Out of the Archives - Updated "Ancestry and Identity"

 In today’s Hellenistic world of humanism, we tend to focus on our individual identity, choosing what 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 lifestyle 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 “Woke” mindset that is currently sweeping the Western world and causing chaos within its societies is a direct outcome of the loss of a moral compass and absolute values and standards.

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).

When a person does not have a clear idea of his identity, where he has come from, or his destiny, he is lost and prone to search in all the wrong places. In our day, one of those “wrong places”, which is examined and accepted by many, young and even old, is the growing affinity with Jihadist ideology. This is extremely dangerous for the younger generation, as they are presented with a lifestyle of breached boundaries, no guidelines, sexual promiscuity, low moral standards, and violence, especially as the latter is accompanied by some kind of “ideology”. Even before these young ones reach puberty, they think these trends and behaviors are the norm. Again, is this connected to the loss of identity or roots? What about us, as the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who have lost their corporate identity as “Israel/Ephraim?

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? Hundreds of prophecies pertain to Ephraim/Israel, the lost tribes, and their restoration, but with the objects of these prophecies being bereft of the knowledge of identity, some of those prophecies will never be fulfilled (at least not for the ones who are ignorant of who they are). 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 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 as 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 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).

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 deprive you of your identity, it is your birthmark and hope at present and for the future!