When we read our bibles, we come across verses that on the surface seem to be hard to understand, but when we lean into them they unlock insight into situations we may have never considered before. Most people don’t read the Old Testament because they don’t know the character of God, don’t know the culture of the East, and don’t have anyone to teach them what God is saying through Israel’s history and journey with God.

I was reading in Judges 1 this morning and I came across verses 6-7 that says, “Adoni-bezek fled, but they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and his big toes. And Adoni-bezek said, Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me.” Now on first glance this verse may not have much meaning to the causal observer, but when we lean into it there is something powerful the Lord is saying.

If you cut off someone’s thumbs and big toes you render them limited at least, but unproductive for sure. Our thumbs and big toes are major players in our functioning as a body. If you can’t use your hands and your feet it hinders your ability to produce. Therefore, this act was done as a way to render this evil king unproductive in his pursuit of Israel in battle. Then to read this evil king did this exact thing to 70 other kings is insightful as well.

Some have said the thumb and big toe is representative of the apostolic ministry in the church. The 12 disciples were called the 12 apostles of Jesus. Paul was considered an apostle who carried the revelation message, Christ in you the hope of glory to the Gentiles. If the apostolic is cut off so is the spirit of wisdom and revelataion given to the church, which makes us unproductive.

I heard the spirit of God say, “I have given the church back their thumbs and big toes, the apostolic has been restored to the church”. Not everyone believes this, but it is the truth and the restoration of the apostolic to the church is increasing our productivity as the body of Christ. This is not a title, this is a function, and with the restoration of the apostolic comes the ability to function by design as a body. Thank you Lord for restoring the apostolic thumbs and big toes to your church and for removing the thumbs and big toes of our enemies. This is a bigger deal than many realize.