The word "polluted" renders the Hebrew word "gaal":
gaal: to defile
Original Word: גָּאַלPart of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: gaal
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-al')
Short Definition: defiled
This term can also mean "redeemed", depending on the context.
The first mention of "gaal" as redeemed appears here:
"The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." (Genesis 48: 16)
What revelation can we draw from this intriguing play on words?
Today, there are many people in the Body of Christ who are trying to serve God through their efforts, who believe that they must bring Jesus into their lives, or live out His purposes and example through their efforts.
In other words, they must suffer for Him, or must prevent Him from suffering.
In one key instance where this misunderstanding occurred, Jesus rebuked this attempt soundly:
"From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." (Matthew 16: 21-23)
Jesus did not come to be redeemed, but rather to redeem us. Don't try to redeem yourself (how could you?), but rather see Jesus as your redeemer today and forevermore:
"For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6: 33-35)
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