", or "to croak, shriek like a raven." (Thayer's Greek Lexicon) Did you ever approach a red-winged tipped blackbird nest in a marsh and hear its screech? Or, listen to a hog squeal as it goes in a slaughter house. Those are unmistakable sounds of duress. Scripture also uses that type of cry for child-bearing mothers: (Revelation 12:2) She being with child cried (krazo), travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

The Greek verb "boao" (G994) also means "raise a cry of pain in a high, strong voice as in a cry for help, to implore aid." (Thayer's) It describes Yahushuah's voice on the torture stake: (Mark 15:33-34) When the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. At the ninth hour, Yahushuah cried (boao) with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" Which is, interpreted, My El, my El, why have you forsaken me?"

"Krauge" (G2906), derived from "krazo," means "an outcry (in notification, tumult, or grief): clamor, cry, crying." (Strong's) (Revelation 21:3-4) I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of Elohim [is] with men. He will dwell with them and they shall be His people. Elohim Himself shall be with them [and be] their Elohim. Elohim shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. There shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying (krauge), neither shall there be any more pain. For the former things are passed away."

During this study, I learned that crying (and its other forms) appears over 450 times in Scripture. That's a sure sign of an important life-lesson from YAH. I also learned that crying in scripture doesn't refer to whining, whimpering, blubbering, murmuring, or "crying in my beer." That previous passage says crying is to be amongst a Believer's life until Elohim "dwells" on earth, thus it behooves BYA to further study the Word and come to understand the physical and spiritual implications of a Believer's cries which elicit YAHUAH's response.

The first record in scripture of YAHUAH responding to a cry is after Cain murders Abel: (Genesis 4:8-10) Cain talked with Abel his brother and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him. And YAHUAH said to Cain, "Where [is] Abel your brother?" And he said, "I know not! [Am] I my brother's keeper?" And He said, What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries unto Me from the ground."

Of course, blood doesn't tsa'aq. However, that Hebraic concept pictures Abel's soul crying to YAHUAH, like the souls of martyred saints: (Revelation 6:9-10) When he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them who were slain for the word of Elohim and for the testimony they held. They cried with a loud voice saying, "How long O' Adonai, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them who dwell on the earth?"

YAHUAH also responded to the outcries about human atrocities in Sodom: (Genesis 18:20-21) YAHUAH said, "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and because their sin is very grievous, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the tsa'aqah of it, which is come unto me. If not, I will know." (Genesis 19:12-13) The men said to Lot, "Do you have here any besides son in law, your sons and daughters? Whoever you have in the city, bring out of this place. For, we will destroy this place, because the tsa'aqah of them is waxen great before the face of YAHUAH and YAHUAH sent us to destroy it."

Here's another example of how YAHUAH acknowledged and responded to the cries of His people: (Exodus 14:13-18) Moses said to the people, "Fear not! Stand still and see the salvation of YAHUAH, which He will show you today. For, the Egyptians, whom you see today, you shall see them again no more forever. YAHUAH shall fight for you and you shall hold your peace." And YAHUAH said to Moses, "Wherefore you cry unto me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward. But you lift up your rod. Stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. The children of Israel shall go on dry [ground] through the midst of the sea. And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians. They shall follow them, and I will get my honor from Pharaoh and all his host, and from his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians shall know that I [am] YAHUAH when I get my honor from Pharaoh on his chariots and on his horsemen."

After Egypt, Israel and its leaders practiced crying out to YAHUAH for food, water and shelter during their 40-year wilderness journey: (Exodus 15:22-26) They went out into the wilderness of Shur three days and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters for they [were] bitter. Thus, the name of it was called Marah. The people murmured against Moses saying, "What shall we drink?" He cried to YAHUAH and YAHUAH showed him a tree, [which] when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet.

After reaching their Promised Land, Israel fell into a bad habit of forgetting about YAH during good times. They would turn to YAHUAH with cries for rescue only in the bad times: (Judges 3:14-15) So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. But when the children of Israel cried to YAHUAH, YAHUAH raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjaminite, a man lefthanded. (Judges 6:6-10) Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites and the children of Israel cried to YAHUAH. It came to pass, when the children of Israel cried to YAHUAH because of the Midianites that YAHUAH sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, "Thus says YAHUAH Elohim of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt and brought you forth out of the house of bondage. I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all that oppressed you. Drove them out from before you. Gave you their land. And I said to you, "I [am] YAHUAH your Elohim. Fear not the mighty ones of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.

It's dangerous to think we can do whatever, and believe that YAH will still hear and respond to our cries. BYA can learn from the experience of those who didn't get a response from YAHUAH: (Jeremiah 11:10-14) They turn back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They went after other mighty ones to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah broke my covenant that I made with their fathers. Therefore thus YAHUAH says "Behold, I will bring upon them evil, which they shall not be able to escape. Though they shall cry to me, I will not hearken unto them. Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry to the mighty ones unto whom they offer incense. But they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble. For [according to] the number of your cities were your mighty ones, O Judah. And [according to] the number of the streets of Jerusalem have you set up altars to [that] shameful thing, [even] altars to burn incense unto Baal. Therefore pray not for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them. For I will not hear [them] in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.

Nonetheless, Scripture confirms that YAHUAH lovingly hears the cries of repentant people: (Judges10:10-16) The children of Israel cried to YAHUAH saying, "We have sinned against you, both because we have forsaken our Elohim and served Baalim." YAHUAH said to the children of Israel, "[Did] not [I deliver you] from the Egyptians, Amorites, the children of Ammon, Philistines, Zidonians, Amalekites and Maonites, who oppressed you? You cried to me and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet you forsake me and served other gods. Wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods you chose. Let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation." The children of Israel said to YAHUAH, "We have sinned! Do to us whatsoever seems good to you. Deliver us only, we pray you, this day." They put away the strange gods from among them and served YAHUAH. And His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

Still, be careful about crying out to YAHUAH. Your short-term desires may have long-term repercussions. Reflect upon what happened when Israel rejects His reign and cries for a human king: (1 Samuel 9:16-17) "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin. You shall anoint him [to be] captain over my people Israel so that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines. For, I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me." And when Samuel saw Saul, YAHUAH said to him, "Behold the man whom I spoke to you of! This same shall reign over my people."

It might also be prudent for you to consider these questions before crying out to YAHUAH: (Jeremiah 30:15) "Why do you cry for your affliction? Your sorrow [is] incurable for the multitude of your iniquity [because] your sins were increased, I have done these things unto you." (Job 27:8-10) "For what [is] the hope of the hypocrite although he has gained, when Elohim takes away his soul? Will Elohim hear his cry when trouble comes upon him? Will he delight himself in the Almighty? Will he always call upon Elohim?"

And, keep in mind these positive results of crying out to YAHUAH: (Psalm 34:3-9) "O magnify YAHUAH with me. Let us exalt His name together. I sought YAHUAH. He heard me and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were lightened. Their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried. YAHUAH heard [him] and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of YAHUAH encamps round about them who fear Him and delivers them. O taste and see that YAHUAH [is] good. Blessed [is] the man [that] trusts in Him. O fear YAHUAH, you His saints. For, [there is] no want to them who fear Him."

In fact, Scripture encourages widows, orphans, the afflicted, humble, poor and unjustly accused to cry confidently to YAHUAH: (Exodus 22:22-23) You shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way and they cry at all unto me, I (YAHUAH) will surely hear their cry and my wrath shall wax hot. I will kill you with the sword and your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless." (Job 34:27-28) "He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others because they turned back from Him (YAHUAH) and would not consider any of His ways. So that they cause the cry of the poor to come to Him and He hears the cry of the afflicted." (Psalm 9:11-12) "Sing praises to YAHUAH who dwells in Zion. Declare among the people His doings. When He makes inquisition for blood, He remembers them. He forgets not the cry of the humble."

Do you suffer from a physical illness? If so, learn a lesson from this successful cry: (Matthew 9:27-30) When Yahushuah departed there, two blind men followed Him, crying and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" When He came into the house, the blind men came to Him and Yahushuah said to them, "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yea, Adonai!" Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it unto you." And their eyes were opened."

In Scripture, physical blindness can picture a spiritual affliction. So be bold in crying out to YAHUAH, if you are under spiritual duress or attack: (Mark 10:51-52) Yahushuah answered and said to him, "What do you wish that I should do unto you?" The blind man said to Him, "Adonai, that I might receive my sight." Yahushuah said to him, "Go your way! Your faith has made you whole." Immediately he received his sight and followed Yahushuah in the Way.

Persevere and be persistent in faith when crying out to YAH: (Matthew 14:29-31) When Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Yahushuah. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid and beginning to sink, he cried saying, "Adonai, save me!" Immediately Yahushuah stretched forth [His] hand, caught him, and said, "O you of little faith! Wherefore did you doubt?"

Take it to the bank, BYA, trust In YAHUAH to hear and answer our cries. (Psalm 34:15-17) "The eyes of YAHUAH [are] upon the righteous. His ears [are open] to their cry. The face of YAHUAH [is] against them who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. [The righteous] cry and YAHUAH hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles."

Are you suffering at work with an unreasonable boss, or vindictive co-workers? Don't complain to the company's Human Resources Department. Start crying out to YAHUAH: (James 5:4-8) "Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, cries and the cries of them who have reaped are entered into the ears of the Adonai of Sabbath. You have lived in pleasure on the earth and been wanton. You have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned [and] killed the just; [and] he does not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of Adonai. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be also patient! Establish your hearts! For, the coming of Adonai draws near."

Do you fear the abuse of civil servants? Don't protest with riots. Direct your cries for justice to YAHUAH: (1 Samuel 7:8-10) The children of Israel said to Samuel, "Cease not to cry to YAHUAH our Elohim for us that He will save us out of the hand of the Philistines." Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered a burnt offering wholly unto YAHUAH. Samuel cried to YAHUAH for Israel and YAHUAH heard him. As Samuel offered up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel, but YAHUAH thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines and discomfited them. They were smitten before Israel.

Are you seeking a prophet, priest or ambassador of Elohim to act? Then, cry out to YAHUAH: (Psalm 33:18-22) "Behold, the eye of YAHUAH [is] upon them who fear Him, upon them who hope in His mercy to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for YAHUAH. He [is] our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him because we trusted in His Holy Name. Let your mercy, O YAHUAH, be upon us, according as we hope in you."

When BYA learns as a unified Body to cry out as scripture teaches, YAHUAH will surely hear us and respond. (Psalm 107:1-7) "Give thanks to YAHUAH, for [He is] good. For His mercy [endures] forever. Let the redeemed of YAHUAH say [so], whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy and gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way. They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto YAHUAH in their trouble, [and] He delivered them out of their distresses. He led them forth by the right Way that they might go to a city of habitation."

Are you exhausted? At your wit's end? Alienated from family, friends or neighbors? Feel falsely accused, abused, or distressed? Are you in physical, emotional, mental or spiritual pain? Then cry to YAHUAH: (Psalm 89:26) He shall cry to me, "You , my Father, my Elohim, and the Rock of my Salvation!"

I also note for the sake of balance that cries to YAHUAH can be a joyful. As in the phrase "tears of joy", the following scripture speaks of "noise" from the Hebrew "ruah" (H7321) that means "to shout, raise a sound, cry out, give a blast." (Thayer's) (Psalm 100:1-5) Make a joyful noise (ruah) unto YAHUAH, all you lands. Serve YAHUAH with gladness. Come before His presence with singing. Know that YAHUAH He [is] Elohim. He made us and not we ourselves. His people and the sheep of His pasture enter into His gates with thanksgiving, into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, bless His name. For YAHUAH is good; His mercy everlasting and His truth to all generations."

In this scripture passage, "singing aloud" is "ranan" (H7442), which means "to cry out, shout for joy, give a ringing cry." (Psalm 149:5-6) "Let the saints be joyful in glory. Let them sing aloud (ranan) upon their beds. [Let] the high [praises] of Elohim [be] in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand."

Yahushuah uttered another Hebrew word from His torture stake. Qara (H7121) means "cry out": (Psalm 22:1-5) "My El, my El, why have you forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring? O' my El, I qara in the daytime, but you hear not; and in the night season and am not silent. But you [art] holy, who inhabits the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted and you did deliver them. They za-aq (H2199 = "to cry, cry out, call, call for help") unto you and were delivered. They trusted in you and were not confounded."

We are blessed with many scripture examples of crying out to YAHUAH. So, be encouraged that our cries are heard. Also, let us remember to return and testify of His mercy and grace so that others will be encouraged to cry out to YAHUAH: (Psalm 22:23-27) "You who fear YAHUAH, praise Him. All you, the seed of Jacob, glorify Him. Fear Him, all you, the seed of Israel. For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted. Nor has He hid His face from him. But when he cried unto Him, He heard. My praise [shall be] of you in the great congregation. I will pay my vows before them who fear Him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied. They, who seek Him, shall praise YAHUAH. Your heart shall live for ever. All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to YAHUAH. All the kindreds of the nations shall worship before you."

May YAHUAH shine His face upon BYA, and may He grant His peace, mercy, and grace upon us all. (Psalm 145:14-20) "YAHUAH upholds all who fall and raises up all bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon You and You give them their grain in due season. You open Your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing. YAHUAH [is] righteous in all His ways and holy in all His works.YAHUAH [is] near to all them who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them who fear Him. He also will hear their cry and will save them. YAHUAH preserves all them who love him." Shalom, Elder Curt