Covenant of Peace

In last week’s article we examined the importance of Pesach.  As of this writing, we are now ten days before Shavuot, which was the time when the disciples gathered together with Yeshua on the Mount of Olives.  The question that still raged through the minds of the Messiah’s followers was about “the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel” (see Acts 1:6; also A Shavuot Story).  The disciples all knew that the true Messiah came to restore the lost tribes of Israel and bring the house of Judah back together again with the house of Israel (see Ezekiel 36 and 37).  As for us, I think we have all worn out the texts surrounding Ezekiel 37, but here again is a quote from the last 3 verses of that chapter:   "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary (Mikdash) in their midst forevermore.  My tabernacle (Mishkan) also shall be with them; indeed I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.  The nations also will know that I, YHVH, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary (Mikdash) is in their midst forevermore" (Ezekiel 37:26-28 emphasis added).  

                                        

This splendid promise of an everlasting covenant of peace, between YHVH and His people, was fulfilled two thousand years ago when Messiah Yeshua gave His life on that execution stake:  “For it pleased the Father that in Him (Yeshua) all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.  And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight” (Colossians 1:19-22 emphasis added).  This covenant of peace was made with Israel at Pesach (Passover), which made way for the Spirit of YHVH to indwell the heart of the redeemed, especially those who were once called “not my people” (Hosea 1:9).  

As mentioned in last week’s letter, the blood flowing down the body of Yeshua, as he hung dying on the execution stake, cleansed and purged the defiled life of Adam, which the Father placed in the flesh of His Son.  Elohim carried out the death sentence against Adam through the death of Yeshua.   Even though all men died when Yeshua died, the Father purchased all of humanity in order to take out His treasured firstborn nation Israel (see parable of the hidden treasure or pearl).  If we do not grasp the significance of what YHVH did at Pesach, Shavuot will be just a meaningless celebration.  The waving of the first harvested barley sheaves, the “beginning of the Omer” (re’sheet) as epitomized by Yeshua during the Pesach season, was for our acceptance. This was followed by Shavuot, which is the Feast of Firstfruit (see Leviticus 23:27) and epitomized by the firstfruit of those that have been raised from the dead.  “But Elohim, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah, and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua”  (Ephesians 2:4-6). “If then you were raised with Messiah, seek those things which are above, where Messiah is, sitting at the right hand of Elohim” (Colossians 3:1).   If we have died together in Messiah, raised together in Messiah, made alive together in Messiah and now sit together in Messiah, how is it that we cannot get along together here on earth (“shevet achim”) when we claim to be in Messiah and have His Spirit in us?  

Shavuot, therefore, is the fulfilment of what was prophesied in Ezekiel 37, namely that His Sanctuary would be in them/us (~k'AtB. yviD"q.mi-ta,),  in this way becoming a Mishkan of His presence - a nation in the wilderness of the nations, a colony of heaven, so that the nations will know that YHVH has sanctified Israel in their sight.  Israel is called and chosen to be a corporate expression of His will and purpose for all humanity.  It is not only a mixture of people groups claiming to be Israel, but a “royal priesthood”, a Mishkan, a Mik’dash of His presence, “presenting (their) bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Elohim, which is their reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). 

Addressing the tribes of Israel James (Yaacov) writes: “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:18).  All living things that were given to Adam to rule over are still travailing under the curse, waiting for the firstfruit sons in Messiah Yeshua to be revealed in order to redeem the rest of creation.  Shavuot is the beginning of this revelation.

Ephraim

Divisions Among You

Shalom Fellow Israelite,

In last week’s letter, “Drawing Close”, I mentioned that we would take a look at what Paul meant by his following plea: “…by the name of our Master Yeshua the Messiah, [I would] that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).  Since we obviously are not going to speak the same thing (all of the time), and divisions are almost inevitable, what would Paul have been referring to?  In this chapter the apostle is highlighting the centrality of Yeshua “and Him crucified” and the power and wisdom of the cross, as there was a need to address the brethren’s various allegiances that were causing strife and division. Some were calling themselves after Paul, others after Apollos or Cephas (v. 12), while today we could add a host of pastors, rabbis, teachers, prophets and leaders of organizations.  This is why we have 4 or 5 different dates for celebrating the same feast, the proponents of each claiming their ‘rightness’, while often judging others for not following their particular interpretation. But never mind… We are all vulnerable to thinking that we are right and others are wrong, as the power and nature of sin are still working in and through our flesh. 

Paul’s response to the Corinthians’ discord and disputation was very direct: “Has Messiah been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you immersed into the name of Paul?” (v. 13).  He then goes on to explain about Messiah and His crucifixion. Paul was most likely asking them to have the “same mind” and “speak the same thing” in relationship to what the Father did in and through Yeshua’s suffering and death.  Paul then uses the concept of immersion to explain an unseen judicial spiritual act, so that the cross of Messiah would not be made void, of non-effect or empty (v. 17) through different interpretations.  Thus, being immersed into Messiah is not referring to being water baptized by someone, but it is YHVH’s immersing of the defiled life of Adam’s humanity into the flesh of His Son while he hung, in a state of dying, on the execution stake. “And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach” (Colossians 1:21, emphasis mine. See also Romans 6:3-4; Corinthians 5:14-16).  ”But of Him [Elohim] you are in Messiah Yeshua” (1 Corinthians 1:30a) “therefore no flesh may boast” (v. 29).  To reinforce this truth, Paul states, when writing to the Galatians: "I have been crucified with Messiah; and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me” (2:20), and again to the Colossians: “For you died, and your life is hidden with Messiah in Elohim” (3:3).  We could not experience this reality had we not been partakers of that ‘mikva’ on the 14^th day of Aviv (YHVH’s Pesach) two thousand years ago.  The work was done then, but it is only now that we have awakened, through faith, to this truth, by YHVH’s Spirit. 

We can actually conjecture at what moment in the dying of Yeshua this ‘mikva’ took place.  Because of the Father’s holiness, when the corrupted life of Adam was submerged into the flesh life of His Son, He (the Father) had to put a veil between Yeshua’s nefesh (body-soul) and His (the Father’s) indwelling Spirit: “Elohim was in Messiah reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). In His humanity, being in the flesh, Yeshua experienced this agonizing separation and cried out: “Eli, Eli, why have you forsaken me?!” (Mathew 27:46).

Yeshua’s blood flowing down His flesh body, from the top of his head to the bottom of His feet, was what YHVH required in order to cleanse and purge the life of Adam, so that he could be redeemed and brought back to a relationship with his Heavenly Father and Creator.  Because the life of Adam was put into Yeshua’s flesh body, the former went into death with Yeshua. In other words, when Yeshua died so did Adam. Therefore “our old man was crucified with Him that the body of sin might be done away with” (Romans 6:6).  Understanding this is of utmost importance, because it makes all the difference in our relationship to one another and to sin, as well as to Satan’s kingdom.  This is why the wisdom of Elohim is revealed in the word of the execution stake, as it says: “…but we preach Messiah crucified… to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Messiah the power of Elohim and the wisdom of Elohim” (1 Corinthians 1: 23-24).  This was the solution that Paul brought to the Corinthians and it is always the answer to strife, contention, and the taking of offence at the least of disagreements.

A precursor to this ‘mikva’ is found in Jeremiah 17:13, which says:  “O YHVH, the hope of Israel, all who forsake You shall be ashamed. Those who depart from Me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken YHVH, the fountain of living waters”. “Hope” here is not the usual “tikva”, but rather, “mikva”, as the root for the verb ‘gathering of water’ (see Gen. 1:9) is k.v.h. So we see that our immersion in YHVH is where our hope lies. This is confirmed by the second part of the verse which calls Him, “the fountain of living water”. And if we glance back to verses 7&8, the picture becomes even clearer: "Blessed is the man who trusts in YHVH, and whose trust is YHVH. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” 

The only way that we will bear the “fruit of the Spirit” is when our roots are in that mikva of the dying and death of Messiah Yeshua, because in Him is “the fountain of living water”.  Yeshua said that these living waters would flow forth from our innermost parts as well.  “…whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:13-14).  

Shabbat Shalom,

Ephraim

Drawing Close

Shalom Fellow Israelite,

A few days before leaving on our 9 week trip to the States and Canada, as I was reading for the hundred plus time Ezekiel 37, I noticed that verse 17, which reads: "Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand,”  is not exactly that way in Hebrew. Examining the injunction “join” I found out that my previous understanding of that word, which was to “connect” them together and to make them one stick, was not the right or correct understanding of “karev” (kof-resh-veth), a verb that actually means to “draw near” or “approach”.  Picture the prophet holding one stick in one hand, and the other stick in the other hand, drawing them “one toward the other one”.   The verse continues: “so that they will be one in your hand”.  The last word translated “one” is a plural “one” – “achadim” (that is, “ones”). 

As the prophet continues to draw these two closer together, they eventually end up next to one another in only one of his hands.  However, they are still two sticks, each distinct and independent of the other, which is to say that they are still two nations and two kingdoms. The next verse actually confirms the idea of the two sticks (“achadim”) in the prophet’s hand, as it reads:  "And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, 'Will you not show us what you mean by these?'” (v. 18 emphasis mine). The reference there to the subject matter of the previous verse points, once again, to plural, “these”, thus telling us that the sons of the prophet’s people (which could refer to the Jews in Babylon) are still looking at two sticks.  The Hebrew word is “eleh” (alef - lamed – hey), meaning “these” (and not “this” – “zeh”, zayin- hey). 

Continuing in verse 19, YHVH says very clearly that He will take the two sticks/trees out of the prophet’s hand and make them “one” - “echad” - in His hand.  Thus, if they would have been one (echad) in the prophet’s hand, it would not have been necessary for YHVH to make them one in His hand.  The following verse takes us back to YHVH’s word to the prophet: "And the sticks [plural] on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes” (v.20). This statement allows us to envision the prophet with two sticks in one hand, as mentioned above, one next to the other.  For them to be in this position, or to get to the point of being drawn so close to one another, major effort or changes will have to take place in both camps, not to mention the need to resolve the disunity that already exists within each respective camp.

YHVH’s prophetic declaration and order of procedure are very important to understand:   "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again” (Ezekiel 37:21-22 emphases mine).  Here we see the two becoming one stick/nation and kingdom, not only in YHVH’s hand but also in their land.

 

History proves that YHVH started fulfilling the prophecy by having gathered Judah, bringing them to their land.  But now what about the second nation?  Zechariah chapter 10 talks about the days when Judah would be back in the land, and also that YHVH would save Joseph (v. 6) and then gather him to become the other stick/nation in the hand of the prophet.  “I will whistle for them and gather them, for I will redeem them; and they shall increase as they once increased” (Zechariah 10:8)

According to the above scripture, the first stage for the house of Joseph/Ephraim was/is to be saved. I believe that that means to be “redeemed” and to be restored to their original identity as the sons of Israel, a phenomenon which has been accelerating from the time that the historic old city of Jerusalem came back into the hands of the nation of Judah in 1967.   Next YHVH says that He will gather (kuf-vet-tzadi) them (referring to the dry bones), using the verb “kavetz”, which is seen, for example, in 1 Kings 20:1 as to “gather, assemble or concentrate forces” (such as the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:10).  Employing the same verb, Isaiah 60:4 reads: "Lift up your eyes all around, and see: they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side”.

If the redeemed members of the house of Joseph are going to become a nation in the hand of the prophet, they will have to be gathered first and foremost unto Yeshua their redeemer. Yeshua will then unify them by the oneness of His indwelling Spirit, ultimately into family communities: “Elohim sets the solitary in families... And makes families like a flock” (Psalm 68:6a; 107:41b), and I might add, with seasoned mature recognized leadership/elders (see Jeremiah 23:4). This unity is not conformity to outward or external religious symbols and practices, but is based on the evidence of the life of Elohim’s Son. “And because you are sons, Elohim has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’" (Galatians 4:6).

The above verse indicates that the nation/stick of Joseph is made up of Elohim’s sons, who are governed by His Spirit.  It also points out that the king of this spiritual kingdom is residing in the hearts of His subjects.  The government of Elohim is “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (see Romans 14:17).  We know that Satan will not stand by allowing this restoration to go forward. He will work through the power of sin, which is in our flesh, to bring forth the unloving nature of his kingdom of darkness.  When he gains a measure of success in these efforts, we may become what YHVH hates, that is, “a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16,19).  The power of sin is the next most powerful force to Elohim’s.  The only authority that has already defeated the nature and power of Satan’s is the wisdom of Elohim, which is the word of the execution stake. “For the message/word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of Elohim” (Corinthians 1:18).

“Elohim is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Yeshua the Messiah master and king.  Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Master Yeshua the Messiah, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (Corinthians 1:18).  This is not necessarily referring to what we do, but to what we believe to be true about the Father’s finished work through Yeshua’s death, burial and resurrection.  Next time, Yah willing, we will explore what that might look like.  In the meantime watch and pray, for the devil, with his wiles, is always looking to use us (our flesh) to abuse ourselves and others.  But the love of Elohim is in our hearts in order to encourage and build us up and others in faith, hope, and love. There are many parts to His body, and we all may have a different leading as to what He is doing to accomplish His purposes, but that is a matter of the heart, which only He knows.  Some may want to serve together in a framework of an organization, others feel to do it another way, again, according to the way they feel led.  But none has the right to judge what is in the heart of another.  We all have the privilege of forgiving one another when necessary.

Shabbat Shalom,

Ephraim  

Our North America Journey

Shalom Fellow Israelite,

As mentioned in our earlier note this week, we are back in the land.  Jet lag seems to be over now and we are busy getting settled into daily routines (including yesterday’s celebration of Israel’s 68^th Independence Day).  But before time slips away we want to share some of the amazing events we experienced in North America.  (These are the contour lines, as it were, of the trip and do not include the actual content and message that Abba has laid on our hearts to share). We have never had so much favor from Abba, in every area of the journey, as we did this time.  We left Israel on March 1^st, were met by friends in Tampa, Florida and taken to their lovely home in Sarasota.   There we had a couple of days to recuperate and enjoy the blessings of love poured out by this couple.  On the 4^th we jointed hundreds of Ephraimites at the B’ney Yosef North American summit in St Petersburg, which was like a family reunion. YHVH’s presence and anointing upon those 3 days were electrifying.  What was especially precious was meeting Batya Wooten, with her wonderful sense of humor that she has been maintaining in spite of several years of no minor difficulties.  We also were very impressed by the choice of elders for BYNA, as well as by those on the executive board, all of whom have taken up the task of organizing and moving forward with the vision of the reconstitution of our national aspirations.

After the summit we stopped by and shared at a congregation where we had been in 1997-98 when it was still a home group, but now has grown into a community, having their own building and a vision that has not waned for the restoration of all things.  We also had a few days with a very dear friend and his new wife before leaving for the B’ney Yosef National Shabbat in Northeast Georgia.  Here Abba arranged an additional divine and unexpected erev Shabbat appointment, along with a wonderful time of celebrating our Messiah Yeshua’s faithfulness in restoring us to our forefathers and national identity.  From there we drove to Ralph, Alabama, to be with friends who have been actively encouraging and supporting us over the years.  The following evening we shared with their congregation near Birmingham.  It was a very special and attentive group whom we had the privilege to address. The following morning we picked up a friend from Aqaba, Jordan at the airport and continued on to a home meeting in Houston, Texas being again another divine encounter with very precious brothers and sisters.  Sometime later our hosts sent us a video of a canoe passing by on the street where our car had been parked, as their area suffered from the floods which hit Texas.  From there the 3 of us drove to San Antonio, Texas for a couple of days of relaxing fellowship, a B’ney Yosef National Shabbat, and a professional tour of the Alamo. The level of commitment and dedication of our brothers and sisters amazed us, and what’s more we were very pleasantly surprised to meet a very good friend who drove a long way with his family just to be with us, as well as to bless all present with his gift of music.

Another surprise encounter awaited us in Western Texas, which was a last minute arrangement by friends who had heard we were in the vicinity. And so we had our inspiring sit-around-tables gathering in lovely Fort Davis, above a traditional ‘drug-store’, next to the beautifully renovated and quaint guest rooms. Driving through the magnificent countryside of Northern Georgia, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona left us in awe as to the Almighty’s creation.

Our next stop was in Carlsbad New Mexico, where we attended a gathering with a very enthusiastic group, energizing us for our long drive to Mesa Arizona along breath taking vistas.  A four day stay with very close friends was very revitalizing, not to mention the very intriguing Purim celebration on Friday and Shabbat at their congregation, the anointed music and the opportunity to address the lively group that gathered there, some of whom were friends whom we have not seen for many years.

Reno, Nevada was to be our next stop, but a couple of days break was in line as our traveling companion, who unfortunately had taken very sick along the way, had a close childhood friend in Las Vegas. Much to our dismay, she felt that she needed to recuperate and we left her there, to be well taken care of by her loving friends. Reno was a wonderful experience, where once more we met with some old time friends as well as making new ones, at a lovely Shabbat dinner that we all shared, and then in the Shabbat fellowship meeting that lasted through the afternoon.

Mount Shasta in California was ‘waiting’ for us on our way from Nevada to our next two appointments in Oregon. We spent the night at a horse ranch, with a view of the beautiful white capped mountain, but not before an evening of sharing with our hosts and their guests, whose interest in the homeland was very encouraging.  

A long drive through the pine forests of Northern California ushered us into the beautiful State of Oregon, where we had a delightful experience in Talent, both at the home of our Israeli-savvy hosts and with the group that gathered in a civic center. Having to leave far too quickly, we made our way to Salem, to meet with very dedicated individuals who are serving Abba and His purposes under all circumstances, and who greeted us with equal dedication and love. Our final stop on that leg of the journey was in central Washington, in Ellensburg, where we were hosted very generously by friends with whose group we have had years-old relationship. It was a wonderful experience to be with these special individuals, and to be joined by some others from the area and share from the depth of our hearts. The visit was concluded by a lovely and relaxing boat ride along the Columbia River, with our host as the ‘captain’.

The next day we turned in the car in Seattle and took a short flight to Calgary, Alberta where, once again, loving friends went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable to the utmost. They took us to some amazing sites where there was still evidence of snow, and to their fellowship where we met very devoted brothers and sisters with whom we spent the entire Shabbat in very meaningful sharing.

From our too short of a stay in Calgary we flew back to the States, landing in Chicago only to be greeted by friends from Israel who happened to be there at the same time.  After a couple hours visit at the airport we took a bus to Rockford, Illinois and spent a lovely evening with a dear friend and continued the next day to Wisconsin, where we were hugging, sharing and catching up with Ephraim’s family and more old time friends. It was so good to see them all!

After the week in the ‘home turf’ we flew back to Canada and prepared to conduct the Pesach seder and to share during the high holiday, an appointment which had been designated for Barrie, Ontario. After a day of relaxation at a lovely resort in the Blue Mountains (courtesy of a very special couple) we set forth to share the seder meal, and two more days of teachings with a versatile group of people with whom we were honored to spend that precious time. A special treat was to meet up with veteran friends who came a long way to see us and spend those days with the local congregation.

Much traveling was in store for us in our Ontario spell. A two hour drive brought us to Sudbury for an afternoon and evening gathering that was arranged by another very dedicated and loving couple, who were our hosts for the next three days. After that wonderful experience they drove us for another two hours to their Elliot Lake home, where we had an opportunity to get to know each other, and some of their close friends from the Ojibway tribe. We were grateful for the opportunity to meet and share with these very exceptional people, and to learn about the first nations of the area.

As our trip was coming to a close we had a seven hour ride, replete with beautiful sites of lakes and snow patches and lots of formidable inukshuks (stone piles set up by the first nation people to serve as landmarks to show the way), on the road to a Brad Scott seminar. Since we had a speaking engagement in that area (Hanover, Ontario) on the coming Shabbat, it allowed us to participate at least partially in this edifying seminar, and also gave another opportunity to meet again with old and newly made friends. The Shabbat gathering was a very encouraging finale to the two months long series of meetings and appointments, which Abba by His grace allowed us to have.

The cherry on the proverbial cake of this wonderful tour, were three days spent, once again, at the beautiful resort where we had been before, all thanks to the generosity and servants’ hearts of a very special couple, who day and night took care of us in every way. What’s more, they provided room so that some very close friends, who live seven hours away, in Up-state New York, could come and spend some precious time with us.

On the evening of May 5^th we flew home from Toronto.

At Tel Aviv airport we were surprised and relieved to see our daughter waiting for us (as we had planned to travel home by train). The sun was shining all the way from the airport (as it has indeed done almost every single day of the trip). We arrived in time for an erev Shabbat meal that was shared in a warm and loving family setting. It was a perfect ending to a perfect trip that our Heavenly Abba arranged for His very grateful children.

A big “thank you” to all our hosts, who loved, wined and dined us (and so much more) through our 9 week journey. 

Shalom,

Ephraim and Rimona

The Dance of the Two Camps

As I was reflecting on the story of our forefather Jacob, after he fled from Laban his father-in-law, one word arrested my attention - “Machanyim” (“two camps”, Genesis 32:7).   In the Song of Solomon (6:13) there is an interesting verse with this very word in it, a word which I think expresses well what is happening today in the relationship between the two camps of the house Jacob:   “Return, return, O Shulamite; Return, return, that we may look upon you!  What would you see in the Shulamite -- as it were, the dance of the two camps?”  (Song of Solomon 6:13)  (compare Jeremiah 31:21b; 22b).

The book of Ezekiel, especially chapter 37, has been gaining much attention, and with it controversy.  The dry bones of the whole House of Israel are being breathed upon by the Spirit and are coming alive to their identity all over the nations of this world.  Many attempts are being made to gather them and make organizations and congregations of various kinds.  However, as the dance goes on, we see how out of step we are with one another.  Ephraim is stumbling over his own feet in order to keep his balance, while Judah is doing their own version of the dance and at the same time trying to figure out who Ephraim is on the dance floor.  The Jews have always known about the lost tribes in the nations, and for years were looking for tribes or people groups that had some kind of Jewish traditions.  But in the past few years out of the woodwork of church pews came believers in Yeshua who claimed to be ‘Torah keeping Ephraimites’ or descendants of lost tribes.  This turned Judah’s waltz into a twirling tailspin which they are trying to recover from, or at least catch their breath.   

The music of the prophets of old is playing songs and concertos loud and clear over the airways of the Spirit of prophecy, thus drawing more and more attention to verses such as are in Ezekiel 37.   The first verses speak of the dry bones of the house of Israel, then the prophet is told to go out and pick up two branches.  The first of which is the etz/branch of Judah.  Once he has done that, he is told to go and get another etz/branch and write on it, “Yosef”.  He then takes the two into one hand and holds them up together, alongside the other, that they may be one in his hand (ref. 37:17).  Because most of us rely on translations, we trust that some words like “one” means that the two have become one, yet the Hebrew does not bear that out.   A closer look at that verse in Hebrew reveals a different idea.  The word that is translated join is “qarav” and actually means “draw near” one (‘echad’) to the other ‘echad’, so “that they become one in your hand”.  Here again the ‘one’ in Hebrew is actually in plural form - achadim – ‘ones’. That is why when the “sons of your people” see the hand of the prophet holding the two branches they ask “what are these to you?” and not “what is this?”   The clarification, or answer to “what are these” is in a statement found further in the chapter, but stated in typical prophetic terminology: “that they would no longer be two kingdoms and two nations”.  Thus before they dance together as “one” [echad], they are seen as two nations, two separate governments, two branches, and two separate houses.

How are they going to become one nation and one kingdom? The song and dance continue. YHVH is going to take them and make them one [echad] in His hand.  How?  By bringing them all back to the land promised in the covenants to their forefathers.   Thus from a valley filled with dry bones in graves of disgrace, He raises them up to be filled with His Spirit and life.  None of this could have happened, if our Heavenly Father had not had mercy upon the lost sheep of the House of Israel by sending a redeemer to the House.  Yeshua paid the price that the law required for forgiveness and reconciliation, and so we were raised up with Him from the valley of the graves.   

 

The etz of Yosef’s punishment for the rebellion was banishment, rejection, and being called “not my people”, and adding to that YHVH also declared that He was “not their Elohim”.  However, that would change as we are seeing the rise of the Sons of Yosef and the other tribes his companions. They are coming back to their national identity through Messiah Yeshua who, according to the prophecy by Isaiah, was to gather and restore the tribes of Jacob.  Some think that Yeshua is only going to do this when He returns to earth, but that assumption is keeping many from seeing that it is happening already and must be so before His return (Acts 3:19-21).

Last May many gathered from 12 nations to Ariel, Israel, for the first Etz Bney Yosef National Congress. The participants sensed the heart of the Father and His presence confirming that we were within His will and purpose.   Since that time some have had the leading of the Spirit to continue to organize Bney Yosef summits in their host countries, seeking the Father’s guidance and direction for the next phases of the national restoration. 

We already have one nation, the branch of Judah, being waved before the nations as a proclamation of how YHVH accomplished their national restoration through His involvement in all of humanity’s affairs.  He raised up individuals such as Theodore Herzl and many other active Zionists.  He has no compunctions about using human beings to accomplish His purposes, thus it is quite likely that He will do the same in the reconstitution of the nation of Yosef/Ephraim.   He is also taking into consideration the potential of the powers of the other spiritual kingdom that, will do its utmost to trip up and confuse the dancers performing the dance of the two camps.    As it was in Judah’s restoration, so it will be in Yosef/Israel’s.  Many will come and go, some will be victims and some will be survivors.  But a remnant will return!

When all is said and done:   You will know that I am YHVH, who opened your graves and brought you up from your graves. I have put My Spirit in you that you may live, and it was I who placed you in your own land. Thus you have come to know Me, YHVH Elohim who spoke, watched over, performed, and fulfilled every word, covenant and promise to your forefathers  (Ezekiel 37:13-14 altered).  "Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old, together; For I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow.  I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness’, says YHVH" (Jeremiah 31:13-14).

Ephraim

Resistance

Letter 213 (Resistance)                                                                            23/01/04

In the past we have written much about the national identity of the second stick Joseph/Ephraim, which has stirred up an ancient spirit that despises and loathes the national identity of the (whole) House of Jacob.  Even though YHVH divided the Israelite nation into two nations (ref. Ezekiel 37:22), His prophetic intent had always been to restore and bring those two nations back together again.  We hear a lot about anti-Semitism, which is directed at our brother Judah and the present State of Israel, but now that the second stick, or nation, of Ephraim is being restored and exposed we should expect that that same hate-filled spirit would also try to assault and infiltrate the Ephraimite camp.   We have several good examples of this spirit of hatred manifesting in the family of Isaac: Jacob’s brother, Esau, wanted to kill him over the birthright.  Joseph’s brothers wanted to annihilate him over the same issue. The Israelite nation, making its way out from the house of bondage, was accosted by the Amalekites (descendants of the firstborn of Esau’s family), who tried to exterminate them.

In the Psalms, King David points out that there are ten nations (all descendants of firstborn) who are trying to prevent Israel from becoming a nation: “For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more" (Psalm 83:2-4).

Why would these nations want to keep Israel from becoming a single nation, or at least (to begin with), two nations?  The answer is evident from the above-mentioned examples; they are jealous over a position that YHVH has conferred upon His chosen firstborn. This status has to do with His kingdom-order in the family of Noah, called the “Melchizedec office” of King and Priest.  It is a position that was held by twenty three Elders from Adam to Jacob, while in the generation of Abraham YHVH made an adjustment in the position, granting it to a nation rather than to an individual (as it had been hitherto).  YHVH made a covenant with His servant Abraham, that out of his sperm, through his wife Sarah, the Patriarch would father a chosen nation.  This chosen nation would be the firstborn nation amongst all the nations of humanity. 

Even before Abram (as he was called then), we see this plan already intact, as in the days of Paleg (another firstborn whose name means “to divide”) YHVH divided the nations according to the twelve tribes of Israel: “When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, when He separated the sons of Adam [which would have been during the days of Peleg], He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel.  For YHVH's portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance” (Deut. 32:8-9). Today we cannot afford to ignore YHVH’s plan for the redemption of creation, and the fact that we have a very active spiritual enemy who does not want this to come to pass.  Remember, our battle is not against flesh and blood: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Each time YHVH set off a restoration work in the People of Israel, the enemy immediately stepped in and tried to hinder the work. Daniel for example, knew the times of the restoration and proceeded to intercede and repent, but was opposed by the Prince of Persia and the Prince of Greece (two of Satan’s most powerful princes, who help him govern the dual religious and political system of his kingdom).

In the days of Ezra the enemies’ tactics were to try and join forces with the Jews, hoping in this manner to confuse and keep the workers from succeeding in carrying out their task. When Ezra declined their proposal, they made an attempt to get the authorities to bring the work to a halt.  In the days of Nehemiah, for instance, the king gave permission and sent letters to the governors of the province authorizing Nehemiah to come and seek the wellbeing of the Children of Israel, and to restore Jerusalem.   However,  “When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel” (Nehemiah 2:10).  Why were they “deeply disturbed”?  Why, when the king gives permission to restore YHVH’s dwelling place, does this attitude flare up in the hearts of these two men? 

Let’s watch the progression of the attitude and activity of Sanballat, and of others who were spurred by the enemy through pride and jealousy, to stop the work.  “But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?" (Nehemiah 2:19).  Notice how the word is spreading to others, and in spite of being aware of the king’s injunctions they lie in order to discourage the workers. Their attitude has now progressed from jealousy to lying, and then to laugher and malice. Incidentally, these attitudes are not only directed toward Nehemiah and the workers, but indirectly also toward the king.

The attacks, however, only helped Nehemiah and the laborers to organize themselves and work more cooperatively, and so did the enemies’ tactics and attitudes change also. “But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews.  And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, ‘What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish -- stones that are burned?’ Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, ‘Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall’" (Nehemiah 4:1-3).

Since Sanballat wasn’t getting his way, he had become furious and indignant and continued mocking the Jews.  He also began to gather up an army of people around him in order to carry out his sinister plan. The workmen, however, through prayer and keeping a watchful eye on the enemy, managed to press on with the work.

“Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion” (Nehemiah. 4:7-8).

Things are getting progressively worse, as more are added to the ranks of the enemy, and are being filled with fierce anger toward what YHVH is doing in the restoration of the City of the King, His dwelling place.   The development from jealousy to hatred is short only of murder.   Up to this point the enemies have not succeeded to stop the work, but now they must come and create fear and confusion amongst the workers: “And our adversaries said, ‘They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease’" (Nehemiah 4:11).  In order to move right into the camp the wolves are now going to cover themselves in sheep’s’ clothing, this being the most dangerous of all of the enemy’s tactics.  They will call you brother and say that they are standing with you in the work, but this is just a cover up for the jealousy, hatred and eventual murder, which they are harboring in their hearts.

Do study how Nehemiah and the others responded to each progressive attack of the enemy, as there is much to be learnt from this on how to proceed in the work of the restoration of the two nations/sticks and the whole House of Israel.   Warn those who are cooperating with the enemy of a faithful covenant-keeping Elohim, that it might be wise to take the advice of the great sage Gamaliel, whose attitude was summed up in the following words:  "And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it -- lest you even be found to fight against God" (Acts 5:38-39).

Ephraim

Oh those Bones

Shalom Fellow Israelite,

We know for sure that the bones are beginning to shake, and as they do, so will the nations in which they find themselves.  As the Spirit begins to attach each bone to another bone by ligaments, He causes some to come together for practical down to earth discussions and to seek the Father’s guidance and direction.  Although some bones will be "bones of contention" motivated by any number of reasons, yet in the necessity of planning practical steps we can rest assured of YHVH’s overseeing, even as it says: ”A man’s heart plans his way, but YHVH directs his path” (Proverbs 16:9). This is especially so when action is undertaken with faith and a pure heart motive.  Elohim is totally able to correct the path when we get off of it.  And He will correct our hearts when we lose sight of His righteousness and humility.  We continue to pray that as we move forward in the reconstitution of our national identity that all spirits of pride and self-righteousness, which are reinforced by strife and contention, be bound from any and all efforts made toward the unification of the House of Yosef.

The winds are blowing life into the bones in almost every nation and “Yeshua the Word of prophecy” is faithfully carrying out His mandate to restore the tribes (ref. Isaiah 49: 5-7).  He is doing it in many ways, and we each have to find our place and be about His business.  No one program or institution will be His answer, but each joint will supply. My Dad used to say, "Mind your own business and your business will succeed".  Each of us have a task, a service to perform in “faithfulness” to Yeshua’s leading.  We are to be bond servants to one another and to love and respect each other. 

“If we walk in the light as He is in the light we will have fellowship with one another and the blood/life of Yeshua will cleanse us from all sin” (see 1 John 1:7).

Blessings and Shabbat Shalom in Yeshua's light,

Ephraim