November 3, 2007
This time let's take a look at two of Yeshua's roles, namely that of Savior/Deliverer, and Redeemer. Yeshua's name comes from the Hebrew root y.sh.a, meaning "to deliver" or "save". In Scripture this term is mainly used in the context of deliverance, that is, removal from certain bondage situations, or extracting from various predicaments. As important as salvation is, it is not as comprehensive as redemption. The judges of Israel are a case in point. YHVH did not require that the ones He chose as judges/deliverers have specific and fixed qualifications, as would redeemers. Often upon completion of a given task or assignment, the savior or deliverer would retire. The deliverer had a job to fulfill, and hence many of the kings in Israel acted as saviors or deliverers when an enemy was oppressing the nation, or even individuals. In contrast, a redeemer's office is for a lifetime. Moses, for example, was called to be a savior, yet, typically, was not appointed to the office of a priest. That role was reserved for the firstborn of the family, Aaron.
Originally a first-born redeemer had priestly responsibilities, aside from being his kinsmen's deliverer and looking after the interests of the family at all times. Abraham, for example, being a firstborn and redeemer took Lot under His wing because his nephew was too young to take responsibility for his deceased father's inheritance. In time, Abraham did hand the inheritance over to his nephew, along with prime real estate. However, at one point Abraham had also to "save" Lot and his family and their belongings. In the wake of the war that broke out when the king of Sodom was taken captive, along with Lot and family, Abraham got involved because he was a responsible first-born redeemer, fulfilling his role as a savior. In the eyes of YHVH this was one of the qualifying traits that led to the Malchizedec blessing being bestowed upon him. Had he not been his brother's keeper, YHVH would have rejected Abraham and would have chosen another from Terah's family. In Genesis this pattern comes up over and over again. This is one of the reasons why Elohim required of Cain an answer regarding his brother's whereabouts. Doubtless, as a firstborn Cain knew that he was his brother's keeper, and thus his cynical response gave him away.
In order for Yeshua to be Israel's Redeemer he too had to qualify, by being a firstborn prince, faithful and obedient to the will of His Father in all matters "even unto death", because giving up one's life for a brother is a major qualifying mark of a redeemer. Another example of this was seen in the family of Jacob; When Reuben was to take Benjamin with the other brothers down to Egypt, he offered the life of his two sons if he were to fail to bring Benjamin back safely. This, however, did not satisfy Jacob and for this, and other reasons, Reuben lost his firstborn position and rights as leader of the family. The one who earned this role was Judah, who had learned from His daughter-in-law the righteousness of keeping YHVH's laws that govern a redeemer's office, which in that case was to restore life from the dead (in lieu of Judah's dead sons). When Judah expressed willingness to put his own life on the line for Benjamin, he qualified for the position which his father saw fit to grant him.
In our day the concept of a redeemer in the family is all but lost, hence we have been blinded to the importance of YHVH's plan to restore the creation through a redeemer nation: "For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the revealing of the sons of Elohim" (Romans 8:19).
Adam/Man was given an inheritance that is waiting to be redeemed by a chosen firstborn in the family. Yeshua obviously did not set the creation free, as it was His responsibility to redeem His Father's inheritance. But who is going to redeem Man's inheritance? (ref. Gen. 1:26). In order to answer that question, we need to become aware of the plan of redemption and the importance of bringing together the two trees/sticks of Judah and Joseph/Ephraim. The church at large has only been interested in and occupied by a "Savior", but knows little about Yeshua as a Redeemer. To be saved and go to heaven is basically the vision that has been handed to those who believe. But when we understand YHVH's divine order in humanity, we will not be so interested in the "saving" of our own necks from the wrath of Elohim, but we will enter into the "love of Elohim", taking His viewpoint on the restoration of all things that are spoken through the mouths of His holy prophets from of old.
Ephraim
This time let's take a look at two of Yeshua's roles, namely that of Savior/Deliverer, and Redeemer. Yeshua's name comes from the Hebrew root y.sh.a, meaning "to deliver" or "save". In Scripture this term is mainly used in the context of deliverance, that is, removal from certain bondage situations, or extracting from various predicaments. As important as salvation is, it is not as comprehensive as redemption. The judges of Israel are a case in point. YHVH did not require that the ones He chose as judges/deliverers have specific and fixed qualifications, as would redeemers. Often upon completion of a given task or assignment, the savior or deliverer would retire. The deliverer had a job to fulfill, and hence many of the kings in Israel acted as saviors or deliverers when an enemy was oppressing the nation, or even individuals. In contrast, a redeemer's office is for a lifetime. Moses, for example, was called to be a savior, yet, typically, was not appointed to the office of a priest. That role was reserved for the firstborn of the family, Aaron.
Originally a first-born redeemer had priestly responsibilities, aside from being his kinsmen's deliverer and looking after the interests of the family at all times. Abraham, for example, being a firstborn and redeemer took Lot under His wing because his nephew was too young to take responsibility for his deceased father's inheritance. In time, Abraham did hand the inheritance over to his nephew, along with prime real estate. However, at one point Abraham had also to "save" Lot and his family and their belongings. In the wake of the war that broke out when the king of Sodom was taken captive, along with Lot and family, Abraham got involved because he was a responsible first-born redeemer, fulfilling his role as a savior. In the eyes of YHVH this was one of the qualifying traits that led to the Malchizedec blessing being bestowed upon him. Had he not been his brother's keeper, YHVH would have rejected Abraham and would have chosen another from Terah's family. In Genesis this pattern comes up over and over again. This is one of the reasons why Elohim required of Cain an answer regarding his brother's whereabouts. Doubtless, as a firstborn Cain knew that he was his brother's keeper, and thus his cynical response gave him away.
In order for Yeshua to be Israel's Redeemer he too had to qualify, by being a firstborn prince, faithful and obedient to the will of His Father in all matters "even unto death", because giving up one's life for a brother is a major qualifying mark of a redeemer. Another example of this was seen in the family of Jacob; When Reuben was to take Benjamin with the other brothers down to Egypt, he offered the life of his two sons if he were to fail to bring Benjamin back safely. This, however, did not satisfy Jacob and for this, and other reasons, Reuben lost his firstborn position and rights as leader of the family. The one who earned this role was Judah, who had learned from His daughter-in-law the righteousness of keeping YHVH's laws that govern a redeemer's office, which in that case was to restore life from the dead (in lieu of Judah's dead sons). When Judah expressed willingness to put his own life on the line for Benjamin, he qualified for the position which his father saw fit to grant him.
In our day the concept of a redeemer in the family is all but lost, hence we have been blinded to the importance of YHVH's plan to restore the creation through a redeemer nation: "For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the revealing of the sons of Elohim" (Romans 8:19).
Adam/Man was given an inheritance that is waiting to be redeemed by a chosen firstborn in the family. Yeshua obviously did not set the creation free, as it was His responsibility to redeem His Father's inheritance. But who is going to redeem Man's inheritance? (ref. Gen. 1:26). In order to answer that question, we need to become aware of the plan of redemption and the importance of bringing together the two trees/sticks of Judah and Joseph/Ephraim. The church at large has only been interested in and occupied by a "Savior", but knows little about Yeshua as a Redeemer. To be saved and go to heaven is basically the vision that has been handed to those who believe. But when we understand YHVH's divine order in humanity, we will not be so interested in the "saving" of our own necks from the wrath of Elohim, but we will enter into the "love of Elohim", taking His viewpoint on the restoration of all things that are spoken through the mouths of His holy prophets from of old.
Ephraim
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