Topaz - Seeking the Fire of the Son

Back in 1992 I got a Mac Portable, one of the first laptop computers. I bought it second hand to take along on a once in a lifetime motor-home trip with three of my kids. It was great for recording the events of the trip and to keep the kids entertained at night on the long stretches of deserted highway as we toured America. My how laptops have changed!

Macintosh Portable (photo from OldComputers.net):

• Release date - September 20, 1989 (Original), October 15, 1990 (Backlit)
• Introductory price - $6,500
• Weight - 16 lbs
• Discontinued - October 15, 1990 (Original), October 21, 1991 (Backlit)
• Operating system - 6.0.4 (Original) 6.0.7 (Backlit) - 7.5.5
• CPU - Motorola 68000 @ 16 MHz
• Memory - 1 MB, expandable to 9 MB, 8 MB backlit version (SRAM)

The previous owner of the Portable had loaded an engaging maze game on it called the "Scarab of Ra." The goal of the game was to search the Great Pyramid of Ra and learn its secrets, and (if you can) survive to tell the outside world of its wonders. The ancient Egyptians considered the scarab beetle sacred as it seemed the young beetles emerged spontaneously from the dung burrow were they were born. This connected them to the sun god Ra who rose spontaneously out of the darkness of Nun, the primordial waters. Nun was more than an ocean, he was a limitless expanse of still water and the all-powerful Ra arose from the water to bring the full creation into existence.

The plagues of Moses, poured out on the Egyptians by God when the Pharaoh would not let His people go, were each directed at a different god of the Egyptians. The plague of darkness that could be felt, the ninth plague, was a direct attack on Ra. The plagues showed that Yĕhovah was the one true God, the true Creator.

Ancient Egyptians said Topaz was colored with the glow from the sun god Ra. It is found in various colors - white, yellow, pink, green, pale gray, reddish-orange, blue brown, and black; but it is with one of the first three colors that it is most familiar as a gem. Blue Topaz is actually quite rare but can be artificially created by irradiation. Pure Topaz is colorless and transparent but is usually tinted by impurities, mostly iron and chromium, and is commonly opaque to transparent or translucent. Topaz is a silicate mineral of Aluminium and Fluorine, a fluorosilicate, with the chemical formula Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂. With its relatively high refractive index and a Mohs hardness of eight, it makes a beautiful gemstone.

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Topaz - Fiery like the Sun
Symbolizes those who love God
Burning ever brighter for the Cause of Christ

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Topaz is the second of the twelve breastplate stones of the High Priest referred to in the Book of Exodus. It represents Simeon in birth order and Issachar in the order of the camp. With its ruddy color, Topaz denotes the apostle Matthew for he was animated by divine zeal and his blood was fired for the cause of Christ.

The name Topaz is believed to have been derived from the sanskrit word ‘tapas’, meaning fire. Another possible source for the name is from Topazos, a small island in the Red Sea, where the Romans obtained a stone which they called by this name. The word Topazein, after which the island was named, means "to seek after." The island was often lost amidst the fog and so the legend goes that some pirates, trapped by the weather and pressed by famine, discovered the stone while tearing up roots for food. The Topaz from the island was later found to be Peridot.

American Gem Trade Association

In the Old Testament the Hebrew word "pitdah," meaning a precious stone - Topaz or Chrysolite, is rendered in most biblical translations as Topaz. Pitdah is derived from Sanskrit words (pit = yellow and dah = burn), meaning "yellow burn" or, metaphorically, "fiery". The New Testament word was "topazion," a greenish yellow precious stone. In each case the word could be interpreted to be Chrysolite or Peridot. It is thus possible that the stone referenced here was something other than the Topaz of today.

The Topaz has been known for at least 2000 years and is the ninth gemstone in the foundation of the New Jerusalem. All of the apocalyptic stones are intended to serve as protection against the enemy and as a symbol of beauty and splendor. The Topaz was called by Pliny "The Stone of Strength," and he describes it as the most valuable of stones having a predominate tint of orange. Topaz is a symbol of truth and forgiveness and is known as a “stone of true love” and success in all endeavors. It is said to promote individuality and creativity, and provide self-confidence in expressing ideas.

Topaz signifies seeking and finding as in Luke 11:9 (KJV) - "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Topaz symbolizes those who love God and their fellow man, being intent always on heavenly things they become clearer, purer and more beautiful.

Matthew 6:33 (KJV) - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Ephesians 3:14 (KJV) - For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.