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Oh! What A Tangled Web We Weave When First We Practice To Deceive
– Marmion; Sir Walter Scott
Last week, I had a dream that I knew was significant, but it would take days before I even began to grasp the breadth of meaning it spoke to.
In the dream, I was standing in the entry to what I understood to be my house. It looked like my home on the outside, but the inside was constructed in a way that reminded me of 17th century European architecture. There were great wooden beams that formed the rafters and ran throughout the walls. The spaces between were filled with a type of plaster. Littered among the beams were countless webs – spider webs to be specific, as evidenced by the egg sacks interspersed throughout them.
Standing to my left was a woman I understood was supposed to be my wife. It wasn’t my wife, and I knew that this was an impostor, but I also sensed that this entity actually believed I was buying the ruse and that I should not call it out… yet.
As we surveyed the scene before us, my thoughts were focused on what exactly I was going to do about the apparent infestation. As if knowing my thoughts, the woman, the impostor suggested we wait. Her suggestion was that, once the eggs hatched, the spiders would move on and cleaning up the mess would be a much simpler chore.
I must digress momentarily and explain something that’s very relevant to this dream; I hate spiders. I mean, I find them utterly detestable and the revulsion they elicit from me is second only to that of cockroaches. Everything spiders do, from spinning webs to excreting poison is intended to bring about death. If there had been any doubt, the fact that this woman suggested I abide in a space with hordes of spiders waiting to hatch was concrete evidence that this was most assuredly not my wife.
With the words of the woman still ringing in my ears, I smiled coyly. I knew that I had the means to produce fire, though I confess that I do not recall exactly how. “No, it’s okay” I replied, “this will only take a moment.” With that, I raised my arm and sprayed flame throughout the room… not the kind of flame that would damage the edifice, but more than enough to instantly consume the webbing throughout; eggs and all.
From my peripheral vision, I could see the face of the woman contort as she looked at me with utter contempt. Notably, her eyes had turned coal black.
I awoke from this and thought to myself – “what the hell was that?”. In classic form, following the teaching of a respected mentor, I asked out loud, “what was that Lord?”
He replied with a single word: “Lolth.“
It would take me the better part of the day to recall where I that was from, but I knew it was familiar.
In my youth, I was an avid player of table top role playing games – Dungeons & Dragons chief among them, and it is this very game from which I finally recognized this – it isn’t a word, it’s a name. Lolth is the Demon Queen of spiders and the principle deity of a race of Dark Elves from the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of Dungeons & Dragons. Now, I’m not suggesting that Lolth is or ever was a real being, but one has to wonder where some of man’s inspirations come from…
in any event the symbolism here is striking on every level. Demon Queen – Dark Elves – Forgotten Realms… just let that all sink in for a moment. I could write an article just addressing the symbolism represented in these alone(!) but that isn’t the point.
To unpack this and understand what this dream is saying (and it is a message), we first need to address the house. I stated that it looked like my house on the outside, but not on the inside. The reason for this is that the dream was and is speaking to issues specific to my household and beyond.
It struck me that the architecture of the interior specifically evoked a 17th Century European aesthetic. Consider: In what year did peoples from what region voyage to the New World?
1620 – e.g. the 17th Century. Moreover, they came from England – e.g. an Island Nation off the continent of Europe.
Not incidentally, the United States is considered to have become a sovereign nation in 1776.
Still with me?
The woman represented an attempt to gain credibility and trust; in so doing, to persuade me to refrain from taking action. This wasn’t my first “rodeo” and honestly, it isn’t the first time an entity has attempted to personify my wife. It always fails…
The webs represent circumstances and situations. From personal to global, they represent the current sate of affairs and the attempts of the enemy to obfuscate matters and obscure the truth. They are intended to overwhelm and discourage us from taking further action.
The eggs are seeds of wickedness waiting to spring forth. Inaction would allow them to hatch and the vileness and venom of their unclean spawn to spread far and wide.
But God.
This is where it really gets good.
For this reason, I am reminding you to fan the flame of God’s gift, which you received through s’mikhah from me. For God gave us a Spirit who produces not timidity, but power, love and self-discipline.
1 Timothy 1:6 – 7 (CJB)
I never once experienced fear, awkwardness or discomfort throughout this dream – I should have, but I was calm and confident through the entire ordeal. In fact, I knew what was coming next and, quite frankly, found it a bit amusing.
The flame I produced was the fire of God. It was truth, justice, mercy and blessing. Not (mercy) on the spiders obviously, but on every member of my household, my neighborhood, my city, state, nation and by extension, all mankind. What represented an immense undertaking for this unclean spirit was but a momentary issue for the power of God. It required less than a mere gesture for His fire, His truth to utterly decimate the plans of the enemy and restore order to my house… to His house.
Although the theme of the dream seemed dark, the message is powerful and uplifting; God is about to open a can of whoop-ass!
Yeah, you read that right.
I’m sure I sound a bit like a broken record at this point, but I also know I’m far from the only person in need of such encouragement. I am far from the only soldier on the lines waiting for orders from Command. Ladies and gentlemen, gird up because it’s about to get gloriously, brilliantly real.
“But you, Jeremiah, get yourself ready! Go and tell these people everything I instruct you to say. Do not be terrified of them, or I will give you good reason to be terrified of them. I, the Lord, hereby promise to make you as strong as a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. You will be able to stand up against all who live in the land, including the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and all the people of the land. They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you,” says the Lord.
Jeremiah 1:17 – 19
To date, I have remained intentionally vague about matters and issues I’ve been dealing with. I have done so for a number of reasons, mainly because I don’t want readers here focusing on my issues or my prayers, I want you applying the word of the Living God to your lives and your issues, lifting your prayers before the throne!
Incidentally, I have noticed an increase in visitors from two specific countries which piqued my interest; Israel and Ukraine. I find this of particular interest because, as my nation wades through political turmoil and flagrant deceit, there are two other nations in similar circumstances, grappling with similar and even related issues.
Shalom Chaverim (Peace Friends) – שלום חברים
Мирові друзі – Myrovi druzi (Peace Friends)
I see you.
El Ro’i – the God who sees, sees you.
I believe this word is timely, not only for my nation, but for yours as well. We know there’s criminal activity in our governments and I believe we all want to see the light of truth and for justice to be done. I hope you are as encouraged as I am.
To anyone and everyone reading this, I call you to stay in the fight. The enemy has thrown every form of obstacle at you because he wants you to stop – he needs you to stop. Remember that the adversary has limited resources, he cannot sustain this indefinitely. Moreover, our God has unlimited resources and He does not fail. I look forward with great anticipation at the spectacle that’s about to ensue!
חזק ואמץ – Chazak V’Ematz – Be Strong and of Good Courage!
שלום עליכם – Shalom Aleichem – Peace Be Upon You