MY PEACE I GIVE YOU

February 16, 2007

One of the things that Yeshua prophesied regarding the latter days was that there would be wars, and rumors of war: "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet" (Matthew 24:6). In the last few years there have certainly been plenty of rumors vis-à-vis wars, and as to the 'making of wars', that seems to be endless. However, in the midst of all these end time happenings, Yeshua says to us, his disciples, not to fear or be troubled by these things for they must come, and moreover, notice what he adds here: "the end is not yet". So why are we concerning ourselves over these issues? Is it a tactic of the enemy to rob us of Yeshua's peace? Are we unwittingly replacing faith with the spirit of unbelief?

We read that "Elohim has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). Our Master compassionately says: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). Paul adds to this by exhorting us to
"let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).

If we have received the "Spirit of Holiness" we have also received His kingdom rule, thus His righteousness, peace and joy should be our continual reality. If that is not the case, then we are being robbed of our spiritual inheritance in Messiah. Is there something we must do in order to maintain these wonderful promises that have been freely given to us in Messiah Yeshua? Paul answers this in his letter to the believers in Corinth: "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Yesterday a friend shared a very interesting concept; what we believe can many times be easily offset, or even exchanged, but what we hold as a conviction we will defend to the end. Once we know that we know that something is true, it gets fixed in our hearts and becomes our very reality, it is our life. Thusly, knowing the Word of Elohim and believing that it is true is not enough. This belief must be accompanied by revelation understanding by the Spirit, so that it becomes our conviction and life in us. For if the "Word" becomes our life we are no longer just hearers of the "word", but also doers.

No doubt these are troublesome times, whether we are personally affected, or whether it is a reality for our nation. Yet we can take confidence in our Elohim, for He will never leave us nor forsake us (ref Hebrews 13:5). "For YHVH your Elohim is a compassionate Elohim; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them" (Deuteronomy 4:31). "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). In other words, His peace will not fail us when we abide in Him, as we trust in His faithfulness to keep covenant and are confident of His sovereignty.

Yesterday, during our prayer time with our believing neighbors, we were encouraging one another in regards to the sovereignty of Elohim. I happened to open my bible and saw the following verse: "Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor" (1 Kings 22:34). When the Almighty decrees something He will accomplish it, no matter what we try to do to prevent or change it. The word that stuck out in that little sentence was "random". The bow-man did not specifically aim, he just shot and the arrow happened to find the most vulnerable spot in the armor of the king of Israel, in spite of the king's masquerading attempt. Yes, there may be wars and rumors of wars but we need not lose our peace and give in to the enemy's fear tactics. Instead we are to have unshakeable confidence in YHVH. "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of Elohim, you may receive the promise" (Hebrews 10:35-36).

Some have asked me if I have an archive of these Friday letters. Since I do not have an accessible one, I decided to post them on a blog site: http://israeliteletters.blogspot.com/

I started these Friday letters back in August of 1998, so it will take me a while to get them all into this blog. But you are welcome to read what appears there. Freely Abba has given, and freely it is made available to those who are interested.

Ephraim

THE TWO HOUSES IN THE LATTER DAYS

from http://www.1st-born.com/article_two_houses.php

According to Scripture, the “Two Houses of Israel” are two separate and distinct entities. Each of them has its own specific prophetic destiny. But even though two, they are still bound to the calling which they have inherited from their forefather Jacob - that is, to be one chosen nation of kings and priests. However, in the course of their history YHVH divided the nation into two nation/kingdoms for His purposes and plans that are directly related to the covenant that He swore to Abraham. Thus, it is very important to understand the first-born concept and its centrality in YHVH’s plan of redemption, and its connection to the Two Houses of Israel. Grasping the firstborn principle is paramount to the understanding of the latter day events recorded in the Tanach.

Isaiah 8:14 presents the ‘Two House truth’: “He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to BOTH the houses of Israel”. As long as these two continue to stumble and take offense over the One who is their Rock they will remain two distinct entities.
Many like to define the two groups as ‘Christians’ (Israel/Ephraim), and ‘Jews’ (Judah), as if they are made up of two religious sects. In spite of that we must realize that all tribes are represented in both houses, and that together they constitute multitudes of peoples, which make up many ethnic groups. But for our purpose here, let us relate to them as nations. We have, then, the nation of Judah/Israel today, being made up mostly of Jews from Judah. On the other hand, because YHVH is true to His word, there is also the other house (Joseph/Ephraim), which YHVH has sown or mixed into many peoples in literally all nations: "Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples” (Hos. 2:8), being the “fullness of the nations” (Genesis 48:19), even though most of them are unaware of their identity. The influence of the multitudes of Ephraim, on some of these nations, brought about blessings of multiplicity, military prowess and economic wealth (see Genesis 49:22-26). In the blessing to Joseph, through his son Menasseh, Jacob pronounced that they would become a great people. However, as a great people the descendants of the northern kingdom would not be able to connect their greatness to the fulfillment of the prophecies, as YHVH was going to blind them and cause them to forget their identity (which is indicated by the meaning of the very name “Menasseh”).

Judah never lost its identityOne of the keys to understanding the end time scriptures is to watch for Judah’s lead. The Jews have never lost their identity, but have been preserved by the Almighty: “Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, I will save them by YHVH their Elohim, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen." (Hosea 1:7) And: “He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts [or rejected ones] of Israel [Joseph/Ephraim], and gather together the dispersed [but preserved and recognizable] of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:12)

In Ezekiel 37 we see that Judah’s stick (nation) is gathered first (and indeed it was restored in 1948) and is also being ‘written upon’. (v. 16) Then, during the times of the “latter rain”, Judah is called as a nation to be “a mighty war horse in battle.” (Zechariah 10:1,3) In the course of those days Jerusalem is restored to Judah (which was fulfilled in 1967), who is called to prepare for war against its surrounding nations (see Joel 3:1-2,11). In these self-same days the stick of Joseph/Ephraim is also to be gathered and to be ‘written upon’. (Ezekiel 37:16) Sometime later the two are to join together in the war with the surrounding nations (ref. Isaiah 11:13-15, Zechariah 9:13). These are but a few of the scriptural descriptions and references that have been and are yet to be fulfilled, in what are called the ‘latter days’. [Hebrew word for ‘latter days’ is ‘acherith’, which means latter days or has been translated as ‘hindermost’ by some expositors.]

Our day and age
The nations surrounding Judah and Jerusalem are hostile and belligerent at present. Their hostility extends not only toward Judah/Israel but also toward some of the peoples of Joseph’s progeny who are supportive of the Jews, and who are aligned with them economically and militarily (such as the United States and the British Commonwealth of Nations). With impending war and other potentially catastrophic world events, it is necessary to gain an understanding of the prophetic perspective. When we know that all of this has been predicted beforehand, and that in YHVH’s strategy it is as good as having taken place already, we can rejoice, for our full redemption is drawing closer.

According to the prophets of old, these days are marked by wars and great turmoil. Yeshua’s words about these days also reiterate the same thoughts: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, `I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many, and you will hear of wars and rumors of wars’.” (Matthew 24:4-6) Most of us don’t have any problems relating today’s world situations to what Yeshua or the prophets said on the topic. YHVH has given us the scriptures, His Spirit and this wonderful world of communication as a tool to reveal to us the truths of His Word.

So why are the kingdoms of this world being shaken? Is it because YHVH so hates the world that He is bent on destroying it? That is far from being His motivation. YHVH’s true motive is always based on His nature, which is, of course, unconditional love, righteousness and faithfulness. All that YHVH does revolves around possessing His inheritance, and establishing His kingdom here on earth. “YHVH’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.” (Deut. 32:9) YHVH sent His Son (Yeshua) to restore the House of Jacob (both houses) and set up His everlasting kingdom in and through them (Luke 1:31-33).
What then are these ‘heavy-duty’ judgments all about? Could He be acting now in the same manner that He did in the days when His people, our forefathers, dwelt in Egypt? At that time too YHVH wasn’t just being vindictive when He hardened Pharaoh’s heart. He was not looking for a pretext in order to harm the land and people of Egypt. Neither was He trying to convince them that they had to repent from their ways and turn to Him (at least not directly). He was motivated by faithfulness to His word and compassion toward His people. He wanted to establish them and His kingdom according to His pre-ordained plan, so that Egypt and the rest of the nations would know that He was the Elohim of His people Israel. He never once called Himself the God of Egypt, or the God of Amalek, but He did say repeatedly that He was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

YHVH says about Himself that He changes not. He is the God of Israel (both houses) and we still belong to Him, just as did our forefathers. We, who have come into the revelation understanding of our true identity, must face up to our history as His covenant people and to our relationship with Him, especially now that He has raised us from the dead spiritually and restored our lost national (natural) identity through the new covenant. One scripture that we have quoted over the years, along with other Two House teachers, is Acts 3:19-21:
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Yeshua the Messiah, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which Elohim has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

The position of the firstborn
Although we had been focusing mainly on the restoration of our natural identity, as well as on what it means to be an Israelite and a firstborn in humanity, and how that bears upon the restoration of YHVH’s kingdom to Israel, there is yet another very important ‘ingredient’ that the redeemed Israelites must consider. This ingredient is perhaps the major theme of the writings of the New Covenant books. It may be defined as, ‘who we are as the first fruit of a new creation order’. James wrote: “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” (James 1:18) Paul also says that “if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (Colossians 5:17) Presumably, if that is the case, who needs the ‘old’ and ‘natural’ Israelite, since now we are all ‘new’ and ‘spiritual’ Israelites? Well, let’s not jump to conclusions too soon. The Greek mindset would definitely analyze it from that perspective, but the Hebraic point of view is able to integrate these concepts (otherwise there would be no male or female either).

The Hebrew word for firstborn, in Exodus 13:12, is “peh’ter”, meaning to separate, or first to open. Breaking forth and opening up the way was the responsibility and calling of a firstborn. Thus Yeshua was the first to break forth into the new creation life and existence (spiritually speaking). His birth into this new life was a guarantee that the rest of His brethren would soon follow until “all of Israel will be saved.” (Romans 11:26) And thus, once the Father brings forth His first fruit company (Israel) of the ‘Adamic’ family, the rest of their brethren in the family of man will follow.

What manner of people ought we to be?However, the question remains: having our restored identity now, what kind of people aught we to be in these days “in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of YHVH, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat”? (2 Peter 3:10-12) In the midst of this very forceful message, Peter challenges and importunes the believer with the question: “What manner of persons ought we to be?”Those who have come into the revelation knowledge of their true heritage and ancestry, and have had their eyes open to the mysteries which have been hidden throughout the ages, must face this question. Paul, writing to the Laodicean congregation, addressed this mystery: “Messiah in you the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27 emphasis added) It is the one “mystery” that, according to his own admittance, he had struggled with greatly in conflicts and sufferings, to bring to the nations. His true motive was to proclaim Messiah Yeshua, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that he might present the believers prefect in Him (ref. Colossians 2:24-28). Since this is the case, then “what manner of persons aught we to be?”
The Apostle answered the question as he labored, striving in accord with the Spirit of Holiness that was mightily at work in him (ref. Colossians 1:29). He wanted the believers to know how great a conflict he had for them over this issue, especially for those in Laodicea (mentioned also in Revelation 3:14 and generally compared to the believers of today, especially in the ‘first world’ nations). His burden was to see love, that is, Messiah manifest in the life and relationships of the believing community. He also wanted them to understand the riches of the fullness of these mysteries that are at work in them: the mystery of Elohim, the mystery of the Father and the mystery of “Messiah in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:1-3).

The Apostle did not want these believers to be “deceived by persuasive words of man’s philosophies,” but to remain steadfast in their faith in Messiah Yeshua, and to allow Him to be master of their lives, walking in Him and “being rooted and built up in Him and abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:4,6-7) Try to imagine having today apostles, prophets, pastors and teachers with this same incredible motivation and burden for the flock of YHVH!!!
The manifestation of His life in and through a chosen and called-out people was YHVH’s plan from the beginning, as recorded in the Tanach (Old Testament). This people had its natural beginning through four mothers, three of whom (Sarah, Rebecca and Rachel) were barren with dead and unproductive wombs, but with YHVH’s intervention they brought forth the life of our forefathers (Isaac and Jacob). Paul writes about this phenomenon in his letter to the believers in Rome. “As it is written, ‘I have made you [Abraham] a father of many nations’, in the presence of Him whom he believed -- God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did [i.e. the nation that would be birthed in a dead womb], who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, ‘So shall your seed [Isaac] be.’ And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb” (Rom. 4:17-19).

Even though they had this incredible and miraculous beginning, as the called, chosen and elect of the covenant-keeping God of Abraham, the nature of sin was still active in them. The progeny was true to its ‘Adamic’ character and engaged in idolatry, adultery and rebellion, and as a result would need to be redeemed from that condition.

Ephraim the ‘new man’
Having had this miraculous beginning, but a tainted nature, Ephraim (of the two parts that make up the progeny), has had the following endearing words said of him: “Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For though I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still; therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says YHVH. Set up signposts; make landmarks; set your heart toward the highway, the way in which you went. Turn back, O virgin of Israel.” (Jeremiah 31:20-21)

Speaking to the Ephraimites, YHVH addresses them as, “My dear son”, and almost in the same breath as a “virgin”. In one case male imagery is used, and in the other feminine gender. Intriguingly, through Hosea (1:2) YHVH calls these same people a “harlot”. How is this possible? A virgin is one who had never had intercourse, whereas for a harlot it is a way of life. So what has happened to Israel that YHVH would look upon her so differently? In that same chapter of Jeremiah a new covenant is made with Israel/Ephraim and Judah. This covenant was activated by Yeshua’s blood, when He gave himself to the will of His Father and poured out His life. It is through this covenant that YHVH removes the life of the sinner and does away with it. However, within this same covenant the provision is also made for man to have a new spirit life, a ‘new creation’ nature. This new life is the life of YHVH’s risen Son, who is the image and likeness of His Father (see Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 1:3). As mentioned above, the twelve tribes of Israel are to be the first fruit, or the first expression of this new life.

Paul knew this when he went out to preach this good news to the “lost sheep of the House of Israel” scattered amongst the nations. In this generation we are the remnant who have received mercy and have been born again into this living hope, “Messiah in you the hope of glory.” We hear a lot about the “one new man”, but mainly in the context of an answer to the question of ‘who is a gentile, and who is a Jew’, while the Apostle’s perspective and objective was not who the one new man was made up of (ethnically or in gender). Rather, Paul emphasized and depicted the nature and character of this “one new man”, describing him as a holy temple in which the Spirit of YHVH was (and is) resident (ref. Ephesians 2:21-22).

“Therefore, what manner of new creation persons aught we to be, as the elect of God, holy and beloved?” We are to be an expression of “tender mercies, kindness, humility, and meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, and if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Messiah forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection, and let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Messiah dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to YHVH. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Yeshua our master, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:12-17) This is not what we will become. This is who we are already through faith, “for He [Yeshua] is our life.” (Col 3:4)

EXPOSING THE GREEK BEAST

November 17, 2006

As mentioned in the last two letters we, as the redeemed remnant of the Houses of Israel and Judah, are destined, according to the prophets, to become a united and mighty weapon in the hand of YHVH. The spiritual battle that we face is not a new one; it goes back to the time when Adam and Eve partook of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. From that point in time man became the epitome of a nature that he had not been created for. He was therefore sent out from Elohim’s presence (kingdom) and thrust into a spiritual desert, there to begin to participate in building another kingdom. This kingdom of darkness is characterized by the nature of “Sin”, which is the very opposite of YHVH’s and His kingdom of righteousness. Satan, or Lucifer, was the designated prince of this realm (ref John 12:21; Ephesians 2:2). Interestingly, he is not called “king”, as YHVH is sovereign over every aspect of His creation, including the realm of spiritual darkness.

“ I am YHVH, and there is none else, there is no Elohim beside me: I am YHVH, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I YHVH do all these things” (Isaiah 45:5-7).

When man began to partake of this nature, through the knowledge of good and evil, he became a slave to the power of Sin, establishing Sin’s kingdom here on earth. In the book of Daniel there is a description of four beasts that are symbolic of this spiritual force, as it manifests itself through humanity.

The first expression of Sin, as recorded in Scripture, was through a serpent (Gen 3:1). Later, when Cain became angry with his brother Abel, it says that Sin was crouching at his (Cain’s) door. The word for crouching - “ravats” - is what a cat or other animals of prey do while waiting to pounce on their victims. Perhaps this is why Daniel’s vision of the four beasts, which represent respective empires, was of animals with this particular characteristic. For example, the third beast, which represented Greece, was that of a leopard (with four heads and four wings). Interestingly, leopards are notorious for their ability to go undetected. They are graceful and stealthy and amongst the big cats the most accomplished stalkers. They also are mainly nocturnal and hunt from trees. They are very opportunistic hunters and they will eat just about anything. That is why, of all the big cats, they are the most wide spread in the world. As we progress at looking at the Greek beast and its influences, keep in mind the characteristics of this animal.

Before mentioning the leopard, Daniel describes two other animals (empires); the lion which symbolized Babylon (ref. Daniel 7:4), and the bear - the Mede-Persian empire (ref Daniel 7:5). There was one more that came after the leopard, a fourth beast that is only described as having iron teeth and 10 horns (ref Daniel 7:7). However, I believe that this was the same one that John saw and described in the book of Revelation, as he was alive at the time of this fourth empire (ref Revelation 13:1-2). In next week’s letter we’ll begin to look at aspects of the manifested nature of Sin through humanity, that is, “fallen man”, comparing his image (ref Daniel 2:31) to the four animals.

I was sent the following, and thought to pass it on, as it may be a warning concerning the “Greek beast”.
Shabbat Shalom
Ephraim




HOW LONG DO WE HAVE?

About the time our original thirteen states adopted their new constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier: "A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government." "A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury." "From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship." "The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years." "During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence: 1. from bondage to spiritual faith; 2. from spiritual faith to great courage; 3. from courage to liberty; 4. from liberty to abundance; 5. from abundance to complacency; 6. from complacency to apathy; 7. from apathy to dependence; 8. From dependence back into bondage" Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, points out some interesting facts concerning the 2000 Presidential election: Number of States won by: Gore: 19; Bush: 29 Square miles of land won by: Gore: 580,000; Bush: 2,427,000 Population of counties won by: Gore: 127 million; Bush: 143 million Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Gore: 13.2; Bush: 2.1 Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory Bush won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of this great country. Gore's territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare..." Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase. If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty-million criminal invaders called illegals and they vote, then we can say good-bye to the USA in fewer than five years. Pass this along to help everyone realize just how much is at stake, knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.

HEBRAIC VERSES GREEK

November 10, 2006

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). In last week’s letter I mentioned the war between the sons of Zion (Judah the bow and Ephraim the arrow) and the sons of Greece. (ref. Zechariah 9:13). The unity of these two are to be a mighty sword in the hand of YHVH. Are we now in the day in which YHVH is smelting His sword for an up coming battle?

Interestingly, in a few weeks time we will be celebrating Hanukkah. For those of you who do not know about this particular eight-day feast, it commemorates the victory of Judah the Maccabee and his brothers, in 168 BC, over the Syro-Greek king, who outlawed all Biblical observances. This victory was marked by the cleansing the Temple and re-instating its services, as well as by partly divesting the Jewish society of the Hellenistic influences. This obviously was not the fulfillment of Zechariah 9, as at the time of the revolt it was mainly the Levites of Judah who stood up for the Torah and the Hebraic culture. Much of the Jewry of the day succumbed to the strong influences of that “beast” (the leopard with the four heads, ref Daniel 7:6). Judah may have been a strong bow at that time, but without the arrows of Ephraim they remained ineffective in defeating this powerful influence. As a matter of fact, ultimately even the Priests and Levites compromised with the Hellenistic spirit.

We again see the same beast show up in the Book of Revelation, as the main body of the seven-headed beast of the latter days. “Now the beast, which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority” (Revelation 13:2).

Much has been written about these beasts, which are simply manifestations of Satan’s kingdom, through the cooperation of man in his fallen condition. The beastly or fleshly nature of man expresses itself by the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Man’s nature and way of thinking is formed by spiritual influences, both internal and external, of this kingdom of darkness. However, the Father, by sending His only begotten Son, Yeshua the Messiah, has changed the dynamics of this spiritual condition, specifically in redeemed man. We are therefore told now to renew our minds: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of Elohim” (Romans 12:2).

We are to have the mind of the Messiah, whose thoughts are not the same as those of the world. We are to think according to the Word and nature of Elohim. That is why the Scriptures exhort us to “cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim, and to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Messiah” (2 Corinthians 10: 5).

In contrast to the Hellenistic thinking of fallen man, another word has been coined for the mind of Messiah, and that is the “Hebraic mind-set”. I have just come across a list (posted below), in which the Greek-Hellenistic mind is being compared with the Hebraic one. (No name of author or ministry, or rights reserved, were printed on the sheet).
I will write more on this subject next week, YHVH willing.

Ephraim

The following is from an unknown author.
HEBRAIC GREEK
Active-appeals to the heart Cognitive-appeals to the intellect

Motive Motive
Love of God and others. Pursuit of self-interest and knowledge.
Life viewed as a pilgrimage leading Life viewed in circular terms, to someday
to ultimate culmination. achieve a higher state of existence.
Suffering seen as necessary for Suffering to be avoided; people and
development of Christ’s character. Activities weighted for self-gratification:
“How does this person/event benefit me?”

Process Oriented Program Oriented
Stresses direct participation. Heavy program prominence
Emphasizes age and wisdom Emphasizes education
Role modeling, mentoring Relies on speaking skills,
and discipleship indispensable oratory, programmed materials
information conveyance.
Character of leader essential Leader’s personal life immaterial
Personal relationships imperative Personal relationships optional

Biblical Application Biblical Application
Doers of the Word Belief without personal cost
Bible-reality that must be confronted Bible-data that must be taught
Goal-to develop into image of Messiah Focus on rules-do’s and don’ts
Become one expression of the body of Messiah Emphasizes distinct denominations

Ministry Activity Ministry Activity
Small intimate groups Large impersonal groups
Leader as facilitator Leader-directed and controlled
Cooperative, participatory planning Organizational roles important
Spiritual gifts shared Acquisition of knowledge emphasized
Scheduled and personal unscheduled gatherings Reliance on scheduled gatherings

Fruit Fruit
Love, acceptance, forgiveness Mutual toleration
Transparency encouraged Transparency discouraged
Active participation Passivity and lethargy
“How your serve” vital “What you know” vital
Each believer trained to serve Trained professionals utilized
Produces mature believers Produces spectators

ANCESTRY AND IDENTITY

November 3, 2006

Well, we finally have a computer that works. If any of you have Skype and want to contact us, our new Skype name is: ephraimitereturn. We have lost all the addresses from our previous Skype connections, so if you don’t mind, please send your address again. Thanks.

This past week a number thoughts, about our restored identity as Ephraimites/
Israelites have occurred to me. In last week’s letter I wrote about teaching children. One of the things that YHVH meant by the injunction “to teach” children, I believe, was to share with them about their ancestry. The great magnitude of this topic is clear, as it is tied to the history of YHVH’s chosen people.

In today’s Hellenistic world of humanism, we tend to focus on our individual entity, choosing that which is right in our own eyes. This Greek philosophy of life has led this generation to the ultimate state of no values and no true identity. It ignores any absolutes regarding divine law and order. It perpetuates the selfish, self-centered life style to the point of complete blindness to the operation of the principle of cause-and-effect, or reaping and sowing, and hence exempts the individual from any accountability.

The apostle Paul, writing to the Believers in Rome, makes note of the following: “For this reason Elohim gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain Elohim in their knowledge, Elohim gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality…” (Romans 1:26-29).

As most of you know, Jerusalem is faced with one of its most challenging decisions in modern history, and that is whether to allow or forbid a homosexual display in a form of a procession to make its way down its streets. In face of this possibility, the ultra-orthodox community has already taken matters into its own hands, and for a whole week now has been demonstrating its preview responses should the parade dare to march in “their” city. Already policemen have been injured in riots, which have taken place in religious neighborhoods. Why is all this taking place?

When a person does not have a clear idea of his identity, where he has come from, nor what is his destiny, he is lost and prone to search in all the wrong places. This becomes extremely dangerous for children, as they are presented with a life style of breached boundaries, no guidelines, sexual promiscuity, violence, low moral standards, and thus when they reach puberty they think it is the norm. Is this connected to the loss of identity or roots? What about us, as the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

Through the Prophet Jeremiah YHVH says: "I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: 'You have chastised me, and I was chastised, like an untrained bull; Restore me, and I will return, for You are YHVH my Elohim. Surely, after my turning, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, because I bore the reproach of my youth.'” (Jeremiah 31:18-19).

If Ephraim is still lost to his ancestral identity, how will this recognition of guilt for the sin of youth, his repentance and return to his Elohim, ever come to pass? There are hundreds of prophecies in scriptures that pertain to Ephraim/Israel, the lost tribes, and their restoration, but if they do not know who they are, some of those prophecies will never be fulfilled. However, has the Word of YHVH ever failed? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

“Not a word failed of any good thing which YHVH had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass” (Joshua 21:45), and I might add all still will come to pass.

YHVH has sent His Spirit to blow from the four corners of the earth to bring the whole House of Israel out from their graves and cause them to stand up a mighty army in these days. Judah is to be the bow and Ephraim the arrow, and together they are to be a weapon in the hand of the Almighty (ref. Zech 9:13-14). Those sons of Zion are to come against the sons of Greece. But if the sons of Zion are still acting and behaving like the sons of Greece, whether by ignorance or willfully, how can they become a weapon against the Hellenistic influences of our day? Let us pray that the sons of Zion will again return to their identity as YHVH’s firstborn, and: “ Set up signposts, make landmarks; set [their] heart toward the highway, the way in which [they] went. Turn back, O virgin of Israel, turn back to these your cities. How long will you go about, O you backsliding daughter?” (Jeremiah 31: 21-22) (Jeremiah 31: 3-4).

If we, the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, do not know who we are as their seed in this generation, none of the above scriptures, or for that matter no prophecy that pertains to all Israel, will be of any consequence. To all of you who have the faith of your father Abraham (ref Rom 4:16), let no one take your identity away from you, it is your birthmark and your future hope!

Ephraim

OBSERVATIONS

Before continuing the testimony of the trip, I feel an urgency to pass on to you some information. Last week a French couple that has been coming to the Tuesday evening meetings, asked me if I would take them up north to view the damage that was done during the war. A few days later we traveled, with another couple, to northern Israel. On the way we stopped at an (Israeli) Arab gas station. We were all aghast at what they were watching on television. It was an anti Israel program aired on an Arab station, which showed the supposed crimes that the Israeli/American military has been committing in many Arab countries. The main emphasis was on the death of women and children. I turned to look at the young Muslim woman standing behind the counter, watching us, the hatred in her eyes towards us was hauntingly evident.

The further we drove north the more we felt as though a dark cloud had descended upon our country. When we arrived in Nahariya, a city on the coast that was hit by more than 800 Katyusha and Kassam rockets, we were invited to the Mayor’s office where we heard stories of miracles that had taken place, but which, sadly, were not acknowledged as such. We were given a map to areas of the city that were hit the hardest. One family took us into their twice-hit home. The upper stories were completely ruined; the roof was gone and the house severely damaged. Only seven houses took direct hits but over a thousand sustained damage. However, in spite of all those rockets no one was killed. We left that city and drove all along the northern border. It was sad to see that many of the beautiful forests sustained damage from fires set off by the missiles coming in from Lebanon.

When Rimona and I returned from our overseas trip, not surprisingly, we found that the mood in the country was not the same as when we left. The general consensus here is that Israel lost this war. We never did get back our kidnapped soldiers, but what is more disconcerting is that it was only during the war that Israel discovered miles and miles of underground tunnels several stories deep where the Hizbullah terrorists had been building bombs, storing rockets and engaging the Israeli army. Israel’s famous intelligence service apparently was not aware of this, up until this latest campaign. Now I know why our son said that the fighting in Lebanon was like fighting ghosts. The Hizbullah could just pop up out of the ground, shoot their missiles and go back underground without being detected. One main entrance to a network of tunnels was built within 200 meters of a UNIFIL outpost. It is amazing that this could be done right under our noses, as well.

When Israel pulled out (or fled) Lebanon six years back, it was noted that Hizbullah, Syria and Hamas immediately began to make plans for the next phases of the Jihad against Israel. One of those strategies was to dig underground. We have already seen the effects of this tactic in the Gaza Strip, whose terrorists were constantly baffling Israel by sudden pop up attacks through tunnels that were miles-long. Should have it been any surprise when it was discovered that Hizbullah has done the same thing in southern Lebanon? My question is, therefore, how many have or are being dug in Judea and Samaria (West Bank), to be used in their future war effort? It is already known that there are terrorist cells even in our own Israeli Arab cities.

As we have seen in the Torah, war is not a blessing but a curse. Since our defeat in Lebanon, there is much being uncovered in the upper echelons of our government and other central agencies and services. Pride, arrogance (especially in the military) and corruption are rampant here. Are these leaders (heads) just showing the face of the nation (the body) itself? Pride comes before the fall (ref. Proverbs 16:18). Are Islam and its sword a warning from the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? “The curse causeless does not alight” (ref. Proverbs 26:2).

In a professional soccer game, this past week, a European coach branded Israel’s national team as representatives of a nation of “murders and killers”. We know that he was referring to the war on terror, but we also took note that we have murdered more unborn babies in this country than the number of Jews who have perished in the Holocaust. Two weeks ago Rimona was sitting in the waiting room of a clinic, when a mother of three children, and obviously pregnant with the fourth, was talking to a friend about “wanting to get rid of it” (her own words). Rimona spoke to her in no uncertain terms, saying that abortion was murder. The woman’s response was, “I know, yet it is my choice for my own reasons.”

As the redeemed of YHVH, where do we stand today in relationship to what is happening in this land? This scripture comes to mind:

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). But what if we do not?

Seek for the peace of Jerusalem,

Ephraim

BLESSING AND THE CURSE

Proverbs 26:2 states: “Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight.” The blessings and the curses that are recorded in YHVH’s Torah form an integral part of His statutes, ordinances, and laws that govern humanity. They are as active as nature’s forces and are operative, whether we are aware of them or not. This is why iniquity and sin have their boundaries and the fruit they produce cause transgressors-turned-victims to suffer the consequences of the curses. YHVH gave us the Torah for our instructions, so that we could live within His boundaries of righteousness. The blessings and the curses are one of His ways of teaching us to live righteously. How? Here is an illustration: When I was in Special Education we used what was called “behavior modification” methods to help our students learn that they simply could not do what was right in their own eyes. In the classroom, just as in the family and in society at large, there are standards of acceptable behavior. So we helped our students learn and change through positive (blessings) and negative (punishments) feedback. Paul the apostle put it simply, saying that one would reap what ones sows (ref Galatians 6:7-8), which is another means of explaining the laws of cause and effect.

One of the ways YHVH used to chasten His nations of Israel and Judah was to raise up a king, or kings (national leaders), who very often originated from the East. I know that nowadays it is not ‘in vogue’ (or politically correct) to point out to Israel and Judah that unless they repent and turn away from their gods of humanism and all their beastly/fleshly behavior, the consequence may come again from the East. But nevertheless, one cannot help but wonder if this is why we are hearing the sound of saber rattling from the leader of Iran. Yet YHVH is merciful, and many times the results of our behavior are slow to appear; that is, if we can read the signs.

Hence it is YHVH, the sovereign over all nations, who is involved in the assembling of the kings of the East (Islam) who are gathering in order to execute His purposes. Many of us have been pointing to the fact that Israel’s leaders, along with those of the other nations, have been dividing up our land in order to hand portions of it to the Islamic entity for the sake of peace. However, is this the real reason why our Elohim is giving our land over to such an enemy? Could it be that our unrighteous and rebellious hearts are the reason that He has raised up this kind of leadership in our nations and is stirring up the nations surrounding Israel? But at the same time YHVH has also promised that if we would repent and turn back to Him to walk in His righteousness, He “will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways” (Deuteronomy 28:7). But if (YHVH forbid) we are found deserving of the curse, then just the opposite will happen (ref. Deut. 28:25).

Leviticus 18 records a long list of sexual sins and also mentions the sin of sacrificing children to Molech. At the moment our nations are steeped in these abominations, having no fear of the consequences. YHVH’s people, on the other hand, are cautioned very severely regarding these kinds of activities: “You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you” (Leviticus 18: 26-28 emphasis added).

Many scriptures relating to the restoration of YHVH’s kingdom to the whole house of Israel are coming to pass in our generation, but there is one thing that can stop or slow up these prophetic fulfillments, and that is if His redeemed remnant will not respond to His will: “For this is the will of Elohim, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know Elohim; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because YHVH is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For Elohim did not call us to uncleanness, but to holiness” (1 Thessalonians. 4: 3-7).

We are all familiar with the story of Balaam and Balak. Balak, the king of Moab, summoned Balaam the prophet to curse Israel, but because YHVH would not allow it the ‘prophet’ did not succeed in his mission. YHVH had no reason to curse Jacob, so the prophet told his would-be dispatcher that he could only command a blessing upon that nation. “Behold, I have received a command to bless; YHVH has blessed, and I cannot reverse it” (Numbers 23:20). Balaam then informed Balak of the reason why he was unable to do his bidding: "He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. YHVH, his Elohim is with him, and the shout of a King is among them… For there is no sorcery against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel; It now must be said of Jacob and of Israel, 'Oh, what Elohim has done’” (Numbers 23:21-23). But was that the end of the story? While the nation remained in Moab for a while, Balak and his princes found out the reason that Israel’s Elohim was blessing them, and so they devised a way that would actually bring a curse upon Jacob. “So they vex YHVH’s nation with their wiles, wherewith they beguiled Israel in the matter of Peor, and Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian” (Numbers 25:18). The enemy opened the door to temptation and Israel was drawn into sexual perversion and the worship of the god of Moab (Baal of Peor) and thus walked into YHVH’s consequences. This resulted in a plague that broke out in their midst and killed twenty-four thousand (see v.9).

In this way Moab’s solution to the ‘blessing problem’ was to get the nation to rebel by committing sexual sins, and since YHVH could not go back on His word the resultant curse was soon made apparent. Defeating YHVH’s people, therefore, was made possible by enticing them to rebel against the Torah of their Elohim. In fact, the only defeat that the covenant people will ever suffer will be the result of their own actions, and that is disobedience to the commandments, laws, and ordinances of the Elohim of Torah. Messiah’s coming to establish the new covenant, which includes the writing of the Torah on the hearts of the recipients, does not mean that it gets inscribed there automatically or willy-nilly. If we continue to disobey the leading of the Spirit of Holiness and walk in rebellion to His righteousness in Messiah Yeshua, there will be consequences! Yeshua, along with the apostles, has not strayed away from the fundamental teachings of Torah. We will reap what we sow. If we sow to the flesh (power of sin) we will reap its consequences, but if we sow to the Spirit we will reap the benefits. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Messiah Yeshua, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit… For to be carnally minded is death [the curse], but to be spiritually minded is life and peace [the blessing]... For if you live according to the flesh you will die [the curse]; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live [the blessing]” (Romans 8:1; 6; 13). “Do not be deceived, Elohim is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption [the curse], but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life [the blessing]” (Galatians 6:7-8).

Ephraim

SMELL THE ROSES

Yesterday morning on my walk around the settlement, my thoughts were stirred by an old adage, “wake up and smell the roses”. Following these thoughts others began to pile in behind. I pray that YHVH will bring to my remembrance some of what I perceived to be a warning from the Spirit.

There is no doubt that we are heading into very difficult days, perhaps even the days that are called “Jacob’s troubles”. But what came to my mind regarding the proverbial roses, as I have some real ones in my garden, was that the rose flower does not stay in bloom long before the petals start to drop off and the stem has to be cut so that another can grow. The fragrance, therefore, is also very short lived. In my opinion, we have entered a season in which it is too late to smell the roses and what is about to awaken all Israel (both houses) are the thorns of “Jacob’s troubles”.

The main body of believers all over the world has been put to sleep by half-truths through what is called the dispensational doctrines. They have been led to believe that the Jewish people/nation constitutes the two sticks of Ezekiel 37 that are to be joined in order to become one stick/nation. Thus, looking at the first stick that Ezekiel was asked to take in his hand, they are mistaking it for the (future) union of the two. "As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: 'For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions'” (Ezekiel 37:16).

If we do not believe or comprehend that there is a second stick, that of “Joseph - the whole house of Israel”, in where lies the multiplicity of YHVH’s blessings to the forefathers (the “fullness of the nations”), we will be doing a great disservice to a whole lot of people who will be left in the dark as to “Jacob’s troubles”. Why? Because these troubles are going to fall on all the Israelites out in the nations, not only on the present day State of Israel and the Jews of the Diaspora.

Why are these troubles going to befall Jacob? Why is there an outcry in the nations, “Awake O Israel put off your slumber”? Why does the prophet Malachi demand to "remember the Torah of Moses My servant, and the statutes and judgments which I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel” (Mal 4:4)?

As I mentioned in previous letters, Moses gave us the answers to all these questions when he prophesied to the tribes, our forefathers, before they entered the land. He told them that they would not remain in the land very long, and that YHVH would scatter them amongst the nations. But in the latter days, when they find themselves in distress (great troubles), they would repent and return to YHVH and listen to His voice (ref. Deut: 4). YHVH gave us, His people, the Torah (His voice) and within those loving instructions He assigned the blessings and the curses and explained very clearly the reasons behind each of them respectively. The Almighty One intends to use “Jacob’s troubles” as correctional judgments for all Israel.

Thankfully YHVH is slow to anger (ref Psa 103: 8-9), so He will tolerate iniquity in His people until that cup is full. "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of YHVH your Elohim, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you” (Deut 28:15). Please read Deuteronomy 28: 16-68.

There is a belief that YHVH did away with the punishment for sin when Yeshua died. If that were the case then we can remove the scriptures that speak of the curses that follow sin. But is that the case? As I see it, those curses are punishments for missing the mark of Torah. However, when we repent “the blood of Yeshua cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7) thus breaking the curse that were attached to the sin.

When I look out of my living room window I see the two mountains, of blessing and curse. The Mount of Curse is higher and much larger than that of the Mount of Blessing, just as there are more verses about the curse than the blessing. Do not think that it is the devil executing the curses. It is very clear that YHVH already put these things in His book, as consequences for disobedience. But if His people from both houses of Israel will repent "and return to YHVH your Elohim and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, [than] YHVH your Elohim will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where YHVH your Elohim has scattered you” (Deut. 30:2-3). He also said that if we would repent He would put these curses on our enemies (ref. Deut. 30:7). And so, if the second stick of “all Israel” remains asleep or in the dark, who will be held responsible when the times of Jacob’s troubles fall upon them? I believe that we are already in the beginning stages of YHVH’s righteous judgments upon His people and that it is too late to smell the sweet fragrance of His blessings, thus we are beginning to feel the sting of the thorns.

“The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. The thorn and thistle shall grow on their altars; they shall say to the mountains, ‘Cover us!’ And to the hills, ‘Fall on us.’ O Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah… You have plowed wickedness; You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own way, in the multitude of your mighty men. Therefore tumults shall arise among your people, and all your fortresses shall be plundered… When it is My desire, I will chasten them. Peoples shall be gathered against them when I bind them for their two transgressions. Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek YHVH, till He comes and rains righteousness on you” (Hosea 10:8-9;13-14;12).


Ephraim

JEWS REQUIRE A SIGN

This has been an interesting week in that the topic of miracles came up several times in conversations. In each of those instances sentiments like “if only the Spirit would heal the sick or raise the dead as a witness to the Jews...” were expressed. Indeed, in the writings of Paul we find the apostle saying that the Jews do require a sign (ref 1 Cor. 1:22). Yeshua, for His part, left two signs of His Messiahship, “the sign of Jonah” (ref. Matt. 12:39-40), and the sign that the temple would be destroyed and raised back in three days (meaning His body, ref. Mark 14:58). In addition, Yeshua performed numerous miracles during His earthly ministry. But overall did all these miracles/signs have a lasting impact on the Jewish nation? What kind of a sign will the Jews of today respond to?

As I pondered this I recalled some feedbacks from Israeli Jews, when I had mentioned to them that there are people who are discovering their identity as the “lost tribes of Israel/Ephraim” and are also starting to adapt a Torah life style. The responses were always very emotional and the words the same every time: “The Mashiach is coming, the Mashiach is coming!” In Judaism it is a given that the lost tribes must return before Messiah comes. Included in this belief is also the concept that the true Messiah will be responsible for restoring the lost ones to their patriarchal roots.

As we all know, the one phenomenon that is quickly making its way through the Christian world today is interest in the Hebraic roots of Christianity and a love for the land and the Jewish people. Many Gentile believers are responding in an unprecedented way to this present move of YHVH’s Spirit. They are beginning to receive revelation that they are of the lost tribes, and as a result they also study the scriptures in a new light. Each individual has his own particular testimony, but all point to the one message of the latter day prophecies that speak about the House of Judah and the House of Israel/Ephraim being joined together into one nation.

The House of Judah (which has a remnant of all 12 tribes in it) has never lost its identity, and now, because of the Word of Elohim and His faithfulness, it has been restored to being a nation once again. But where are the multitudes promised to the other house? The prophet Ezekiel says that they are in their graves; they are dry dead bones. But when YHVH breathes His Spirit into them they will live again and come up out of those hidden places in the earth, and putting on flesh they will stand on their feet as a mighty army (ref Eze 37:1-10). The only people who have had YHVH’s Spirit breathed into them are those who have heard and believed the Good News of the New Covenant. Thus, through the faith that they have from their father Abraham, they have been resurrected from a grave of “not my people” and “sin and death” to life in Messiah. But that is not the only prophetic destiny for these people. They also are to become a royal priesthood and a holy nation, and to be joined to the “stick/nation of Judah” thus forming a one united nation (ref. Eze. 37: 19-22).

Today these scriptures are being fulfilled, and the House of Joseph/Ephraim (with its lost and now found tribesmen) is standing before Judah with this incredible testimony of life from the dead. What other sign would Judah need that would be greater than an entire nation being raised from their graves? It is therefore vital for the members of the House of Joseph/Ephraim to be this living testimony to Judah. It not only shows the Jews that the Elohim of Israel is faithful to keep His covenant and Word, but it is also a statement as to Messiah’s identity. Let us not be ashamed of who we are because it is the Gospel and the hope of Israel. It is the sign of the power of Elohim to raise the dry dead bones of the lost Israelites and bring them out of their graves, back to their identity and eventually to the land that was promised to their forefathers. More over, this restoration and redemption of all Israel will be YHVH’s testimony/sign to all the nations that He is the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a faithful covenant keeping Elohim. It will be life from dead for the entire creation (Rom. 8:19; Rom 11:15)!

Ephraim

TORAH AND THE WILDERNESS

As we know, Moshe ministered to Israel mainly during the time spent in the wilderness. YHVH had made it known that this was a period in which His people were to be taught and learn obedience to His commandments, statutes and ordinances, but not without the Almighty’s grace. The Children of Israel did not lack anything; food, water, or shelter, and neither did their clothes and shoes wear out during the forty-year journey. In the course of the sojourn in the dessert they were to be a testimony and a witness to the surrounding nations of the One who had redeemed them and brought them out of the bondage of Egypt. However, in spite of the grace, their hearts remained hard and their necks stiff towards their Elohim.

Therefore, shortly before entering the land, Moshe delivered a very disturbing message to the people. He revealed to them, that YHVH had not yet given them a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear (ref. Deut. 29:4); and then predicted that they would break covenant with Elohim once in the land that He was about to give them. Consequently they were not going to live long in the land, but be cast out and scattered amongst the peoples. But in spite of this harsh forecast, he did not leave them without hope. In the latter days, Moshe added, they would return to YHVH their Elohim and listen to His voice (ref. Deut. 4:25-30).

Of all the curses upon Israel’s disobedience, the severest is to be living outside the land. To be exiled amongst the other nations is like being back in the wilderness again, which the Bible calls the “wilderness of the peoples”. As we know from history, Moshe’s predictions came to pass, and in 722 BC the Northern Kingdom of the House of Israel was taken by the Assyrians to the northern regions of Assyria and later, in 556 BC, their brethren, the House of Judah, met the same fate in the Babylonian exile.

In the days of the prophet Ezekiel (590-560 BC) the elders of the Northern Kingdom approached Ezekiel, who was amongst them on a divine mission, and enquired if they could come back to the land. YHVH refused to answer them, other than to remind them of the abominations of their fathers, and admonishing them to forsake their ancestral ways. It was bad enough that they had rebelled in the wilderness, but once entering the land they had committed even worse offences (see Eze. 20:27-31). Now, in the “galut” (diaspora or exile), they were enquiring when they could return to the land.

Thankfully YHVH informed them that even though they had wanted to be like the other nations, serving wood and stone and playing the harlot, He would not allow them to carry on living in this manner: “Surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will be king over you. I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you face to face. Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you… I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am YHVH” (Ezekiel 20: 34-38).

Although this seemed like good news to those elders, it was not to be that generation that would return. But is it good news for the generation that will return? “With an outstretched hand and fury poured out” does not sound like much fun. Those elders of the House of Israel who were listening to Ezekiel must have been very disappointed. But because they were in rebellion against the Almighty they did not know nor understand what the prophets had spoken to them about their destiny, and that unfortunately is much the same case today. At that time YHVH’s plan for them to become multitudes, and even many nations, in accordance with the covenant that He had made with their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, was just in the beginning stages.

Now, almost 3,000 years later, it is evident that YHVH has kept His covenant and multiplied the seed of Israel like the sand of the sea. And although most of the Ephraimites are still in the “wilderness of the peoples”, there are signs that we could be living in the day of the restoration and return of the whole House of Israel. One of those signs is that this rebellious house would remember the Torah of Moshe, which was their instruction while in the “wilderness” after emerging from the house of bondage, and how much more so for their time in the “wilderness of the people”. "Remember the Torah of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments…before the coming great and terrible day of YHVH” (Malachi 4:4-5). Another sign that is in accordance with the “new covenant” was that, YHVH would write His instructions on the circumcised heart of the believing - resurrected Israelite. What Moshe said to our forefathers about YHVH not giving them a heart to understand, was now going to change with the “new covenant”. Therefore those who have received the grace to believe into this new covenant have no excuse for living a Torah-less life style.

It is interesting to note that during the time of the rejection and dispersion from the land, the House of Judah declared to the House of Israel: “Get far away from YHVH; this land has been given to us as a possession” (Eze 11:15). But let us hear what YHVH says about this: "Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone. Therefore say, 'Thus says YHVH Elohim: "I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel’" (Eze 11:16-17).

However, in order for this to come to pass there is an obligation that must be met. YHVH is not going to bring us back in the same condition that our forefathers were in when they were booted out. Repentance is going to be forced upon us until we smite our thigh for the sin of our youth; that is, the sin of our forefathers that we are still living in today even as believers in the “new covenant”, under which repentance is mandatory. Thus it is written about the House of Israel:
“There is hope in your future, says YHVH... I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: 'You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained bull; Restore me, and I will return, For You are YHVH my Elohim. Surely, after my turning, I repented; and after I was instructed (in Torah), I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, Because I bore the reproach of my youth'” (Jeremiah 31:17-19).

Be blessed as you count the seven weeks. Remember it was during this time that Yeshua was teaching His disciples about the Kingdom of His Father (ref Acts 1:3).

Ephraim

PASSOVER AND A LAMB FOR THE SACRIFICE

April 12, 2006

Passover! An exciting time of the year, especially this year, as the 14th of the first month (Aviv), YHVH's Passover, occurs again in the middle of the week, just as it did on the week of Yeshua's execution. The Biblical feast days are usually referred to as “mo’adim” (plural of “mo’ed), meaning a fixed, or appointed time of YHVH.

What is so important about these fixed appointments and their time and place, and are they relevant for today’s redeemed Israelite community? In Colossians 2:16-17 Shaul says: “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a mere shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Messiah." Many use this mistranslated scripture portion to disqualify the feasts of YHVH. However the literal translation of these verses is: “Let no one be your judge in regards to food, drink, feasts, new moon or Sabbaths, but the body of Messiah, for these are shadows of things yet to come.” Thus, these Torah observances are prophetic, and by keeping them we are proclaiming something that is yet to be revealed in YHVH’s plan. For this reason the Body of Messiah is "to judge" and discern these matters, as the verse points out. To those who would argue that the Torah laws were nailed to the cross, and have all been fulfilled by Yeshua, we would respond that the apostle wrote this after the death of the Messiah. In other words, yes, they are shadows… of things yet to come, and therefore are prophetic in nature!

Let us walk with Yeshua the Lamb, starting Friday, the ninth of the month of Aviv (Nissan), all the way through the Feast of Unleavened Bread, culminating with the Waving of the Omer. Each day will be much more meaningful as we ponder the mo’ed ahead of us, focusing on Yeshua’s last Passover. Being the lamb of Elohim, Yeshua would have had to fulfill all the requirements of this mo’ed. In addition, He also had to fulfill the prophetic words that had been written about Him, and those that He prophesied about Himself. Here are some of the relevant scripture texts, and looking at a Hebrew calendar, as you read, will help.

IT IS WRITTEN:
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. (Matt. 5:17-18).

" Then He said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Messiah to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?' So beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures (Tanach) the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:25-27)".

" Then I said, `Behold, I have come----In the volume of the book it is written of Me----To do Your will, O YHVH'" (Heb.10:7).

"Then Yeshua said to them, 'all of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: `I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered'”: (Zech 13:7)…

" ‘Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? "How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?’ In that hour Yeshua said to the multitudes, ‘Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled” (Matt. 26:31, 53-56).


YESHUA’S PROPHECIES

The Sign of Jonah:

“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, 'teacher, we want to see a sign from You'. But He answered and said to them, 'an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth'” (Matt:12:38-40).

"'A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.’ And He left them and departed” (Matt.16:4)

“And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, ‘this is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet’” (Luke 11:29).

The Sign of the Temple

"So the Jews answered and said to Him, 'what sign do You show to us, since You do these things? 'Yeshua answered and said to them, 'destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up'. Then the Jews said, 'it has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?' But He was speaking of the temple of His body. (John 2:18-21).

Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Yeshua to put Him to death but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, "This fellow said: `I am able to destroy the temple of YHVH and to build it in three days'" (Matt. 26:59-61; Mark 14:58-62).
(Were these last two really false witnesses? Did not Yeshua say that He would destroy the temple? Read John 2:18-21 again.)

"And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying: 'you who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross '"(Matt. 27:39-40; Mark 15:29-30).

Because Yeshua told the Priests and the people that ??these?? were signs of His being the Messiah, the former wanted to make sure that no one would try and steal the body and then proclaim to everyone that what this prophet-teacher said has indeed been fulfilled. So, to ensure that nothing would happen to the body, they placed soldier-guards around the tomb, and sealed the stone that covered the entrance. This, however, backfired on them, in that these soldiers became the first witnesses to the fulfillment of the signs. “Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, 'tell them, `his disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' "And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day” (Matt. 28:11-15).

"After His resurrection, the disciples also recalled what Yeshua had said about the destruction of the “temple” and about raising it in three days" (John 2:19-22).

YHVH’S APPOINTED TIMES

“And YHVH spoke to Moses, saying, 'speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: `The feasts of YHVH, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of YHVH in all your dwellings'” (Lev. 23:1-3). Each feast day, regardless of the day of the week it happens to occur on, is patterned after the Shabbat and is called a Shabbaton. This is why Yeshua had to be taken off the cross and buried before the evening of the coming in of the “Shabbat”. “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day [the 14th] that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day [the 15th] ) the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away (John 19:31; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54). The 15th was and still is the Feast of Matzot - unleavened bread. It is a Shabbat-like day (a Shabbton).

“These are the feasts of YHVH, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. On the fourteenth day of the first month between the evenings [the entire twenty four hour period of the 14th] is YHVH’s Passover” (Lev.23: 4-5). Please note that the 14th is not spoken of as a rest day or a holy convocation (see John 19:31). It was the day on which they were busy sacrificing and cutting up the lambs; from evening to evening, a day of preparation for the Shabbaton that was to follow (on the 15th which was the first day of the Feast of Matzot). “And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to YHVH; seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day [the 15th of the Month of Aviv] you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it. But you shall offer an offering made by fire to YHVH for seven days. The seventh day [the 21st of the month of Aviv, April 26th this year] shall be a holy convocation [a Shabbat-like day]; you shall do no customary work on it" (Lev. 23:6-8; ref. Deut. 16:1-3). Within the week of the Feast of Matzot it is possible to have three Shabbats; the fifteenth, which could fall on any day of the week, the regular seventh day of the week, and the seventh day feast which again can fall on any day of the week.

“And YHVH spoke to Moses, saying, ‘speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before YHVH, to be accepted on your behalf'”. (Lev. 23:10-11) This literally says: “for your acceptance, or that you may be accepted”. In other words, you and I can only go before YHVH if this wave offering qualifies us. “On the day after the Sabbath (the weekly Shabbat that falls between the two Shabbatons) the first day of the week [the 18th of Aviv, which in the Hebrew letters makes the word “life”), the priest shall wave it. And you shall offer on that day, when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to YHVH.” (Lev. 23: 9-12). Yeshua was raised on this day and presented Himself before the Father, this is why He told Miryam of Magdala not to touch Him. for He had not yet been to the Father. He was that first fruit wave offering that you and I may be accepted. “And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed” (Lev. 23:15). (Not forgetting to count the Sabbath of the 21st of Aviv).

LAMB FOR THE SACRIFICE

"Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: `On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. `And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. `Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight [between the evenings]'" (Ex. 12:3-6).

Yeshua the Lamb,

“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night" (Luke 2:7-8). The Lamb was born in a stable, in a feed troth, amongst other animals in the place. Shepherds pasturing sheep heard the message of the angles. "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." (Luke 2:12).

“The next day John saw Yeshua coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

"The place in the Scripture which he read was this: 'He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its sheerer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth'"(Acts 8:32-33)

“But with the precious blood of Messiah, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1Pet.1:19-20).

“And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: 'You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth'” (Rev. 5:6-10).

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb'" (Rev. 7:9-17).

“They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: 'great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested'"(Rev. 15:3-4).

Passover Lamb’s Journey

“Now it came to pass, when Yeshua had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan" (Matt. 19:1; Mark 10:1; John 1:28). ”Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Yeshua was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 'behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again'" (Mark 10:33). Please note the pronoun being used, it is as if the Son of God 'aspect' of Yeshua is speaking about the Son of Man 'aspect'.

“Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.
And when he heard that it was Yeshua of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, 'Yeshua, Son of David, have mercy on me!'" (Mark 10:46; Luke 18:35; 19:1 Matt. 20:29; Luke 19:28). Interestingly YHVH used a blind man to declare that Yeshua was the Messiah Son of David.

“Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Yeshua sent two disciples, saying to them, 'go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me'” (Matt. 21:1-2; Luke 19:28-29).

“Then, six days before the Passover [the 9th of Aviv], Yeshua came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Miryam took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Yeshua, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Yeshua, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 'why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?' This he said not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Yeshua said, 'let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always'" (John 12:1-8).

Tonight (Erev Shabbat), when you sit to have your meal, think about what had been taking place on this very night so many years ago. Maybe find some perfume to scent the air…(fragrance of Messiah).

“The next day [Shabbat the tenth of Aviv], a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Yeshua was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: 'Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the YHVH! The King of Israel!' Then Yeshua, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 'Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt'" (John 12:12-16).

The Jewish feast of Unleavened Bread was and still is celebrated on the 15th. This year that day happens to fall on Thursday, April 20th . If we count six days before the 15th of Aviv, we arrive at Friday the 9th (April 14th ), this was the day on which Yeshua came up to Beit-Onya (Bethany), and had an Erev Shabbat meal with El’azar (Lazarus), Martha, and Miryam. John tells us that the following day, which would have been Shabbat the tenth of Aviv, Yeshua rode the colt of an Ass into Jerusalem. Sorry it was not Palm Sunday, but Palm Saturday that year. It on this same day that the priests carried the lambs for the Passover sacrifices into the temple as well. The lambs were examined for four days, and if no blemish or defect could be found, they qualified for the sacrifice, and were killed on the 14th. Yeshua went up on the tenth. and for four days he was also questioned and examined until no fault could be found in Him. He was the perfect sacrifice. He celebrated the Passover meal the night before the rest of the nation celebrated it, as He knew He would not be around for the occasion. “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Yeshua knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end" (John 13:1).
“When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, 'with fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God'" (Luke 22:14-16). He was then crucified on the 14th , which is Wednesday, the middle of the week. “Then He shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate" (Daniel 9:27). On the day of preparation, Yeshua was put into the grave, just before the Shabbaton of the 15th , the eve of Thursday, (Please keep in mind that the night comes first and then the day). He was in the grave that night (1st night), all day Thursday (1st day the 15th); the night of Friday (2nd night) all day Friday (2nd day the 16th); Saturday night (3rd night) and all day Saturday (3rd day the 17th). Then sometime after the Shabbat went out Yeshua rose from the dead. He was exactly 3 days and 3 nights in the grave. The religious leaders were looking for a reason to enounce him as a liar. Indeed, if He would not have stayed in that grave for three nights and three days they would have proven their point beyond a shadow of a doubt, and Yeshua could not have been the Messiah of Israel. The Good Friday and Easter Sunday celebrations only come to the aid of those who would declare Yeshua a liar. The sign of Jonah is Yeshua’s answer to an evil and wicked generation.

Let us be as those who have understanding and join Yeshua’s disciples and remember all that has been written. “Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Yeshua had said" (John 2:22)

Ephraim

"Great and marvelous are Your works, YHVH Elohim Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O YHVH, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested"(Rev. 15:3-4).

PASSOVER AND OUR NATIONAL UNITY

April 7, 2006
For those of you who are celebrating Passover with our brother, the People of Judah, I would like to share again the following letter. I think it quite significant that it was at this time that YHVH declared Israel to be His firstborn nation; the only nation that would ever have this status before Him. Actually very little mention is made of the importance of the death of Egypt’s firstborn and the fact that YHVH established Israel as His. Israel’s birth as a nation came as a result of the death of a lamb and its blood having been smeared on a doorpost of the homes, but also at the expense of another nation losing its firstborn sons. I hope this year we will consider the importance of our unity as YHVH’s firstborn nation and what it means to be called an “Israelite”.
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It was over 3,800 years ago when the Elohim of Jacob sent His family down into Egypt to make them into a single nation. Speaking to His servant Jacob, He said: “I am YHVH, the Elohim of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation [goy] there’” (Genesis 46:3). One of the Hebrew words for “nation” is “goy”. It is first used in the Tanach in the Covenant that YHVH made with our forefather Abraham, “I will make you a great nation [goy]; I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). One man, one God, one Covenant, one national identity; this was at the heart of YHVH’s plan for the redemption of the creation. The Elohim of Abraham set apart a man, and swore by His own name that his seed/sperm would become a great and holy (set-apart) nation.

When Jacob and his band of seventy souls arrived in Egypt, he found another family member already down there - Joseph. As we can see from the story recorded in Genesis, Joseph and his progeny had lost their identity and connection with their family of origin, and thus in a sense were a prophetic type of the second family (the so called Gent
iles, the company of nations) of the house of Jacob. Perhaps this is why Jacob had to adopt Joseph’s sons (ref. Gen 48:5), even though they were of the same bloodline. The adoption was significant for the restoration of the governmental order and unity of the clan. If they were to become a nation there in Egypt, they had to have their own land, and so since Joseph was in a position to do so, he gave them the land of Goshen, where they multiplied profusely. The Creator blessed them with fruitfulness, as they dwelt in one of the most fertile areas of the land of Ham.

However, eventually Jacob’s family became slaves to their Egyptian overlords. And while in that state, they lost their vision of being a nation, a family and a people with a purpose and a Divine call. This is portrayed quite vividly in the scene of the two Hebrew slaves who (much like today’s ‘two houses’) were fighting one another much to their own demise. The seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was now characterized by individualism. This was only natural, since they were living under extreme conditions where self-preservation became their means of survival. So where was this great nation that was promised to Abraham? His seed, now turned slaves, were cursing the day they were born on. They had become nothing more than dead dry bones in the desert sands of Egypt. So helpless were they that they could not even respond to Moses, when he came to them preaching the good news of their deliverance (ref. Exodus 6:9)!

The Passover story is replete with pestilence, famine and one disaster following another. But when gross darkness covered the land, there was still light in the tents of the Hebrews (ref. Ex.10:23), as the anointing of YHVH’s covenant word (which “is a light”, ref. Ps. 119:105) was still upon them to become a great nation. How was this going to be made possible? It certainly was not going to happen by the nation’s own strength. This was going to take a miracle, a Divine intervention. YHVH, therefore, dispatched a man with a message: “Let My people go”. Moses was faithful to bring that word to the ruler of the slaves, but YHVH hardened the heart of Pharaoh, just to make sure that His people would know that their deliverance was not going to come by the way or the authority of man. Had Pharaoh given his permission, these Hebrews would have been forever indebted to their slave owner. They would have never been free and could never have taken up their divinely ordained position as the head of all the nations. In this manner, they would have been legally bound to Egypt.

YHVH had another plan to restore these slaves to freedom and to their national identity. He told His servant Moses to have each family take a lamb: "Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: `On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats…. Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb….then you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning…. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt ” (Exodus 12:3-5; 21-22; 13).

The moment the elders applied the blood and struck the lintels and the doorposts of the Hebrews’ homes with it, the latter were all sealed into their deliverance, freedom and destiny, but even beyond that - their individualism had just ceased to exist. They were now united behind the one sacrifice, totally dependent upon the powerful right arm of the Almighty to bring them out. “Let My people go!” YHVH had already announced to all the rulers of Egypt who these people belonged to. These were a people who did not belong to themselves, they were and still are today “My people, [“ami” -singular] says YHVH”. But now, through the blood of the lamb they were set apart to enter into the next phase of His plan. “’And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel" (Exodus 19:6).

As we, Ephraim and Judah, YHVH’s two families, the two nations, gather together to honor Him during this year’s Passover, let us leave our individualism and lift the cup of unity. Remember that we were all once slaves to sin and death and bound to the principalities and powers of this world’s (kosmos) dominion. It behooves us to, “purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Messiah our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor. 5:7-8). May we walk together through the Door that is splattered with the blood of the Lamb, out of the houses of our bondage and into the liberty of the new corporate life of the “One New Man”, the Royal Priesthood and Holy Nation Israel, YHVH’s firstborn!

May you all be blessed during this Passover and Feast of Matzot (unleavened bread) with a sense of national unity! May the eyes of our hearts be opened anew to the fact that we are “My people Israel” in this generation.

Ephraim

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there YHVH commanded the blessing--Life forevermore” (Ps. 133).