Intertwined Strength reminds us how much we need the strength that comes from connecting with those Papa has placed in our lives, and doing so in harmony – allowing that synergy to bolster and grow our faith.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (TLB) Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better. If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he’s in trouble. Also, on a cold night, two under the same blanket gain warmth from each other, but how can one be warm alone? And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

{vision} He showed two trees intertwined by their trunks. They were in full colorful foliage and by the water with life surrounding them. One of the ways Merriam-Webster defines “intertwine” is “to be or become very closely involved with each other.” With these trees, Papa God is visually depicting the close knit relationship that should exist in a marriage – whether it is in an earthly covenant or the one with Heavenly Father, and He is drawing the connection that where this intimacy exists, life abounds. 

A Prophetic Nugget from our Dyed4you Ministries blog is connected to this. It’s called “Unstoppable Force.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (VOICE) And if one person is vulnerable to attack, two can drive the attacker away. As the saying goes, “A rope made of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Beloved, cherish My divine connections for you. Just as trees lock their roots together to strengthen one another against the storms that inevitably come, so you should interweave your life with those I have connected you with that you might strengthen one another’s faith, building one another up that you might withstand the trials that come your way. 

Hold fast to each other with Me at the center. Bear with one another in love, and extend grace to each other in weaknesses. Strengthen and encourage one another. Refuse to mandate personal agendas, instead choosing to align with Me and in doing so aligning with each other in perfect harmony. Be an unstoppable force – a beautiful reflection of Me. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (AMP) Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor; for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and does not have another to lift him up. Again, if two lie down together, then they keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Another Prophetic Nugget from our Dyed4you Ministries blog is connected to this. It’s called “Lift One Another in My Love.”

Ecclesiastes 4:10 (GW) If one falls, the other can help his friend get up. But how tragic it is for the one who is all alone when he falls. There is no one to help him get up.

Beloved, don’t be found alone. Resist the temptation to close yourself off or to try to protect yourself from getting hurt by refusing to develop deep, intimate relationships. I will protect and heal your heart, and I have put people in your life to bless and challenge you, to encourage you and build you up.

Human relationships will always be imperfect because people are imperfect. Align your expectations accordingly. Look for both the blessings and the opportunities to bless. Bolster those around you. Lift one another in My love.

The Hebrew word for “intertwine” is sarag (H8217). It appears twice in the Bible, the first is in Job 40:17, from which we can derive more meaning. It is speaking of the “behemoth” and in the Voice translation it reads, “It bends like a cedar, the sinews of its powerful thighs are woven tightly.” The words “woven tightly” are our word intertwine. What was highlighted here is strength and flexibility, both of which are key parts of relational intimacy. The unity brings strength, but to have the unity there must be flexibility. 

The second use of the word sarag (H8217) is in Lamentations where we find a warning when we are “bound” (intertwined) to something/someone not good. Lamentations 1:14 (VOICE) “Now the burden of all my wrongs is a yoke. God has laid them upon my shoulders, Bound them around my neck. He has made sure I’m too weak to support them. The Lord gave me into the hand of an enemy. I could not resist.” This is a good reminder to choose wisely where you are yoked, for from it you have enormous strength that empowers or destroys based on what / who you are connected to.

The trunk of a tree provides strength and support for the rest its structure. Since the two trees in this piece are intertwined at the trunks, this speaks of God’s purpose in intertwining two souls in marriage. By “joining forces” the bond of marriage is meant to strengthen the pair physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Although each of you as individuals are powerful in your own right through God, He has brought you together to do more than you ever could as individuals.

The vision for this piece came before the art was created, so during its creation there was much searching for intertwined trees. The bulk of the images that appeared as we searched were ketubahs (this is the English form of pluralization, technically the plural form is ketubot), which is Hebrew for “written thing.” A ketubah is a Hebrew marriage contract of sorts. It outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom, in relation to the bride. This correlation brought confirmation to what Papa God had already begun to share regarding this piece. 

Unintentionally He made another connection to ketubahs when He added the flame at the peek of the trees. Like the flames of Pentecost, these are spiritual flames, not natural (which is why it doesn’t appear in the reflection), but many intertwined tree ketubahs incorporate a menorah (the seven branch candelabrum from the Temple of God) and interestingly our intertwined trees have not only the flame, but seven points, thus creating the visual connection. 

The menorah’s spiritual meaning is one of bringing light. In the same way, the beauty of this intertwined intimacy is a beacon of light spread hope, joy, and an expectation of good. It is a reflection of God’s goodness on display for all to see. 

A final Prophetic Nugget from our Dyed4you Ministries blog is connected to this. It’s called “Intertwined Strength.”

Ecclesiastes 4:11 (AMP) Again, if two lie down together, then they keep warm; but how can one be warm alone?

Beloved, I have created you for multiplication. Though yes, you can accomplish much alone, I have made you for connection, and for the power that is found there. Resist the urge to to avoid it, it is worth the effort. 

It is worth the frustration in moments of misunderstanding, and worth the character building that occurs when you must operate in grace and humility to create unity. Though it takes work – without a doubt, it truly is worth it. 

So resist the temptation to protect your heart by holding others away, and choose instead to love as if you’ll never get hurt. Trust your heart to me, and choose to walk in love and experience intertwined strength. 

The name of the silk hidden in this image is Glorified By Love. The colors in it are soft gold representing radiant glory, cream representing milk and honey, white representing pure-hearted, camel representing steadfastness, and gold shimmer representing glory.

Father, thank You for the gift of relationship and the many blessings in human form You have brought into our lives. May we never take them for granted. May we operate in much love and grace with one another and may You put a hedge of protection around each connection. May the synergy of those relationships have a multiplication effect in our respective walks and ultimately bring You more glory.