What's Behind our Brand?

When we started raising cattle, we chose the name– Kingdom Cattle Company – because everything we have is the Lord’s – Everything we grow, harvest and produce is his. We want it to all for the glory of the Kingdom and we want to be faithful stewards of everything He has put in our hands.

We chose a brand that looked like this…

It was an alpha and omega… unfortunately when it healed on the side of the cow it turned into a wishbone. So, I needed to get another brand. I had seen one for sale on ebay – not the brand but an old branding iron and I thought it was a cool design….

Kind of a wavy N and it reminded me of Zorro… But when I looked at it I realized that it consisted of my favorite number, 22.

I’ve been asked, why 22, and I never had a real reason but I knew there was one… I love how God hides things in my life for me to discover.

Back to the brand it is a reverse (backwards) crazy (upside down) 2 reverse 2 connected.

This week I was looking for a verse to study and I was brought to Isaiah 22:22.

I will place on his shoulder the key to the House of David, what he opens no one can shut and what he shuts no one can open. Isaiah 22:22

I had heard through other ministers, like Dutch Sheets, that the shoulder references government and the key was authority – but since Im not particularly involved in government – or running for office – I didn’t see how that really applied to me.

I broke apart the verse and saw the meaning behind the Hebrew words.

I will Place -Nathan – means to appoint or assign.

Upon His Shoulder – shekem – Means the place of burdens – government – responsibility.

The House of David – basileia - The Kingdom of Heaven (see Matthew 16:19)

What He opens - Upatah- cause to appear – break forth – draw out – let go free

What he shuts – Sagar- imprisons – delivers up – encloses – captures.

This was written about a transfer of power from Shebna to Eliakim – stewards in the palace of Hezekiah – not just stewards but like a Lord Chamberlain In charge of the palace and treasury of the king. The King’s friend and trusted advisor. Shebna had a place of security and trust in the palace and was advising the king to not put his trust in God but to form an alliance with Egypt in order to protect themselves against the Assyrians. Isaiah came and gave Shebna a word from the Lord rebuking him and taking that position from him and giving it to Eliakim. Eliakim was kind of a nobody but this position would bring honor to his fathers house.

God really likes lifting up honorable people who weren’t born into a position of power.

He also hates pride and entitlement.

Back to what he said to Eliakim – He would give him the symbolistic (and actual) keys to the kingdom. He would distribute the treasures of the kingdom to the people.

These were the same words spoken by Jesus to Peter (On this rock I will build my church) so also to all believers in Matthew 16:19.

To Peter: I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, whatever you bind on Earth will be bound in Heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven. Matt 16:19

The Kingdom of Heaven, the realm that the Lord rules over (everything that we have surrendered to Him) is filled with treasures. Every blessing that God has promised – health, provision, freedom and we, as disciples, are keepers of that Kingdom.

Then He told them, For this very reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old. Matthew 13:52

When I journaled with God on this subject He said, “When the undeserved (people who have not earned their place) are faithless and presumptuous they fall. When the undeserving are humble, I lift them up and place authority in their hands. I employ builders. I employ caretakers. I send workers to the harvest – not because of who they are but because of the fruit they bring in.“

So what does that have to do with our Kingdom Cattle Brand? As it says in Isaiah 22:22 We are shouldering the burden of the things that God places in our hands. We have the responsibility to not only take care of it but also distribute it to others. We share the goodness of God with people. We pray for them. We bring healing and deliverance along with eggs and great grass fed beef. Some people get on a stage and preach. We ride four wheelers and check cows worry about how to best care for this land we are entrusted with and then use everything we produce to make connections to share the Kingdom of Heaven with others. …. Why reverse? Because sometimes people just think they are buying eggs. They don’t realize that I am going to pray with them too if they want it. It’s a back way in.

Im not saying any of this to say I get it right all the time - I get self conscious - I fail - I make a fool of myself but this is every disciples responsibility to bear - we are dispensers of the treasures of the Kingdom of God - everything He has given so we need to get after it every day.