"Make thee an ark of gopher wood... pitch it within and without with pitch" (Gen 6:14).'Pitch,' in Hebrew, kaphar has various meanings and all of them signify amazing facts about Christ.
Kaphar is translated elsewhere in the Bible as 'pardon' or 'forgive.' Yes, when the Lord pardoned people saying, "Thy sins are forgiven," He forgave them in His heart also. Some children of God say, "I have forgiven you," but their hearts would be testifying against it. Let us "pitch within and without with pitch." Jesus said that our heavenly Father would be very angry and will deliver us to the 'tormentors' if we do not 'from our hearts forgive' the trespasses of our brother (Matt 18:35). "Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye," admonishes St.Paul (Col 3:13). Child of God, are you able to freely love those who have wronged you? Or do you sometimes remember the wrongs you have suffered?
Kaphar also means 'merciful' or 'cleansed.' Jesus was pure and merciful both outside and inside. It is not enough if all our deeds are pure and full of mercy; we must make sure our heart is pure to the core and full of compassion, kindness and tenderness. "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness..." (Col 3:12).
The Bride of Christ is 'all glorious within' (Psa 45:13). Shall we lay bare our secret life and allow the Holy Spirit to imprint the character of Jesus on it?
- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna
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