As many present truth believers are aware, one of the old-time pioneers, indeed one of the most well-versed students of the Rod–M.J. Bingham, founded the Bashan group of Davidians based in Missouri.
One of his primary foundational statements that he based his movement on was Micah 7:14. This, he believed, was specifically a divine injunction to his cause, to start a “new pasture” a new place where God’s present truth believers (ie. Davidian SDA) could organize and call headquarters.
After all “Carmel had withered”, VTH’s organization was gone, it’s “Carmel pasture” completed, and now there needed to be a new place from which to finish the message –the Bashan pasture– where God’s final message of Truth was to be dispensed in the vineyard. Thus “Let them feed in Bashan” now, went the thinking.
It reads —
“Feed thy people with thy Rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solidarity in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.”
But as we have said so many times, in any report, any study on a certain subject, we need to get out that SRod index and put the pieces on the table (all the references that speak of Micah 7:14). The following is the list.
1 — 1 SR Tract, p.86-87,
2 — 1 SR, p.243
3 — 1 SC, no.14, p.5 2 SC, no.11, p.2 2 SC, no.5-6, p.3 9 SC, no.1-12, p.20
4 — 4 JL, p.2
5 — 3 ANS, p. 33, p.62
6 — 1 TG, no.28, p.15
There are 10 references that we should closely go over. At the conclusion, we’ll conclude with a summary.
1 SR Tract , p.86-87 —
“No longer now need the faithful truth-seeker wander from church to church, groping his way through the dense and endless forest of the world’s religious literature in search of the right church with the right doctrine. Both now stand clearly identified, challenging him who would bear the
Shepherd’s Rod Tract 1, page 86
vessels of the Lord, to be clean, to touch not that which is baked on “dung” fire — that which is inspired not by the Spirit of Truth — and to be ever acutely mindful that no newly-revealed truth was given to the church during the forty years from 1890 to 1930, and that therefore every claimant to a heaven-sent message during that period was a false one.
But having the long fast now broken with fresh truth, abundant and undefiled by man’s wisdom, the hungry are now feeding at the bountiful table of the Rod (Mic. 7:14), at which you, dear reader, now sit and are joyously bidden to stay on for the rest of the feast.”
This reference obviously connects Micah 7:14 to the Rod message and not to any specific area (pasture) of where it may be dispensed.
1 SR, p.243 —
“Again, note “The men of wisdom shall see thy name.” The wisdom mentioned is not that which the world can give, but a heavenly one. Douay version reads as follows: “And salvation [wisdom] shall be to them that fear [see] thy name: hear, O ye tribes.” The same thought is brought over in the seventh chapter, verse 14. “Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.” “Feed thy people with thy rod:”
The verb “feed” is to be understood as spiritual food, and that food (truth) is found in the “Rod,” therefore we again have the command to give out the book (“Feed thy [God’s] people).” Carmel, Bashan, and Gilead are used as symbols of good spiritual pasture. These places are where Israel had their victories. Mount Carmel is where Elijah had his experience with the backslidden Israel in the days of Ahab. It was in Carmel where he (Elijah) brought the fire from heaven which consumed the sacrifice upon the altar, after which he slew the prophets of Baal.”
The red highlighted area brings us a great clue. Notice is does not say “pastures” which would indicate different locations or areas. It clearly says they symbolize “pasture” meaning singular in purpose, thus confining the meaning to spiritual food coming from ONE ROD MESSAGE. In other words we are to feed in “good spiritual pasture” , the Rod message, not go to three different areas for different aspects or times of the message but ONE PASTURE–ONE MESSAGE.
1 SC, no.14, p.5 —
“Moreover, Bro. Houteff’s work has proved that he will not sit in a corner by himself, but will evenly divide with as many as may come to the knowledge of the truth and share Carmel’s burden for the salvation of souls, for thus is he instructed by the Word of the Lord, saying: “Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.” (Mic. 7:14.) For this purpose has he bought the land and settled in the woods, on the top (midst) of Mt. Carmel, by the side of the brook.”
Once again this reference is inconclusive as to any clear pointing to evidence of Bashan being a separate pasture (ie. separate location) of spiritual food, for it clearly lumps it all under the “Carmel” heading.
2 SC, no.11, p.2 —
“Open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee” and “Feed thy people with thy rod.” (Ezek. 2:8; Mic. 7:14.)
No help for Bashan pasture.
2 SC, no.5-6, p.3 —
“Inasmuch as Present Truth believers are faithfully straining their ears in an anxious endeavor to catch all the news waves from this anti-typical hill of “green pastures,” to which the prophet Micah’s attention was called long ago (Micah 7:14), we fear they will be greatly disappointed if we say nothing of its activities; therefore, we are happy to send forth a few lines of greeting from Mother Nature at Mt. Carmel.”
This one is, just as 1 SR, p.243 was, quite illuminating! We see that ALL pastures of Micah 7:14 including Bashan are symbolically centralized in meaning the main headquarters at Waco. Thus again showing that the pastures are not later separate locations or headquarters where a different phase of the message comes, but are simply pointing to the original “anti-typical hill” at Mt. Carmel.
9 SC, no.1-12, p.20 —
“Feed thy people,” He commands, “with thy rod, the flock if thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel.” Mic. 7:14.”
Once again we see the meaning of Micah 7:14 being simply feeding God’s people with the Rod.
4 JL, p.2
“Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of shine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel.” Mic. 7:14.
Another reference showing the meaning of Micah 7:14 as feeding God’s people with His Rod.
3 ANS, p. 33
“As a necessary and natural sequent, God will have but one mouthpiece to teach His people in the establishing of His Kingdom, as He prophetically tells us in unmistakable language: “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even My servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the
Answerer Book 3, page 32
wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about My hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.” Ezek. 34:23-26. “The Lord’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the Rod, and Who hath appointed it.” “Feed thy people with thy Rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvelous things.” Mic. 6:9; 7:14, 15.
Once more the preponderance is starting to add up. More evidence of simply placing Micah 7:14 in terms of feeding the people, even in the kingdom.
3 ANS, p.62
“And now louder and louder sounds the voice of Carmel, through the series of The Shepherd’s Rod publications, “the Lord’s voice…unto the city, and,” says the Divine Author, “the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the Rod, and Who hath appointed it.” Mic. 6:9.
“Feed thy people,” He commands, “with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel.” Mic. 7:14.”
No help to teach that Bashan is a separate place.
1 TG, no.28, p.15
“Mic. 7:13, 14 — “Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings. Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.”
Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 28, page 15
Before these promises are fulfilled, though, Inspiration declared the land was to be desolate, the dispersion of the people would first take place.
This Rod of God not only speaks, but It feeds, too. And what can It be if not “meat in due season”? if not the message of the hour? The people, explains the scripture, are those who dwell solitarily in the woods, in the midst of Carmel. Prophecy, for this day and hour recommends the message which the Rod contains, and which Carmel puts out, none other.”
Once again the meaning of Micah 7:14 is that it “feeds, too.” This reference along with the others is basically in harmony with the explaining of Micah 7:14.
Summary —
As we do our close study of all the relevant references, we find that absolutely NONE of them point to Bashan as a separate place or headquarters. Nor a transfer of the message location to Bashan. This is simply the figment of the imagination of MJ Bingham. The most powerful point is that the Rod indeed identifies that Mt. Carmel consists of “pastures” that include both Gilead and Bashan. They are simply a figurative symbol of the present truth pastures of truth.
To solidify this understanding we find this inspired Word of God explaining more about pastures–
“Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture [truths that please you], but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? And to have drunk of the deep waters [the greater truths], but ye must foul the residue with your feet? And as for My flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. ” (Ezek. 34:18, 19. )(3 SC, No. 5-6, p.3)
Bottomline, there is no truth to the teaching that we must now feed at Bashan, meaning we need to go to another area/location that is to be called Bashan. MJ Bingham, unfortunately, brought us a lot of misunderstanding and even falsehoods, sad to say. And this is one of them.
“What a fearful responsibility rests upon those who carelessly handle the Word of God, who pose as soul guardians over the people!” (1 TG, no.18, p.17)
HearYeTheRod 