In the past, as well as more recently, I have come across
believers (Christians) who respond to the topic of Israelite identity in statements
such as: “I am a Gentile (meaning non-Jew). I do not feel in any way that I’m
of the natural seed of Israel, but in Jesus I have all the promises that belong
to Israel”.
It is nice to claim positive
promises, but would these assertors be so quick to make them had they
considered the responsibilities that go with being a chosen Firstborn Nation? Especially
when this nation is a witness to a faithful covenant-keeping Elohim. I have
also heard it said by a Messianic Jew that the inclusion of Gentiles into
Israel’s New Covenant is the “greatest thing” (that is, more so than if these
"Gentiles" were actually of Israelite descent). But is it?
Could this belief be a form of replacement theology?
Did the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel fail to
keep His first covenant of multiplicity (stars and sand) with those three forefathers?
Did He somehow decide to add other forefathers’ seeds to the Abrahamic Covenant,
eliminating the importance of Sarah and Rebecca’s wombs? (see Romans 9). What is even worse is making
Elohim a liar regarding the promises of the First Covenant? Would it not be a
“greater thing” if you a “Gentile” from the nations, who has received Elohim’s
mercy through Israel’s New Covenant, were to realize that you actually are
proof of the Almighty's faithfulness to the First Covenant made with your
forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? The New Covenant with Israel did not
replace Israel; just the opposite, it found the promised seed of Isaac and
Jacob/Israel, testifying to YHVH’s faithfulness in keeping the First Covenant.
Yes, "formally you were goy’im, that is,
those identified with the nations, but now you are brought (back)
into the commonwealth (national identity) of Israel" (ref. Eph.
2:12). How about identifying with the multitudes promised to the forefathers? Was
not the “fullness of the Goy’im” promised to Ephraim? Does the mystery of the
blindness of Israel have something to do with ignorance of one’s natural
heritage? And isn't Ephraim’s brother Manasseh’s name (“forgetfulness”)
prophetic of the destiny of the people connected to the promises you, the
so-called Gentile, are claiming (Gen. 48:19)? YHVH did not make those promises
to “Gentiles”, but to those forgetful Israelites who are “far off”.
Let me emphasize again: the apostles’ understanding of the thirteen
or so mysteries they wrote about was based on the Tanach/Old Testament. Yeshua
also spoke of these mysteries, although in parable form. One of those mysteries is found in Paul’s
address to the “former Gentiles” or “wild olive branches” who used to be “far
off, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the
covenants” (ref. Rom 11:25; Eph 2:12). Who are those described as being “far
off”?
YHVH opens His dissertation in Ezekiel 11:15 by addressing
the ones who are “far off”. "Son of man, your brethren, your
relatives, your countrymen, and all the house of Israel in its entirety, are
those about whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, `Get far off
from YHVH; this land has been given to us as a possession.’" Doesn’t
that sound familiar, as even today some are still saying to the repentant and
restored returnees of Israel/Ephraim those very words? Are we dealing here with a mystery of
blindness on both sides of the family? "Thus says YHVH - Elohim: ‘Although
I have cast them far off among the Gentiles (or Nations - (Goy’im),
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"' (Ezekiel
11:16 emphasis added). Who was YHVH addressing through the prophet
Ezekiel?
"O Adoni, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame
of face, as it is this day--to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of
Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the
countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which
they have committed against You”
(Dan. 9:7 emphasis added). Who is the Prophet Daniel addressing,
defining their location as being “far off”.
“Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is
prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of YHVH are right; the righteous walk
in them, but transgressors stumble in them”
(Hos. 14:9).
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